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

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September 21: Saint Matthew, Apostle, Evangelist—Feast

First Century
Patron Saint of civil servants, accountants, bankers, bookkeepers, customs officers, financial officers, guards, moneychangers, money managers, stockbrokers, and tax collectors
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed him. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat with Jesus and his disciples. The Pharisees saw this and said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” He heard this and said, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.” ~Matthew 9:9–13

Prayer:
Saint Matthew, God called you and you responded immediately. The emptiness you felt within your soul could not be filled with money. When you encountered Christ, you left all behind to follow Him. Please pray for me, that I will never hesitate in saying “Yes” to God’s call in my life, so that God can transform my life and use me as He wills. Saint Matthew the Apostle and Evangelist, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: St Matthew and the Angel, by Vincenzo Campi

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September 20: Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, and Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, Martyrs—Memorial

Died 1839–1867
Patron Saints of Korea
Canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 6, 1984
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Listen to me attentively, as my time is limited here below. The very reason I reached out to the people of other civilizations was for the sole purpose of my faith and my God alone. I am willing to lay down my life for the Lord. Eternal life is about to begin for me and if you desire to be eternally satisfied and joyful after your time here, believe in this teaching from God. He will not forget those who reject Him, and unending punishment is unavoidable for them. ~From a letter from the Apostolic Vicar of Korea relating Saint Andrew’s dying words

Prayer:
Sts. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, and Companions, after encountering Christ you chose Him over your earthly lives. Your hope was eternal life, and death became gain for you. Please pray for me, that I will become so deeply devoted to Christ that nothing will ever deter me from following Him. May the hope that your witness gives me inspire me to become a saint like you. Korean Martyrs, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Main image: Vatican

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September 19: Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr—Optional Memorial

Died c. 304
Patron Saint of Naples, Italy and blood banks
Invoked against volcanic eruptions
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Yes, true hope is only born from the Blood of Christ and blood poured out for him. There is blood which is the sign of death, but there is also blood that expresses love and life. The Blood of Jesus and the blood of the Martyrs, like that of your own beloved Patron St Januarius, is a source of new life. ~Pope Benedict XVI, 2007 homily in Naples

Prayer:
Saint Januarius, you laid down your life for your faith after being arrested for charitably visiting your friends in prison. Your love is inspiring, as is your courage. Please pray for me, that I will find great inspiration in your witness and seek to imitate your selflessness and courage in my own life. Saint Januarius, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.


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Main: Saint Januarius Leaves the Furnace, by Jusepe de Ribera

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September 17: Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church—Optional Memorial

1098–1179
Patron Saint of philologists and Esperantists
Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012 (equipollent canonization)
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
And behold, He Who was enthroned upon that mountain cried out in a strong, loud voice saying, “O human, who are fragile dust of the earth and ashes of ashes! Cry out and speak of the origin of pure salvation until those people are instructed, who, though they see the inmost contents of the Scriptures, do not wish to tell them or preach them, because they are lukewarm and sluggish in serving God’s justice. Unlock for them the enclosure of mysteries that they, timid as they are, conceal in a hidden and fruitless field. Burst forth into a fountain of abundance and overflow with mystical knowledge, until they who now think you contemptible because of Eve’s transgression are stirred up by the flood of your irrigation. For you have received your profound insight not from humans, but from the lofty and tremendous Judge on high, where this calmness will shine strongly with glorious light among the shining ones.” ~Vision of Saint Hildegard

Prayer:
Saint Hildegard of Bingen, in your humility and simplicity, you were raised up by God and given a special gift of supernatural knowledge about the deepest mysteries of Heaven and earth. Please pray for me, that I will always be open to the truths God reveals to me and that I will use that knowledge as the basis of all my choices in life. Saint Hildegard of Bingen, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: Wolfgang Sauber, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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September 17: Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial

