Explore every episode of the podcast Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year

Read entire reflection online >>>

January 7—Saint Raymond of Peñafort, Priest—Optional Memorial

1175–1275
Patron Saint of attorneys, canonists, and medical record librarians
Canonized by Pope Clement VIII on April 29, 1601
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Look then on Jesus, the Author and Preserver of faith: in complete sinlessness He suffered, and at the hands of those who were His own, and was numbered among the wicked. As you drink the cup of the Lord Jesus (how glorious it is!) give thanks to the Lord, the giver of all blessings. ~From a letter by Saint Raymond

Prayer:
Saint Raymond, your numerous gifts were noticed by many, but above all you sought not recognition but humility and the salvation of souls. Please pray for me, that I may always place my gifts at the service of God and obey His holy commands with perfection and love. Saint Raymond of Peñafort, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Image via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

January 6: Saint André Bessette, Religious—USA Optional Memorial

1845–1937
Patron saint of family caregivers in Canada
Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 17, 2010
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
God is good! How beautiful and powerful he is! He must be beautiful, because the human soul, which is a reflection of God’s beauty, is so beautiful! ~Spoken on his deathbed

Prayer:
Saint André, you were not given any monumental tasks in this world, but you were given great responsibility. You were responsible for loving those who came to you, listening to those who needed to be heard, and praying for those who needed your prayers. Please pray for me, that I may learn from your humble service and live my daily duty in deep love and fidelity to the will of God. Saint André, pray for me. Saint Joseph, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Image via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

December 29: Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr—Optional Memorial

c. 1119–1170
Patron Saint of clergy
Canonized by Pope Alexander III on February 21, 1173
Liturgical color: White (Red only where celebrated as a Feast)

Quote:
Remember the profession, which you made and placed in writing upon the altar at Westminster, to preserve the  Church’s liberties, when you were consecrated and anointed to be king. Restore the Church of Canterbury, from which you received your promotion and consecration, to the state in which it was in the days of our predecessors, with all its possessions, castles, manors, and farms, and all other property that has been taken away from any of my men, whether clerks or laymen, and allow us to resume our duties in the aforesaid Church, without trouble or molestation. If your majesty will consent to this, I am prepared to serve you with all obedience as my beloved lord and sovereign, as far as lies in my power SAVING THE HONOUR OF GOD AND OF THE ROMAN CHURCH, AND MY OWN ORDER. But if you will not do these things, know for a certainty that you shall feel the severity of God’s vengeance! ~From a letter to King Henry II by Saint Thomas Becket

Prayer:
Saint Thomas Becket, you lived much of your life in a worldly pompous way, but upon being consecrated a bishop, you turned to a life of prayer, penance, and defense of the Church. Please pray for me, that I will also turn from all worldly attractions and will devote myself wholeheartedly to the service of God and His Church. Saint Thomas Becket, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Public domain via Wikimedia

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 25: Saint Joseph of Calasanz, Priest—Optional Memorial

1556–1648
Patron Saint of Catholic schools (especially ones for the poor), colleges, and schoolchildren
Canonized by Pope Clement XIII on July 16, 1767
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Joseph Calasanz, wise interpreter of the signs of the times, considered education, given in a “brief, simple and effective manner,” the guarantee of success in the life of students and the leaven of social and ecclesial renewal. Moreover, he saw school as a new way of evangelizing and for this reason he wished religious and preferably priests to take on the task of teaching, committing themselves to offering the child an all-round culture, in which the religious dimension would be considered and lived in a profound manner. Calasanz consequently outlined the figure of the priest, teacher of little ones and of the poor, while at the same time raising to ministerial dignity an office considered by his contemporaries as lowly and of little prestige. ~Letter from Pope John Paul II to the Superior General of the Piarist Fathers

Prayer:
Saint Joseph Calasanz, you were well educated and formed in the faith from a young age, and then God called you to share those blessings with others. Please pray for me, that all I have received in life will be used for God’s glory and for the good of others, helping all who need my help to grow closer to God and more fully fulfill His will. Saint Joseph Calasanz, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.



Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Francisco Goya, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 25: Saint Louis, King—Optional Memorial

1214–1270
Patron Saint of barbers, hairdressers, builders, construction workers, button makers, distillers, embroiderers, needleworkers, kings, sculptors, soldiers, stoneworkers, bridegrooms, parenthood, parents of large families, prisoners, sick people, and co-patron of the Third Order of Saint Francis
Invoked against the death of children and difficult marriages
Canonized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1297
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Therefore, dear son, the first thing I advise is that you fix your whole heart upon God, and love Him with all your strength, for without this no one can be saved or be of any worth. You should, with all your strength, shun everything which you believe to be displeasing to Him. And you ought especially to be resolved not to commit mortal sin, no matter what may happen and should permit all your limbs to be hewn off, and suffer every manner of torment, rather than fall knowingly into mortal sin. ~Letter from Saint Louis to his son

Prayer:
Saint Louis, you came to know Christ at a young age. Your faith-filled mother instilled in you a clear vision of your moral duty and responsibility before God. You responded to that gift by being a king after the Heart of Christ, seeking justice and peace for all. Please pray for me, that I will embrace my own duties in life with love and justice, never seeking my own selfish desires but only the desires in the Heart of Christ. Saint Louis, King of France, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image, Lawrence OP, Flickr

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 24: Saint Bartholomew the Apostle—Feast

First Century
Patron Saint of bookbinders, butchers, cobblers, leatherworkers, plasterers, shoemakers, tanners, trappers, and whiteners
Invoked against neurological diseases
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” But Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true Israelite. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” ~John 1:45–49

Prayer:
Saint Bartholomew, you met Jesus, the Nazarene, and you immediately discerned Him to be the Son of God, the King of Israel. Your openness to divine grace enabled our Lord to touch your soul and change you forever. Please pray for me, that I will also be open to the divine presence of the Son of God so that He can touch my soul and change my life. Saint Bartholomew, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Images, via Wikimedia Commons: Featured

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 23: Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin—Optional Memorial

1586–1617
Patron Saint of the Americas, Peru, embroiderers, florists, gardeners, needleworkers, and people ridiculed for their piety
Invoked against vanity and self-love
Canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Lord, increase my sufferings, and with them increase Your love in my heart…
Apart from the cross there is no other ladder by which we may get to Heaven. ~Saint Rose of Lima

