Catholic Saint of the Day

Servant of God Brother Juniper (1210- 1258) - Several stories about Juniper in the Little Flowers of St. Francis illustrate his exasperating generosity. Once Juniper was taking care of a sick man who had a craving to eat pig’s feet. This helpful friar went to a nearby field, captured a pig and cut off one foot, and then served this meal to the sick man. The owner of the pig was furious and immediately went to Juniper’s superior. When Juniper saw his mistake, he apologized profusely. He also ended up talking this angry man into donating the rest of the pig to the friars!

Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor of the Church, patron of all universities and of students. St. Thomas was one of the greatest and most influential theologians of all time.

Saint Angela Merici (1474 - 1540) was the foundress of the Ursulines. As a young woman she became a member of the Third Order of St. Francis (now known as the Secular Franciscan Order), and lived a life of great austerity, wishing, like St. Francis, to own nothing, not even a bed.

Saint Timothy was the first first-century Christian bishop of Ephesus, whom tradition relates died around the year AD 97. The New Testament indicates that Timothy traveled with Saint Paul, who was also his mentor. He is addressed as the recipient of the Epistles to Timothy.

This feast commemorates the conversion of St. Paul the Apostle on the road to Damascus.

Saint Francis de Sales (1567-1622), Bishop of Geneva, and Doctor of the Church. His preaching brought thousands of Protestants back to the Catholic fold, and his writings on the spiritual life have proved highly influential. He is the patron of Journalists and Church Unity.

Virgin, Professed Sister of St Francis, missionary to leprosy patients. also known as Saint Marianne of Moloka'i. She was beatified in 2005 and declared a saint by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012.

Legend has it that St. Vincent once stopped by the edge of a vineyard to talk with the men working there and while he was at it, his donkey nibbled at the young vine shoots. Come the next harvest, it was discovered that the vine stock that had been browsed had produced more fruit than all the others. St Vincent’s donkey had invented the art of vine pruning. This is one of the reasons that he is the patron saint of vine dressers; vinegar makers; vintners; wine growers; wine makers.

Saint Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise, a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."

According to his legend, Saint Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army at Rome in about 283, When it was discovered during Maximian's persecution of the Christians that Sebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered executed.