Communion of Saints
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: Stained glass window of Saint Alphonse Liguori | Carlow Cathedral | Franz Mayer & Co. (Mayer & Co. of Munich) Saint of the Day for August 1 (September 27, 1696 – August 1, 1787) Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s Story Moral theology, Vatican II said, should be more thoroughly nourished by Scripture,...
Image: Sculpture of Saint Anthony Zaccaria, at St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican | Cesare Aureli Saint of the Day for July 5 (1502 – July 5, 1539) Saint Anthony Zaccaria’s Story At the same time that Martin Luther was attacking abuses in the Church, a reformation within the Church was already being atte...
Image: Statue of Saint Apollinaris in Santa Maria del Suffragio, Ravenna | José Luiz Bernardes Ribeiro Saint of the Day for July 20 (d. c. 79) Saint Apollinaris’ Story According to tradition, Saint Peter sent Saint Apollinaris to Ravenna, Italy, as its first bishop. His preaching of the Good News wa...
Image: Stained glass window of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and companions | The Hong Kong Catholic Cathedral of The Immaculate Conception | photo by hugo poon Saints of the Day for July 9 (d. 1648 – 1930) Saint Augustine Zhao Rong’s and Companions’ Stories Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria...
Image: Patriarch of Western Monks | Saint Benedict | photo by Lawrence, OP Saint of the Day for July 11 (c. 480 – c. 547) Saint Benedict’s Story It is unfortunate that no contemporary biography was written of a man who has exercised the greatest influence on monasticism in the West. Benedict is well...
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: The Prayer of St. Bonaventura about the Selection of the New Pope | Francisco de Zurbarán Saint of the Day for July 15 (1221 – July 15, 1274) Saint Bonaventure’s Story Perhaps not a household name for most people, Saint Bonaventure, nevertheless, played an important role in both the medieval...
Born c.610 in East Anglia (part of modern England) Died • 17 June 680 of natural causes following a lengthy illness • he died while being carried to chapel for compline services • buried at Ikanhoe
Image: Saint Bridget of Sweden | Line engraving | Wellcome Images Saint of the Day for July 23 (c. 1303 – July 23, 1373) Saint Bridget of Sweden’s Story From age 7 on, Bridget had visions of Christ crucified. Her visions formed the basis for her activity—always with the emphasis on charity rather th...
Image: Saint Cajetan sculptor: Pedro Alonso de los Ríos Saint of the Day for August 7 (October 1, 1480 – August 7, 1547) Saint Cajetan’s Story Like most of us, Saint Cajetan seemed headed for an “ordinary” life—first as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia. Saint Cajetan...
Image: Saint Camillus de Lellis in facade of church Santa Maria Maddalena | photo by Livioandronico2013 Saint of the Day for July 18 (1550 – July 14, 1614) Saint Camillus de Lellis’ Story Humanly speaking, Camillus was not a likely candidate for sainthood. His mother died when he was a child, his fa...
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: Statue of Saint Cyril of Alexandria in Sanctuary of Nossa Senhora do Sameiro, Braga, Portugal | photo by Joseolgon Saint of the Day for June 27 (378 – June 27, 444) Saint Cyril of Alexandria’s Story Saints are not born with halos around their heads. Cyril of Alexandria, recognized as a great...
Image: Stained glass | Saint Dominic sends out the Friars | photo by Lawrence, OP | flickr Saint of the Day for August 8 (August 8, 1170 – August 6, 1221) Saint Dominic’s Story If he hadn’t taken a trip with his bishop, Saint Dominic would probably have remained within the structure of contemplative...
Image: Elizabeth of Portugal| Francisco de Zurbarán Saint of the Day for July 4 (1271 – July 4, 1336) Saint Elizabeth of Portugal’s Story Elizabeth of Portugal is usually depicted in royal garb with a dove or an olive branch. At her birth in 1271, her father Pedro III, future king of Aragon, was rec...
Image: Santo Eusébio Ressuscitando Três Pessoas | Raphael Saint of the Day for August 2 (c. 300 – August 1, 371) Saint Eusebius of Vercelli’s Story Someone has said that if there had been no Arian heresy denying Christ’s divinity, it would be very difficult to write the lives of many early saints. S...
Image: Saint Francis Solanus statue at Howard University School of Divinity | photo by Jim McIntosh Saint of the Day for July 17 (March 10, 1549 – July 14, 1610) Saint Francis Solano’s Story Francis came from a leading family in Andalusia, Spain. Perhaps it was his popularity as a student that enabl...
Image: Saint Gregory Grassi, OFM | Whitworth Digital Commons | Whitworth University Saints of the Day for July 8 (February 13, 1823 – July 9, 1900) Saint Gregory Grassi and Companions’ Story Christian missionaries have often gotten caught in the crossfire of wars against their own countries. When th...