Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro (January 23)
August 8, 1936-January 23, 1964
Benedetta was born the second of six children in Italy. At only three months old, she contracted polio, and suffered with repeated bronchitis. Benedetta grew up wearing a leg brace and orthopedics to ...
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Blessed Benedetta Bianchi Porro (January 23)
August 8, 1936-January 23, 1964
Benedetta was born the second of six children in Italy. At only three months old, she contracted polio, and suffered with repeated bronchitis. Benedetta grew up wearing a leg brace and orthopedics to prevent her spine from deforming. When she was thirteen, she began to lose her hearing. Still, Benedetta persevered, and traveled to Milan where she first studied physics, but later discerned that she was called to study medicine. Benedetta wanted to become a doctor so she could help those who needed medical care most. She studied diligently despite her hearing loss. It was later discovered that Benedetta had a condition called neurofibromatosis, or Von Recklinghausen disease. The disease would eventually force her to leave medical school and leave her blind and deaf.
Benedetta was confined to her home with her illness. She began to write letters to others, in which she shared her faith and her love for God. Multiple operations left her paralyzed and she slowly lost her five senses. In 1962, Benedetta went on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, praying for a miracle. While she was there, she met a young woman, sobbing beside her. Benedetta held her hand and encouraged her to pray, asking for the Blessed Virgin’s intercession. The young woman was healed. When Benedetta returned home, people started traveling to see her, as her reputation for being a kind and holy woman grew. Many came wanting to comfort Benedetta, and left feeling they had been comforted by her presence as well.
Near the end of her life, Benedetta was completely immobile except some movement in one hand. She once said, “I want to say to those who are suffering, to the sick, that if we are humble and docile, the Lord will do great things in us.” Her love for the Lord and for others never wavered as she endured a lifetime of illness. She succumbed to her illness in 1964.
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St. Francis de Sales wrote a book to remind people that all are called to be holy, not just priests and religious. As a family, how can we become more holy?
Blessed Benedict Daswa (February 1)
June 16, 1946-February 2, 1990
Benedict was born Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa, into the Lemba tribe in rural South Africa. He was raised observing Jewish customs but converted to Catholicism when he was 17 years old. When he was bapti...
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Blessed Benedict Daswa (February 1)
June 16, 1946-February 2, 1990
Benedict was born Tshimangadzo Samuel Daswa, into the Lemba tribe in rural South Africa. He was raised observing Jewish customs but converted to Catholicism when he was 17 years old. When he was baptized, he took the name Benedict, after the catechist who instructed him in his faith.
Benedict was a loving husband and father. He and his wife had eight children together. He worked as the principal of the village school and served on the village council. He was a faithful Catholic who helped build the parish church and was elected the pastoral council president. Because of his strong faith, Benedict refused to have anything to do with the practice of witchcraft, which was common in his village.
In 1990, Benedict’s village was hit with severe weather, and lightning struck several homes. The village council wanted to pay a sangoma, or shaman, to determine who was responsible for the storms. Benedict knew that if a person were identified as a witch, he or she would be captured and killed. He refused to pay the shaman or have any part in a hunt for witches. The following week, Benedict was ambushed by angry villagers and died from his injuries. In January 2015, Pope Francis recognized Benedict as a martyr. He was beatified in Limpopo, South Africa on September 13, 2015.
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Consider the courage of St. Paul Miki and Companions. What made them so brave?
Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago (July 13)
November 22, 1918-July 13, 1963
Carlos was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He suffered from a condition called ulcerative colitis, which made him unable to complete school. Still, Carlos was an avid reader, and studied the liturgy clos...
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Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríguez Santiago (July 13)
November 22, 1918-July 13, 1963
Carlos was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico. He suffered from a condition called ulcerative colitis, which made him unable to complete school. Still, Carlos was an avid reader, and studied the liturgy closely. He even published two magazines, called Liturgy and Christian Culture. Carlos worked tirelessly to promote the renewal of the liturgy and restore lost liturgical customs.
He was a strong advocate for restoring the Easter Vigil to a nighttime celebration, and in 1951, Pope Pius XII updated the Easter Vigil liturgy and moved it to the evening. This special Mass happens on Holy Saturday. On that evening, after the sun goes down, we gather in the dark and slowly fill the church with light and joy. It's the night when we celebrate Jesus rising from the dead! New people are baptized and receive the Sacraments of Initiation. We sing, pray, and recall the story of God’s love throughout salvation history. One of Carlos’ favorite sayings about the Easter Vigil was Vivimos para esa noche, meaning “We live for this night.” This is the line engraved on his tomb, located in the Cathedral of Caguas. Blessed Carlos is the first Puerto Rican, the first Caribbean-born, and first layperson in U.S. history to be beatified.
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“We live for this night” was a favorite saying about the Easter Vigil for Blessed Carlos Manuel Cecilio Rodríquez Santiago. What do you think that phrase means?
Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (October 29)
October 29, 1971-October 7, 1990
Chiara Badano was born in Italy in 1971 after her parents had been praying for a child for eleven years. When she was nine years old, Chiara went to an event hosted by the Focolare Movement, which enc...
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Blessed Chiara Luce Badano (October 29)
October 29, 1971-October 7, 1990
Chiara Badano was born in Italy in 1971 after her parents had been praying for a child for eleven years. When she was nine years old, Chiara went to an event hosted by the Focolare Movement, which encouraged unity and peace by developing relationships. This is where her love of Jesus grew. She received the nickname Chiara “Luce” which means “clear light” from the founder of the movement.
Chiara was very popular. She played tennis and other sports. She loved to sing and dance. She said she did not try to bring Jesus to her friends with words, but with her example and how she lived her life. Chiara was known for giving away toys to children in need, visiting the elderly in retirement homes, and reaching out to those who were lonely or sick. When she was 17, Chiara was diagnosed with bone cancer. Treatments were painful and unsuccessful. She became paralyzed. She embraced her suffering and united it with Jesus’ suffering on the Cross.
While confined to bed, Chiara wrote letters and sent messages to others, even giving all her savings to a friend who was becoming a missionary in Africa. She inspired everyone who she encountered with her love of others as well as her faith. Near the end of her life, she said, “I have nothing left, but I still have my heart, and with that I can always love.” Chiara died in 1990. Within nine years, the bishop of her diocese began the work on her cause for canonization. Pope Benedict XVI declared her “Blessed” in 2010.
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Blessed Chiara Badano encouraged unity and peace by developing relationships. Why are relationships important to maintaining peace?
Blessed Dina Bélanger (September 4)
April 30, 1897-Septemer 4, 1929
Dina was born in Quebec, Canada, where her parents raised her in the Catholic faith. They were generous with their time and money, always giving to the poor and visiting the sick and the grieving. Din...
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Blessed Dina Bélanger (September 4)
April 30, 1897-Septemer 4, 1929
Dina was born in Quebec, Canada, where her parents raised her in the Catholic faith. They were generous with their time and money, always giving to the poor and visiting the sick and the grieving. Dina went to a Catholic school run by the Sisters of Notre Dame. She was an excellent student and learned from the sisters to love prayer and to appreciate a simple life. When she was 8 years old, she started learning to play the piano. Music became Dina’s way of bringing glory to God.
Dina went on to study piano at a conservatory in New York, where she became an accomplished musician. When Dina returned home, she felt called to religious life, and was received into the Congregation of Jesus and Mary in 1921. Dina taught music at the convent until she contracted tuberculosis and scarlet fever while caring for a sick child. She spent the end of her life in prayer, writing her autobiography, and composing music that she felt was an expression of her mystical union with Christ.
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Blessed Dina Bélanger continued to use her gift of music once she became a religious sister. In what way does music inspire your faith? What kind of music moves you the most?
Blessed Eurosia Fabris Barban (January 8)
September 27, 1866-January 8, 1932
Eurosia, or Rosina, as she was known by her family, was born and raised on a farm in Italy. She learned dressmaking from her mother and made her own First Communion dress when she was 12 years old. As...
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Blessed Eurosia Fabris Barban (January 8)
September 27, 1866-January 8, 1932
Eurosia, or Rosina, as she was known by her family, was born and raised on a farm in Italy. She learned dressmaking from her mother and made her own First Communion dress when she was 12 years old. As a teenager, Rosina taught catechism and sewing classes to children. She was asked more than once to marry, but always declined, believing that she was called to religious life.
In 1885, Rosina’s neighbor died, leaving behind her husband and two children. Rosina offered to help take care of the two young children. The following year, after much prayer and discernment, Rosina married the children’s father, Carlo Barban. The couple had nine more children together and adopted three others. With this, Rosina became known as “Mamma Rosa.” The Barban family’s home became a gathering place for many of the local children.
Mamma Rosa continued to work as a dressmaker while raising her family. She took vows as a Third Order Franciscan and gave much of her earnings to the poor. She was a working mother, a wife, and a faithful Catholic. With great joy, she watched three of her sons enter the priesthood. Blessed Eurosia died in 1932, just two years after her husband’s death.
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Blessed Eurosia watched three of her sons enter the priesthood. Do you know anyone who you think is called to the priesthood? If so, what are some ways you can encourage that person to pursue discernment of this vocation?
Blessed Francisco de Paula Victor (September 23)
April 12, 1827-September 23, 1905
Francisco was born into slavery in Brazil in 1827. His mother’s slave owner baptized Francisco as an infant and was his godmother. At first, Francisco trained to become a tailor. When he expressed tha...
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Blessed Francisco de Paula Victor (September 23)
April 12, 1827-September 23, 1905
Francisco was born into slavery in Brazil in 1827. His mother’s slave owner baptized Francisco as an infant and was his godmother. At first, Francisco trained to become a tailor. When he expressed that he felt called to become a priest, he was rejected at every turn due to his race and his status as a slave. His godmother went to a local priest who connected them to a bishop who was a passionate abolitionist and fought to allow Francisco to attend seminary.
While studying at the seminary, Francisco continued to face racism and discrimination. Francisco persevered, and his loving and determined demeanor earned him respect and acceptance from many of his classmates and teachers. After his ordination in 1851, parishioners were resistant to having a Black priest at their church. Some even refused to receive Holy Communion from him. Francisco’s love for Jesus, his humility, and service to others, once again changed the hearts of the people in his parish and his community. When Francisco died in 1905, the people in his territory called him “the saint of the impossible.” Blessed Francisco is the first black male Brazilian to be beatified.
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Blessed Francisco faced racism and discrimination. What is racism and why is it wrong?
Blessed Frederic Ozanam (September 9)
April 23, 1813-September 8, 1853
Frederic was a Frenchman born in Milan, Italy in 1813. He was raised in Lyon, France in a devout Catholic family. When he was 15 years old Frederic struggled with doubts about his faith, but he was he...
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Blessed Frederic Ozanam (September 9)
April 23, 1813-September 8, 1853
Frederic was a Frenchman born in Milan, Italy in 1813. He was raised in Lyon, France in a devout Catholic family. When he was 15 years old Frederic struggled with doubts about his faith, but he was helped through them by a local priest. Fredric later went to Paris to study law, where he excelled in apologetics, and was known for fiercely defending his Catholic faith. One day another student challenged Frederic to consider what he could do to live out his faith, instead of just talking about it. Frederic was inspired by this challenge to gather a group of students and “go to the poor” as Jesus had done. It was this group of students, who went out to serve the poor and lonely, that eventually became the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
On June 23, 1841, Frederic married Amelie Soulacroix. Together they had a daughter. He remembered his wife on the 23rd of each month with flowers and a poem expressing his love for her. Frederic continued to serve the poor even while pursuing his academic work. He visited them in their homes and spent countless hours with them. Sadly, Frederic died at the age of 40. The St. Vincent de Paul Society is still active today and serves the poor around the world.
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Blessed Frederic Ozanam had doubts about his faith when he was young. Have you ever had doubts about your faith? If so, what were (are) they?
Blessed James Alberione (November 26)
April 4, 1884-November 26, 1971
James grew up on a farm in northern Italy. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a priest. While in seminary, he would pray before the Blessed Sacrament and could feel Jesus’ deep desire ...
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Blessed James Alberione (November 26)
April 4, 1884-November 26, 1971
James grew up on a farm in northern Italy. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a priest. While in seminary, he would pray before the Blessed Sacrament and could feel Jesus’ deep desire to draw others close to him. After he was ordained in 1907, Fr. Alberione was asked by his bishop to manage the diocesan newspaper. Inspired by his experiences before the Blessed Sacrament, he knew the Church needed to use the newspaper, and every other form of modern media as means of proclaiming the Gospel.
In 1914, Fr. Alberione founded the Society of St. Paul. The following year, he founded the Daughters of St. Paul. The Paulines’ mission is to use modern media in the service of evangelization. Today the Paulines produce books, magazines, radio programs, CDs, television programs, and content on the internet in 40 different countries around the world.
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Blessed James Alberione knew that every form of communication could be used to evangelize. What are some popular Catholic media outlets today? What are some that are aimed at kids and youth?
Blessed John of Fiesole (February 18)
1387– February 18, 1455
This patron of Christian artists was born around 1400 in a village overlooking Florence, Italy. He took up painting as a young boy and studied under the watchful eye of a local painting master. He joi...
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Blessed John of Fiesole (February 18)
1387– February 18, 1455
This patron of Christian artists was born around 1400 in a village overlooking Florence, Italy. He took up painting as a young boy and studied under the watchful eye of a local painting master. He joined the Dominicans at about age 20, taking the name Fra Giovanni. He eventually came to be known as Fra Angelico. His most famous works include the Annunciation and Descent from the Cross and many frescoes in the monastery of San Marco in Florence. He also served in leadership positions within the Dominican Order. At one point, Pope Eugenius approached him about serving as archbishop of Florence. Fra Angelico declined, preferring a simpler life.
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Blessed John of Fiesole was an artist . He used his artistic ability to glorify God. Have you ever created something that honored or glorified God (i.e., painting, drawing, poetry, music, craft, woodwork, cooking)? Share about what you created.
Blessed Ladislao Batthyány-Strattmann (January 22)
October 28, 1870-January 22, 1931
Ladislaus was the sixth of ten brothers, born into an ancient noble family in Hungary. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a doctor so he could serve the poor. Ladislaus and his wife, C...
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Blessed Ladislao Batthyány-Strattmann (January 22)
October 28, 1870-January 22, 1931
Ladislaus was the sixth of ten brothers, born into an ancient noble family in Hungary. He knew from a very young age that he wanted to be a doctor so he could serve the poor. Ladislaus and his wife, Countess Maria Teresa Coreth, had 13 children together. They attended Mass together every day and prayed the rosary every night as a family. In 1902 Ladislaus opened a hospital and worked there during World War I, taking care of injured soldiers.
When his uncle died in 1915, Ladislaus inherited a castle in Hungary. Five years later, he moved his entire family into the castle and made one wing of their home into a hospital that specialized in ophthalmology. Ladislaus became well-known all over Hungary and across Europe as a “doctor of the poor.” When people came to him for medical treatment, he never charged them any money. Instead, he would tell his patients that their “fee” was to pray an Our Father for him. As a doctor, Ladislaus was able to live his personal vocation in a powerful way.
Ladislaus prayed before every surgery he performed, asking God to bless the operation, and believed that he was merely an instrument in the hands of God. Dr. Ladislaus died in 1931 after suffering with bladder cancer for over a year. Even in moments of great pain, he said, “I am happy. I am suffering atrociously, but I love my sufferings and am consoled in knowing that I support them for Christ.”
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Blessed Ladislao Batthyány-Strattmann turned half of his home into a hospital. How can your home be a place of welcome and healing for others?
Blessed Lucien Botovasoa, O.S.F. (April 14)
1908-April 14, 1947
Lucien Botovasoa was born in Vohipeno, Madagascar. He was the oldest of nine children. At the age of 10, Lucien began attending public school, and then continued his studies at the Jesuit College of S...
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Blessed Lucien Botovasoa, O.S.F. (April 14)
1908-April 14, 1947
Lucien Botovasoa was born in Vohipeno, Madagascar. He was the oldest of nine children. At the age of 10, Lucien began attending public school, and then continued his studies at the Jesuit College of St. Joseph. When he finished school in 1928, Lucien went to work as a teacher. He was known for his love of the saints, and his willingness to stay after class to talk with his students and tell the saints’ stories.
In 1930 Lucien married Suzanna Soazana. Shortly after their wedding, a nun asked Lucien if he ever regretted getting married, because she thought he would have made an excellent priest. Lucien responded immediately that he had no regrets, because he was serving the Lord in his vocation as a married man. Lucien and Suzanna went on to have five children together. Lucien later joined the Secular Franciscans, where he was dedicated to his work as a teacher and to his most important role as a husband and father.
In 1946, political unrest was on the rise in Madagascar as the native Malagasy people began to revolt against French colonial rule. The Malagasy viewed Catholics as French loyalists and began targeting religious people and families. By 1947, Lucien’s parish had been burned down, many of the Catholics in the city had already been arrested, and it became known that Lucien was next to be taken away. Lucien spent the day with his family and allowed himself to be arrested. His executioners were his former students, and Lucien was beheaded while praying for them. Blessed Lucien is known as the patron of married couples, fathers, and teachers.
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Blessed Lucien Botovasoa loved the saints and telling their stories. Who is your favorite saint?
Blessed Maria Ludovica De Angelis (February 25)
October 24, 1880-February 25, 1962
Antonina De Angelis was the oldest of eight children, born in Italy in 1880. As a child, she loved nature and was often found working in the fields where she felt most at home being close to God’s ear...
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Blessed Maria Ludovica De Angelis (February 25)
October 24, 1880-February 25, 1962
Antonina De Angelis was the oldest of eight children, born in Italy in 1880. As a child, she loved nature and was often found working in the fields where she felt most at home being close to God’s earth. In 1904, Antonina entered the Daughters of Our Lady of Mercy and received the name Sister Maria Ludovica. Three years later, she left Italy for Buenos Aires where she went to work at the children’s hospital. She made meals for those in the hospital and those working there. She was also made the manager of the whole hospital. Sister Ludovica became known as the angel of the hospital staff.
Sister Ludovica was gentle, yet determined, and always carried a rosary in her hands. She went on to raise funds to build operating rooms and buy medical equipment to expand the hospital. Her life motto was “Do good to all, no matter who it may be.”
Sister Ludovica was beatified in 2004 by Pope John Paul II. The miracle attributed to her was the inexplicable healing of a child suffering with spina bifida who was able to walk after her mother asked Sister Ludovica for her intercession.
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Blessed Maria Ludovica De Angelis tried to help everyone. How was she acting like Jesus?
Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat (July 24)
March 6, 1880 - July 24, 1936
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat showed a great love for her neighbor and tried to inspire that type of love in others. She attended Mass daily and gave herself to God completely ...
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Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat (July 24)
March 6, 1880 - July 24, 1936
Born in Barcelona, Spain, Blessed Maria Mercedes Prat showed a great love for her neighbor and tried to inspire that type of love in others. She attended Mass daily and gave herself to God completely as a child. Maria was a devoted student, painter, and excelled in sewing. After her parents’ deaths, she helped care for her younger siblings. As an orphan and the eldest daughter, she combined successfully her prayer life, her responsibilities in the home, her artistic talent, and her apostolate as a catechist and a member of the Teresian Arch-confraternity.
Once her siblings were old enough, she entered the Society of St. Teresa of Jesus in Tortosa and eventually went back to Barcelona for her assignment at the motherhouse. There, she taught joyfully in the community school for sixteen years until the sisters were forced to flee due to the unrest from the Spanish Civil War and the persecution of Catholics. She was arrested and shot for being a religious sister. The words of the Our Father were the last words on her lips. The sisters in the order described her as a “true Teresian—a religious according to the heart of God.”
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If you could go anywhere in the world to proclaim the Gospel, where would you go?
Blessed Michael McGivney (August 13)
August 12, 1852-August 14, 1890
Born to Irish immigrant parents, Michael was the oldest of thirteen children. Sadly, six of Michael’s siblings died as babies or in childhood. He grew up in Connecticut, where his father worked at a b...
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Blessed Michael McGivney (August 13)
August 12, 1852-August 14, 1890
Born to Irish immigrant parents, Michael was the oldest of thirteen children. Sadly, six of Michael’s siblings died as babies or in childhood. He grew up in Connecticut, where his father worked at a brass mill. At the age of 16, Michael entered seminary, but had to return home to care for his siblings when his father died. He was able to resume his studies and was finally ordained a priest in 1877.
Suffering the loss of his father and the financial strain it put on his family, Fr. McGivney understood the struggle of immigrant families and the devastation of losing one’s father and wage earner unexpectedly. His experience led him to establish the Knights of Columbus. The Knights became a fraternal organization dedicated to offering financial assistance in the event of a man’s death to assist widows, families, and orphans. Today, there are over 1.9 million members world-wide with many different initiatives to help those in need.
Fr. McGivney died at the age of 38 from pneumonia. On October 31, 2020, Fr. McGivney was beatified in Hartford, Connecticut with Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin (a native of Metro Detroit) presiding on the Pope's behalf. The miracle attributed to Fr. McGivney was the miraculous healing of Mikey Schachle, who received a fatal diagnosis while still in the womb. Mikey and his family were in attendance at the beatification.
