Category: September
Daily Prayers with the Saints
Saint Giles
September 1 Loving God, many of the people who listened to Saint Giles preach were handicapped beggars, so he built hospitals and safe houses for them that were handicap-accessible. Due to his own damaged leg and his concern for the crippled paupers who needed alms for survival, he became the patron saint of beggars and …
Saint Theresa of Lisieux
October 1 Loving God, Saint Theresa of Lisieux described her path to holiness as a journey of every-increasing intimacy with You through prayer. She said, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart … a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” I ask her to intercede for me as …
Saint Agricola of Avignon
September 2 Good Father, Saint Agricola was a bishop who fought off an invasion of storks through a prayer of blessing, and he is now the patron saint against misfortune, for rain during drought, and for good weather. I ask him to intercede for us during the hurricane season, and to pray for those places …
Saint Gregory the Great
September 3 Heavenly King, Saint Gregory was the first pope who referred to himself as “the servant of the servants of God,” and all the popes since then have used the same title. I ask him to pray for our current pope—bless him, dear God, with good health and length of days to accomplish the …
Saint Cuthbert
September 4 Dear Jesus, Saint Cuthbert was a bishop who often visited his people, entering home after home to minister to each person individually and to guide them spiritually in their specific needs. I ask him to pray for me to balance my time so that I can accomplish my work and still be able …
Saint Lawrence Justinian
September 5 O Holy Spirit, Saint Lawrence Justinian decided at a very young age that he was going to grow up to become a saint, but his mother—unsuccessfully—tried to discourage him because she thought he was aiming too high. I ask him to pray for my own lofty goals; show me which goals You have …
Blessed Bertrand
September 6 O God, Blessed Bertrand used to attack people who did not share his beliefs, and he especially persecuted monks who were teaching the true Faith. Eventually though, he became a priest and helped form the new Dominican order. I ask him to pray for all those who do not believe me when I …
Saint Cloud
September 7 Blessed Savior, Saint Cloud was a prince on the road to becoming a king until a jealous uncle murdered his brothers and came after him. He escaped and gave up his dream of ruling a kingdom to become a monk. In his new life, he instructed people in the ways of faith and …
Birth of Mary
September 8 God Our Father, the Blessed Virgin Mary came into this world full of grace. The birth of Mary meant that soon the Messiah would arrive and rescue us from sin. I ask her to pray for me to receive a greater portion of Your grace, and to help me resist the temptations that …
Saint Peter Claver
September 9 Holy Jesus, Saint Peter Claver was known as “the Slave of the Blacks” because during the arrival of slaves in America, he ministered to them physically and spiritually. He entered the smelly cargo holds of the ships to care for the dead and sick captives. He also baptized 300,000 slaves, and he worked …
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
September 10 Holy Spirit, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino was so profoundly touched by the messages of a powerful homilist that he became a priest to help others the same way. But when the people did not come to church to hear the Word of God, he went out to where he could find them—in the …
Saint Adelphus
September 11 Dear Father, before Saint Adelphus was born, an angel appeared in a dream to his mother and greeted her with, “Rejoice, because you will conceive and bring forth a new Paul, the Bishop Adelphis.” It was then that she knew she would give birth to a holy man destined to serve the Church. …
Saint Eanswida
September 12 Sweet Jesus, Saint Eanswida’s father selected a pagan prince to become her husband, but she did not want to marry him. Faced with the task of convincing her father to change his mind without offending him, she sought Your help. She made her request with kindness and good humor, and he granted her …
Saint John Chrysostom
September 13 Almighty God, Saint John Chrysostom was very vocal in condemning the sinful customs of his society, earning the name “John of the Golden Tongue.” With his powers of persuasion, he stopped immoral performances of plays. I ask him to pray for the improvement of my own discernment regarding what plays, movies, comedy clubs, …
Saint Notburga
September 14 Heavenly Lord, Saint Notburga served as a maid for a nobleman, and then she went to work for a peasant family. She discovered that she preferred working for the poor and devoted the rest of her life to this. I ask her to pray for me when I have opportunities to work for …
Our Lady of Sorrows
September 15 O Lamb of God, Mary is called Our Lady of Sorrows because her passionate love for You caused her to suffer when she watched Your enemies inflict their tortures upon You and slowly kill You. She offered up the piercing of her heart as if her life were an altar, sacrificing her beloved …