1542–1621
Patron Saint of canon lawyers, catechism writers, catechists, and catechumens
Canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XI in 1931
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
If I seek my maker, I find God alone. If I seek the material from which he made me, I find absolutely nothing. From this you can conclude that whatever is in me was made by God, and wholly belongs to God. If I ask about my nature, I find that I am the image of God. If I ask about my end, I find God himself, who is my supreme and total good. Therefore, I will recognize that I have a great bond with, and need for, God, as he alone is my creator, my maker, my father, my exemplar, my happiness, my all. If I understand this, what can happen except that I seek him ardently, that I think of him, that I yearn for him, desire to see and embrace Him? Should I not be horrified at the dense darkness of my heart, which for so long has considered, desired, and sought things other than God, who alone is my all?”  ~Saint Robert Bellarmine, The Mind’s Ascent to God by the Ladder of Created Things

Prayer:
Saint Robert Bellarmine, God used you for His glory and praise by placing your mind at his service. God used you to articulate His truth in a systematic and practical way that strengthened and unified the Church. Please pray for me, that I will always place my gifts and talents at the service of God so that He will use me to fulfill His perfect will. Saint Robert Bellarmine, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Main image: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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September 16: Saints Cornelius, Pope, and Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs—Memorial

Saint Cornelius: d. 253
Patron Saint of cattle and domestic animals
Invoked against earaches, epilepsy, fevers, and twitching
Saint Cyprian: c. 200–258
Patron Saint of Algeria and North Africa
Pre-Congregation canonizations
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Galerius Maximus: “Are you Thascius Cyprianus?” Cyprian: “I am.” Galerius: “The most sacred Emperors have commanded you to conform to the Roman rites.” Cyprian: “I refuse.” Galerius: “Consider your choice and the consequences.” Cyprian: “Do as you will; in such a clear case I accept the consequences.” Galerius: “You have long lived an irreligious life, and have drawn together a number of men bound by an unlawful association, and professed yourself an open enemy to the gods and the religion of Rome…you shall be made an example to those whom you have wickedly associated with; the authority of law shall be ratified in your blood…It is the sentence of this court that Thascius Cyprianus be executed with the sword.” Cyprian: “Thanks be to God.” ~Trial of Saint Cyprian

Prayer:
Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, you loved God and remained firm in your faith, even in the face of persecution and death. Your courageous witness was coupled with a pastoral witness to God’s mercy. Please pray for me, that I will imitate your courage and merciful hearts, always standing strong in my faith and offering forgiveness to every sinner. Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: Saint Anthony Abbot between Saints Cornelius and Cyprian, by Paolo Veronese

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September 15: Our Lady of Sorrows—Memorial

Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
O Blessed Virgin Mary, Immaculate Mother of God, who didst endure a martyrdom of love and grief, beholding the sufferings and sorrows of Jesus! Thou didst co-operate in the benefit of my redemption by thy innumerable afflictions and by offering to the Eternal Father His only-begotten Son as a holocaust and victim of propitiation for my sins. I thank thee for the unspeakable love which led thee to deprive thyself of the Fruit of thy womb, Jesus, true God and true Man, to save me, a sinner. Oh! make use of the unfailing intercession of thy sorrows with the Father and the Son, that I may steadfastly amend my life and never again crucify my loving Redeemer by new sins; arid that, persevering till death in His grace, I may obtain eternal life through the merits of His Cross and Passion. ~Prayer by Saint Bridget of Sweden

Prayer:
Most Immaculate and Sorrowful Heart of Mary, I thank you for the unending depth of compassion you had for those who sinned against your Son and for loving me with that same love. As you grieve with a holy sorrow over my own sins, please pray for me, that I will more fully understand your compassion. As I do, I pray that I will be able to more fully imitate and participate in that love, flowing from your pure and perfect Sorrowful Heart. Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: Our Lady of Sorrows, by Lawrence OP, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

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September 14: Exaltation of the Holy Cross—Feast

Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. ~Galatians 6:14

Prayer:
Most glorious and triumphant Lord, You gave Your life for the salvation of my soul, using the most horrific act of cruelty as the means of Your redeeming grace. I open myself to that grace today and pray that You bestow it in superabundance. I also pray that I will have the courage and wisdom to embrace my crosses every day of my life, uniting them to Your Cross, and trusting that You will use these sacrifices as a means of the further bestowal of Your love on the world. Saving Cross of Christ, have mercy on me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Main: Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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September 13: Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor—Memorial

c. 347–407
Patron Saint of preachers, orators, lecturers, and public speakers
Invoked against epilepsy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Are you a sinner? Do not become discouraged, and come to Church to put forward repentance. Have you sinned? Then tell God, “I have sinned.” What manner of toil is this, what prescribed course of life, what affliction? What manner of difficulty is it to make one statement, “I have sinned?” Perhaps if you do not call yourself a sinner, you do not have the devil as an accuser? Anticipate this and snatch the honor away from him, because it is his purpose to accuse. Therefore, why do you not prevent him, and why do you not tell your sin and wipe it out, since you know that you have such an accuser who cannot remain silent? Have you sinned? Come to Church. Tell God, “I have sinned.” I do not demand anything else of you than this. Holy Scripture states, “Be the first one to tell of your transgressions, so you may be justified.” Admit the sin to annul it. This requires neither labor nor a circuit of words, nor monetary expenditure, nor anything else whatsoever such as these. Say one word, think carefully about the sin and say, “I have sinned.” ~Homily of Saint John Chrysostom

Prayer:
Saint John Chrysostom, from an early age you sought the truth. Once you discovered it, you radically devoted yourself to Christ through prayer, penance, and the study of Scripture. Once well formed in the faith, God gave you to the world as a powerful shepherd who preached, wrote, and taught fearlessly, continuously seeking the salvation of souls. Please pray for me, that I will open myself to the many truths of our faith so that I will become well formed in order for God to use me for His glory and the salvation of others. Saint John Chrysostom, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Featured image: public domain via Wikimedia

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September 12: Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Optional Memorial

Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
The whole world is filled with her glory, and this is especially true of Christian peoples, who have chosen her as guardian and protectress of kingdoms, provinces, dioceses, and towns. Many cathedrals are consecrated to God in her name. There is no church without an altar dedicated to her, no country or region without at least one of her miraculous images where all kinds of afflictions are cured and all sorts of benefits received. Many are the confraternities and associations honoring her as patron; many are the orders under her name and protection; many are the members of sodalities and religious of all congregations who voice her praises and make known her compassion. There is not a child who does not praise her by lisping a ‘Hail Mary.’ There is scarcely a sinner, however hardened, who does not possess some spark of confidence in her. The very devils in hell, while fearing her, show her respect. ~Saint Louis de Montfort

Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary, Mother of God and my mother, I love you and call upon you to receive me into your motherly heart so that you will present me to your Son, Jesus. Your Son entrusted me to your motherly care as He hung upon the Cross, and I now imitate that entrustment by giving myself to you as my mother. Please gain for me every grace I need to be faithful to God’s will, so that I will imitate the fidelity that you manifested in your own life. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: The Madonna of the Roses, by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

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September 9: Saint Peter Claver, Priest—USA Memorial

1581–1654
Patron Saint of African missions, African-Americans, black missions, black people, foreign missions, interracial justice, slaves, and Colombia
Invoked against slavery
Canonized by Pope Leo XIII on January 15, 1888
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Yesterday, May 30, 1627, on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, numerous blacks, brought from the rivers of Africa, disembarked from a large ship. Carrying two baskets of oranges, lemons, sweet biscuits, and I know not what else, we hurried toward them. When we approached their quarters, we thought we were entering another Guinea. We had to force our way through the crowd until we reached the sick. Large numbers of the sick were lying on the wet ground or rather in puddles of mud. To prevent excessive dampness, someone had thought of building up a mound with a mixture of tiles and broken pieces of bricks. This, then, was their couch, a very uncomfortable one not only for that reason, but especially because they were naked, without any clothing to protect them… ~Letter from Saint Peter Claver

