Saint Stephen of Hungary
The first Hungarian king was a pivotal player in the Christianization of the Magyar country. He encouraged the establishment of Christianity with various laws and availed himself of the help of the Cluniac monks for the evangelization of the country.
Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
On 1 November 1950, Pius XII solemnly defined the dogma of the Assumption of Mary: “We pronounce, declare, and define it to be a divinely revealed dogma: that 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”
Saint Maximilian Mary Kolbe
The “martyr of love” reminded the world, in the midst of the destruction of mankind in the Nazi concentration camps, of all the fruitfulness and power of faith, sacrificing himself to save a family man.
Saints Pontian and Hippolytus
Before being deported together to Sardinia, the holy martyrs Pontian and Hippolytus (†235) had found themselves on opposite sides...
Saint Jane Frances de Chantal
She co-founded the Order of the Visitation, with St. Francis de Sales
Saint Clare of Assisi
Before following the example of St. Francis and continuing his work by founding the Poor Clares, a female branch of his order, Saint Clare of Assisi (c. 1193-1253) had been able to ask in prayer and meditate in her heart about what God was calling her to do.
Saint Lawrence
The date of 10 August already appeared in the Depositio Martyrum, written around 336, confirming the antiquity of the cult of Saint Lawrence
Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
Born Edith Stein (1891-1942), she was proclaimed co-patroness of Europe by John Paul II. Her life contains much of the dramatic history of the 20th century. A century from which she - daughter of Israel - emerged, incarnating in herself the mystery of Christ crucified and risen.
Saint Dominic
The founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, commonly known as Dominicans, taught his friars that “our study must primarily, with ardour, with every energy, aim to make us useful to our brothers”, with the aim of saving souls.
Saint Cajetan of Thiene
Saint Cajetan of Thiene, founder of the Theatines, is among the most luminous figures of the Catholic Reformation.
Transfiguration of the Lord
Saint John Paul II wrote that the Gospel scene of the Transfiguration of Our Lord can be taken as an “icon of Christian contemplation”.
Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore
It is so called to indicate its pre-eminence over all the other churches in the world named after the Blessed Virgin. Its name is linked to the centuries-old cult of Our Lady of the Snow.