Read about the lives of the saints. https://www.catholic.org Copyright 2026 Catholic Online en Thu, 08 Oct 2026 14:56:11 PDT https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=9 The first mention we have of these three martyrs who died around 258 A.D. comes in the sixth century in the writings of Saint Gregory of Tours. Denis (or Dionysius as he is also called) is the most famous of the three. Born and raised in Italy, he was sent as a missionary to Gaul (now France) circa 250 A.D. by Pope St. Clement along with five other bishops. Denis made his base of missionary activity an island in the Seine near the city of Lutetia Parisorium -- what would become Paris. ... Catholic Online 2026-10-09 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=9 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=8 Pelagia, more often called Margaret, on account of the magnificence of the pearls for which she had so often sold herself, was an actress of Antioch, equally celebrated for her beauty, her wealth and the disorder ofher life. During a synod at Antioch, she passed Bishop St. Nonnus of Edessa, who was struck with her beauty; the next day she went to hear him preach and was so moved by his sermon that she asked him to baptize her which he did. She gave her wealth to Nonnus to aid the poor ... Catholic Online 2026-10-08 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=8 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=7 Artaldus (also called Arthaud) was born in the castle of Sothonod in Savoy. At the age of eighteen, he went to the court of Duke Amadeus III, but a year or two after, he became a Carthusian at Portes. After many years, being a priest and an experienced and holy religious, he was sent by the prior of the Grande Chartreuse to found a charterhouse near his home, in a valley in the Valromey significantly called "the cemetery". Here Artaldus established himself with six of his brethren ... Catholic Online 2026-10-07 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=7 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=6 Bruno was born in Cologne of the prominent Hartenfaust family. He studied at the Cathedral school at Rheims, and on his return to Cologne about 1055, was ordained and became a Canon at St. Cunibert's. He returned to Rheims in 1056 as professor of theology, became head of the school the following year, and remained there until 1074, when he was appointed chancellor of Rheims by its archbishop, Manasses. Bruno was forced to flee Rheims when he and several other priests denounced Manasses in 1076 ... Catholic Online 2026-10-06 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=6 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=5 Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska of the Blessed Sacrament was born as Helena Kowalska, in Glogowiec, Leczyca County, north-west of L�³dz in Poland on August 25, 1905. She was the third of 10 children to a poor and religious family. Faustina first felt a calling to the religious life when she was just seven-years-old and attended the Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. After finishing her schooling, Faustina wanted to immediately join a convent. However, her parents refused to let her. ... Catholic Online 2026-10-05 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=5 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=4 Discover More About St. Francis of Assisi with Journey with the Saints Founder of the Franciscan Order, born at Assisi in Umbria, in 1181. In 1182, Pietro Bernardone returned from a trip to France to find out his wife had given birth to a son. Far from being excited or apologetic because he'd been gone, Pietro was furious because she'd had his new son baptized Giovanni after John the Baptist. The last thing Pietro wanted in his son was a man of God -- he wanted a man of business, a cloth ... Catholic Online 2026-10-04 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=4 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=3 Martyred Northumbrian brothers, one called "the Fair" and one called "the Dark", companions of St. Willibrord. From Northumbria, they were educated in Ireland. These priests of the Benedictine Order went with Willibrord to Frisia, Netherlands. They were martyred together at Aplerbeke, near Dortmund, Germany, by local pagans. Catholic Online 2026-10-03 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=3 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=2 Leger was raised at the court of King Clotaire II and by his uncle, Bishop Didon of Poitiers. Leger was made archdeacon by Didon, was ordained, and in about 651, became abbot of Maxentius Abbey, where he introduced the Rule of St. Benedict. He served Queen Regent St. Bathildis and helped her govern when Clovis II died in 656, and was named bishop of Autun in 663. He reconciled the differing factions that had torn the See apart, introduced reforms, fortified the town, and was known for his ... Catholic Online 2026-10-02 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=2 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=1 Discover More About St. Th�©r�¨se of Lisieux with Journey with the Saints Generations of Catholics have admired this young saint, called her the "Little Flower", and found in her short life more inspiration for their own lives than in volumes by theologians. Yet Therese died when she was 24, after having lived as cloistered Carmelite for less than ten years. She never went on missions, never founded a religious order, never performed great works. The only book of hers, published after her ... Catholic Online 2026-10-01 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=October&day=1 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=30 Before he was known as Saint Jerome, he was named Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus. He