St. Spiridion

St. Spiridion – December 14th

This Saint lived on the island of Cypress, in the Mediterranean Sea. He was a shepherd, was married, and had a family. So great was his charity that he was even kind to thieves who tried to steal his sheep.

Later, Spiridion was made bishop of Tremithus on the sea coast of Cypress. His people were poor but they were devout Christians. When Galerius’ persecution began in Cypress, the Saint suffered gloriously. His right eye was put out and he was crippled and sent to work in the mines. Yet he lived through these trials and kept on serving God in joy.

St. Spiridion had had little education. Still he had studied the Holy Bible so much each day that he had gained marvelous wisdom. He was a simple man who spoke plainly and used common words. For this reason, when a famous preacher substituted a fancier word for the term Jesus had used in the Holy Gospel, St. Spiridion objected, “Isn’t the word Our Lord Himself used good enough for you?”

God gave the Saint the power of working miracles. A certain man had asked Spiridion’s daughter to keep a very valuable possession of his where it would be safe. When she died, and the man came for his article, no one knew where it was. So the Saint went to her grave and called her by name. He asked her where she had put the man’s valuable possession. The dead girl explained where she had hidden it, and they found it in that exact spot.

After his own death, the Saint’s relics were highly honored by all the people.

The knowledge of heavenly things is what we should look for. With it we will be happy and will find it easy to please God.

St. James Intercisus

St. James Intercisus – November 27th

James was a Persian who was a great favorite of the King Yezdigerd I. When this king began to persecute Christians, James did not have the courage to confess his faith. He was too afraid to lose the King’s friendship. So he gave up his faith or at least pretended to.

James’ wife and mother were broken-hearted. When the King died, they wrote a strong letter warning him to change his ways. This letter had its effect on James. He had been a coward, but at heart, he was still good. Now he began to stay away from court and to blame himself openly for having given up his faith.

The new King sent for him, but this time, James hid nothing, “I am a Christian,” he said. The King accused him of being ungrateful for all the honors his father, King Yezdigerd, had given him. “And where is your father now?” St. James calmly answered.

The angry King threatened to put the Saint to a terrible death, but he replied, “May I die the death of the just!”

The King and his council condemned James to die only after all his limbs should be cut off. But his fears had gone, and he said, “This death which appears so dreadful is very little for the purchase of eternal life.” Then he told the executioners, “Begin your work.” Each time a finger was cut off, he rejoiced and thanked God, praying: “Savior of Christians, receive a branch of the tree.” He kept declaring his faith that his body would one day rise in glory.

This great saint martyr was called “Intercisus”, which means “hacked-to-pieces” in memory of his heroic death.

When we make mistakes and our parents or teachers correct us, let us listen to them. They correct us because they love us. This saint became a saint because when his mother corrected him strongly, he blamed himself and started a new life immediately.

St. Nilus the Elder

St. Nilus the Elder – November 12th

Nilus was an important official in the great city of Constantinople. From St. John Chrysostom, he learned to love God so much that he wanted to serve Him. Nilus was married and had two children, yet he felt that God wanted him to become a monk. His good wife agreed that they should separate so as to serve the Lord with their whole hearts. Nilus took his son Theodulus and went to live with the monks of Mt. Sinai.

A few years passed in peace and happiness. Then a troupe of cruel raiders swept down upon the monastery and killed many of the monks. When they rode off, they carried Theodulus with them. His poor father, St. Nilus, followed them, hoping to be able to buy his son back from the raiders. He had many terrible experiences trying to find his son, but at last he found him living with a bishop. This bishop had bought the boy from the raiders in order to save him and Theodulus was working in the service of the Church. Before Nilus and his son left, the good bishop ordained them priests, since they were both ready.

St. Nilus was so wise that many people asked his advice. He wrote many, many letters in reply to priests, monks and high officials, and from these letters we know how holy St. Nilus was.

To a man who had decided to live on a pillar just to make people think he was holy, St. Nilus wrote: “Every man who exalts himself will be humbled!”

This Saint had to undergo many troubles and temptations in his life, but with prayer, he was always victorious. That is why he knew how to help so many other people overcome temptations and live good lives.

Even though people of the world can become saints, they have many dangers to overcome. If God calls me closer to Him, I will leave all my dear ones to follow Him generously.

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez

St. Alphonsus Rodriguez – October 30th

This Spanish Saint took over the family business of buying and selling wool when he was twenty-three. Three years later, he got married and God sent him and his wife Mary two children. But many sufferings now came to Alphonsus. Business began to be bad, his little daughter died and then his wife. Now this business man began to think of what God might have in mind for him. He had always been a devout Christian, but from then on, he prayed, did penance, and went to the Sacraments more than he had ever done.

