Read entire reflection online >>> October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial 1386–1456 Patron Saint of military chaplains, judges, jurists, and lawyers Canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life. They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice....

Read entire reflection online >>> October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope—Optional Memorial 1920–2005 Patron Saint of World Youth Days Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power, open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man.” He alone knows it. So often today...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest—USA: Optional Memorial (October 19 outside of the USA) 1694–1775 Patron Saint of Hungary and Ovada, Italy Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867 Liturgical Color: White Quote: You must correspond faithfully to His merciful action by humbling yourself ever more in your nothingness before His Sovereign Majesty, renouncing all these gifts and remaining in utter nakedness and nothingness. At the same...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs; and their Companions, Martyrs—USA: Memorial Saint René Goupil (1606–1642); Saint Isaac Jogues (1607–1646); Saint Jean de la Lande (Unknown–1646); Saint Antoine Daniel (1601–1648); Saint Gabriel Lalemant (1610–1649); Saint Jean de Brébeuf (1593–1649); Saint Charles Garnier (1606–1649); Saint Noël Chabanel (1613–1649) Patron Saints of North America Canonized by Pope Pius XI on...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 18: Saint Luke the Evangelist—Feast First Century, died c. age 84 Patron Saint of artists, bachelors, bookbinders, brewers, butchers, glassworkers, goldworkers, laceworkers, notaries, physicians, and surgeons Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 17: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr—Memorial Early- to Mid-First Century–c. 107 Patron Saint of the Church in Northern Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean Invoked against throat diseases Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness. Let me be food...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 16: Saint Hedwig, Religious—Optional Memorial 1174–1243 Patron Saint of brides, widows, duchesses, those whose children have died, and difficult marriages Invoked against jealousy Canonized by Pope Clement IV on March 26, 1267 Liturgical Color: White Quote: The greater one is by birth, the greater one must be in virtue, and the more distinguished we are in station, the more we must distinguish ourselves by our conduct, in order to be a...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 16: Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin—Optional Memorial 1647–1690 Patron Saint of devotees of the Sacred Heart and those who have lost a parent while young Invoked against polio and rheumatic fever Canonized by Pope Benedict XV on May 13, 1920 Liturgical Color: White Quote: The Sacred Heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 15: Saint Teresa of Jesus, Virgin and Doctor—Memorial 1515–1582 Patron Saint of Spain, lacemakers, and those in need of grace, in religious orders, and ridiculed for their piety Invoked against bodily ills, headaches, and sickness Canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622 Declared a Doctor of the Church on September 27, 1970 Quote: Let us imagine, then, that this castle has several mansions, or rooms; some above, some below, and...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 14: Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr—Optional Memorial Late Second Century–c. 223 Patron Saint of cemetery workers Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Calistus, by nationality a Roman, son of Domitius, from the district Urbs Ravennantium, occupied the see 5 years,   | 6 years, 2 months and 10 days. He was bishop in the time of Macrinus and Theodoliobullus, from the consulship of Antoninus (AD 218) and of Alexander...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 11: Saint John XXIII, Pope—Optional Memorial 1881–1963 Patron Saint of papal delegates Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Since the Lord chose me, unworthy as I am, for this great service, I feel I have no longer any special ties in this life, no family, no earthly country or nation, nor any particular preferences with regard to studies or projects, even good ones. Now, more than ever, I see myself...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 9: Saint John Leonardi, Priest—Optional Memorial 1541–1609 Patron Saint of pharmacists Canonized by Pope Pius XI on April 17, 1938 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Those who want to work for moral reform in the world must seek the glory of God before all else. Because he is the source of all good they must wait for his help, and pray for it in this difficult and necessary undertaking. They must then present themselves to those they seek to...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 9: Saint John Henry Newman (England and Wales Memorial) 1801–1890 Patron Saint of Newman Centers Canonized by Pope Francis on October 13, 2019 Liturgical Color: White Quote: God has created me to do Him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another. I have my mission. I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 9: Saint Denis, Bishop and Companions, Martyrs—Optional Memorial Third Century Patron Saint of France, Paris, and possessed people Invoked against frenzy, headaches, hydrophobia, rabies, and strife Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: After this, they were brought before the judge and subjected to further torture. Then, the judge ordered the beheading of all three of them—Denis, Rusticus, and Eleutherius—while they...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote: One day, through the Rosary and the Scapular, Our Lady will save the world. ~Saint. Dominic Never will anyone who says his Rosary every day be led astray. This is a statement that I would gladly sign with my blood. ~Saint Louis de Montfort Of all prayers the Rosary is the most beautiful and the richest in graces…love the Rosary and recite it every day with devotion. ~Saint...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 6: Saint Bruno, Priest—Optional Memorial 1030–1101 Patron Saint of possessed people Equivalent canonization by Pope Leo X in 1514 Liturgical Color: White Quote: To my brothers whom I love in Christ above all else, greetings from your brother, Bruno. Now that I have heard from our dear brother Landwin a detailed and moving account of how firm you are in your resolve to follow a path of life so commendable and in accord with right reason...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 5: Saint Faustina Kowalska, Virgin—Optional Memorial 1905–1938 Patron Saint of The Divine Mercy devotion Canonized by Pope John Paul II on April 30, 2000 Liturgical Color: White Quote: I am to write down the encounters of my soul with You, O God, at the moments of Your special visitations. I am to write about You, O Incomprehensible in mercy towards my poor soul. Your holy will is the life of my soul. I have received this order through...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 5: Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest—USA Optional Memorial 1819–1867 Invoked against cancer Beatified by Pope John Paul II on April 9, 2000 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Every offering has value only insofar as one snatches it away from one’s own benefit and dedicates it to God through this self-conquest. One loves and gives precisely because one loves, and because one considers what is given as a good, as a treasure. Love of...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 4: Saint Francis of Assisi—Memorial 1182–1226 Patron Saint of animals, ecologists, families, lacemakers, merchants, needleworkers, peace, and zoos Invoked against dying alone and fire Canonized by Pope Gregory IX on July 16, 1228 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Hear, my lords, my sons and my brothers, and with your ears receive my words. Incline the ear of your heart and obey the voice of the Son of God. Keep His commandments with all your...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 2: Guardian Angels—Memorial Liturgical Color: White Quote: So the Supreme Majesty has given charge to the angels. Yes, He has given charge to His own angels. Think of it! To those sublime beings, who cling to Him so joyfully and intimately, to His very own He has given charge over you! Who are you? “What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?” As if man were not rottenness, and the son of man a...