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Blessed Michael McGivney saw a need to serve those in need. Who is in need in your community? How can you help them in the weeks ahead?
Blessed Niels Steensen (December 5)
January 11, 1638-December 5, 1686
Niels Steensen (also known as Nicolas Steno) was born in Denmark and raised in the Lutheran church. He was known among medical professionals and historians. By the time Niels graduated from medical sc...
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Blessed Niels Steensen (December 5)
January 11, 1638-December 5, 1686
Niels Steensen (also known as Nicolas Steno) was born in Denmark and raised in the Lutheran church. He was known among medical professionals and historians. By the time Niels graduated from medical school, it was clear to everyone that Niels was a genius. His gift for understanding and exploring science and biology was evident in his work in anatomical dissection, where he discovered a salivary duct still known today as the Steno’s Gland. In addition to his work in anatomy and physiology, Niels advanced studies in the areas of paleontology, geology, geometry, and crystallography.
At the age of 29, Niels converted to Catholicism. In the face of disapproval from his colleagues, family, and friends, he considered his conversion to be the culmination of his intellectual journey. Niels later attended seminary and was ordained a priest, and later a bishop. He compared his work as a priest and bishop to his work as a physician. Priests are like doctors for the soul, treating spiritual illness by identifying symptoms, causes, and remedies for each individual patient. Niels felt that Jesus was the model for physician and priest alike, as he came to heal the sick, both physically and spiritually. In his role as bishop, Niels worked to uphold the teachings of the Church, to reform the priesthood, and to encourage vocations.
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Bl. Niels Steensen saw the connection between science and faith. God created the universe and everything in it, including the laws of science. How big and powerful must God be to do this?
Blessed Nikolaus Gross (January 15)
September 30, 1898-January 23, 1945
Nikolaus was the son of a German blacksmith. After graduating from the local Catholic school, he made his living as a manual laborer, eventually working in a coal mine. In 1919, Nikolaus joined the St...
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Blessed Nikolaus Gross (January 15)
September 30, 1898-January 23, 1945
Nikolaus was the son of a German blacksmith. After graduating from the local Catholic school, he made his living as a manual laborer, eventually working in a coal mine. In 1919, Nikolaus joined the St. Anthony’s Miners Association, the union for Catholic mine workers and a prominent voice in the local Catholic community. Nikolaus rose through the ranks in the union and eventually became editor of the union newspaper. Happily married to Elizabeth Koch, he had seven children and was a devoted husband and father. While dedicated to providing for and raising his family, Nikolaus made it a point to stay informed about the social and political climate in Germany.
Nikolaus believed that it was in his work and social obligations that he would carry out his Christian mission. In 1943, he wrote his doctrine of faith saying, “"The majority of great achievements come into being through the daily performance of one's duties in the little things of everyday routine. Our special love here is always for the poor and the sick.” Nikolaus’ faith informed his work at the union newspaper, and he boldly spoke out against Nazism in his writing, leading to the newspaper’s ban in 1938. Nikolaus responded to the ban by publishing pamphlets for Catholic workers, encouraging them in their faith. Soon after, the Nazis began investigating Nikolaus. He was interrogated, and his home was searched by Nazi officials. In 1944, Nikolaus received information about plans to assassinate Adolph Hitler. Although he played no role in this plan, he was arrested, and hanged several months later. He was beatified in 2001.
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What virtues do you see in Blessed Nicolaus Gross?
Blessed Peter To Rot (July 7)
1912-July 1945
Peter To Rot (pronounced toe rote) was born and raised in an island village in what is now Papua New Guinea. His father was the tribal chief, who converted to Catholicism when Missionaries of the Sacr...
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Blessed Peter To Rot (July 7)
1912-July 1945
Peter To Rot (pronounced toe rote) was born and raised in an island village in what is now Papua New Guinea. His father was the tribal chief, who converted to Catholicism when Missionaries of the Sacred Heart came to the village. Peter was a leader among his friends, a good student, and would help the older villagers by climbing coconut trees to get them coconuts. When Peter was a child, he wanted to be a priest, but his father was concerned that Peter was too young to make such a decision. Instead, he studied to become a catechist in his village. In 1936, he married his wife Paula, and the couple had three children together.
In 1942, Japan invaded the island, and imprisoned all the missionary priests. Since Peter wasn’t a priest, he remained free. He took on the role of spiritual guide for his village. He and his catechists baptized babies and converts, cared for the sick and the elderly, conducted Sunday prayer services, and brought the Eucharist to priests in prison. Soon the military banned Christian worship, so Peter continued his work in secret. When the military police announced that the islanders should return to polygamy, Peter openly objected. He was arrested and put in prison. Peter became a martyr for the faith after receiving a lethal injection in prison. He was beatified by Pope John Paull II in 1995.
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Describe how Blessed Peter To Rot lived out his vocation.
Blessed Sebastian Kimura (September 10)
1565-September 10, 1622
Sebastian Kimura was born in Japan in 1565 to Christian parents. As a matter of fact, Sebastian’s grandfather was the first Japanese convert to be baptized by St. Francis Xavier. At the age of 12, Seb...
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Blessed Sebastian Kimura (September 10)
1565-September 10, 1622
Sebastian Kimura was born in Japan in 1565 to Christian parents. As a matter of fact, Sebastian’s grandfather was the first Japanese convert to be baptized by St. Francis Xavier. At the age of 12, Sebastian began learning and working with the Jesuits in Japan. He was 19 when he formally entered the Society of Jesus. In 1601, Sebastian became one of the first Japanese natives to be ordained a priest.
It was around this time that the Japanese began persecuting Christians, and many foreign missionaries were forced to leave the country. As a Japanese native, Sebastian was able to remain in Japan and move around freely by disguising himself as a soldier, merchant, or laborer. He used his disguises to visit Christian families and administer the sacraments to people in prisons. When it became clear that the police were looking for him, Sebastian’s superiors urged him to flee, but he was captured before he could leave and died a martyr for the faith. Sebastian and 204 companions were beatified by Pope Pius IX in 1867.
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How does the life of Blessed Sebastian Kimura inspire you?
Blessed Solanus Casey (July 30)
November 25, 1870-July 31, 1957
Bernard Francis Casey was one of sixteen children born to Irish immigrants in Wisconsin. The Casey family were devout Catholics who prayed daily and attended Mass as often as they could. It was no sur...
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Blessed Solanus Casey (July 30)
November 25, 1870-July 31, 1957
Bernard Francis Casey was one of sixteen children born to Irish immigrants in Wisconsin. The Casey family were devout Catholics who prayed daily and attended Mass as often as they could. It was no surprise when Bernard decided to devote his life to God as a priest. For years, he struggled with his studies in seminary until he was told he would be better off joining a religious order. Bernard left Wisconsin to join the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. He was accepted into the order at the age of 33 and, taking the name Solanus after St. Francis Solano, was ordained a “simplex priest,” meaning he could not hear confessions or preach doctrinal sermons. Still, Fr. Solanus loved to celebrate Mass.
He served as a porter, answering the door and hearing people’s needs. Fr. Solanus was recognized as a holy man, spending much of his time feeding the poor and caring for the sick. Many of the people he prayed for were miraculously cured of their illnesses; people would line up for blocks to see Fr. Solanus. He never turned people away when they wanted to speak to him. Many miracles have been attributed to Fr. Solanus Casey’s intercession.
On July 31, 1957, Fr. Solanus Casey passed away. His last words reportedly were “I give my soul to Jesus Christ.” Fr. Solanus was beatified on November 18, 2017, at Ford Field in Detroit. His tomb is located inside the Solanus Casey Center in Detroit. Today, people continue to ask Blessed Solanus for help by writing their prayer requests on a piece of paper and placing it on his tomb.
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Blessed Solanus Casey struggled with his studies but that did not stop him. What is something that you struggle with? How can your family support you and pray for you?
Blessed Stanley Rother (July 28)
March 27, 1935 – July 28,1981
Stanley Francis Rother grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church and School. He worked hard doing chores, attended school, played sports, was an altar server, and enjoyed...
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Blessed Stanley Rother (July 28)
March 27, 1935 – July 28,1981
Stanley Francis Rother grew up on a farm in Oklahoma and attended Holy Trinity Catholic Church and School. He worked hard doing chores, attended school, played sports, was an altar server, and enjoyed the activities associated with growing up in a small town. While in high school, he began to discern the possibility of a vocation to the priesthood. After high school, he went to seminary and was ordained a priest. After five years, Fr. Rother received permission to join the staff at the Oklahoma diocese's mission in Santiago Atitlan, Guatemala. He served the native tribe of the Tz’utujil. Fr. Rother learned Spanish and the Tz’utujil language. He celebrated Mass in their language and helped translate the New Testament.
Fr. Rother was surrounded by extreme poverty among the Tz’utujil, who were living in one-room huts growing what they could on their small plots of land. He ministered to his parishioners in their homes eating with them, visiting the sick and aiding them with medical issues. He even put his farming skills to use by helping them in the fields, bringing in different crops, and building an irrigation system.
While he served in Guatemala, there was a civil war and the Catholic Church was caught in the middle due to its emphasis on catechizing and educating the people. During this conflict, thousands of Catholics were killed. For his safety, Fr. Rother returned home to Oklahoma, but didn’t stay long, as he was determined to give his life completely to his people, stating that “the shepherd cannot run.” He returned to Santiago Atitlan to continue the work of the mission.
Within a few months, he was executed. On Dec. 1, 2016, Pope Francis officially recognized Fr. Rother as a martyr for the faith. He is the first martyr from the United States and the first U.S.-born priest to be beatified. The Rite of Beatification was held on Sept. 23, 2017, in downtown Oklahoma City – an event attended by more than 20,000 people from around the world.
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Blessed Stanley Rother returned back to Guatemala to minister to his people in spite of the danger there. In what way does Fr. Rother remind you of Jesus?
Blessed Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas (May 4)
April 21, 1846 – May 4, 1897
Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas was born in Cuenca in Ecuador on April 21, 1846. He studied law in college but felt drawn to the religious life, so he abandoned his studies in order to join the Jesuits...
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Blessed Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas (May 4)
April 21, 1846 – May 4, 1897
Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas was born in Cuenca in Ecuador on April 21, 1846. He studied law in college but felt drawn to the religious life, so he abandoned his studies in order to join the Jesuits in 1864. He began his novitiate in Cuenca where the Jesuits had settled since the order was forced to leave Quito due to the anti-religious sentiment and persecution at the time. Moscoso studied in the San Luis college where he did his philosophical studies.
Moscoso first began his duties as a priest and as a teacher. He was known for his kind and generous personality and a serene, simple, and humble character. In 1895 the Liberal Revolution broke out in Ecuador, which triggered a series of persecutions and a wave of anti-religious sentiment against religious orders and priests. On May 4, 1897, the soldiers who were authorized to take priests as prisoners, barged into the church, killed several people, and broke the tabernacle. The men proceeded to throw the hosts to the ground and drink the wine mocking the sacraments. They found Moscoso in a room kneeling. There, he was shot and killed. On February 5, 2019, Pope Francis -- himself a Jesuit – approved his beatification and declared that he had been killed “in odium fidei” (in hatred of the faith).
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Where do you see darkness and light in the story of Blessed Victor Emilio Moscoso-Cárdenas?
Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo (August 21)
1848-August 21, 1894
Victoria grew up in Madagascar in a prominent family, practicing the animist religion of her ancestors. When she was 13 years old, Victoria went to a Catholic school. She was drawn to the Gospel and w...
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Blessed Victoria Rasoamanarivo (August 21)
1848-August 21, 1894
Victoria grew up in Madagascar in a prominent family, practicing the animist religion of her ancestors. When she was 13 years old, Victoria went to a Catholic school. She was drawn to the Gospel and was soon baptized into the faith. Victoria was drawn to religious life, but her parents arranged for her to be married. Sadly, her husband was an alcoholic and unfaithful to his wife.
In 1883, Catholics faced persecution under the new monarchy and all missionaries were expelled from Madagascar. On the first Sunday after the missionaries had been removed, soldiers stood guard at the cathedral doors, trying to stop people from coming to Church. Victoria stood bravely in front of the soldiers and said, “If you must have blood, begin by shedding mine.” Victoria went on to use her family’s status to protect Catholics from persecution and to serve the poor. Victoria also helped Catholics gather in boarded up churches for catechesis, prayer, and Bible study. When missionaries were once again allowed to return to Madagascar, they discovered that even in the absence of priests and missionary workers, the Church was flourishing.
In 1888, Victoria’s husband died after repenting and being baptized on his death bed. Victoria spent the remainder of her years serving the poor, sick, and imprisoned until she died in 1894. She was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1989.
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Blessed Victoria Rasomanarivo helped the Church grow when it was facing persecution. Do you know anyone who is facing difficulties? How can you help and support them?
Martyrs of Scillitan (July 17)
d. 180
The Scillitan Martyrs were a group of twelve North African Christians (seven men and five women) who were executed for their beliefs on July 17, 180. Their names were Speratus, Nartzalus, Cintinus (Ci...
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Martyrs of Scillitan (July 17)
d. 180
The Scillitan Martyrs were a group of twelve North African Christians (seven men and five women) who were executed for their beliefs on July 17, 180. Their names were Speratus, Nartzalus, Cintinus (Cittinus), Veturius, Felix, Aquilinus, Laetantius, Januaria, Generosa, Vestia, Donata, and Secunda. They were an example of the strength and vigor of the Church in Africa in the 2nd century. The martyrs take their name from Scilla (or Scillium), a town in Numidia (present day Algeria). The Acts of the Scillitan Martyrs are considered to be the earliest documents of the church of Africa.
Speratus, their principal spokesman, wrote that they had lived a quiet and moral life, paying their dues and doing no wrong to their neighbors. However, when called upon to swear an oath to the emperor, they refused. The proconsul of Scillium asked the seven men and five women what has caused them to rebel against worshipping the emperor. They replied, “the books and epistles of Paul, a just man.” The emperor was seemingly unimpressed but not particularly upset, and so he gave them thirty days to reconsider and recant, but they all refused. Their trial and execution took place in Carthage under Governor Vigellius Saturninus, who was the first persecutor of Christians in Africa.
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The Martyrs of Scillitan were asked to worship the emperor instead of Jesus. Why is it wrong to worship anyone other than Jesus?
Servant of God Caroline Jones Chisholm (March 25)
May 30, 1808-March 25, 1877
Caroline was born in England in 1808 and raised in an Anglican family. Even as a child, she was very interested in immigration and felt drawn to help the less fortunate. When Caroline was 22, Archibal...
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Servant of God Caroline Jones Chisholm (March 25)
May 30, 1808-March 25, 1877
Caroline was born in England in 1808 and raised in an Anglican family. Even as a child, she was very interested in immigration and felt drawn to help the less fortunate. When Caroline was 22, Archibald Chisholm, a faithful Catholic and a Captain in the East India Army company, asked her to marry him. Caroline agreed on one condition: that he would support her in helping those in need, as she understood that to be a special calling for her. Archibald agreed. Caroline soon converted to Catholicism, and the two raised their family in the Church. While living in Madras, Caroline opened the Female School of Industry, a school for orphaned girls, illegitimate daughters of British soldiers, and local women.
In 1838, Archibald’s health was failing, so Caroline and her family moved to Sydney, Australia in hopes that a more temperate climate would help Archibald feel better. Caroline was appalled by the poor treatment of the migrant women living in Sydney. She went to work immediately, advocating to get the women jobs, better working conditions, and shelter. Three years later, she founded the Female Emigrant’s Home, where women found shelter and assistance finding jobs.
In her first seven years in Australia, Caroline helped over 11,000 immigrants. Her compassion and love for the poor and lonely arriving in Australia is so well-known and respected that her picture is on Australia’s original $5 bill. Caroline continued to advocate, write, and speak on immigration rights until she became bedridden the last few years of her life. Caroline died at the age of 68, and her husband Archibald died five months later.
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Servant of God Caroline Jones Chisholm knew God had called her to serve those in need. How did her vocation to marriage help her do that?
Servant of God Dorothy Day (November 29)
November 8, 1897-November 29, 1980
“If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.”Dorothy Day was born in 1897, the third of four children. She was an avid reader and was inspired ...
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Servant of God Dorothy Day (November 29)
November 8, 1897-November 29, 1980
“If I have achieved anything in my life, it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.”
Dorothy Day was born in 1897, the third of four children. She was an avid reader and was inspired by stories of people who took an active role in bringing change to the world around them. Moved by Upton Sinclair’s book The Jungle, Dorothy learned to see beauty in unlikely places, including the poor neighborhoods of Chicago where she grew up. By the time Dorothy started college, she had determined she was an atheist. The more she read, the more she was drawn to radical social ideals. Two years later, she dropped out of college and moved to New York. In New York, she worked for a socialist newspaper and wrote about rallies and demonstrations. She continued her work writing in opposition to American involvement in the Vietnam War.
Dorothy’s conversion to the Catholic faith took shape when she discovered she was pregnant with her daughter, Tamar. Upon hearing the news that Dorothy was pregnant, Tamar’s father had no interest in marriage or children and felt that it was wrong to bring a child “into such a violent world.” He left Dorothy alone, pregnant, and brokenhearted. Still, Dorothy found beauty in her painful ordeal. She turned her heart toward God, having Tamar baptized into the Catholic Church, and being received into full communion herself. Dorothy went on to form the Catholic Worker movement, an initiative that sought to promote social justice in the practice of political activism, the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, and radical hospitality. She opened multiple Hospitality Houses to welcome anyone in need of a place to rest, heal, recover or in some cases, die. She is famously quoted saying, “I really only love God as much as the person I love the least.” Dorothy herself lived in houses among the poor as she continued to fight for peace, equality, and social justice. She passed away in 1980.
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Constance Gladman had a gift for teaching. Who is/was your favorite teacher? Why is this teacher so special to you?
Servant of God Luis de Cáncer, O.P. (June 26)
c. 1500 – June 26, 1549
Fr. Luis de Cáncer de Barbastro, O.P., was a Dominican priest and Spanish missionary to the New World. In 1542 he went to the territory of Guatemala and successfully ministered to the Mayan people. Aw...
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Servant of God Luis de Cáncer, O.P. (June 26)
c. 1500 – June 26, 1549
Fr. Luis de Cáncer de Barbastro, O.P., was a Dominican priest and Spanish missionary to the New World. In 1542 he went to the territory of Guatemala and successfully ministered to the Mayan people. Aware of their sensitivity for music and their mistrust of Europeans, he used song as a first means of contact. The Dominican friars translated the content of their preaching into rhythmic poetic form using the different languages of the region and employing images and musical expressions from the local cultures. Fr. Cáncer mastered the different dialects of the area and was the composer of Christian canticles in these native languages. His evangelization efforts were so successful that an area that was known for violence was renamed the “Province of True Peace.” He believed that aggression and violence were counter-productive to the spread of the Gospel and that the native peoples needed to be treated with dignity.
Following his missionary success in Guatemala, Fr. Cáncer went on a mission to Florida in 1549. His expedition set sail from Mexico and landed just north of modern-day Tampa Bay. Fr. Cáncer celebrated Mass in Florida on the Feast of Corpus Christi. At first the missionaries were welcomed by the native peoples, who knelt in prayer as Fr. Cáncer chanted litanies to God and to the saints. However, this welcome did not last long. Two of Fr. Cáncer’s companions went ashore to stay with the natives, but soon perished at the hands of their hosts. When Fr. Cáncer heard word of the killing, he resolved to continue with the mission despite the danger. On June 26, he made his way ashore where he was clubbed to death in sight of the rest who were still in the boat. Though not a canonized saint, he is nevertheless regarded by those working for the canonization of the martyrs of La Florida as the “proto-martyr” of Florida.
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Fr. Cáncer and the Dominican friars used music to evangelize native cultures. How can music be used to evangelize today? What is your favorite church hymn or Christian song?
Servant of God Terence James Cooke (October 6)
March 1, 1921-October 6, 1983
Terence Cooke was born in New York City to Irish immigrants. His father was a chauffeur and a construction worker. At the age of 15, he entered seminary to study for the priesthood for the Archdiocese...
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Servant of God Terence James Cooke (October 6)
March 1, 1921-October 6, 1983
Terence Cooke was born in New York City to Irish immigrants. His father was a chauffeur and a construction worker. At the age of 15, he entered seminary to study for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York. As a priest, Fr. Cooke served as chaplain for St. Agatha’s Home for Children, and later completed graduate studies in Washington, D.C., where he earned a degree in Social Work. He returned to New York to serve a parish in the Bronx, the Catholic Youth Organization, and later for Catholic Charities.
On April 4, 1968, Cooke was installed as the Archbishop of New York. That same day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Archbishop Cooke went to Harlem that very evening to plead for racial peace. A year later, he was appointed Cardinal-Priest of Santi Giovanni e Paolo, Rome. In his time as Archbishop and Cardinal, he founded Birthright, an organization that aids women in choosing life over abortion, inner city scholarship funds, housing development programs, and nine nursing homes.
