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
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...
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...
July 5: Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, Priest—Optional Memorial
1502–1539
Patron Saint of physicians
Canonized by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1897
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Angel in human form, Angelic man, Founder of the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, of the Angelic Sisters, And of other pious associations. Destroyer of vices, Guardian of chastity, Restorer of the service of God. Perfect laborer ...
July 4: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal—Optional Memorial
(Celebrated July 5 in the USA)
1271–1336
Patron Saint of widows, brides, charity workers, those falsely accused, victims of adultery, and the Canary Islands, Spain
Invoked against jealousy, war, and difficult marriages
Canonized by Pope Urban VIII on June 24, 1625
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
I, Elizabeth, daughter of the Most Illustrious Don...
July 4: Independence Day—USA Optional Memorial
Quote:
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that...
July 3: Saint Thomas the Apostle—Feast
Died c. 72
Patron Saint of doubters, architects, blind people, builders, geometricians, masons, surveyors, and theologians
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the...
July 1: Saint Junípero Serra, Priest—USA Optional Memorial
1713–1784
Patron Saint of vocations, Hispanic-Americans, California
Canonized by Pope Francis on September 23, 2015
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
I am writing this letter in farewell, while we are getting ready to leave the city of Cádiz and embark for Mexico. The day fixed upon is unknown to me, but the trunks containing our baggage ar...
June 30: First Martyrs of the Church of Rome—Optional Memorial
Died c. 64
Pre-Congregation canonizations
Quote:
At Rome, in the time of Nero, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were accused of having set fire to the city, and cruelly put to death in various manners by the emperor’s order. Some were covered with the skins of wild beasts and lacerated by dogs; others were fastened to cr...
June 29: Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles—Solemnity
Saint Peter: c. 1–c. 64
Patron Saint of Rome, bakers, brickmakers, masons, bridge-builders, butchers, clockmakers, cobblers, fishermen, harvesters, watchmakers, locksmiths, netmakers, the papacy, and the Universal Church
Invoked against feet problems, fevers, and frenzy
Saint Paul: c. 3–c. 64
Patron Saint of Rome, evangelists, theologians, music...
June 27: Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop and Doctor—Optional Memorial
c. 376–444
Patron Saint of Alexandria, Egypt
Invoked against Christological heresies
Pre-Congregation canonization
Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1883
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
The entire population of the city stood from dawn to dusk, waiting for the decision of the holy council. When they heard that...
June 24: Birth of Saint John the Baptist—Solemnity
First Century
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: White of Gold
Quote:
When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neigh...
The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ—Solemnity
Thursday after Holy Trinity or, where this is not a holy day of obligation, on the following Sunday. In the United States, it is always transferred to the Sunday after the Most Holy Trinity.
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Although the Eucharist is celebrated solemnly every day, we deem it fitting that at least once a year it be celebrated with g...
June 22: Saints John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr—Optional Memorial
Saint John Fisher: 1469–1535
Invoked for courage and by those who are persecuted
Saint Thomas More: 1478–1535
Patron Saint of statesmen, politicians, lawyers, civil servants, court clerks, adopted children, large families, stepparents, and difficult marriages
Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 19, 1935
Liturgic...
June 22: Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop—Optional Memorial
c. 354–431
Patron Saint of bellmakers
Invoked by the people of Nola, Italy
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Thus our Paulinus, bishop of Nola, who voluntarily abandoned vast wealth and became quite poor, though abundantly rich in holiness, when the barbarians sacked Nola, and took him prisoner, used silently to ...
June 21: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious—Memorial
1568–1591
Patron Saint of students, Christian youth, Jesuit novices, AIDS patients and caregivers
Invoked against eye troubles and epidemics
Canonized by Pope Benedict XIII on December 31, 1726
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
The divine goodness, most honored lady, is a fathomless and shoreless ocean, and I confess that when I plunge my mind into...
June 19: Saint Romuald, Abbot—Optional Memorial
c. 951–1027
Invoked for reformation of the Church and monastic life
Canonized by Pope Gregory XIII in 1582
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Sit in your cell as in paradise. Put the whole world behind you and forget it. Watch your thoughts like a good fisherman watching for fish. The path you must follow is in the Psalms—never leave it. If you have ju...
The Most Holy Trinity—Solemnity
First Sunday after Pentecost
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
“Father,” “Son,” “Holy Spirit” are not simply names designating modalities of the divine being, for they are really distinct from one another: “He is not the Father who is the Son, nor is the Son he who is the Father, nor is the Holy Spirit he who is the Father or the Son” (Council of Toledo XI (675)). ...
June 13: Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor—Memorial
1195–1231
Patron Saint of amputees, animals, mail, horses, expectant mothers, fishermen, harvests, lost articles, boatmen, and travelers, as well as the elderly, oppressed, poor, and starving
Canonized by Pope Gregory IX on 30 May 1232
Declared the Evangelizing Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius XII in 1946
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
...
June 11: Saint Barnabas the Apostle—Memorial
Early First Century–c. 61
Patron Saint of Cyprus, Antioch, and peacekeeping missions
Invoked against hailstorms
Pre-Congregation canonization
Liturgical Color: Red
Quote:
The news about them reached the ears of the church in Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to go to Antioch.When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced and encouraged them all ...
Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church—Memorial
Celebrated the Monday after Pentecost
Liturgical Color: White
Quote:
Indeed, the Mother standing beneath the cross (cf. Jn 19:25), accepted her Son’s testament of love and welcomed all people in the person of the beloved disciple as sons and daughters to be reborn unto life eternal. She thus became the tender Mother of the Church which Christ ...
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