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 Henry | photo by Lawrence, OP | flicker Saint of the Day for July 13 (May 6, 972 – July 13, 1024) Saint Henry’s Story As German king and Holy Roman Emperor, Saint Henry was a practical man of affairs. He was energetic in consolidating his rule. He crushed rebelli...
Image: St. Ignatius of Loyola | Peter Paul Rubens Saint of the Day for July 31 (October 23, 1491 – July 31, 1556) Saint Ignatius of Loyola’s Story The founder of the Jesuits was on his way to military fame and fortune when a cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on ha...
Image: Stained glass window of Saint Irenaeus | Église Saint-Irénée, France | photo by Gérald Gambier Saint of the Day for June 28 (c. 130 – c. 202) Saint Irenaeus’ Story The Church is fortunate that Saint Irenaeus was involved in many of its controversies in the second century. He was a student, we...
Image: Detail | Santiago apóstol con donante | Jaime Baço Saint of the Day for July 25 (d. c. 44) Saint James’ Story This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they worked with their father in a fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had already called anoth...
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: 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: Stained glass window of Curé d’Ars | Luant, France | photo by François Goglins Saint of the Day for August 4 (May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859) Saint John Vianney (Saint Jean Vianney), also known as the Curé d’Ars, is considered the patron saint of parish priests. He is known for his deep devotio...
A statue of St. Junipero Serra sits among flowers outside San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo Mission in Carmel, Calif. (CNS photo/Nancy Wiechec) Saint of the Day for July 1 (November 24, 1713 – August 28, 1784) Saint Junipero Serra’s Story In 1776, when the American Revolution was beginning in the east,...
Image: Stained glass of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha | Saint Stephen Catholic Church, Chesapeake, Virginia | photo by Nheyob Saint of the Day for July 14 (1656 – April 17, 1680) Saint Kateri Tekakwitha’s Story The blood of martyrs is the seed of saints. Nine years after the Jesuits Isaac Jogues and Jean...
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...
Image: Statue of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi on the church at the Capuchin Friary and Seminary | photo by threecharlie Saint of the Day for July 21 (July 22, 1559 – July 22, 1619) Saint Lawrence of Brindisi’s Story At first glance, perhaps the most remarkable quality of Lawrence of Brindisi is his ou...
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 window of Saint Maria Goretti | Reinhard Müller Saint of the Day for July 6 (October 16, 1890 – July 6, 1902) Saint Maria Goretti’s Story One of the largest crowds ever assembled for a canonization—250,000—symbolized the reaction of millions touched by the simple story of Maria...
Image: Stained glass window at Saint Mary MacKillop shrine, Penola South Australia | photo by Pru.mitchell Saint of the Day for July 19 (January 15, 1842 – August 8, 1909) Saint Mary MacKillop’s Story If Saint Mary MacKillop were alive today, she would be a household name. It’s not that she sought t...
Image: Saint Mary Magdalene, Head hands and feet | photo by Simon Webster | flicker Saint of the Day for July 22 (d. c. 63) Saint Mary Magdalene’s Story Except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honored in the Bible than Mary Magdalene. Yet she could well be the patron of the slandered, sin...
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: Oliver Plunkett | Edward Luttrell Saint of the Day for July 2 (November 1, 1629 – July 1, 1681) Saint Oliver Plunkett’s Story The name of today’s saint is especially familiar to the Irish and the English—and with good reason. The English martyred Oliver Plunkett for defending the faith in his...