June Saints

Every Saint is an incredible model of heroic virtue and powerful intercessor.  Some stories affect our lives more intimately or reveal God’s power more extraordinarily.  Here are some June Saints to be sure to check out.  Add ’em to your calendar and do something special to remember them and pray with them on their feast days.

• 6/1 St. Justin Martyr – 2^nd century philosopher, martyr, & Father of the Church.  First layman apologist.  Patron of apologists, lecturers, orators, philosophers and speakers.  Scroll down to his name on this list to read his writings.
• 6/2 Feast of the Ascension (Holy Day of Obligation!) – Celebrated the 40^th day after Easter.  Mark 16:19; Luke 24:51; Acts 1:2
• 6/3 St. Charles Lwanga & Companions – Martyrs of Uganda in 1886. “You can burn our bodies, but you cannot harm our souls.”
• 6/5 St. Boniface – Originally named Wynfrith (almost as cool as St. Patrick’s [fellow Englishman] original name, Maewyn Succat).  English Benedictine monk known as the “Apostle of Germany”.
• 6/11 St. Barnabas – Early missionary and leader of the Church.  Introduced Paul to Peter and the other Apostles (Acts 9:27).  Cousin to the Mark who wrote the Gospel.  He’s mentioned often in the book of the Acts of the Apostles, especially chapters 11-15.
• 6/12 Pentecost – Acts 2:1-41; Catechism of the Catholic Church 731-747. 50 days after Easter, 10 days after the Ascension (see 6/2 above).  After the Ascension, the disciples prayed for 9 days, then the Holy Spirit descended on them.  That’s why a novena is 9 days.
• 6/13 St. Anthony of Paudua – Doctor of the Church, Franciscan priest, gifted speaker, miracle worker.  St. Francis himself directed Anthony to teach theology because he was so good at it.  Known as patron for lost items, he has many other patronages including pregnant women, travelers, against starvation, against sterility…  and on and on… check the list here.
• 6/16 St. John Francis Regis – Confessor. Jesuit.  Missionary.  Popular catechist, gifted preacher.  Also helped prostitutes get out of the trade be establishing them in lacemaking and embroidery.
• 6/19 Venerable Matt Talbot – Patron of Alcoholics. Secular Franciscan. Alcoholic from Dublin for 15 years, then led a life of heroic penance and prayer.
• 6/21 St. Aloysius Ganzaga – Patron of teenagers. Jesuit. Italian noble and son of a compulsive gambler, his dad wanted him to be a military hero.  Instead he gave his life to prayer and serving the poor.  Received first Communion from St. Charles Borromeo and last rites (Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick) from St. Robert Bellarmine.  Died from the plague caught while helping the sick at the age of 23.
• 6/22 St. Thomas More – Martyr, Husband, father, devoted family man, lawyer, Lord Chancellor of England (2^nd to the King).  Fought any form of heresy, which eventually got him beheaded by Henry VIII.  Patron of lawyers, civil servants, politicians, adopted children, widowers and more.
• 6/22 St. John Fisher – Martyr, Priest, Bishop, Cardinal.  Tutor of young Henry VII, eventually beheaded for opposing Henry’s claim to be head of the Church of England.
• 6/24 St. John the Baptist – His birth was announced by the angel Gabriel.  He prepared the way for the Messiah, and was eventually beheaded.  Read about him in Mt 3; Mk 1; Lk 1 & 3; Jn 1 & 3.
• 6/26 St. Josemaria Escriva – Founder of Opus Dei, priest during religious persecution of the Spanish Civil War.  Check out his writings.
• 6/27 Our Lady of Perpetual Help – You’ve probably seen this miraculous image, the devotion to which is now spread by the Redemptorists. Discover the story and the message.
• 6/27 St. Cyril of Alexandria – Doctor of the Church, Father of the Church, monk, priest, bishop. Was the Pope’s representative at the Council of Ephesus, emphasizing that Mary was mother of the one Person who is both truly God and truly human.  Scroll down to his name on this list to read his writings.
• 6/28 St. Irenaeus – Bishop, Martyr, Father of the Church, disciple of St. Polycarp, writer, theologian. Scroll down to his name on this list to read his writings.
• 6/29 Sts. Peter & Paul – Apostles, Martyrs. First Pope & mega-missionary. Read the whole New Testament to learn more.  There’s some interesting at-a-glance info on the links listed above, or reflect on them together here.