Prayer:
Saint Peter Claver, you embarked upon a journey into the hellish conditions of abuse and suffering, caused by greed and a total lack of respect for human dignity. Within those conditions, you brought the light of Christ and administered the grace of the Sacraments, giving hope to those who needed it the most. Please pray for me, that I will be a beacon of hope for those who need it the most, by always preaching Christ Crucified and making the salvation of souls, beginning with my own, my number-one priority. Saint Peter Claver, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Main image: Mill 1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

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September 8: Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Feast

c. 15 BC
Patron Saint of chefs, cooks, distillers, drapers, fish dealers, goldsmiths, silversmiths, needlemakers, potters, restaurateurs, silkworkers, and tilemakers
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
The present Feast forms a link between the New and the Old Testament. It shows that Truth succeeds symbols and figures and that the New Covenant replaces the Old. Hence, all creation sings with joy, exults, and participates in the joy of this day…. This is, in fact, the day on which the Creator of the world constructed His temple; today is the day on which by a stupendous project a creature becomes the preferred dwelling of the Creator. ~Saint Andrew of Crete

Prayer:
Dearest Mother Mary, your conception was immaculate and your birth glorious. You were conceived without sin, born without sin, and remained sinless throughout your life. In Heaven, you radiate the beauty and splendor of God and will do so for all eternity. Please pray for me, that I will more fully imitate your many virtues, so that I can be a fitting instrument of your divine Son in the world. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Image: Birth of Mary, by Domenico Ghirlandaio

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September 5: Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta—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:
It was a call within my vocation. It was a second calling. It was a vocation to give up even Loreto where I was very happy and to go out into the streets to serve the poorest of the poor. It was in that train, I heard the call to give up all and to follow Him into the slums—to serve Him in the poorest of the poor…I knew it was His will and that I had to follow Him. There was no doubt that it was going to be His work. ~Saint Mother Teresa

Prayer:
Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Thirst of Christ so permeated your soul that you experienced His longing within the depths of your being. This Thirst drove you to charity, endlessly searching for every way possible to bring satiation to our Lord in the distressing disguise of the poor and suffering. Please pray for me, that I will be freed of every selfish motivation in life so that I can give myself to others, freely and wholeheartedly, as an instrument of the Most Merciful Heart of Jesus. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Main: ©1986 Túrelio (via Wikimedia-Commons)

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September 3: Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor—Memorial

c. 540–604
Patron Saint of choir boys, educators, masons, musicians, popes, students, and singers
Invoked against gout and the plague
Pre-Congregation canonization
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1295
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
No one presumes to teach an art till he has first, with intent meditation, learned it. What rashness is it, then, for the unskilful to assume pastoral authority, since the government of souls is the art of arts!…And yet how often do men who have no knowledge whatever of spiritual precepts fearlessly profess themselves physicians of the heart, though those who are ignorant of the effect of drugs blush to appear as physicians of the flesh! But because, through the ordering of God, all the highest in rank of this present age are inclined to reverence religion, there are some who, through the outward show of rule within the holy Church, affect the glory of distinction. They desire to appear as teachers, they covet superiority to others, and, as the Truth attests, they seek the first salutations in the market-place, the first rooms at feasts, the first seats in assemblies Matthew 23:6–7, being all the less able to administer worthily the office they have undertaken of pastoral care, as they have reached the magisterial position of humility out of elation only. ~Saint Gregory the Great, Pastoral Rule, Book I

Prayer:
Saint Gregory the Great, your first desire was to love God, to come to know Him through prayer and study, and to serve Him with all your heart. God took what you gave and transformed it into a solid foundation upon which He would continue to grow His Church. Please pray for me, that my life will always be grounded upon a solid faith so that God can use me in any way He chooses for His glory and the salvation of souls. Saint Gregory the Great, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.


