Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year
If a list were made of the greatest human beings who have ever lived, the Catholic saints would be at the top. Though historians often attempt to judge greatness from a subjective perspective, there must be objective criteria by which human greatness is judged. The only Being capable of establishing that criteria is God. The criteria that God has established are the virtues, as identified by Jesus and revealed by Him through the holy Gospels. The goal of this podcast is to present each saint found on the Catholic liturgical calendar in such a way so as to identify the Godly virtues that place each one on that list. The Church has already confirmed the saints’ greatness and their heroic virtues. Importantly, God chose the men and women found in these pages, not only for greatness in their lifetimes, but also as models of holiness in ours. These men and women are gifts to you, given by God through the Church. Each podecast reflection comes from the four-volume series Saints and Feasts of the Liturgical Year. These reflections can be read at our website for free: mycatholic.life. They are also available for purchase in eBook and paperback.
Episodes
May 31: Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary—Feast
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most ...
The Ascension of the Lord—Solemnity
Thursday of the Sixth Week of Easter or on the Seventh Sunday of Easter
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
When they had gathered together they asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive...
May 29: Saint Paul VI, Pope—Optional Memorial
1897–1978
Patron Saint of Vatican Council II
Canonized by Pope Francis on October 14, 2018
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
And most important of all, on taking my leave of this earthly scene, and going to face the judgment and mercy of God, there are so many things I should say, indeed so many. On the state of the Church; let her give ear to some word...
May 27: Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop—Optional Memorial
Early Sixth Century–604
Patron Saint of England
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
The powerful Ethelbert was at that time king of Kent…the king came into the island, and sitting in the open air, ordered Augustine and his companions to come and hold a conference with him…When they had sat down, in obedience...
May 26: Saint Philip Neri, Priest—Memorial
1515–1595
Patron Saint of Rome, joy, comedians, and artists
Canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Leafing through the biography of St Philip, in fact, one is surprised and fascinated by the cheerful and relaxed method he used to educate, supporting each person with fraternal generosity and patience. As is well kno...
May 25: Saint Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, Virgin—Optional Memorial
1566–1607
Patron Saint of the sick
Canonized by Pope Clement IX on April 28, 1669
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Self-love is like the worm that gnaws at the root and destroys not only the fruit, but even the very life of the plant. The traitor that we have to fear most is self-love, for self-love betrays us as Judas betrayed our Lo...
May 25: Saint Gregory VII, Pope, Religious—Optional Memorial
c. 1020–1085
Invoked against corruption within the Church
Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on May 24, 1728
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
In the name of Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, I withdraw, through Thy power and authority, from Henry the king, son of Henry the emperor, who has risen against Thy Church with unheard of in...
May 25: Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest and Doctor—Optional Memorial
c. 673–735
Patron Saint of lectors, scholars, English writers, and historians
Pre-Congregation canonization
Canonization confirmed and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1899
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
To the most glorious King Ceolwulf. Bede, the servant of Christ and Priest. I formerly, at your request,...
May 22: Saint Rita of Cascia—Optional Memorial
1386–1457
Patron Saint of abuse victims, impossible causes, sickness, wounds, parenthood, and widows
Invoked against marital problems, fighting and discord, and infertility
Canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 24, 1900
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Dear brothers and sisters, the worldwide devotion to Saint Rita is symbolized by the rose. It is to be ho...
May 21: Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial
1869–1927
Venerated especially in Mexico
Invoked against government persecution
Canonized by Pope John Paul II on May 21, 2000
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
“The Church … had peace and was built up; and walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it was multiplied” (Acts 9: ...
May 20: Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest—Optional Memorial
1380–1444
Patron Saint of public relations, public speaking, and advertisers
Invoked against gambling addictions and chest problems
Canonized by Pope Nicholas V on May 24, 1450
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
The name of Jesus is the splendor of preachers, because it causes His Word to be proclaimed and heard with glowing splendor. Whence...
May 18: Saint John I, Pope and Martyr—Optional Memorial
c. Late Fifth Century–526
Invoked against temptations toward false unity and acceptance of heresy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
Who does not envy the happiness of a martyr in his dungeon, when he beholds the inward joy, peace, and sentiments of charity with which he closes his eyes to this world! And much more w...
May 15: Saint Isidore—USA Optional Memorial
c. 1070–c. 1130
Patron Saint of Madrid, farms, farmers, bricklayers, and rural communities
Invoked against the death of a child
Canonized by Pope Gregory XV, March 12, 1622
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. ~Matthew 6:33
Prayer:
Saint Isidore, you were bo...
May 14: Saint Matthias the Apostle—Feast
First Century
Patron Saint of alcoholics, carpenters, and tailors
Invoked against smallpox
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the...
May 13: Our Lady of Fátima—Optional Memorial
1916–1917
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration… The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive like...
May 12: Saint Pancras, Martyr—Optional Memorial
c. 289–c. 304
Patron Saint of children, jobs, and health
Invoked against cramps, false witnesses, headaches, and perjury
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
In the same place, on the Aurelian road, the holy martyr Pancratius, who, at fourteen years of age, endured martyrdom by decapitation under Diocletian.
Also, at Rome, Saint...
May 12: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Martyrs—Optional Memorial
Died c. 98
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
Nereus and Achilleus the martyrs joined the army and carried out the cruel orders of the tyrant, obeying his will continually out of fear. Then came a miracle of faith. They suddenly gave up their savagery, they were converted, they fled the camp of their evil lea...
May 10: Saint John of Ávila, Priest and Doctor of the Church—Optional Memorial
1499–1569
Patron Saint of Spanish priests
Canonized by Pope Paul VI on May 31, 1970
Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI on October 7, 2012
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
I know of nothing better than to meditate on the fact that our Lord, with Whom we are to treat, is both God and man, and to think o...
May 10: Saint Damien de Veuster of Molokai, Priest—USA Optional Memorial
1840–1889
Patron Saint of outcasts and those suffering from leprosy
Canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Dear brother, I continue happy and content and even though I am very sick, I only want to fulfill the will of the Good God….I am still able, though not without some difficulty...
May 3- Saints Philip and James, Apostles—Feast
Saint Philip: c. 4–c. 80
Patron Saint of hatmakers and pastry chefs
Saint James: First century BC–c. 62
Patron Saint of pharmacists and the dying
Pre-Congregation canonizations
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
The next day he decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andre...
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