Moving Feast:

•  Ash Wednesday – Marks the beginning of Lent (40 days of penance and preparation for Easter, not counting Sundays).  Day of fasting and abstinence.  Check out these articles to prepare for Lent this year: Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy, Principles and Guidelines (Concerning Lent), Penitential Practices for Today’s Catholics (USCCB)

Saints Calendar:

• 2/1 St. Brigid of Ireland – (453-523)  Nun, Virgin.  Heard St. Patrick preach.  Asked God to take away her beauty until her final vows, which He granted.  Name means “fiery arrow”.   Patron of many things (click here and scroll down for a litst)  including newborns, midwives, scholars, travelers, nuns, poets, blacksmiths, and chicken farmers.  “I would like a great lake of beer for the King of Kings. 
I would like to be watching Heaven’s family drinking it through all eternity.”
• 2/2 Presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple aka Candlemas – Commemorates the purification of St. Mary after giving birth according to Mosaic law, and the presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:22-38)  Candles are blessed on this day to commemorate Simeon’s words that Christ is “a light for revelation to the Gentiles” (Luke 2:32).
• 2/3 St. Blaise – (d.c.316)  Bishop, Martyr. Often associated with throat health because of a story of his helping a boy with a fish bone stuck in his throat.  Patron of healthy throats, construction workers, veterinarians, and animals.
• 2/4 St. Andrew Corsini – (1302-1374)  Bishop, prophet, miracle worker.  After a wild youth, he became a Carmelite monk and was known as a prophet, wonder-worker, and peacemaker.  Patron against riots.
• 2/5 St. Agatha – (d.c.250) Virgin, Martyr – Tortured for being a Christian, she had her breasts crushed and cut off.  Eventually she was martyred by being rolled across live coals.  Patron of torture victims, against breast diseases, and against volcanic eruptions.  “Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil.”
• 2/6 St. Paul Miki et al – (1562-1597)  One of the Martyrs of Nagasaki.  Japanese Jesuit, convert.  Crucified with 25 other Franciscans, Jesuits, and converts.  Gave his last sermon from the cross.
• 2/8 St. Josephine Bakhita – (1868-1947)  Sudanese slave, Nun, Virgin.  “We find a shining advocate of genuine emancipation. The history of her life inspires not passive acceptance but the firm resolve to work effectively to free girls and women from oppression and violence, and to return them to their dignity in the full exercise of their rights.” (Bl. Pope John Paul II at her canonization).  Her story is also related at the beginning of Pope Benedict XVI’s Encyclical on Hope, Spe Salvi, as an example of life lived in hope.
• 2/10 St. Scholastica – (480-543)  Virgin. Twin sister of St. Benedict and foundress of  a religious community for women.  Rumor has it she once prayed up a fierce thunder-storm to keep her brother around for some deep spiritual conversation.  Patron of nuns and against storms.
• 2/11 Our Lady of Lourdes – (1858)  The “Immaculate Conception” appeared to a French peasant girl, St. Bernadette Soubirous, just over 150 years ago on February 11^th.  She appeared a total of 18 times to St. Bernadette and a miraculous spring still flows at this place, one of the most famous of pilgrimage destinations today. Thousands of miracles are claimed, at least 67 are thoroughly documented!
• 2/11 St. Caedmon – (d.c.670)  First recorded poet in English (Anglo-Saxon), as recorded by St. Bede (the English Doctor of the Church).  Simple herdsman who was divinely inspired and went on to create epic poetry.
• 2/12 St. Julian the Hospitaller – (4^th century?)  Accidentally killed his own parents.  Built a hospital near a river after a pilgrimage to Rome, then spent his life caring for the poor and sick, and helping travelers cross the river.  Patron of circus performers, jugglers, innkeepers, pilgrims, and travelers.
• 2/13 St. Catherine de Ricci – (1522-1590)  Dominican Nun, Mystic, Stigmatist.  Familiar with her Guardian Angel.  Corresponded with St. Charles Borromeo, Pope St. Pius V, and St. Philip Neri.  Patron of sick people.
