February Saints

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

The presentation of the Lord commemorates Jesus’ first appearance in the Temple. In Luke’s account, Jesus was welcomed in the temple by Simeon and Anna. They represent Israel's patient expectation and the acknowledgment of the infant Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah.

In the 8th century, Pope Sergius inaugurated a candlelight procession for this feast. This traditional celebration has endured, giving this feast its popular name – Candlemass. 

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The Feast of St. Blaise

Saint Blaise is the patron saint of throat illnesses. He is also one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers – a group of saints each revered for their effective intercession against various diseases.

The group originated in the 14th-century in the Rhineland as a result of the Black Death. Without the advancements of modern medicine, people turned to their faith for hope and comfort as the plague ravaged Europe.

The legendary "Acts of St. Blaise," written 400 years after his martyrdom in historical Armenia around 316 AD, tells of St. Blaise's alleged power to perform miraculous healings. As bishop, he tirelessly strived to encourage the health and overall wellbeing of his people.

Saint Blaise and the Fourteen Holy Helpers, pray for us as we strive to overcome the present-day pandemic. 

The Feast of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr

There's little known with confidence about St. Agatha, but according to legend, she belonged to a wealthy, important family. She dedicated her life to God from a young age, resisting any men who wanted to marry her.

A high-ranking official named Quintian sought to force her to marry him. Knowing she was a Christian in a time of persecution, he had her arrested. He expected her to give in when threatened with torture and possible death. She instead professed her faith, saying, "Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep. Make me worthy to overcome the devil."

Quintian had her tortured. She received a vision of St. Peter and uttered a final prayer to God. "Lord, my Creator, you have always protected me from the cradle. You have taken me from the love of the world and given me patience to suffer. Receive my soul."

St. Agatha, please pray for us! 
 

The Feast of St. Paul Miki and Companions, also known as the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki

This group of native Japanese Catholics and foreign missionaries courageously gave their lives for their faith, suffering torturous deaths in 1597.

Catholicism began to spread throughout Japan in the 16th-century by the efforts of Saint Francis Xavier (1506-1552). By 1587, over 200,000 Japanese had entered the Church.

When the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki arrived in Japan from the Philippines in 1593, their zealous evangelism unsettled Japanese authorities. In an effort to frighten Japanese Christians, imperial minister Toyotomi Hideyoshi sentenced the group to death by crucifixion and lancing – a mockery of their faith.

St. Paul Miki and his 25 companions gave their lives on "Martyr's Hill" on February 5, 1597, after tediously marching 600 miles to the city of Nagasaki. Pope Pius IX canonized the Martyrs of Nagasaki in 1862.

St. Paul Miki and Companions, please pray for us! 

The Feast of St. Josephine Bakhita

February 8 is the Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita and International Day of Prayer for Victims of Human Trafficking.

Saint Bakhita was born in Olgossa in the Darfur region of southern Sudan. At the age of 7, she was kidnapped and sold into slavery. After being resold several times, she was given to Augusto Michieli in Italy, a friend of her previous purchaser.

While babysitting Augusto's daughter Mimmina, Josephine accompanied Mimmina to Venice's Institute of the Catechumens, run by the Canossian Sisters. While there, Josephine began to feel called to the Catholic Church, and was baptized and confirmed in 1890.

The Canossian Sisters and the patriarch of Venice intervened on Josephine's behalf when the Michielis returned from Africa and wanted to take Mimmina and Josephine back with them. The matter eventually went to court, where a judge concluded Josephine had actually been free since 1885, as slavery was illegal in Italy.

In 1893, Josephine entered the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa. She was beatified in 1992 and canonized 8 years later.

St. Bakhita, pray for us and the end of human trafficking.

The Feast of St. Scholastica, the 5th-century Italian nun and twin sister of St. Benedict, the "Father of Monasticism" in Western Europe

Born around 480 to a noble family in Nursia, Italy, Scholastica devoted herself to God from a very young age. Unlike her brother, Scholastica was never the subject of a formal biography, so little is known of her life apart from her commitment to religious life which paralleled that of her brother.

It is believed that she lived for some time in a community of pious virgins, eventually founding a monastery of nuns. It's likely that St. Benedict directed his sister and her nuns in the practice of the same rule of his own monks. Pope Gregory wrote that Scholastica used to visit Benedict once a year, at a house situated halfway between the two communities.

After Scholastica's death, Benedict saw her departed soul in a vision. In the likeness of a dove, Scholastica ascended into heaven. Benedict rejoiced with hymns and praise, giving thanks to God. His monks brought her body to his monastery and buried it in the grave that he had provided for himself. St. Benedict followed her soon after, and was buried in the same grave alongside his sister.

St. Scholastica, please pray for us! 

The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, a Marian apparition of the Virgin Mary to a young peasant named Bernadette

Mary visited Bernadette many times in Lourdes, France, and a basilica now stands on the site of the apparitions.

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us! 

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The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle

St. Peter was the first bishop of Rome. This feast reminds us of the significance of the ministry of St. Peter and the succession of popes who followed in his footsteps.

St. Peter, please pray for us! 

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The Feast of St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr
St. Polycarp was the leading Christian figure in Roman Asia during the second century. He was held in high regard due to his work during the initial appearance of the fundamental theological literature of Christianity. Historically, he was responsible for the link between the apostolic and patristic ages.

What may be even more important is the way in which Polycarp referred to St. Paul the Apostle in his Letter to the Philippians. He repeatedly quote from Paul’s writings but also stresses the importance of Paul as a primary authority of the Christian church.

After visiting Smyrna, Polycarp was arrested by the Roman proconsul and burned to death after his refusal to renounce Christianity. This event has been eulogized in one of the earliest known documents of this nature, the Martyrdom of Polycarp.

St. Polycarp, please pray for us.