In 1983, Cardinal Cooke announced to the public that he had been battling leukemia since being diagnosed in 1965, and that he only expected to live a few more months. Having battled his illness quietly for years, Cardinal Cooke chose not to resign from his position. In a letter to the church in the Archdiocese of New York, he wrote, "The gift of life, God's special gift, is no less beautiful when it is accompanied by illness or weakness, hunger or poverty, mental or physical handicaps, loneliness or old age." He died on October 6, 1983, in his home in New York City.
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God worked miracles in the life of St. Reparata. Share a time when you saw God’s hand at work in your life.
Servant of God Thea Bowman (March 30)
December 29, 1937-March 30, 1990
Born and raised in Canton, Mississippi, Bertha Elizabeth Bowman was the daughter of a physician and a teacher. She converted to Catholicism as a child, after learning about the faith from her teachers...
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Servant of God Thea Bowman (March 30)
December 29, 1937-March 30, 1990
Born and raised in Canton, Mississippi, Bertha Elizabeth Bowman was the daughter of a physician and a teacher. She converted to Catholicism as a child, after learning about the faith from her teachers, who were Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, and Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity. Bertha was drawn to the example of how Catholics love and care for each other, but most notably, she knew that God was indeed the God of the poor and oppressed.
At the age of 15, Bertha left her home in Mississippi to enter the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in LaCrosse, Wisconsin. She was the only African American member in the convent and took the name Sister Mary Thea. Sister Thea was inspired by the Second Vatican Council to rediscover her African American religious heritage and spirituality; she used her knowledge of her culture to inform her work in service to the Gospel. She became a highly acclaimed evangelist, teacher, writer, and singer, known for enriching the message of God’s love with the beauty of her African American culture. Sr. Thea was instrumental in the 1987 publication of Lead Me, Guide Me: The African American Catholic Hymnal.
When she returned to her hometown to care for her aging parents, Sr. Thea worked with the Diocese of Jackson to build intercultural awareness in the Church. She gave inspirational presentations to Black congregations all over the United States and the world, calling Catholics to celebrate their differences and retain their cultures in a way that was faithful to the Church and celebrated being one in Christ. Sr. Thea died in 1990 after a six-year battle with breast cancer.
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Today is Word of God Sunday (see Fun Fact). In what way did St. Agape honor the Word of God? In what ways can we honor the Word of God in our family?
St. Alberto Hurtado (August 18)
January 22, 1901-August 18, 1952
Alberto was born in Chile in 1901. He was only 4 years old when his father died, and his mother was forced to sell their family home. Alberto spent most of his childhood moving around and living with ...
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St. Alberto Hurtado (August 18)
January 22, 1901-August 18, 1952
Alberto was born in Chile in 1901. He was only 4 years old when his father died, and his mother was forced to sell their family home. Alberto spent most of his childhood moving around and living with various family members. At the age of 22, Alberto entered the Jesuits, and studied in Argentina, Spain, and Belgium. About 10 years after he was ordained a priest, Fr. Alberto gave a presentation at a retreat where he urged everyone in attendance to do more to care for the poor and homeless in Santiago.
Shortly after that, Fr. Alberto founded El Hogar de Cristo, or “Christ’s House.” El Hogar de Cristo was a place of refuge for the poor, offering shelter and a home-like environment for homeless children. This was the first of many initiatives Fr. Alberto started. His own experience with homelessness instilled in him love and compassion for the poor, and inspired him to work tirelessly to provide them safety, food, and shelter. Fr. Alberto died of pancreatic cancer in 1952. Even as he experienced much pain and suffering with his illness, he was known to say, “I am content, Lord.”
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St. Alberto Hurtado advocated for the poor and homeless. What are ways we can show care and concern for the poor and homeless?
St. Anatolius of Laodicea (July 3)
d. July 3, 283
Also known as Anatolios of Alexandria, Anatolius was the Bishop of Laodicea in Roman Syria in the year 268. He was a praised scientist, philosopher, and mathematician. It is told that during a rebelli...
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St. Anatolius of Laodicea (July 3)
d. July 3, 283
Also known as Anatolios of Alexandria, Anatolius was the Bishop of Laodicea in Roman Syria in the year 268. He was a praised scientist, philosopher, and mathematician. It is told that during a rebellion against the Romans in Bruchium, Alexandria, Anatolius acted as a peacemaker. The area was under siege, and rebels and citizens alike were starving. Anatolius negotiated with the Romans to release the children, women, elderly and the sick.
Around 260, Anatolius invented the first Metonic 19-year lunar cycle. For this, he is considered the founder of the new Alexandrian computes paschalis, which is a calculation used to determine the date on which the Church celebrates Easter!
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St. Anatolius of Laodicea was best known for mathematics, but he had other great skills, like peacekeeping. What is a skill or talent people may not know that you have?
St. André Bessette (January 6)
August 9, 1845 – January 6, 1937
Brother André was born in Canada near Montreal. He had a life-long devotion to St. Joseph. As a young adult, he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross. Much like our own Father Solanus Casey, he was g...
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St. André Bessette (January 6)
August 9, 1845 – January 6, 1937
Brother André was born in Canada near Montreal. He had a life-long devotion to St. Joseph. As a young adult, he entered the Congregation of Holy Cross. Much like our own Father Solanus Casey, he was given the humble job of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal and had an incredible gift of healing. When an epidemic broke out at a nearby college, André volunteered to nurse; not one person died. The trickle of sick people to his door became a flood. He died at the age of 92 and is buried in the basilica he helped to build. He was canonized a saint in 2010 by Pope Benedict XVI.
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What inspires you about the story of St. André Bessette?
St. Andrew Kim Taegon (September 20)
August 21, 1821 – September 16, 1846
Andrew Kim Taegon was the son of Christian converts. Following his baptism at age 15, Andrew traveled 1,300 miles to a seminary in Macao, China. After six years, he managed to return to his country an...
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St. Andrew Kim Taegon (September 20)
August 21, 1821 – September 16, 1846
Andrew Kim Taegon was the son of Christian converts. Following his baptism at age 15, Andrew traveled 1,300 miles to a seminary in Macao, China. After six years, he managed to return to his country and, that same year, crossed the Yellow Sea to Shanghai to be ordained a priest. St. Andrew Kim was the first Korean-born priest. The Christians of Korea were heavily persecuted in his lifetime, and many were forced to practice their faith underground. St. Andrew Kim and over 100 other Christian witnesses were martyred for their faith. He is the patron saint of Korea.
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What would it be like to be persecuted for your faith?
St. Augustine of Hippo (August 28)
November 13, 354 – August 28, 430
Augustine was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and false beliefs. However, Augustine was extremely intelligent. Although he had been raised as a Christian, his sins of ...
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St. Augustine of Hippo (August 28)
November 13, 354 – August 28, 430
Augustine was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and false beliefs. However, Augustine was extremely intelligent. Although he had been raised as a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much that he could not see or understand God. Through the prayers of his mother, St. Monica, and the great preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. He became a Christian at 33, a priest at 36, and a bishop at 41. His writings influenced the development of the Western Church and Western philosophy and, indirectly, all of Western Christianity. He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church for his writings during the Patristic Period. His most important works are The City of God, De doctrina Christiana, and Confessions.
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Consider the conversion of St. Augustine. Is it hard for someone to change from living a sinful life to a holy life? Why or why not?
St. Augustine Zhao Rong (July 9)
d. 1815
Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Over the centuries, Christianity in China was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly depending on China’s relations with the outside ...
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St. Augustine Zhao Rong (July 9)
d. 1815
Christianity arrived in China by way of Syria in the 600s. Over the centuries, Christianity in China was free to grow or was forced to operate secretly depending on China’s relations with the outside world.
Augustine Zhao Rong, is one of a group of 120 Catholics who were martyred between the years 1648 and 1930 in China. Zhao Rong was a bailiff of a county jail. During the persecution of 1772, he was moved by the words of Fr. Martinus Moye to his fellow Catholic prisoners, and, ultimately converted. He later became a priest, and when in 1815 another persecution broke out, he was arrested and tortured. Because of his age, he died of the ill treatment.
Of the 120 martyrs, eighty-seven were Chinese, ranging in age from nine to seventy-two, and four of them were priests. Thirty-three were foreign-born, mostly priests or women religious. Though the missionaries and religious tried to distance themselves from foreign policies, the Chinese government did not differentiate and saw them all as westerners.
The martyrdoms of China are very moving, each person having died heroically though many of them suffered torture and cruel deaths. Fr. Francis Li, grandson of a Chinese martyr, describes his grandfather going to his death joyfully saying to his brother and son, “Let’s go, we are going to heaven today!”
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St. Augustine Zhao Rong was converted to Christianity through the moving words of a priest. What words would you use to share Jesus with someone?
St. Benedict, Abbotand St. Scholastica St. Benedict 480 – 547 and St. Scholastica 480 – February 10, 542 (July 11)
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St. Benedict, Abbotand St. Scholastica St. Benedict 480 – 547 and St. Scholastica 480 – February 10, 542 (July 11)
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St. Scholastica and St. Benedict had similar interests. Which person in your immediate or extended family has interests that are similar to yours?
St. Bernadette of Lourdes (April 16)
January 7, 1844 – April 16, 1879
St. Bernadette Soubirous was the first child of an extremely poor mill operator in the town of Lourdes in southern France. On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary began appearing to Bernadette i...
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St. Bernadette of Lourdes (April 16)
January 7, 1844 – April 16, 1879
St. Bernadette Soubirous was the first child of an extremely poor mill operator in the town of Lourdes in southern France. On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary began appearing to Bernadette in a cave above the banks of the Gave River near Lourdes. She appeared to Bernadette 18 times in all. Although Bernadette’s initial reports provoked skepticism, her daily visions of “the Lady” brought great crowds of curious people. The Lady, Bernadette explained, had instructed her to have a chapel built on the spot of the visions. The people were to wash in and drink the spring water that welled up from the designated spot. Lourdes has become one of the most famous Marian shrines in the world, attracting millions of visitors. Miracles have been reported at the shrine and in waters of the spring.
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St Fidelis of Sigmaringen helped the poor and oppressed. Why is it important for us to help the poor?
St. Bernard of Clairvaux (August 20)
1090 – August 20, 1153
At the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles, and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years, a dying ...
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St. Bernard of Clairvaux (August 20)
1090 – August 20, 1153
At the age of 20, Bernard left his home to join the monastic community of Citeaux. His five brothers, two uncles, and some 30 young friends followed him into the monastery. Within four years, a dying community had recovered enough vitality to establish a new house in the nearby valley of Wormwoods, with Bernard as abbot. The valley was soon renamed Clairvaux, the valley of light. Bernard developed a rich theology of sacred space and music, writing extensively on both. He was instrumental in re-emphasizing the importance of Lectio Divina and contemplation on Scripture within his order.
His ability as an arbitrator and counselor became widely known. He was increasingly lured away from the monastery to settle long-standing disputes. Bernard intervened in a full-blown schism and settled it in favor of the Roman pontiff against the antipope. The Holy See prevailed on Bernard to preach the Second Crusade throughout Europe. His eloquence was so overwhelming that a great army was assembled, and the crusade's success seemed assured; however, the project ended as a complete military and moral disaster. Bernard felt responsible for the outcome of the crusade. This heavy burden possibly hastened his death, which came on August 20, 1153. In 1830, Pope Pius VIII bestowed upon Bernard the title "Doctor of the Church."
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St. Bernard of Clairvaux wrote about sacred music. What is your favorite Christian song or hymn?
St. Boniface (June 5)
c. 675 - June 5, 754
St. Boniface was born around the year 675 in Wessex (present-day Devon), England. His birth name was Winfrid. He was a brilliant monk in a Benedictine monastery in England. Although he was the head of...
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St. Boniface (June 5)
c. 675 - June 5, 754
St. Boniface was born around the year 675 in Wessex (present-day Devon), England. His birth name was Winfrid. He was a brilliant monk in a Benedictine monastery in England. Although he was the head of a school, he thought God wanted him to be a missionary. He went to Frisia (Northern Netherlands and Germany) to begin his work. A war forced him to return to England for a few years, but he did not give up. Next, he journeyed to Rome to ask the pope to tell him where to serve. Pope Gregory II changed Winfrid’s name to Boniface, which means “a man who does good deeds.” Then he sent Boniface to eastern Germany to convert pagans to Christianity.
For nearly 35 years, Boniface traveled all over Germany, preaching, teaching, and building schools, monasteries, and convents. He returned to Rome to report to the pope about his work. There, the pope ordained him bishop and told him to return to Germany to continue his missionary work and to reform the German Church. In the kingdom where he lived, he had great problems because of lay interference in bishops’ elections and the worldliness of the clergy. In order to restore the German Church to its fidelity to Rome and to convert the pagans, Boniface was guided by two principles: 1) to restore the obedience of the clergy to their bishops in union with the pope of Rome, and 2) the establishment of many houses of prayer which took the form of Benedictine monasteries.
As an old man, Boniface returned to Frisia to work among the pagans. One morning, while he was waiting to confirm a group of converts, a band of angry natives rushed into the church and murdered Boniface and about 50 converts. Today St. Boniface is the patron of Germany.
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Do you think Blessed Franz Jagerstatter was right for standing up for his convictions? Why or why not?
St. Carlo Acutis (October 12)
May 3, 1991-October 12, 2006
Saint Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991 in London and eventually moved to Milan, Italy. While his family was not particularly religious at the time, Carlo demonstrated great interest in Catholic ch...
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St. Carlo Acutis (October 12)
May 3, 1991-October 12, 2006
Saint Carlo Acutis was born on May 3, 1991 in London and eventually moved to Milan, Italy. While his family was not particularly religious at the time, Carlo demonstrated great interest in Catholic churches from a young age. He was commonly observed praying before and after Mass at the tabernacle. He also went to Confession weekly. He enjoyed visiting Assisi and the tomb of St. Francis.
In addition to his love for the Church, Carlo was like other kids his age and loved playing video games and soccer. He was deeply interested in computers and taught himself how to code and build websites for Catholic organizations. His most popular website listed Eucharistic miracles from around the world based on a catalog he compiled since age 11. He completed the site shortly before his death.
Carlo was also known to give away his pocket money to the poor, to speak up in defense of the disabled, and he had a habit of inviting kids whose parents were divorcing to his house to support them.
When Carlo developed leukemia as a teenager, he offered up his suffering for Pope Benedict XVI and the Church. He said, "I offer all the suffering I will have to suffer for the Lord, the Pope, and the Church." As part of his devotion, Carlo asked his parents to take him to various Eucharistic shrines, although his declining health made travel increasingly difficult. Carlo died on October 12, 2006 at age 15.
Exactly four years to the day after his death, his mother gave birth to twins which she attributed to her son's intercession. She also said her son has appeared to her in dreams foretelling his canonization.
Carlo Acutis was named a "Servant of God" in 2013. A miracle was attributed to him in November of 2019 when a young boy born with a pancreatic defect was miraculously cured. Pope Francis announced the beatification of Carlo Acutis while visiting Assisi in 2020. In 2024, his intercession was attributed to a second miracle—a 21-year-old Costa Rican girl who was healed from a serious head injury after a bicycling accident in Italy. This led to Pope Francis declaring that he would be recognized as a saint in 2025, during the Jubilee Year. He was canonized on Sunday, September 7, 2025. His mother, father, and younger siblings were present at the canonization.
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Blessed Carlo Acutis used his interest in computers to help Catholic organizations. How can you use technology to glorify God?
St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25)
d. 310
Catherine of Alexandria was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. At that time, Alexandria was one of the finest cities in the world, and a center of learning and culture as well as faith. Christian t...
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St. Catherine of Alexandria (November 25)
d. 310
Catherine of Alexandria was born around 287 in Alexandria, Egypt. At that time, Alexandria was one of the finest cities in the world, and a center of learning and culture as well as faith. Christian tradition states that she was of noble birth, possibly a princess, and very well-educated. Around the age of fourteen, she experienced a moving vision of Mary and the infant Jesus, and she decided to become a Christian.
When she was only eighteen years old, Catherine presented herself to the Emperor Maxentius who was violently persecuting the Christians, denounced him for his cruelty, and endeavored to prove that worship of false gods was wrong. Astounded at the young girl's audacity, but unable to provide an argument against her position, the tyrant detained her in his palace and summoned fifty philosophers to debate her. However, Catherine was moved by the power of the Holy Spirit and spoke eloquently in defense of her faith and emerged from the debate victorious. Her words were so moving that several of the pagans converted to Christianity and were immediately executed. Maxentius was furious and had Catherine scourged and then imprisoned. During her imprisonment more than 200 people came to see her, including Maxentius' wife. All converted to Christianity and were subsequently martyred. Twelve days later, when the dungeon was opened, a bright light and fragrant perfume filled the space, and Catherine came forth even more radiant and beautiful. Soon afterwards, the saint was condemned to die on a spiked wheel, but, at her touch, this instrument of torture was miraculously shattered. The Emperor, enraged beyond control, then had her beheaded. Angels carried her body to Mount Sinai where later a church and monastery were built in her honor.
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Explain how the power of the Holy Spirit moved in young Catherine of Alexandria. What would happen if you opened yourself up to the power of the Holy Spirit?
St. Catherine of Siena (April 29)
March 25, 1347-April 29, 1380
Catherine Benincasa was 16 when her parents tried to arrange her marriage. She had experienced mystical visions since she was young, and desired deeply to remain single and commit her life to God. Cat...
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St. Catherine of Siena (April 29)
March 25, 1347-April 29, 1380
Catherine Benincasa was 16 when her parents tried to arrange her marriage. She had experienced mystical visions since she was young, and desired deeply to remain single and commit her life to God. Catherine was so insistent that she remain unmarried that she cut off all her hair. Finally, Catherine’s parents relented, and allowed her to remain at home, living as a Dominican tertiary. Catherine lived in silence and solitude in her room for three years, until she felt the Lord calling her out of solitude and into the world. Catherine went to work helping the sick and serving the poor. Over time, Catherine’s reputation as a kind and holy woman grew, and people would come to her for advice.
In addition to her work with the poor, Catherine took an active role in attempts to reform the Church. She wrote to political leaders and other influential people, admonishing them for their sinful ways, and calling upon them to change. She dictated many letters to Pope Gregory XI, imploring him to return from Avignon (and he did!), and she was instrumental in healing the schism that followed in 1380.
Catherine wrote over 400 letters in her lifetime. Her definitive work, Dialogue, is a record of her mystical visions. In her visions, Catherine describes the movement of the soul as it draws closer to God. She is most often quoted, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” Her writings were so influential, St. Catherine was later declared a doctor of the Church.
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St. Catherine of Siena says, “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” What is God calling you to be?
St. Cecilia (November 22)
230
St. Cecilia was a young woman in Rome who, from a young age, wanted to consecrate herself to God. She spent her days preaching the word of God in the streets of Rome and brought many people to believe...
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St. Cecilia (November 22)
230
St. Cecilia was a young woman in Rome who, from a young age, wanted to consecrate herself to God. She spent her days preaching the word of God in the streets of Rome and brought many people to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and risen from the dead. Living during a time of great persecution, she was arrested, and many attempts were made to execute her, but miraculously, she survived them all. Finally, her head was chopped off, becoming one of the Church’s first virgin martyrs. She has been a powerful intercessor for Christians since the early days of the Catholic Church, and many churches are named after her worldwide. Her body was exhumed in 1599, and she was the first saint to be discovered as incorrupt, meaning that her body did not decay as bodies normally do after death. St. Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians. Many musical compositions are dedicated to her, and her feast day has become the occasion for concerts and musical festivals.
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What are some things you can do to put your life under the kingship of Jesus Christ?
St. Charles de Foucauld (December 1)
d. 1916
Saint Charles de Foucauld was born into an aristocratic family in Strasbourg, France. When he was a teenager, Charles distanced himself from the faith and claimed that he no longer believed in God. In...
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St. Charles de Foucauld (December 1)
d. 1916
Saint Charles de Foucauld was born into an aristocratic family in Strasbourg, France. When he was a teenager, Charles distanced himself from the faith and claimed that he no longer believed in God. In 1876, Charles joined the French army and was sent to Algeria. His experience in the army inspired him to take up travel and exploration. Charles set out for a one-year exploration expedition to Morocco. Because Europeans were forbidden in Morocco, Charles disguised himself as a Jew.
When he returned to France, he felt a strong interior grace to go back to Church. He would spend long hours there repeating this strange prayer: “My God, if you exist, allow me to know you!” Eventually, Charles felt the call to leave everything and follow Jesus. He became a Trappist monk, and after 7 years, Charles left the monastery and worked as a gardener and sacristan for the Poor Clare nuns in Nazareth, and then later in Jerusalem. At the age of 43, he returned to France and was ordained a priest. Later that year Charles journeyed to Beni-Abbes, Morocco, to serve among the Tuareg people, a nomadic ethnic group. He was deeply respectful of the faiths and cultures he lived among and became a “brother” to the people. De Foucauld was the inspiration for the founding of several lay associations, religious communities, and secular institutes of laity and priests. He was assassinated by a band of men at his hermitage in the Sahara on Dec. 1, 1916. On May 26, 2020, Pope Francis approved a second miracle attributed to de Foucauld’s intercession, paving the way for his canonization on May 15, 2022.
