August 4 – St. John Vianney
Patronage: parish priests (and all priests)
Popularly known as the Curé (French for “pastor”) of Ars, St. John Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests and of all priests. He was born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney in 1786 in Dardilly, eastern France. His family were poor farmers. Instead of receiving a traditional education, he tended the fields as a young boy. He did not learn to read and write until he was a young man.
Witnessing the many priests risking their lives to minister to persecuted Catholics after the French Revolution inspired John to pursue the priesthood himself. A neighboring priest, Fr. Balley, took the young man under his wing to begin pre-seminary studies. At first, John struggled to adjust to his academic studies, but his instructor and younger classmates helped him along.
After his ordination, Fr. Vianney was sent north to the tiny rural village of Ars, where the new pastor quickly fell in love with the tight-knit community. Vianney’s homilies were so inspiring that hardened sinners were moved to convert upon hearing him preach. He worked tirelessly to serve his flock both sacramentally and through works of charity. He also was said to spend up to 16 hours a day in the confessional.
Fr. Vianney faithfully tended his flock in Ars for 40 years until his death in 1859.
Commemorate
St. John Vianney Wood Icon
Celebrate!
Any simple French cuisine would make a great way to celebrate, like these Chicken Pasties, as long as it’s paired with a side of boiled potatoes, which was the staple of St. John Vianney’s humble diet!
August 8 – St. Dominic
Patronage: scientists, astronomers, Dominican Republic
St. Dominic Guzman was a great medieval Spanish priest whose immense contributions to the faith are demonstrated every time a Catholic prays the Rosary. He is also the founder of the Dominican Order of Preachers, which has had a profound impact on the Church over the eight centuries of its existence.
Dominic was born to a noble family in Caleruega, in northern Spain. Before he was born, it was said that his mother had a vision. In a dream, she gave birth to a dog with a burning torch in its mouth that set the world on fire with the Gospel. She then decided to give Dominic his then-unusual name, which means “the dog of the Lord.”
As a young man, Dominic followed the call to the priesthood and soon found himself battling the heresy of his day: Albigensianism. The Albigensians had taken hold of part of southern France. Through prayer, Dominic concluded that the best way to combat this corrupt way of thinking was to found a religious order. He formed the Order of Preachers, which would eventually become known as the Dominicans. Dominic is said to have converted at least 100,000 people to the faith during his lifetime before his death in 1221.
Commemorate
St. Dominic Dogs of the Lord T-shirt
Celebrate!
There is a legend that St. Dominic planted an orange tree in a courtyard at Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill in Rome, and that the fruit it produced corresponded to the growth of the Dominican order and its gift of evangelization. In this spirit, try making this Roasted Orange Chicken.
August 9 – St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (St. Edith Stein)
Patronage: Europe, Jewish people, Holocaust victims, World Youth Day
St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross was born Edith Stein in the city of Breslau, Poland. She was the youngest of 11 children born to a devout Jewish family. Though gifted intellectually, Edith lost her Jewish faith as a teenager and was an atheist for almost two decades. She passed her college exams with ease and was admitted to a prestigious university.
While serving as a military nurse during World War I, Edith witnessed many young lives cut short. Inspired by these experiences, Edith studied the concept of empathy, writing a dissertation on the topic. Later, she received her doctorate, which was a rare feat for a woman of her day.
Despite her success, Edith felt that something was missing. Reading the autobiography of the great Carmelite St. Teresa of Avila led her to the truth of Catholicism. Following her conversion, Edith became a Discalced Carmelite nun. She chose the name of Teresa Benedicta of the Cross in honor of St. Teresa. Her sister Rosa followed in her footsteps, converting to Catholicism and choosing religious life.
After the rise of the Nazi party in Germany, both Teresa and Rosa were arrested by the Gestapo for their Jewish ancestry in 1942. Her last recorded words were directed to her sister: “Come, we are going for our people.” The sisters were sent to the infamous concentration camp Auschwitz, where they were killed one week later in the gas chambers. St. Teresa Benedicta was canonized in 1998 and named a co-patroness of Europe.
Commemorate
St. Edith Stein Quote T-shirt,
Celebrate!
These Zeeuwse Bolus, Jewish sticky buns, are a sweet and simple way to commemorate this heroic woman of God.
August 11 – St. Clare of Assisi
Patronage: television, eye disease, bicycle messengers, goldsmiths, good weather, laundry, needlework
As one of St. Francis of Assisi’s first followers, St. Clare of Assisi was greatly instrumental in advancing the mission of the Franciscan order. She was born Chiara Offreduccio, the daughter of a noble family in 12th-century Assisi, Italy. While in labor, Clare’s mother Ortolana received a heavenly message that she would give birth to a “light that will give light more clearly than light itself and shine brilliantly in the world,” which is why she named her daughter “Chiara” from the Latin word for light.
Clare was raised to be a lady, receiving schooling in music, embroidery, and hospitality. From a young age, she developed an enduring love of Eucharistic adoration and charity toward the poor. Clare first encountered Francis of Assisi when she was 18. After hearing him preach, she felt the call to join him in serving God through total poverty. She soon made a decision to leave her comfortable, opulent life behind and give all she had to God. Francis accepted her as the first female Franciscan, and she was sent to live in a neighboring convent.
