Saints

August 1. St. Alphonsus Liguori.

July 1. Junipero Serra.

Junipero Serra was a brilliant man who lived comfortably in Spain in the 18th century. Junipero left everything to come to the New World and worked in evangelizing Baja California where he established 21 missions. He walked from mission to mission overseeing the missionary work. It is estimated that he walked about 24,000 miles.

June 3. St. Charles Lwanga and Companion Martyrs.

May 1. St. Joseph the Worker.

We celebrate two feasts to St. Joseph. The feast in May celebrates his aspect as a worker, carpenter, just, honest and benevolent man. By presenting him as a role model and protector of workers, the church wants to accentuate the proper dignity of work. Workers are collaborators of God in the work of creation.

Your turn
What do you think of work? Is it a burden or a source of dignity?

April 5. Saint Vincent Ferrer.

Saint Vincent Ferrer was born in Spain in 1357. In 1374 he entered the Order of Preachers, now known as Dominicans. In 1378 the schism of the West divided the allegiances of Christians between the pope of Rome and that of Avignon. Vincent worked to restore the unity of the church. He traveled throughout Europe, striving to bring peace to a divided society. He died in 1417.

March 7. Sts. Perpetua and Felicity.

They were two young women who lived during the early times of Christianity. One was wealthy and the other was her slave. They were of two different races. They lived and died together as martyrs for their faith, when all the differences of their background and social class had been eliminated by a common faith in God, Father of all. Their example was always very present in the communities of Africa.

Your turn

February 3. St. Blaise

St. Blaise is among the first martyrs of the Church imprisoned during the persecution of Emperor Licinius. While in prison, a mother asked St. Blaise to help her son who was choking on a fish bone. Since then, his help is invoked in cases of sore throat. It has become customary to place two candles, crossed over each other, on the throat asking St. Blaise for his protection. In modern times, St. Blaise’s help is also invoked so that we may use our words wisely and use our voices to do good.

January 21. St. Agnes

Little is known regarding St. Agnes, the wealthy Roman girl, who at the age of 13 refuses to marry a young man of nobility to dedicate herself to Christ. For that, and for being a Christian, she was martyred in the middle of the 4th century. One of the catacombs in Rome carries her name and above it a basilica was erected.

Prayer

December 3. St. Francis Xavier

November 1. All Saints Day

Who are all the saints? They are all the “close friends of God,” that is, those who remain faithful in their relationship with God even in the midst of difficulties, obstacles and during terrible times. There is no state of life that has not sanctified someone. And all the saints were sanctified precisely in the state of their occupations and during the ordinary circumstances of life. Included among them are our own relatives, friends and acquaintances.