Viewing all items in Resource Category: Holy Days
Featuring the Saints whose feast-day is this month
- When you are out and about on the road far from home, ever feel tempted to pop in and explore an unfamiliar church? If so, think of Donatus as your patron saint – and beware. You don’t know what you may be letting yourself in for…. In 829 Donatus, an Irish monk, had completed a...22nd October Donatus – and the danger of exploring an unfamiliar church
- Do you value your Bible? If so, Felix of Thibiuca (247 – 303) is a good patron saint for you. The year was 303, and Diocletian was emperor in Rome. In February of that year he decided that Christians were NOT a good thing. So he issued an edict: all copies of the Christian Scriptures...24th October Felix of Thibiuca – the man who would not give up his Bible
- Can you think of a politician who deserves to be called a saint? If no one currently living politician comes to mind, never mind – there is always King Alfred of Wessex (871-899). This remarkable and best known of all the Anglo-Saxon rulers may have dozed off and let some cakes burn while a peasant...26th October Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons
- Odran is a suitable saint to remember as Halloween approaches, for his story involves the spirit world. British by birth, Odran (died c. 563) was one of Columba’s first companions on Iona. Sadly, he died not long after his arrival on the island. But Columba found comfort, for in a vision he saw Odran’s soul...27th October Odran of Iona – fought over by the spirits
- Jude the apostle and martyr (1st century) warns us in his epistle that not all ‘evil’ comes in the form of obvious ghosties and ghoulies. He writes instead to warn the Christians of the greater danger of people who infect others with heresy and moral failure. He writes that they are nothing more than …. ...28th October Simon and Jude – warning against moral infections
- If you have done your best to live ‘right’, and still had nothing but trouble and heartache in your life, Alphonsus is the saint for you. He was born in 1533, the son of a wool merchant in Segovia. He followed his father into the profession, married, and had two children. He was a responsible...30th October Alphonsus Rodriguez – when life takes everything you value
- Modern Halloween celebrations have their roots with the Celtic peoples of pre-Christian times. In those long-ago days, on the last night of October, the Celts celebrated the Festival of Samhain, or ‘Summer’s End’. The priests, or Druids, performed ceremonies to thank and honour the sun. For there was a very dark side to all this:...31st October All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening
- Sundays of the Month Editor: Continuing our new feature, as we thought you might find it helpful to know what the Sundays of each month are called… 3rd September 13th Sunday after Trinity 10th September 14th Sunday after Trinity / Education Sunday 17th September 15th Sunday after Trinity 24th September 16th Sunday after Trinity...High Days and Holy Days for September (all)
- St Drithelm is the saint for you if you have ever wondered what lies beyond death, or have had a near-death experience. He was married and living in Cunningham (now Ayrshire, then Northumbria) in the 7th century when he fell ill and apparently died. When he revived a few hours later he caused panic among...1st September St Drithelm – vision of the after-life
- St Giles was an immensely popular saint in the Middle Ages, and no wonder: he was the patron saint of cripples. In those days, there were many people who, once injured, were never really whole again. Even today, a serious injury – either physical or mental or emotional, can leave us damaged for months, years...1st September St Giles of Provence – helping those damaged by life
- The Anglican Church in Australia still honours the New Guinea Martyrs of 1942. These brave men and women, 10 Australians and two Papuans, refused to leave their missionary work on the island as the Japanese military forces advanced. As one tribute to them put it: ‘They knowing full well the risk, elected to stay with...2nd September The New Guinea Martyrs of 1942
- Pope Gregory never called himself ‘the Great’, but instead ‘the Servant of the Servants of God’. Nevertheless, Gregory was one of the most important popes and influential writers of the Middle Ages. The son of a very rich Roman senator, he left the service of the State upon his conversion as a young man. Gregory...3rd September St Gregory the Great – the man who saved the ‘angels’