Feast of Saints Celebrated in the Month of June

Justin, martyr (June 1)

also on June 1: Pamphilus and Companions, martyrs; Proculus, "the soldier," and Proculus of Bologna, bishop; Caprasius or Caprais; Wistan; Simeon of Syracuse; Eneco or Iñigo, abbot; Theobald of Alba

Marcellinus and Peter: (died c. 303): Marcellinus was a priest and Peter, an exorcist; beheaded under Diocletian; both mentioned in the Roman Canon. (June 2)

also on June 2: Erasmus, bishop and martyr; Pothinus and Companions, martyrs; Eugenius I, pope; Stephen of Sweden, bishop and martyr; Nicholas the Pilgrim; Blandina, martyr

Charles Lwanga: and 21 Ugandan companions, (died 15 November 1885 - 27 Jan. 1887); protomartyrs of Black Africa; over 100 killed in this period, including Anglicans; Charles is the patron saint of African Catholic Youth Action. (June 3)

also on June 3: Cecilius; Pergentinus and Laurentinus, martyrs; Lucillian and Companions, martyrs; Clotilda, widow; Liphardus and Urbicius, abbots; Kevin or Coegmen, abbot; Genesius of Clermont, bishop; Isaac of Cordova, martyr; Morand

on June 4: Francis Caracciolo, confessor; Quirinus, bishop and martyr; Metrophanes, bishop; Optatus of Milevis, bishop; Petroc, abbot; Vincentia Gerosa, virgin

Boniface (died 754): Anglo-Saxon O.S.B.; founded abbey of Fulda; bishop of Mainz; martyred along with 30 companions at Dokkum in Frisia; known as "the Apostle of Germany." (June 5)

also on June 5: Dorotheus of Tyre, martyr; Sanctius or Sancho, martyr

Norbert: (died 1134); founded the Premonstratensians; archbishop of Magdeburg; strong supporter of the Church reform and evangelization; devoted to the Holy Eucharist. (June 6)

also on June 6: Philip the Deacon; Ceratius or Ceras, bishop; Eustorgius of Milan, bishop; Jarlath, bishop; Gudwal or Gurval; Claud, bishop

on June 7: Paul of Constantinople, bishop; Meriadoc, bishop; Colman of Dromore, bishop; Vulflagius or Wulphy; Willibald, bishop; Gottschalk, martyr; Robert of Newminster, abbot; Antony Gianelli, bishop; Agostino Roscelli

also on June 8: Maximinus of Aix; Medard, bishop; Clodulf or Cloud, bishop; William of York, bishop

Ephrem: (died 373); Syrian theologian and poet who authored biblical commentaries, homilies, and composed hymns; founded a school at Nisbis; lived in Edessa (in Mesopotamia). (June 9)

also on June 9: Primus and Felician, martyrs; Columba or Columcille, abbot; Vincent of Agen, martyr; Pelagia of Antioch, virgin and martyr; Richard of Andria, bishop

on June 10: Gerulius and Companions, martyrs; Ithamar, bishop; Landericus or Landry, bishop; Bogumilus, bishop

Barnabas: (died 1st c.); preached the gospel in Antioch; companion of Paul; attended the Council of Jerusalem; martyred; patron saint of the island of his birth, Cyprus; name mentioned in the Roman Canon. (June 11)

on June 12: John of Sahagun, confessor; Antonina, martyr; Onuphrius; Ternan, bishop; Peter of Mount Athos; Leo III, pope; Odulf; Eskil, bishop and martyr

