St. John Bosco

St. John Bosco - Patron of Editors and of Laborers - January 31st

St. John Bosco was born near Turin, Italy. Like many Saints, he was a poor farm lad, who was brought up by his holy mother in the love of God and Our Lady. John’s father died when he was young and his mother had to work very hard to feed her family. John, too, worked hard as he could to help his mother. He was an intelligent lad. Who knew how to keep his playmates from offending God. He would do tricks to win their attention and then he would talk to them about spiritual things.

In order to become a priest, John had to work his way through school. He did all kinds of work. He was a carpenter, a shoemaker, a cook, a pastry maker, a farmer, and many other things. At the same time he was a fine student and was always happy and cheerful.

After he became a priest, Don Bosco, which means, Father Bosco, began his great mission of helping orphan boys. He gathered together hundreds of these boys who had no home. He taught them all kinds of work, so that they would not steal and get into trouble. At first, people were angry with Don Bosco, because they did not think those boys would turn out to be good. But he proved that they would.

“Do you want to be Don Bosco’s friend?” he would ask each new boy who came to him. “You do? Then, you must help me save your soul.” Every night, he wanted the boys to say three Hail Marys, so that the Blessed Mother would help them avoid sin. He also recommended that they go to Confession and Communion as often as possible.

One of Don Bosco’s boys became a saint, St. Dominic Savio.
Later on, Don Bosco founded two Religious Orders to take care of poor children and he also built many homes and schools for them.

Let us help our parents at home as much as we can. The more things we learn to do, the better we can serve God.

St. Bathildes

St. Bathildes - January 30th

Born in England, St. Bathildes was taken to France and sold as a slave while she was still a young girl. She was bought for a very cheap price by the mayor of the Palace. As she grew older, she became very wise and virtuous. She was so gentle and good that King Clovis married her and made her Queen Bathildes. Three sons were born to her, but the King died when the oldest was still just a little boy. So, St. Bathildes ruled the Kingdom until they grew up.

She used her new honor to help the Church in every way she could. She did not become proud or unkind. Rather, this good Queen cared for the poor, forbade that Christians be made slaves, filled France with hospitals for the sick and founded a seminary and a convent.

Later she entered the convent herself. There she forgot her royal dignity and became very obedient and humble. She showed great charity to the sick. When she became ill, she suffered long and patiently until her death.

Because St. Bathildes was never selfish, she became a great saint. By sharing our things, we will make others happy and win much glory in Heaven.

St. Francis de Sales

St. Francis de Sales - Patron of Journalists - January 29th


While in school, this young Frenchman received the highest honors. His greatest joy was to be with God in prayer, and when he was given time to play, he would read the lives of the Saints and reflect on their love of God.


St. Francis gave up the chance to be a great man in the eyes of the world, for he wanted to be a priest. He wanted to become great in the eyes of God.


At that time there were many people who had lost the true faith. Francis set out to convert them. He went on foot with the Bible, a breviary and one companion, his cousin, Father Louis de Sales. Every place they went, they met people who wanted to kill them. They were insulted and made to suffer. Yet, they did not turn back. And, after four years of hard work, the Saint had converted 72, 000 souls! He gave all the credit to God, Who had given him the power to preach and convert.


St. Francis once had a very hot temper, but after praying and trying to correct his fault, he finally became a model of gentle meekness.


He became Bishop of Geneva and founded the Order of the Visitation. He also wrote wonderful books that teach everyone how to grow holy. As Bishop, he lived in a very simple house and practiced mortification. He sacrificed himself to help everyone. Once, a group of men came to ask this help. They lived in a town high in the mountains. Part of a mountain had fallen and blocked off the road leading to their town. They needed someone to go to see what had happened and then tell the King. “I’ll go at once,” saint the Saint. The men were so surprised! A bishop would come to climb over those rocks just to help them! Yes, St. Francis de Sales would do anything to help people.