From there Clare would eventually found the “Order of Poor Ladies,” now known as Poor Clares. This cloistered Franciscan community of religious women lived in poverty, prayer, and Eucharistic devotion. In 1240, Clare’s convent outside Assisi was under siege by Muslim invaders. Seeing the enemy soldiers approaching, Clare gathered her sisters and took the Blessed Sacrament from the convent chapel. She began to pray and held out the Eucharist in sight of the invaders, who – miraculously blinded by its light – retreated in fear. Clare died after serving as superior for nearly four decades and was canonized two years later – one of the fastest canonizations in Church history.
Commemorate
St. Clare & St. Francis Wood Tau Rosary
View from the Catholic Company
Celebrate!
If you love pastries, what could be better to celebrate St. Clare’s feast day than a Chocolate Eclair! From the wordplay to the smooth chocolate topping evoking Franciscan brown, it’s perfect!
August 14 – St. Maximilian Kolbe
Patronage: journalists, political prisoners, the pro-life movement, recovery from addiction, ham radio operators
St. Maximilian was born to a poor Catholic family in Poland with the name Raymond Kolbe. At first he was an impulsive and misbehaving child, but one day after hearing his distressed mother ask what would become of him, he decided to ask the Blessed Mother for guidance. He then had a vision of Our Lady offering him two crowns to choose from, representing the virtues to dedicate his life to: a crown of white for purity and one of red for martyrdom. Without hesitation, Raymond accepted both crowns.
As a teenager, Raymond felt the call to the priesthood, specifically as a Franciscan, and entered seminary. He debated joining the Polish military during the outbreak of World War I, but ultimately determined that Our Lady was calling him to be her soldier. He was soon ordained a priest and took the religious name Maximilian Maria Kolbe.
Fr. Kolbe witnessed a rapid growth in anti-Catholicism, which inspired him to found the Militia of the Immaculata – a group of religious and laity consecrated to the Blessed Mother and evangelization. With the rise of mass media, Kolbe saw its potential as a tool for evangelization. He founded a Catholic magazine called Knight of the Immaculate. He served as the magazine’s editor and publisher, even running the printing press. His mission spread beyond Poland to Japan, where he opened a monastery and another magazine.
After his return to Poland, he published content decrying the evils of the Nazi regime and was soon arrested by the Gestapo. He was released and continued to publish the truth in his magazine, which led to a second arrest and sentencing to Auschwitz. At the concentration camp, Kolbe offered to take the place of a prisoner who was condemned to death, declaring “I am a Catholic priest. I wish to die for that man. I am old; he has a wife and children.” After three weeks of torture in a starvation bunker, St. Maximillian Kolbe was killed by a lethal injection of carbolic acid.
Commemorate
St. Maximilian Kolbe RED and WHITE Crown Mug
Celebrate!
Enjoy some Polish comfort food with this hearty Kapusniak soup.
August 23 – St. Rose of Lima
Patronage: The Americas, florists
St. Rose of Lima is the first canonized saint from the Americas and was from Peru. Though her birth name was Isabel Flores de Oliva, her beauty earned her the nickname Rose as a baby. Her parents wanted her to marry, but Rose was determined that she would dedicate her life to God. As a young woman, she took a vow of virginity and became a Third Order Dominican, living at her parents’ home instead of in a convent.
Rose devoted herself to helping support her parents with their large family and tending to the poor and sick. She cultivated a garden to grow food and took on sewing and embroidery, which she sold. She lived a simple life of joyful service to others and intense prayer. After struggling with sickness the last three years of her life, Rose prophesied that she would die on the feast of St. Bartholomew, which came true when she was 31 years old.
Commemorate
St. Rose of Lima Vertical Desk Plaque
Celebrate!
Celebrate St. Rose of Lima with this tasty Peruvian corn snack, Cancha.
August 25 – St. Louis IX
Patronage: Third Order of Franciscans (co-patron), architecture
St. Louis IX was crowned King of France at only 12 years old after his father died. While his mother guided many of his early decisions, Louis became very devout and grew in virtue. At age 19, Louis married Margaret and they had a long and happy marriage, raising 11 children together.
Louis ruled with maturity, mercy, and faith. He was extremely devoted to ruling justly and supporting the poor. He opened several hospitals and had the practice of inviting 13 homeless people to eat with him daily. He refused to give special treatment to feudal lords, but treated their misdemeanors according to the law.
Louis led two crusades against the Muslims invading the Holy Land, but didn’t achieve much success. He eventually contracted the plague during these campaigns and died at the age of 56.
Commemorate
St. Louis IX, King of France Plaque & Holy Card Gift Set
Celebrate!
This Ratatouille recipe is a simple way to incorporate summer vegetables and a French dish to celebrate St. Louis.
August 27 – St. Monica
Patronage: Mothers, Alcoholics, Victims of Adultery, Widows
St. Monica married at a young age to a pagan Roman named Patricius who was unfaithful to their marriage. Through Monica’s love and patience, she eventually was able to convert him to the faith and he was baptized one year before his death. The couple had three children, St. Augustine being the oldest.
Augustine rejected his mother’s faith in order to pursue worldly success and comfort and lived a dissolute lifestyle. This caused Monica much pain and she fervently prayed, wept, and fasted for years for the conversion of her son.
St. Monica followed Augustine to Rome and then Milan. In Milan, they met St. Ambrose who aided in Augustine’s conversion and became a spiritual director for Monica. It was here that Monica’s many years of prayers were answered and her son was baptized. Monica became a leader of women devoted to the faith in Milan, as she was in Tagaste. She intended to travel to Northern Africa with Augustine so that he could continue his ministry, but she fell sick and died with her son at her side.
Commemorate
Saint Monica Icon
Celebrate!
These Teardrop Pastries are a sweet reminder of how St. Monica’s pain turned to rejoicing.
