All Saints Day ~ November 1^st, 2018

A Litany of Saints

Before we begin, a couple of notes:

This is a lengthy blog. I’ve given a thorough list of saints here throughout the Church year—not all, but the most popular ones. Peruse the ones that interest you and skip over the others.

FIND THE SAINT WHO BEARS YOUR NAME. That’s your patron. You might want to pray to him or her, if you don’t already. You have something precious in common, don’t you?

You will also note than many of them have the title of “Doctor.” Ir means:

(Latin doctor “teacher”) is a title given by the Catholic Church to saints whom they recognize as having made significant contribution to theology or doctrine through their research study, or writing.

Finally, the dates in italics at the end of each paragraph are the Feast Days in the Roman calendar for the saint.

St. Sebastian—Martyr—his images show him as pierced with arrows. January 20^th.

St. Agnes—Virgin and Martyr—St. Ambrose: ”too young to be punished, yet old enough for a martyr’s crown; unfitted for the contest, yet effortless in victory, despite the handicap of youth.” January 21^st.

St. Francis de Sales—Bishop and Doctor—wrote “The Introduction to the Devout Life” stating that people of all walks of life could be holy. January 28^th.

Sts. Timothy and Titus, Bishops who were disciples and companions of the apostle Paul. January 26^th.

St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor—completed his studies at Paris under St. Albert the Great, becoming himself a teacher, writing many learned volumes during the 13^th Century. An anecdote: He was so overweight, his confreres cut an oval out of the dinner table to accommodate him! He composed the hymn “Tantum ergo—Pange Lingua”. January 28^th.

St. John Bosco, Priest—dedicated himself to the education of boys in the 19^th Century. His order today is known as the Salesians. (S.D. B.) January 31^st.

St. Patrick, Bishop was born in Great Britain about the year 385. As a young man he was captured and sold as a slave in Ireland where he had to tend sheep. Having escaped slavery, he chose to enter the priesthood and later, as a bishop, he tirelessly preached the gospel to the people of Ireland where he converted many people and established the Church. He died at Down in 461, March 17^th.

St. Joseph, Husband of Mary. God made him a father to the king and master of all his household. He raised him up so that he might save many people. March 19^th.

St. Anselm, Bishop and Doctor, was born in 1033 and entered the Benedictine Order in France. He taught theology to his fellow students and then went to England where he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury where he fought vigorously for the freedom of the Church which caused him to be twice exiled. April 21^st.

St. Mark, Evangelist, a cousin of Barnabas, accompanied St. Paul on his first missionary journey and went with him to Rome. He was a disciple of St. Peter whose teaching was the basis of Mark’s gospel. Mark is said to the founder of the church of Alexandria. April 25^th.

St. Catherine of Siena, Virgin and Doctor, was born in Siena in 1347. While still a young girl she sought the way of perfection and entered the Third Order of St. Dominic. On fire with the love of God and neighbor, she established peace and concord between cities, and fought for the rights and freedom of the Roman Pontiff, persuading him to come out of exile in Avignon and return to Rome. She died in 1380. April 29^th.

St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr—born in England around 673, he was sent as bishop to Mainz, now in Germany. He was highly successful in evangelizing those peoples. June 5^th.

St. Norbert, Bishop—lived and worked as bishop, preaching throughout France and Germany in the early 12^th Century. June 6^th.

St. Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor—he transferred after ordination to the Friars Minor (Franciscans) and had great success preaching in Africa and then in France and Italy. He became the first to teach theology to his brothers. Anthony died in 1231 about 40 years of age. Thus, you see, he’s much more than just the saint people invoke for finding lost objects! June 13^th.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.S.J.—was a kind of hero of young people. He entered the Society of Jesus and was serving the sick during the plague and contracted the disease himself. He died in 1591 when he was 23 years old. June 21^st.

 St. John the Baptist—The Messenger of the Son of God: “He must increase; I must decrease,” he said. June 24^th.

St. Peter, Apostle, First Pope and Martyr. “You are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church.” Peter indicated he wanted to be crucified upside down—and St. Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles—Paul more than anyone else has shown us what we humans are and what our nobility consists Paul died by the sword in Rome.   They share the same feast day on June 29^th.

St. John Fisher and St. Thomas More, Martyrs—John Fisher was appointed Bishop of Rochester. Thomas More was educated at Oxford and while Chancellor in the King’s Court he wrote works on the governance of the realm and in defense of the faith. Both were beheaded by King Henry VIII, as they resisted in the matter of his divorce. Fisher was named to the College of Cardinals by Pope Paul III. Their feast day is June 22^nd.