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What inspires you about St. Natalia and her husband Adrian?
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions (June 3)
d. between November 15, 1885 – January 27, 1887
By 1879 the first Catholic missions were started in Uganda and other parts of Central Africa. Under King Mutesa, missionaries preached, people studied the faith, and many believed in Jesus. Unfortunat...
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St. Charles Lwanga and Companions (June 3)
d. between November 15, 1885 – January 27, 1887
By 1879 the first Catholic missions were started in Uganda and other parts of Central Africa. Under King Mutesa, missionaries preached, people studied the faith, and many believed in Jesus. Unfortunately, King Mutesa was succeeded by King Mwanga, who began persecuting the Christians in Uganda. Mwanga was a corrupt man who abused his young pages (male servants).
Charles Lwanga was in his late teens when he served as a page in the court of King Mwanga. He served under the chief page, Joseph Mukasa, who was a Catholic and went to great lengths to protect the younger boys from the king. Mukasa denounced the king’s actions and the king subsequently had Mukasa beheaded. That night, realizing that their lives may be in danger, Charles and 100 other catechumens were baptized. At 25 years old, Charles replaced Mukasa as chief page. Charles catechized the young men, encouraged them to refuse to take part the pagan customs of the country, and protected them from the king’s advances.
The following May, King Mwanga learned that some of the pages were being instructed in the faith. He was furious and ordered all the pages to be questioned to separate the Christians from the others. Mwanga commanded his soldiers to kill Charles Lwanga and his friends. Most of the pages were under the age of twenty-five. The youngest was thirteen years old. After their deaths, many other Christians were persecuted and killed. The example of these teenagers and men inspired other people, which caused the faith to grow and spread in Africa. Twenty-two Ugandan martyrs, including Charles and the pages, were canonized in 1964.
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St. Charles Lwanga went to great lengths to protect younger boys from danger. Share a time when you protected someone from getting hurt or getting into trouble.
St. Cleopas of Emmaus (September 25)
1st Century
St. Cleopas was one of the disciples who met the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus, and is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on September 25th. While little is known of either him or his companion,...
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St. Cleopas of Emmaus (September 25)
1st Century
St. Cleopas was one of the disciples who met the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus, and is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology on September 25th. While little is known of either him or his companion, there is a tradition which identifies this Cleopas with the husband of Mary (the mother of James the Lesser). Furthermore, some speculate that he was the brother of St. Joseph, the spouse of the Virgin Mary.
The Gospel of Luke offers a unique post-resurrection narrative of Cleopas and an unnamed traveling companion who were on their way to Emmaus, a town about 7 miles from Jerusalem. The two travelers felt troubled over the recent death of Jesus. They had placed great hopes in Christ and felt confused over his death, yet they were simultaneously amazed over the stories circulating that day about a resurrection. As they walked, they encountered Jesus who interpreted the Scriptures to them in an attempt to help Cleopas and his friend understand the necessity of what had happened. The words of Jesus must have given the two a sense of awe, for as they approached Emmaus, they urged Jesus―whom they still did not recognize―to stay with them. Jesus agreed, and at the dinner table, he took the bread, blessed it, and gave it to Cleopas and his friend. It was at that moment the two realized that this stranger was Jesus. At the moment of recognition, however, Jesus vanished. Even though it was already evening and getting dark, Cleopas and his companion promptly went back to Jerusalem to share their glorious experience.
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Why do you think Cleopas and his friend initially had a hard time believing in Jesus’ resurrection?
St. Crispina (December 5)
d. 304
St. Crispina was a wealthy Roman wife and mother of several children in Thagara, Africa. When she found herself in danger of losing her children, her possessions, and her life in the raging persecutio...
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St. Crispina (December 5)
d. 304
St. Crispina was a wealthy Roman wife and mother of several children in Thagara, Africa. When she found herself in danger of losing her children, her possessions, and her life in the raging persecution, instead of being intimidated, she was filled with a holy joy, because of the Christian education which she had received from her most tender years. Being arrested in her native city of Thagara by order of the proconsul Anulinus, and brought before his tribunal, he inquired of her whether she was aware of the imperial edicts which commanded that all persons should sacrifice to the gods of the empire. She said that she would not sacrifice to any other God other than the Lord Jesus who suffered for us. As a result, Crispina was tortured and publicly ridiculed. On December 5, she was beheaded.
St Crispina was held in high veneration all through Africa and is honored by St. Augustine in various parts of his works, in which he speaks of her martyrdom.
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In a time of trouble, St. Crispina was filled with a holy joy because of the Christian education she received. Share a time when the teachings that were handed on to you became a source of comfort or joy.
St. Cyril of Alexandria (June 27)
378 – June 27, 444
St. Cyril was born about 376 in Alexandria, Egypt. He became archbishop when his uncle, the former archbishop, died. During his first years in the position, Cyril was severe with heretics (baptized me...
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St. Cyril of Alexandria (June 27)
378 – June 27, 444
St. Cyril was born about 376 in Alexandria, Egypt. He became archbishop when his uncle, the former archbishop, died. During his first years in the position, Cyril was severe with heretics (baptized members of the Church who refuse to acknowledge or accept a revealed truth) and other people who caused trouble for the Christians. Later, he grew in compassion. Cyril became famous for his action at the Council of Ephesus. He tried to make the heretic Nestorius understand that Christ was truly God and man. He defended the teaching that Mary is the Mother of God and insisted on calling her Theotokos, a Greek name meaning “God-bearer” or “Mother of God.” Cyril died in 444. Because of his struggle with heretics and his forceful writing about doctrine, Cyril was later named a Doctor of the Church.
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St. Cyril of Alexandria challenged people who were heretics. Do you think there are any heretics today? Explain your answer.
St. Dominic Savio (May 6)
April 2, 1842 – March 9, 1857
Dominic was born into a peasant family in Riva, Italy. Dominic joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed St. John Bosco with his desire to be a priest a...
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St. Dominic Savio (May 6)
April 2, 1842 – March 9, 1857
Dominic was born into a peasant family in Riva, Italy. Dominic joined St. John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed St. John Bosco with his desire to be a priest and to help him in his work with neglected boys. A peacemaker and an organizer, young Dominic founded a group he called the Company of the Immaculate Conception, which, besides being devotional, helped John Bosco with the boys and with manual work. Dominic was called home to heaven at the age of 14. The members of his group joined the Salesian congregation that John Bosco started. As a youth, Dominic spent hours rapt in prayer. Even in play, he said that at times, “It seems heaven is opening just above me. I am afraid I may say or do something that will make the other boys laugh.” Dominic would also say, “I can’t do big things. But I want all I do, even the smallest thing, to be for the greater glory of God.”
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St. Dominic Savio was concerned with how others would react to his deep faith. Do you worry about what others will think of you if you share your faith? What would help with that?
St. Dulce Lopes Pontes (August 13)
May 26, 1914-March 13, 1992
Born to an upper-middle class family in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Maria Rita de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes wanted for nothing. After her mother died, Maria went to live with her aunts. When Maria was 13,...
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St. Dulce Lopes Pontes (August 13)
May 26, 1914-March 13, 1992
Born to an upper-middle class family in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, Maria Rita de Souza Brito Lopes Pontes wanted for nothing. After her mother died, Maria went to live with her aunts. When Maria was 13, her aunts took her to visit the poorest areas of her city, where Maria was deeply moved by the suffering she witnessed. She began dedicating her life to helping the poor and sick. She was known to invite the poor and sick to come to her home where she and her neighbors could care for them until she entered the Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Mother of God.
Upon taking her vows, Maria took the name Sister Dulce, after her mother. She continued to spend her time helping the poor and destitute. She went on to establish the first workers union in Salvador, a school for working-class children, and worked to offer medical assistance, food, and shelter to the poor. In 1949, Sister Dulce was granted permission from her superior to offer medical care in her convent’s chicken yard, which she converted into a makeshift hospital. Eleven years later, the chicken yard would be transformed into Saint Anthony’s Hospital.
In 1959, the Charitable Works Foundation of Sister Dulce was formed. It consolidated many of Sister Dulce’s programs into a major Brazilian health and social services organization that is still in operation today.
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In what way did St. Dulce Lopes Pontes fulfill her mission as a disciple?
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4)
August 28, 1774-January 4, 1821
Elizabeth was raised in a home of wealth and privilege in New York. She married a prominent young businessman, William Seton. When William’s business went bankrupt, and he contracted tuberculosis, the...
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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (January 4)
August 28, 1774-January 4, 1821
Elizabeth was raised in a home of wealth and privilege in New York. She married a prominent young businessman, William Seton. When William’s business went bankrupt, and he contracted tuberculosis, they moved to Italy, where they hoped the climate would improve William’s health. This was not the case, and he passed away a short time later. Now a widow, Elizabeth and her children became completely dependent on the kindness of her husband’s business partners in Italy. She went to Catholic Mass with friends in Italy while they awaited the opportunity to return home. Elizabeth was touched deeply by her Catholic friends’ belief in the True Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
Five months after she returned to America, she converted to the Catholic Faith. Elizabeth’s conversion represented no small challenge or sacrifice. At a time when she needed the support of family and friends most, she was criticized and rejected for her newfound faith. Yet, she took up the task she believed God was calling her to do. Years later, Elizabeth took up a second calling as a religious and founded the Sisters of Charity. Mother Seton established the first free Catholic school for girls in Baltimore. The order she founded has expanded to include work for the poor in hospitals, schools, and charitable institutions.
In 1975, Elizabeth became the first American-born saint to be canonized. In his homily, Pope Paul VI gave a great definition of a saint: “A saint is a human creature fully conformed to the will of God.” St. Elizabeth conformed her life to the will of God in multiple vocations: as wife, mother, and later as a religious sister.
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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was impacted by her friend’s belief in the Eucharist. Explain your understanding of the Eucharist.
St. Elizabeth, Cousin of Mary (November 5)
First Century
May 31 is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It recalls the time when the Blessed Mother visited Elizabeth. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary was pregnant wit...
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St. Elizabeth, Cousin of Mary (November 5)
First Century
May 31 is the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It recalls the time when the Blessed Mother visited Elizabeth. Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist, and Mary was pregnant with Jesus. Elizabeth, a daughter of the line of Aaron, and the wife of Zechariah, was "righteous before God" but childless and well beyond child-bearing age. The angel Gabriel told Zechariah that Elizabeth would have a son, and they should name him John. When Mary visited Elizabeth, Elizabeth's baby leaped in her womb! Jesus made John leap with joy, and Elizabeth, in turn, was filled with the Holy Spirit and addressed words of praise to Mary—words that echoed down through the ages in the Hail Mary prayer.
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What do you think it would be like to be visited by Mary? Elizabeth greets Mary with a blessing. What words would you use to greet Mary if she visited your home?
St. Emerentiana (January 23)
d. 304
Emerentiana's mother was the wet nurse and nanny of St. Agnes. The influence of Agnes and her parents had a profound effect on Emerentiana. A slave by birth but a milk-sibling, Emerentiana was inspire...
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St. Emerentiana (January 23)
d. 304
Emerentiana's mother was the wet nurse and nanny of St. Agnes. The influence of Agnes and her parents had a profound effect on Emerentiana. A slave by birth but a milk-sibling, Emerentiana was inspired by her mistress Agnes who was teaching her the holy Faith so that she might be baptized a Christian.
Her course of study was abruptly ended with the glorious death of Agnes. Several days after Agnes was publicly martyred, Emerentiana went to the tomb to pray. Mocked by a group of pagans who saw her there grieving, she courageously defended her mistress.
This brave rebuttal raised the fury of a group of pagans and they stoned Emerentiana to death on the very tomb of her dear mistress Agnes. The tomb of the teacher became the throne of martyrdom for the disciple. It is a beautiful scene that confirms what has been believed and taught since the first centuries of the Church: martyrdom is equivalent to baptism for those not yet baptized.
At the Easter Vigil, the Church welcomes catechumens into the Catholic Church in parishes across the whole world. Like St. Emerentiana, these individuals were inspired by someone who witnessed their faith and w
ere led by teachers and mentors to be baptized into new life.
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Many people are baptized as infants; others are baptized when they are older, often at the Easter Vigil. What do you think it’s like to be baptized as an adult? What do you think it feels like to have all your sins washed away for the first time in the waters of baptism and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit?
St. Ephrem (June 9)
c. 306-June 9, 373
Ephrem was born around the year 306 in Nisibis, a city in what is now Turkey. When the Persians invaded his homeland, Ephrem moved to Edessa. He was a deacon of the Church. He was called upon to help ...
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St. Ephrem (June 9)
c. 306-June 9, 373
Ephrem was born around the year 306 in Nisibis, a city in what is now Turkey. When the Persians invaded his homeland, Ephrem moved to Edessa. He was a deacon of the Church. He was called upon to help distribute food during a famine, ensuring no one was hoarding food or starving.
He is known as “the harp of the Holy Spirit” because of his gift for writing beautiful hymns. Ephrem was one of the first early writers of his time to have a devotion to Mary. In addition to hymns, Ephrem wrote commentaries on the Bible and theological poetry. He supported himself making sails for ships while living a very simple life. He used his gifts of writing and teaching, and even his hymns to teach others about the faith.
In 373, Ephrem died serving the sick and dying who were victims of a plague that struck the city. Pope Benedict XV named St. Ephrem a Doctor of the Church in 1920. He is the only deacon to have that title.
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St. Ephrem used his gift of writing to share his faith. What talents do you have that can help you share the faith?
St. Fabian (January 20)
d. 250
Fabian was a layman who came into the city of Rome from his farm one day as people were preparing to elect a new pope. Fabian may have come for the same reason many still come to Rome today during a p...
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St. Fabian (January 20)
d. 250
Fabian was a layman who came into the city of Rome from his farm one day as people were preparing to elect a new pope. Fabian may have come for the same reason many still come to Rome today during a papal election: concern for the future of the faith, curiosity about the new pope, and a desire to grieve for the pope who had passed. Many important people gathered to make this momentous decision. During the deliberations, a dove descended from the ceiling and settled on the head of Fabian. The people interpreted this as a sign that Fabian was worthy to be pope, and much to Fabian’s surprise, he was elected.
With Fabian’s election, the Church entered a time of peace and Fabian was able to build up the structure of the Church of Rome. The emperor at the time, Philip, was friendly to Christians; the persecution stopped, and Christians gained acceptance. However, when Philip died, so did the time of peace. The new emperor, Decius, ordered all Christians to deny Christ. Many didn’t have the courage to stand up for their faith, but Fabian did. He died a martyr in the year 250.
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What similarities do you see between Cephas (Peter) and St. Fabian?
St. Faustina (October 5)
August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938
Born Helena Kowalska in west-central Poland, St. Faustina was the third oldest of 10 children. She eventually joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name St. Faustina...
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St. Faustina (October 5)
August 25, 1905 – October 5, 1938
Born Helena Kowalska in west-central Poland, St. Faustina was the third oldest of 10 children. She eventually joined the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy and took the name St. Faustina of the Blessed Sacrament. Sister Faustina had a deep spiritual life. She received revelations from the Lord Jesus that she recorded in her diary at the request of Christ and her confessor, Father Sopocko. In these revelations, Jesus emphasized his mercy and forgiveness for sins acknowledged and confessed. Jesus instructed Sister Faustina to have an image painted. The painting has two rays emanating from Christ’s heart representing the blood and water poured out after his death. Jesus also told her that the Sunday after Easter should be honored as Divine Mercy Sunday and instructed her on how to pray the chaplet of Divine Mercy. Sister Faustina died of tuberculosis in Krakow, Poland, on October 5, 1938. Pope John Paul II beatified her in 1993 and canonized her seven years later. Her name is now linked to the annual feast of the Divine Mercy, the Divine Mercy chaplet, and the Divine Mercy prayer recited each day at 3 p.m. by many people.
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Through St. Faustina, Jesus helped share his message of mercy and forgiveness. How can you share this message with others?
St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (November 13)
July 15, 1850-December 22, 1917
Born Maria Francesca Cabrini in Italy, Maria was two months premature, and she lived her life in a weakened state of health. After becoming a teacher, she wanted to join a religious order but wasn’t a...
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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini (November 13)
July 15, 1850-December 22, 1917
Born Maria Francesca Cabrini in Italy, Maria was two months premature, and she lived her life in a weakened state of health. After becoming a teacher, she wanted to join a religious order but wasn’t admitted due to her health. Instead, she was asked by a priest to teach at an orphanage. When the orphanage was closed, she and five other women founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. She took the name Frances Xavier and became the prioress of her religious order. Their mission was to care for poor children in hospitals and schools. They created a free school, a nursery, and many homes in their first few years.
Mother Cabrini had always dreamed of working as a missionary in China, but at the urging of Pope Leo XIII to go “not to the East, but to the West,” she and some of the sisters arrived in New York in 1889 and set to work helping the Italian immigrants. In 35 years, Mother Cabrini founded 67 institutions, including hospitals, orphanages, and schools, all over the United States. They focused on caring for the abandoned, the poor, the sick, and the uneducated. She became a citizen of the United States in 1909. She became ill and passed away at one of the hospitals she founded in 1917. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini became the first United States citizen to be canonized and is known as the Patroness of Immigrants.
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St. Frances Xavier Cabrini listened to the words of Pope Leo XIII to go to the United States. Who do you turn to for insights and opinions for big decisions in your life? Why?
St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)
September 26, 1182 – October 3, 1226
Francis was born into a wealthy merchant family, served as a soldier, and was a prisoner of war. He left this life behind when he heard God call him to "rebuild his Church." Francis was never a priest...
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St. Francis of Assisi (October 4)
September 26, 1182 – October 3, 1226
Francis was born into a wealthy merchant family, served as a soldier, and was a prisoner of war. He left this life behind when he heard God call him to "rebuild his Church." Francis was never a priest, though he was later ordained a deacon. Francis preached about returning to God and obedience to the Church. Slowly companions came to Francis, people who wanted to follow his life of sleeping in the open, begging for garbage to eat, and loving God. He eventually founded the men's Order of Friars Minor, the women's Order of St. Clare, the Third Order of St. Francis, and the Custody of the Holy Land. His love of nature helped him see all of God's creation as part of his brotherhood. He later became associated with patronage of animals and the natural environment, and it became customary for Catholic churches to hold ceremonies blessing animals on his feast day.
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In what way are pets (or animals in nature) a blessing to your family?
St. Francis Xavier (December 3)
April 7, 1506-December 3, 1552
Francis was the youngest child born to a noble family in Northern Spain. He met Saint Ignatius of Loyola while studying at university and they became good friends. Francis was one of the first people ...
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St. Francis Xavier (December 3)
April 7, 1506-December 3, 1552
Francis was the youngest child born to a noble family in Northern Spain. He met Saint Ignatius of Loyola while studying at university and they became good friends. Francis was one of the first people to be ordained as a priest in Saint Ignatius’ religious order, the Society of Jesus. His ministry took him to India, present-day Indonesia, and Japan, where he worked to help the poor and preach the Gospel.
Like John the Baptist, Francis was passionate about sharing God’s love with others. He evangelized in different ways for different people, always looking for new methods that spoke to the culture of the people he wanted to help. Wherever Francis travelled, he tried to learn the native language of the people who lived there. While he wasn’t much of a linguist, his priestly vocation was very fruitful; he baptized 30,000 people in his lifetime!
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St. Francis Xavier learned the languages of the native people he visited. What language would you like to learn?
St. Gianna Beretta Molla (April 28)
October 4, 1922 – April 28, 1962
St. Gianna was a faithful pediatrician from Italy and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She had three children at home and was pregnant again in 1961 when she developed a tumor in the same ...
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St. Gianna Beretta Molla (April 28)
October 4, 1922 – April 28, 1962
St. Gianna was a faithful pediatrician from Italy and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She had three children at home and was pregnant again in 1961 when she developed a tumor in the same place she was carrying the baby. St. Gianna allowed the surgeons to remove the tumor but not perform the complete hysterectomy they recommended, which would have killed the child. She chose to preserve her child’s life, showing she was willing to give her own life to save her baby. St. Gianna passed away a week after giving birth to her daughter. When she was canonized a saint, her husband and children were there, which marked the first time a husband was present for his wife’s canonization. She is the patron saint of mothers, unborn children, and physicians.
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In what way does St. Gianna remind you of Jesus?
St. Gregory Nazianzen (January 2)
325-390
St. Gregory Nazianzen was a 4th-century Christian bishop of Constantinople. He lived in a tumultuous time when false teachings about the divinity of Jesus and the divinity of the Holy Spirit were circ...
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St. Gregory Nazianzen (January 2)
325-390
St. Gregory Nazianzen was a 4th-century Christian bishop of Constantinople. He lived in a tumultuous time when false teachings about the divinity of Jesus and the divinity of the Holy Spirit were circulating in the Church. St. Gregory defended the truth about the divinity of Christ and the Holy Spirit and was called to rebuild the faith in the great see of Constantinople, which had been exposed to these false teachings for three decades. St. Gregory is a Doctor of the Church, a title given to saints recognized as having made significant contributions to theology or doctrine through their research, study, or writing.