After a life spent in good works, this kindly Saint died. Pope Pius IV gave him the title of Doctor of the Church.


To keep peace with everyone, we will watch our words. Those who do not sin with the tongue, says the Apostle St. James, are saints.

St. Peter Nolasco

St. Peter Nolasco - January 28th


St. Peter Nolasco was born in France. Even while he was just a boy, he found great joy in helping the poor. He loved the Blessed Virgin with all his heart and made up his mind to spend his life serving his neighbor. St. Peter felt especially sorry for all the Christians who had been dragged off as slaves by the Moslems. He prayed hard for them, and the Blessed Mother appeared to tell him to start a Religious Order to help them. She said it would please her and Jesus very much, and she would protect the new religious. When St. Peter told his Confessor, St. Raymond of Pennafort, he found that Our Lady had appeared to him, too. Together they went to tell the King, but they were surprised to learn that he, too, had seen the Blessed Mother! So, all three dedicated themselves to the new work of mercy. They promised to do all they could to free the slaves, even if they had to sacrifice their own lives.


Right from the beginning, a great number of slaves were freed, not only in Spain, but also in Africa. St. Peter was not afraid to risk his life many times to come to the rescue of the poor prisoners.


The person who sins becomes a slave of the devil. When temptations come, let us ask our Blessed Mother to help us, so that we may win over the devil and remain faithful to our Divine King.

St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom - Patron of Preachers - January 27th


St. John Chrysostom was born at Antioch. His father died when he was a baby and his good young mother did not want to marry again. She gave all her attention to bringing up her son and daughter in the holy love of God. She made many sacrifices so that John could have the best teachers. He was very intelligent and could have become a great man in the world. When he gave speeches everyone loved to listen to him. In fact, his name, Chrysostom, means “Golden-mouthed.” Yet, John wanted to give himself to God, He became a priest and later was made Bishop of the great city of Constantinople.


St. John was a wonderful bishop. Although he was always sickly, he accomplished a tremendous amount of good. He preached once or twice a every day, fed the poor, took care of orphans, corrected bad customs, and stopped bad plays from being given. He loved everyone, but he was not afraid to tell even the Empress when she did wrong.


Because he fought sin, St. John had enemies, the Empress was one. She had him sent away from Constantinople and on the trip he suffered greatly from fever, from lack of food and sleep. Yet, he was happy to suffer for Jesus and just before he died, he cried out, “Glory be to God!”


A terrible hailstorm fell on Constantinople at his death and four days later, the bad Empress died. Her son honored St. John’s body and showed how sorry he was for what his parents had done.


God sees us all the time. If we do everything well and for Him, then we do not have to be afraid of what others say or do against us.

St. Polycarp

St. Polycarp - January 26th

St. Polycarp was a beloved disciple of St. John the Evangelist. Like St. John he was good and kind to everyone, but he avoided the company of bad men. Once when someone was preaching something different from what Our Lord said, Polycarp plugged his ears! All that he learned from St. John, he taught to others. When Christians were being put to death, St. Polycarp, too, was captured. He gave a meal to the men who came to capture him and then asked them to let him pray awhile. The judge tired to make him save himself from death by cursing Jesus. “I have served Jesus eighty-six years,” answered the Saint, “and He has never done me any wrong. How can I curse my King who died for me?”

The soldiers tied St. Polycarp’s hands behind his back and placed him on a burning pile. But the fire did not harm him! One of the soldiers then stabbed a lance into his heart. And so the holy martyr went to be forever with the Divine Master he had served so well.

Let us at once break off a friendship with anyone who gives bad example, and let us keep only good friends. Their example will help us to be the kind of boys and girls Jesus wants.

