#portraitsofsaints

Saint Mary Magdalene

1st century

Feast day: July 22

Patronage: contemplative life, converts, glove makers, hairdressers, penitent sinners, sexual temptation

St. Mary Magdalen has been called the second-most important woman in the New Testament after Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary Magdalene traveled with Jesus as one of His followers. She was present at Jesus' two most important moments: the crucifixion and the resurrection. Within the four Gospels, the oldest historical record mentioning her name, she is named at least 12 times, more than most of the apostles. The Gospel references describe her as courageous, brave enough to stand by Jesus in his hours of suffering, death and beyond.

Saint Joan of Arc

1412-1431

Feast day: May 30

Patronage: France; martyrs; captives; military personnel; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; soldiers

Joan of Arc, national heroine of France, was born in 1412 during the Hundred Years War. At age 12 she began receiving visions of Saint Michael, as well as other angels and saints, telling her to drive out the English. Possessing remarkable mental and physical courage, Joan led the French army to victory over the British at Orleans when she was 18. Several additional victories led to Charles VII’s coronation. Eventually burned at the stake, she held up a cross calling continually upon the name of Jesus. A retrial declared her innocent in 1456 making her a martyr. Joan of Arc was canonized 500 years later.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist.

Happy Birthday, Saint John!

He lept for joy at the greeting from the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Divine Mercy

[Jesus said,] I am offering people a vessel with which they are to keep coming for graces to the fountain of mercy. That vessel is this image with the signature: “Jesus, I trust in You” (Diary, 327).

Saint Christina the Astonishing

1150-1224

Feast Day: July 24

Patronage: Those who suffer from mental disorders, health care workers for the mentally ill, Millers

Saint Christina the Astonishing was orphaned as a teenager and became a shepherdess. She died when she had a massive seizure and during her funeral, Christina rose and levitated to the roof of the church. Jesus gave her a choice to go to heaven or do penance for those in purgatory. She voluntarily consented to do extreme penances, that were witnessed by many including Cardinal Jacque de Vitry. She entered a Dominican monastery where she died at 74 of natural causes.

Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary

Feast day: March 19

May 1

Patronage: The Catholic Church, unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, against doubt and hesitation, and of a happy death

“Joseph, son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her, is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus. For he shall save his people from their sins.” -Matt. 1:20-21

He is Risen! "The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation of our Christian faith and the source of our eternal hope." - Saint Leo the Great