Anthony of Padua (died 1231 at the age of 36); from Lisbon; O.F.M.; devoted student of scriptures; first to teach theology to his fellow friars; gifted orator and preacher; known as the "Evangelical Doctor"; patron saint of lost articles, harvest, the poor and of Portugal. (June 13)

also on June 13: Felicula, martyr; Aquilina, martyr; Triphyllius, bishop

on June 14: Valerius and Rufinus, martyrs; Dogmael; Methodius I of Constantinople, bishop

on June 15: Vitus, martyr; Hesychius, martyr; Tatian Dulas, martyr; Orsieslus, abbot; Landelinus, abbot; Edburga of Winchester, virgin; Bardo, bishop; Aleydis or Alice, virgin; Germaine of Pibrac, virgin

on June 16: Ferreolus and Ferrutio, martyrs; Cyricus and Julitta, martyrs; Tychon, bishop; Aurelian, bishop; Benno, bishop; Lutgardis, virgin; John Francis Regis

on June 17: Nicander and Marcian, martyrs; Bessarion; Hypatius, abbot; Avitus, abbot; Nectan; Herve or Harvey, abbot; Botulf or Botolph, abbot; Adulf, bishop; Moling, bishop; Rainerius of Pisa; Teresa and Sanchia of Portugal; Emily de Vialar, virgin; Albert

on June 18: Mark and Marcellian, martyrs; Gregory Barbarigo, bishop; Amandus, bishop; Elizabeth of Schonau, virgin

Romuald (died 1027): O.S.B. from Ravenna; founded
(980) the Camaldolese hermits, today numbering about 200 members; urged contemplative prayer through solitude, silence and fasting. (June 19)

also on June 19: Juliana of Falconieri, virgin; Gervase and Protase, martyrs; Deodatus or Die, bishop; Bruno or Boniface of Querfurt, bishop and martyr

on June 20: Silverius, priest; Goban or Gobain, martyr; Bagnus or Bain, bishop; Adalbert of Magdeburg, bishop; John of Maters, abbot

Aloysius Gonzaga: (died 1591); Jesuit scholastic, died at age 23 caring for the sick; from the princely family of Castiglione; a page at the court of Medicis and of Philip II of Spain; renounced inheritance to enter Jesuits; Robert Bellarmine was his spiritual director; strongly devoted to the Eucharist, interior prayer, and charitable service; patron of youth and of students in Jesuit colleges and universities. (June 21)

also on June 21: Eusebius of Samosata, bishop; Alban or Albinus of Mainz, martyr; Meen or Mewan, abbot; Engelmund; Leutfridus or Leufroy, abbot; Ralph or Raoul, bishop; John Rigby, martyr

Paulinus of Nola: (died 431); husband and father who gave his possessions to the poor; dedicated bishop, especially during the Visigoth invations. (June 22)

John Fisher: (beheaded 22 June 1535); chancellor of Cambridge University; bishop of Rochester; dedicated pastor of souls; renowned for his preaching and educational reforms; defender of Church tradition against Luther, and of the Roman primacy against Henry VIII. (June 22)

Thomas More: (beheaded 6 July 1535); humanist and chancellor of England; close friend of Erasmus; wrote “Utopia”; refused to support Henry VIII’s divorce of Queen Catherine and his Act of Supremacy; patron of lawyers, statesmen and politicians. (June 22)

also on June 22: Alban, martyr; Nicetas of Remesiana, bishop; Eberhard, bishop

on June 23: Agrippina, virgin and martyr; Etheldreda or Audrey, widow; Lietbertus or Libert, bishop; Joseph Cafasso; Thomas Garnet, priest and martyr

The Birth of John the Baptist: This feast, dating from the 4th c. in both East and West, came to be celebrated, in accord with Lk 1:36, six months before the Lord’s birth; quoting Jn 3:30, Augustine found this date (near summer solstice) appropriate for, after the birth of John, the daylight begins to grow shorter, whereas after Jesus’ birth, it begins to increase. (June 24)

also on June 24: The martyrs under Nero; Simplicius, bishop; Bartholomew of Farne

on June 25: William of Vercelli, abbot; Febronia, virgin and martyr; Gallicanus; Prosper of Aquitaine; Prosper of Reggio, bishop; Maximus of Turin, bishop; Moloc or Luan, bishop; Adalbert of Egmond; Eurosia, virgin and martyr; Gohard, bishop, and Companions, martyrs

on June 26: John and Paul; Vigilus, bishop and martyr; Maxentius, abbot; Salvius or Sauve and Superius; John of the Goths; Pelagius or Pelayo, martyr; Anthelm, bishop; Josemaria Escriva