was born around 342 AD, in Stridon, Dalmatia. Today, the town, which ceased to exist in Jeromeâ��s time, would likely be in Croatia or Slovenia. The young Jerome was educated by Aelius Donatus, who was a famous Roman grammarian. From him, the young Jerome learned Latin and Greek. Little else is known of his childhood other than his parents were probably well-to-do and Christian. Despite their efforts to raise ... Catholic Online 2026-09-30 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=30 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=29 Discover More About St. Michael the Archangel with Journey with the Saints St. Michael the Archangel, also known as Saint Michael the Archangel or simply Archangel Michael, holds a significant place in the Roman Catholic tradition. He is an Archangel, associated with courage, protection, and divine intervention. Biblical and Historical Roots St. Michael's presence can be traced back to early Jewish writings, particularly in texts from the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC. In these ancient texts, he ... Catholic Online 2026-09-29 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=29 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=28 Saint Lorenzo Ruiz was born around the year 1600 in Binondo, Manila in the Philippines. He was the son of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother. Both were Christians and took care to raise Lorenzo as a Catholic. He served happily in his parish church as an altar boy and calligrapher. As a young man, Lorenzo joined the Dominican Confraternity of the Most Holy Rosary. Later, he married a woman named Rosario. The happy couple had three children, two sons and one daughter. By all ... Catholic Online 2026-09-28 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=28 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=27 St. Vincent de Paul was born to a poor peasant family in the French village of Pouy on April 24, 1581. His first formal education was provided by the Franciscans. He did so well, he was hired to tutor the children of a nearby wealthy family. He used the monies he earned teaching to continue his formal studies at the University of Toulose where he studied theology. He was ordained in 1600 and remained in Toulose for a time. In 1605, while on a ship traveling from Marseilles to Narbone, he was ... Catholic Online 2026-09-27 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=27 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=26 Sts. Cosmas and Damian were brothers, born in Arabia, who had become eminent for their skill in the science of medicine. Being Christians, they were filled with the spirit of charity and never took money for their services. At Egaea in Cilicia, where they lived, they enjoyed the highest esteem of the people. When the persecution under Diocletian broke out, their very prominence rendered them marked objects of persecution. Being apprehended by order of Lysias, governor of Cilicia, they underwent ... Catholic Online 2026-09-26 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=26 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=25 He was the son of an artisan and a lady of the Irish royal court. Born in Connaught, Ireland, and baptized Lochan, he was educated at Kilmacahil, Kilkenny, where the monks named him Fionnbharr (white head) because of his light hair; he is also known as Bairre and Barr. He went on pilgrimage to Rome with some of the monks, visiting St. David in Wales on the way back. Supposedly, on another visit to Rome the Pope wanted to consecrate him a bishop but was deterred by a vision, notifying the pope ... Catholic Online 2026-09-25 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=25 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=24 A group of forty-nine Christians slain in Chalcedon during the reign of Emperor Diocletian . Records indicate that the martyrs were members of the choir in the church of Chalcedon. Catholic Online 2026-09-24 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=24 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=23 St. Padre Pio was an Italian priest who was known for his piety and charity, as well as the gift of the stigmata, which has never been explained. St. Padre Pio was born Francesco Forgione, on May 25, 1887, in Pietrelcina, Italy. His parents were peasant farmers. He had an older brother and three younger sisters, as well as two other siblings who died in infancy. As a child, he was very religious and by the age of five he reportedly made the decision to dedicate his life to God. Fortunately, ... Catholic Online 2026-09-23 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=23 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=22 Augustinian bishop. Born at Fuentellana, Castile, Spain, he was the son of a miller. He studied at the University of Alcala, earned a licentiate in theology, and became a professor there at the age of twenty-six. He declined the chair of philosophy at the university of Salamanca and instead entered the Order of St Augustine at Salamanca in 1516. Ordained in 1520, he served as prior of several houses in Salamanca, Burgos, and Valladolid, as provincial ofAndal usia and Castile, and then court ... Catholic Online 2026-09-22 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=22 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=21 Little is known about St. Matthew, except that he was the son of Alpheus, and he was likely born in Galilee. He worked as a tax collector, which was a hated profession during the time of Christ. According to the Gospel, Matthew was working at a collection booth in Capernaum when Christ came to him and asked, "Follow me." With this simple call, Matthew became a disciple of Christ. From Matthew we know of the many doings of Christ and the message Christ spread of salvation for all people