Saints are superheroes in the Catholic Church! They bear witness to Christ through the example of their struggles, heartbreaks, conversion and holiness!
Mary, Queen of All Saints
Catholics venerate, but do not adore Mary. Adoration is for God alone. She is the Mediatrix of All Graces.
Saints of the Roman Canon
In union with the whole Church we honor Mary, Joseph, the apostles and martyrs and all the saints… But who are they? And why?
Doctrine of Communion of Saints
Catholics believe that all the faithful, whether living or dead, are spiritually united as part of the Body of Christ, transcending time and space.
Our “Meet-A-Saint” feature has been well-received! We take you to the Vatican’s “Saint of the Day” page. Here you will continue to see some of the many thousands of saints who have won their sanctification often through martyrdom but always through fidelity. We, the faithful, who follow Jesus, seek to emulate the lives of the saints. Click here to see references.
Our Faith: Its Source and Summit
The Holy Eucharist is central to Our Faith. At Mass we participate in the Liturgy of the Eucharist and reception of the real presence.
Sacraments: What Are They Really?
We are a sacramental church, formed around Jesus’ teachings, as He was present at the inception of all of the sacraments.
Becoming Catholic: a Journey in Encounter
When you feel “commodified” and realize that life must have more meaning than the race for wealth, popularity and pleasure…. see Jesus.
September 13 – Memorial
St. John Chrysostom
St. John Chrysostom (c347 – 407) was an important Early Church Father who served as Archbishop of Constantinople. He is known for his preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, his Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities
September 3 – Memorial
St. Gregory the Great
St. Gregory the Great (540-604) was a civilian official, then a monk, a cardinal, and finally, one of the most influential popes the Church has ever known. Gregory is one of the four great doctors of the Church, along with St. Ambrose, St. Augustine, and St. Jerome. These four and 33 other doctors have been singled out for their ability to articulate and teach the faith. He is often shown with a bird nearby—it is said that the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove spoke into his ear when he preached.
August 24 – Feast
St. Bartholomew
St. Bartholomew (?-c. 69/71) is one of the 12 Apostles, named in all 3 synoptic Gospels, as well as in Acts, and is called Nathanael in John’s Gospel. He shows a prescient faith when he professes “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!’” (Jn 1:48-49), an allusion to the hypostatic union of Jesus’ divinity and humanity. In images, he clutches a book tightly and a knife, portraying his martyrdom by being flayed alive and beheaded.
August 14 – Memorial
St. Maximilian Kolbe
St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894 – 1941). Another stirring example of a holy life, was devoted to the Blessed Mother. Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan Friar who offered up his life in a Nazi death camp in exchange for another prisoner chosen to face death by starvation. It is said that, knowing he would be cremated after lethal injection, Kolbe shaved his head and his hair remains as the only first class relic. Read more about this modern-era saint.
August 9th – Feast
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, (Edith Stein, 1891-1942) was a Polish Jew who – in reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila – converted to Catholicism, became a Carmelite nun and adopted her role model’s name. Because of her Jewish lineage she was arrested by the Nazis, sent to Auschwitz and put to death.
August 1st – Memorial
St. Alphonsus Liguori
St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) fought for the liberation of moral theology from a rigid Jansenist view. He founded the Redemptorists in 1732. Towards the end of his life, he suffered “dark night” of scruples, fears, temptations against every article of faith and every virtue, interspersed with intervals of light and relief, when ecstasies were frequent. Catholics who attend Lenten Stations of the Cross will recognize his prayers in The Way of the Cross
July 25- Feast
St. James, The Greater
One of the Zebedee brothers, St. James (brother of St. John The Evangelist) was one of the earliest disciples to be called by Jesus. Later, along with Peter and John, he was a witness to Jesus’ Transfiguration. Jesus rebuked him when he and his brother wanted to call down fire upon a Samaritan town. The first apostle to be martyred, James’ remains were moved to Compostela, in Spain, now famous for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
July 20 – Feast
St. Apollinaris
St. Apollinaris (? – c79 AD) is venerated as an early Christian martyr. It is said that St. Peter sent Apollinaris to Ravenna (present day Italy) as its Bishop. Apollinaris was repeatedly beaten and exiled due to his fervent preaching, healing and conversions of the city’s pagan peoples. Finally a cruel beating in Classis caused his death.
July 11 – Memorial
St. Benedict
Considered the “Father of Western Monasticism”, St. Benedict’s (480-547 AD) most important achievement was his creation of a succinct and complete directory for the governance, spiritual and material well-being of a monastery. His Rule carefully balanced prayer, manual labor, and study into a well-rounded daily routine that has shaped Christianity for nearly 1,500 years
July 4 – Feast
St. Elizabeth of Portugal
St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271-1336) was married to the profligate King Denis of Portugal. She had great devotion early in life, and was given to charitable deeds towards the poor and peacemaking in war. A miracles of roses is attributed to her good deeds.