Saints Cornelius and Cyprian
September 16 Gracious God, Saints Cornelius and Cyprian dealt with terrible persecutions. Saint Cornelius was pope and he anguished over the sufferings of his people. Saint Cyprian was his friend and said, “Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love.” He ministered to the Pope by pointing out that not a single Christian had …
Saint Robert Bellarmine
September 17 Blessed Jesus, Saint Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of catechumens because he wrote two catechisms and devoted much of his time to teaching the Faith to children. He also wrote a revised version of the Bible. I ask him to pray for those in my church who teach the Faith, and for …
Saint Joseph of Cupertino
September 18 Beloved Father, Saint Joseph of Cupertino endured much rejection in his life—his mother disapproved of him and the religious orders he tried to join refused him—but rather than succumbing to self-pity, he turned to You for acceptance. He became a priest who worked miracles and conversed intimately with You in ecstasies. I ask …
Saint Januarius
September 19 Holy Spirit, Saint Januarius cared about people who suffered and risked his own freedom to visit those who had been imprison for the Faith. Indeed, he ended up a prisoner with them. I ask him to pray for my heart to be filled with the same compassion. O God, help me to bring …
Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasang
September 20 O Jesus, Saint Andrew Kim Taegon was the first Korean priest, and Saint Paul Chong was a lay catechist, and they were among 113 Catholics in Korea who died because of the Faith. I ask them to pray for the continued growth of the Church in Korea and in other Asian countries. Dear …
Continue reading Saints Andrew Kim Taegon and Paul Chong Hasang
Saint Matthew the Apostle
September 21 Wonderful Savior, Saint Matthew was considered by his own people to be a traitor because he collected taxes for the enemy, but You, O Lord, did not label him as bad. You knew he was willing to hear the truth and learn from it, so You said, “Follow me,” and immediately he left …
Saint Maurice
September 22 Holy Lord, Saint Maurice was a Christian officer in charge of a legion of converts in an anti-Christian army. He had a very challenging and significant responsibility to help his men remain strong in the Faith despite persecutions. When he and his men refused to sacrifice to the gods, they were martyred. I …
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina
September 23 Dear God, Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina experienced the stigmata, ecstasies, bilocation, and the gift of prophecy, because he had learned to free his soul from this world through the practices of fasting, prayer vigils, solitude, and other mortifications that subdued the passions of his flesh. I ask him to pray for my …
Saint Pacificus
September 24 O Christ Jesus, Saint Pacificus was a priest who had the gift of reading people’s consciences, and when they came to him for Confession, he helped them get more deeply in touch with their sins and receive fuller healing through Your forgiveness. I ask him to pray for me and my loved ones, …
Saint Sergius
September 25 Spirit of Wisdom, Saint Sergius was not very intelligent, but he learned to read and write because of a strong desire to study the Bible. He became so learned in the Faith that important rulers sought his advice. People trusted him because of his confidence in You and his love for them. I …
Saints Cosmas and Damian
September 26 O My Jesus, Saints Cosmas and Damian were twins who became excellent doctors. They refused payment for their medical care because they believed that when they treated patients, they were also caring for You. By conveying great love, they won the hearts of their patients as they taught them about the Faith. I …
Saint Vincent de Paul
September 27 Generous God, Saint Vincent de Paul developed a special concern for the poor after giving the Sacraments to a dying peasant. He cared for slaves, prostitutes, war victims, and the destitute. I ask him to pray for all the Saint Vincent de Paul Societies, the churches that sponsor them, all other charitable ministries, …
Saint Wenceslaus
September 28 Beloved Savior, Saint Wenceslaus was a devout Christian ruler in a heathen land. Surrounded by pagan beliefs, he grew stronger in his convictions. He gave his help to the poor more often, purified himself through penance, prayed to the blessed Mother, and spread the true Faith throughout the kingdom. I ask him to …
Saints Michael and Gabriel and Raphael
September 29 Heavenly King, You have given us archangels Saints Michael and Gabriel and Raphael to assist us during our pilgrimage on earth. Saint Michael is our protector; I ask him to come to my aid, fight for all my loved ones, and protect us from danger. Saint Gabriel is a messenger of the Good …
Saint Jerome
September 30 O Jesus, You are the Word of God made flesh, and Saint Jerome said that ignorance of the scriptures is ignorance of God. As secretary to the Pope, he received the commission to translate the Bible from its original languages into Latin—the Vulgate. I ask him to pray for my time spent reading …