St. Thomas, Apostle—the one who doubted, and then declared, “My Lord and my God.” July3rd.

St. Benedict, Abbot—he gathered disciples and set out for Monte Casino, there he establishing the famous monastery and the Benedictine Rule and received the title as Patriarch of Western monasticism. He lived and died in the 6^th Century. July 11^th.

St. Henry was elected Emperor and worked for Church reform and fostered missionary activity; he lived and died in the 12^th Century. July 13^th.

St. Bonaventure, Bishop and Doctor, studied philosophy and theology at Paris and taught his fellows in the Friars Minor and was elected Master General of the Order. After being made Cardinal-Bishop of Albano, he died at the Council of Lyons in 1274. July 15^th.

St. Mary Magdalene, was one of Jesus’ disciples, was present when he died and the first to see the risen Lord and to tell the Apostles the Good News! July 22^nd.

St. Bridget of Sweden was married and gave birth to eight children. After her husband’s death, she devoted herself to the ascetic life and wrote many works in which she related her mystical experience. She lived and died in the 14^th Century. July 23^rd

St. James, Apostle, Son of Zebedee and brother of St. John the Apostle, was born at Bethsaida. He was put to death by Herod around the year 42 and is especially honored in Spain at Compostella’s famous church dedicated in his name. July 25^th.

Sts. Joachim and Ann, Parents of Mary. Going back to the second century, the parents of the Virgin Mary are known by the name of Joachim and Ann. July 26^th.

St. Martha was the sister of Mary and Lazarus. When she received the Lord as guest at Bethany, she looked after him with devoted attention. July 29^th.

St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Founder. He spent his early years in court and as a soldier. Later he was converted to God and undertook theology studies at Paris where he attracted his first followers and at Rome joined them together as the first members of the Society of Jesus. He died in Rome in 1556. July 31^st.

St. Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop and Doctor, renowned in both civil and canon law he left the legal profession and entered the priesthood. He founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (C.S.s.R.). He was chosen as a bishop for an Italian diocese but soon resigned to work with his confreres. Some may know of the Ligourian publications. August 1^st.

St. John Vianney, Priest—The Cure of Ars. After overcoming many difficulties, he was ordained a priest and was entrusted with a parish in the town of Ars. He cared for his parish in a marvelous way by his preaching, mortification and good works. He had great skill in helping penitents and people came from many regions and devoutly accepted his counsel. He died in 1859 and is now given the title as the Patron of Parish Priests. I grew up in St. John Vianney Parish in St. Pete Beach, Florida. August 4^th.

St. Dominic, Priest, was born in Spain and studied theology at Palencia. He worked effectively against the Albigensian heresy (that taught that there two gods—one of good and one of evil). To carry on this work, he gathered companions and founded the Order of Preachers (O.P.) that today has both men and women religious. Dominic died at Bologna in 1221. August 8^th.

St. Lawrence, Deacon and Martyr. Lawrence was one of the seven deacons chosen in the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 6: 1-6) He was a deacon of the Church of Rome and became a martyr during the persecution of Valerian. August 10^th.

St. Clare, Virgin, was born at Assisi and followed her fellow citizen Saint Francis in a life of poverty and became a foundress and mother of an order of nuns. She died in 1253. August 11^th.

St. Stephen of Hungary. After his baptism he was crowned king of Hungary in the year 1000. In his relationship with his subjects he was just, peaceful and pious and founded many dioceses. He died in 1038. August 16^th.

St. Bernard, Abbot and Doctor. After a religious upbringing he joined the Cistercians in 1111 and was chosen abbot of their famous monastery at Clairvaux. Because of schisms in the church at the time, he travelled all over Europe restoring peace and unity. He wrote prodigiously and died in 1l53. August 20^th.

St. Pius X, Pope was born in Italy and became the patriarch of Venice and elected Pope in 1903 choosing as his motto renew all things in Christ. He became known for renewing the liturgy and especially for advancing the age of children’s first communion. August 21^st.

St. Bartholomew, Apostle was born at Cana and was brought to Jesus by the apostle Philip. He is said to have preached the Gospel in India. August 24^th.

St. Louis was born in1214 and became king of France while he was twenty-two years old. He married and fathered eleven children who received from him careful instruction in the Christian life. He excelled in penance and prayer and love for the poor. He undertook the Crusades and died near Carthage in 1270. August 25^th. 

