Catholic Saints & Feasts of the Liturgical Year

My Catholic Life!

If a list were made of the greatest human beings who have ever lived, the Catholic saints would be at the top. Though historians often attempt to judge greatness from a subjective perspective, there must be objective criteria by which human greatness is judged. The only Being capable of establishing that criteria is God. The criteria that God has established are the virtues, as identified by Jesus and revealed by Him through the holy Gospels. The goal of this podcast is to present each saint found on the Catholic liturgical calendar in such a way so as to identify the Godly virtues that place each one on that list. The Church has already confirmed the saints’ greatness and their heroic virtues. Importantly, God chose the men and women found in these pages, not only for greatness in their lifetimes, but also as models of holiness in ours. These men and women are gifts to you, given by God through the Church. Each podecast reflection comes from the four-volume series Saints and Feasts of the Liturgical Year. These reflections can be read at our website for free: mycatholic.life. They are also available for purchase in eBook and paperback.

  1. 4d ago

    October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast First Century Patron Saint of curriers, woodcutters, and tanners (Simon); hopeless causes and hospital workers (Jude) Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: In those days he departed to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor. ~Luke 6:12–16 Prayer: Saints Simon and Jude, you were both privileged to learn from Jesus Himself. After His Ascension, you were among the first to receive the Holy Spirit and ordination as bishops. God used you to then go forth and fulfill His command to share the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Please pray for me, that I will more fully understand my mission within the Body of Christ and will fulfill my duties with diligence and love. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    October 28: Saint Simon and Saint Jude, Apostles—Feast
  2. Oct 23

    October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop—Optional Memorial

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop—Optional Memorial 1807–1870 Patron Saint of the Catholic press, textile merchants, and weavers Canonized by Pope Pius XII on May 7, 1950 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Love in a man who preaches the Word of God is like fire in a musket. If a man were to throw a bullet with his hands, he would hardly make a dent in anything; but if he takes this same bullet and ignites some gunpowder behind it, it can kill. It is much the same with the Word of God. If God’s Word is spoken only naturally, it does very little; but if it is spoken by a priest who is filled with the fire of charity—the fire of love of God and neighbor—it will wound vices, kill sins, convert sinners, and work wonders. We can see this in the case of St. Peter, who walked out of the upper room afire with the love he had received from the Holy Spirit, with the result that through just two sermons he converted 8,000 people, three in the first sermon and five in the second. ~from the Autobiography of Saint Anthony Mary Claret (#439) Prayer: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, God set your heart on fire with a love for Him so deep that it overflowed into the hearts of every sinner you encountered. Please pray for me, that I will grow deeper in my love of God, and from that love will love others whom I encounter every day. Saint Anthony, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Image: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    October 24: Saint Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop—Optional Memorial
  3. Oct 22

    October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial 1386–1456 Patron Saint of military chaplains, judges, jurists, and lawyers Canonized by Pope Alexander VIII on October 16, 1690 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Those who are called to the table of the Lord must glow with the brightness that comes from the good example of a praiseworthy and blameless life. They must completely remove from their lives the filth and uncleanness of vice. Their upright lives must make them like the salt of the earth for themselves and for the rest of mankind. The brightness of their wisdom must make them like the light of the world that brings light to others. They must learn from their eminent teacher, Jesus Christ, what he declared not only to his apostles and disciples, but also to all the priests and clerics who were to succeed them, when he said, “You are the salt of the earth…You are the light of the world.” …By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them. They have been placed here to care for others. Their own lives should be an example to others, showing how they must live in the house of the Lord. ~From the treatise “Mirror of the Clergy,” by Saint John of Capistrano Prayer: Saint John of Capistrano, your taste of worldly power and wealth was unsatisfying, leading you to search for more. The suffering of your imprisonment helped open your eyes to God, and you turned to Him and never turned back. Please pray for me, that I will come to the same deep conviction in my life that God alone is what matters. May I become completely devoted to Him, serving His will alone. Saint John of Capistrano, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Images via Wikimedia: Main

    October 23: Saint John of Capistrano, Priest—Optional Memorial
  4. Oct 21

    October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope—Optional Memorial

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope—Optional Memorial 1920–2005 Patron Saint of World Youth Days Canonized by Pope Francis on April 27, 2014 Liturgical Color: White Quote: Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To His saving power, open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows “what is in man.” He alone knows it. So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt which turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg you with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life, yes, of eternal life. ~Inaugural homily of Pope John Paul II Prayer: Saint John Paul II, your life began with the loss of your earthly family, but you were later entrusted with the entire world as your children. Please pray for me, that I will never allow hardships in this life to deter me from the service of God’s will, so that I can remain hopeful and fearless as I seek to serve our glorious God. Saint John Paul II, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Hernan Valencias, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia

    October 22: Saint John Paul II, Pope—Optional Memorial
  5. Oct 18

    October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest—USA: Optional Memorial (October 19 outside of the USA)