The Conversion of St. Paul

The Conversion of St. Paul - January 25th


Paul was first called Saul. As a young man, he was a very bright student of the Hebrew religion. When he grew older, he persecuted the followers of Jesus in Jerusalem because he did not know Jesus was God. It was he who held the robes of men who stoned to death the first martyr, St. Stephen. But one day when he was one his way to hunt down more Christians in the city of Damascus, a great light suddenly shone all around him. As he fell from his horse, he heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecuted Me?”


And Saul asked, “Who art thou, Lord?”


Our Lord answered, “I am Jesus, Whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goad.


Afraid and trembling, Saul said, “Lord, what will you have me do?”


At that moment, Saul became a great lover of Jesus. After his baptism, he thought only of making everyone know and love the Lord Jesus, our Savior.


We know Saul by his Roman name of Paul. He is the great Apostle who travelled all over the world, preaching about Jesus and converting millions of people in one city after another.


He worked and suffered, and his enemies tried to take his life many times. Yet nothing could stop him from bringing souls to Christ. When he was old and tried, he was once again put in prison and sentenced to die. Still St. Paul was happy to suffer for Christ.


This great apostle wrote fourteen marvelous letters to Christians. They are in the Holy Bible. These letters, called Epistles, are read almost every morning at Holy Mass.


God asks us, too, to love Jesus very much. Do we often tell Our Lord that we love Him?

St. Timothy

St. Timothy - Patron against stomach disorders - January 24th


St. Timothy was born in Asia Minor. His father was a pagan and his mother a Hebrew. When St. Paul went to preach in his city, the lad Timothy, his mother and his grandmother all became Christians. Several years later, St. Paul came back and found Timothy now a young man, whom people said would do great things. St. Paul saw that he would make a good missionary and the young man was eager to go with him. So it was Timothy left his home and his parents to follow St. Paul, to share in his sufferings and to bring the word of God to many people. St. Timothy was the great Apostle’s beloved disciple. He was his dear son in Christ, faithful always. St. Paul once said that he had no one else like him. He went everywhere with St. Paul, until the Apostle made him Bishop of the great city of Ephesus. It was very hard for Timothy to be far away from Paul, but he made the sacrifice for the love of God. Before he was martyred, St. Paul wrote Timothy a beautiful letter from his prison cell in Rome. He encouraged him to become a saint, to read the Bible and to try to please God. He wanted him to pay no attention to busybodies, and to give good example to everyone.


As St. Paul, Timothy, too, died a martyr. He was beaten and stoned to death because he opposed the worship of false gods.


Let us not be busybodies or “chatterboxes”. Like St. Timothy, let us read holy books in order to be able to know and love God more.

St. Raymond of Pennafort

St. Raymond of Pennafort - Patron of Canonists - January 23rd


Born in Spain, St. Raymond was a relative of the King of Aragon. From childhood he had a tender love and devotion to the Blessed Mother. Raymond finished his studies at an early age, and became a famous teacher. The he gave up all his honors and entered the order of the Dominicans. St. Raymond was very humble and very close to God. He did much penance and was so good and kind that he won many sinners to God. With King James of Aragon and St. Peter Nolasco he founded the order of Our Lady of Ransom. The brave religious of this Order devoted themselves to saving poor Christians captured by the Moors.


Once he went with King James to the Island of Majorca to preach about Jesus. King James was a man of great qualities, but he let himself be ruled by passions. There on the Island, too, he was giving bad example. The Saint commanded him to send the women away. The King said he would, but he did not keep his promise. So St. Raymond decided to leave the island. The King declared he would punish any ship captain who brought the saint back to Barcelona. Putting all his trust in God, St. Raymond spread his cloak upon the water, tied up one corner of it to a stick for a sail, made the Sign of the Cross, stepped onto the cloak, and sailed along for six hours until he reached Barcelona. This miracle moved the King. He was sorry for what he had done, and became a true follower of St. Raymond.


When we have done wrong, we must be sorry at once, and make up our minds not to sin again.

