Viewing all items in Resource Category: Holy Days
Featuring the Saints whose feast-day is this month
- Spare a thought for John the Baptist: however rough your local sandwich bar may be, it probably doesn’t serve you locusts with a honey dip; you won’t be imprisoned for saying derogatory things about the local MP’s wife, and even the boss from hell is unlikely to have a daughter who wants to hip-hop about...29th August – The beheading of St John the Baptist
- 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
- Sundays of the Month Editor: We thought you might find it helpful to know what the Sundays of each month are called… 5th July Fifth Sunday after Trinity 12th July Sixth Sunday after Trinity 19th July Seventh Sunday after Trinity 26th July Eighth Sunday after Trinity ** High Days and Holy Days for July...High Days & Holy Days for July 2026
- 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
- 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
- St Benedict (c.480 – c.550) was an abbot and author of the famous Rule that bears his name. Because of his Rule, Benedict is also the Patriarch of Western Monasticism, and Patron Saint of Europe. Surprisingly little is known about his life. Born at Nursia, Benedict studied at Rome, which he then left before completing...11th July – St Benedict, author of the famous Rule