• 2/14 St. Valentine – (d.c.269)  Priest, Martyr.  Imprisoned for giving aid to martyrs and eventually beaten and beheaded.  Patron of lovers, beekeepers, against epilepsy and the plague.  Check out the origins of Valentines Day as a feast for lovers.
• 2/14 Sts. Cyril & Methodius – (Cyril 827-869, Methodius 826-885)  Monk (Cyril) & Bishop (Methodius), Brothers, Apostles of the Slavs.  Patrons of ecumenism and unity of Eastern and Western Churches.
• 2/17 Seven Servites – (1233)  Seven Saints who received a vision of Our Lady, who instructed them to found the Order of the Servants of Mary (Servites).  The Servites venerate in a special way the Seven Sorrows of Out Lady.
• 2/20  Bl. Jacinta & Francisco Marto – (Jacinta 1910-1920, Francisco 1908-1919) Visionaries of Fatima, siblings.  Sr. Lucia, their cousin and third visionary, died only in 2005 and her cause is on the path to canonization.  Check out a ton of resources on Fatima right here on SaintMakers.  And click here for Bl. Pope John Paul II’s Beatification Homily for them on May 13, 2000.
• 2/21 St. Peter Damian – (1007-1072)  Benedictine Monk, Bishop, Cardinal, Doctor of the Church.  Tried to restore discipline among priests and religious who were becoming more worldly.
• 2/23 St. Polycarp – (c.69-c.155)  Bishop, Martyr.  Disciple of St. John the Apostle, Apostolic Father of the Church, friend of St. Ignatius of Antioch. The anti-Christian Romans tried to burn him alive, but the flames wouldn’t hurt him.  Finally he was killed by a dagger.  Patron against dysentery and earache.
• 2/25 St. Walburga – (c.710-779) English Benedictine nun, Virgin.  Evangelized in Germany with St. Boniface.  Known for her healing skills.
• 2/25 St. Ethelbert of Kent – (552-616)  Not very well known, but… hey, cool name!  He also brought many English into the Church.  He was the king of Kent, England and was converted by St. Augustine of Canterbury (Apostle to the English).
• 2/27 St. Gabriel of Our Lady of the Sorrows – (1838-1862)  Passionist.  After a bit of a wild youth, he entered the Passionist order and spent his life in prayer, sacrifice, and devotion to Our Lady, in particular contemplating her sorrows over the suffering of Jesus.  Many miracles were attributed to hm after he died, including the healing of St. Gemma Galgani.  Patron of students and young people.
• 2/28 Pope St. Hilary – (315-368)  46^th Pope , “guardian of Church unity.”  But wait a minute!  Didn’t we just celebrate St. Hilary mid-January?  Different St. Hilary… that was the Church Father who lived 100 years earlier in Poitiers (in modern day France).  There are many other saints by the same name.

•  Baptism of the Lord – First Sunday after January 6.  In the event that it collides with our celebration of Epiphany, Epiphany wins out in a cage match.  Commemorates the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan river (Mt 3:13-17; Mk 1:9-11; Lk 3:21-22; Jn 1:29-34).  First Luminous Mystery of the Rosary.

Saints Calendar:

• 1/1 Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God – Holy Day of Obligation.  Mary was mother of Jesus, fully human, fully divine.  The precise title “Theotokos” (God-bearer) was formally defined at the Council of Ephesus (431) to refute the heresies of the day.  Check out this article on Mary: Mother of God at Catholic Answers.
• 1/2 St. Basil the Great – (329-379) Bishop, Greek Doctor of the Church, Father of the Church, Father of Eastern Monasticism.  His mom, dad, and four of his siblings are also canonized Saints, including St. Gregory of Nyssa (another Father of the Church).  Patron of reformers and hospital administrators.  Click here and scroll down to read some of his writings.
• 1/2 St. Gregory Nazianzen – (330-339) Bishop, Father of the Church, Doctor of the Church, “the Theologian”.  Friend of St. Basil the Great (see above) and monk at Basil’s desert monastery. Defender of the Church against Arianism.  Click here and scroll down to read some of his writings.