St. Monica—mother of St. Augustine, was born at Tagaste in Africa in 331 and was married to Patricius as a young maiden. She prayed, with tears for years for the conversion of her son, She died a Ostia with her two sons at her side in 387. August 28^th.

St. Augustine, Bishop and Doctor, wrote prodigiously His “Confessions” is a bestseller.”Late have I loved you, O Beauty, ever ancient, ever new., late have I loved you! “     (He was known to have fathered a son, though not admitted by the church.) August 29^th.

 St. Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor. He was born in Rome around 540 and ordained a deacon and upon entering the monastic life he became a legate to Constantinople. On September 3, 590 he became Pope and proved to be a true shepherd, helping the poor and strengthening the faith and wrote extensively. September 3^rd.           

St. John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor was born at Antioch about the year 349 and after an extensive education embraced an ascetical life. He was elected bishop of Constantinople in 397 and committed himself to reforming the clergy and the serving the faithful. Twice he was forced into exile by the hatred of the imperial court. His preaching was outstanding and that’s why they called him Chrysostom—Golden Mouth. September 13^th.

St. Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor, was born in 1542 in Tuscany and entered the Society of Jesus and distinguished himself with brilliant essays in defense of the Catholic faith and as a professor in Rome. Elected to the College of Cardinals and named bishop of Capua he solved many pressing questions in the various Roman Congregations, He died at Rome in 1621. (He’s one of my two patron saints—the other is St. Robert of Molesme—one of the three founders of the Cistercians. Robert Bellarmine’s feast day is September 17^th. 

St. Vincent de Paul, Priest, was born in France in 1581 and after ordination served as a parish priest in Paris. He founded the Congregation of the Mission (C.M.) to supervise priests and serve the poor and with St. Louise de Marillac, he founded the congregation of the Daughters of Charity. He died in Paris in 1660. His work lives on today, of course, in the work of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. September 27.

St. Wenceslaus, Martyr was born in Bohemia about 907. Brought up as a Christian by his aunt he began his rule around 925—that would have been when he was 18. Having difficulty ruling over his subjects and in leading them to the faith he was betrayed by his brother Boleslaus and killed by assassins when he was about to enter a church. He was immediately recognized as a martyr and as the patron saint of Bohemia. And you might know the Christmas carol Good King Wenceslaus. September 28^th.

Sts. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels. The word “Angel” denotes a function, not a nature; they can only be called angels when they are delivering a message. Michael means “Who is like God?”; Gabriel means “The strength of God.”; and Raphael means” God’s Remedy. Michael appears in the book of Revelations in the final battle. Gabriel makes the announcement to the Virgin Mary that she will have a Son. Raphael touches Tobit’s eyes in order to cure him and banish his blindness. September 29^th.

St. Jerome, Priest and Doctor, was born in Dalmatia around 340. He studied the classics in Rome and was baptized there, went to the East, embraced a life of asceticism and was ordained a priest. He returned to Rome, was secretary to Pope Damasus, and began translating the holy Scriptures into Latin. His work eventually became the Latin version of the Scriptures known as the Vulgate. He died in Bethlehem in 420. September 30^th.

St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor (The Little Flower) was born in France in 1873. While still a young girl she entered the Carmelite monastery at Lisieux. There she lived a life of humility, simplicity and trust in God. She wanted to be a martyr, but found her calling in the writings of St. Paul. “My calling is ‘love’, she wrote.” Theresa died of Tuberculosis at the age of twenty-four. October 1^st.

St. Francis of Assisi, Deacon, was born in at town in 1182 and after a carefree youth he renounced his paternal wealth and committed himself to God and entered into a life of poverty, He preached the love of God to all. He gathered a number of companions and established a rule of life that gained approval from Rome. Subsequently he founded and order of nuns and a society of laypersons who practice penance while living in the world. He died in 1226 at the age of 44. He composed several glorious hymns. October 4^th.

St. Teresa of Avila, Virgin and Doctor was born at Avila, Spain in 1515. She joined the Carmelite order and made great progress in the way of perfection and enjoyed mystical revelations. When she reformed the order she met with much resistance, but she succeeded with undaunted courage. She wrote inspiringly from the fruit of her own spiritual life. She died at Avila in 1582. October 15^th.

St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin was born in 1647 in France. She joined the Visitation Sisters locally and was favored with mystical revelations. She was especially devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and was responsible for spreading that devotion throughout the Church. She died in 1690. October 16^th.

