Saints of the ChurchAugust- October

Saint Claire of Assisi

Feast Day: August 11

Born in Assisi, Italy to a wealthy devout Christian family

At the age of 18 she became the first female follower of St. Francis

Devoted her life to God and poverty

Began Order of the Poor Ladies- today called The Poor Clares

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Feast Day: August 20

Very well known writer and preacher

Helped to shift Western Christianity toward a more personal and immediate faith life

Chosen to select the pope during the schism

Important Champion of the Second Crusade

Called the Mellifluous Doctor because of his noted eloquence

St. Augustine Feast Day: August 28

Rejected Christianity for much of his life

Doctor and Bishop

One of the most influential and widely read early Church Fathers

an important reformer and theologian, helping to put down some of the many heresies

Two of his books Confessions and City of God are still very influential today

His theology focused on original sin, just war, humans as a union of body and soul, and reaffirming the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist

St. Monica

Feast day August 27

Married to a Pagan who was against her Christian faith

Mother of St. Augustine

Prayed for her son to reform him way of life

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Feast day September 5

Formed a religious community called the Missionaries of Charity

Opened a home for the dying

Worked with the poorest of the poor who lived in the slums

Believed that all people are worthy of love because they are made in the image and likeness of god

awarded the Pope John XXIII Peace Prize in 1971 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979

St. Teresa of Avila

Feast day October 15

Doctor of the Church

At 14 her mother died and she was sent to be educated by the Augustinian Sisters

Entered the Carmalites

Her early years were marked by illness and migraines, and she often found it difficult to pray

With the help of St. Francis Borgia and St. Peter Alcantara she made great progress in her prayer life and began to experience ecstatic visions.

Lead a reform of Carmelite order as well as many religious houses across Spain

Wrote Interior Castle

Blessed John Paul II

Feast day October 22

Known for his philosophical and theological writings, his contributions at the Second Vatican Council, and his love of working with young people

Used his visibility as a world leader to draw attention to important causes of his time (protection for the unborn, bringing an end to communism in Eastern Europe, and interfaith dialogues)

Initiated World Youth Day