Prayer:
Saint Rose of Lima, you fell in love with your Lord at an early age, and from that time could choose no one else. Jesus took your love and transformed you into a beacon of light that shone forth from your small hermitage. Please pray for me, that I may discover what you discovered, so that I will enter more deeply into a life of prayer and penance, and through these practices, enter into union with my Lord. Saint Rose of Lima, pray for me. Jesus I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main 

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 22: Queenship of Blessed Virgin Mary—Memorial

Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars. ~Revelation 12:1

Prayer:
Mother and Queen of Heaven, this day I run to you as a child with confidence and trust. You are the glorious Queen Mother, reigning over all of your children with love and mercy. Please pray for me, and bestow upon me all that I need. I open my heart to the grace of your Son, which you are entrusted to dispense. Make me holy and free from sin, so you can present me spotless and pure to your beloved Son, the King of the Universe. Queen of Heaven, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Diego Velázquez, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 21: Saint Pius X, Pope—Memorial

1835–1914
Patron Saint of First Communicants and pilgrims
Canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 29, 1954
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
After careful deliberation on all these points, this Sacred Congregation of the Discipline of the Sacraments, in a general meeting held on July 15, 1910, in order to remove the above-mentioned abuses and to bring about that children even from their tender years may be united to Jesus Christ, may live His life, and obtain protection from all danger of corruption, has deemed it needful to prescribe the following rules which are to be observed everywhere for the First Communion of children. 1. The age of discretion, both for Confession and for Holy Communion, is the time when a child begins to reason, that is about the seventh year, more or less. From that time on begins the obligation of fulfilling the precept of both Confession and Communion… ~Quam Singulari, decision of Pope Saint Pius X, 1910

Prayer:
Pope Saint Pius X, at your core, you were a pastor and a shepherd of souls who loved the poor and desired all people to come to know Christ. Pray for me, that I may be used by God for great things, by doing every small thing with great love. Pray for our Holy Father, the Roman Curia, all clergy and religious, and the entire Church. Pray also for the poor and abandoned, those without faith, and those newly converted. May your prayers win many souls for God, just as your actions did while you served Him on earth. Pope Saint Pius X, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Main image, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 20: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abbot and Doctor of the Church—Memorial

1090–1153
Patron Saint of beekeepers, bees, candlemakers, chandlers, Cistercians, and Knights Templar
Canonized by Pope Alexander III on January 18, 1174
Declared a Doctor of the Church (Doctor Mellifluus, “Honey-Sweet Doctor”) by Pope Pius VIII in 1830
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Admit that God deserves to be loved very much, yea, boundlessly, because He loved us first, He infinite and we nothing, loved us, miserable sinners, with a love so great and so free. This is why I said at the beginning that the measure of our love to God is to love immeasurably. For since our love is toward God, who is infinite and immeasurable, how can we bound or limit the love we owe Him? Besides, our love is not a gift but a debt. And since it is the Godhead who loves us, Himself boundless, eternal, supreme love, of whose greatness there is no end, yea, and His wisdom is infinite, whose peace passeth all understanding; since it is He who loves us, I say, can we think of repaying Him grudgingly? ~Saint Bernard, On Loving God

Prayer:
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, God called and you responded. You navigated the weaknesses of your age, inspired countless others to love God, and continue to make a lasting impact upon the world. Please pray for me, that I will never waver in my love of God and will believe, with a firm faith, that profound holiness is achievable. As you were so deeply devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary, please pray for me and for the whole Church, that we will discover that same love in our hearts and allow her to lead us through the darkness we encounter. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 19: Saint John Eudes, Priest—Optional Memorial

1601–1680
Patron Saint of Eudists, Order of Our Lady of Charity; Diocese of Baie-Comeau; and Missionaries
Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 31, 1925
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Father of mercies and God of all consolation, You gave us the loving Heart of your own beloved Son, because of the boundless love by which You have loved us, which no tongue can describe. May we render You a love that is perfect with hearts made one with His. Grant, we pray, that our hearts may be brought to perfect unity: each heart with the other and all hearts with the Heart of Jesus, and may the rightful yearnings of our hearts find fulfillment through Him: Our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen. ~Collect from Saint John Eudes’ Mass of the Sacred Heart

Prayer:
Saint John Eudes, God used you for a particular moment of renewal in the history of the Church, and you responded with generosity. You were especially drawn to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary and shared those discoveries with many. Please pray for me, that I will always turn to these glorious Hearts, be transformed by them, and emulate their mercy so as to be a greater instrument of God’s love for the world. Saint John Eudes, pray for me. Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for me. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 16: Saint Stephen of Hungary—Optional Memorial

c. 975–1038
Patron Saint of bricklayers, kings, stonecutters, masons, and parents who have lost a child
Canonized by Pope Gregory VII in 1083
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
To thee, O Queen of heaven, and to thy guardianship, I commend the holy Church, all the bishops and the clergy, the whole kingdom, its rulers and inhabitants; but before all, I commend my soul to thy care. ~Deathbed prayer of Saint Stephen

Prayer:
Saint Stephen of Hungary, you learned the Catholic faith from an early age and treasured it greatly. You then brought that faith into a pagan nation and worked tirelessly to share what you had discovered. Please pray for me, that I will always use my gifts and authority solely for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Saint Stephen, King of Hungary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 15: Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Solemnity

First Century
Patron Saint of fishmongers, French air crews, harnessmakers, and numerous countries, cities, and dioceses
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
…by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, and by our own authority, we pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that the Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.
Hence if anyone, which God forbid, should dare willfully to deny or to call into doubt that which we have defined, let him know that he has fallen away completely from the divine and Catholic Faith. ~Munificentissimus Deus, Pope Pius XII, 1950

Prayer:
Dearest Mother, assumed into Heaven, you are the Immaculate Conception, the Ever-Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. As we honor your glorious Assumption into Heaven, please pray for me and for all your children. In Heaven, you are honored by your Son and your prayers are most effective. I believe this with all my heart and entrust myself, my family, our Church, and the entire world to your motherly care and intercession. Mary, assumed into Heaven, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Guido Reni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

December 28: Holy Innocents, Martyrs—Feast

AD 1
Patron Saints of babies, abandoned babies, children’s choirs, students, and altar servers
Invoked against ambition, jealousy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: “A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more.” ~Matthew 2:16–18

