History UsefulNotes / PatronSaints

Polish Franciscan friar and a martyr of the Holocaust, having been sent to Auschwitz for his publications highly critical of Nazism and sheltering Jews in his convents, eventually committing a HeroicSacrifice by taking the place of a father [[DisproportionateRetribution sentenced to be one of ten men starved to death as punishment for the escape of a prisoner]], before being administered with a lethal injection when he managed to survive for weeks. Patron of families, pro-life movements, recovering drug addicts, amateur radio operators, journalists, and political prisoners.

Hungarian-born Roman soldier who turned to the habit (and being elevated as high as Bishop of Tours in France) following an incident where he cut half of his cloak to give warmth to a homeless man in the middle of winter, then had a vision of the man revealing himself as Jesus. Patron of Bratislava, Buenos Aires, Utrecht, the Pontificial Swiss Guard, beggars, recovering alcoholics, and horses.

Spanish Carmelite monk, mystic, and disciple of Teresa of Ávila [15 October], with whom he implemented reforms in the order, eventually being a leader of the Discalced community, even in the face of opposition, including being thrown into solitary confinement multiple times, during which he coined the term "dark night of the soul" to denote spiritual dryness during the journey to God. Patron of mystics, Spanish poets, and contemplatives.

Italian priest and Bishop of Sant'Agata de' Goti (near Naples), as well as the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Redemptorists) and a prolific author on morality and the Virgin Mary. Patron of Naples, lawyers, and confessors, as well as invoked against arthritis.

Other categories of the saints refer to the saint's particular vocation. Those include the Apostles, who were twelve disciples who were [[MissionFromGod called by Christ to a special mission]] (e.g., St Peter); and the Evangelists, who preached the Gospel. The word "evangelist" refers to the authors of the four Gospels: Sts Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Also, there are Bishops, who manage a diocese as its chief pastor (e.g., St Martin of Tours); Popes, the Bishop of Rome who, by virtue of his position as the successor of St Peter, is the pastor of the whole Church (e.g., Pope St Pius X); Angels, spirits created by God to act as messengers to man (e.g., St Michael); Abbots, superiors of a monastic community, be it an abbey or a monastery, dedicated to contemplating the mysteries of God (e.g., St Benedict of Nursia); Virgins, who were women who dedicated their virginity to God and protected it with their life, sometimes to the point of martyrdom (e.g., St Lucy); Stylites, Christian ascetics who took up their abode on pillars (e.g., St Alypius the Stylite); Doctors of the Church, theologians whose writings contributed greatly to Christian theology and doctrine (e.g., St Anselm of Canterbury); and Fathers of the Church, early Christians who are so-called because of their leadership in the early Christian Church, especially in expounding, defending, and developing Christian doctrine (e.g., St Augustine of Hippo).\\

Three great composers of Protestant religious music in the High(ish) Church traditions of Lutheranism and Anglicanism, this somewhat unusual uniquely Protestant celebration is dedicated to composers of Protestant sacred music--Protestant sacred music which is to this day considered some of the most sublime sacred music of any denomination anywhere (i.e. the Catholics and Orthodox are envious). Interestingly, of the three, Bach was German and a lifelong Lutheran, Purcell was English and a lifelong Anglican, and Handel was a German-born Briton who converted from Lutheranism to Anglicanism as a condition of being granted British citizenship. 28 July is the anniversary of Bach's death in 1750. Also, Purcell himself was deeply devoted to the cult of St Cecilia (see for 22 November below), patroness of musicians; it's often said that his death (on 21 November 1695) was out of shame that he had been unable to compose an ode to her that year in time for her day.

Bishop of Rochester, southeast of London, and a former tutor to Henry VIII, with whom he eventually ran afoul for being the chief supporter of Catherine of Aragon, whom Henry wanted to divorce (despite Rome declining the request) in favor of the more fertile Anne Boleyn.

Lawyer, judge, and philosopher, as well as Lord High Chancellor of England under Henry, with whom he ran afoul for refusing to accept him as supreme head of the Church of England and upholding the doctrine of papal supremacy.

In a nutshell, the first step of becoming a saint is to be a devout Christian (preferably a Catholic as the Catholic Church is prominent for venerating the saints, though the [[UsefulNotes/OrthodoxChristianity Orthodox Churches]] are big on it too), living your entire life growing in holiness and virtue, keeping the tenets of God and His Church, and most importantly, loving God with all your heart and all your strength (very, '''very''' broadly speaking. For specifics, ask your priest and the saints for guidance). Next, the Church examines your life to be sure that you have an enduring reputation of sanctity and are worthy of veneration. Thus, you must go through a canonization process.

* ''31 October'' -- '''Reformation Day''' (Protestant, but mostly Lutheran and Calvinist)\\
A remembrance of the day in 1517 when Martin Luther sent his ''Ninety-five Theses'' to the Archbishop of Mainz, the event that is generally accepted as the start of the Reformation.[[note]]While that same date has been cited as the day on which Luther nailed his work to the door of All Saints' Church in Wittenberg, historical evidence for 31 October as the date of that event is sketchy at best.[[/note]] Since the 20th century, most churches that observe this event have transferred this observance to the last Sunday on or before 31 October as Reformation Sunday, with the following Sunday being observed as All Saints' Day.

->'''Note:''' This list is ordered primarily according to the [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar General Roman Calendar]], used globally by the Catholic Church since the reforms of the Second Vatican Council of 1969 (traditionalist Catholics tend to use the Calendar of 1960 or earlier). Other churches which observe saints include the Lutheran Churches in the United States, primarily the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [ELCA] and the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod [LCMS], the Orthodox Churches, and the Anglican Communion. Square brackets denote differences between general and local observances. It should also be noted that dates observed by the Eastern Orthodox Churches are based on the Julian calendar, thus as of 2021 the actual observances are thirteen days ahead of the Western Churches.

