The Month of the Sacred Heart

The Feast of the Ascension (Can Fall in May or June)
Bible Readings: Matthew 28:16 - 20, Mark 16:19 - 20, Luke 24:36 - 53, Acts 1:6 - 11

June 3rd
Feast of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions (1887) Martyrs
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc13.htm

June 5th
Feast of Saint Boniface, Bishop and Martyr (d. 755)

Pentecost Sunday
Bible Reading: Acts 2: 1 - 47

June 13 - St. Anthony of Padua
St. Anthony and the Christ Child by Helen Walker Homan (from the Vision series, available from Ignatius Press)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainta01.htm

June 14 - Flag Day
Mr. Flag Maker - An address by Mr. Franklin K. Lane, Secretary of the Interior, June 14, 1914
Learn 2 Fold an American Flag
The Story of Old Glory by Albert Mayer and The Story of the Star Spangled Banner by Natalie Miller (from the Cornerstones of Freedom series published by Children's Press)

June 22 - St. John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and St. Thomas More, Martyr (1535)

Related Websites: St. John Fisher Web Page
St. Thomas More Web Page
Video: A Man for All Seasons (1966)

June 24 - The Birth of St. John the Baptist
Reading: Luke 1:1-25, 39-80
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj02.htm

Corpus Christi Sunday
The great celebration of the feast of the Body of Christ. On this day, traditionally, there are great processions with the Blessed Sacrament through the streets. There is a description of a traditional Corpus Christi procession from the 15th century in chapter 13 of The Merchant's Mark by Cynthia Harnett. You can also read about the Feast of Corpus Christi from the Catholic Encyclopedia.

June 26
Feast of Blessed Jose Maria Escriva (d. 1975)
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintj12.htm

June 27
Feast of St. Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444) Bishop and Doctor of the Church
http://www.knight.org/advent/cathen/045926.htm

June 28
Feast of St. Irenaeus (d. 202) Bishop and Martyr
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainti06.htm
Famous Birthdays Rev. Frederick W. Faber - Catholic priest and author
Jesus My God and My All by Rev. Frederick W. Faber

June 29
Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (d. 67) Apostles and Martyrs
St. Peter - http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp07.htm
St. Paul - http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintp12.htm
Readings: The Gospels (esp. Matthew 16:18-19, 26:69-75, Luke 9:18-22, John 21:15-19) and the Acts of the Apostles, Saint Paul the Apostle by Mary Fabyan Windeatt
Movies: The Robe, Quo Vadis

The Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that It has spared nothing, even to consuming Itself to witness Its love! And in return, I receive from most of them only ingratitude, from their irreverences and their sacrileges and by the coldness and contempt that they have for Me in this Sacrament of love...Therefore, I ask you that the first Friday after the octave of Corpus Christi be dedicated as a special feast to honor My Heart, that the faithful receive Communion on that day, making reparation to It by a solemn act of amendment for the indignifites It has received while exposed on the altars.
I promise also that My Heart will open to wield abundantly the influence of Its divine love on those who do It this honor..." Jesus' words to Saint Margaret Mary as quoted in Saint Margaret Mary, Apostle of the Sacred Heart by Ruth Fox Hume

Related Websites:
Apostleship of Prayer
Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (from the Catholic Encyclopedia)

The Month of Our Lady

You may wish to visit our Blessed Mother page, which contains recommended books, movies and websites about Our Lady. If it's not already part of your family's routine, this is a great time to say a family rosary each night. You may also wish to visit Catholic Crafts for Children which has instructions for a simple Marian shrine.

May 1st

Feast of St. Joseph the Worker

May 2nd

Feast of St. Athanasius (d. 373) Bishop, Doctor of the Church

May 3rd

Feast of Saints Philip (d. 61) and James (d. 62), Apostles

May 6th

Famous Birthdays - Robert E. Peary (1856) Explorer

May 8th

Famous Birthdays - Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895)

May 12th

Feast of Sts. Nereus, Achilleus and Domitilla (d. 100), Martyrs
Famous Birthdays - Florence Nightingale (1820)

May 13th

Our Lady of Fatima
Our Lady of Fatima by Fr. Lovasik is a small book with colored pictures telling the story of Mary's appariations to three children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. It is available from Leaflet Missal Company. Two very good movies are The Day the Sun Danced (animated) and the Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima.

May 14th

Mother's Day

Feast of St. Matthias (d. 65) Apostle and Martyr
Famous Birthdays - Gabriel Fahrenheit (1686) German scientist

May 15th

Feast of St. Isidore the Farmer (d. 1170)

May 16th
Feast of St. Simon Stock (1265) Monk

May 17th

Famous Birthdays - Edward Jenner (1749) English doctor (famous for smallpox vaccination)

May 18th

Pope John Paul II's Birthday
There are several good biographies about the Pope, including: The Young Life of Pope John Paul II by Claire Jordan Mohan (available from Catholic Heritage Curricula). Also see our Pope John Paul II page.