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Just as Jesus helped the disciples on the road to Emmaus , St. Gregory Nazianzen helped people understand God’s teachings. Who helps you with questions of faith?
St. Gregory the Great (September 3)
540 – March 12, 604
Gregory was the prefect of Rome before he was 30. After five years in office, he resigned, founded six monasteries on his Sicilian estate, and became a Benedictine monk in his own home in Rome. He was...
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St. Gregory the Great (September 3)
540 – March 12, 604
Gregory was the prefect of Rome before he was 30. After five years in office, he resigned, founded six monasteries on his Sicilian estate, and became a Benedictine monk in his own home in Rome. He was ordained a priest and then served six years in the East as a papal representative in Constantinople. At the age of 50, he was elected pope by the clergy and people of Rome. During his papacy, he greatly surpassed the emperors in improving the welfare of the people of Rome. Gregory was direct and firm. He removed unworthy priests from office, forbade taking money for many services, emptied the papal treasury to ransom prisoners of the Lombards, and cared for persecuted Jews and the victims of plague and famine. He was very concerned about the conversion of England, sending 40 monks from his own monastery. He is known for his reform of the liturgy and for strengthening respect for doctrine. The mainstream form of Western chant, standardized in the late 9th century, was attributed to Gregory and named Gregorian chant.
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Gregorian chant is a form of sung prayer. What are some of your favorite styles of prayer?
St. Ignatius of Antioch (October 17)
d. 107
Ignatius was born in Syria and was a convert to Christianity. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy (denying the Christia...
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St. Ignatius of Antioch (October 17)
d. 107
Ignatius was born in Syria and was a convert to Christianity. In the year 107, Emperor Trajan visited Antioch and forced the Christians there to choose between death and apostasy (denying the Christian faith). Ignatius would not deny Christ and thus was condemned to be put to death in Rome. Ignatius allowed soldiers to bind him in a rickety cart and lead him to Rome for martyrdom. As his cart rolled into towns, local bishops and Christians came to meet and encourage him.
Ignatius is well known for the seven letters he wrote on the long journey from Antioch to Rome. They urge the Christians there to remain faithful to God and to obey their superiors. He was very concerned with unity in the Church; the letters warn against heretical doctrines, providing solid truths of the Christian faith. Ignatius also wrote that Christ was present in the Church, in each member, and in the Blessed Sacrament. He called himself “the bearer of God.” Ignatius was devoured by wild beasts in the Roman amphitheater.
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What inspires you about the story of Sts. Isaac Jogues and Jean de Brébeuf?
St. Irenaeus (June 28)
d. 202
St. Irenaeus was the Bishop of Lyon in the region of Gaul (present day France). He, much like Thomas the Apostle in today’s Gospel, was a seeker of truth. He is known for laying the foundations of Chr...
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St. Irenaeus (June 28)
d. 202
St. Irenaeus was the Bishop of Lyon in the region of Gaul (present day France). He, much like Thomas the Apostle in today’s Gospel, was a seeker of truth. He is known for laying the foundations of Christian theology and exposing and refuting the errors of the Gnostics. The Gnostics claimed access to secret knowledge imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples. Their teaching was attractive and confusing to many Christians. It was the spread of Gnosticism in Gaul, and the ravages it was making among the Christians of his diocese, that inspired Irenaeus to undertake the task of exposing its errors. He produced a treatise in five books in which he set forth fully the inner doctrines of the various Gnostic sects, and afterwards contrasted them with the teaching of the Apostles and the text of Sacred Scripture. His work gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics. St. Irenaeus suffered martyrdom in Lyons, with many others, in the year 202, under the Emperor Septimus Severus, after eighty years spent in the service of the Lord.
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During his life, St. Irenaeus exposed false teachings about Jesus. Do you think there are any false teachings about Jesus today? Why or why not?
St. John Bosco (January 31)
August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888
John Bosco was born in Becchi, Italy. He was ordained a priest in 1841 and became a spiritual father to thousands of children. He started a school for poor boys, many of whom he met when he visited th...
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St. John Bosco (January 31)
August 16, 1815 – January 31, 1888
John Bosco was born in Becchi, Italy. He was ordained a priest in 1841 and became a spiritual father to thousands of children. He started a school for poor boys, many of whom he met when he visited their parents in prison as part of his priestly work. These boys lived in the prisons too, or on the streets. He started a school where they could eat and sleep safely. Later, John began a similar school for poor girls. John Bosco educated the whole person—body and soul united. He believed that Christ’s love and our faith in that love should pervade everything we do—work, study, play. For John Bosco, being a Christian was a full-time effort, not a once-a-week, Mass-on-Sunday experience. John started the Salesians—a group of priests who helped boys—and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians—a group of nuns who helped girls. (The Salesian name came from his devotion to St. Francis de Sales.) In 1875, he sent his first group of missionaries to the Americas.
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St. John Bosco gave spiritual guidance to thousands of children. Who do you go to for spiritual guidance? Why?
St. John Nepomucene (May 16)
1345 – 1393
St. John was born in the town of Pomuk (later Nepomuk) in Bohemia around the year 1340. After being cured of a childhood disease through the prayer of his parents, John studied for the priesthood in P...
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St. John Nepomucene (May 16)
1345 – 1393
St. John was born in the town of Pomuk (later Nepomuk) in Bohemia around the year 1340. After being cured of a childhood disease through the prayer of his parents, John studied for the priesthood in Prague and Padua. After ordination, he was assigned to a parish in Prague where he gained a reputation as a great preacher. King Wenceslaus IV heard of him and invited him to become the confessor for the royal court around the year 1379. In 1393, the king asked what his beautiful wife had confessed, but John would not reveal her confession despite the king’s attempted bribes and torture. Finally, the king had him burned, tied to a wheel, and thrown off a bridge into a river. His body was found the next day, and he was immediately revered as a saint. He was canonized in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII.
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John the Baptist and St. Justin Martyr was a both great defenders of the faith. How is God calling you to live out your faith?
St. John Paul II (October 22)
May 18, 1920-April 2, 2005
Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, St. John Paul II was a man who loved people and the outdoors. He worked at a rock quarry as well as a chemical plant. Prayer was important to him, including daily...
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St. John Paul II (October 22)
May 18, 1920-April 2, 2005
Born Karol Wojtyla in Poland in 1920, St. John Paul II was a man who loved people and the outdoors. He worked at a rock quarry as well as a chemical plant. Prayer was important to him, including daily Mass, a devotion to Mary, and studying the Bible. He lost his parents and his older brother before he turned 21.
He had a love of performing and helped set up a secret theater group to perform in homes and stores when the Nazis occupied Poland during World War II. He soon left to study for the priesthood in an underground seminary. He loved meditation and monastic contemplation. He served as a chaplain at a college campus as a young priest and became a philosophy professor.
After the short papacy of John Paul I, Karol Wojtyla was elected pope in 1978, becoming the first non-Italian pope in over 450 years. He took the name of John Paul II and became known for his interfaith and ecumenical works, World Youth Days, numerous encyclicals, advancing multiple cases for sainthood, and the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 among other great initiatives. He made pastoral visits to over 120 countries. St. John Paul II modeled forgiveness and mercy, most notably when he met with the man who had attempted to assassinate him. He suffered from Parkinson’s disease later in life and died in 2005. He was beatified in 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI and was canonized in 2014 by Pope Francis.
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St. John Paul II loved the outdoors. How does nature help you grow closer to God?
St. John the Apostle (December 27)
6 – 100
The apostle John, along with Peter and James, was one of Jesus’ closest friends. These three alone were privileged to be present at the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and the ...
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St. John the Apostle (December 27)
6 – 100
The apostle John, along with Peter and James, was one of Jesus’ closest friends. These three alone were privileged to be present at the Transfiguration, the raising of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in Gethsemane. Many scholars believe that the apostle John is the author of the Gospel of John, three New Testament Letters, and the Book of Revelation. The Gospel of John refers to him as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (see John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2), the one who reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper, and the one to whom Jesus gave the honor of caring for his mother. John was the only apostle with Jesus when he died on the cross.
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The description for this one may be too similar to the Take Time to Chat question...
St. John the Baptist (June 24)
First Century
John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus and the “forerunner” for Jesus. He had a very clear mission from God. John spent his time in the desert. As the crowds came to John, he knew that the mission w...
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St. John the Baptist (June 24)
First Century
John the Baptist was the cousin of Jesus and the “forerunner” for Jesus. He had a very clear mission from God. John spent his time in the desert. As the crowds came to John, he knew that the mission was not about himself. His mission was to point to the one who would come after him, Jesus. He began to announce the coming of the kingdom and to call everyone to a fundamental reformation of life. His purpose was to prepare the way for Jesus. John baptized with water for repentance, but one would come who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. John knew that his one goal in life was to help people see who Jesus really was: the Lamb of God, sent from the Father, to take away the sins of the world. John was beheaded by King Herod.
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How is the life and mission of John the Baptist similar to the life and mission of a Christian?
St. John Vianney (August 4)
May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859
John Vianney wanted to become a priest. But he had to overcome his meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared him for seminary studies. His failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to...
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St. John Vianney (August 4)
May 8, 1786 – August 4, 1859
John Vianney wanted to become a priest. But he had to overcome his meager formal schooling, which inadequately prepared him for seminary studies. His failure to comprehend Latin lectures forced him to discontinue. However, his desire to be a priest urged him to seek private tutoring. After a lengthy battle with the books, John was ordained to the priesthood. John Vianney's most remarkable accomplishment was his work as a confessor. In the winter months, he would spend 11 to 12 hours daily reconciling people with God. In the summer months, this time increased to 16 hours. As his fame spread, he spent more and more time serving God's people. Even the few hours he would allow himself for sleep were disturbed frequently by the devil. In 1929, Pope Pius XI named him the patron of parish priests worldwide.
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St. John Vianney wanted to become a priest. What would it be like to be a priest or a religious sister or brother?
St. Josaphat (November 12)
c. 1580 – November 12, 1623
St. Josaphat was born John Kuncevic in about 1580 in a village of the Province of Volhynia (then a part of the Polish Kingdom, now modern-day Ukraine). His parents belonged to the Eastern Rite Church ...
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St. Josaphat (November 12)
c. 1580 – November 12, 1623
St. Josaphat was born John Kuncevic in about 1580 in a village of the Province of Volhynia (then a part of the Polish Kingdom, now modern-day Ukraine). His parents belonged to the Eastern Rite Church of Kyiv (Ukraine) which was then separated from Rome. When John was just a child, his mother explained the icons in church. Years later he told a friend that he felt a spark of fire leave the wounded side of Christ (pictured in the icon) and enter his own heart, which was filled with joy. This event influenced the rest of his life. Within him grew the desire to suffer for his Savior.
John’s father sent him to Wilno, where the topic of reunification of the Eastern Rite Church with the Roman Catholic Church was a hotly debated topic. In 1595, the local bishops held a synod and voted to unite with Rome. In the meantime, John made his profession of faith, then entered the Basilian Monastery of the Holy Trinity in Wilno and took the name of Josaphat. He was ordained a priest in 1609, and eventually became the Bishop of Plock. He at once called a Synod to revitalize his diocese where he pursued the reunion of all with Rome. This was met with hostility and Josaphat suffered much slander. Josaphat was eventually removed from Plock and cruelly killed on November 12, 1623. He was forty-five years old. Josaphat’s death brought a movement toward Catholicism and unity.
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St. Josephat tried to be a good leader and do the right things, even though people didn’t agree with him. Share a time when you did the right thing even if others disagreed with you.
St. Joseph (Giuseppe) Moscati (November 16)
July 25, 1880-April 12, 1927
“The holy physician of Naples,” as he was called, Giuseppe Moscati was the seventh of nine children, born into a Catholic aristocratic family in Italy in 1880. When Giuseppe was 13 years old, his brot...
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St. Joseph (Giuseppe) Moscati (November 16)
July 25, 1880-April 12, 1927
“The holy physician of Naples,” as he was called, Giuseppe Moscati was the seventh of nine children, born into a Catholic aristocratic family in Italy in 1880. When Giuseppe was 13 years old, his brother Alberto was injured after falling from a horse. Giuseppe cared for his brother in their home for years, where he came to believe that the practice of medicine should be informed and even supported by faith and prayer.
Dr. Moscati graduated from medical school in 1903 and went to work at the Hospital for Incurables in Naples. He was known for praying before seeing each patient and showed extraordinary skill in diagnosing different illnesses. Dr. Moscati regarded his medical practice as a lay apostolate. Before examining a patient or engaging in research he would place himself in the presence of God. He encouraged his patients, especially those who were about to undergo surgery, to receive the sacraments. He once wrote to a young doctor, “Remember that you must treat not only bodies, but also souls, with counsel that appeals to their minds and hearts rather than with cold prescriptions to be sent into the pharmacist.”
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St. Joseph (Giuseppe) Moscati saw his work as a way to serve God and others. What do you want to be when you grow up? In what way would this profession/vocation serve God and others?
St. Joseph (March 19)
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St. Joseph (March 19)
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St. Joseph was Jesus’ foster father. What do you think it was like to be St. Joseph?
St. Joseph of Cupertino (September 18)
June 17, 1603 – September 18, 1663
Joseph of Cupertino is most famous for levitating while praying. As a child, Joseph showed a fondness for prayer. After a short career with the Capuchins, he joined the Conventual Franciscans and bega...
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St. Joseph of Cupertino (September 18)
June 17, 1603 – September 18, 1663
Joseph of Cupertino is most famous for levitating while praying. As a child, Joseph showed a fondness for prayer. After a short career with the Capuchins, he joined the Conventual Franciscans and began his studies for the priesthood. Although studies were challenging for him, Joseph gained much knowledge from prayer. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1628. Joseph’s tendency to levitate during prayer was sometimes a cross; people came to see this happen, much like a circus sideshow. Joseph’s gift led him to be humble, patient, and obedient, even though, at times, he was greatly tempted and felt forsaken by God. Joseph was canonized in 1767. Seventy incidents of levitation were recorded in the investigation preceding his canonization.
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St. Paul Chong Hasang’s family taught him the faith, but he also lived it out in his own way. What are ways your family has helped you grow in faith? What are ways you have grown on your own?
St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8)
C. 1869 – FEBRUARY 8, 1947
St. Josephine Bakhita is an African saint, who was born in Sudan around 1869. She was kidnapped as a child and taken as a slave by Arab traders and suffered a difficult life until her eventual freedom...
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St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8)
C. 1869 – FEBRUARY 8, 1947
St. Josephine Bakhita is an African saint, who was born in Sudan around 1869. She was kidnapped as a child and taken as a slave by Arab traders and suffered a difficult life until her eventual freedom in Italy. Josephine’s freedom came when she needed a temporary place to stay while her masters moved abroad without her. Her owners left her in the custody of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. There, she was baptized, confirmed, and received Holy Communion. Josephine eventually became a nun with the Canossian Daughters of Charity and lived and worked with them for 45 years.
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St. Josephine Bakhita forgave the people who hurt her, even though they treated her very badly. Why do you think she was able to forgive them? What can we learn from her about forgiveness and trusting God?
St. Juliana of Liège (April 6)
1193 – 1258
St. Juliana and her twin sister Agnes were born in present-day Belgium. They were orphaned at the age of five and raised in a convent. Juliana had a great reverence for the Eucharist from her early yo...
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St. Juliana of Liège (April 6)
1193 – 1258
St. Juliana and her twin sister Agnes were born in present-day Belgium. They were orphaned at the age of five and raised in a convent. Juliana had a great reverence for the Eucharist from her early youth and longed for a special feast day in its honor. When Juliana was 16, she had her first vision, which recurred several times. In her vision, Juliana saw a moon in its full splendor, crossed by a dark stripe. In time, she understood that the moon symbolized the life of the Church on earth, and the opaque line represented the absence of a liturgical feast in honor of Christ's Body and Blood. She eventually shared her visions with her confessor, who had many distinguished contacts that endorsed and helped institute the feast of Corpus Christi. Juliana was canonized in 1869 by Pope Pius IX and further celebrated by Pope John Paul II, who wrote a letter mentioning her on the 750th anniversary of the feast of Corpus Christi.
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St. Juliana had a vision from God. Share a time when you felt God spoke to you in a special way.
St. Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14)
1656 – April 17, 1680
Tekakwitha was born near where St. Isaac Jogues and Jean de Lelande were killed in Auriesville, New York. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin, taken captive by the Iroquois and given as wife to the c...
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St. Kateri Tekakwitha (July 14)
1656 – April 17, 1680
Tekakwitha was born near where St. Isaac Jogues and Jean de Lelande were killed in Auriesville, New York. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin, taken captive by the Iroquois and given as wife to the chief of the Mohawk clan, the boldest and fiercest of the Five Nations. When she was four, Tekakwitha lost her parents and little brother in a smallpox epidemic and was adopted by an uncle, who succeeded her father as chief. Tekakwitha was moved by the words of three missionaries who lodged with her uncle, but fear of them kept her from seeking instruction. Tekakwitha refused to marry a Mohawk brave and, at 19, finally got the courage to take the step of converting. She was baptized with the name Kateri–Catherine–on Easter Sunday.
After her conversion, she was treated as a slave. Because she would not work on Sunday, Kateri received no food that day. Her life in grace grew rapidly. She was powerfully moved by God’s love for human beings and saw the dignity of each of her people. She eventually stole away one night and began a 200-mile walking journey to a Christian Indian village at Sault St. Louis, near Montreal. For three years, she grew in holiness under the direction of a priest and an older Iroquois woman, giving herself to God in long hours of prayer, charity, and practicing strenuous penance. At 23, Kateri took a vow of virginity, an unprecedented act for a Native American woman whose future depended on being married. She was beatified in 1980 and canonized in 2012.
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St. Kateri displayed great courage to become a Christian. Share a time when you had to be courageous.
St. Katharine Drexel (March 3)
November 26, 1858 -March 3, 1955
Katharine Drexel was born to a well-known Philadelphia family in 1858. Katharine was taught from a young age to share what she had with others in need. She focused her energy on the material and spiri...
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St. Katharine Drexel (March 3)
November 26, 1858 -March 3, 1955
Katharine Drexel was born to a well-known Philadelphia family in 1858. Katharine was taught from a young age to share what she had with others in need. She focused her energy on the material and spiritual well-being of African Americans and Native Americans. During an audience with Pope Leo XIII in Rome, Katharine asked him to send missionary priests to the United States to minister to Native Americans. The pope asked her why she did not become a missionary herself. So, Katharine founded an order of nuns to serve the Native-American and African American communities. She and the sisters worked to improve the lives of those they served. Katharine founded Xavier University in New Orleans, the first black Catholic college in the United States. By the time she died, more than 500 sisters were teaching in 63 schools nationwide.
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St. Katharine Drexel’s family taught her to share with those in need. What are some ways your family has taught you to be charitable?
St. Laura Montoya y Upegui (October 21)
May 26, 1874-October 21, 1949
Laura was born in Colombia in 1874. When she was two years old, her father was killed in the Colombian Civil War, leaving Laura’s family to live in destitution. Despite the challenges she faced growin...
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St. Laura Montoya y Upegui (October 21)
May 26, 1874-October 21, 1949
Laura was born in Colombia in 1874. When she was two years old, her father was killed in the Colombian Civil War, leaving Laura’s family to live in destitution. Despite the challenges she faced growing up in poverty, Laura found consolation in reading the Bible and in the Eucharist. At the age of 16, Laura trained to become a teacher so she could help support her family financially. Around this time, she started to sense that the Lord was calling her to become a cloistered nun, but also to work as a missionary.
When she was 35, Laura answered the call, and went to live in the Colombian jungle, serving the indigenous people living there. She and four other women founded the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena. Mother Laura and other members of the religious order were ridiculed for their work in the jungle. The indigenous people of Colombia were considered nothing more than “wild beasts” and the Christian people in the area laughed at Mother Laura’s efforts. Still, she continued to serve the indigenous communities, bringing them the Good News of Christ’s love and hope, for the remainder of her life.
Mother Laura died in 1946, after a long and painful illness that left her confined to a wheelchair for the last nine years of her life. Even from her wheelchair, she continued to teach and work in the jungles. Today, the Missionaries of Mary Immaculate and St. Catherine of Siena work in 19 countries. St. Laura Montoya is the patroness of people who suffer racial discrimination and of the people of Colombia. She was canonized a saint in 2013 by Pope Francis.
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St. Laura Montoya served the indigenous people even though others did not see them as important. Is it difficult to stand up for those who are looked down upon? Why or why not?
St. Lucy (December 13)
283-304
We do not know much about the life of St. Lucy as it has been lost to history. However, from the earliest time of the Church, her name has been held in high regard. She, like St. Cecilia, dedicated he...
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St. Lucy (December 13)
283-304
We do not know much about the life of St. Lucy as it has been lost to history. However, from the earliest time of the Church, her name has been held in high regard. She, like St. Cecilia, dedicated her entire life to God from an early age. She lived during a time of great persecution and was eventually killed for her faith. We know she was tortured during her execution by having her eyes plucked out. When she is depicted in art, she is shown holding her eyes on a platter as a sign of what she suffered for Christ. Martyrs are often depicted showing some aspect of the death they endured as a reminder that what was painful in this life, when endured for the love of Jesus, is transformed into victory and God’s glory in heaven.