St. Vincent of Saragossa

St. Vincent of Saragossa - Patron of Winegrowers - January 22nd

St. Vincent was a Spanish deacon. Because he preached about God, he was put into prison and tortured without mercy.

First, he was tied to a red-hot iron and scourged with iron hooks. Then salt was rubbed into his open wounds. But while all this was going on, St. Vincent kept his eyes raised to Heaven in constant prayer. The courageous saint was next cast into prison without food or visitors.

Later the Christians were permitted to come to visit Vincent in jail and they took care of him. They kissed his wounds and took home clothes dipped in his blood as relics.

When St. Vincent died, the emperor ordered his body to be left for animals to destroy, but God protected it. Then the ruler had it tied to a heavy stone and thrown into the sea. But again God worked a miracle to honor St. Vincent. His body floated on top of the water and when the waves brought it ashore, the Christians buried it and built a large church over it.

Let us, too, learn to offer up our little sufferings bravely for the love of Jesus.

St. Agnes

St. Agnes - Patroness of children of Mary - January 21st

St. Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for our Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, “Jesus Christ is my only spouse.”

Procop, the Governor’s son, became very angry when she refused him. He had tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, “I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!” In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shown with joy. Next sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such and young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. “I would offend my Spouse,” she said, “if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!” Then she prayed and bowed

If we are careful about what we look at, it will be easier to keep our heart pure for love of God.

St. Sebastian

St. Sebastian - Patron of Athletes - January 20th


St. Sebastian was born in France, but his parents were from Milan, Italy, and he was raised as a Christian in that city.


In order to help his fellow Christians who were dying as martyrs, he went to Rome and enlisted in the army. He became an officer and a great favorite of the Emperor Diocletian. Diocletian made him a captain. In this position, Sebastian converted many to Jesus. When the twin brothers, Mark and Marcellinus were put in prison for the faith, their pagan family kept trying to persuade them to deny Jesus. The two brothers were finding it hard to remain strong. But Sebastian came to encourage them, and they went bravely to their martyrdom. What is more, their family became Christians, too. And Sebastian also converted the jailor and sixty-four prisoners! At last, a false disciple betrayed him to the Emperor. Diocletian tried in every way to make his captain Sebastian give up the Christian faith, but he would not. Then the Emperor accused him of being ungrateful. He called him a traitor. “I am not disloyal to you,” answered Sebastian. “I am very faithful to you and grateful. That is why I am praying to the true God for you and for the Roman Empire.” But in anger Diocletian ordered Sebastian to be killed with arrows.


The archers shot arrows into every part of the brave soldier’s body and then left him for dead. When a holy widow came to bury him, she found him still alive. She took him to her home and nursed his wounds. When Sebastian was well enough, the widow tried to persuade him to escape, but Sebastian was a brave soldier of Christ and he would not leave. Instead he went out to meet the Emperor and urged him to stop his persecution of the Christians.


The Emperor was greatly shocked to see Sebastian alive. At once he ordered him to be beaten with clubs until dead.


We should always encourage our friends to do good. This is the best way to be a real friend to others.

St. Canute

St. Canute - January 19th

St. Canute was a strong, wise king of Denmark. He was a great athlete, an expert horseman, and a marvelous general.

At the beginning of his reign, he led a war against the barbarians and defeated them. Everywhere he conquered, he brought the Christian faith. In Gratitude for his glorious victories, St. Canute knelt at the foot of the alter and offered his crown to the King of Kings, Jesus.

He was very charitable and gentle to his people. He tried to help them with their problems. Most of all, he wanted to make them true followers of Jesus.

However, a rebellion broke out in his kingdom because of the laws he had made about supporting the Church. One day his enemies went to the church where Canute was praying. He knew they had come to harm him. At the foot of the alter, he made his confession and received Holy Communion. With all his heart he forgave his enemies. Then, as he prayed, a spear was thrown through a window and killed him.

As St. Canute offered his royal crown to Jesus for all he had received, we, too, should thank God every day and offer Him a crown made up of good deeds.