When he was nearly forty, Alphonsus’ son died, too, and despite his great sorrow, he thanked God for having taken the boy out of the danger of sinning. Alphonsus soon asked to be admitted into the Society of Jesus, but he was told he must study first. So he went back to school, this man of forty, with little boys who made fun of him. He had to beg for his food, for he had given his money to the poor. At last, he was accepted as a lay-brother and was made door-keeper at a Jesuit college.

“That brother is not a man-he is an angel!” his Superior said of him years later. Priests who knew him for forty years never heard him say or do anything which could be criticized. His kindness and obedience were known to all. Once, all the chairs in the house, even the ones from the bedrooms, had been used for a forty hours devotion. By mistake, his was not returned until the following year. Yet, because of his humility, Alphonsus had never mentioned the fact to anyone. When he was over seventy and sick, the Superior tested his obedience by saying: “You are to go to the missions of the Indies.” St. Alphonsus went straight out to the college gate to go find out when the next ship was sailing-only to be told to go back to his Superior!

During his long life, the Saint had to conquer very strong temptations, besides physical pains. Even as he lay dying, he spent a half hour in terrible agony. Then, just before he died, he was filled with peace and joy. He kissed his crucifix, looked lovingly at his brothers, and died with the name of Jesus on his lips.

Saints became saints because they were humble. Jesus said that to enter Heaven we must become humble. Today I will imitate this saint by taking the last place and doing humble work cheerfully.

Blessed Charles of Blois

Blessed Charles of Blois – September 29th

Charles was a French prince who would have liked to be a Franciscan friar, but spent most of his life on the battlefield. He was a nephew of King Philip VI of France, and when he was seventeen, he married Joan of Brittany. But there was another man who claimed he should be Duke of Brittany, instead of Charles. That is how all the fighting began, and it lasted his whole life.

Blessed Charles hated wars, for he saw how much suffering they bring. Once he offered to settle the whole matter by fighting alone against his rival, but the wars went on. The holy prince did all he could to help the wounded after every battle and to take care of the poor people in the towns he conquered. Barefoot he made pilgrimages and he built religious houses where monks and nuns would pray for him and for the soldiers who were killed in battle. Once, he held up a big battle in order to go to Mass first. One of his officers was angry at that, but Blessed Charles answered, “We can always get towns and castles. If we lose them, God will help us get them back again. But we cannot afford to miss Mass.”

Even while in prison for nine years in London, Charles won the admiration of his jailers because of his calm patience and his spirit of prayer. When he was set free, he went back to fight for his land again, and was finally killed on the battlefield. So many miracles took place at his tomb that the people of Brittany began calling him a saint right away.

Do I easily find excuses to miss Mass? How do I assist at Mass? Let us often remember the example of this Saint, who even held up a big battle in order to go to Mass first.

Blessed Louis of Thuringia

Blessed Louis of Thuringia – September 11th

This German prince married St. Elizabeth of Hungary when he was twenty-one and she was just fourteen. The marriage had been arranged for them by their parents, as was the custom in those days. But they both loved God, and He gave them a great love for each other. So it was that they were very happy together, and their joy increased when God sent them three children. The youngest child of these holy rulers is Blessed Gertrude.

Louis helped his wife in her many works of charity to the poor, and joined her in devout prayer. Time after time, the people saw their handsome prince and his lovely wife helping the poor. But once, Elizabeth went so far as to bring a leper into their castle and nursed him in their bed! For a moment, when Louis saw that, he was angry. Then, suddenly, instead of the leper, he saw our crucified Lord lying there! After that proof of how much Jesus appreciated Elizabeth’s charity, Louis had a hospital for lepers built.

One long, bitter cold winter, Louis had to be away from his land and when he returned, Elizabeth’s joy overflowed. After she had lovingly kissed him, Louis asked how the people had gotten through the hard winter. “I gave to God what was His,” answered his holy wife, “and God had kept for us what was ours.”

The next year, Louis left on a Crusade to free the Holy Land from the Moslems. But on the way, he caught malaria, and soon was dying.

Because he had always lived in close union with Our Lord, the brave ruler felt no fear of death. He died in great peace, after receiving the Last Sacraments. And he also had a beautiful vision of white doves coming to bring his soul to Heaven.

Today I will look for every occasion I can find to do something good to my family, friends and neighbors.

Blessed Richard Herst

Blessed Richard Herst - August 29th

Richard was an English farmer who held to his Catholic faith despite the persecution going on. One day, he was ploughing in his fields when three men came to arrest him. One handed him the papers for his arrest while the other struck him with a stick. A young girl working in another part of the field ran to call Richard’s wife, and she came running with a farmhand and another man.

