Saints For Now
Edited by Clare Booth Luce
The well-known writer and Catholic convert, Clare Booth Luce, edited this classic on the lives of saints by a group of world-famous authors. She asked twenty writers to contribute a short biography of their favorite saint to this volume. Writers such as Evelyn Waugh, E. I. Watkin, Whittaker Chambers, Thomas Merton, Barbara Ward and Karl Stern wrote stories of saints whose lives and message provided special significance for our times.
Saints from every age of the Church are here, including St. Augustine, St. John the Apostle, St. Benedict, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Helena, St. Thomas More, the Curé of Ars, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, and more. Each essay highlights some facet of the timeliness of each saint. As they differ in birth, condition, and talent, so too do the saints differ astoundingly from one another in the modes of expressing their holiness.
"The saints present the now of Christianity in the many nows in which it has existed. Saints for Now helps us to explain our time, our now, to ourselves because it tells us how Christian saints lived their `nows.'"
- James V. Schall, S.J., Author, Another Sort Of Learning
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 08/28
Tridentine Calendar - 08/28
Patron Of:
Theologians, Eyes, Brewers, Printers
Also Known As
Aurelius Augustinus
Doctor of Grace
Memorial
28 August
Profile
His father was a pagan who converted on his death bed; his mother was Saint Monica, a devout Christian. Trained in Christianity, he lost his faith in youth and led a wild life. Lived with a Carthaginian woman from the age of 15 through 30. Fathered a son whom he named Adeotadus, which means the gift of God. Taught rhetoric at Carthage and Milan. After investigating and experimenting with several philosophies, he became a Manichaean for several years; it taught of a great struggle between good and evil, and featured a lax moral code. A summation of his thinking at the time comes from his Confessions: "God, give me chastity and continence - but not just now."
Augustine finally broke with the Manichaeans and was converted by the prayers of his mother and the help of Saint Ambrose of Milan, who baptized him. On the death of his mother he returned to Africa, sold his property, gave the proceeds to the poor, and founded a monastery. Monk. Priest. Preacher. Bishop of Hippo in 396. Founded religious communities. Fought Manichaeism, Donatism, Pelagianism and other heresies. Oversaw his church and his see during the fall of the Roman Empire to the Vandals. Doctor of the Church. His later thinking can also be summed up in a line from his writings:
Our hearts were made for You, O Lord, and they are restless until they rest in you.
Born
13 November 354 at Tagaste, Numidia, North Africa (Souk-Ahras, Algeria) as Aurelius Augustinus
Died
28 August 430 at Hippo
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
Patronage
brewers
Bridgeport, Connecticut, diocese of
Cagayan de Oro, Philippines
Ida, Philippines, diocese of
Isleta Indian Pueblo
Kalamazoo Michigan, diocese of
printers
Saint Augustine, Florida, city of
Saint Augustine, Florida, diocese of
sore eyes
Superior, Wisconsin, diocese of
theologians
Tucson, Arizona, diocese of
Valletta, Malta
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 08/11
Tridentine Calendar - 08/12
Patron Of:
Needle Workers, Eye Diseases, Goldsmiths, Laundry Workers, Embroiderers, Gilders, Good Weather, Television Writers
Profile
Daughters of a count and countess. Her father died young. After hearing Saint Francis of Assisi preach in the streets, she confided to him her desire to live for God, the two became close friends. On Palm Sunday 1212 the bishop presented her with a palm, which she apparently took as a sign. Clare and her cousin Pacifica ran away from her mother's palace during the night. She eventually took the veil of religious profession from Francis at the Church of Our Lady of the Angels in Assisi.
Founded the Order of Poor Ladies (Poor Clares) at San Damiano, and led it for 40 years. Everywhere the Franciscans established themselves throughout Europe, there also went the Poor Clares, depending solely on alms, forced to have complete faith on God to provide through people; a lack of land-based revenues was a new idea at the time. Clare's mother and sisters later joined the order, and there are still thousands of members living lives of prayer in silence.
Clare loved music and well-composed sermons. She was humble, merciful, charming, optimistic, and chivalrous. She would get up late at night to tuck in her sisters who'd kicked off their covers. She daily meditated on the Passion. When she learned of the Franciscan martyrs in Morrocco in 1221, she tried to go there to give her own life for God, but was restrained. Once when her convent was about to be attacked, she displayed the Sacrament in a monstrance at the convent gates, and prayed before it; the attackers left.
Toward the end of her life, when the was too ill to attend Mass, an image of the service would display on the wall of her cell; thus her patronage of television. She was ever the close friend and spiritual student of Francis, who apparently led her soul into the light.