Cyril of Alexandria: bishop and doctor; Zoilus and Companions, martyrs; Samson of Constantinople; John of Chinon; George Mtasmindeli of the Black Mountains, abbot; Ladislaus of Hungary; Benvenuto of Gubbio (June 27)

Irenaeus: (died 202); from Smyrna; disciple of Polycarp; for 25 years the bishop of Lyons; wrote against the Gnostics, esp Adversus haereses; first to provide a coherent rationale for a Christian Bible including both Testaments, and the first to offer a comprehensive account of belief in God’s universal providential and redemptive economy. (June 28)

also on June 28: Plutarch, Potamiaena and Companions, martyrs; Paul I, pope; Heimrad; Sergius and Germanus of Valaam, abbots; John Southworth, priest and martyr

Peter (died c. 64 in Rome under Nero); Galilean fisherman; spokesman for the Twelve who became "Prince of the Apostles"; two epistles are ascribed to him; patron of those in fishing industry. (June 29)

Paul: according to tradition, was martyred in Rome c. 67; Pharisee who became the "Apostle of the Gentiles"; his letters may be dated from c. 50-65; patron of the lay apostolate, of Malta and Greece. (June 29)

also on June 29: Cassius, bishop; Salome and Judith; Emma, widow

The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome: Those many Christians who were tortured, crucified and burned alive in 64 BC in Nero’s Garden on the Vatican Hill are honored today. (June 30)

also on June 30: Martial, bishop; Bertrand of Le Mans, bishop; Erentrude, virgin; Theobald or Thibaud of Provins

St. Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

The Story of Joan of Arc, Patron Saint of France

A popular saint

Joan of Arc is one of the more popular saints in the Catholic Church. Her feast is celebrated every May 30th. She was born on January 6, 1412, at Domrémy, France, on the Feast of the Epiphany. Joan was the youngest of five children to Jacques d'Arc, a peasant farmer. The family lived in a poor village, only just within what is now politically "France". At the time, it was the last place from which one would expect help to come.

Supernatural visions at 13 years of age

As soon as she was able to work, Joan, like every other children, was set to help in the house, driving out the village cows to pasturage, and occasionally acting as shepherdess. A pious girl by nature, she experienced supernatural visions in the garden of her father's house one day. She was already an adolescent of about thirteen years of age. She describes these visions as voices coming from St. Michael, St. Catherine, St. Margaret, and others. Her heavenly visitants at first contented themselves with telling Joan to go on being a good girl and to say her prayers. It was only when Joan was about seventeen years of age that these voices revealed to Joan that her mission was to save France, by helping the Dauphin organize an army, and rightfully place him on the throne of France.

Her prophecies also proved her mission

Robert de Baudricourt, the French commander at Vaucouleurs, laughed at Joan of Arc. Joan previously prophesied that the reinforcements received by the English had won a decisive victory the previous day. When the news came in that this prophesy of Joan was true, and that the French were defeated at the Battle of Herrings, Baudricourt then believed. He could not even stand out against so evident a prophecy. Because of the truth of Joan's prophecy, she was permitted to tell her story and her message to the Dauphin.

Encounter with the Dauphin

To convince the Dauphin of her being sent by God, she went to the castle to seek audience with him. Charles, the Dauphin, had already heard stories of Joan. He was skeptical and decided to subject the peasant girl to a test: Joan was ushered into the crowded great hall where a nobody stood forth in magnificent dress while the Dauphin appeared as one more lowly in status. Nevertheless without hesitation Joan went up to the Dauphin in disguise and knelt to him in homage. Since Joan never saw nor met the Dauphin in person, it was a great amazement to all in the Dauphin's court when she was able to single him out and identify him despite the lowly disguise. As the Dauphin then consulted her confidentially, she then revealed to the Dauphin what God was asking her to do for France.