There was a struggle that ended when the men who had come to arrest Richard ran away. One of them, however, fell and broke his leg. Gangrene developed and the man died thirteen days later. Although he himself had said his fall was an accident, Richard Herst was tried and convicted for murder. The real reason he was out to death was because he was a Catholic. In fact, he was told that if he would give up his faith, he would not be killed. But Blessed Richard answered: “I would rather choose to die a thousand deaths than to possess a kingdom and live in mortal sin, for there is nothing as hateful to me as sin.”

The good man asked his friends to take care of his family, for he had six children. He was afraid to die as is only natural, but God gave him so much strength that after he had prayed at the foot of the scaffold, he said to the hangman who was fumbling with the rope: “Tom, I think I’ll have to come up and help you!” From his prison, Blessed Richard had written: “I find great comfort in throwing myself upon my Savoir with a most fervent love, when I consider what He has done and suffered for me. My greatest desire is to suffer with Him.”

I will live as a true Christian when alone and when with others, even if this means sacrifice.

St. Augustine

St. Augustine - Patron of Theologians, Printers and Brewers - August 28th

This famous son of St. Monica was born in Africa and spent many years of his life in wicked living and false beliefs. Though he was one of the most intelligent men who ever lived and though he had been brought up a Christian, his sins of impurity and his pride darkened his mind so much that he could not see or understand the divine truth any more.

Through the prayers of his holy mother and the marvelous preaching of St. Ambrose, Augustine finally became convinced that Christianity was the one true religion. Yet he did not become a Christian then, because he thought he could never live a pure life. One day, however, he heard about two men who had suddenly been converted on reading the life of St. Antony, and he felt terribly ashamed of himself. “What are we doing?” he cried to his friend Alipius. “Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!”

Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself out into the garden and cried out to God, “How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour put an end to my sins?” Just then he heard a child singing, “Take up and read!” Thinking that God intended him to hear those words, he picked up the book of the Letters of St. Paul, and read the first passage his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed for in it St. Paul says to put away all impurity and to live in imitation of Jesus. That did it! From then on, Augustine began a new life.

He was baptized, became a priest, a bishop, a famous Catholic writer, Founder of religious priests, and one of the greatest Saints that ever lived. He became very devout and charitable, too. On the wall of his room he had the following sentence written in large letters: “Here we do not speak evil of anyone.” St. Augustine overcame strong heresies, practiced great poverty and supported the poor, preached very often, and prayed with great fervor right up until his death. “Too late have I loved You!” he once cried to God, but with his holy life he certainly made up for the sins he committed before his conversion.

Thinking over the lives of the Saints, we should tell ourselves, “Can you not do what these men and women did?” Certainly we can, if we pray and strengthen our will.

St. Louis of France

St. Louis of France - Patron of Thrid Order Members and of Barbers - August 25th

When this Prince was still small, his good mother, Queen Blanche, hugged him tightly and told him, “I love you, my dear son, as much as a mother can love her child, but I would rather see you dead at my feet than ever have you commit a mortal sin.” Louis never forgot those words so often repeated by his mother and he became one of the holiest rulers the world has ever known.

Once he asked a good friend which he would prefer, to be a leper or to have committed a mortal sin. The man said, “I would rather commit thirty sins than be a leper!” King Louis replied sadly, “This is a wild, foolish answer. When a man dies, all his sicknesses end, but mortal sin is a terrible disease which does not end with death. If you love me, I beg you to choose any suffering rather than give in to mortal sin!”

Busy as he was, the King found time for two daily Masses and for several hours of prayer.

An enemy of all injustice, of all impure entertainments and swearing, St. Louis ruled his people with such wisdom, charity and fairness that even foreign kings asked him to settle their disagreements. To his wife and eleven children he was a good husband and father, and as long as his mother lived, he showed her every respect.

St. Louis was a Crusader, too, who twice led an army against the Turks to protect the Christians in the Holy Land. The first time, he was taken prisoner, but even in jail, he behaved as a true Christian knight, unafraid and noble in all his ways. He was freed and returned to take care of his kingdom in France, yet as soon as he could, he started back to fight the enemies of Faith again. On the way, however, this greatly-loved King fell sick and died. A few hours before he breathed his last, he prayed, “Lord, I will enter into Your house, worship in Your holy temple, and give glory to your name.”

I will think of the many prayers of King St. Louis, and I will promise to offer Our Lord every morning my whole day.