St. Luke, Evangelist, was born of a pagan family. Converted to the faith, he became a fellow-worker of the apostle Paul. From St. Paul’s preaching he compiled one of the gospels. He is said to have been a physician. He handed down another work of the beginnings of the Church, the Acts of the Apostles. October18th.

St. Isaac Joques and John de Brebeuf, Priests and Martyrs and Companions, Martyrs. Between the years 1642 and 1649 eight members of the Society of Jesus were killed in North America after fearful torture by the Huron and Iroquois tribes. October19th

St. Paul of the Cross, Priest, was born in 1694. Aspiring to a life of perfection, he left his life as a merchant behind and brought together a group of associates who joined him in caring for the poor and the sick. After becoming a priest he wrote, “It is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God.” He taught his companions to preach the passion of Jesus. And formed an order today called the Passionists. (C.P.) October 19^th.

St. Martin de Porres, Religious, was born in Lima, Peru of a Spanish father and a Negro mother in 1579. As a boy he studied medicine that when he became a Dominican brother, he put it to good use serving the poor. November 3^rd.

St. Charles Borromeo, Bishop was born in Lombardy in 1538, After taking honors in both civil and canon law he was made a cardinal and bishop of Milan by his uncle Pope Pius IV. As a true pastor he worked tirelessly to reform his diocese. November 4^th.

St. Margaret of Scotland was born around the year 1046 in Hungary where her family was exiled. She married King Malcolm III of Scotland and gave birth to eight children. The ideal mother and queen, she died in Edinburgh in 1093.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary, born in 120, she was the daughter of Andrew king of Hungary. While still a young girl she was married to Louis the Landgrave of Thuringia and had three children. After her husband’s death, she embraced a life of poverty, erecting a hospital in which she herself served the sick. She died at Marburg in 1231. November 17^th. 

St. Andrew, Apostle, born at Bethsaida was a disciple of John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Jesus, to whom he brought his brother Peter. With Philip he presented the Gentiles to Christ. After Pentecost, he preached the Gospel in many lands and was put to death by crucifixion at Achaia. November 30^th.

St. Francis Xavier, Priest was born in Spain in 1506. While studying the liberal arts in Paris, he became a follower of Ignatius of Loyola. In 1537 he was ordained at Rome and there devoted himself to works of charity. Francis went to the Orient in 1540 where for ten years he worked tirelessly proclaiming the gospel in India and Japan and through his preaching brought many to believe. He died in 1552 near the China coast on the island of Sancian. December 3^rd.

St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor was born of a Roman family about the year 340. He studied at Rome and served the imperial government. While living in Milan, he was elected bishop of the city by popular acclaim and ordained on December 7. He devotedly carried out his duties and especially in service to the poor and became and effective pastor and teacher. Ambrose was effective in helping to bring St. Augustine into the faith. December 7^th.

St. John of the Cross, Priest and Doctor, was born in Spain around 1542. After a number of years as a Carmelite, he was persuaded by St. Teresa of Avila to lead a reform movement of his brothers that caused him to imprisoned by them for a time, He finally escaped and the renewal of the order proceeded with new energy. His mystical theology and poetry is stunning. He died in 1591. December 15^th.

St. Stephen, First Martyr, was one of the seven deacons chosen in Acts 6:1-6. “a man filled with grace and prayer, he worked great wonders and signs among the people.” On the day after Christmas, the Church indicates that his martyrdom—and all martyrs are the seeds of the Church’s growth. December 26^th.

St. John Apostle and Evangelist. John wrote the fourth gospel. John gave testimony to the Word of God; he gave witness to Jesus Christ whom he had seen. December 27^th.

St. Thomas Becket. Bishop and Martyr, was born in London in 1118. He first became chancellor to the king and then was chosen bishop. His tireless defense of the rights of the Church against Henry II prompted the king to first exile him to France and upon his return, he endured many trials and in 1170 was murdered by agents of the king, December 29^th.  

Lord Jesus,

You have inspired women and men, boys and girls

of every age, nation and skin color

to follow your Way of holiness,

not in conformity or uniformity,

but to seek their own style 

and to put their own mark on this Way we call Christianity.

Please grant me, O Jesus, the grace to find my place at the table too.

I am as eager and willing in my latter years as I was in my youth.

Please grant this to any who are willing this day.

May the kingdom, the power and the glory be yours,

now and forever. Amen!  

And now, before you go, here’s the Litany of the Saints sung for you in English. Click here. 

And here are today’s Mass readings, if you would like to reflect on them. Click here. 

With love, 

Bob Traupman  

Contemplative Writer