Prayer:
Dear Holy Innocents, you were treated with the utmost cruelty even before you were capable of understanding such cruelty. God permitted your suffering, and now He exalts you forever as the first witnesses to Him who shed your blood. Please pray for me, that I will always bear witness to Christ in my life and will walk with peace and joy amidst the sufferings in this life. Holy Innocents, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Public domain via Wikimedia

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 12: Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, Religious—Optional Memorial

1572–1641
Patron Saint of forgotten people, parents separated from their children, and widows
Invoked against in-law problems
Canonized by Pope Clement XIII in 1767
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
How soon may I hope for the happy day when I shall irrevocably offer myself to my God? He has so filled me with the thought of being entirely His, and it has come home to me in such a wonderful and powerful manner, that, were my emotion to last as it now is, I could not live under its intensity. Never have I had such a burning love and desire for the evangelical life and for the great perfection to which God calls me. What I feel about it is quite impossible to put into words. But, alas! my resolve to be very faithful to the greatness of the love of this divine Savior is balanced by the feeling of my incapacity to correspond with it. Oh, how painful to love is this barrier of powerlessness! But why do I speak thus? By doing so I degrade, it seems to me, the gift of God which urges me to live in perfect poverty, in humble obedience, and in spotless purity. ~Letter to Saint Francis de Sales, from Saint Jane de Chantal

Prayer:
Saint Jane de Chantal, you devoted yourself to the will of God from early in your life and allowed God to lead you through hardship to a glorious fruitfulness. Please pray for me, that I will see every cross and every unexpected turn not as a burden but as an opportunity for deeper trust and greater fidelity to the unexpected life that awaits. Saint Jane de Chantal, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Noël Hallé, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 14: Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, Priest and Martyr—Memorial

1894–1941
Patron Saint of drug addicts, families, journalists, prisoners, and the pro-life movement
Canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 10, 1982
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Remember that you belong exclusively, unconditionally, absolutely, irrevocably to the Immaculate: Whoever you are, whatever you have or can, whatever you do (thoughts, words, action) and endure (pleasant, unpleasant, indifferent things) belong to the Immaculate. Consequently, may she dispose of them according to Her will (and not yours). In the same way it belongs to Her all your intentions; therefore, may she transform them, add others, take them away, as She likes (in fact, She does not offend justice). ~Saint Maximilian Kolbe

Prayer:
Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, you lived a holy life, sharing the Gospel through the modern means of your time. You culminated your service to God by laying down your life for a stranger. Please pray for me, that I will have the depth of love that you had and that God will take that gift of my life and use it for His glory. Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 13: Saints Pontian, Pope and Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs—Optional Memorial

Unknown–c. 235
Saint Hippolytus—Patron Saint of horses
Saint Pontian—Patron Saint of Carbonia and Montaldo Scarampi, Italy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
But let each of the faithful be zealous, before he eats anything else, to receive the Eucharist; for if anyone receives it with faith, after such a reception he cannot be harmed even if a deadly poison should be given him. But let each one take care that no unbeliever tastes the Eucharist, nor a mouse nor any other animal, and that nothing of it fall or be lost; for the Body of Christ is to be eaten by believers and must not be despised. The cup, when thou hast given thanks in the name of the Lord, thou hast accepted as the image of the blood of Christ. Therefore let none of it be spilled, so that no alien spirit may lick it up, as if thou didst despise it; thou shalt be guilty of the blood, as if thou didst scorn the price with which thou hast been bought. ~From the Apostolic Tradition, by Saint Hippolytus

Prayer:
Saint Pontian and Hippolytus, you both served the Church during a difficult period in which the nature of the Most Holy Trinity was called into question. You defended the truth and taught it tirelessly. As a result of your fidelity, you both died for the faith, reconciled to God and to each other. Please pray for me, that I will always seek reconciliation, especially with other Christians, and will always remain faithful to the one true faith. Saints Pontian and Hippolytus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Dieric Bouts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 11: Saint Clare, Virgin—Memorial

c. 1193–1253
Patron Saint of the Poor Clares, embroiderers, goldworkers, laundry workers, needleworkers, telephones, and television
Invoked against eye diseases and for good weather
Canonized by Pope Alexander IV in 1255
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
As you contemplate further His ineffable delights, eternal riches and honors, and sigh for them in the great desire and love of your heart, may you cry out: Draw me after You! We will run in the fragrance of Your perfumes, O heavenly Spouse! I will run and not tire, until You bring me into the wine-cellar, until Your left hand is under my head and Your right hand will embrace me happily and You will kiss me with the happiest kiss of Your mouth. ~From a letter written by Saint Clare

Prayer:
Saint Clare, though you came from a wealthy and noble family, God called you into poverty where your true nobility was found. You heard a call to live radically for God, responded, and never turned back. Please pray for me, that I will also respond to God’s calling in my life with radical fidelity. May nothing stand in the way of my willing adherence to the will of God. Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.


Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image: Dooley, via Flickr

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 10: Saint Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr—Feast

c. 225–c. 258
Patron Saint of archivists, armories, book lovers, brewers, butchers, cooks, comedians, deacons, glaziers, laundry workers, librarians, firefighters, poor people, restaurateurs, schoolchildren, seminarians, tanners, vine growers, winemakers, and Rome
Invoked against fire and lumbago (lower back pain)
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Such gold the holy martyr Lawrence preserved for the Lord. For when the treasures of the Church were demanded from him, he promised that he would show them. On the following day he brought the poor together. When asked where the treasures were which he had promised, he pointed to the poor, saying: “These are the treasures of the Church.” And truly they were treasures, in whom Christ lives, in whom there is faith in Him…These treasures Lawrence pointed out, and prevailed, for the persecutors could not take them away…Lawrence, who preferred to spend the gold of the Church on the poor, rather than to keep it in hand for the persecutor, received the sacred crown of martyrdom for the unique and deep-sighted vigor of his meaning. ~Saint Ambrose of Milan

Prayer:
Saint Lawrence, you gave your life to Christ at a young age and followed Him to your death with courage. You executed your duties to the poor with fidelity and saw them as the true treasures of the Church. Please pray for me, that I will have the courage that you had to say “Yes” to Christ, no matter what He asks of me. Saint Lawrence of Rome, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Museo Nacional de Arte, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 9: Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), Virgin and Martyr—Optional Memorial

