Catholic Saints & Feasts

August 15: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary First Century Solemnity; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of France and Lebanon God wants Mary for Himself Today’s Solemnity of the Assumption of Mary body and soul into heaven commemorates, liturgically, a dogma. Catholicism celebrates her dogmas like a country celebrates its independence day or its military victories. The Church processes...

August 14: Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr 1894–1941 Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of prisoners, drug addicts, journalists, and the pro-life movement Prisoner 16670 was tough, immersed in God, and ready when the moment came Saints are made, not born. Even more so martyrs. Maximilian Kolbe was so impressive a man that he may have been canonized even if that oh-so-brief...

August 13: Saints Pontian, Pope; & Hippolytus, Priest: Martyrs Late Second Century–c. 235 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of Montaldo Scarampi, Italy (Pontian) and prison guards (Hippolytus) An exiled Pope dies along with a learned priest Today’s martyrs died on the island of Sardinia, perhaps from overwork in the mines or perhaps from starvation or neglect rather than ex...

August 12: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious 1572–1641 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of widows and parents separated from their children An aristocratic widow’s grief is transformed into love of God Today’s saint was well born and acted like it. She was educated, refined, beautiful, witty, and wealthy. She married a baron, lived in his castle, and together they rai...

August 11: Saint Clare, Virgin c. 1193–1253 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of embroiderers, goldsmiths, and laundry workers She heard Francis, left comfort, and slept on the floor for forty-one years Silicon Valley is not, topographically, a valley. The name is a contrivance dating from the 1970s and 80s. The actual valley is named after today’s saint. Santa Clara Valley, running s...

August 10: Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr c. Early Third Century–258 Feast; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of deacons, comics, and cooks A Deacon heads the Church for four days, then perishes like his fellow deacons The Church’s liturgy, like all public rituals whether sacred or secular, is inherently conservative. Its form is not easily altered. Its content shapes, more than is shaped by,...

August 9: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin and Martyr 1891–1942 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Co-Patron Saint of Europe A Jewish intellectual discovers St. Teresa of Ávila, converts, and dies for her race Edith Stein, today’s saint’s given name, was a highly cultured European intellectual. She obtained a doctorate in philosophy summa cum laude from a German university after b...

August 8: Saint Dominic, Priest c. 1170–1221 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of the Dominican Republic, astronomers, and the falsely accused A one-man army for God; long practice taught him how to preach the Truth Today’s saint and Saint Francis of Assisi were close contemporaries. They both founded influential religious orders, collaborated with the same popes and cardinals, and we...

August 7: Saint Cajetan, Priest 1480–1547 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Argentina, the unemployed, and gamblers A reformer before his time Gaetano di Conte di Thiene, today’s saint, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he spit it out. His father was a count, his family noblemen, and his status and wealth secure. Gaetano studied theology and law and became a s...

August 7: Saint Sixtus II, Pope; and Companions, Martyrs Early Third Century–258 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: Red Patron Saint of Bellegra, Italy The Pope is murdered in cold blood The sixth pope was named the “Sixth” or, in Latin, “Sixtus.” He reigned from 115–125 A.D. The next Sixtus was today’s martyr, who reigned from one August to the next in 257–258. Sixtus II (or Sixth, the Second)...

August 6: The Transfiguration of the Lord First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: White A preview of coming attractions, our destination is a person more than a place It was not a miracle that Jesus Christ transfigured Himself on Mount Tabor before the Apostles. It was a miracle that He maintained His common, earthly appearance for the whole of His life. It was a miracle that His face was not glowi...

August 5: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major Fifth century Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White A venerable basilica preserves its ancient aura A house is more than a building. When it personifies the family within, it is a home. Or at least it should be. That an office building contains businesses; a house—a family; a barracks—soldiers; and a hotel—guests, is merely to cite part...

