#portraitsofsaints

Our Lady of Knock

Queen of Ireland

Feast Day: August 17

In the small town of Knock, Ireland 1879, Our Lady appeared to two women in the back of the town church. Mary was clothed in white garments and wearing a brilliant crown. By her side was St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist. Behind them, an altar with a lamb and a cross on it. The women called several others to the church who were also able to see this miracle. 10 days after the apparition a young girl, born deaf, was able to hear. By the end of the 1800s, over 300 cures were recorded by the parish priest. One-and-a-half million people make a pilgrimage to Knock annually.

Saint Hyacinth

Apostle of Poland

1185-1257

Feast Day: August 17

Patronage: Lithuania, UST-College of Tourism and Hospitality, Basilica of St. Hyacinth, those in danger of drowning

Saint Hyacinth was born to nobility and well educated, earning a Doctorate of Canon Law and Divinity. He received the Dominican habit from St. Dominic himself, who sent him to preach in Poland, Denmark, Prussia, Lithuania, Sweden, Norway, China, and Tibet. He established Churches, Convents, and Catholic communities. While saying Mass in Kiev, the Tartars were attacking the city. After he finished the Mass, he took the ciborium containing the Eucharist and a beloved statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary and fled, leading the people to the deep river Dnieper. They crossed with dry feet, infuriating the pursuing Tartars who could not follow them. It’s said that Hyacinth’s footprints remained on the water and could be seen for centuries afterward. He died on the feast of the Assumption worn out from his tireless preaching.

Saint Beatrice of Silva

1424-1492

Feast Day: September 1, August 17 (trad.)

Patronage: Conceptionist nuns, prisoners

Saint Beatrice of Silva was born in Portugal to nobility and raised in the household of the future Queen Isabella of Castile. She became Isabella’s lady in waiting but incurred her jealous wrath because of her beauty. Queen Isabella had her imprisoned. She escaped to a Cistercian convent in Toledo and lived there until at 60 years old she had a vision from Our Lady to start a new order of nuns, the Congregation of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She died of natural causes.

Saint Stephen King of Hungary

975 - August 15, 1038

Feast Day: August 16

Patronage: Hungary, kings, masons, stonecutters, stonemasons and bricklayers

Saint Stephen I, a devout Christian king, was baptized at ten with his father, the Magyar chieftain Geza. Stephen married Gisela, daughter of Duke Henry of Bavaria and then succeeded his father as leader in 997 and devoted most of his reign to the devotion of the Christian faith. In 1000 Stephen was anointed the first king of Hungary. He established Churches, a monastery in Jerusalem for pilgrims, a system of tithes to support the Church and the poor, and abolished pagan customs. He died on August 15 after an assassination attempt and many illnesses. He was buried alongside his son St. Emeric, and the two were canonized together in 1083.

The Assumption of Mary

Feast Day: August 15

The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever Virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory [Pius XII, Munificentissimus Deus 44].

Saint Tarcisius

3rd Century

Feast Day: August 15

Patronage: Altar Servers and First Holy Communicants

St.Tarcisius is said to have been about 12 years old when he was beaten to death by a mob rather than deliver to them the Blessed Sacrament, which he was carrying to prisoners awaiting martyrdom under Valerian. He went instead of a priest because he was less recognizable. Legend is, that in spite of killing Tarcisius, those thugs were unable to pry open his hands to get control of the Body of Christ. Only later, when his body was returned to a priest, could the Eucharist be easily taken from his dead hands.

Saint Arnold of Soissons

1040-1087

Feast Day: August 14

Patronage: brewers, hop pickers, millers, music, to find lost articles

Saint Arnold (Arnulf) of Soissons had been a career soldier before he became a Benedictine hermit at the Abby of St. Medard in Soissons, France, where he reluctantly accepted the role of Abbot. When the abbey changed bishops, St. Arnold founded another abbey, St.Peter in Oudenburg, Flanders. It was here that he enthusiastically brewed a low alcohol beer that even protected the locals from the plague (from the bad pathogens in the water.) Once when the abbey roof collapsed and destroyed the stored beer, he prayed that the supply be restored, which happily it was.

Saint Maximus the Confessor

580-662

Feast Day: August 13

Father of the Church

Saint Maximus the Confessor, also known as Maximus the Theologian, was born to nobility and worked for Emperor Heraclius before he became a monk. He worked with Pope Martin I against the Monothelitism heresy, the doctrine that Christ had 2 natures but one will. He attended the Lateran Council in 649. He was falsely accused of treason for his orthodox positions, taken prisoner and at 82, tortured (his tongue cut out and right hand cut off) and died. He’s noted for his 90 works on theology, mysticism, and dogmatic instructions and writings.