who ... Catholic Online 2026-09-21 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=21 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=20 Feastday: September 20 The evangelization of Korea began during the 17th century through a group of lay persons. A strong vital Christian community flourished there under lay leadership until missionaries arrived from the Paris Foreign Mission Society. During the terrible persecutions that occurred in the 19th century (in 1839, 1866, and 1867), one hundred and three members of the Christian community gave their lives as martyrs. Outstanding among these witnesses to the faith were the ... Catholic Online 2026-09-20 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=20 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=19 St. Januarius was born in Italy and was bishop of Benevento during the Emperor Diocletion persecution. Bishop Januarius went to visit two deacons and two laymen in prison. He was then also imprison along with his deacon and lector. They were thrown to the wild beasts, but when the animals did not attack them, they were beheaded. What is believed to be Januarius' blood is kept in Naples, as a relic. It liquifies and bubbles when exposed in the cathedral. Scientists have not been able to explain ... Catholic Online 2026-09-19 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=19 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=18 St. Joseph was born in 1603 at Cupertino, in the diocese of Nardo in the Kingdom of Naples. After spending his childhood and adolescence in simplicity and innocence, he finally joined the Franciscan Friars Minor Conventual. After his ordination to the holy priesthood, he gave himself up entirely to a life of devotion to the Lord and his church. His deep devotional life led him to the kind of holiness which is forged through humility, voluntary mortification, and obedience. He was consecrated to ... Catholic Online 2026-09-18 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=18 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=17 Born at Montepulciano, Italy, October 4, 1542, St. Robert Bellarmine was the third of ten children. His mother, Cinzia Cervini, a niece of Pope Marcellus II, was dedicated to almsgiving, prayer, meditation, fasting, and mortification of the body. Robert entered the newly formed Society of Jesus in 1560 and after his ordination went on to teach at Louvain (1570-1576) where he became famous for his Latin sermons. In 1576, he was appointed to the chair of controversial theology at the Roman ... Catholic Online 2026-09-17 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=17 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=16 Cornelius whose feast day is September 16th. A Roman priest, Cornelius was elected Pope to succeed Fabian in an election delayed fourteen months by Decius' persecution of the Christians. The main issue of his pontificate was the treatment to be accorded Christians who had been apostasized during the persecution. He condemned those confessors who were lax in not demanding penance of these Christians and supported St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, against Novatus and his dupe, Felicissimus, whom ... Catholic Online 2026-09-16 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=16 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=15 The massacre of the martyrs of Lyons with their bishop, St. Pothinus, took place during the persecutions of Marcus Aurelius in the year 177. Marcellus, a priest, we are told, by Divine intervention, managed to escape to Chalon-sur-Saone, where he was given shelter. His host was a pagan, and seeing him offer incense before images of Mars, Mercury, and Minerva, Marcellus remonstrated with and converted him. While journeying toward the North, the priest fell in with the governor Priscus, who asked ... Catholic Online 2026-09-15 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=15 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=14 Patroness of poor peasants and servants in the Tyrol. Born in Rattenberg, in the Tyrol, she was the daughter of peasants. At eighteen she became a servant in the household of Count Henry of Rattenberg When Notburga repeatedly gave food to the poor, she was dismissed by Count Henryâ��s wife, Ottilia, and took up a position as a servant to a humble farmer. Meanwhile, Henry suffering a run of misfortune and setbacks, wasted no time restoring Notburga to her post after his wife died. Notburga ... Catholic Online 2026-09-14 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=14 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=13 St. John, named Chrysostom (golden-mouthed) on account of his eloquence, came into the world of Christian parents, about the year 344, in the city of Antioch. His mother, at the age of 20, was a model of virtue. He studied rhetoric under Libanius, a pagan, the most famous orator of the age. In 374, he began to lead the life of an anchorite in the mountains near Antioch, but in 386 the poor state of his health forced him to return to Antioch, where he was ordained a priest. In 398, he ... Catholic Online 2026-09-13 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=13 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=12 Bishop and preacher, one of the saints whose life has been woven into the myths and legends of Ireland. He was a known disciple of St. Patrick, and is called Albeus in some records. What is known about Ailbhe is that he was a missionary in Ireland, perhaps sponsored by King Aengus of Munster. He was also the first bishop of Emily in Munster, Ireland. Legends and traditions abound about his life. One claims that he was left in the woods as an infant and suckled by a wolf. This legend is prompted ... Catholic Online 2026-09-12 00:00:00 https://www.catholic.org/saints/sofd.php?month=September&day=12