Viewing all items in Resource Category: Holy Days
Featuring the Saints whose feast-day is this month
- After the Bible, John Bunyan’s wonderful Christian allegory, the Pilgrim’s Progress, is one of the most celebrated and widely-read books in the English language. It has been translated into more than one hundred languages around the world and keeps its place as a Christian classic. Names of people and places from its pages have been...30th August – John Bunyan, the man who wrote Pilgrim’s Progress
- 31st August is the feast of St Aidan, who brought Christianity to northern England. He is a strong contender for the title of the first English bishop. Not that honours meant a great deal to this austere but captivating character. In 635 he came to Northumbria at the invitation of the local ruler, Oswald. Oswald...31st August – Aidan, the man who brought Christianity to England
- Raymond Nonnatus (1204 – 40) is a good patron saint for anyone who does not take life for granted. The account of his own life begins with the story of how his mother died just before his birth, and of how Raymond was somehow extracted from her dead body just in time to save him.(‘Nonnatus’...31st August – Raymond Nonnatus, redeeming slaves from a living death
- Osmund is the saint for you if you like cathedrals, or if you have ever met the dean, precentor, chancellor or treasurer of one. Why? Because nearly 1,000 years ago, it was St Osmund who first invented all those roles, and it was he who also decreed that a cathedral is to be the ‘mother...*NEW 16th July – St Osmund, bishop with a genius for cathedrals
- Sundays of the Month Editor: We thought you might find it helpful to know what the Sundays of each month are called… 6th July Third Sunday after Trinity 13th July Fourth Sunday after Trinity 20th July Fifth Sunday after Trinity 27th July Sixth Sunday after Trinity ** High Days and Holy Days for July As...High Days & Holy Days (all) for July 2025
- Most Christians in the UK have heard of the Church Mission Society or CMS. Far fewer have heard of the Revd Henry Venn (1796-1873), whose father, the rector of Clapham, founded CMS in 1799, and who himself became the greatest missionary strategist of the 19th century. Not that Henry Venn ever became a missionary himself;...1st July – Henry Venn of the CMS
- Do you ever admire relief workers? Those hardy folk who regularly appear on our TV screens, actively seeking out the disease-ridden, starving, destitute people of the world, instead of avoiding them, as most of us try and do. John Francis Regis (1597 – 1640) could be a patron saint of relief workers. It all began...2nd July – St John Francis Regis, patron saint for relief workers
- Thomas, one of Jesus’ 12 apostles, was an impulsive, confused, honest sceptic. Jesus could understand and work with such a man. Thomas’ impulsiveness was evident when Jesus prepared to visit Lazarus in Bethany. It was a dangerous trip to make, because of the Jews, but Thomas urged his fellow disciples: “Let us also go, that...3rd July – St Thomas the Apostle, confused and doubting
- St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 1336) could be the patron saint of all well-to-do women who have compassionate hearts. As wife of Denis, the King of Portugal, Elizabeth became a byword for her acts of piety and charity to the poor. She founded convents, hospitals, and shelters for prostitutes. After Denis died she became...4th July – St Elizabeth of Portugal, compassion for prostitutes
- These days, lawyers and politicians are held in the lowest esteem by the public, along with tabloid journalists and estate agents. St Thomas More was both a lawyer and politician, who is today much admired for holding steadfastly to his faith-based principles. He lived in dangerous times, when anyone, even queens, who displeased King Henry...6th July – Thomas More, Reformation martyr
- Have you ever noticed how life-enhancing good ministers are? St Boisil (d.c.661) should be their patron saint. He did nothing spectacular, but he did everything that mattered. Boisil was a monk who became abbot of Melrose, in the Irish monastic tradition. Boisil knew about God – he had spent years in study, and this earned...7th July – St Boisil of Melrose, patron saint for ordinands?
- Where do you go on your summer travels? If you enjoy including a Christian element to your trips, such as making a pilgrimage, or visiting places rich in Christian history, then St. Willibald (d. 876) is the saint for you this month. He was one of the most widely travelled Anglo-Saxons of his time. Willibald...7th July – St Willibald, the first ever Anglo-Saxon travel writer