Blessed John Felton

Blessed John Felton - August 8th

When Pope St. Pius V put Queen Elizabeth I out of the Church because she said she was the head of the Church in England, John Felton fastened the Pope’s announcement right up on a door for everyone to see. Before long, it was discovered who had done that and John was arrested. When he declared that only the Holy Father could be Head of the Catholic Church, he was condemned to death.

Right in front of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the scaffold was set up. When John saw the horrible instruments that would be used on his body before his death, he had a terrible fit of fear. But with a mighty effort of will, he overcame that fear, and said: “Now I am ready to die for the Catholic faith!”

Then he knelt down and prayed to God to have mercy on his soul. He was hanged, but cut down from the scaffold before he died. So he was still alive when they began to use the terrible tools on his body. As they pulled his heart out, Blessed John’s daughter heard him murmur: “Jesus, Jesus!”

Eighteen years later, the martyr’s son, Blessed Thomas Felton, followed in his brave father’s footsteps and died for the Faith, too.

We should love our Faith intensely and when the occasion presents itself, we should profess it openly.

St. Thomas More

St. Thomas More - Patron of Lawyers - July 9th

Thomas More is a famous English writer and martyr. He was a good scholar and studied to become a lawyer. While he was in school, his father gave him only a small allowance, so that he would not get into mischief. St. Thomas was always grateful to him for bringing him up strictly, and even when he had a much higher position than his father, he would ask his blessing right in public.

St. Thomas married, because he knew that was God’s will for him. His wife was a simple women who could not even read or write, but Thomas patiently tried to teach her. She loved him and her four children very much and did all she could to make her brilliant husband happy. People liked to pay visits to the More family. One of the young children there read from the Bible during meals. Then they would have fun telling jokes and making each other laugh. St. Thomas often had poorer neighbors in to dinner, too, because he always helped the poor as much as he could. This saint loved to delight his guests with surprises-he even kept some playful monkeys as pets! Yet no one knew that such a merry man always wore a painful hair short and practiced other severe mortifications.

St. Thomas held a number of important offices under the King, Henry VIII. He was his favorite and sometimes the King put his arm affectionately around Thomas’ shoulder. Yet, although the Saint was a most loyal subject, he was loyal to God first of all. In fact, when the King tried to make him disobey God’s law, Thomas refused. Henry wanted to obtain a divorce from his wife to marry another women, but the Pope could not give permission, since that is against God’s law. Henry was stubborn and at last he left the Church. He wanted everyone to recognize him as the head of the Church in England, but St. Thomas was one of those who remained faithful to God. He was condemned to death for that, yet he forgave his judges and said he hoped he would see them in Heaven.

At the scaffold, where he was to die, St. Thomas kissed his executioner and then joked, saying that his bread should not be cut off because it had not done anything wrong! And so he died, this holy martyr who had said: “I am the King’s good servant, but God’s servant first.”

Like St. Thomas More, we want to be the best and most affectionate children of our Holy Mother the Church.

St. Boniface of Tarsus

St. Boniface of Tarsus - May 14th

The story of this Saint as it comes to us from tradition, shows God’s infinite goodness and mercy.

In the city of Rome there lived a very beautiful and rich women named Aglae. This lady was so anxious to get attention that three times she paid for special entertainments for all the people. The one in charge of her household was a man named Boniface, and Aglae lived in sin with him. He often got drunk, was impure, and commited many other sins. Yet he was very kind to poor people and to needy travelers.

One day Aglae felt sorry for all the offenses the two of them were giving God. She called Boniface and said, “We have forgotten that we shall some day have to appear before the Lord and answer for our sins. I have heard that whoever honors the relics of martyrs will share in their glory. So you go to the East where there is a persecution and bring me back some relics.”

Boniface made ready to go. “I will do my best to bring you back some relics,” he told Aglae, “but what if my own body should be brought back to you as one of them?” However, she thought he was only joking. Then Boniface set out. On the way, he became a very different man. He began to pray and to do penance, neither eating meat nor drinking wine. To the poor he met he gave away his money.

Boniface went to the city of Tarsus, where the persecution was worse. As soon as he arrived, he went straight to the governor who right then was cruelly torturing about twenty Christians. “Great is the God of the Christians!” cried Boniface. “Pray for me, servants of Christ, that I may join with you in fighting the devil!”

Furious, the Governor ordered his men to torture Boniface in every way. Then he commanded him to be put to death. Just before being beheaded, Boniface asked for a little time in which to pray. Finally his soul passed from this miserable earth to the glory of Heaven. His body was brought back to Rome and Aglae built a church in which it was kept. She herself did penance for fifteen years until she died.

