Archive for August, 2024
St. John Cassian
Born: c.360 Died: 433 of natural causes. Also known as John the Roman, John the Ascetic Pilgrim with his friend Germanus to the Holy Lands. Monk in Egypt and Marseilles, France. Studied under Saint John Chrysostom, who ordained him a deacon. Defended Chrysostom in Rome, Italy. Founded the abbey of Saint Victor and a convent […]
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St. Phocas the Gardener
Died: beheaded c.303 in Sinope, Pontus (in modern Turkey) Patronage: against insect bites, against poisoning, against snake bites, agricultural workers, farm workers, farmers, field hands, boatmen, mariners, sailors, watermen, gardeners, husbandmen, market-gardeners. Also known as Phocas of Hovenier, Phocas of Sinope, Focas, Fokas Innkeeper. Gardener. Martyr. Used surplus crops to feed the poor. Even cared […]
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St. Bridget of Sweden
Born: 1302 or 1303 at Finsta Castle, Uppsala, Sweden Died: 23 July 1373 at Rome, Italy of natural causes, buried in 1374 at the Vadstena, Sweden convent she had founded Canonized: 7 October 1391 by Pope Boniface IX Patronage: Europe, Sweden, widows. Also known as Bridget of Vadstena, Birgit, Birgitta, Bridgid, Brigida Daughter of Birger […]
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St. Charbel Makhlouf
Born: 8 May 1828 at Beka-Kafra, Lebanon as Joseph Zaroun Makhlouf Died: 24 December 1898 at Annaya of natural causes Canonized: 9 October 1977 by Pope Paul VI. Also known as Joseph Zaroun Makhlouf Son of a mule driver. Raised by an uncle who opposed the boy’s youthful piety. The boy’s favorite book was Thomas […]
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St. Christina of Bolsena
Born: 3rd century, probably at Rome, Italy into the family Anicii Died: c.250 near Lake Bolsena, Tuscany, Italy, her father tied a rock around her neck, and threw her into Lake Bolsena, when she miraculously survived, her tongue was cut out, and she was thrown into a furnace, when she survived, she was shot full […]
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St. Christina the Astonishing
Born: 1150 at Brusthem near Liege, Belgium Died: 24 July 1224 at Saint Catherine’s convent, Sint-Truiden, Belgium of natural causes Beatified: popular devotion existed and continues, but no formal beatification has taken place, unknown if any cause is before the Congregation, because of lack for formal designation, she is sometimes listed as Saint Christina, sometimes […]
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St. Euphrasia
Born: 380 Died: 420 of natural causes. Also known as Eufrasia, Eupraxia Born to the Roman nobility, the daughter of Antigonus, senator of Constantinople. Related to Roman Emperor Theodosius I who finished the conversion of Rome to a Christian state. Her father died soon after Euphrasia was born; she and her mother became wards of […]
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St. Christopher
Born: at Canaan as Offero Died: martyred c.251 Name Meaning Christ-bearer Patronage: against bad dreams, epileptics; against epilepsy, against floods, against hailstorms, against lightning, against pestilence, against storms, against sudden death, against toothache, Air Forces, archers, automobile drivers, automobilists, motorists, bachelors, boatmen, bookbinders, bus drivers, cab drivers, taxi drivers, cabbie, civil aeronautics, fruit dealers, fullers, […]
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St. James the Greater
Died: stabbed with a sword by King Herod Agrippa I in 44 at Jerusalem, legend says his body was taken by angels, and sailed in a rudderless, unattended boat to Spain where a massive rock closed around it, relics at Compostela, Spain Patronage: against arthritis or rheumatism, apothecaries, druggists or pharmacists, arthritis and rheumatism sufferers, […]
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St. Joachim
Born: Galilean Died: the traditional tomb of Saint Anne and Saint Joachim was rediscovered in Jerusalem in 1889 Patronage: Adjuntas, Puerto Rico, fathers, grandfathers, grandparents. Also known as Heli Husband of Saint Anne, elderly father of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Grandfather of Jesus Christ. Probably well off. Tradition says that while he was away from […]
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