Feast of St. Raymond of Pennafort, Spanish Dominican Friar, founder, Order of Our Lady of Ransom. Compiled the Decretals of Gregory IX. Elected the Master of the Order of Preachers by the General Chapter of 1238. Patron of Canonists. Died 1275, Barcelona, Spain.

Feast of St. Erminold of Prufening, Benedictine monk, abbot and martyr, abbot of Lorsch, later abbot of Pruffening, Germany.  He became the abbot of Lorsch in 1110, abbot of Pruffening in 1117.  Martyred by a member of his own monastery due to the abbot’s excessive strictness.

Feast of St. John Neumann, Czech Redemptorist, Fourth Bishop of Philadelphia, founded the first Catholic diocesan school system in the U.S, supported the foundation of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia. First canonized American Bishop.  Patron of Catholic Education.

Feast of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, First native-born American Saint, Founder – Sisters of Charity of St. Joseph, established the first free Catholic school in America (the start of the parochial school system in the U.S.). Patron of Catholic Schools, Maryland & Shreveport, LA.

Feast of St. Daniel of Padua, Martyr.  Deacon of St. Prosdocimus, the first Bishop of Padua.  Invoked by women whose husbands are at war.  Died in 168.

Feast of St. Basil the Great, (Basil of Caesarea) Bishop of Caesarea Mazaca in Cappadocia, Asia Minor, theologian, supporter of the Nicene Creed.  Patron of hospital administrators, Russia, Cappadocia, Reformers, Monks, Education, Exorcism, Liturgists.  Died in 379.

Feast of Mary the Blessed Virgin, also known as Mary the Virgin, Mary Mother of God. Saint Mary is believed by many to be the greatest of all Christian saints. The Virgin Mother “was, after her son, exalted by divine grace above all angels and men.“ Patron of all humanity.

Feast of St. Thomas Becket, Martyr, Archbishop of Canterbury. Chancellor of England under King Henry II.  As archbishop of Canterbury, championed church rights over royal interests, murdered by followers of the king. Subject of the 1964 movie “Becket”. Patron of secular clergy.

Feast of Saints Romulus and Conindrus, Missionaries and Bishops.  They were contemporaries of St. Patrick and the first evangelizers of the Isle of Man.

Feast of St. John the Apostle, son of Zebedee & Salome, one of the 12 Apostles with his brother James, author, Gospel of John, 3 Epistles of John & Book of Revelation. Patron of love, loyalty, friendships, authors, booksellers, burn-victims, art-dealers, editors, theologians.