If we have some friend who leads us into sin, we will break off with him or her at once. For the strength to do it, we shall pray and make some mortification.

Blessed Amadeus

Blessed Amadeus - March 31st

Amadeus was a Duke of the region called Savoy in Italy. He grew up in a palace where many people were leading worldly lives, but he kept himself good. His secret for avoiding sin was to receive the sacraments often, to pray and read good books, especially the Gospel. Even after Amadeus became the ruler himself, he always began his day by reading a holy book. He especially loved to think about the sufferings of Jesus. Then he would assist at Holy Mass so devoutly that everyone who saw him felt a desire to be close to God, too. Next he would take care of all the matters that a ruler has to decide upon. He was so just and fair and kind that no king anywhere was loved more then Amadeus.

The Saint and his holy wife, Yolanda, found great happiness in making others happy. Amadeus often went himself to serve the poor people with his own hands. He said that he enjoyed that more than anything else.

Once he was told that he should not give so much away to the poor. Instead he ought to use that money to build forts to protect his lands. Do you know what Duke Amadeus answered to that? He said: "The best forts are the loving hearts of my people."

Though kind and gentle, on the battlefield Amadeus showed himself a very brave soldier. And he was a good father, raising his children to love and obey God.

The best way to get our younger brothers and sisters to obey us is to win their love. And they will love us if we are always kind and fair with them.

St. John Capistrano

St. John Capistrano - March 28th


St. John Capistrano was born in Italy. He was a lawyer and Governor of Perugia. When enemies of the city threw John into prison, he started to think about what he was doing with his life. In the meantime, his wife died. John began to realize that the only thing that really mattered was to save his soul. So when he was set free by a miracle, he entered the Franciscan monastery. He was thirty years old at the time. He did much penance. For many years he ate not meat at all, except when he was sick. He slept only three or four hours at night and his bed was a hard board.


After he was made a priest, John was sent out to preach. He and St. Bernardine of Siena spread devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus everywhere. John preached all over Europe for forty years, and all who heard his sermons were moved to love and serve Our Lord better.


The greatest moment in the life of this Saint came at the tremendous battle of Belgrade. The Turks had made up their minds to conquer all Europe and wipe out the Church of Jesus. The Pope sent St. John to all the Christian Kings of Europe to beg them to unite to fight the mighty Turkish army. The Kings obeyed this poor, barefoot monk who stirred up their love of God and their courage with his fiery words. But even though a big army of Christians came to fight Mohammed II and hit Turks, it looked as though they would lose, for the enemy army was much bigger. Then it was that the Saint himself, though he was seventy years old, ran to the front lines and encouraged the men to keep fighting. Holding his crucifix up high, this thin, small old man kept crying, “Victory, Jesus, victory!” And the Christian soldiers felt full of more courage than ever. They fought until the enemy ran away in great fear!


Just one person can do great things, if he is on God’s side. Let us make up our mind always to be on Our Lord’s side and stand up for what is right.

St. Joseph

St. Joseph - Patron of Universal Church and of Working Men - March 19th

St. Joseph is a great saint, the foster-father of Jesus Christ, and the husband of the Blessed Mother. He was given the great privilege of taking care of God’s Son, Jesus, and His Mother, Mary. Joseph was poor all his life, even though he came from a family of kings. He has to work very hard in his carpenter shop, but he did not mind. He was happy to work for his little family, the holiest family there ever was.

Whatever the Lord wanted him to do, St. Joseph did at once, no matter how hard it was. He was humble and pure; he was gentle and wise. Jesus and Mary obeyed his perfectly. What an honor for St. Joseph to see the Son of God Himself obeying him and helping him, as a good son!

St. Teresa chose St. Joseph as the protector of her Order of Sisters. She had great trust in his prayers. "Every time I ask St. Joseph for something," she said, "he always obtains it for me."

As Jesus obeyed and helped St. Joseph in his hard and humble work, let us, too, willingly help our parents with the work to be done at home.

Sts. Julian and Basilissa

Sts. Julian and Basilissa – January 9th

Sts. Julian and Basilissa, though they were husband and wife, lived as brother and sister. They turned their home into a hospital in order to help the sick and the poor. St. Julian took care of the men, and St. Basilissa cared for the women. St. Basilissa died after suffering great persecutions for the Faith. Julian lived many years and also received the glorious crown of martyrdom.

Basilissa and Julian spent their whole lives helping others and serving God. They planted the seed of faith by living holy lives and watered it and made it grow with their blood shed for Jesus crucified.

We can imitate these Saints by visiting sick or lonely people to cheer them up and to bring them something good to read.