1891–1942
Patron Saint of Europe
Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1998
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Holy Father! As a child of the Jewish people who, by the grace of God, for the past eleven years has also been a child of the Catholic Church, I dare to speak to the Father of Christianity about that which oppresses millions of Germans…For years the leaders of National Socialism have been preaching hatred of the Jews. Now that they have seized the power of government and armed their followers, among them proven criminal elements, this seed of hatred has germinated…We all, who are faithful children of the Church and who see the conditions in Germany with open eyes, fear the worst for the prestige of the Church, if the silence continues any longer. We are convinced that this silence will not be able in the long run to purchase peace with the present German government. For the time being, the fight against Catholicism will be conducted quietly and less brutally than against Jewry, but no less systematically. Before long no Catholic will be able to hold office in Germany unless he dedicates himself unconditionally to the new course of action. At the feet of your Holiness, requesting your apostolic blessing ~Sister Teresa Benedicta, letter to Pope Pius XI, 1933

Prayer:
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, you saw human suffering firsthand and allowed your reflections on that experience to open your mind and heart to a deeper understanding of the truth. You found the deepest truths in the life of Saint Teresa of Ávila and unhesitatingly entered the Church and convent. Please pray for me, that I will always be open to the deepest and most mysterious truths of our faith, especially the mystery of the Cross, so that I will live Christ’s Cross in my own life to the fullest extent that I am able. Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Cologne Carmel Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 8: Saint Dominic, Priest—Memorial

1170–1221
Patron Saint of astronomers, scientists, and those falsely accused
Canonized by Pope Gregory IX in 1234
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
On the very day and hour that Master Dominic died, Brother Guala, prior of Brescia and later its bishop, was resting in the bell-tower of his convent. As he was about to doze off he saw what appeared to be an opening in the heavens through which two shining ladders had been let down. Christ was standing above one and His Mother above the other. Angels could be seen ascending and descending. Between the two ladders at the very bottom, was a seat upon which someone was sitting who seemed to be one of the brethren, for his face was covered with a capuce, just as we do for burial. Our Lord and His Mother were slowly raising the ladder until the person on the seat reached them. Thereupon he was received into heaven in great splendor amidst a choir of angels. Then the bright opening in the heavens suddenly closed and no more could be seen. Then the friar who had seen this regained his strength, for he had previously been ill and weak, and hurried to Bologna, where he discovered that his vision, which he related to us, had occurred at the very time when the servant of Christ, Dominic, had died. ~Saint Dominic’s first biographer, Blessed Jordan

Prayer:
Saint Dominic, your heart was moved with compassion for those who suffered. When you encountered those misled by heresy, you longed for their freedom and dedicated the rest of your life to their salvation. Please pray for me, that I will follow your example by recognizing those around me who need to be freed from error and sin, so that I can prayerfully be open for God to use me in any way He chooses. Saint Dominic, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: public domain via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 7: Saint Cajetan, Priest—Optional Memorial

1480–1547
Patron Saint of the unemployed
Invoked for gambling problems
Canonized by Pope Clement X in 1671
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
It is not with sentimental love but rather with loving actions that souls are purified. ~Saint Cajetan

Prayer:
Saint Cajetan, you could have lived an easy and noble life, but you chose the difficult path of prayer and penance. As a result, you entered into a deep union with God and inspired others to follow. Please pray for me, that I will always turn away from the temptations of life and seek personal reform so that I will grow closer to God and inspire others to follow. Saint Cajetan, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 7: Saint Sixtus II, Pope and Martyr, and Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial

Unknown–c. 258
Patron Saint of Bellegra, Italy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
He was crowned with martyrdom. He was bishop in the time of Valerian and Decius, when there was the great persecution. At that time he was seized by Valerian and taken to offer sacrifice to demons. But he despised the commands of Valerian. He was beheaded and with him six others, all deacons, Felicissimus, Agapitus, Januarius, Magnus, Vincentius and Stephen, about August 6…And after the passion of the blessed Sixtus, on the third day, Lawrence, his archdeacon, suffered also, August 10, likewise the subdeacon Claudius and Severus, the priest, and Crescentius, the reader, and Romanus, the doorkeeper…He himself was buried in the cemetery of Calistus on the Via Appia and the aforesaid six deacons were buried in the cemetery of Pretextatus on the Via Appia, August 6. ~Liber Pontificalis

Prayer:
Pope Saint Sixtus II, you walked in the shoes of Saint Peter, also dying a martyr’s death in that same city. You did not fear dying but only feared deviating from the merciful truths that make us one in Christ. Please pray for me, that I will courageously follow your example by laying down my life for others in every way I am able. Saint Sixtus II, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 6: Transfiguration of the Lord—Feast

c. 32

Quote:
After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them; his face shone like the sun and his clothes became white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, conversing with him. Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud cast a shadow over them, then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” ~Matthew 17:1–5

Prayer:
My Transfigured Lord, You promise suffering and death to all who follow You, but You also promise the hope that awaits those who endure. Grant me the grace to endure every cross in life, uniting my sufferings with Yours, so that I may one day partake in the glory of eternal life in Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Carl Bloch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

December 27: Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist—Feast

Early First Century–c. 101
Patron Saint of arms manufacturers, art dealers, authors, basketmakers, bookbinders, booksellers, publishers, butchers, candlemakers, compositors, editors, engravers, friendships, glaziers, government officials, harvests, lithographers, notaries, painters, papermakers, printers, saddlemakers, scholars, sculptors, theologians, and winemakers
Invoked against burns, epilepsy, foot problems, hailstorms, and poisoning
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical color: White

Quote:
Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written. ~John 21:20–25

Prayer:
Saint John the Apostle, at a young age you heard Jesus’ call to follow Him, and you willingly accepted. During His ministry, you grew in a profound and mystical love of your Lord, and that love increased throughout your life. Please pray for me, that this pure and holy love will increase in my life so that I can share that love with others. Saint John the Apostle, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Francesco_del_Cossa_-_Saint_Lucy.jpg

Main image: public domain

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 5: Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major—Optional Memorial
(Our Lady of the Snows)

c. 352

Prayer:
Our Lady of the Snows, you sent down a gentle, pure-white snow from Heaven on the spot where you wanted a Church that would be dedicated in your honor. You are the Mother of God, the Theotokos, and I honor you and love you as such. Please pray for me, that I may also become a God-bearer by bringing the presence of your divine Son to those in my life who are most in need. Our Lady of the Snows, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 4: Saint John Vianney (the Curé of Ars), Priest—Memorial

