Saint of the Day
Today’s Saint
- In art, Saint Sebastian is often depicted as standing near or strapped to a pole riddled with arrows. Indeed, he was executed by archers, but didn’t actually die. Later he was beaten to death with clubs. Little else is known about this third century martyr.
- Be careful of birds landing on your head. That happened to Saint Fabian, and it was taken as a sign that he should be elected pope. So he was. And he served for 14 years until he was martyred in 250.
- Like many people, Saint Charles of Sezze thought he knew what God wanted, only to find out that he was mistaken. Instead of going to India as a missionary, Saint Charles settled in Rome where he cooked and cared for the friary and friary chapel. While being simple, Saint Charles was no simpleton as is obvious from his life story.
- Saint Anthony was a solitary ascetic who practiced great mortification yet drew many people to himself. He responded by founding an early form of monastic life. He lived until age 105.
- Saint Francis considered Saints Berard and his companions as true Friars Minor because they were willing to lay their lives on the line for the faith. Such heroic virtue inspired Saint Anthony to join the Franciscans.
About the Saint of the Day
The Saint of the Day is a tradition that dates back centuries, in which Catholics honor a particular saint on the day of their feast. This tradition helps to focus the faithful on the virtues and examples of the saints, and to inspire them to imitate those virtues in their own lives.
There are hundreds of saints to choose from, each with their own unique story and message. Some, like St. Peter and St. Paul, are well-known figures in the Bible who played key roles in the early spread of Christianity. Others, like St. Therese of Lisieux, are lesser-known but no less important figures in the history of the Church.
Regardless of their fame or obscurity, all the saints have something to teach us about living a life of faith. They faced their own struggles and challenges, but through their trust in God and their dedication to living a life of service, they were able to overcome them and become sources of inspiration for generations to come.
In honoring the Saint of the Day, Catholics can learn more about the lives of these holy men and women, and can reflect on the ways in which their own lives might be more closely aligned with the values of the faith. Whether it’s through prayer, reading about the saint’s life, or simply taking a moment to reflect on their example, the Saint of the Day is a powerful reminder of the endless possibilities that come with living a life of faith.