February

February 1
Saint Ignatius of Antioch Bishop and Martyr (-c 107)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  65-66.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 1
Saint Brigid of Kildare Abbess and Virgin (453-525)

Patron of Ireland, dairymaids, cattle, midwives, Irish nuns and newborn babies

The land of shamrocks, harps and clay pipes is not populated solely with leprechans and “little people.” Ireland is a country of love and imagination; its love is manifested by its great saints, and its imagination by the charming legends which describe them.

Since Brigid is the most popular woman saint in Ireland, there are hundreds of fascinating myths concerning her. So few facts are known about “the Mary of the Gael” that her biographers have often relied on fantasy to complete the details of her life.

It is certain that Brigid was born on her father’s dairy farm in County Louth, near the east coast of Ireland. Her parents were of noble birth and had been baptized by Saint Patrick.  Brigid was well educated as her later career shows, when she was abbess of an important monastery and had dealings with influential persons of her time.  But as a young girl at home she often made trouble–not by misbehavior but by her great generosity.  It often got her into trouble, for she gave away everything she owned to friends or beggars, and sometimes what belonged to her father too.

One day, the stories say, after preparing a feast for her father’s friends, she fed the meat intended for the guest to a dog whining near the cottage door. The hungry dog devoured the meat and Brigid could well imagine the consequences.  Surely she would pay dearly for such a wild gesture.  She hid her face in her hands and prayed.  Looking up as her father entered the room, she saw that the dog had disappeared and that the meat was again on the banquet table.

It was easy to see that this young beauty would become a problem. Her family had promised her in marriage to a rich nobleman, but Brigid had other ideas.  She had already promised God that she would remain a virgin and dedicate her life to Him, helping the poor.

How she won her way is unknown to us, but we know that in Saint Patrick’s time many Irish maidens had thus turned away from marriage and high station to dedicate themselves to God–Brigid had these examples before her.

With several other young girls she established her first convent in a small hut under a giant oak tree. The place was called Kildare (cell of the oak).

God performed many marvelous things through His virgin Brigid, as He had through Saint Patrick, and her name became known throughout the island, and afterwards in Europe, wherever the Irish missionaries went. But miracles and marvels are not her greatest honor.  Her sweet and charming character, her modesty, her single-hearted love of God that flowed over into great devotion to Christ’s poor archer crown of glory.

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  66-67.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 2
Saint Brigid Virgin (9th Century)

ANOTHER Brigid of Ireland is commemorated by the Church on this day. This Brigid was an Irish girl who, a legend tells us, was carried by angels to join her brother Saint Andrew in the mountains of Fiesole in Italy, where she began to live a solitary life of contemplation.  After her death, she was venerated as the patroness of the diocese of Fiesole.  She is also commemorated on August 20 in some parts of the world. Details of her life are remarkably scarce.

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  68.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.
February 2
Blessed Jeanne de Lestonnac Holy Woman (1556-1640)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  68-69.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 3
Saint Blaise Bishop and Martyr (-c 316)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  69-71.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 4
Saint Andrew Corsini Bishop and Confessor (1302-1373)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  71-72.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 5
The Martyrs of Japan Martyrs (-1597)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  73-74.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 6
Saint Dorothy Virgin and Martyr (-c 304)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  74-76.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 7
Saint Romuald Abbot and Confessor (c 951-1027)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  76-78.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 8
Saint John of Matha Confessor (1160-1213)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  78-80.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 9
Saint Cyril of Alexandria Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church (c 376-444)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  81-82.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 9
Saint Apollonia Virgin and Martyr ( -249)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  82-83.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 10
Saint Scholastica Abbess and Virgin (470-547)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  83-86.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 11
Saint Caedmon Confessor (-c 680)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  86-87.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 12
Saint Julian the Hospitaller Confessor (Middle Ages)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  87-89.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 12
The Seven Founders Confessors (13th Century)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  89-91.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 13
Saint Catherine de’Ricci Virgin (1522-1590)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  91-93.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 14
Saint Valentine Martyr (-c 269)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  93-95.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 15
Blessed Claude la Colombiere Confessor (1641-1682)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  95-97.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 16
Saint Juliana Virgin and Martyr (-c 304)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  97-98.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 17
Blessed Francis Regis Clet Martyr (1478-1820)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  98-99.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 18
Saint Simeon Bishop and Martyr (New Testament)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  100-101.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 19
Saint Conrad of Piacenza Hermit and Confessor (1290-1351)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  102-103.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 20
Saint Eucherius Bishop and Confessor (c 687-743)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  104-106.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 21
Blessed Robert Southwell Martyr (1561-1595)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  107-108.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 22
Saint Margaret of Cortona Holy Woman (c 1247-1297)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  109-111.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 23
Saint Peter Damian Bishop, Confessor and Doctor of the Church (c 1007-1072)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  111-113.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 24
Saint Matthias Apostle (New Testament)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  113-114.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 25
Saint Ethelbert King and Martyr (552-616)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  115-116.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 26
Saint Alexander of Alexandria Bishop and Confessor (-c. 326)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  117-119.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 27
Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows Confessor (1838-1862)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  119-121.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 28
Saint Hedwig Queen and Holy Woman (1371-1399)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  122-124.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.

February 29
The Martyrs of Alexandria Martyrs (-261)

Information from The Lives of Saints for every day of the year The Catholic Press, Inc. 1959.  125.   © 1959 Reverend John P. O’Connell, STD NIHIL OBSTAT; IMPRIMATUR Samuel Cardinal Stritch, Archbishop of Chicago May 5 1958.  Print.