August 4: Saint John Vianney, Priest 1786–1859 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of parish priests A farmer knows God through prayer, not books, and becomes a holy priest “Is Mr. Vianney good?” the Vicar General asked. “He is a model of goodness,” the seminary official responded. “Very well. Then let him be ordained.” And thus the last obstacle was removed from the long and winding pa...

August 2: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop Early Fourth Century–371 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Piedmont, Italy A bishop suffers exile and abuse for his defense of orthodoxy Eusebius was chosen Bishop of the Northern Italian city of Vercelli by popular acclaim in the 340s, even though he was an immigrant from the island of Sardinia. Twenty years after Eusebius’ dea...

August 2: Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest 1811–1868 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Apostle of the Holy Eucharist The Eucharist was the pearl that shone in his eyes The great artist Auguste Rodin, who sculpted “The Thinker” and other world-famous pieces, met today’s saint in 1862 and joined his Congregation as a lay brother. Rodin was despondent over the death of his sister and wanted...

August 1: Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor 1696–1787 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of moral theologians and confessors A lawyer becomes holy Today’s saint was given the gift of a comprehensive education by his parents from a young age. He finished his university studies with degrees in civil and canon law when he was just sixteen years old. After practicing law for eight...

July 31: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest 1491–1556 Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of soldiers, retreats, and the Basque country A soldier reads, becomes holy, and founds a mighty company Like so many other male saints, today’s saint began his adult life as a knight and soldier. In the service of a local noble, he learned the male sins that armies and royal courts excel in teaching...

July 30: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor c. 380–c. 450 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Imola, Italy, invoked against fever and mad dogs A golden tongued bishop preaches to a golden city In 330 A.D., the Emperor Constantine transferred his capital from Rome to a newly constructed city he named after himself in present day Turkey. The Roman Empire and its ancien...

July 29: Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus First Century Memorial: Liturgical Color: White Patron Saints of siblings Jesus, an only child, is attracted to family life Jesus goes to the home of Zacchaeus to encourage his conversion. He goes to the home of Matthew after the tax collector becomes a disciple. And he goes to other homes to challenge religious elites or to speak strong words of censure....

July 26: Saints Joachim and Anne Late First Century B.C.–Early First Century A.D. Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saints of grandparents and of Canada (Anne) God has a family tree, just like all men Many parents think their child is perfect. Only two sets of parents were ever right. Saint Mary and Saint Joseph had a child through grace and raised that perfect God-son to adulthood. The par...

July 25: Saint James, Apostle First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Spain, equestrians, and pilgrims Herod strikes again The primary legacy of the Twelve Apostles is silence. Yes, their voices are sometimes heard in the Gospels, briefly. Yes, they traveled, evangelized, and built up the Church, discreetly. And yes, they were martyred, save John, though obliquely. Who went ex...

July 24: Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhluf, Priest and Hermit 1828–1898 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Lebanon The purest cedar of Lebanon Today’s memorial was first inserted into the liturgical calendar in the United States in 2004. Prior to that, today’s saint was known primarily among the Christians of Lebanon, either in their homeland or in Lebanese diaspora communiti...

July 23: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious 1303–1373 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widows A royal widow’s visions awe the masses Upon entering the baroque Basilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, on the first pillar to the right, is a fragment of a medieval fresco by the master Giotto. It is incongruous with the style of the rest of the often restor...

July 22: Saint Mary Magdalene First Century Feast; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of perfumers, converts, and hairdressers An Apostle to the Apostles first spreads the Good News “Cherchez la femme“ is a French phrase meaning “Look for the woman.” It is used as a convenient shortcut in movie or literary criticism to discover what is driving a plot, especially in a detective story. Why did the...

July 21: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor 1559–1619 Optional Memorial; Liturgical Color: White Patron Saint of Brindisi, Italy A little-known Doctor of the Church did it all and did it well Julius Caesar Russo was born into a religious family, yet from a young age was drawn to join another religious family—that of Saint Francis of Assisi. After his father’s early death, little Julius...