• 1/2 St. Macarius (the Younger) – (d.c.401)  Gave up a successful business as a confectioner to become a monk.  His practice of extreme aesthetics was truly legendary.  Check out the link for some examples.  Patron of pastry chefs.
• 1/3 Most Holy Name of Jesus – Devotion to the name is as old as Christianity (see Phil 2:9), but was made especially popular through St. Bernardine of Sienna.
• 1/4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton – (1774-1821)  Convert, Widow.  Started the parochial school system in America.  First native born American to be canonized.  Patron against in-law problems, death of children, death of parents, of people ridiculed for their piety and widows.
• 1/5 St. John Nepomucene Neumann – (1811-1860)  Redemptorist, 4^th bishop of Philadelphia.  Born in Bohemia, came to US in 1836.  Spoke 12 languages, established nearly 100 parochial schools and founded the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis.  First American male to be canonized.
• 1/5 St. Simeon Stylites (the Elder) – (c.390-c.459) Lived for 37 years on a small platform at the top of a pillar.  He was the first of a long line of “pillar-hermits”.
• 1/6 The Epiphany of the Lord –The 12^th day after Christmas, January 6^th (someone should write a song about the 12 days, right).  In most countries (US included) the celebration is transferred to the nearest Sunday.  Commemorates Christ revealing his Divinity, particularly to the Magi, at His Baptism, and the miracle at the wedding feast in Cana.
• 1/6 St. Andre Bessette – (1845-1937)  French-Canadian Holy Cross Brother, “the Miracle Man of Montreal”, poorly educated door-keeper.  Andre had a deep devotion to St. Joseph and kept a lamp burning in the college chapel in front of the St. Joseph altar.  He cured many by anointing them with “St Joseph’s oil” (oil from that lamp) and praying.  Eventually he built a chapel dedicated to St. Jospeh.  Click here to read the homily preached by Pope Benedict XVI at the canonization ceremony in October 2010.
• 1/6 St. Macra – (d.287)  Virgin, Martyr.  Refusing to offer sacrifices to pagan gods, she was torutured, mutilated, and eventually martyred for her faith.  Like St. Agnes (see below on 1/21), part of her torture was cutting off her breasts.
• 1/7 St. Raymond of Penafort – (1175-1275) Dominican Priest.  Helped organize the Church’s legal code, inspired St. Thomas Aquinas (see below, 1/28) to write the “Summa Contra Gentiles” (his shorter Summa), helped St. Peter Nolasco establish the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians), and served a short term as master general of the Dominicans.  Patron of lawyers and canonists (canon lawyers).
• 1/10 St. Agatho – (c.577-681)  79^th Pope.  Wonderworker.  Married for 20 years, he then became a monk and was likely over 100 years old when he became pope.  The 6^th Ecumenical Council (held in Constantiople) took place during his papacy.
• 1/11 St. Vitalis of Gaza – (d.625)  Monk, Hermit.  Worked as a day laborer then used the wages to hire a prostitute each evening.  He would spend the night evangelizing and praying with them.  He was murdered by a man who saw the monk leaving a brothel and assumed impropriety.
• 1/13 St. Hilary of Poitiers – (315-368)  Convert, Bishop, Doctor of the Church, Father of the Church.  Fought Arianism.  Patron of “backward children” and against snakes.  Click here and scroll down to read some of his writings.
• 1/15 St. Paul the Hermit – (c.230-342… really, over 112 years old, no joke)  Lived most of his life as a hermit in a cave, wearing leaves or nothing and spending most of his time in prayer.  Legend has it a bird brought him bread every day and his grave was dug by desert lions.  Patron of the clothing industry.
• 1/17 St. Anthony of Egypt – (251-356)  Abbot, Patriarch of Monks, Father of Western Monasticism.  At about 20, he sold everything he had and gave the money to the poor.  By 35 he moved to the desert.  Tried to live in solitude, but people kept seeking him out for healing and spiritual instruction.  Eventually he founded two monasteries.  Briefly left his seclusion to fight Arianism and comfort persecuted Christians.  Friend of St. Paul the Hermit (see above).  Patron of lots of things (click here and scroll down).
• 1/18 St. Ulfrid – (d.1028)  English missionary martyred by Norse pagans for taking an ax to an idol of Thor.
