SAINTS OF THE MONTH: LISTING

Feast Day: December 1
Beatified: November 13, 2005
Venerated: April 24, 2001

Charles was raised by his grandfather in Strasbourg, France, after his parents died in 1864, when he...
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Feast Day: December 3
Canonized: March 12, 1622
Beatified: October 25, 1619

The Catholic Church calls Saint Francis Xavier “the Apostle to the Indies” and “the Apostle of Japan.” The word apostle means “one who is sent.” Jesus sent his twelve apostles out to announce the coming of God’s kingdom. Hundreds of years later, the Church sent Francis Xavier out to preach the...
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Feast Day: December 4
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

John was born in 676 and raised in Damascus. His father worked for the Muslim government which controlled the city, but John’s family were faithful Christians and respected in the community. John inherited his father’s job, but he resigned when people began to complain that a Muslim, not a Christian, should have the job.

John was...
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Feast Day: December 6
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Every year at Christmas, children await Santa Claus. When they get older, they think he is just make believe. But Santa Claus really lived—long, long ago. His generosity is based on a saint who was a great gift-giver.

Nicholas was born to a wealthy family in what is today Turkey in the latter part of the third century. When he...
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Feast Day: December 7
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

God gave many talents to Saint Ambrose. He used them to keep the Church true to God's Word. In 340 AD, Ambrose was born in Trier, one of Germany's oldest cities. His father served there as an important Roman soldier. When he grew up, Ambrose became a lawyer and was the governor of Milan in Italy.

In 374, the bishop of Milan died...
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Feast Day: December 9
Canonized: July 31, 2002
Beatified: April 9, 1990

Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin was born in Mexico in 1474. Everyday, he rose before dawn and walked 15 miles to Mass in what is today Mexico City. On December 9, 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to Juan as he passed Tepeyac Hill. She said that she wanted a church to be built on that site. She told Juan to go...
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Feast Day: December 11
Canonized: May 4, 2003
Beatified: May 10, 1998
Venerated: December 17, 1996

María Maravillas Pidal y Chico de Guzmán was born into an important royal family in Madrid, Spain, in 1891. Her father was also Spain’s ambassador to the Vatican. The family was very religious, and María was always encouraged to put God first in her life. She prayed that the Holy...
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People in Mexico and in the United States celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. Mary is the Patron Saint of Mexico and Patroness of the Americas. Every year, thousands of people from all over the country make a pilgrimage to the Basilica in Mexico City. The day commemorates her apparition to Saint Juan Diego in the hills...
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Feast Day: December 13
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Odilia, also known as Odile, was born in France in the seventh century. Her father was the Duke of Alsace. When she was still an infant, her parents realized that she was blind. Her father was so angry that he ordered his only child put to death. But Odilia’s mother convinced him to allow Odilia to be raised by nuns.

The nuns raised...
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Feast Day: December 13
Canonized: Pre-Congregation

Lucy lived so long ago that many details of her life are unknown to us. We do know that she came from the island of Sicily and that she died in the year 304. We have proof that she was beloved by the early Christians because her name is prayed in the first Eucharistic Prayer at Mass.

There are many stories and legend about this young...
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