Catholic Saint of the Day

Saint Irenaeus was an Early Church Father who exposed Gnosticism through influential writings, defending and preserving the Catholic faith.

Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Patriarch of Alexandria, was an anti-Nestorian theologian who clarified doctrines of the Trinity and Incarnation.

Saint Thomas More is the patron Saint of politicians, statesmen, and lawyers. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London for refusing to acknowledge Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church of England. He was eventually beheaded on July 6, 1535 his last words being ""I die the king's good servant, but God's first."

Born in 1579 of humble parents at Pibrac, a village about ten miles from Toulouse; died in her native place in 1601. From her birth she seemed marked out for suffering; she came into the world with a deformed hand and the disease of scrofula, and, while yet an infant, lost her mother. Her father soon married again, but his second wife treated Germaine with much cruelty.

Saint Ephrem the Syrian, a deacon and doctor of the Church, is best known for his prolific hymn-writing and defense of orthodox trinitarianism against the Arians. His many hymns have earned him the title “Harp of the Holy Spirit.”

Saint Justin Martyr (c.100-165) is the patron of Philosophers and Apologists and is a Father of the Church. He wrote many works, some of which are still extant. After giving a defense of the Faith, he was martyred under the Roman Prefect Rusticus in the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Saint Dismas, crucified with Jesus, is revered as the Good Thief and patron saint of the condemned.

Saint Oswald, revered for his sanctity and charity, revived English monasticism, dying on Leap Year Day after a final act of humility and love.

Saint William of York, born around the year 1110, was the son of Count Herbert, treasurer to Henry I. He was elected archbishop of York in 1140. William's election was challenged on the grounds of simony and unchastity. He was cleared by Rome, but later a new Pope suspended William, and in 1147 he was deposed as archbishop of York. William then retired to Winchester where he led the austere life of a monk, practicing much prayer and mortification. Upon the death of his accusers, Pope Anastastius IV restored William his See and made him archbishop. William died in the year 1154. After his death miracles were reported at his tomb, and in 1227 he was declared a saint. His Feast Day is June 8.

Saints Cyril & Methodius were brothers and are considered the Apostles of the Slavs. Pope John Paul II named them Co-Patrons of Europe (along with St. Benedict). They conducted tireless missionary work and composed a slavic liturgy. St. Cyril create the Cyrillic Alphabet.