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St. Stephen boldly proclaimed Jesus and the truth of the Gospel. Do you have the courage to proclaim Jesus to others? Why or why not?
St. Lucy Yi Zhenmei (February 19)
December 9, 1815 – February 19, 1862
Lucy Yi was born in 1815 in China. Lucy was the youngest child in her family and was very dedicated in her prayer life. At the age of 12, she decided to consecrate her life to God. She loved reading a...
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St. Lucy Yi Zhenmei (February 19)
December 9, 1815 – February 19, 1862
Lucy Yi was born in 1815 in China. Lucy was the youngest child in her family and was very dedicated in her prayer life. At the age of 12, she decided to consecrate her life to God. She loved reading and learning. When she was 20 years old and pursuing her college education she fell ill. After her recovery Lucy took her spiritual life still more seriously. She knew she could not leave her family to become a nun because they needed her financial help. Instead, she prayed daily and worked to support them. After her father died, she lived with her brother and mother, using part of her time to teach the faith to children nearby. Lucy Yi later became a missionary, and while on a mission trip in 1862, she entered a region that was hostile to Christians. The local governor imprisoned and sentenced to death the priest and several missionaries in their group. She was among those who were sentenced to death because she refused to renounce her faith. The following day she was executed. St. John Paul II canonized St. Lucy Yi and her companions on October 1, 2000.
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St. Lucy Yi spent her time teaching the faith to children, much like a catechist would today. Who has helped you grow in your faith by their teaching and example?
St. Ludovico of Casoria (March 29)
March 11, 1814 – March 30, 1885
Born in Casoria, Italy, Arcangelo Palmentieri was a cabinetmaker before entering the Friars Minor in 1832, taking the name Ludovico.After his ordination five years later, he taught chemistry, physics,...
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St. Ludovico of Casoria (March 29)
March 11, 1814 – March 30, 1885
Born in Casoria, Italy, Arcangelo Palmentieri was a cabinetmaker before entering the Friars Minor in 1832, taking the name Ludovico.
After his ordination five years later, he taught chemistry, physics, and mathematics to younger members of his province for several years. In 1847, he had a mystical experience, after which he dedicated his life to the poor and the infirm. He established a dispensary for the poor, two schools for African children, an institute for the children of nobility, an institution for orphans, the deaf, and the speechless, and other institutes for the blind, elderly, and travelers. In 1859, he established the Gray Brothers, a religious community composed of men who formerly belonged to the Secular Franciscan Order. Three years later, he founded the Gray Sisters of St. Elizabeth for the same purpose.
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St. Ludovico taught math and science classes. How do these subjects reflect the beauty of our Creator?
St. Magdalene of Nagasaki (October 20)
1611 – 1634
Magdalene of Nagasaki was a Japanese woman who, in spite of great danger and difficulty, remained faithful to Jesus Christ until her martyrdom. Magdalene was born in the early seventeenth century into...
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St. Magdalene of Nagasaki (October 20)
1611 – 1634
Magdalene of Nagasaki was a Japanese woman who, in spite of great danger and difficulty, remained faithful to Jesus Christ until her martyrdom. Magdalene was born in the early seventeenth century into a devout Christian family. Her parents were martyred around 1620, when Magdalene was in her teens.
It was around this time that the first Augustinians arrived in Japan. As a committed Christian, Magdalene made herself known to them. She served as a catechist and interpreter for the early Augustinian missionaries. She found their Augustinian spirituality appealing, with its emphasis on the interior search for God and community. She asked to be accepted into the Order of Saint Augustine, and in 1625 was formally received into the Augustinian Third Order. She considered becoming a full-fledged Dominican sister, but continued religious persecution kept her from doing so.
As persecution of Christians in Japan became stronger, Magdalene fled to the hills, where she worked at bringing the Word of God to those who did not know Jesus and strengthening the faith of those who did. As a follower of Jesus, she was threatened, ridiculed, tortured, and killed, but through it all, her Christian witness was strong. Pope John Paul II canonized her in 1987.
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Why have Christians been persecuted in every age of history?
St. Manuel Morales (August 15)
1898 – 1926
Manuel Morales grew up in Mexico. As a teenager, he entered the seminary but left to help support his family. Manuel became a baker and was married with three children. The Mexican president at that t...
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St. Manuel Morales (August 15)
1898 – 1926
Manuel Morales grew up in Mexico. As a teenager, he entered the seminary but left to help support his family. Manuel became a baker and was married with three children. The Mexican president at that time held many anti-religious views, yet Manuel continued to share his faith publicly. He was part of many local organizations, serving as the secretary of the Catholic Workers Union and the president of the National League for the Defense of Religious Liberty (LNDNR). Manuel and other leaders of LNDNR—David Roldán and Salvador Lara—were arrested while coordinating how to legally get a priest friend, Fr. Luis Batiz Sáinz, released from prison. The gentlemen were beaten and tortured. They were told they could be released if they renounced their faith, but they would not. Manuel and Fr. Sáinz were taken in front of a firing squad. The priest asked that Manuel be spared since he had a family. Manuel responded, “I am dying for God and God will take care of my children.” His final words were, “Long live Christ the King and Our Lady of Guadalupe!” He is considered a martyr of the Cristero War and was canonized in 2000 by Pope John Paul II.
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What inspires you about the life of St. Manuel Morales?
St. Margaret of Scotland (November 16)
1045- November 16, 1093
St. Margaret of Scotland, or Margaret of Wessex, was an English princess born in Hungary. She was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland, where she eventually married Malcolm Canmore III, the king of S...
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St. Margaret of Scotland (November 16)
1045- November 16, 1093
St. Margaret of Scotland, or Margaret of Wessex, was an English princess born in Hungary. She was shipwrecked off the coast of Scotland, where she eventually married Malcolm Canmore III, the king of Scotland. Margaret worked to help the poor in Scotland, encouraging people to live devout lives, grow in prayer, and grow in holiness. She was well-known for her deep life of prayer and piety and for raising their six sons and two daughters with deep faith. Margaret allocated time for prayer and reading Scripture. She ate sparingly and slept little to have more time for devotions. She and Malcolm kept two Lents, one before Easter and one before Christmas. During these times, she always rose at midnight for Mass. On the way home, she would wash the feet of poor people and give them alms. She was always surrounded by beggars in public and never refused them.
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In what way did Blessed Karolina’s family shape her faith?
St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin October 6, 1888 – October 20, 1922 (February 26)
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St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin October 6, 1888 – October 20, 1922 (February 26)
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In what way can you relate to St. Maria Bertilla Boscardin’s story?
St. María Guadalupe García Zavala (June 24)
April 27, 1878-June 24, 1963
Engaged to be married at the age of 23, María began to feel the Lord calling her to religious life. She spent much time in prayer and consulted with her spiritual director before discerning that not o...
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St. María Guadalupe García Zavala (June 24)
April 27, 1878-June 24, 1963
Engaged to be married at the age of 23, María began to feel the Lord calling her to religious life. She spent much time in prayer and consulted with her spiritual director before discerning that not only was she called to religious life instead of marriage, María (also known as Madre Lupita) was being called to found a new religious order. In 1901, the Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary and the Poor was formed. The religious order was named after St. Margaret Mary, who is known for her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Members of the new religious order worked as nurses who dedicated their lives to caring for the poor and sick.
When the Mexican Revolution began the same year, Catholic persecution came with it. Madre Lupita offered protection for priests and clergy members who were in danger of being captured. Her congregation helped protect many priests, including the Archbishop of Guadalajara. Even in the face of religious persecution, Madre Lupita and the Handmaids of Saint Margaret Mary openly welcomed anyone who came to them for help. Madre Lupita died at the age of 85. She lived out her vocation as a nurse and religious sister. Today, her religious sisters continue her work in five countries.
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Madre Lupita thought she had one vocation, but realized she had a different calling through prayer and discussion. Which vocation do you think God is calling you to?
St. Marianne Cope (January 23)
January 23, 1838-August 9, 1918
Born into a poor farming family in Germany, Barbara Koob immigrated to Utica, New York. When her father became ill, Barbara left school in 8th grade and went to work in a factory to support her family...
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St. Marianne Cope (January 23)
January 23, 1838-August 9, 1918
Born into a poor farming family in Germany, Barbara Koob immigrated to Utica, New York. When her father became ill, Barbara left school in 8th grade and went to work in a factory to support her family. When her father died in 1862, Barbara’s siblings were old enough to support themselves, allowing her to pursue her long desire of entering religious life. That same year, Barbara entered the Sisters of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York and took the name Sister Marianne.
Sister Marianne worked as a teacher and principal in a school for German Catholic immigrants. She took on a leadership role in her religious order and help found the first two Catholic hospitals in central New York. She was later appointed the provincial of her community. In 1883, King Kalākaua of Hawaii wrote to Mother Marianne asking for her help in caring for people suffering with leprosy (now known as Hansen’s disease). He had already been denied assistance by over 50 other religious organizations because leprosy was considered highly contagious. Mother Marianne took six other sisters with her and arrived in Hawaii in November that year.
Mother Marianne went to work immediately managing a hospital on O’ahu, where patients with Hansen’s disease were gathered from the surrounding islands. In 1888, she traveled to Kalaupapa on Molokai, where she met Fr. Damien (now Saint Damien of Molokai), who had spent his life caring for people suffering from Hansen’s disease. She cared for Fr. Damien as he neared the end of his life and took over the care of Hansen’s disease patients on Molokai after his death. Mother Marianne remained in Hawaii for another 30 years, caring for the people of Molokai until her death in 1918.
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What do you think it was like for St. Marianne Cope to minister to the lepers in Hawaii?
St. Martha (July 29)
First Century
Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. Jesus frequently dined in their home. No doubt Martha was an active sort of person. On one occasion, she prepares the meal for Jesu...
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St. Martha (July 29)
First Century
Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were close friends of Jesus. Jesus frequently dined in their home. No doubt Martha was an active sort of person. On one occasion, she prepares the meal for Jesus and his friends and says what she thinks is obvious: All hands should pitch in to help with the dinner. However, Martha’s moment of glory is her simple and strong statement of faith in Jesus after her brother’s death. “Jesus told her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to him, ‘Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.’” (John 11:25)
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Martha was a close friend of Jesus. What would it have been like to be a close friend of Jesus during his earthly ministry?
St. Martin de Porres (November 3)
December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639
St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, on December 9, 1579. Martin was the illegitimate son of a Spanish gentleman and a freed slave from Panama, of African or possibly Native American descent. ...
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St. Martin de Porres (November 3)
December 9, 1579 – November 3, 1639
St. Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, on December 9, 1579. Martin was the illegitimate son of a Spanish gentleman and a freed slave from Panama, of African or possibly Native American descent. At a young age, Martin's father abandoned his family, leaving Martin to grow up in deep poverty. As Martin grew older, he experienced a great deal of ridicule for being of mixed race. Martin became a Dominican lay brother in 1603 at the age of 24. Martin was praised for his unconditional care of all people, regardless of race or wealth. Martin's life reflected his great love for God and all of God's gifts. He had many extraordinary abilities, including aerial flights, bilocation, instant cures, miraculous knowledge, spiritual knowledge, and an excellent relationship with animals.
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People said Martin could heal others and even be in two places at once! What do you think made his faith so strong?
St. Mary MacKillop (August 8)
January 15, 1842-August 8, 1909
Mary Helen was born in Melbourne, Australia, the oldest of eight children. Mary’s parents were immigrants to Australia who raised their children in the Catholic faith. Because the MacKillop family far...
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St. Mary MacKillop (August 8)
January 15, 1842-August 8, 1909
Mary Helen was born in Melbourne, Australia, the oldest of eight children. Mary’s parents were immigrants to Australia who raised their children in the Catholic faith. Because the MacKillop family farm was struggling financially, Mary went to work as a clerk in Melbourne when she was 14 years old. Later, she took a job as a governess for her aunt and uncle in Penola, South Australia. Mary worked taking care of the children and teaching them, but she also invited the poor farm children in the area to come and be taught as well.
Two years later, Mary opened her own boarding school, which is now known as Bayview College. Then a local priest asked Mary and her sisters to open a Catholic school in Penola. She and her sisters opened the school inside a stable. In 1867, Mary founded the first native Australian religious order, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Sacred Heart. She took vows as Sister Mary of the Cross. The Josephites, or the “Brown Joeys” (because of their plain brown habits) grew in number, and by the end of 1869, more than 70 sisters were educating children in 21 different schools in Australia. The Josephites also worked with orphans, the poor, the incurably ill, and those in prison.
Sadly, Mother MacKillop was later wrongly accused of stealing money from her religious order and excommunicated in 1871. Years later, the truth came out and her excommunication was lifted, and Mother MacKillop continued to teach and serve the poor until her death in 1909. She was canonized on October 17, 2010.
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How does the story of St. Mary MacKillop inspire you?
St. Mary Magdalene (July 22)
First Century
Mary Magdalene, or Mary of Magdala, was a friend and follower of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus cast out “seven demons” from her, and, throughout the Gospel, we hear how she was present...
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St. Mary Magdalene (July 22)
First Century
Mary Magdalene, or Mary of Magdala, was a friend and follower of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke tells us that Jesus cast out “seven demons” from her, and, throughout the Gospel, we hear how she was present with Jesus and the Twelve Apostles. She stood next to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, at the foot of the cross. Mary Magdalene was the first person to whom Jesus appeared after he was resurrected. She is sometimes called the “Apostle to the Apostles” because she was sent to tell the other apostles the good news of Christ’s resurrection. She is the patron saint of many things, including contemplative life, penitent sinners, perfumeries, and women.
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Mary Magdalene stood by the Mother of Jesus at the foot of the cross. Share a time when you helped a friend through a difficult time.
St. Maurice (September 22)
d. 287
Maurice was born around the year 250 AD in Egypt. As the commander of the Theban legion, he was asked to aid Emperor Maximian in fighting off a rebellion against the empire. When Maurice discovered th...
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St. Maurice (September 22)
d. 287
Maurice was born around the year 250 AD in Egypt. As the commander of the Theban legion, he was asked to aid Emperor Maximian in fighting off a rebellion against the empire. When Maurice discovered they were all Christians, he and his men who were also Christians, refused. When asked to make sacrifice to the Roman gods, he and his men refused. Maximian ordered that Maurice and his unit be punished by having every tenth soldier killed. Maurice and his men still refused, so the emperor ordered another round of executions. Eventually Maurice and all the men of his legion were executed.
St. Maurice’s dedication to protect his fellow Christians led to him being considered the patron saint of soldiers. Artwork depicting St. Maurice often have him in full armor.
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St. Maurice had to decide whether to follow the orders of Maximian or to do what he knew was right. Have you ever had to stand up for something you believed in, even when others didn’t agree? What helped you be brave?
St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14)
January 8, 1894 – August 14, 1941
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar. He actively promoted the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, founding and supervising the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw, operat...
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St. Maximilian Kolbe (August 14)
January 8, 1894 – August 14, 1941
Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar. He actively promoted the veneration of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, founding and supervising the monastery of Niepokalanów near Warsaw, operating an amateur-radio station (SP3RN), and establishing several other organizations and publications. During World War II, he was arrested and taken to Auschwitz. During his imprisonment, a prisoner escaped, and, as a result, the commandant announced that ten men would die. As these men were being marched away to the starvation bunkers, Kolbe stepped forward and volunteered to take the place of a man who had a wife and children. Those in charge were dumbfounded, kicked Sergeant Francis Gajowniczek out of line and ordered Father Kolbe to go with the nine. In the “block of death,” they were ordered to strip naked, and their slow starvation began in darkness. But there was no screaming—the prisoners sang. By the eve of the Assumption, four were left alive. The jailer came to finish Kolbe off as he sat in a corner praying. He lifted his fleshless arm to receive the bite of the hypodermic needle filled with carbolic acid. They burned his body with all the others. Fr. Kolbe was beatified in 1971 and canonized in 1982.
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St. Maximilian Kolbe sacrificed his life in the place of another man. In what way is St. Kolbe like Jesus?
St. Moses the Black (August 28)
330 – 405
Moses the Black was a slave of a government official in Egypt who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. He was a large, imposing figure and became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed th...
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St. Moses the Black (August 28)
330 – 405
Moses the Black was a slave of a government official in Egypt who dismissed him for theft and suspected murder. He was a large, imposing figure and became the leader of a gang of bandits who roamed the Nile Valley spreading terror and violence. On one occasion, he took shelter with some monks in a colony in the desert of Scete when attempting to hide from local authorities. Their lifestyle as well as their peace and contentment influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life and joined the monastic community at Scete.
Moses had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular monastic discipline. His flair for adventure remained with him. Attacked by a group of robbers in his desert cell, Moses fought back, overpowered the intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer. He told the brothers that he didn’t think he should hurt the robbers and asked what he should do with them. The overwhelmed robbers repented, were converted, and themselves joined the community.
At one point, Moses became discouraged when he concluded he was not perfect enough to be a monk. Early one morning, St. Isidore, abbot of the community, took Brother Moses to the roof and together they watched the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, “Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative.”
Moses proved to be prophetic and effective leader. He was eventually ordained a priest and became the spiritual leader of a colony of hermits in the desert. At about age 75, the colony was attacked by a group of bandits. Moses forbade the brothers to take up weapons. All but eight were martyred by the bandits.
Today, St. Moses the Black is remembered as one of the Desert Fathers and is honored as an apostle of non-violence.
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St. Moses the Black struggled with perfectionism and feelings of inadequacy. Have you ever felt like that? St. Isidore helped Moses the Black. Who would you turn to for help with these feelings?
St. Nicholas (December 6)
March 15, 270 – December 6, 343
Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor. The best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who could not provide dowries for ...
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St. Nicholas (December 6)
March 15, 270 – December 6, 343
Nicholas was the fourth-century bishop of Myra, a city in Lycia, a province of Asia Minor. The best-known story about Nicholas concerns his charity toward a poor man who could not provide dowries for his three daughters of marriageable age. To help the family, Nicholas secretly tossed a bag of gold through the poor man’s window on three separate occasions, thus enabling the daughters to be married. Over the centuries, this particular legend evolved into the custom of gift-giving on the saint’s feast. In English-speaking countries, St. Nicholas became Santa Claus by a twist of the tongue—further expanding the example of generosity portrayed by this holy bishop.
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St. Nicholas was known for his generosity. Why is it important to be generous with others?
St. Óscar Arnulfo Romero (March 24)
August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was born in a small town in El Salvador. From a very early age, Óscar knew he wanted to be a priest. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Salvador in 1942. H...
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St. Óscar Arnulfo Romero (March 24)
August 15, 1917 – March 24, 1980
Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez was born in a small town in El Salvador. From a very early age, Óscar knew he wanted to be a priest. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Salvador in 1942. He quickly became a popular, well-known parish priest, editor of his diocesan newspaper, and eventually, Bishop of Santiago de Maria. One day in 1975, soldiers raided a village in his diocese and killed many innocent people. Bishop Romero was horrified. At the funerals of these villagers, he spoke about people’s human rights and how the military was wrong in its actions. On March 24, 1980, he was gunned down by an unknown assassin while celebrating Mass in a small hospital chapel. The day before, he had asked Salvadoran soldiers to obey God, not the government. On October 14, 2018, he was canonized a saint of the Church.
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St. Óscar Arnulfo Romero had a preferential option for the poor. Why is it important to help the poor and marginalized?
St. Patrick of Ireland (March 17)
389-461
St. Patrick is one of Ireland's best-known saints. Interestingly, Patrick was actually born in Britain (not Ireland). When he was a boy, he was captured as a slave and sent to Ireland to tend sheep. P...
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St. Patrick of Ireland (March 17)
389-461
St. Patrick is one of Ireland's best-known saints. Interestingly, Patrick was actually born in Britain (not Ireland). When he was a boy, he was captured as a slave and sent to Ireland to tend sheep. Patrick's captivity lasted until he was twenty. He escaped after having a dream from God, who told him to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he was reunited with his family. Patrick became a priest and later a bishop and was sent to Ireland to bring the Good News of Jesus to this land. There, he converted many people -eventually thousands - and began building churches across the country. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in his memoir, The Confession. After years of living in poverty, traveling, and enduring much suffering, he died on March 17, 461.
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St. Patrick used shamrocks to teach people about the Holy Trinity. What are some things in nature that remind you of God?
St. Peter Chanel (April 28)
1803-1841
St. Peter Chanel was born in the diocese of Belley, France. After his ordination to the priesthood, he found himself in a rundown country parish and completely revitalized it in 3 years. However, his ...
