The saints of December 25 are of course overshadowed by the solemnity of the birth of Jesus, and they probably would not have it any other way. But perhaps, this year, we could recall their names and a little bit about them. The following were martyrs: Saint Eugenia (of Rome), … Read more...

This saint, also known as Saint John Damascene, is one of the Fathers of the Eastern Church. He was educated by a monk whom his father had saved from death from Saracen conquerors. Active in the Church as a monk and later ordained a priest, Saint John wrote three Treatises … Read more...

Over several centuries, thousands of Christians—bishops, priests, religious, and laypeople—were martyred during persecutions in Vietnam. On June 19, 1988, Pope John Paul II canonized 117 of these martyrs. (Some others had been canonized earlier.) The feast day of the Martyrs of Vietnam is November 24. Read more at http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4951. Read more...

A martyr is someone who puts his or her body on the line for Christ and Christ’s Kingdom. Saint Engelbert was martyred by a member of his own family. As Archbishop of Cologne, Germany, he had prevented his cousin Count Frederick from stealing from a local monastery of nuns. In … Read more...

Every big feast day has a vigil, and the vigil of All Saints Day is no exception. We call it "Halloween," that is, "All Hallows Eve." On Halloween, we Christians celebrate the victory of life over death—no matter how many scary skeletons come knocking at our door! Many of our … Read more...

Next Friday, October 18, is the feast of Saint Luke, patron of writers and editors. At the beginning of his Gospel, Luke lays out his editorial plan to his friend Theophilus, to whom the Gospel is addressed: "And so, your Excellency, because I have carefully studied all these matters from … Read more...

In October of 1840, Mother Theodore and five other Sisters of Providence traveled from France to the forests of Indiana. They settled at St. Mary-of-the-Woods, near Terre Haute. After spending the first bitter winter in the attic of the Thralls family farmhouse (with snow drifting in through gaps in the … Read more...

Feast day: September 10 Saint Nicholas of Tolentino was named after Saint Nicholas of Myra (the original Saint Nicholas, who later became better known as Santa Claus). Nicholas of Tolentino became an Augustinian friar. In honor of his distribution of blessed bread to those who begged at the monastery gates, … Read more...

Jeanne Jugan, born in France in 1792, was the foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor. Her community began in 1839 when she took a homeless elderly woman into her own home as a permanent guest. By 1853, the community numbered 500, all staffing houses for those who were … Read more...

Saint Ignatius was not only the founder of the Society of Jesus and the author of the Spiritual Exercises. He was also a friend to many, a spiritual director, and a writer of letters. He wrote nearly 7,000 letters in his lifetime. Some of them were to his great friend, … Read more...

If we were vacationing in Rome at the end of June, we would be looking forward to celebrating the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul with music, entertainment, fireworks, and fairs. This solemnity is a holy day of obligation in some European countries, and in Rome is an annual public … Read more...

Saint Juliana (c.1192–1258), also known as Saint Juliana of Mount-Cornillon (after her monastery), was an Augustinian nun with a special appreciation of the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist. All throughout her life, she advocated devotion to the Holy Eucharist, and, together with sympathetic companions, worked and prayed for … Read more...

In the spring, our thoughts naturally turn to growing things, and we can look to Saint Isidore for help and inspiration at this wonderful time, whether we have a green thumb or not. Interestingly, Saint Isidore was not a farm owner but a farm laborer who worked for hire. His … Read more...

If there had been such an award in the 14th century, Saint Catherine surely would have won "Church Woman of the Year" not once but several times. As she worked tirelessly to unify the Church—encouraging Pope Gregory XI to move back to Rome from the French city of Avignon—she backed … Read more...

April 7: Feast of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. Explore the Web site of the Christian Brothers of the Midwest at http://www.brothersvocation.org/ to find the video, "In the Footsteps of De La Salle: A Vocation Journey." This video explores Lasallian history, … Read more...

Saint John Climacus is also known as Saint John of the Ladder or Saint John of Sinai. John was abbot of the Monastery of Saint Catherine on Mount Sinai, and wrote the enduring spiritual classic The Ladder of Divine Ascent. (This monastery still exists and its Web site is http://www.sinaimonastery.com/en/index.php?lid=1. … Read more...

Saint Joseph, the husband of Mary and foster father of Jesus, was named the Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX at the end of the First Vatican Council. In 1962, Joseph’s name was added to the first Eucharistic Prayer by Pope John XXIII. Just as any good … Read more...

Do we really have a special day to celebrate a chair? No, we do not. As in committee meetings ("The chair has the floor"), we refer to the chair-holder, that is, Saint Peter. Saint Peter was many things—a husband, a fisherman, an Apostle, and the first leader of the early … Read more...