May 20th

Feast of St. Bernardine of Siena (1444) Priest
Famous Birthdays - Sigrid Undset (1882) Norwegian author, Catholic convert

May 21st

Famous Birthdays - Alexander Pope (1688) English Poet

May 22nd

Feast of St. Rita of Cascia (d. 1456)
Famous Birthdays - Richard Wagner (1873) German Composer

May 23rd

Famous Birthdays - Mary Cassatt (1845) American painter

May 25th

Feast of St. Bede the Venerable (d. 735) Priest, Doctor of the Church
Feast of Pope St. Gregory VII (d. 1085) Doctor of the Church
Famous Birthdays - Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803) American Writer

May 26th

Feast of Saint Philip Neri (1595)
St. Philip of the Joyous Heart by Francis X. Connolly - part of the Vision Series of Books republished by Ignatius Press.

May 27th

Feast of St. Augustine of Canterbury (604)
Augustine Came to Kent by Barbara Willard - Historical Fiction, published by Bethlehem Books.

May30th

Feast of St. Joan of Arc (d. 1431), Virgin and Martyr

May 31st

The Feast of The Visitation
Bible Reading: Luke 1:36 - 56
This would be a beautiful time to familiarize your children with the Magnificat (they could even memorize some of it):

My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; for he who is might has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.

The Month of Our Lady of Sorrows

September 1st

Feast of St. Giles, Abbot (d. 724)

September 2nd

Feast of St. Ingrid of Sweden (d. 1282)

September 3rd

Feast of St. Gregory the Great (d. 604), Pope, Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Gregory the Great
St. Gregory the Great by St. Bede the Venerable

September 4th

Feast of St. Rosalia (d. 1160)

September 5th

Feast of St. Bertin (8th Century)

September 6th

Feast of Blessed Bertrand of Garrigues (13th Century)

September 7th

Feast of St. Regina (d. 286 A.D.)

September 8th

The Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary

September 9th

Feast of St. Peter Claver (d. 1654)
The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Peter Claver
A Saint in the Slave Trade by Arnold Lunn

September 11th

Feast of St. Adelphus, Bishop (5th Century)

Famous Birthdays - O. Henry (1862) Author of The Gift of the Magi

September 12th

Feast of the Holy Name of Mary
Feast of Blessed Apollinaris and Companions, Martyrs (d. 1622)

September 13th

Feast of St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) Bishop, Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. John Chrysostom

September 14th

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (629)
Liturgical Notes and History from a Maronite Rite website

September 15th

Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

September 16th
Feast of St. Cornelius, Pope and Martyr (d. 253 A.D.)
Feast of St. Cyprian, Bishop and Martyr (d. 258 A.D.)

September 17th

Feast of St. Robert Bellarmine (d. 1621), Bishop, Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia on St. Robert Bellarmine
St. Robert Bellarmine - from Patron Saint Index

September 18th

Feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino (d. 1663)
The Catholic Encyclopeda on St. Joseph of Cupertino
St. Joseph of Cupertino from the Patron Saint Index

September 19th

Feast of St. Januarius (Gennaro), Bishop and Martyr (d. 305 A.D.)

September 20th

Feast of St. Andre Kim Taegon, Priest and Martyr (d. 1839)
Feast of St. Paul Chong Hasang and Companions, Martyrs (d. 1839-1867)

September 21st

Feast of Saint Matthew (d. 65), Apostle and Evangelist
The Catholic Encyclopeda on Saint Matthew
Saint Matthew from the Patron Saint Index

September 22nd

Feast of St. Thomas of Villanova, Bishop (d. 1555)

September 23rd

Feast of St. Constantius (1st Century)
Feast of St. Linus, Pope and Martyr (d. 79 A.D.)

September 24th

Feast of St. Pacific of San Severin, Priest (d. 1707)

September 25th

Feast of Blessed Herman the Cripple (d. 1054) author of the Salve Regina (Hail Holy Queen)

September 26th

Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian (d. 283) Martyrs
The Catholic Encyclopedia on Saints Cosmas and Damian

September 27th

Feast of St. Vincent de Paul (d. 1660)
The Catholic Encyclopedia on Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Vincent de Paul by Theodore Maynard

September 28th

Feast of St. Wenceslaus, King and Martyr (d. 935 A.D.)
Feast of Sts. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions, Martyrs (d. 1633-1637)

September 29th

Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

September 30th

Feast of St. Jerome (d. 420) Priest, Doctor of the Church
The Catholic Encyclopedia on Saint Jerome
Saint Jerome from the Patron Saint Index