1786–1859
Patron Saint of parish priests, all priests, and confessors
Canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1925
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
…I think, brethren, that you would like to know what is the state of the lukewarm soul. Well, this is it. A lukewarm soul is not yet quite dead in the eyes of God because the faith, the hope, and the charity that are its spiritual life are not altogether extinct. But it is a faith without zeal, a hope without resolution, a charity without ardor. Nothing touches this soul: it hears the word of God, yes, that is true; but often it just bores it…Who can dare assure himself that he is neither a great sinner nor a tepid soul but that he is one of the elect? Alas, my brethren, how many seem to be good Christians in the eyes of the world who are really tepid souls in the eyes of God, Who knows our inmost hearts. Let us ask God with all our hearts, if we are in this state, to give us the grace to get out of it, so that we may take the route that all the saints have taken and arrive at the happiness that they are enjoying. That is what I desire for you.  ~Homily, Saint John Vianney

Prayer:
Saint John Mary Vianney, you loved God with all your heart and introduced God to your people. Through you, Ars and much of France were converted. Please pray for me, that I will be open to the ministry of priests, receiving God’s Word and grace through them, offering them the love, support and respect due to them. I especially pray for the priests in my life, that they become holy shepherds in imitation of Christ. Saint John Vianney, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: unknown source

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 2: Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest—Optional Memorial

1811–1868
Invoked for an increase of devotion to the Holy Eucharist
Canonized by Pope John XXIII in 1962
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Holy Father…Why does the greatest of all mysteries not have its own religious group like the other mysteries; why would it not have men with a perpetual mission of prayer at the feet of Jesus in his divine Sacrament?…The Society of the Most Blessed Sacrament would not limit itself to this mission of prayer and contemplation. It would dedicate itself apostolically to the salvation of souls by using all the [necessary] means inspired by a wise zeal enlightened by the charity of Jesus Christ. It would work to lead to the feet of Jesus Eucharistic as many adorers as possible, by forming associations of adorers in the world, by giving private and public retreats for men in their Cenacle, especially for secular priests…The Society would gladly embrace all the works of zeal which concern the adorable Eucharist, such as 40 hour devotions, clergy retreats, preparations for first Communions… ~Letter to Pope Pius IX, from Saint Peter

Prayer:
Saint Peter Julian Eymard, God inspired within you, from an early age, a deep and unwavering love for His divine presence in the Most Holy Eucharist. You responded to that inspiration and fulfilled God’s will by spreading devotion to the Holy Eucharist far and wide. Please pray for me, that I will more fully embark on a mission to understand God’s divine presence in the Eucharist so that I will make a continually deepening gift of myself to Him. Saint Peter Julian Eymard, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Bendi07, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 2: Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop—Optional Memorial

c. 283 (or early Fourth Century)–371
Patron Saint of Piedmont, Italy
Pre-Congregation Canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
When I receive a letter from one of you and see in your writings your goodness and love, joy mingles with tears, and my desire to continue reading is checked by my weeping. Both emotions are inescapable, as they vie with each other in discharging their duty of affection, when such a letter satisfies my longing for you. Days pass in this way as I imagine myself in conversation with you, and so I forget my past sufferings. Consolations surround me on all sides: your firm faith, your love, your good works. In the midst of so many great blessings I soon imagine myself in your company, in exile no longer. ~Letter from prison, Saint Eusebius

Prayer:
Saint Eusebius, you were a faithful pastor who loved his flock, cared for the clergy, and defended the divinity of Christ. For your fidelity, you suffered greatly. Pray for me, that I will never allow suffering to deter me from my calling to share the love of Christ and to defend the truth for the good of others. Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Sebastiano Ricci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

Read entire reflection online >>>

August 1: Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church—Memorial

1696–1787
Patron Saint of confessors and moral theologians
Invoked against scrupulosity, arthritis, and for final perseverance
Canonized by Pope Gregory XVI in 1839
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
In the beginning of the soul’s conversion, God often gives her a flood of consolations. In consequence of this, the soul is gradually weaned from attachment to creatures and gives herself to God; but not as yet in a perfect manner, for she acts more for the sake of the consolations of God than for the God of consolations, as St. Francis de Sales so beautifully says. It is a common fault of our fallen nature that in everything we do, we seek our own gratification. The love of God and Christian perfection do not consist in sweet feelings and sensible consolations, but in overcoming our self-love and in fulfilling the Will of God. In the lives of God’s greatest servants and saints we see the milk of consolations give place to the more substantial food of afflictions; and this it is that enables them to bear the burden of the cross on their journey to Calvary’s Mount. ~Saint Alphonsus, The School of Perfection, Chapter Twelve

Prayer:
Saint Alphonsus, though you hated sin, you loved the sinner and worked tirelessly to reconcile every sinner to God. You did so with compassion and mercy, in imitation of Jesus. Please pray for me, that I will share in your convictions and mission, and seek to love every person who has turned from God. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Featured image cssrliguori.com

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 31: Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest—Memorial

1491–1556
Patron Saint of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits), Spiritual Exercises, soldiers, and retreats
Canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Man is created to praise, reverence, and serve God our Lord, and by this means to save his soul. And the other things on the face of the earth are created for man and that they may help him in prosecuting the end for which he is created. From this it follows that man is to use them as much as they help him on to his end, and ought to rid himself of them so far as they hinder him as to it. For this it is necessary to make ourselves indifferent to all created things in all that is allowed to the choice of our free will and is not prohibited to it; so that, on our part, we want not health rather than sickness, riches rather than poverty, honor rather than dishonor, long rather than short life, and so in all the rest; desiring and choosing only what is most conducive for us to the end for which we are created. ~Principle and Foundation of the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius

Prayer:
Saint Ignatius of Loyola, your wounded leg enabled God to speak to you while you suffered and recovered. You listened and discerned God calling you to a life of selfless service. Please pray for me, that I will remain attentive to God’s voice and know how to discern His will. Like you, I pray that I will give myself over exclusively to the service of God for his glory and the salvation of souls. Saint Ignatius of Loyola, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Peter Paul Rubens, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main 

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 29: Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus—Memorial