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St. Peter Chanel (April 28)
1803-1841
St. Peter Chanel was born in the diocese of Belley, France. After his ordination to the priesthood, he found himself in a rundown country parish and completely revitalized it in 3 years. However, his heart was set on missionary work, so in 1831, he joined the newly formed Society of Mary (Marists) which concentrated on missionary work at home and abroad. In 1836, St. Peter was appointed Superior of a little band of missionaries sent to proclaim the Faith to inhabitants in Western Oceania. After an arduous ten-month journey, St. Peter went to the Island of Futuna (northeast of Fiji) accompanied by a lay brother and an English layman. At first, they were well received by the pagans and their king. However, the king’s jealousy and fear were aroused when the missionaries learned the language and gained the people's confidence; he realized the adoption of the Christian Faith would lead to the abolition of some of the prerogatives he enjoyed as both high priest and sovereign. When the king’s son asked to be baptized, persecution by the king reached a climax. Fr. Chanel was clubbed to death. Within two years after his death, the whole island became Catholic and has remained so. He was canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1954. Peter Chanel is the first martyr of Oceania and its patron.
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The saints lived exciting lives of heroic service and evangelization. What do you think God is calling you to do to serve his Church?
St. Peter of Alcantara (October 26)
1499 – October 18, 1562
Peter was born in Alcantara, Spain in 1499. His father was the governor of the province, and his mother came from a noble family. He was privately tutored and attended the University of Salamanca. Aft...
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St. Peter of Alcantara (October 26)
1499 – October 18, 1562
Peter was born in Alcantara, Spain in 1499. His father was the governor of the province, and his mother came from a noble family. He was privately tutored and attended the University of Salamanca. After he returned home from university, he joined the Franciscans. He went on to establish several friaries. When Peter was not preaching, he would spend long periods in solitude. He was known for frequently experiencing ecstasy, a state where he was entirely consumed with the warmth and light of the Holy Spirit. These euphoric moments were common during his prayer and meditation. Some claim to have witnessed him levitate. Peter served as a spiritual director and confessor to St. Teresa of Avila. It is said that he slept only 90 minutes each night; he is the patron saint of the Nocturnal Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
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St. Peter of Alcantara liked to spend time alone. Do you like to spend time alone? Why or why not?
St. Philomena (August 11)
January 10, 291 – August 10, 304
It is said that St. Philomena revealed her story to three people who did not know one another and who resided in different parts of the world. These private revelations unveiled the story of St. Philo...
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St. Philomena (August 11)
January 10, 291 – August 10, 304
It is said that St. Philomena revealed her story to three people who did not know one another and who resided in different parts of the world. These private revelations unveiled the story of St. Philomena’s life in great detail and were amazingly identical accounts. One of the revelations came to Sister Maria Luisa di Gesu. St. Philomena came to her and told her she was the daughter of a Greek king who converted to Christianity. When Philomena was 13 years old, she took a vow of consecrated virginity. After her father took his family to Rome to make peace, Emperor Diocletian fell in love with Philomena. When she refused to marry him, she was repeatedly subjected to torture. Yet, in the midst of this torture, God continued to miraculously comfort her and heal her. This infuriated the Emperor who finally had her beheaded. St. Philomena said to Sister Maria Luisa di Gesu, “My soul took flight towards my heavenly Spouse, who placed me, with the crown of virginity and the palm of martyrdom, in a distinguished place among the elect. That day was so happy for me. . .”
The young virgin willingly traded her earthly life for heavenly salvation and continues her work today promoting the virtues of purity and sanctity among the world’s youth and bringing the faithful closer to our Blessed Mother and Jesus Christ. Her name means “daughter of light” (Latin: fila luminis), and she is credited with countless miracles and intercessions since discovery of her tomb in the most ancient catacombs of St. Priscilla in Rome in 1802.
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St. Francis de Sales was a spiritual companion to St. Jane Frances de Chantal. Who do you talk to about your faith?
St. Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayés (March 23)
June 29, 1832-March 23, 1914
Rafqa was born in Lebanon in 1832 and was raised in the Catholic faith. Sadly, her mother died when Rafqa was 7 years old. When Rafqa was 11, her father experienced financial hardship, and sent her aw...
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St. Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayés (March 23)
June 29, 1832-March 23, 1914
Rafqa was born in Lebanon in 1832 and was raised in the Catholic faith. Sadly, her mother died when Rafqa was 7 years old. When Rafqa was 11, her father experienced financial hardship, and sent her away to work as a household servant. When Rafqa returned home, her father had remarried, and her stepmother wanted to arrange for her to be married. Rafqa refused, as she had come to realize that she was being called to religious life.
Rafqa joined the Mariamette religious order, where she worked in the kitchen at the seminary, and spent her free time teaching the village children about Jesus. Her superior noticed how well Rafqa got along with the children and asked if she would like to work as a teacher. She worked as a teacher for 7 years, when the Mariamettes announced they would be combined with another order. Rafqa prayed about what she should do, and was led to join the Lebanese Maronite Order, a community devoted to prayer, silence, and sacrifice.
Rafqa eventually developed health problems that left her blind and paralyzed, but she felt these disabilities allowed her to share in the sufferings of Jesus. She endured her condition for years with joy and serenity before she died in 1914. Rafqa was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 2001.
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St. Rafqa Pietra Choboq Ar-Rayés did many different tasks in the Mariamette order. What do you think a member of a religious order does each day?
St. Rais (September 23)
c. 303
Rais was an Egyptian maiden. According to one account, she was the daughter of a Christian priest living in Alexandria, Egypt. At age twelve, she was sent to live in a women's monastery at Tamman. Dur...
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St. Rais (September 23)
c. 303
Rais was an Egyptian maiden. According to one account, she was the daughter of a Christian priest living in Alexandria, Egypt. At age twelve, she was sent to live in a women's monastery at Tamman. During a time of widespread persecution of Christians during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian, she went to a well to draw water with other nuns. On the way, they saw a ship with a group of nuns, monks, and other Christians in chains on their way to torture and death. By God's grace, Rais was touched by a desire to suffer for the Lord. Rais confessed herself to be a Christian, berated the abusers, and insisted that they kill her as well if they were killing Christians. She was immediately imprisoned with the others. They were all taken to the Egyptian town of Antinopolis, where Rais was the first of the group to be beheaded.
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St. Rais had a desire to suffer for the Lord. Do you know anyone who is willing to endure hardships for the Lord? Tell a story about this person.
St. Richard Pampuri, O.H. (May 1)
August 12, 1897-May 1, 1930
Erminio Filippo Pampuri was born the tenth of eleven children in Trivolizi, Italy. As a child, Erminio wanted to become a priest, however his uncle, who was a doctor, encouraged him to pursue medicine...
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St. Richard Pampuri, O.H. (May 1)
August 12, 1897-May 1, 1930
Erminio Filippo Pampuri was born the tenth of eleven children in Trivolizi, Italy. As a child, Erminio wanted to become a priest, however his uncle, who was a doctor, encouraged him to pursue medicine. While studying to become a doctor, Erminio joined his college’s Club for Catholic Action, Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and enrolled as a tertiary Franciscan.
When World War I began, Erminio’s studies were interrupted, and he was sent to work in field hospitals, and later trained as an officer in the medical corps. When he graduated from medical school, he went to work as a doctor, but he continued to play an active role in his community, assisting at the local parish with the Parish Missionary Aid Society. As a physician, he offered free medical care to the poor and was known for his willingness to help anyone in need, day or night.
In 1927, Erminio joined the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God, a religious order dedicated to aiding the sick. He was given the religious name Riccardo. After taking his vows in 1928, Brother Richard worked at the St. John of God Brother’s Hospital, where he was known for serving others with kindness and compassion. Three years later, Brother Richard became ill with pleurisy, which he first contracted during World War I, and his health declined quickly. He died at the age of 33.
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In the story of Sts. Timothy and Maura, why do you think Maura encouraged Timothy to keep the faith? Who encourages you to keep the faith?
St. Rose of Lima (August 23)
April 20, 1586-August 24, 1617
St. Rose was born in Lima, Peru. She admired St. Catherine of Siena and was devout in her faith practices, such as fasting regularly, performing secret penances, and receiving the Eucharist daily.She ...
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St. Rose of Lima (August 23)
April 20, 1586-August 24, 1617
St. Rose was born in Lima, Peru. She admired St. Catherine of Siena and was devout in her faith practices, such as fasting regularly, performing secret penances, and receiving the Eucharist daily.
She did not want to marry, but her parents refused to let her enter a convent to become a nun. So, while she lived at home, she joined the Third Order of St. Dominic. She devoted as much time as she could to prayer, even giving up sleep to pray more. She only slept about two hours each night. She wore a thick silver crown on her head, with studs on the inside, like a crown of thorns. She was incredibly devoted to Christ and lived a life of prayer.
To help her family, Rose sold flowers during the day and sewed. She also built a small hut in the family garden to care for the elderly, homeless children, and the sick. All were welcome. This led to the start of social services in Peru.
Rose died at the age of 31. It is said that the city smelled like roses at the time of her death. The leaders of the city attended her funeral. Many miracles were attributed to her after her death. There are places all over North and South America that are named Santa Rosa after her. She is the first person to be canonized who was born in the Americas.
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St. Monica models perseverance. In what way does she inspire you?
St. Sebastian (January 20)
c. 256 – January 20, 287
According to legend, Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army and encouraged two Christians, Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their ...
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St. Sebastian (January 20)
c. 256 – January 20, 287
According to legend, Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army and encouraged two Christians, Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their faith. Sebastian made numerous converts: among them were Nicostratus, who was in charge of prisoners and his wife, Zoe, a deaf mute whom he cured; the jailer Claudius; Chromatius, Prefect of Rome, whom he cured of gout; and Chromatius’ son, Tiburtius. After Chromatius was healed, he set the prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect.
Sebastian was captain in the praetorian guards during the reign of Emperors Diocletian and Maximian. Neither knew that Sebastian was a Christian, but when it was discovered that he was a Christian, he was ordered to be executed. He was shot with arrows and left for dead, but when the widow of St. Castulus went to recover his body, she found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor’s orders.
St. Sebastian is the patron saint of athletes because of his physical endurance and his energetic way of spreading and defending the Faith.
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In what way did St. Sebastian exhibit courage in his life as a Christian?
St. Sharbel Makhluf (July 24)
May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898)
Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra, where he was born, his influence has spread widely. An uncle raised Joseph Zaroun Makhluf because his father died when J...
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St. Sharbel Makhluf (July 24)
May 8, 1828 – December 24, 1898)
Although this saint never traveled far from the Lebanese village of Beka-Kafra, where he was born, his influence has spread widely. An uncle raised Joseph Zaroun Makhluf because his father died when Joseph was only three. At 23, Joseph joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon and took the name Sharbel in honor of a second-century martyr. He professed his final vows in 1853 and was ordained six years later. He lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death. His reputation for holiness prompted people to seek him to receive a blessing and to be remembered in his prayers. He followed a strict fast and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament. When his superiors occasionally asked him to administer the sacraments to nearby villages, Sharbel did so gladly. He died in the late afternoon on Christmas Eve. Christians and non-Christians soon made his tomb a place of pilgrimage; many healings took place there. Pope Paul VI beatified St. Sharbel in 1965 and canonized him 12 years later.
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St. Sharbel had a reputation for holiness. Do you know anyone who is good, kind, and lives a life of holiness? What do you like about that person?
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (August 9)
October 12, 1891 – August 9, 1942
Edith Stein was born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). At the age of 14, she stopped believing in God. She went to university and became fascinated with philoso...
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St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein) (August 9)
October 12, 1891 – August 9, 1942
Edith Stein was born into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany (now Wroclaw, Poland). At the age of 14, she stopped believing in God. She went to university and became fascinated with philosophy. She eventually earned a doctorate in philosophy in 1916 and became a university teacher. Her spiritual journey began after reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, which led to her baptism in 1922. After several years as an active laywoman, rising intellectual, and pioneer feminist, Edith Stein entered the Carmel of Cologne where – in imitation of St. Teresa of Avila -- she became a Carmelite nun, taking the name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross and devoted herself to contemplative prayer and philosophical work.
After living for four years in the Cologne Carmel, Sister Teresa Benedicta moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands, in 1938. The Nazis occupied that country in 1940. In retaliation for being denounced by the Dutch bishops, the Nazis arrested all Dutch Jews who had become Christians. Teresa Benedicta and her sister Rosa, also a Catholic, died in a gas chamber in Auschwitz on August 9, 1942.
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was a woman of integrity who followed the truth wherever it led her. Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa Benedicta of the Cross in 1987 and canonized her 12 years later.
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St. Lawrence presented to the emperor those who were outcast and called them the treasures of the Church. Why are people more important than gold and riches?
St. Teresa of Ávila (October 15)
March 28, 1515 – October 4, 1582
St. Teresa was born in central Spain. She was from a large, middle-class, and pious family. As a girl, Teresa dreamed of being a martyr or a hermit. As a woman, Teresa stood on her own two feet, even ...
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St. Teresa of Ávila (October 15)
March 28, 1515 – October 4, 1582
St. Teresa was born in central Spain. She was from a large, middle-class, and pious family. As a girl, Teresa dreamed of being a martyr or a hermit. As a woman, Teresa stood on her own two feet, even in the man’s world of her time. She lived what she demanded of others and did it all with a cheerful disposition and a rich personality that overcame deep-seated opposition. St. Teresa was a mystic, writer, and reformer of the Carmelite order. She was an influential and pivotal figure in her generation. Teresa was the first female non-martyr to have her feast day extended to the universal Church, and, due to the profundity of her mystical writings, she was declared a Doctor of the Church by Paul VI in 1970.
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What was it like for St. Longinus before and after Jesus’ death on the Cross? How can we live showing our lives are different because Jesus died on the Cross for us?
St. Teresa of Calcutta (September 5)
August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997
Born to Albanian parents in what is now Skopje, Macedonia, Gonxha (Agnes) Bojaxhiu was the youngest of the three children. At age 18, she entered the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. The following year, she ...
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St. Teresa of Calcutta (September 5)
August 26, 1910 – September 5, 1997
Born to Albanian parents in what is now Skopje, Macedonia, Gonxha (Agnes) Bojaxhiu was the youngest of the three children. At age 18, she entered the Loreto Sisters of Dublin. The following year, she was sent to the Loreto novitiate in Darjeeling, India. There, she chose the name Teresa and prepared for a life of service. She was assigned to a high school for girls in Calcutta, where she taught history and geography to the daughters of the wealthy. In 1946, while riding a train to Darjeeling to make a retreat, Sister Teresa heard what she later explained as “a call within a call.” She was to leave the Sisters of Loreto and to “follow Christ into the slums to serve him among the poorest of the poor.” Mother Teresa worked tirelessly on behalf of the poor. Her love knew no bounds, nor did her energy, as she crisscrossed the globe pleading for support and inviting others to see the face of Jesus in the poorest of the poor. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. On September 5, 1997, God called her home. Pope Francis canonized Blessed Teresa on September 4, 2016.
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St. Teresa of Calcutta said, “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family.” What do you think that quote means?
St. Timothy (January 26)
c. 17-97
Timothy is one of the first generations of Christians in the New Testament. He was a disciple of St. Paul around the year 47 and eventually joined in his apostolic work. He was with St. Paul when the ...
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St. Timothy (January 26)
c. 17-97
Timothy is one of the first generations of Christians in the New Testament. He was a disciple of St. Paul around the year 47 and eventually joined in his apostolic work. He was with St. Paul when the Church in Corinth was founded. St. Paul installed him as his representative and leader of the Church of Ephesus at a young age.
He worked with St. Paul for 15 years, becoming one of his most trusted and faithful friends. He was sent on difficult missions—often to help the local churches founded by St. Paul. Timothy was with St. Paul during his house arrest in Rome. At some point, Timothy was probably in prison, too.
Even though Timothy was young and struggled with a timid and reserved nature, St. Paul wrote to Timothy that youthfulness should not be an excuse for ineffectiveness: “Let no one have contempt for your youth, but set an example for those who believe in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity…do not neglect the gift you have, which was conferred upon you by the imposition of hands of the [priesthood]. Be diligent in these matters, be absorbed in them, so that your progress may be evident by everyone” (1 Timothy 4:12,14-15).
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What does the quote from 1 Timothy 4:12,14-15 mean to you?
St. Victoria of Albitina (February 12)
d. 304
St. Victoria of Albitina was born in North Africa. She converted to Christianity when she was still a youth. Victoria refused an arranged marriage to a young nobleman and on her wedding day she escape...
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St. Victoria of Albitina (February 12)
d. 304
St. Victoria of Albitina was born in North Africa. She converted to Christianity when she was still a youth. Victoria refused an arranged marriage to a young nobleman and on her wedding day she escaped through a window in her parents’ house. She sought refuge in a nearby church and there dedicated her life to God.
Her pagan brother tried to intercede with the judge by claiming she was insane; she disproved this by engaging in a debate with the judge. The judge was willing to release her if she agreed to her brother’s supervision, but she refused, saying she would obey only God. The judge, knowing her family, pleaded with her to not throw away her life on what he considered a fantasy; she proclaimed that she was a Christian, that she was loyal to God, and that she had taken part in the Eucharist. She was noted during her imprisonment for her courage. She was later martyred with 45 fellow parishioners.
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In Nicaragua, Blessed James Miller did many of the things he did when he was younger in Minnesota. What are some of the skills you have now that you want to share with others when you are older?
St. Vincent de Paul (September 27)
1580 – September 27, 1660
St. Vincent de Paul was a priest in France in the early 1600s. He loved serving and caring for the poor and, with the help of a religious community of sisters, was introduced to more poor people in an...
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St. Vincent de Paul (September 27)
1580 – September 27, 1660
St. Vincent de Paul was a priest in France in the early 1600s. He loved serving and caring for the poor and, with the help of a religious community of sisters, was introduced to more poor people in and around Paris. He eventually became the chaplain to the imprisoned people who had to work in deplorable conditions on galley ships. Father Vincent spent his life in service to them and others in need. He saw in the poor the face of Jesus Christ, who told his disciples, “Whatever you do the least of my brothers and sisters, you do to me.” (Mt. 25:40) He was declared a saint in 1737. Chapters of the St. Vincent de Paul society still care for the poor and those in need and can be found in many parishes around the country and more than 100 other countries around the world.
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What makes angels such a special part of God’s creation?
St. Vincent Pallotti (January 22)
April 21, 1795 – January 22, 1850
St. Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome in 1795. He was a well-known priest because many people sensed that God worked extraordinary graces through him. He raised large sums of money and organized schoo...
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St. Vincent Pallotti (January 22)
April 21, 1795 – January 22, 1850
St. Vincent Pallotti was born in Rome in 1795. He was a well-known priest because many people sensed that God worked extraordinary graces through him. He raised large sums of money and organized schools for shoemakers, tailors, coachmen, carpenters, and gardeners, as well as evening classes for young farmers and unskilled workers. In his lifetime, he founded the Union of Catholic Apostolate. At that time, the Church did not actively involve the laity, but St. Vincent wanted to inspire people from all walks of life to work constantly for God's kingdom. He called the members of the Union of Catholic Apostolate (laity, sisters, priests, and brothers) to charity, patience, humility, zeal, and love of God. St. Vincent Pallotti died, leaving a legacy that inspires people worldwide. Today the Union of Catholic Apostolate in the United States is composed of the Pallottine Fathers and Brothers, the Pallottine Sisters, the Pallottine Missionary Sisters, and various lay groups.
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St. Vincent Pallotti left a legacy that continues to inspire people today. What do you want your legacy to be? How do you want people to remember you?
Sts. Anne and Joachim (July 26)
1st Century
St. Anne was born in Bethlehem and married Joachim, a shepherd, from Nazareth in Galilee who supplied the Jerusalem temple with sheep for sacrifices.St. Anne and Joachim had been married for 20 years ...
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Sts. Anne and Joachim (July 26)
1st Century
St. Anne was born in Bethlehem and married Joachim, a shepherd, from Nazareth in Galilee who supplied the Jerusalem temple with sheep for sacrifices.
St. Anne and Joachim had been married for 20 years when Joachim went into the desert to plead with God to give them a child. After a time of fasting, an angel assured him that he and Anne would be given a child they were to name Mary and dedicate to God. St. Anne wondered where her husband had gone and felt despair at being barren. She cried out, “Why was I born, Lord?”
An angel appeared to tell her she would soon give birth to a daughter she was to name Mary, a child who "shall be spoken of in all the world." After Mary was born, Anne and Joachim dedicated her to God at the temple of Jerusalem where she spent much of her childhood. When Mary was fourteen, she was engaged to Joseph of Nazareth and became the Mother of God. They probably never realized that through their vocation to marriage, they would become the grandparents of Jesus!
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Inspired by Sts. Anne and Joachim, how can you turn to God when you are upset or feeling uncertain about his plans in your life?
Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (September 16)
d. 253, 258
St. Cornelius was elected to succeed St. Fabian as the Bishop of Rome (pope), after Fabian was killed in a persecution in the year 250. The Church faced not only persecution, but also opposition from ...
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Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian (September 16)
d. 253, 258
St. Cornelius was elected to succeed St. Fabian as the Bishop of Rome (pope), after Fabian was killed in a persecution in the year 250. The Church faced not only persecution, but also opposition from within. A priest named Novatian denied the Church’s authority to forgive apostacy. Novatian and his followers believed that those who renounced the faith could not be accepted back into the Church even if they had repented. Novatian had himself consecrated as a rival Bishop of Rome, thereby becoming an anti-pope. St. Cornelius called a council of bishops together to settle the dispute. The council condemned Novatian’s view. Pope Cornelius, backed by St. Cyprian and other bishops, upheld the Church’s teaching, and allowed sinners to do penance and return to the Church. In 253, St. Cornelius was exiled by the authorities, and died a martyr soon afterward.