Chair of St. Peter at Rome

Chair of St. Peter at Rome - January 18th

St. Peter was the Prince of the Apostles and the first Pope. After Jesus went back to Heaven, St. Peter preached the Gospel and ruled the Church, as Jesus had told him to do. At first, he labored in Jerusalem and in Antioch, two big cities of the East. Later, he went to preach the Gospels in Rome. Rome, the great capital of the world, was a wicked pagan city. But there, with the help of God, St. Peter soon brought many souls to Jesus.

The Feast of St. Peter's Chair at Rome reminds us of the great Church St. Peter founded in that city. St Peter was martyred for the faith, but down through the ages there has always been a Bishop of Rome. He is the Pope and he rules the whole Church, as St. Peter did, in the name of Jesus. We call the successor of St. Peter the Holy Father.

We love and honor the Pope because he takes the place of Jesus on earth. Let us always pray for our Holy Father, that God may give him strength, light and consolation.

St. Anthony of Egypt

St. Anthony of Egypt - Patron of Grave Diggers - January 17th


St. Anthony was born in a small village in Egypt. When he was twenty years old, his parents died and left him a large estate and the care of his young sister. About six months later, he heard these words of Christ read in church: “If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, follow Me.” Anthony was sure that those words were meant for him. So immediately afterwards, he gave away all that he possessed. His sister entered a convent and Anthony begged an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life. He also visited other hermits to learn and practice each one’s most outstanding virtue. Then he began his own life of prayer and penance alone with God.


When he was fifty-five, St. Anthony built a monastery to help others. He was the first to establish the religious life as it is today. Many people heard of him and sought his advice. He would tell them: “The devil is afraid of us when we pray and make sacrifices, when we are humble and good, but especially when we love Jesus very much. He runs away when we make the Sign of the Cross.”


St. Anthony visited Paul the hermit and came away holier than ever. He died at the age of one hundred and five.


We must never become discouraged when the devil strongly tempts us to do wrong. Jesus is right beside us. If we pray to Him, He will help us, and He will reward us for our love and faithfulness.

St. Honoratus

St. Honoratus – Patron of Bakers – January 16th


St. Honoratus’ father was a pagan Roman consular. When still very young Honoratus refused to worship the idols of the pagans and became a Christian. He also persuaded his brother Venantius to do the same. Honoratus was very fervent and wanted to live alone with God, but his father had plans to make him great and famous. He tried to change his son’s mind by giving him beautiful clothes and everything that he thought could delight him. Yet Honoratus was loyal to Jesus. He kept himself pure always. At last, he was able to leave home. He and Venantius left their riches and went off to serve God. But many people heard of them and came to visit them. With the intention of living alone, they asked a holy hermit, St. Caprais, to be their director, and the three of them left Gaul to set out for a desert. They suffered so much on the journey that Venantius died soon afterwards, and Honoratus himself became very sick. He realized that God willed him to return to France, and so, after he was well enough, he went back and founded a monastery there.


When the Archbishop of Arles died, St. Honoratus was made Archbishop. Although he only lived three years more, everyone loved him for his great charity.


Let us give good example to our younger brothers and sisters, so that they will find it easier to be good.

St. Paul-The First Hermit

St. Paul-The First Hermit – Patron of Weavers – January 15th

St. Paul was born of rich parents in Egypt and became an orphan at the age of fifteen. He had been taught to trust God since he was a very young child. When he was twenty years old, he had to flee to a desert because of a bloody persecution of the Christians. In his great love of God, St. Paul trusted in the Lord to provide him with what he needed to live. He dwelt under a tree that supplied him with fruit for food. A nearby spring gave him water.