First Century
Martha—Patron Saint of cooks, butlers, dieticians, homemakers, innkeepers, maids, single laywomen, servers, and travelers
Mary—Patron Saint of spiritual studies and lectors
Lazarus—Patron Saint of gravediggers
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
In the household of Bethany the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that he loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death. ~Congregation for Divine Worship, February 2, 2021

Prayer:
Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, you befriended Jesus as your Lord and God, and as the Son of Man, to Whom you opened your home and lives. Please pray for me, that I will also open the home of my soul so as to befriend Him Who is my God and is the Resurrection and the Life. Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Image: Resurrection of Lazarus – via Shutterstock

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 30: Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial

c. 380 or 406–c. 450
Patron Saint of Imola, Italy
Invoked against fevers and vicious dogs
Pre-Congregation canonization
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIII in 1729


Quote:
We exhort you in every respect, honorable brother, to heed obediently what has been written by the most blessed pope of the city of Rome, for blessed Peter, who lives and presides in his own see, provides the truth of faith to those who seek it. For we, by reason of our pursuit of peace and faith, cannot try cases on the faith without the consent of the bishop of Rome. ~Saint Peter Chrysologus, Letter to Eutyches

Prayer:
Saint Peter Chrysologus, you were a staunch defender of the nature of Christ, a powerful preacher, and a pastor of souls. Please pray for me, that I may come to a deeper understanding of Christ and, with that understanding, give myself more fully to His service. Saint Peter Chrysologus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. 

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: School of Guercino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 26: Saints Joachim and Anne—Memorial

Late First Century BC–AD Early First Century
Saint Anne—Patron Saint of grandparents, grandmothers, mothers, roommakers, cabinetmakers, carpenters, dressmakers, equestrians, expectant mothers, homemakers, housewives, lace workers, seamstresses, miners, old-clothes dealers, Canada, and France
Invoked against sterility and poverty and to find lost articles
Saint Joachim—Patron Saint of grandparents, grandfathers, fathers, married couples, cabinetmakers, and linen traders
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Today the Church celebrates the parents of the Virgin Mary, the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Joachim and Anne. In their home, Mary came into the world, accompanied by the extraordinary mystery of the Immaculate Conception. Mary grew up in the home of Joachim and Anne; she was surrounded by their love and faith: in their home she learned to listen to the Lord and to follow his will. Saints Joachim and Anne were part of a long chain of people who had transmitted their faith and love for God, expressed in the warmth and love of family life, down to Mary, who received the Son of God in her womb and who gave him to the world, to us. How precious is the family as the privileged place for transmitting the faith! ~Pope Francis, Angelus, July 26, 2013

Prayer:
Saints Joachim and Anne, you were given the incredible privilege and responsibility to give birth to and raise the Immaculate Conception, the Mother of God. Her presence in your lives touched you both deeply and left you in awe of God’s grace. Please pray for me, that I may come to love your daughter and your Grandson with the same love you bore for each of them, so that I will enjoy their company in Heaven one day, just as you do today. Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Gaspar de Crayer, CC BY-SA 2.0 FR, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 25: Saint James, Apostle—Feast

First Century–c. 44
Patron Saint of blacksmiths, druggists, equestrians, hatmakers, laborers, pilgrims, knights, soldiers, tanners, veterinarians, and several countries and cities, including Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Invoked against arthritis and rheumatism
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said to him, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.” He replied, “What do you wish me to do for you?” They answered him, “Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.” Jesus said to them, “You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?” They said to him, “We can.” Jesus said to them, “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared.” When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John. ~Mark 10:35–41

Prayer:
Saint James, Jesus called you a Son of Thunder because of your zeal and temper. Though excessive at times, God used those natural qualities and infused them with temperance and courage so that you could give supreme witness to your Lord by your life. Please pray for me, that I will also have the courage and zeal that you had, laying down my life in witness to the glory of Jesus my Lord. Saint James, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Guido Reni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

December 26: Saint Stephen, the First Martyr—Feast

Early First Century–c. 33–36
Patron Saint of altar servers, builders, casket makers, deacons, horses, masons, and quarrymen
Invoked against headaches
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them;” and when he said this, he fell asleep. ~Acts 7:51–60

Prayer:
Saint Stephen, you were graced to be the first follower of Christ who was martyred for your faith. You did not shy away from the cruelty and hatred of your persecutors but spoke the truth to them and prayed that they be forgiven. Please also pray for me, that I will be forgiven for the sins I have committed against others and will follow you by offering my life wholeheartedly to Christ every day of my life. Saint Stephen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Image, public domain via Wikimedia: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 24: Saint Sharbel (Charbel) Makhlūf, Priest, Hermit—Optional Memorial

1828–1898
Patron Saint of Lebanon
Canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 9, 1977
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Yes, the kind of holiness practiced by Charbel Makhlouf is of great weight, not only for the glory of God, but for the vitality of the Church…Pastors are needed, who gather the people of God…We need theologians…evangelizers and missionaries…catechists…people who are directly dedicated to helping their brothers…But we also need people who offer themselves as victims for the salvation of the world, in a freely accepted penance, in an unceasing prayer of intercession…in a passionate search for the Absolute, testifying that God is worth worshiping and loving for himself. The lifestyle of these religious, of these monks, of these hermits is not offered to everyone as an imitable charisma; but in their pure state, in a radical way, they embody a spirit from which no faithful of Christ is exempt, they exercise a function which the Church cannot do without, they remind us of a salutary way for all. ~Pope Paul VI, Homily for the canonization of Saint Sharbel

Prayer:
Saint Sharbel, you were called into the solitary life of a monk and then a hermit, and you responded. You kept your eyes upon Christ, and He transformed your humble soul into a glorious beacon of light for the world to see. Please pray for me, that I will receive the grace I need to be faithful to the vocation God has given me and that I will respond with the same generosity and commitment that you manifested in your earthly life. Saint Sharbel, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image, public domain via Wikipedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 23: Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious—Optional Memorial

1303–1373
Patron Saint of Europe, Sweden, and widows
Canonized by Pope Boniface IX on October 7, 1391
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Then He was taken down from the Cross and I received His body onto my lap. He looked like a leper, and was completely covered with bruises and blood. His eyes were lifeless and filled with blood, His mouth as cold as ice, His beard like string, His face paralyzed, and His hands were so stiffened that they could not be bent over His chest, but only over His stomach, near the navel. I had Him on my knee just as He had been on the Cross: stiffened in all His limbs…Then they laid Him in the grave. I would willingly have been placed alive in the grave with my Son if it had been His will! When these things were done, good John came and brought me home. Behold, my daughter, what my Son has endured for you, and love Him with all your heart!  ~From an apparition of the Blessed Mother to Saint Bridget

