Saint of the Day
Today’s Saint
- Saint Catherine of Genoa wanted to be a nun, but was rejected due to her youth. Instead she married, converted her husband to a life of virtue, and together they cared for the poor.
- Some people consider today the feast of the Incarnation of Jesus—instead of Christmas—since it is today that we celebrate the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity becoming flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary.
- Already considered a saint by the people of El Salvador and elsewhere, Oscar Romero was recognized as a martyr for the faith in 2015. The time when he was Archbishop of San Salvador was a period of civil unrest and great government-sponsored violence.
- Prominent in the history of the Catholic Church in Peru, Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo supported the rights of the native people. He was nominated to be Archbishop of Lima, Peru, by King Philip II of Spain. Not even a priest at the time, Turibius protested the assignment, but to no avail. He was ordained a bishop and sent to Peru.
- Saint Nicholas Owen was a creative builder who helped the persecuted Catholic priests of England find hiding places. Because of his important work, the fact that he joined the Jesuits was held secret. Arrested a final time in 1606, Nicholas Owen was tortured and killed.
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.