Saints & Feast Days

Image: Detail | Ceiling of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Santa Maria Immacolata a via Veneto, Rome | photo by Livioandronico Saint of the Day for August 15 (1st. century) The Story of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary On November 1, 1950, Pope Pius XII defined the Assumption o...

Image: Imre Varga’s statue of Saint Stephen I, Apostolic king of Hungary, 1993, along the cathedral, Aachen, Germany Saint of the Day for August 16 (975 – August 15, 1038) Saint Stephen of Hungary’s Story The Church is universal, but its expression is always affected—for good or ill—by local culture...

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: 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 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: Stained glass representing St. Bernard of Clairvaux | photo by Jastrow (2006) Saint of the Day for August 20 (1090 – August 20, 1153) Saint Bernard of Clairvaux’s Story Man of the century! Woman of the century! You see such terms applied to so many today—“golfer of the century,” “composer of...

Image: Portrait of Pope Saint Pius X | Library of Congress | Tryphosa Bates-Batcheller Saint of the Day for August 21 (June 2, 1835 – August 20, 1914) Saint Pius X’s Story Pope Pius X is perhaps best remembered for his encouragement of the frequent reception of Holy Communion, especially by children...

Image: Stained glass in Our Lady of Czestochowa Grotto (Sorrowful Mother Shrine) | photo by Nheyob Saint of the Day for August 14 (January 8, 1894 – August 14, 1941) Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe’s Story “I don’t know what’s going to become of you!” How many parents have said that? Maximilian Mary Kol...

Image: Stained glass window in Église Saint-Honoré-d’Eylau, Paris | photo by Mbzt’s Saint of the Day for August 12  (January 28, 1572 – December 13, 1641) Saint Jane Frances de Chantal’s Story Jane Frances was wife, mother, nun, and founder of a religious community. Her mother died when she was 18 m...

Image: CNS-McGivney beatification Saint of the Day for August 13 (August 12, 1852 – August 14, 1890) Blessed Michael McGivney’s Story The eldest son of an immigrant Irish family in Connecticut, young Michael left school at 13 to work in a brass factory making spoons. At 16 Michael J. McGivney began...

Image: Saint Clare | original painting for the Poor Clares in Cincinnati, Ohio Saint of the Day for August 11 (July 16, 1194 – August 11, 1253) Saint Clare of Assisi’s Story One of the more sugary movies made about Francis of Assisi pictures Clare as a golden-haired beauty floating through sun-drenc...

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...