• 1/19 St. Fillan – (d.c.777) Monk, Abbot, Hermit, Miracle-Worker. Allegedly stayed up studying at night by the light of his glowing left arm.  When a wolf killed his ox, he made the wolf take the ox’s place.  His relics seem to have a calming effect on the menatlly ill.  Patron of the mentally ill.
• 1/20 St. Fabian – (236-c.250)  20^th Pope, Martyr.  Was elected Pope as an unknown layman (a farmer, no less) when a dove landed on him during the conclave.  He led the Church for 14 years and lived a saintly life, dying a martyr under Roman persecutions.
• 1/20 St. Sebastian – (d.c.288)  Officer of the Imperial Roman Army, Martyr.  After converting fellow soldiers and being charged as a Christian, he was tied to a tree, shot by archers, and left for dead. St. Irene nursed him back to health and he went straight to Emperor Diocletian to preach.  He was beaten to death.
• 1/21 St. Agnes – (d.254 or 304 – sources vary)  Virgin, Martyr.  Beautiful Roman 13 year old who made a vow of virginity.  The Governor’s son turned her in as a Christian when she refused to marry him.  She was tortured and martyred for her faith.  Like St. Macra (see above, 1/6), part of her torture was cutting off her breasts.  Name means lamb or pure one.  Patron of engaged couples, chastity, girls, virgins, and rape victims.
• 1/24 St. Francis de Sales – (1567-1622)  Bishop, Doctor of the Church.  Perhaps the originator of the “Catholic tract”, he had great success distributing little pamphlets to explain true Catholic doctrine in Calvinist areas.  He wrote about the same time as Shakespeare, and while they lived, St. Francis’ writings were more well known.  His best known writing is the Introduction to the Devout  Life (to read it free, click here).  Collaborated with St. Jane Frances de Chantal to found the Sisters of the Visitation.  Patron of writers, teachers, and deaf people.
• 1/25 The Conversion of St. Paul – Acts 9:1-22, 22:6-21, 26:12-18; Gal 1:11-16.  Saul of Tarsus was one of the most zealous persecutors of the early Christian Church when the Risen Lord appeared to him and he recognized Truth.
• 1/26 St. Timothy – (d.97)  Missionary with St. Paul the Apostle, Bishop, Martyr.  Two of St. Paul’s Epistles in the New Testament are addressed to Timothy (click here for an introduction).  Stoned to death.  Patron against intestinal disorders and stomach disease (1 Tim 5:23).
• 1/26 St. Titus – (d.c.96) Bishop, Disciple of St. Paul the Apostle.  One of St. Paul’s Epistles is addressed to him (click here for an introduction).
• 1/27 St. Angela Merici – (1474-1540)  Foundress of the Ursulines, established to educate young girls.  It was the first group of women religious to work outside the cloister and the first teaching order of women in the Church.  Patron of handicapped and sick people.
• 1/28 St. Thomas Aquinas – (c.1225-1274)  Dominican Priest, Doctor of the Church (the “Angelic Doctor”), the “Great Synthesizer”, and the “Dumb Ox”.  Massive genius (in more ways than one), one of the most influential theologians of all time. Patron of philosophers, theologians, apologists, students, and, of course, pencil makers.  Click here to check out one of his masterpieces, The Summa Theologica (Compendium of Theology).
• 1/30 St. Aldegund – (c.633-684) Benedictine Abbess, Virgin.  A member of the royal family, she was urged to marry, but apparently fled across the river (without getting wet) and became a nun.  She died of cancer.  Patron against cancer, in particular, breast cancer.
• 1/31 St. John Bosco – (1815-1888)  aka “Don” Bosco (Don being the traditional Italian title for a priest). A juggler and street performer in his youth (to attract people to preach to)!  Dreamer of prophetic dreams.  Worked with street urchins and inner city kids, opened schools for boys.  Founded the Salesians, based on the spirituality of St. Francis de Sales (see above), and the Daughters of Mary, Help of Christians.  Patron of boys, youth, schoolchildren, editors and laborers.  Read here about the mysterious grey dog that protected St. John Bosco.