In our Sunday prayers there is always a petition remembering the saints who have gone before us to rest with God; we give thanks for their lives as models of faith and hope and love.
Many times when we pray these prayers we gratefully remember friends and family members who have died. But it can also be good to remember the saints of the past who have shown us different ways of being a faithful disciple; who can encourage us in our own lives of following Jesus.
May these brief stories of the saints be an inspiration to you in your faith journey. If you are interested in learning more about any of the saints mentioned, a Wikipedia or Google search is only a few keystrokes away!
In December the Church Commemorates:
Francis Xavier, missionary to Asia, died 1552
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
A native of the Basque region of Spain, Xavier became a missionary to India, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Philippines. He also helped to found the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
John of Damascus, theologian and hymnwriter, died around 749
Wednesday, December 4, 2024
A monk in an abbey near Jerusalem, John wrote many hymns as well as theological works. One of his works, The Fount of Wisdom, remained influential for centuries.
Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, died around 342
Friday, December 6, 2024
Little is known about Nicholas, except that he was a bishop in present-day Turkey. According to legend, he was famous for his giving to the poor, and so has become a symbol of anonymous gift-giving.
Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, died 397
Saturday, December 7, 2024
While a governor of northern Italy, Ambrose was elected bishop of Milan on the same day he was baptized. He was a famous preacher, a writer of hymns we still sing today, and helped lead St. Augustine to faith.
Lucy, martyr, died 304
Friday, December 13, 2024
Lucy was a young Christian of Sicily who was martyred during the persecutions under Emperor Diocletian. Her celebration became particularly important in Sweden and Norway, perhaps because the feast of Lucia (whose name means "light") originally fell on the shortest day of the year.
John of the Cross, renewer of the church, died 1591
Saturday, December 14, 2024
John was a member of the Carmelite monastic order, and worked to reform it. His writings reflect a deep interest in mystical thought and meditation.
Las Posadas (LLC)
Monday, December 16, 2024
This celebration, long popular in Mexico, takes its name from the "posadas," or lodgings, sought by Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem. Their search is reenacted in a neighborhood, unsuccessfully, until finally they are welcomed in, and a party commences.
Katharina von Bora Luther, renewer of the church, died 1552
Friday, December 20, 2024
Born to an impoverished nobleman, Katie eventually took vows as a nun, but around age twenty- four she and several other nuns who were influenced by the writings of Martin Luther left the convent. Six children were born to Katie and Martin.
Stephen, Deacon and Martyr
Thursday, December 26, 2024
Stephen was a deacon and the first martyr of the church. He was one of those seven upon whom the apostles laid hands after they had been chosen to serve widows and others in need. Later, Stephen's preaching angered the temple authorities, and they ordered him to be put to death by stoning.
John, Apostle and Evangelist
Friday, December 27, 2024
The son of Zebedee and brother of James, John was one of the twelve disciples and witness to the transfiguration. Tradition has named him also the writer of the Gospel of John, the three New Testament letters bearing his name, as well as Revelation.
The Holy Innocents, Martyrs
Saturday, December 28, 2024
This day commemorates the young children killed by Herod in Bethlehem in his jealous attempt to murder the baby Jesus, a sobering reminder of the evil that led Christ to be born for our salvation.
Beginning in January 2025, the Church Commemorates:
Name of Jesus
Wednesday, January 1, 2025
By Jewish law, every baby boy was circumcised and named on the eighth day of life, so on the eighth day of Christmas the church celebrates this event in Jesus' life. The keeping of the covenant as well as Jesus' name are signs of God's salvation given to us through him.
Johann Konrad Wilhelm Loehe, renewer of the church, died 1872
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Loehe was a pastor in nineteenth-century Germany. Loehe's chief concern was that a congregation find its life in the holy communion, and from that source evangelism and social ministries would flow. He sent pastors to North America, Australia, New Guinea, Brazil, and Ukraine.
Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 (TFF)
Thursday, January 9, 2025
African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.
Martin Luther King Jr., renewer of society, martyr, died 1968
Wednesday, January 15, 2025
An American prophet of justice among races and nations, King was an eloquent preacher, a leader of the nonviolent resistance to race-segregated society, and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. Born on this date, he was assassinated on April 4, 1968.
Antony of Egypt, renewer of the church, died around 356
Friday, January 17, 2025
One of the earliest of the Egyptian desert fathers, Antony gave away his sizeable inheritance and became a hermit. Later he became leader of a group of monks who devoted themselves to prayer, worship, and labor.
Pachomius, renewer of the church, died 346
Friday, January 17, 2025
Born in Egypt, Pachomius became a Christian while a soldier. He became a hermit (a solitary monk) and organized others into a religious community. His rule for monasteries influenced later ones in
both the Eastern and Western churches.
Confession of Peter
Saturday, January 18, 2025
Today the church remembers the apostle Peter's great acknowledgement of Jesus as "the Christ, the Son of the living God." This festival serves as a fitting beginning to the week in which we particularly pray that all Christians might be united in faith and witness.
Henry, Bishop of Uppsala, martyr, died 1156
Sunday, January 19, 2025
When Erik, King of Sweden, determined to invade Finland for the purpose of converting the people there to Christianity, Henry went with him. Henry is recognized as the patron saint of Finland.
Agnes, martyr, died around 304
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
Agnes was a girl of about thirteen living in Rome. The details of her martyrdom are not clear, but she gave witness to her faith and was put to death as a result, most likely by the sword. The church has honored her as one of the chief martyrs of her time.
Conversion of Paul
Saturday, January 25, 2025
The week of prayer begun by the remembrance of Peter's confession now comes to an end as we recall the pivotal moment in the life of the other pillar of the early church, the apostle Paul. His encounter with the risen Christ turned him from persecutor of the followers of Christ to one of their leaders.