When he was one hundred and ten, the great St. Anthony of the Desert went to visit him. St. Anthony tells us how he found out about St. Paul. One day he had a temptation to think that no one else but he had spent his life in the desert as a real hermit. That night God revealed to him that there was another hermit much better than he and so Anthony went to visit him. We are told that while they were talking, a raven dropped a loaf of bread. St. Paul told St. Anthony that for the past sixty years he had been receiving a half of loaf a day. “Now you have come,” he said, “and God has doubled the portion. The Lord is truly good!” After they had eaten, they spent the night in prayer.

St. Paul died at the age of one hundred and thirteen, and St. Anthony buried him.

When St. Anthony returned to his monks, he told them: “Sinner that I am, I do not deserve the name of monk! I have seen another John the Baptist, another St. Paul in the third Heaven!”

St. Paul spent all his long life in prayer and penance to gain glory in heaven. Let us, too, spend our time well, because time spent in praying and in doing our duties for Jesus will win us a treasure in Heaven.

St. Hilary of Poitiers

St. Hilary of Poitiers - Patron Against Snake Bites - January 14th


St. Hilary was born in France and raised a pagan. But he was a very intelligent man, and he thought it was foolish to worship many gods as pagans do. He obtained a copy of the Holy Bible and read it eagerly. There he learned about the one true God and about Jesus Christ Our Savoir. At last, Hilary became a Christian.


From his baptism to the end of his life, St. Hilary tried to teach people to believe in God. He also tried to encourage them to lead holy lives. He converted his wife and daughter and later was ordained to the priesthood. He became the Bishop of Poitiers, his city. During this time there was a heresy that said Jesus was not God. St. Hilary showed people how wrong it was.


He wrote many books about the Faith and traveled everywhere preaching that Jesus Christ is truly God. For this he earned the title of Doctor of the Church.


Like St. Hilary, let us be proud of our faith and defend it every time we have a chance.

St. Veronica of Milan

St. Veronica of Milan – January 13th

St. Veronica was born in a small village near Milan. Her parents were very poor but they were hard working and very pious. Because she was so poor, she never had the chance to learn how to read or write. But she learned from her devout parents how to pray. She prayed always and worked hard to help them.

Veronica wanted to become a nun, but she was very worried because she could not read or write. She used to rise at night to try to teach herself. One day Our Lady appeared to her and told her not to worry, because all she had to know were three things. The first was to be pure in intention, which meant to do all her duties only to please God. The second was to mind her own business and to hate grumbling and criticism. The third was to forget her own troubles in thinking of the sufferings of Jesus every day. Our Blessed Mother’s holy advice made Veronica very happy and she tried to practice it.

After preparing herself for three years, Veronica was admitted into the convent of St. Martha of Milan. She was assigned the duty of begging for daily food. Every moment of her life she tried to obey her superior, because she knew that if she obeyed her superior, she obeyed God.

St. Veronica died a saint at the age of fifty-two.

Let us, too, follow Our Lady’s advice; that is, let us do everything for the love of Jesus, never complain, and remember each day that Jesus suffered and died for us.

St. Aelred

St. Aelred – January 12th


St. Aelred was master of the household of King David of Scotland. He ardently desired to give himself entirely to God, but he dearly loved his many friends. It was very, very hard for him to leave them, yet in order to belong to God alone, at the age of twenty-four, Aelred entered a Cistercian monastery. There he grew fond of a very holy monk named Simon. One day, forgetting the rule of the monastery forbidding the monks to talk, Aelred spoke to Simon. In great surprise and sorrow, Simon gave him a look he never forgot. From then on, Aelred learned not to let his love for anyone come between him and Jesus.


Later Aelred was made an abbot. He wrote many books on spiritual things. In one of them, he said that we only learn to love God by sharing in His sufferings. Everyone loved St. Aelred because he was so kind and good. And in return he loved everyone for love of Jesus.


St. Aelred died at the age of fifty-seven after having served as abbot for twenty-two years.


We should choose our friends among those who love God and are close to Him. These good friends will help us always to do what is right.