Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year

Read entire reflection online >>> July 11: Saint Benedict, Abbot—Memorial c. 480–c. 547 Patron Saint of Europe, monks and religious orders, ​​architects, dying people, cave explorers, schoolchildren, agricultural workers, civil engineers, and coppersmiths Invoked against erysipelas, fever, gallstones, inflammatory diseases, kidney disease, nettle rash, poison, temptations, and witchcraft...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 9: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and 119 Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial 1648–1930 Invoked for the people of China Canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000 Liturgical Color: Red Quote : Today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China. Is not th...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 6: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr—Optional Memorial 1890–1902 Patron Saint of young people (especially girls), rape victims, and the poor Invoked for the grace of mercy and forgiveness Canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 24, 1950 Liturgical Color: Red Quote : In the heroic testimony of the saint of Le Ferriere, her forgiveness of the man who k...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 5: Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest—Optional Memorial 1502–1539 Patron Saint of physicians Canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1897 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Angel in human form, Angelic man, Founder of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, of the Angelic Sisters, And of other pious associations. Destroyer of vices, Guardian of chastity, Restor...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 4: Independence Day—USA Optional Memorial Quote : When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 4: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal—Optional Memorial (Celebrated July 5 in the USA) 1271–1336 Patron Saint of widows, brides, charity workers, those falsely accused, victims of adultery, and the Canary Islands, Spain Invoked against jealousy, war, and difficult marriages Canonized by Pope Urban VIII on June 24, 1625 Liturgical Color: White Quote : I, Eli...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 3: Saint Thomas the Apostle—Feast Died c. 72 Patron Saint of doubters, architects, blind people, builders, geometricians, masons, surveyors, and theologians Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lor...

Read entire reflection online >>> July 1: Saint Junípero Serra, Priest—USA Optional Memorial 1713–1784 Patron Saint of vocations, Hispanic-Americans, California Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015 Liturgical Color: White Quote : I am writing this letter in farewell, while we are getting ready to leave the city of Cádiz and embark for Mexico. The day fixed upon is unknown to me...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 30: First Martyrs of the Church of Rome—Optional Memorial Died c. 64 Pre-Congregation canonizations Quote : At Rome, in the time of Nero, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were accused of having set fire to the city, and cruelly put to death in various manners by the emperor’s order. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and lacer...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 29: Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles—Solemnity Saint Peter: c. 1–c. 64 Patron Saint of Rome, bakers, brickmakers, masons, bridge-builders, butchers, clockmakers, cobblers, fishermen, harvesters, watchmakers, locksmiths, netmakers, the papacy, and the Universal Church Invoked against feet problems, fevers, and frenzy Saint Paul: c. 3–c. 64 Patron Saint...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 28: Saint Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial c. 135–c. 202 Patron Saint of those who work for the unity of the Eastern and Western Churches Invoked against Christological heresies, and by apologists and catechists Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church (Doctor of Unity) by Pope Francis in 2022 Liturgical Color: Red Quote : Fo...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 27: Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial c. 376–444 Patron Saint of Alexandria, Egypt Invoked against Christological heresies Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1883 Liturgical Color: White Quote : The entire population of the city stood from dawn to dusk, waiting for the decisi...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 24: Birth of Saint John the Baptist—Solemnity First Century Patron Saint of baptism, bird dealers, converts, monastic life, motorways, printers, tailors, lambs, and prisoners Invoked against epilepsy, convulsions, hailstorms, and spasms Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: White of Gold Quote : When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have h...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 22: Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop—Optional Memorial c. 354–431 Patron Saint of bellmakers Invoked by the people of Nola, Italy Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote : Thus our Paulinus, bishop of Nola, who voluntarily abandoned vast wealth and became quite poor, though abundantly rich in holiness, when the barbarians sacked Nol...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 22: Saints John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr—Optional Memorial Saint John Fisher: 1469–1535 Invoked for courage and by those who are persecuted Saint Thomas More: 1478–1535 Patron Saint of statesmen, politicians, lawyers, civil servants, court clerks, adopted children, large families, stepparents, and difficult marriages Canonize...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 21: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious—Memorial 1568–1591 Patron Saint of students, Christian youth, Jesuit novices, AIDS patients and caregivers Invoked against eye troubles and epidemics Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 31, 1726 Liturgical Color: White Quote : The divine goodness, most honored lady, is a fathomless and shoreless ocean, an...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 19: Saint Romuald, Abbot—Optional Memorial c. 951–1027 Invoked for reformation of the Church and monastic life Canonized by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching for fish. The path you must follow is in...

Read entire reflection online >>> Immaculate Heart of Mary—Memorial Saturday following the second Sunday after Pentecost Liturgical Color: White Quote : So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 13: Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor—Memorial 1195–1231 Patron Saint of amputees, animals, mail, horses, expectant mothers, fishermen, harvests, lost articles, boatmen, and travelers, as well as the elderly, oppressed, poor, and starving Canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 30 May 1232 Declared the Evangelizing Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius X...

Read entire reflection online >>> Sacred Heart of Jesus—Solemnity Friday following the second Sunday after Pentecost Quote : Once, being before the Blessed Sacrament and having a little more leisure than usual, I felt wholly filled with this Divine Presence, and so powerfully moved by it that I forgot myself and the place in which I was. I abandoned myself to this Divine Spirit, and yield...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 11: Saint Barnabas the Apostle—Memorial Early First Century–c. 61 Patron Saint of Cyprus, Antioch, and peacekeeping missions Invoked against hailstorms Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch. When he arrived and saw the grace...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 9: Saint Ephrem, Deacon and Doctor—Optional Memorial c. 306–373 Patron Saint of spiritual directors and spiritual leaders Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XV in 1920 Liturgical Color: White Quote : I, Ephrem, am dying. With fear, but also with reverence, I entreat you, citizens of Edessa, not to bury me u...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 6: Saint Norbert, Bishop—Optional Memorial c. 1080–1134 Patron Saint of expectant mothers and Bohemia Canonized by Pope Gregory XIII on July 28, 1582 Liturgical Color: White Quote : …it happened one day that he was hastening secretly to a place called Freden. He was dressed in silk, accompanied by a single servant. While on the way a dark cloud overt...

Read entire reflection online >>> June 5: Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial c. 675–754 Patron Saint of Great Germania Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : Gregory, the servant of the servants of God, to Boniface, a holy priest: Your holy purpose, as it has been explained to us, and your well-tried faith lead us to make use of your services in spreading the...

Read entire reflection online >>> The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—Solemnity Thursday after Holy Trinity or, where this is not a holy day of obligation, on the following Sunday. In the United States, it is always transferred to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity. Liturgical Color: White Quote : Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly every day, we deem it fitting that at l...