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Images: Featured via Wikimedia

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August 29: The Passion of Saint John the Baptist, Martyr—Memorial

c. 1 BC–c. 30
Patron Saint of baptism, bird dealers, converts, monastic life, motorways, printers, tailors, lambs, and prisoners
Invoked against epilepsy, convulsions, hailstorms, and spasms
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red

Quote:
Now Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, for John had said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although he wanted to kill him, he feared the people, for they regarded him as a prophet. But at a birthday celebration for Herod, the daughter of Herodias performed a dance before the guests and delighted Herod so much that he swore to give her whatever she might ask for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests who were present, he ordered that it be given, and he had John beheaded in the prison. His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. His disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him; and they went and told Jesus. ~Matthew 14:3–12

Prayer:
Saint John the Baptist, you were given a holy mission and sanctified in the womb of your mother in preparation for that mission. You never deviated from your calling and always pointed the way to Christ, the Savior of all. Please pray for me, that I will have the same courage you had and the resolve to fulfill my duties, no matter the cost. Saint John the Baptist, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Images, pubic domain, via Wikimedia Commons – Main

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August 28: Saint Augustine of Hippo, Bishop and Doctor of the Church—Memorial

354–430
Patron Saint of brewers, printers, and theologians
Invoked against sore eyes and vermin
Pre-Congregation canonization
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298
Referred to as “Doctor of Grace” by popular acclaim
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Late have I loved You, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved You! You were within me, but I was outside, and it was there that I searched for You. In my unloveliness I plunged into the lovely things which You created. You were with me, but I was not with You. Created things kept me from You; yet if they had not been in You they would not have been at all. You called, You shouted, and You broke through my deafness. You flashed, You shone, and You dispelled my blindness. You breathed your fragrance on me; I drew in breath and now I pant for You. I have tasted You, now I hunger and thirst for more. You touched me, and I burned for Your peace. ~Saint Augustine’s Confessions, Book X

Prayer:
Saint Augustine, you were a sinner who was redeemed by Christ. You then devoted your whole life to the glory of God and the salvation of souls. Please pray for me, that I will discover what you discovered and imitate your radical conversion, holding nothing back from our merciful God. Saint Augustine of Hippo, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Philippe de Champaigne, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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August 27: Saint Monica—Memorial

c. 332–387
Patron Saint of homemakers, married women, mothers, abuse victims, alcoholics, and widows
Invoked against difficult marriages and difficult children
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White

Quote:
Son, for my own part I have no further delight in any thing in this life. What I do here any longer, and why I am here, I know not, now that my hopes in this world are accomplished. There was one thing for which I desired to linger for a while in this life, that I might see you as a Catholic Christian before I died. My God has done this for me more abundantly, that I should now see you, despising earthly happiness, become His servant. ~Words of Saint Monica, from Saint Augustine’s Confessions

Prayer:
Saint Monica, though you had a difficult life, you continually turned your difficulties over to God. You prayed, grew in virtue, and had a profound impact on your whole family. Please pray for me, that I will never lose hope for those who have gone astray but will remain faithful in prayer for them, trusting in God’s divine mercy. Saint Monica, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You.

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Ary Scheffer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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.

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Image: The last communion of St Joseph of Calasanz by Francisco Goya

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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.

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Main image, St Louis IX of France by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Image: Coronation of the Virgin, by Diego Velázquez

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Guido Reni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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.

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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.

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Image: Dieric Bouts, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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. 


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Image: Saint Francis de Sales Giving Saint Jeanne de Chantal the Rule of the Order of the Visitation, by Noël Hallé

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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.

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Main: Sr. Mary's stained glass collection - St. Clare by Kevin Dooley, license CC BY 2.0; featured image St Clare by Lawrence OP, license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

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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. 

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

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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. 

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Cologne Carmel Archives, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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. 

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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. 

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Image: Fra Angelico, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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. 

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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.

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Image: Carl Bloch, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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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.

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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. 

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Image: St John Mary Vianney by Lawrence OP

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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. 

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Image: Sebastiano Ricci, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons 

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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

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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. 

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Image: Resurrection of Lazarus – via Shutterstock

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Main image, public domain via Wikipedia Commons

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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.

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

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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.

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