The great cloud of witnesses — explore the lives, feast days, and patronages of holy men and women who shaped the Church throughout history.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…" Hebrews 12:1
Image: One side of a double-sided panel. Three saints in full figure – Saint Sylvester, Saint Jerome, and Saint Martin | anonymous Saint of the Day for September 30 (345 – 420) Saint Jerome’s Story Most of the saints are remembered for some outstanding virtue or devotion which they practiced, but Je...
Image: Wooden statue of Saint Joan of the Cross | A l’école des soeurs de Jeanne Delanoue | unknown Saint of the Day for August 17 (June 18, 1666 – August 17, 1736) Saint Joan of the Cross’ Story An encounter with a shabby old woman many dismissed as insane prompted Joan of the Cross to dedicate her...
Image: Chrysostemos | Carl Christian Peters Saint of the Day for September 13 (c. 349 – September 14, 407) Saint John Chrysostom’s Story The ambiguity and intrigue surrounding John, the great preacher (his name means “golden-mouthed”) from Antioch, are characteristic of the life of any great man in...
Image: Stained glass window in Saint-Pierre de Dourdain | photo by GO69 Saint of the Day for August 19 (November 14, 1601 – August 19, 1680) Saint John Eudes’ Story How little we know where God’s grace will lead. Born on a farm in northern France, John died at 78 in the next “county” or department....
Image: Saint John Henry Newman | Sir John Everett Millais Saint of the Day for September 24 (February 21, 1801 – August 11, 1890) Saint John Henry Newman’s Story Saint John Henry Newman, the 19th-century’s most important English-speaking Catholic theologian, spent the first half of his life as an An...
Image: Body of Saint John Leonardi | Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli, Rome Saint of the Day for October 8 (1541 – October 9, 1609) Saint John Leonardi’s Story “I am only one person! Why should I do anything? What good would it do?” Today, as in any age, people seem plagued with the dilemma of g...
Image: Stained glass window of Curé d’Ars | Luant, France | photo by François Goglins Saint of the Day for August 4 (May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859) Saint John Vianney (Saint Jean Vianney), also known as the Curé d’Ars, is considered the patron saint of parish priests. He is known for his deep devotio...
Image: Saint John XXIII begins the Mass | Saint Peter’s Basilica, October 11, 1959 | photo by Medici con l’Africa Cuamm Saint of the Day for October 11 (November 25, 1881 – June 3, 1963) Saint John XXIII’s Story Although few people had as great an impact on the 20th century as Pope John XXIII, he av...
Image: San José de Calasanz | Francisco Jover y Casanova Saint of the Day for August 26 (September 11, 1556 – August 25, 1648) Saint Joseph Calasanz’ Story From Aragon where he was born in 1556, to Rome where he died 92 years later, fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the work of Joseph Calasa...
Image: Saint Joseph of Cupertino. Engraving after F.A. Lorenzini | Wellcome Images Saint of the Day for September 18 (June 17, 1603 – September 18, 1663) Saint Joseph of Cupertino’s Story Saint Joseph of Cupertino is most famous for levitating at prayer. Already as a child, Joseph showed a fondness...
A statue of St. Junipero Serra sits among flowers outside San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission in Carmel, Calif. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) Saint of the Day for July 1 (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) Saint Junipero Serra’s Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east,...
Image: Stained glass of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha | Saint Stephen Catholic Church, Chesapeake, Virginia | photo by Nheyob Saint of the Day for July 14 (1656 – April 17, 1680) Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s Story The blood of martyrs is the seed of saints. Nine years after the Jesuits Isaac Jogues and Jean...
Image: Saint Lawrence | Bernardo Cavallino Saint of the Day for August 10 (c. 225 – August 10, 258) Saint Lawrence’s Story The esteem in which the Church holds Lawrence is seen in the fact that today’s celebration ranks as a feast. We know very little about his life. He is one of those whose martyrd...
Image: Statue of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi on the church at the Capuchin Friary and Seminary | photo by threecharlie Saint of the Day for July 21 (July 22, 1559 – July 22, 1619) Saint Lawrence of Brindisi’s Story At first glance, perhaps the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his ou...
Image: San Lorenzo Ruiz Parish Church | photo by Judgefloro Saint of the Day for September 22 Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions (1600 – September 29 or 30, 1637) Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Companions’ Story Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians....
Image: HDR photo of the Apotheosis of St. Louis | Sculpture by C.H. Niehaus Saint of the Day for August 25 (April 25, 1214 – August 25, 1270) Saint Louis of France’s Story At his coronation as king of France, Louis IX bound himself by oath to behave as God’s anointed, as the father of his people and...
Image: Saint Louis of Toulouse | Carlo Crivelli | Church of Santa Lucia, Montefiore dell’Aso, Italy Saint of the Day for August 18 (February 9, 1274 – August 19, 1297) Saint Louis of Toulouse’s Story When he died at the age of 23, Louis was already a Franciscan, a bishop, and a saint! Louis’s parent...
Image: Saint Faustyna and Jesus, I Trust in You sculpture | Piotrków Trybunalski Saint of the Day for October 5 (August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938) Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska’s Story Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska’s name is forever linked to the annual feast of the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy c...