Born
16 July 1194 at Assisi, Italy
Died
11 August 1253 of natural causes
Canonized
26 September 1255 by Pope Alexander IV
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 08/18
Tridentine Calendar - 08/18
Patron Of:
Archeologists
Profile
Converted to Christianity late in life. Married Constantius Chlorus, co-regent of the western Roman empire. Mother of Constantine the Great. Her husband put her aside for a second marriage with better political connections. On his death, her son ascended to the throne, brought her home, and treated her as royalty. She used her high position and wealth in the service of her religious enthusiasm, and helped build churches throughout the empire.
At the age of 80 she led a group to the Holy Land to search for the True Cross. She and her group unearthed three crosses in 326. At the suggestion of Saint Macarius of Jerusalem, she took them to a woman afflicted with an incurable disease, and had her touch each one. One of them immediately cured her, and it was pronounced the True Cross. She built a church on the spot where the cross was found, and sent pieces to Rome and Constantinople; the Feast of the Holy Cross on 14 September celebrates the event. Thus in art, she is usually depicted holding a wooden cross.
Born
250
Died
330 of natural causes
Canonized
Pre-Congregation
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 12/27
Patron Of:
Booksellers
Apostle of Charity
Beloved Apostle
Beloved Disciple
Giovanni Evangelista
John the Divine
John the Evangelist
Memorial
27 December (Roman Catholic)
8 May (Greek Orthodox)
6 May (before the Latin gate)
Profile
Son of Zebedee and Salome. Fisherman. Brother of Saint James the Great, and called one of the Sons of Thunder. Disciple of Saint John the Baptist. Friend of Saint Peter the Apostle. Called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry, and traveled everywhere with Him, becoming so close as to be known as the beloved disciple. Took part in the Last Supper. The only one of the Twelve not to forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion, standing at the foot of the cross. Made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, he took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at the lake of Tiberias, he was the first to recognize Him.
During the era of the new Church, he worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. During Jesus' ministry, he tried to block a Samaritan from their group, but Jesus explained the open nature of the new Way, and he worked on that principle to found churches in Asia Minor and baptizing converts in Samaria. Imprisoned with Peter for preaching after Pentecost. Wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation. Survived all his fellow apostles.
Traditional stories:
Emperor Dometian had him brought to Rome, beaten, poisoned, and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, but he stepped out unharmed and was banished to Patmos instead.
When John was en route to preach in Asia, his ship was wrecked in a storm; all but John were cast ashore. John was assumed dead, but 2 weeks later the waves cast him ashore alive at the feet of his disciple Prochoros.
When John denounced idol worship as demonic, followers of Artemis stoned him; the rocks turned and hit the throwers.
He prayed in a temple of Artemis; fire from heaven killed 200 men who worshipped the idol. When the remaining group begged for mercy, he raised the 200 from the dead; they all converted and were baptized.
Drove out a demon who had lived in a pagan temple for 249 years.
Aboard ship, he purified vessels of sea water for drinking.
Ceonops, a magician, pretended to bring three dead people come to life; the "people" were actually demons who mimicked people so the magician could turn people away from Christ. Through prayer, John caused the magician to drown and the demons to vanish.
Once a year his grave gave off a fragrant dust that cured the sick.
Died
c.101 at Ephesus (modern Turkey); a church was built over his tomb, which was later converted to a mosque
Name Meaning
God is gracious; gift of God
Patronage
against burns
against poison
art dealers
Asia Minor
authors
bookbinders
booksellers
burn victims
Cleveland, Ohio, diocese of
compositors
editors
Eger, Hungary, archdiocese of
engravers
friendships
lithographers
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, diocese of
Morra, Netherlands
painters
papermakers
poisoning
printers
publishers
Sundern, Germany
tanners
Taos, New Mexico
theologians
typesetters
Umbria, Italy
writers
Wroclaw, Poland
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 12/27
Tridentine Calendar - 5/6
Patron Of:
Bookbinders, Theologians, Poisoning, Authors, Writers, Art Dealers, Publishers, Asia Minor, Booksellers, Compositors, Engravers, Lithographers, Paper Makers, Painters, Editors, Typesetters, Papermakers
Also known as
Apostle of Charity; Beloved Apostle; Beloved Disciple; Giovanni Evangelista; John the Divine; John the Evangelist
Profile
Son of Zebedee and Salome. Fisherman. Brother of Saint James the Great, and called one of the Sons of Thunder. Disciple of Saint John the Baptist. Friend of Saint Peter the Apostle. Called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry, and traveled everywhere with Him, becoming so close as to be known as the beloved disciple. Took part in the Last Supper. The only one of the Twelve not to forsake the Savior in the hour of His Passion, standing at the foot of the cross. Made guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, he took her into his home. Upon hearing of the Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at the lake of Tiberias, he was the first to recognize Him.
