Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church
Though Our Lady has been referred to as the mother of Christians and as the mother of the Church since ancient times, the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church is the most recent addition to the liturgical calendar, instituted by Pope Francis in 2018.
The Solemnity of Pentecost
Pentecost Sunday is one of the most ancient feasts of the Church, celebrated early enough to be mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles (20:16) and St. Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians (16:8). Christ had promised His Apostles that He would sent His Holy Spirit, and, on Pentecost, they were granted the gifts of the Spirit.
Saint Joan of Arc
Saint Joan of Arc is the patroness of soldiers and of France. After hearing the voices of saints, at a mere 17 years, she led the King's forces to victory over the English. She was eventually captured by the English and falsely burned at the stake as a heretic. She was later exonerated of all guilt and canonized in 1920.
Saint Theodosia of Constantinople
Saint Theodosia was a nun living at a monastery in Constantinople. On January 19, 729, at the very beginning of the iconoclastic persecutions, the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ordered that an icon of Christ which stood over the Chalke Gate of the imperial palace be removed. While an officer was executing the order, a group of women gathered to prevent the operation. Among them was Theodosia, who shook the ladder strongly until the officer fell from it. She was subsequently arrested and executed.
Saint Bernard of Montjoux
Saint Bernard of Montjoux was probably born in Italy. He became a priest, was made Vicar General of Aosta, and spent more than four decades doing missionary work in the Alps. Bernard became patron and protector of skiers because of his four decades spent in missionary work throughout the Alps. The dog breed known as "St. Bernards" get their name from the Great St Bernard Hospice which our Saint founded.
Saint Augustine of Canterbury
St. Augustine of Canterbury was a monk and abbot in Rome, Italy when he was sent by Pope Saint Gregory the Great with 40 brother monks, to evangelize the British Isles in 597. He is called the Apostle of the English.
Saint Philip Neri
Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595) is known as the Apostle of Rome. With his distinctly joyous and personal manner, he was one of the influential figures of the Catholic Reformation. His special contribution was the creation of the Congregation of the Oratory.
Saint Bede the Venerable
Saint Bede the Venerable was the first great English scholar. He was a Benedictine monk, priest, historian, and Doctor of the Church, d. 735.
The Solemnity Of The Ascension
The Ascension of Our Lord, which occurred 40 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, is the final act of our redemption that Christ began on Good Friday. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11).
Saint Julia
Saint Julia was a noble virgin of Carthage, who was captured and sold as a slave to a pagan merchant named Eusebius. When she refused to offer sacrifice to pagan gods, the pagan ruler, in great anger, had her struck on the face and her hair torn from her head. She was next put on a cross to hang there until she died.
