Saints

Lives of the saints, in the order of the calendar.

Next feast · 4 October

The poor man of Assisi, founder of the Friars Minor, who rebuilt the Church by living the Gospel to the letter.

The calendar of saints

21Saint AgnesRoman girl of about twelve who chose death rather than give up her consecration to Christ.
24Saint Francis de SalesGentle Bishop of Geneva who taught that holiness is for everyone, and Doctor of the Church.
28Saint Thomas AquinasDominican friar and the Angelic Doctor, whose Summa united faith and reason.

10Saint ScholasticaSister of Saint Benedict, consecrated virgin, who “could do more because she loved more.”

17Saint PatrickThe British slave who returned as a bishop to bring the Gospel to Ireland.
19Saint JosephHusband of the Virgin Mary and foster-father of Jesus, the silent guardian of the Holy Family.

25Saint MarkCompanion of Saints Peter and Paul and author of the second Gospel, whose emblem is the lion.
29Saint Catherine of SienaDominican mystic who counselled popes, brought the papacy back to Rome, and is a Doctor of the Church.

30Saint Joan of ArcPeasant girl who obeyed heavenly voices, led the armies of France, and was burned at nineteen.

13Saint Anthony of PaduaFranciscan preacher and Doctor of the Church, the “Hammer of Heretics,” invoked for lost things.
22Saint Thomas MoreLawyer, scholar, husband and father, Lord Chancellor of England, who died “the King’s good servant, but God’s first.”
24Saint John the BaptistThe forerunner of Christ, who baptized him in the Jordan and was beheaded for speaking the truth.
29Saint PaulPersecutor turned Apostle of the Gentiles, whose letters fill much of the New Testament.
29Saint PeterFisherman of Galilee, chief of the Apostles and first Bishop of Rome, the rock on which Christ built his Church.

3Saint Thomas the ApostleThe Apostle who doubted, then made the great confession “My Lord and my God,” and carried the Gospel to India.
11Saint BenedictFather of Western monasticism, whose Rule of prayer and work shaped Europe, and patron of Europe.
22Saint Mary MagdaleneFaithful disciple who stood at the cross and was the first to see the risen Lord, the “apostle to the Apostles.”
25Saint James the GreaterSon of Zebedee and brother of Saint John, the first Apostle to die for Christ, honoured at Compostela.
26Saints Joachim and AnneThe parents of the Virgin Mary and grandparents of Jesus.
31Saint Ignatius of LoyolaSoldier turned pilgrim, author of the Spiritual Exercises and founder of the Society of Jesus.

4Saint John VianneyThe Curé of Ars, a humble country priest who spent his life in the confessional, patron of parish priests.
8Saint DominicFounder of the Order of Preachers, who answered heresy with poverty, study and preaching.
11Saint Clare of AssisiFirst follower of Saint Francis among women, founder of the Poor Clares, and defender of holy poverty.
14Saint Maximilian KolbeFranciscan priest devoted to the Immaculata, who gave his life for another prisoner at Auschwitz.
15The Blessed Virgin MaryThe Mother of God, conceived without sin and assumed body and soul into heaven, Queen of all saints.
27Saint MonicaMother of Saint Augustine, whose patient prayers and tears won her son for God.
28Saint Augustine of HippoBishop, theologian and Doctor of Grace, whose Confessions tell how a restless heart found its rest in God.

3Saint Gregory the GreatMonk and pope who fed Rome, sent missionaries to England, and called himself the servant of the servants of God.
5Saint Teresa of CalcuttaMother Teresa, founder of the Missionaries of Charity, who served Christ in the poorest of the poor.
21Saint MatthewTax collector called from his counting-table to be an Apostle, and author of the first Gospel.
23Saint Pio of PietrelcinaPadre Pio, Capuchin friar who bore the wounds of Christ and spent his life in prayer and the confessional.
27Saint Vincent de PaulPeasant’s son turned apostle of charity, founder of the Vincentians and the Daughters of Charity.
29Saint Michael the ArchangelPrince of the heavenly host, who casts down Satan and defends the people of God.
30Saint JeromePriest, scholar and Doctor of the Church, who gave the Latin Church its Bible.

1Saint Thérèse of LisieuxCarmelite nun who taught the “little way” of trust and love, and Doctor of the Church.
4Saint Francis of AssisiThe poor man of Assisi, founder of the Friars Minor, who rebuilt the Church by living the Gospel to the letter.
5Saint Faustina KowalskaPolish nun and Apostle of Divine Mercy, who gave the Church the image “Jesus, I trust in you.”
15Saint Teresa of ÁvilaCarmelite reformer, mystic and writer on prayer, the first woman named a Doctor of the Church.
18Saint LukeThe beloved physician, companion of Saint Paul, who wrote the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles.
22Saint John Paul IIThe Polish pope who told the world “Be not afraid,” travelled to every continent, and helped bring down Communism.
28Saint JudeApostle, author of a letter of the New Testament, and patron of desperate cases.

22Saint CeciliaRoman virgin martyr who sang to God in her heart, patroness of music.
30Saint AndrewFisherman, brother of Saint Peter and the first Apostle called, martyred on a cross in Greece.

3Saint Francis XavierJesuit missionary who carried the Gospel to India and Japan, and died at the gates of China.
6Saint NicholasBishop of Myra, famous for his secret generosity, and the saint behind Santa Claus.
7Saint AmbroseRoman governor made Bishop of Milan by acclamation, defender of the faith against emperors, and Doctor of the Church.
13Saint LucyVirgin martyr of Syracuse, whose name means light, honoured in the darkest days of the year.
14Saint John of the CrossCarmelite friar, reformer and poet, the Mystical Doctor of the dark night and the living flame of love.
26Saint StephenDeacon and the first martyr of the Church, who died praying for those who stoned him.
27Saint John the ApostleThe beloved disciple, who stood at the foot of the cross and wrote the fourth Gospel.