Found 25 resource(s) in 'Holy Days', for October 2019.
High Days and Holy Days for October (all)
Editor: As saints don’t go away, we add to them each year rather than start afresh. The saints with an asterisk appear on this site for the first time… 1 Anthony Ashley-Cooper, 7th Earl of Shaftesbury – the Poor Man’s Earl 1 Remigius 1 Theresa of Lisieux 2 Your Guardian Angel 3 Hewald the Black... (7518 words)1st Oct: 7th Earl of Shaftesbury – the Poor Man’s Earl
Think of Piccadilly Circus, and that small statue of the angel poised with bow and arrow. Most people think it stands for Eros. It does not. It stands for Anteros, his brother, the god of selfless love. It is a memorial to the greatest Christian Victorian philanthropist, politician and social reformer of his generation –... (650 words)1st Oct Theresa of Lisieux – making the most of life
Theresa of Lisieux (1873-97) should be the patron saint of teenage girls and young women who want to make the most of their lives, despite being constrained by family and school or work. Theresa grew up in a strict, devout Roman Catholic middle-class family in France, one of four sisters. Her father was a watch-maker. ... (308 words)1st Oct Remigius – praying for ill children
If you’ve ever prayed for the ill children of non-Christian friends, then you are following in the steps of Remigius (d.533). Remigius was bishop of Reims late in the 5th century, and the king’s son was ill. The queen, Clotild, was a Christian, but the king of the Franks, Clovis I, was not. Then Remigius... (168 words)2 Guardian Angels – keeping an eye on us
The teaching of Jesus encourages us to believe in guardian angels. He once said, ‘See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.’ (Matthew 18:10) The existence of angels was suggested in various... (246 words)3 Hewalds the Black and White – martyred because they were different
With Islamic State’s current savage persecution of Iraqi Christians in mind, here are two saints for this autumn: Hewald the Black and Hewald the White (d.c. 695). These 7th century Anglo-Saxon priests were living peacefully in Frisia among the Old Saxons, worshipping the Christian God by daily Mass on a portable altar, and reverently devoting... (167 words)4 St Francis – and the Life of Simplicity
Just about the only thing most people know about Francis of Assisi is that he talked to the birds. Church-goers also know the popular hymn based on his famous prayer, ‘Make me a channel of your Peace’, which was sung at the funeral of Princess Diana. However, Italy’s patron saint, whose feast day is this... (313 words)4 St Francis of Assisi – love for the Creation
St Francis (1181 – 1226) is surely one of the most attractive and best-loved of all the saints. But he began by being anything but a saint. Born the son of a wealthy cloth-merchant of Assisi, Francis’ youth was spent in fast-living, parties and on fast horses as a leader of the young society of... (514 words)6 William Tyndale, Bible translator and Reformation martyr
This month is the 501th anniversary of the beginning of the Reformation, and so a good time to pay tribute to an outstanding English scholar, translator and martyr of the Reformation. William Tyndale (c. 1494 – 6th October 1536) was born near Gloucester, and studied at Oxford and Cambridge. He could speak seven languages, and... (415 words)8 Demetrius of Sirmium – taking a stand, and suffering for it
Demetrius of Sirmium should be the patron saint of anyone who takes a stand for the right, despite knowing they will suffer for it. Demetrius was a soldier from Serbia in the fourth century. He fought for the Roman Emperor, and that took courage. Then Demetrius converted to Christianity – and took his stand with... (195 words)9 Luis Bertran – patron saint of Columbia
Do you want your life to make a difference – for the good – in this world? Then Luis Bertran (1526-81) is the saint for you. This fearless Dominican priest so inspired tens of thousands of people in Latin America that he was chosen as patron of Columbia. Luis Bertran was born at Valencia in... (373 words)9 Denys of Paris – why losing your head is not always a bad thing
Have you ever held your head in your hands and felt that events were against you? Then Denys is the saint for you. This Christian martyr knew all about holding his head in his hands when times got rough. According to Gregory of Tours, Denys was an Italian bishop who became the first bishop of... (273 words)*NEW 10th Oct: Thomas Traherne – lover of nature
Thomas Traherne (1636 – 1674) is a good saint for anyone who loves our planet, and who wants to preserve Creation. This 17th century poet and clergyman wrote extensively about his love for nature, seeing in it a reflection of the glory of God. Traherne was not of a literary family, for his father was... (367 words)10 Francis Borgia – ‘the Jesuits’ second founder’
Here is a saint for you if you have lost the person you love. Here is a saint for you if you would not let your wealth and security stop you from doing something daringly good with your life. Francis Borgia (1510 – 72) certainly began with it ‘all’. He was the son of a... (394 words)13 Edward the Confessor – helping to found Westminster Abbey
If you approve of giving money to help cathedrals survive, then Edward the Confessor (1003 – 66) is the saint for you. This early King of England was the virtual founder of Westminster Abbey. And never mind entrance charges – at one point in his life, Edward was giving a full tenth of his income... (277 words)14 Donation – North Africa Christian martyr
Some Christians today have the curious idea that being a Christian guarantees a prosperous life in this world. St Paul was more realistic – throughout his epistles he urges Christians to pray for patience and endurance in this world. Donation (martyred c 484) is a timely reminder that we are called to be witnesses, and... (117 words)18 Thank you, Dr Luke!
by David Winter ‘Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, bless the bed that I lie on’ – my grandma taught me that one. At least it meant I never forgot the names of the writers of the four Gospels. This month Luke, the writer of the third of them, has his feast day – 18th October.... (408 words)18 St Luke the Evangelist – linking the sacred and the profane
To St Luke, a Gentile, we owe the beautifully written Gospel of Luke, and the Book of Acts. He was a Greek physician, a disciple of St Paul, a companion on some of his missionary journeys, and an inspired writer. Luke’s gospel focuses on the compassion of Christ. His gospel contains some of the most... (210 words)22 Donatus – and the danger of exploring an unfamiliar church
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... (270 words)24 Felix of Thibiuca – the man who would not give up his Bible
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... (308 words)26 Alfred the Great, King of the West Saxons, scholar, d AD 899
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 (871-99). This remarkable and best known of all the Anglo-Saxon rulers may have dozed off and let some cakes burn while a peasant... (261 words)27 Odran of Iona – fought over by the spirits
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... (134 words)28 Simon and Jude – warning against moral infections
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 …. ... (178 words)30 Alphonsus Rodriguez – when life takes everything you value
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... (244 words)31 All Hallows Eve – or Holy Evening
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:... (328 words)
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