June 28 – Feast
St. Irenaeus of Lyons
St. Irenaeus (130 – 202), often called the Founder of Christian Theology, strenuously rejected and effectively rebuffed the growing heresy of Gnosticism. Pope Francis named Irenaeus (meaning “peaceful”) Doctor of the Church – Doctor of Unity – in 2022. It is believed Irenaeus died a martyr’s death. Famous quote: “The Glory of God is humanity fully alive.”
June 21 – Memorial
St. Aloysius Gonzaga
St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568 – 1591) was an Italian aristocrat, later a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). While still a student at the Roman College, he died in caring for victims of a serious epidemic. St. Aloysius is the patron saint of youth and students (1729 by Pope Benedict XIII), all Christian youth (1926, by Pope Pius XI) and plague victims, AIDS patients and their caregivers Ref Wikipedia
June 11 – Feast
St. Barnabas
Barnabas, an early disciple, accompanied St. Paul on some of his missionary journeys. Acts 4: 36-37 notes: “Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.” Barnabas is responsible for introducing Paul to the Apostles.
June 3 – Memorial
St. Charles Lwanga and companions
Charles Lwanga (1860 – 1886) was a Ugandan convert to the Catholic Church. He and a group of his peers were brutally martyred at Namugongo, modern-day Uganda. Both Catholics and Anglicans revere these saints. Want to know more about the martyrdom of Saint Charles Lwanga and Companions? Watch
May 29 – Feast
St. Paul VI
St. Paul VI (1897-1978) was an oft misunderstood modern-era pontiff, later seen as a wise pope and prophet. “[I am] … a humble servant of a suffering humanity”, he sought the rich in North America and Europe to change in favour of the poor in the Third World. His opposition to birth control in the 1968 encyclical Humanae vitae was strongly contested, especially in Western Europe and North America….” [Source: Wikipedia]
May 21 – Feast
St. Eugène de Mazenod
St. Eugène de Mazenod (1782-1861), founded the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. Oblates have had a large influence in Canada since 1841, including significant roles in diocesan development (all except 2 dioceses west of Ottawa were established by them), academia (Ottawa .St. Paul’s University), missions from Montreal to the North to the West Coast, inovitiates /retreat houses (e.g. Arnprior’s Galilee Centre) and indigenous parishes (e.g. Sacred Heart Catholic Church of the First Peoples, Edmonton).
May 14 – Feast
St. Matthias
Often mis-identified as St. Matthew the Evangelist, Saint Matthias is called the “Unsung Apostle”! He was a close disciple of Jesus from the time of His baptism to His Ascension. He was the disciple chosen to replace Judas Iscariot as the twelfth Apostle.
May 10 – Feast
St. John of Ávila
Not to be confused with other 16th Century “St. Johns”, like John of God, John of the Cross, or John Ávila, this Saint and Doctor, St. John of Ávila (1500-1569), would later be known affectionately as “the apostle of Andalusia.”
May 6- Memorial
St. François de Laval
St. François de Montmorency-Laval, 1623-1708, was the first Roman Catholic Bishop of Quebec. His name is familiar to most Canadians, with the City of Laval and Laval University being named after him. He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2014.
May 3 – Feast
Saints Philip and James
If your name is James, you’re in good apostolic company! And how about that Philip? ”Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (Jn 14:8). [Please click image ]
May 2- Memorial
St. Athanasius of Alexandra
Sometimes referred to as “The Hammer of God”, Athanasius (298-373) wrote a definitive work rebuffing Arianism, called “On the Incarnation” … at the age of 19!!
April 29 – Feast
St. Catherine of Siena
Did you know that St. Catherine (1347 – 1380) was the first lay person to receive the title “Doctor of The Church” (1970)?
April 17 – Feast
St. Kateri Tekakwitha
Saint Kateri Tekakwitha (1656 – 1680) was the first North American Indigenous person to be canonized a saint. After being persecuted in her home village in New York State she moved to Kahnawake Mohawk Territory south of Montreal, where she died at age 24.
ABOUT THE FEAST DAYS: The Calendar of the Roman Catholic Church is a rich and vibrant, if sometimes confusing, tapestry of liturgical celebrations. In this page we will try to reflect that richness by building a series of such celebratory days for some selective saints in our Catholic tradition.
Presented in reverse chronological order, we hope this will aid parishioners to increase awareness of this important body of intercessors and partners who have a direct line to Our Lord on our behalf.
LITURGICAL CALENDARS: Liturgical celebrations are usually identified as a Solemnity, a Feast, an Obligatory Memorial or Commemoration or an Optional Memorial, based on the General Roman Calendar, with additional feasts particular to Canada from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB), as in the Proper Calendar for the Dioceses of Canada.
We hope this HNOM website feature helps inform your spiritual journey with the Saints.
SOME SOURCES AND REFERENCES: We draw on the following solid Catholic resources, as well as others, to provide a diverse and interesting commentary of the lives of the saints. We welcome your references to favourite resources as well.
- Saint of the Day, by Franciscan Media
- Saint of the Day, by Catholic Online
- Saint of the Day, by Vatican News
- Saints of the Day, by My Catholic Life
Issues with this page? Please email errors, omissions or changes to the office@hnomalmonte.ca at office@hnomalmonte.ca