Read entire reflection online >>> October 1: Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor—Memorial 1873–1897 Patron Saint of foreign missions and missionaries, AIDS patients, air crews, florists, flower growers, and sick people Invoked against illness, tuberculosis, and loss of parents Canonized by Pope Pius XI on May 17, 1925 Liturgical Color: White Quote: How sweet was the first embrace of Jesus! It was indeed an embrace of love. I felt that I was loved, and I said: “I...

Read entire reflection online >>> September 30: Saint Jerome, Priest and Doctor—Memorial c. 340s–420 Patron Saint of archeologists, archivists, Bible scholars, librarians, libraries, schoolchildren, students, and translators Pre-Congregation canonization Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XIV in 1724 Liturgical Color: White Quote: I interpret as I should, following the command of Christ: “Search the Scriptures,” and “Seek and you shall find.” For if, as Paul says,...

Read entire reflection online >>> September 27: Saint Vincent de Paul, Priest—Memorial c. 1581–1660 Patron Saint of charitable societies and workers, horses, hospitals and hospital workers, lepers, lost articles, prisoners, spiritual help, and volunteers Canonized by Pope Clement XII on June 16, 1737 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Brothers, let’s strive to conceive a great—a very great—esteem for the majesty and holiness of God. If our mind’s eyes were powerful enough to...

Read entire reflection online >>> September 29: Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels—Feast Patron Saints of soldiers, police, paramedics, and the sick and dying (Michael); messengers, postal workers, broadcasters, and expectant mothers (Gabriel); travelers, the blind, medical workers, and matchmakers (Raphael) Quote: The existence of the spiritual, non-corporeal beings that Sacred Scripture usually calls “angels” is a truth of faith. The witness of Scripture is as...

Read entire reflection online >>> September 28: Saint Wenceslaus, Martyr—Optional Memorial c. 907–929 Patron Saint of brewers, Czech Republic, Bohemia, and Slovakia Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Good King Wenceslas looked out, on the Feast of Stephen, When the snow lay round about, deep and crisp and even. Brightly shone the moon that night, though the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, gath’ring winter fuel. … In his master’s steps he...