Many such saints have many legends that give about a bare kernel of fact, such as a name listed as a martyr. Real legends that help explain their patronage may also be included below. An important theological underpinning is that these saints are ''intercessors''. Having died and been canonized[[note]]enrolled in the official list of saints - this doesn't ''make'' them a saint, just acknowledges that they have been one all along[[/note]], the Church tradition says that each of these saints is in heaven with God.[[note]]Most people in heaven are not on the official list. "The communion of saints" mentioned in the Catholic creed refers to everyone who is there, and [[TalkingToTheDead their continued presence in our lives.]][[/note]] Then, in their state of grace, these saints pray to God on behalf of the faithful who pray to them. Think of them as heavenly advocates who have some "insider perks" with the Almighty. Worshipping a saint is right out -- also known as "putting other gods before God," which you might notice is not looked upon kindly. Anyway, saints ''aren't'' gods -- they are just ordinary people who were extraordinarily holy.

In a nutshell, the first step of becoming a saint is to be a devout Christian (preferably a Catholic as the Catholic Church is prominent for venerating the saints, though the [[UsefulNotes/OrthodoxChristianity Orthodox Churches]] are big on it too), living your entire life growing in holiness and virtue, keeping the tenets of God and His Church, and most importantly, loving God with all your heart and all your strength (very broadly speaking. For specifics, ask your priest and the saints for guidance). Next, the Church examines your life to be sure that you have an enduring reputation of sanctity and are worthy of veneration. Thus, you must go through a canonization process.

* After the death of a Christian of outstanding holiness, there is a five-year waiting period before the cause can begin. This is to ensure that the Christian has an enduring legacy of sanctity among the faithful. Sometimes, the Pope can waive the waiting period in part or in full; Pope St John Paul II waived three years of the waiting period for St Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Benedict XVI waived all five years for his predecessor (heeding the cries of ''santo subito!''--Italian for "saint[hood] immediately!"--that seemed to pop up almost spontaneously at John Paul II's funeral. When the waiting period is over, the bishop of that Christian's diocese can petition the Holy See to allow the Cause for Beatification and Canonization to begin. Once the bishop has received permission, the Christian is declared ''Servant of God'' (e.g., Servant of God Romano Guardini).

Three great composers of Protestant religious music in the High(ish) Church traditions of Lutheranism and Anglicanism, this somewhat unusual uniquely Protestant celebration is dedicated to composers of Protestant sacred music--Protestant sacred music which is to this day considered some of the most sublime sacred music of any denomination anywhere (i.e. the Catholics and Orthodox are envious). Interestingly, of the three, Bach was German and a lifelong Lutheran, Purcell was English and a lifelong Anglican, and Handel was a German-born Briton who converted from Lutheranism to Anglicanism as a condition of being granted British citizenship. 28 July is the anniversary of Bach's death in 1750. Also, Purcell himself was deeply devoted to the cult of St Cecilia (see for 22 November below); it's often said that his death (on 21 November 1695) was out of shame that he had been unable to compose an ode to her that year in time for her day.

Three great composers of Protestant religious music in the High(ish) Church traditions of Lutheranism and Anglicanism, this somewhat unusual uniquely Protestant celebration is dedicated to composers of Protestant sacred music--Protestant sacred music which is to this day considered some of the most sublime sacred music of any denomination anywhere (i.e. the Catholics and Orthodox are envious). Interestingly, of the three, Bach was German and a lifelong Lutheran, Purcell was English and a lifelong Anglican, and Handel was a German-born Briton who converted from Lutheranism to Anglicanism as a condition of being granted British citizenship. 28 July is the anniversary of Bach's death in 1750.

Three great composers of Protestant religious music in the High(ish) Church traditions of Lutheranism and Anglicanism, this somewhat unusual uniquely Protestant celebration is dedicated to composers of Protestant sacred music. (Interestingly, of the three, Bach was German and a lifelong Lutheran, Purcell was English and a lifelong Anglican, and Handel was a German-born Briton who converted from Lutheranism to Anglicanism as a condition of being granted British citizenship.) 28 July is the anniversary of Bach's death in 1750.

Three great composers of Protestant religious music in the High(ish) Church traditions of Lutheranism and Anglicanism, this somewhat unusual uniquely Protestant celebration is dedicated to composers of sacred music. (Interestingly, of the three, Bach was German and a lifelong Lutheran, Purcell was English and a lifelong Anglican, and Handel was a German-born Briton who converted from Lutheranism to Anglicanism as a condition of being granted British citizenship.) 28 July is the anniversary of Bach's death in 1750.

* After the death of a Christian of outstanding holiness, there is a five-year waiting period before the cause can begin. This is to ensure that the Christian has an enduring legacy of sanctity among the faithful. Sometimes, the Pope can waive the waiting period in part or in full; Pope St John Paul II waived three years of the waiting period for St Teresa of Calcutta, and Pope Benedict XVI waived all five years for his predecessor. When the waiting period is over, the bishop of that Christian's diocese can petition the Holy See to allow the Cause for Beatification and Canonization to begin. Once the bishop has received permission, the Christian is declared ''Servant of God'' (e.g., Servant of God Romano Guardini).

Italian peasant virgin who died forgiving her attempted rapist and eventual murderer. The rapist, Alessandro Serenelli, eventually repented, reconciled with her family, and became a Capuchin layman after his release from prison. The Gorettis and Serenelli attended Maria Goretti's canonization. Patron of victims of rape and crime in general.