Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year

Read entire reflection online >>> November 21: Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote : And the child was three years old, and Joachim said: Invite the daughters of the Hebrews that are undefiled, and let them take each a lamp, and let them stand with the lamps burning, that the child may not turn back, and her heart be captivated from the temple of...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 18: Dedication of the Basilicas of Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles—Optional Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote : But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes. Let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation. Through envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars [of the chur...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 18: Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne, Virgin—USA Optional Memorial 1769–1852 Invoked for perseverance amid adversity and against the opposition of Church authorities Canonized by Pope John Paul II on July 3, 1988 Liturgical Color: White Quote : You may dazzle the mind with a thousand brilliant discoveries of natural science; you may open new worlds...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 17: Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, Religious—Memorial 1207–1231 Patron Saint of Third Order Franciscans, bakers, beggars, brides, charitable societies and workers, exiles, falsely accused people, homeless people, hospitals, lacemakers, nursing homes, nursing services, people ridiculed for their piety, widows Invoked against in-law problems, the deat...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 16: Saint Gertrude the Great, Virgin—Optional Memorial 1256–1302 Patron Saint of nuns Invoked for poor souls in Purgatory Equivalent canonization in 1606 Added to the Universal Roman Calendar by Pope Clement XII in 1677 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Let the Abyss of Uncreated Wisdom invoke the Abyss of Omnipotent Power to praise and extol the a...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 16: Saint Margaret of Scotland—Optional Memorial c. 1045–1093 Patron Saint of learning, parents of large families, parents who have lost a child, queens, and widows Canonized by Pope Innocent IV in 1251 Liturgical Color: White Quote : She was called Margaret, and in the sight of God she showed herself to be a pearl, precious in faith and works. S...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 15: Saint Albert the Great, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial c. 1200–1280 Patron Saint of scientists, medical technicians, natural sciences, philosophers, schoolchildren, and theology students Canonized by Pope Pius XI on December 16, 1931 Declared a Doctor of the Church (Universal Doctor) during his canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 13: Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin—USA Memorial 1850–1917 Patron Saint of immigrants, emigrants, hospital administrators, and orphans Invoked against malaria Canonized by Pope Pius XII on July 7, 1946 Liturgical Color: White Quote : How lovely and sweet it is to undertake a sea voyage when one is tired and worn out with the labors of the Mi...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 12: Saint Josaphat, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial 1580–1623 Patron Saint of Ukraine Invoked for the reunification of Eastern and Western Christians Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867 Liturgical Color: Red Quote : You people of Vitebsk want to put me to death. You make ambushes for me everywhere, in the streets, on the bridges, on the highway...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 11: Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop—Memorial 316 or 336–397 Patron Saint of beggars, cavalry, equestrians, geese, horses, innkeepers, Pontifical Swiss Guards, quartermasters, reformed alcoholics, soldiers, tailors, and winemakers Invoked against alcoholism and poverty Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: White Quote : Accordingly, at a c...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 10: Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor—Memorial c. 400–461 Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1754 Liturgical Color: White Quote : He conquered that we too might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly beloved, without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 9: Dedication of the Lateran Basilica—Feast Liturgical Color: White Quote : “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and you will raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his Body. ~ John 2:19–21 Prayer : Christ our Savior, t...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 4: Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop—Memorial 1538–1584 Patron Saint of apple orchards, bishops, catechism writers, catechists, catechumens, seminarians, starchmakers, and spiritual directors Invoked against abdominal pain, colic, stomach diseases, and ulcers Canonized by Pope Paul V on November 1, 1610 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Most dearly be...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 3: Saint Martin de Porres, Religious—Optional Memorial 1579–1639 Patron Saint of African-Americans, biracial people, barbers, innkeepers, the poor, Peru, public health workers, public schools, television, and interracial and social justice Canonized by Pope John XXIII on May 6, 1962 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Certain that he deserved more se...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 2: All Souls’ Day—Commemoration Liturgical Color: White, Violet, or Black Quote : Turning to supplication, they prayed that the sinful deed might be fully blotted out. The noble Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves free from sin, for they had seen with their own eyes what had happened because of the sin of those who had fallen. He then to...

Read entire reflection online >>> November 1: All Saints’ Day—Solemnity Holy Day of Obligation Liturgical Color: White Quote : After this I had a vision of a great multitude, which no one could count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue. They stood before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes and holding palm branches in their hands. They cried out in a loud voice: “...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast First Century Patron Saint of curriers, woodcutters, and tanners (Simon); hopeless causes and hospital workers (Jude) Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his dis...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop—Optional Memorial 1807–1870 Patron Saint of the Catholic press, textile merchants, and weavers Canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Love in a man who preaches the Word of God is like fire in a musket. If a man were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a de...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial 1386–1456 Patron Saint of military chaplains, judges, jurists, and lawyers Canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and bla...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope—Optional Memorial 1920–2005 Patron Saint of World Youth Days Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014 Liturgical Color: White Quote : Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power, open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and deve...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest—USA: Optional Memorial (October 19 outside of the USA) 1694–1775 Patron Saint of Hungary and Ovada, Italy Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867 Liturgical Color: White Quote : You must correspond faithfully to His merciful action by humbling yourself ever more in your nothingness before His Sovereign Majest...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs; and their Companions, Martyrs—USA: Memorial Saint René Goupil (1606–1642); Saint Isaac Jogues (1607–1646); Saint Jean de la Lande (Unknown–1646); Saint Antoine Daniel (1601–1648); Saint Gabriel Lalemant (1610–1649); Saint Jean de Brébeuf (1593–1649); Saint Charles Garnier (1606–1649);...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 18: Saint Luke the Evangelist—Feast First Century, died c. age 84 Patron Saint of artists, bachelors, bookbinders, brewers, butchers, glassworkers, goldworkers, laceworkers, notaries, physicians, and surgeons Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been f...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 17: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial Early- to Mid-First Century–c. 107 Patron Saint of the Church in Northern Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Invoked against throat diseases Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote : I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if on...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 16: Saint Hedwig, Religious—Optional Memorial 1174–1243 Patron Saint of brides, widows, duchesses, those whose children have died, and difficult marriages Invoked against jealousy Canonized by Pope Clement IV on March 26, 1267 Liturgical Color: White Quote : The greater one is by birth, the greater one must be in virtue, and the more distinguished...