During the era of the new Church, he worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. During Jesus' ministry, he tried to block a Samaritan from their group, but Jesus explained the open nature of the new Way, and he worked on that principle to found churches in Asia Minor and baptizing converts in Samaria. Imprisoned with Peter for preaching after Pentecost. Wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation. Survived all his fellow apostles.
Traditional stories:
* Emperor Dometian had him brought to Rome, beaten, poisoned, and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil, but he stepped out unharmed and was banished to Patmos instead.
* When John was en route to preach in Asia, his ship was wrecked in a storm; all but John were cast ashore. John was assumed dead, but 2 weeks later the waves cast him ashore alive at the feet of his disciple Prochoros.
* When John denounced idol worship as demonic, followers of Artemis stoned him; the rocks turned and hit the throwers.
* He prayed in a temple of Artemis; fire from heaven killed 200 men who worshipped the idol. When the remaining group begged for mercy, he raised the 200 from the dead; they all converted and were baptized.
* Drove out a demon who had lived in a pagan temple for 249 years.
* Aboard ship, he purified vessels of sea water for drinking.
* Ceonops, a magician, pretended to bring three dead people come to life; the "people" were actually demons who mimicked people so the magician could turn people away from Christ. Through prayer, John caused the magician to drown and the demons to vanish.
* Once a year his grave gave off a fragrant dust that cured the sick.
Died
c.101 at Ephesus (modern Turkey); a church was built over his tomb, which was later converted to a mosque
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 10/01
Tridentine Calendar - 10/01
Roman Rite Calendar - 01/10
Patron Of:
Aviators, Tuberculosis, Florists, Missionaries, Missions, Domestic, France, Loss of Parents, African Missions, AIDS Sufferers, Air Crews, Aircraft Pilots, Flower Growers, Illness
- Also known as
-
Teresa of the Infant Jesus;
Therese of the Child Jesus;
the Little Flower;
the Little Flower of Jesus
Profile
Born to a middle-class French family. Her father, Louis, was a watchmaker, her mother, who died of cancer when Therese was 4, was a lace maker, and both have been declared Venerable by the Church. Cured from an illness at age eight when a statue of the Blessed Virgin smiled at her. Carmelite nun at age 15. Defined her path to God and holiness as "The Little Way," which consisted of love and trust in God. At the direction of her spiritual director, and against her wishes, she dictated her famed autobiography Story of a Soul. Many miracles attributed to her. Declared a Doctor of the Church in 1997 by Pope John Paul II.
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux
Born
2 January 1873 at Alcon, Normandy, France
Died
7pm Thursday 30 September 1897 at Lisieux, France of tuberculosis
Venerated
14 August 1921 by Pope Benedict XV
Beatified
29 April 1923 by Pope Pius XI
Canonized
17 May 1925 by Pope Pius XI
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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Feast Day:
Roman Rite Calendar - 06/22
Tridentine Calendar - 06/22
Patron Of:
Adopted Children, Civil Servants, Court Workers, Difficult Marriages, Stepparents, Widowers, Lawyers, Large Families, Politicians, Statesmen
Profile
Studied at London and Oxford. Page for the Archbishop of Canterbury. Lawyer. Twice married, father of one son and three daughters, and a devoted family man. Writer. Friend of King Henry VIII. Lord Chancellor of England, a position of power second only to the king. Opposed the king on the matter of royal divorce, and refused to swear the Oath of Supremacy which declared the king the head of the Church in England. Resigned the Chancellorship, and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Martyred for his refusal to bend his religious beliefs to the king's political needs.
Born
1478 at London, England
Died
beheaded in 1535; head kept in the Roper Vault, Saint Dunstan's church, Canterbury, England; body at Saint Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London, England
Canonized
1935 by Pope Pius XI
All information used with permission of the Patron Saint Index.
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1. Six Things You Didn’t Know About Saint Peter Canisius Jesuit, and Doctor 12/20/2012
2. Facts and Legends About St. Lucy 12/13/2012
3. Five Reasons to Love St. Francis Xavier 12/03/2012
4. What's So Great About Saint Gertrude? 11/16/2012
5. St. Albert and Aristotle: The Gift of Faith and Reason 11/13/2012
6. A Shining Saint: Five Points of Faith for Frances Cabrini 11/12/2012
7. St. Bridget: Prayers, yes. Promises, no. 11/01/2012
8. The North American Martyrs: Torture and Triumph 10/19/2012
9. You Know John of the Cross but What About Paul? 10/19/2012
10. St. Teresa of Avila's Top Five Friends in High (Heavenly) Places 10/15/2012
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