St. Cyprian was a famous lawyer and orator in North Africa. He didn’t become a Christian until age forty-six, then later became a priest and the bishop of Carthage. St. Cyprian went into hiding during the Roman persecution of 250, to allow himself to continue ministering to his people. He, like Cornelius, had to deal with the beliefs of Novatian. During this time another priest took over his position and then forgave all those who renounced the faith without requiring any penance of them at all. This position was too lenient, and Cyprian succeeded in having it condemned by the Church. New persecutions broke out under Emperor Valerian. St. Cyprian was arrested and tried for being a Christian. When he was read his death sentence, he exclaimed “Blessed be God!” He was martyred in 258.
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What strikes you about the story of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian?
Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 26)
d. 287
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born in present-day Turkey. Cosmas and Damian both became doctors who cared for the sick, in body and in soul. They refused to take money for their services, and i...
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Sts. Cosmas and Damian (September 26)
d. 287
Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born in present-day Turkey. Cosmas and Damian both became doctors who cared for the sick, in body and in soul. They refused to take money for their services, and in addition to treating their patients for illness, they preached the Gospel as they worked. Many people were converted to the faith because of them. At that time, Diocletian had begun to persecute Christians, and the twins were summoned and executed. After attempts to burn them, drown them, and crucify them, Cosmas and Damien were beheaded. Cosmas and Damian demonstrate that when we are open to God’s grace, he can use our profession to build the kingdom of God! They are patron saints of pharmacists, doctors, surgeons, and barbers.
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Sts. Cosmas and Damian served people who were sick. Share a time when you volunteered your time to help others. How did that make you feel?
Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More (June 22)
1469-6/22/1535, 1478-7/6/1535
John Fisher was born in England in 1469. After he was ordained a priest, the royal family appointed him tutor for Prince Henry, who became King Henry VIII. In 1504, Fisher became bishop of Rochester, ...
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Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More (June 22)
1469-6/22/1535, 1478-7/6/1535
John Fisher was born in England in 1469. After he was ordained a priest, the royal family appointed him tutor for Prince Henry, who became King Henry VIII. In 1504, Fisher became bishop of Rochester, and also chancellor of Cambridge University. Henry, then king, was proud to be his friend.
All this changed when King Henry wanted to divorce his wife and marry another woman. Henry’s request for a divorce was refused by the pope (because, in the eyes of the Church, marriage is permanent), and Bishop Fisher supported this decision. He was strong enough to resist signing the document siding with King Henry, even though all the other bishops of England had signed it. Six months later, King Henry had parliament write another document claiming that Henry was supreme head of the Catholic Church in England. Again, Bishop Fisher refused to sign. This made the king angry. The bishop was sentenced to prison in 1534 on the charge of high treason. Fisher was kept in prison for 14 months without a trial. In June of 1535, he was condemned to death by beheading.
Thomas More was born in 1477. Thomas was married and had four children. He was a shrewd lawyer and eventually became the chancellor of England, which is the highest-ranking judicial office in England. Thomas was a charming, witty man, who won the friendship of the king. That friendship changed when King Henry asked Thomas to approve of the divorce he wanted. When Thomas refused, the king became angry. Then when Thomas refused to sign the Oath of Supremacy, he was sent to prison. He was kept for more than a year in the Tower of London. The king tried hard to make him change his mind, but Thomas stood firm. He knew this stand would mean certain death for him and disgrace for his family, but he followed his conscience. Finally, after suffering for a long time, Thomas was led out to be beheaded on July 6.
The stories of John Fisher and Thomas More are a reminder of the importance of religious liberty and the importance of witnessing our faith in the public sphere. Sts. John Fisher and Thomas More teach us that this can only come about through Christians with courageous conscience, being faithful to truth, and having a proper understanding of the relationship between church and state.
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What are the similarities between the stories of St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More?
Sts. Louis & Zelieand St. Therese of Lisieux (July 12)
St. Louis Martin: 1823 – 1894, St. Zelie Martin:1831 – 1877, St. Therese of Lisieux: 1873 – 1897
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote, “The human family is, in a certain sense, the icon of the Trinity because of the love between its members and the fruitfulness of that love.” This week’s saints exemp...
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Sts. Louis & Zelieand St. Therese of Lisieux (July 12)
St. Louis Martin: 1823 – 1894, St. Zelie Martin:1831 – 1877, St. Therese of Lisieux: 1873 – 1897
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI wrote, “The human family is, in a certain sense, the icon of the Trinity because of the love between its members and the fruitfulness of that love.” This week’s saints exemplify this in a particular way. Louis Martin and his wife, Marie-Azelie (Zelie), fostered a culture of faith, love, and service in their family, which nurtured the vocations of their daughters, including Saint Therese of Lisieux. They are the first-ever married couple with children to be canonized in the same ceremony. The Martin family prayed daily and helped those in need. They are the patron saints of marriage, parenting, and widowers. Their daughter, St. Therese, was affectionately called “the Little Flower.” She found little ways to sacrifice to show love, such as smiling at someone who didn’t like her or eating whatever food was served without complaining. Therese has been a highly influential model of sanctity because of the simplicity and practicality of her approach to the spiritual life. She and her sisters were all part of the Carmelite religious order. Therese was canonized in 1925. On October 19, 1997, Pope John Paul II proclaimed her a Doctor of the Church, the third woman to be so recognized in light of her holiness and the influence of her teaching on spirituality in the Church.
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How can your family learn to grow in holiness together?
Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (March 7)
d. 203
Saints Perpetua and Felicity were Christian martyrs who lived during the early persecution of the Church in Africa by the Emperor Severus. Perpetua, a well-educated noblewoman, made the decision to fo...
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Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (March 7)
d. 203
Saints Perpetua and Felicity were Christian martyrs who lived during the early persecution of the Church in Africa by the Emperor Severus. Perpetua, a well-educated noblewoman, made the decision to follow the path of her mother and became a Christian, although she knew it could mean her death during the persecutions ordered by the Emperor Severus. Her pagan father was frantic with worry and tried to talk her out of her decision. At 22-years-old, the well-educated, high-spirited woman had every reason to want to live -- including a baby son whom she was still nursing.
Perpetua was arrested with four other catechumens, including Felicity who was eight months pregnant, and their instructor in the faith, Saturus. Perpetua was baptized before she was taken to prison. She was known for her gift of "the Lord's speech" and receiving messages from God. At the time of her baptism she was told by God to pray for nothing but endurance in the face of her trials.
While in prison, Perpetua was able to visit with her baby. Her father came and begged her to change her mind. When she and the others were taken to be examined and sentenced, the judge, out of pity, tried to get her to change her mind, but she did not back down. For their unwillingness, all were sent to the public games in the amphitheater. Felicity gave birth to a girl a few days before the games commenced. There Perpetua and Felicity were beheaded, and the others killed by beasts.
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St. Joseph of Arimathea showed great love and great courage to give Jesus a proper burial. Share a time when you did a good deed that required courage.
Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29)
First Century
Aside from Jesus, Peter and Paul are the most significant characters in the New Testament. The New Testament clearly shows Peter chosen by Jesus as the leader of the apostles. With James and John, he ...
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Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles (June 29)
First Century
Aside from Jesus, Peter and Paul are the most significant characters in the New Testament. The New Testament clearly shows Peter chosen by Jesus as the leader of the apostles. With James and John, he was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, raising a dead child to life, and the agony in Gethsemane. Jesus cured his mother-in-law. He was sent with John to prepare for the last Passover before Jesus’ death. Jesus appointed Peter the first Pope when he told him, “And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (ki)
Paul was dedicated to persecuting the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem before his conversion. After his dramatic encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul traveled all over Asia Minor to proclaim Christ to the Gentiles. He founded numerous churches in Asia Minor and Europe and took advantage of his status as both a Jew and a Roman citizen to minister to both Jewish and Gentile audiences. Thirteen of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament are attributed to St. Paul.
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Who do you relate to more…Peter or Paul?
The Blessed Virgin Mary (January 1)
First Century
Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus, true God and true Man (CCC 495,496; Council of Ephesus, 431 AD). Because of this, she, more than anyone else, can lead us to her Son. No o...
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The Blessed Virgin Mary (January 1)
First Century
Mary is the Mother of God because she is the Mother of Jesus, true God and true Man (CCC 495,496; Council of Ephesus, 431 AD). Because of this, she, more than anyone else, can lead us to her Son. No one knows Jesus or can relate to him as well as she does. Mary was conceived without sin by her parents St. Joachim and St. Anne, and she was married to St. Joseph. In addition to today’s solemnity, the Church celebrates the following events of her life: her Immaculate Conception (December 8), the visit by the angel Gabriel, who told her she would become Jesus’ mother (Annunciation, March 25), her visit to her cousin Elizabeth who was pregnant with John the Baptist (Visitation, May 31), and her Assumption into heaven (August 15). All of these are celebrated as feast days in the liturgical year. Mary is our spiritual Mother and is considered the Queen of Heaven. Mary prays on our behalf to her son Jesus. She is the patron saint of all humanity.
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Mary prays on our behalf to Jesus. What are some prayers you’d like to ask of Mary?
Venerable Augustus Tolton (July 9)
April 1, 1854-July 9, 1897
John Augustine Tolton, later known as Augustus, or Father Gus, was born into slavery in 1854. When the Civil War began, his father escaped slavery to join the Union army and died in battle. Tolton’s m...
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Venerable Augustus Tolton (July 9)
April 1, 1854-July 9, 1897
John Augustine Tolton, later known as Augustus, or Father Gus, was born into slavery in 1854. When the Civil War began, his father escaped slavery to join the Union army and died in battle. Tolton’s mother fled with her three children and crossed the Mississippi River with the help of Union soldiers. They joined a Catholic church in Quincy, made up mostly of German immigrants.
When Tolton tried to go to school, he was rejected and faced discrimination from other students and their parents. He desired to study for the priesthood, but no American seminary would accept him. Instead, he was privately tutored by local priests until St. Francis Solanus College admitted him in 1878. Two years later, he left to study for the priesthood in Rome. Tolton became the first African American priest to be ordained in the Roman Catholic Church in 1886. He anticipated he would be sent to Africa as a missionary but was instead sent back to the United States in 1886. He first served at a church in New York City, and later in his hometown of Quincy, Illinois. He later moved to Chicago, where he helped the Black Catholic community build St. Monica Church on Chicago’s South Side. Soon, Tolton became known nationally as a minister and public speaker, yet he remained dedicated to his congregation and community members in need.
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Venerable Augustus Tolton faced obstacles and rejection in his life. Share a time when you have faced obstacles and rejection in your life. Who helped you through this time?
Venerable Nelson Henry Baker (July 29)
February 16, 1842 – July 29, 1936
Nelson Baker was born the second of four boys in Buffalo, New York. He worked at his family’s grocery store until the Civil War broke out and he enlisted as a Union soldier. When he came home from the...
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Venerable Nelson Henry Baker (July 29)
February 16, 1842 – July 29, 1936
Nelson Baker was born the second of four boys in Buffalo, New York. He worked at his family’s grocery store until the Civil War broke out and he enlisted as a Union soldier. When he came home from the war, Nelson went to work with his best friend. Together they ran a successful feed and grain business thanks to the business skills Nelson had developed while working in the grocery store. Eventually, Nelson answered the Lord’s call to enter the priesthood.
After his ordination, Fr. Baker was assigned to the diocesan institutions at Limestone Hill, including St. Patrick Parish and St. Joseph’s Orphanage which were in deep debt. He tried to negotiate payment plans with little success. Fr. Baker withdrew all his personal savings to pay off the debts. Then he had an idea. Fr Baker asked postmasters all over the country for the names of charitable Catholic women in their towns. Fr. Baker then wrote letters to those women and asked if they would contribute yearly to support the institutions at Limestone Hill. He requested one quarter per year and called the initiative The Association of Our Lady of Victory. His fundraising efforts were such a success that he was able to pay off all the debts and begin to work on building expansions and repairs!
Using that fundraising support and his business sense, Fr. Baker decided to drill for natural gas at Limestone Hill and build a home for unwed mothers and their children, a maternity hospital, and Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica. When the Great Depression began, Fr. Baker worked tirelessly to help the poor, hungry and homeless. He became known as the “Padre of the Poor,” and served his community until his health began to deteriorate in 1936. He died at the age of 94 while being blessed by Fr. JoBurke, an orphan raised by Fr. Baker himself, who would later become the bishop of Buffalo.
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Ven. Nelson Henry Baker used his organization and leadership skills to serve God. Why are these skills important in ministry?
Venerable Patrick Peyton (June 3)
January 9, 1901-June 3, 1992
Fr. Patrick Peyton was perhaps one of the earliest examples of a Catholic influencer. Known to millions around the world as “the Rosary priest,” he made famous the motto, “The family that prays togeth...
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Venerable Patrick Peyton (June 3)
January 9, 1901-June 3, 1992
Fr. Patrick Peyton was perhaps one of the earliest examples of a Catholic influencer. Known to millions around the world as “the Rosary priest,” he made famous the motto, “The family that prays together stays together.”
Patrick was born in Ireland in 1909, the sixth of nine children. Every evening, his whole family would pray the Rosary together. At the age of nine, Patrick felt the desire to join the priesthood when he served at Mass in his home parish. He and his brother came to Pennsylvania in 1927 to reunite with their sister who was married and living there. He worked at the Catholic parish as a janitor; that parish helped solidify his call to the priesthood. Patrick became sick with advanced tuberculosis during his studies in the seminary. As his health continually declined, he was given the choice to undergo surgery or pray for a miracle. Patrick chose to pray. He asked Mary to intercede for him, and that same year, he recovered completely.
Fr. Patrick was ordained a priest in 1941. He made it his mission to bring the Rosary to 10 million families around the world. He wrote letters to bishops and church leaders, asking them to join his campaign. He knew that he would reach far more families if he could get his message out on the radio. So, he traveled to New York City, where he gained the support of the Mutual Broadcasting System and convinced Bing Crosby and a handful of other celebrities to join him on his radio show, where he led families in praying the Rosary.
Fr. Patrick’s radio show was so well-received, he travelled to Hollywood, where his vision began to take shape. Fr. Patrick went on to create radio, television, and film productions, as well as hosting 540 Rosary Rallies all over the world, gathering millions of people in prayer. Fr. Patrick’s organization, Holy Cross Family Ministries, continues his ministry today with rosary and prayer resources, family ministry, and multimedia productions that educate and inspire families around the world to grow in faith and pray together daily.
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Venerable Patrick Peyton used different forms of media to reach families about the faith. What forms of media do we have available to us today to share about God and the importance of prayer?
Venerable Pierre Toussaint (June 30)
June 27, 1766-June 30, 1853
Pierre was born into slavery in Haiti. In 1787, political unrest was rising in Haiti and his slave owners left for New York, taking him and his sister Rosalie with them. In New York, Pierre studied as...
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Venerable Pierre Toussaint (June 30)
June 27, 1766-June 30, 1853
Pierre was born into slavery in Haiti. In 1787, political unrest was rising in Haiti and his slave owners left for New York, taking him and his sister Rosalie with them. In New York, Pierre studied as an apprentice to a local hairdresser. He excelled in his trade and before long, he was working in the homes of wealthy women in New York City. When Pierre’s slave owner died, Pierre continued to support his master’s widow and the other slaves with his work. He was finally freed just before the widow’s death in 1807.
Pierre’s popularity as a hairdresser grew, and he saved his wages to purchase Rosalie’s freedom. In 1811, Pierre married Marie Rose Juliette, a slave whose freedom he had purchased. After this, his sister Rosalie died of tuberculosis, and Pierre and his wife adopted her daughter and raised her as their own. Pierre went to Mass daily and was known to all as a devout Catholic and a generous man.
Pierre and his wife opened their home to orphans, donated to countless charities, and cared for people sick with yellow fever. People would often ask Pierre why he didn’t retire and enjoy the wealth he had accumulated, but he is quoted saying, “I have enough for myself, but if I stop working I have not enough for others.”
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If you lived in the time of St. Oliver Plunkett, would you continue to practice the Catholic faith even if it was prohibited by the government? Why or why not?
Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli (February 23)
November 4, 1806- February 23, 1864
Carlo Gaetano Samuele Mazzuchelli was born in Milan, Italy. He was the 16th of 17 children. When he was 17, he entered the Dominican Order against his father’s wishes, taking the name Friar Samuel. At...
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Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli (February 23)
November 4, 1806- February 23, 1864
Carlo Gaetano Samuele Mazzuchelli was born in Milan, Italy. He was the 16th of 17 children. When he was 17, he entered the Dominican Order against his father’s wishes, taking the name Friar Samuel. At only 22 years old, Father Mazzuchelli came to the American frontier in 1828. He was assigned to serve as a missionary priest to the entire Northwest Territory. Father Mazzuchelli traveled across the Northwest Territory by horseback, canoe, and on foot. He journeyed the land from the Great Lakes to the Mississippi River and beyond.
Fr. Mazzuchelli was known as a kind and gentlemanly priest who could break down cultural barriers and appeal to many different ethnic groups. He served native tribes, immigrant settlers, miners, farmers, and political leaders. In 1847, Fr. Mazzuchelli founded a community of Dominican Sisters in Sinsinawa, Wisconsin. The following year, he founded a frontier school for young women that later became Dominican University. He went on to design and build over 24 churches and buildings before his death in 1864.
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Venerable Samuel Mazzuchelli was able to break down cultural barriers and appeal to many different cultures. Why is this an important skill?
Venerable Satoko Kitahara (January 23)
August 22, 1929-January 23, 1958
Satoko Kitahara was born in Japan in 1929 to a wealthy aristocratic family, descended from samurai. When World War II began in 1940, Satoko went to work in an airplane factory, while her father and br...
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Venerable Satoko Kitahara (January 23)
August 22, 1929-January 23, 1958
Satoko Kitahara was born in Japan in 1929 to a wealthy aristocratic family, descended from samurai. When World War II began in 1940, Satoko went to work in an airplane factory, while her father and brother joined the army. While working at the factory, she lived in constant fear of attacks and miraculously escaped when her workplace was bombed. As a result of the bombing, Satoko became sick with tuberculosis. After the war, most of Japan was in ruins, including Satoko’s home. When introduced to the Mercedarian Sisters at a nearby Catholic school, she was drawn to the sisters’ deep faith. In 1949, Satoko was baptized, taking the name Elisabeth Maria. Although Satoko desired to be a member of the religious order, she was not accepted because of her poor health.
As a lay single person, Satoko dedicated her life to serving the poor of her community in an area known as the “Village of Ants,” where children and young people survived by collecting and selling garbage. She gave up her money and belongings to live among the people, teaching them to read, building a school, and working to provide clean living conditions for them. Satoko died of tuberculosis in 1958 at the age of 28. Pope Francis declared Satoko venerable in 2014.
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Thinking about Venerable Satoko Kitahara’s commitment to the “Village of Ants,” what lengths would you take to help someone in need? How could you help them grow closer to God?
Venerable Suzanne Aubert (October 1)
June 19, 1835-October 1, 1926
Marie Henriette Suzanne Aubert was raised in a small village in France, near Lyon. At the age of two, she fell through an icy pond and was left temporarily blind and physically disabled. This, along w...
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Venerable Suzanne Aubert (October 1)
June 19, 1835-October 1, 1926
Marie Henriette Suzanne Aubert was raised in a small village in France, near Lyon. At the age of two, she fell through an icy pond and was left temporarily blind and physically disabled. This, along with the death of her brother, led her to care deeply for those with disabilities. Her health condition slowed her education, but Suzanne eventually recovered, and thrived at school under the care of the Benedictine Sisters of La Rochette. Following French custom at the time, Suzanne’s parents arranged for her to be married, but Suzanne refused. Her mother sought the council of St. John Vianney who affirmed Suzanne’s decision.
In 1860, she left her hometown and set sail to New Zealand as a missionary. She and the other French-speaking women wanted to serve the Māori people and eventually moved to Hawkes Bay to do so. To help other missionaries and priests minister to the Māori people, she created an English-Māori dictionary, a French-Māori book of phrases, and a Māori prayer book. She then moved to Hiruharama and taught the Māori customs and language to a few Sisters of St. Joseph so they could teach in the schools. She taught catechism and helped the sick. She soon became known for her nursing skills and studied medicinal properties of native plants. While this outreach was well received by the locals, the order eventually decided to leave that area.
Suzanne continued serving, moving to Wellington. Again, the locals appreciated the work being done, but those in charge did not like the direction it was going. To continue the work, Suzanne eventually founded the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion. She returned to Wellington and her order continued providing medical care free of charge to the poor of New Zealand. She died in 1926 and many came to pay their respects at her funeral.
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In his lifetime, Blessed Jesus Emilio Jaramillo Monsalve tirelessly worked for justice. What are some injustices in the world today? How can you work for justice in your neighborhood, school, and place of work?
