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.