Saint of the Day
Today’s Saint
- Saint Albert Chmielowski was a talented painter and a Secular Franciscan. In mid-life, he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants to the Poor, who worked with the poor and homeless. Known also as the Albertine Brothers, this community was renowned for depending completely on alms.
- An Augustinian monk who was inspired by the martyrdom of Franciscan missionaries, Saint Anthony of Padua joined the Franciscans hoping to be a missionary. But God had other plans for him. He became one of the outstanding philosopher/theologians of the Order.
- Blessed Jolenta of Poland and her husband assisted many from their means. Once widowed, and with two of her three daughters married, Blessed Jolenta and her third daughter entered the Poor Clares. She eventually became an abbess.
- What little we know about Saint Barnabas comes to us from Acts of the Apostles, where he plays a fairly big role in the expansion of the early Church. Closely associated with Saint Paul, he shared in several of Paul’s trips and difficulties.
- Saint Joachima was a wife, mother, widow, and founder of the Carmelite Sisters of Charity. Used to taking care of others, she experienced total dependency on others toward the end of her life.
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.