Prayer:
Saint Bridget, you were blessed as a child with a saintly father and aunt who introduced you to Christ. Throughout your life, you encountered our Lord in mystical ways and responded to His constant communications. Please pray for me, that I will deepen my devotion to our Lord and discover more about His holy Passion, so that I will more fully receive the countless graces He won for us and become an instrument by which He can bestow them on others. Saint Bridget of Sweden, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: The Morgan Library & Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 22: Saint Mary Magdalene—Feast

First Century
Patron Saint of pharmacists, contemplatives, converts, glovemakers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, perfumers, reformed prostitutes, tanners, women
Invoked against sexual temptations
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. ~John 20:11–18

Prayer:
Saint Mary Magdalene, you lived a sinful life, but when you encountered Jesus, you repented and followed Him. You were faithful to Him throughout His ministry and were a witness to His death and Resurrection. Please pray for me, that I may always have the courage to repent of my sins and stand with you at the foot of the Cross so that I may also be a witness to the transforming effects of the Resurrection. Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Images, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 21: Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor—Optional Memorial

1559–1619
Patron Saint of Brindisi, Italy
Canonized by Pope Leo XIII in 1881
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope John XXIII in 1959
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
It was from the Child in her womb that Mary received all her glory. He clothed her with the sun, rolled the moon beneath her feet, and set upon her head a crown of twelve stars. The Virgin Mother of God had this glory not from herself, but from God, the Creator of Heaven, Who had made the sun, the moon, and the stars, She had her glory from Christ, her Son, through Whom all things, even Mary herself, have been made. Christ was not only a son to Mary, but also a father who had created her, and adorned her with every virtue and blessing. He was her Lord, her true and supreme God. The noble soul of Mary, therefore, found infinite motives and objects of love in Christ. ~Sermon of Saint Lawrence

Prayer:
Saint Lawrence, you were called by God at a young age, and you responded generously. God molded you, raising your natural gifts to the level of grace and employing them for the good of the Church. Please pray for me, that I may never hesitate in my service to Christ and His Church so that God can use me in magnificent ways. Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image, public domain: Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 20: Saint Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr—Optional Memorial

First Century–c. 79
(Or possibly died late Second Century)
Patron Saint of Ravenna and Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Invoked against gout, venereal disease, and epilepsy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
The birthday of the holy bishop Apollinaris, who was consecrated at Rome by the apostle Peter, and sent to Ravenna, where he endured for the faith of Christ many different tribulations. He afterwards preached the Gospel in Aemilia, where he converted many from the worship of idols. Finally, returning to Ravenna, he terminated his confession of Christ by a glorious martyrdom under the Caesar Vespasian. ~Roman Martyrology

Prayer:
Saint Apollinaris, persecution, beatings, and exile did not deter you from fulfilling your mission of winning souls for the Kingdom of God. You were so relentless in your devotion to the Gospel that you never gave up, despite the many sufferings you endured. Please pray for me, that I will discover the same courage that you had and fulfill my mission with unwavering faith. Saint Apollinaris, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Basilica of Saint Apollinaris in Classe, Emilia-Romagna, Italy: Adobe Stock

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 16: Our Lady of Mount Carmel—Optional Memorial

Late Twelfth–Early Thirteenth Century
Patron Saint of Bolivia and the Carmelite Order
Invoked for those in Purgatory
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Elijah went up to the top of Carmel, crouched down to the earth, and put his head between his knees. He said to his servant, “Go up and look out to sea.” He went up and looked, but reported, “There is nothing.” Seven times he said, “Go look again!” And the seventh time the youth reported, “There is a cloud as small as a man’s hand rising from the sea.” Elijah said, “Go and say to Ahab, ‘Harness up and go down the mountain before the rain stops you.’” All at once the sky grew dark with clouds and wind, and a heavy rain fell. ~1 Kings 18:42–45

Prayer:
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, your arrival was prophesied by the vision of Elijah the prophet when he saw the small cloud rising from the sea. From that cloud, rain quenched the arid earth. Through you, the true rain of mercy continues to fall upon us in the form of your divine Son. Please pray for me, that my thirst from the dryness of my soul will always seek satisfaction only in your Son and the mercy He pours forth. Our Lady of Mount Carmel, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Images: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons, Main 

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 15: Saint Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor—Memorial

c. 1217–1274
Invoked against intestinal problems
Canonized by Pope Sixtus IV on April 14, 1482
Proclaimed the Seraphic Doctor of the Church by Pope Sixtus V in 1588
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the “throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant,” and “the mystery hidden from the ages.” A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope, and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation. Then such a man will make with Christ a “pasch,” that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulcher, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: “Today you will be with me in paradise.” ~Journey of the Mind to God, by Saint Bonaventure

Prayer:
Saint Bonaventure, you were called by God to use your mind to guide the profound simplicity and newness of the Franciscan order. Through prayer, faith, and intelligence, you remained true to Saint Francis’ charism of pointing others to Christ. Please pray for me, that I will always seek Christ above all things and serve Him with all my heart. Saint Bonaventure and Saint Franics, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Images: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Main

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 14: Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin—USA Memorial

1656–1680
Patron Saint of Canada, Native Americans, ecologists, environment, exiles, orphans, people ridiculed for their piety, and the physically impaired
Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 21, 2012
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Kateri impresses us by the action of grace in her life in spite of the absence of external help and by the courage of her vocation, so unusual in her culture. In her, faith and culture enrich each other! May her example help us to live where we are, loving Jesus without denying who we are. Saint Kateri, Protectress of Canada and the first Native American saint, we entrust to you the renewal of the faith in the first nations and in all of North America! May God bless the first nations! ~Canonization homily, Pope Benedict XVI

Prayer:
Saint Kateri, you fell in love with God at an early age and never abandoned Him. You persevered through difficulties and remained faithful to Jesus, your Spouse. Please pray for me, that I may discover your purity of heart and radiate my love for God as beautifully as you did. Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Lawrence OP, Flickr

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 14: Saint Camillus de Lellis, Priest—Optional Memorial
Note: In the United States this memorial is transferred to July 18

