Catholic Saint of the Day

Saint Lucy lost her life in the persecution of Christians in the early fourth century. Her veneration spread to Rome so that by the sixth century the whole Church recognized her courage in defense of the faith. She is the patron of the blind and those with eye problems.

The feast in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe goes back to the sixteenth century. Our Lady appeared to St. Juan Diego on Dec 9 & 12, 1531. to Our Lady of Guadalupe is the patron of Mexico and the Americas in whole.

Pope Damasus I's pontificate coincided with the rise of Constantine I and the reunion and redivision of the Western and Eastern Roman Empire as well as what is sometimes known as the Constantinian shift associated with the widespread legitimization of Christianity and the later adoption of Christianity as the religion of the Roman state.

He was just standing there, not doing anything special. As a Syrian priest he must have felt a little out of place among the Roman people mourning that day for the dead Pope. As a good preacher, he must have wanted to speak to the funeral procession about Christ's promise of resurrection. As a learned man, he must have wondered who would follow the holy Saint Gregory II as Pope and where he would take the Church. As a holy man, he must have been praying for Gregory II and for all the people around him to find their place after death in God's arms. But he was just one of the crowd.

The Immaculate Conception, a solemnity, a day on which all Catholics are obligated to attend Mass. In 1854, Pope Pius IX's solemn declaration, Ineffabilis Deus, clarified with finality the long-held belief of the Church that Mary was conceived free from original sin.

First Bishop of Trier. According to an ancient legend, he was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, and was sent to Gaul by St. Peter as bishop, together with the deacon Valerius and the subdeacon Maternus, to preach the Gospel. They came to the Rhine and to Elegia (Ehl) in Alsace, where Maternus died. His two companions hastened back to St. Peter and begged him to restore the dead man to life. St. Peter gave his pastoral staff to Eucharius, and, upon being touched with it, Maternus, who had been in his grave for forty days, returned to life. The Gentiles were then converted in large numbers.

Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397; born probably 340, at Trier, Arles, or Lyons; died 4 April, 397. He was one of the most illustrious Fathers and Doctors of the Church, and fitly chosen, together with St. Augustine, St. John Chrysostom, and St. Athanasius, to uphold the venerable Chair of the Prince of the Apostles in the tribune of St. Peter's at Rome.

Saint Nicholas was Bishop of Myra in modern Turkey. St. Nicholas is venerated as the patron of children. The legend of the "three children" gave rise to his patronage of children and the giving of presents in his name at Christmas time.

Saint Sabas is one of the most highly regarded patriarchs among the monks of Palestine and is considered one of the founders of Eastern monasticism. Over the years St. Sabas traveled throughout Palestine, preaching the true faith and successfully bringing back many to the Church.

Saint John Damascene has the double honor of being the last, but one of the fathers of the Eastern Church, and the greatest of her poets. His eloquent defense of images has deservedly procured him the title of "The Doctor of Christian Art.