Catholic Saint of the Day

Saint Norbert was born at Xanten in the Rhineland, about the year 1080. He is the founder of the Premonstratensians, also known as the Norbertines.

Saint Boniface of Mainz is often called The Apostle of Germany. Pope Gregory II renamed him Boniface, "doer of good," and delegated him to spread the gospel message in Germany. For 30 years Boniface worked to reform and organize the Church, linking the various local communities firmly with Rome.

Saint Petroc was the younger son of the King Glywys. On his father’s death, the people of Glywysing called for Petroc to take the crown of one the country’s sub-divisions, but Petroc wanted a religious life, and went to study in Ireland. After 30 years as abbot, Petroc made a pilgrimage to Rome, Italy. On his return, just as he reached Newton Saint Petroc, it began to rain. Petroc predicted it would soon stop, but it rained for three days. In penance for presuming to predict God’s weather, Petroc returned to Rome, then to Jerusalem, then to India where he lived seven years on an island in the Indian Ocean.

Saint Charles Lwanga was one of 22 Ugandan martyrs who converted from paganism. He made no cry of pain but just twisted and moaned, "Kotanda! (O my God!)." He was burned to death by Mwanga's order on June 3, 1886. Pope Paul VI canonized Charles Lwanga and his companions on June 22,1964. We celebrate his memorial on June 3rd of the Roman Calendar. Charles is the Patron of the African Youth of Catholic Action.

The Ascension of Our Lord, which occurred 40 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, is the final act of our redemption that Christ began on Good Friday. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11).

Saint Justin Martyr (c.100-165) is the patron of Philosophers and Apologists and is a Father of the Church. He wrote many works, some of which are still extant. After giving a defense of the Faith, he was martyred under the Roman Prefect Rusticus in the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

The Feast of the Visitation recalls to us the visit of the Blessed Virgin Mary to her cousin Elizabeth shortly after the Annunciation

Saint Joan of Arc is the patroness of soldiers and of France. After hearing the voices of saints, at a mere 17 years, she led the King's forces to victory over the English. She was eventually captured by the English and falsely burned at the stake as a heretic. She was later exonerated of all guilt and canonized in 1920.

Saint Theodosia was a nun living at a monastery in Constantinople. On January 19, 729, at the very beginning of the iconoclastic persecutions, the Emperor Leo III the Isaurian ordered that an icon of Christ which stood over the Chalke Gate of the imperial palace be removed. While an officer was executing the order, a group of women gathered to prevent the operation. Among them was Theodosia, who shook the ladder strongly until the officer fell from it. She was subsequently arrested and executed.

Saint Bernard of Montjoux was probably born in Italy. He became a priest, was made Vicar General of Aosta, and spent more than four decades doing missionary work in the Alps. Bernard became patron and protector of skiers because of his four decades spent in missionary work throughout the Alps. The dog breed known as "St. Bernards" get their name from the Great St Bernard Hospice which our Saint founded.