Her military success helped crown the Dauphin as king

After being cleared of all suspicions, Joan led an expedition to retake the city of Orléans, in a suit of white armor. Only seventeen years old at the time, St. Joan of Arc entered the city without opposition on the night of April 29th; nine days later the English, decisively beaten, withdrew from the ring of fortresses they had built around the city. Joan led well her forces to victory. She then also followed this victory with another one over the British on June 18, this time capturing Troyes. Finally on July 17, 1429 A.D., the Dauphin was crowned as King Charles VII at Rheims.

Captured by the British and burned at the stake


St. Joan of Arc continued in her military campaigns. She failed to take Paris and in one of the following military campaigns, she was captured on May 24 near Compiègne by the Burgundians, and sold to the British by John of Luxembourg on November 21. She was charged by the British church authorities with heresy and witchcraft (because of her stories about hearing voices). Tricked into signing a recantation, she was eventually condemned to be burned to death at the stake.

Martyr and patron saint of France

Her martyrdom occured on May 30, 1431 A.D. in Rouen, France. However, a court appointed by Pope Callistus II in 1456 A.D. found her innocent, especially with the initiative of Joan's mother working for her cause. Soon, four centuries later, she was canonized in 1920 A.D. She is the second patron saint of France and is known as the Maid of Orléans.

Related resources:

• "A History of the Church" by Franzen and Dolan


• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney


• "A Year with the Saints" by Don Bosco Press, Inc.


• "Passion of the Saints" by Discovery Channel

Memorial of Saints (May 29)

St. Cyril of Caesarea became a Christian early in life. Since his father was pagan, he was disowned by his father and put out of the house. He was then brought to the governor, who offered him pardon if he would renounce his Christian faith and sacrifice to the pagan gods. Cyril naturally refused to renounce his faith and stood steadfast in his belief in Christ. St. Cyril was beheaded and died a martyr for Christ (died ca. 251 A.D.).

St. Maximinus of Trier had a good education under the administration of bishop Agritius. Upon the death of Agritius, Maximinus succeeded to the episcopate in 333 A.D. He staunchly opposed the Arian heresy - supporting St. Athanasius, the leading figure against Arianism. St. Maximinus also gave refuge to Paul of Constantinople and others who were victims of the Arians. He convened the Synod of Cologne which also opposed the Arian heresy. Both St. Jerome and St. Athanasius regarded St. Maximinus of Trier as one of the most courageous bishops of his time (died ca. 347 A.D.).

Sts. Sisinnius, Martyrius and Alexander were three brothers coming from Cappadocia, who all migrated to Milan, Italy. Sisinnius was ordained a deacon, while Martirius was conferred the lectorate, both by Bishop Vigilius. The three brothers were sent to the Tyrol as missionaries. Because of the success of the three in their work of converting the pagans, they were attacked. Sisinnius was beaten to death, Martyrius was dragged to his death, and Alexander was burned to death. All three died as martyrs for Christ within the span of just several days (died ca. 397 A.D.).

St. Theodosia of Constantinople was a nun at the monastery of St. Anastasia. She led a group of nuns in resisting a band of soldiers who were ordered to enforce the iconoclastic orders of Emperor Leo III. The soldiers came to destroy the image of Christ over the monastery's main entrance. Because of their resistance, Theodosia was imprisoned and tortured to death - together with twelve other women (died ca. 745 A.D.).

Sts. William Arnaud, Stephen of Narbonne, and Raymond were martyrs along with others. They came to be known as the Martyrs of Toulouse. These three were commissioned by the Pope to combat Albigensianism. William and his companions were given shelter for a night by Count Raymond VII of Toulouse. Some men, probably allied with the Albigensians, entered the castle and killed William, Stephen, Raymond and their companions. Miracles were reported to have happened at their graves (died ca. 1242 A.D.).

Blessed Richard Thirkeld was educated in Oxford before he entered the priesthood at a very late age. As a priest, he performed his duties around the York area in England. When the authorities learned that he was a priest and that he was seen to be visiting a prisoner at night-time, he was arrested and was condemned to die. His execution was kept private as he was greatly venerated by the people (died ca. 1583 A.D.).