1550–1614
Patron Saint of the sick, hospitals, hospital workers, nurses, and nursing associations
Invoked against the vice of gambling
Canonized by Pope Benedict XIV on June 29, 1746
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Because without doubt within a few days I will go to another life, given that I am most grave because of my long infirmities…it appears to me that I would fail in my duty if, before this life ends, I did not tell you with all simplicity and rectitude what I have heard and hear in me about our holy Order, so that everyone may walk with the rectitude and faithfulness that God wants of us. He asks us that we do not bury the very valuable talent that God has placed in our hands so that we may achieve holiness in life and then in eternal glory. There is also another reason: speaking in conscience and in truth, one can almost say that this foundation was done in a miraculous way with a view to the glory of his Divine Majesty and of such a great good for the souls and bodies of our neighbors… ~Letter from his deathbed

Prayer:
Saint Camillus de Lellis, you suffered as a young man from an addiction to gambling and lived a destitute life. God called you out of that darkness and you responded. Please pray for me, that the light of Christ will enter into my own darkness and sin, and from that place of suffering, transform me into a living saint, fully devoted to the service of God and others. Saint Camillus, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Images: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons: Featured

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 13: Saint Henry—Optional Memorial

973–1024
Patron Saint of kings, Benedictine Oblates, handicapped people, and those rejected from religious orders
Invoked against sterility
Canonized by Pope Eugene III in 1146
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Prayer seemed the chief delight and support of his soul; especially the public office of the church. Assisting one day at this holy function at Strasburg, he so earnestly desired to remain always there to sing the divine praises among the devout canons of that church, that, finding this impossible, he founded there a new canonry for one who should always perform that sacred duty in his name. ~Butler’s Lives of the Saints

Prayer:
Saint Henry, you were crowned as Holy Roman Emperor, one of the greatest worldly honors one could ever receive. You accepted this gift with humility and used it for good. Please pray for me, that I will devote all that I have and all that I am to the service of God, not using it for selfish gain but for the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Saint Henry, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image: by Lawrence OP, via Flickr

Read entire reflection online >>>

December 25: Nativity of the Lord—Solemnity

Quote:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. ~Luke 2:1–7

Prayer:
Most Holy Savior of the World, You are the Light that scattered the darkness. You chose to be born in the most humble conditions, elevating humility as a means of great holiness. As we celebrate Your birth, I pray that You will also be born in my life, and through me, into the world. May this Christmas be a time in which I come to know You more fully and intimately, joining the shepherds in their adoration of You, so that I can share in the abundant new life You came to bestow. Holy Savior, have mercy on me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image public domain

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 11: Saint Benedict, Abbot—Memorial

c. 480–c. 547
Patron Saint of Europe, monks and religious orders, ​​architects, dying people, cave explorers, schoolchildren, agricultural workers, civil engineers, and coppersmiths
Invoked against erysipelas, fever, gallstones, inflammatory diseases, kidney disease, nettle rash, poison, temptations, and witchcraft
Canonized by Pope Honorius III in 1220
Declared Patron Saint of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Hearken continually within thine heart, O son, giving attentive ear to the precepts of thy master. Understand with willing mind and effectually fulfill thy holy father’s admonition; that thou mayest return, by the labor of obedience, to Him from Whom, by the idleness of disobedience, thou hadst withdrawn. To this end I now address a word of exhortation to thee, whosoever thou art, who, renouncing thine own will and taking up the bright and all-conquering weapons of obedience, dost enter upon the service of thy true king, Christ the Lord. ~From the Prologue of the Rule of Saint Benedict

Prayer:
Saint Benedict, you witnessed the moral corruption in Rome at an early age and fled to the wilderness to seek out God’s will. Through your prayerful obedience to God’s will, inestimable good fruit has been borne. Please pray for me that I will always seek out God’s will in my life, leaving behind the many temptations to sin that I encounter, so that God can use me in ways known only to Him. Saint Benedict, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Main image: Pietro Perugino, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 9: Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and 119 Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial

1648–1930
Invoked for the people of China
Canonized by Pope John Paul II on October 1, 2000
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Today the Church is grateful to her Lord, who blesses her and bathes her in light with the radiant holiness of these sons and daughters of China. Is not the Holy Year the most appropriate moment to make their heroic witness shine resplendently? Young Ann Wang, a 14-year-old, withstood the threats of the torturers who invited her to apostatize. Ready for her beheading, she declared with a radiant face:  “The door of heaven is open to all,” three times murmuring:  “Jesus.” And 18-year-old Chi Zhuzi, cried out fearlessly to those who had just cut off his right arm and were preparing to flay him alive:  “Every piece of my flesh, every drop of my blood will tell you that I am Christian.” ~Canonization homily of Pope John Paul II

Prayer:
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, you gave your lives for the love of Christ, taking great risk to share the Good News. Your deaths planted seeds of faith that have grown in the hearts of many. Please pray for me, and also for the people of China, that the saving message of the Gospel will continue to be preached and that many hearts will respond with generosity and faith. Saint Augustine and Companions, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.

Image: Courtesy of the Holy Transfiguration Monastery, via Wikimedia Commons

Read entire reflection online >>>

July 6: Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr—Optional Memorial

1890–1902
Patron Saint of young people (especially girls), rape victims, and the poor
Invoked for the grace of mercy and forgiveness
Canonized by Pope Pius XII on June 24, 1950
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
In the heroic testimony of the saint of Le Ferriere, her forgiveness of the man who killed her and her desire to be able to meet him one day in Heaven deserve special attention. This spiritual and social message is of extraordinary relevance in our time…The saint’s mother, for her part, pardoned him on behalf of the family in the hall of the tribunal where his trial was taking place. We do not know whether it was the mother who taught her daughter to forgive or the martyr’s forgiveness on her death-bed that determined her mother’s conduct. Yet it is certain that the spirit of forgiveness motivated relations within the whole Goretti family, and for this reason could be so naturally expressed by both the martyr and her mother. ~Saint John Paul II

Prayer:
Saint Maria Goretti, your merciful heart turned tragedy into triumph. You not only forgave your murderer, you also converted him by your love and prayers. Please pray for me, that I, too, will have a merciful heart and will forgive all who have harmed me, seeking only the salvation of their souls. Saint Maria Goretti, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source of content: mycatholic.life
Copyright © 2024 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission via RSS feed.


Main image public domain