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest—USA: Optional Memorial (October 19 outside of the USA) 1694–1775 Patron Saint of Hungary and Ovada, Italy Canonized by Pope Pius IX on June 29, 1867 Liturgical Color: White Quote: You must correspond faithfully to His merciful action by humbling yourself ever more in your nothingness before His Sovereign Majesty, renouncing all these gifts and remaining in utter nakedness and nothingness. At the same time offer a holocaustal sacrifice of all these gifts and put them in the thurible of your heart so that, enkindled by God’s charity, they may ascend as a fragrant incense before the Most High Majesty of the Supreme Good ~From a letter to Mother Mary Crucified, by Saint Paul of the Cross Prayer: Saint Paul of the Cross, God drew you to the heights of contemplation and taught you the deepest truths within the depths of your soul. You then shared the good fruits of your contemplation with the world. Please pray for me, that I will continuously seek to deepen my faith by deepening my prayer and penance, never shying away from the most glorious Gift of the Passion of Jesus Christ. Saint Paul of the Cross, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Images: Featured

    October 20: Saint Paul of the Cross, Priest—USA: Optional Memorial (October 19 outside of the USA)
  6. Oct 18

    October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs; and their Companions, Martyrs—USA: Memorial

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs; and their Companions, Martyrs—USA: Memorial Saint René Goupil (1606–1642); Saint Isaac Jogues (1607–1646); Saint Jean de la Lande (Unknown–1646); Saint Antoine Daniel (1601–1648); Saint Gabriel Lalemant (1610–1649); Saint Jean de Brébeuf (1593–1649); Saint Charles Garnier (1606–1649); Saint Noël Chabanel (1613–1649) Patron Saints of North America Canonized by Pope Pius XI on June 29, 1930 Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Having stopped near the gate of the Village, to see what they might say to us, one of those two Iroquois draws a hatchet, which he held concealed under his blanket, and deals a blow with it on the head of René, who was before him. He falls motionless, his face to the ground, pronouncing the holy name of JESUS (often we admonished each other that this holy name should end both our voices and our lives)…I rise again, and run to the dying man, who was quite near. They dealt him two other blows with the hatchet, on the head, and dispatched him—but not until I had first given him absolution, which I had been wont to give him every two days since our captivity; and this was a day on which he had already confessed.” ~Account of the martyrdom of Saint René Goupil, the first martyr, from Saint Isaac Jogues Prayer: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and companions, you abandoned the comforts of your life in France and traveled to a new land to share the Gospel with a people who had never heard of Christ. Your courage and love for all of God’s people brought you there, and you shed your blood for that act of love. Please pray for me, that I will have the same depth of love for all whom God calls me to serve. Holy Martyrs of North America, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Lawrence OP, via Flickr: Featured

    October 19: Saints Jean de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, Priests and Martyrs; and their Companions, Martyrs—USA: Memorial
  7. Oct 17

    October 18: Saint Luke the Evangelist—Feast

    Read entire reflection online >>> October 18: Saint Luke the Evangelist—Feast First Century, died c. age 84 Patron Saint of artists, bachelors, bookbinders, brewers, butchers, glassworkers, goldworkers, laceworkers, notaries, physicians, and surgeons Pre-Congregation canonization Liturgical Color: Red Quote: Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed them down to us, I too have decided, after investigating everything accurately anew, to write it down in an orderly sequence for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may realize the certainty of the teachings you have received. ~Luke 1:1–4 Prayer: Saint Luke, you were a faithful servant of Saint Paul and a devout worshiper of Jesus, your Lord. You placed before God all your natural gifts, your education, time, and energy so that He could use you for the fulfillment of His holy will and the proclamation of the Gospel. Please pray for me, that I will always devote myself without hesitation to the fulfillment of God’s will, so that God can use me as He will to draw many to Christ. Saint Luke, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: Free RSS feed from mycatholic.life — Copyright © 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use. Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without written permission. Main image:  via Wikipedia

    October 18: Saint Luke the Evangelist—Feast

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If a list were made of the greatest human beings who have ever lived, the Catholic saints would be at the top. Though historians often attempt to judge greatness from a subjective perspective, there must be objective criteria by which human greatness is judged. The only Being capable of establishing that criteria is God. The criteria that God has established are the virtues, as identified by Jesus and revealed by Him through the holy Gospels. The goal of this podcast is to present each saint found on the Catholic liturgical calendar in such a way so as to identify the Godly virtues that place each one on that list. The Church has already confirmed the saints’ greatness and their heroic virtues. Importantly, God chose the men and women found in these pages, not only for greatness in their lifetimes, but also as models of holiness in ours. These men and women are gifts to you, given by God through the Church. Each podecast reflection comes from the four-volume series Saints and Feasts of the Liturgical Year. These reflections can be read at our website for free: mycatholic.life. They are also available for purchase in eBook and paperback.

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