On September 29 the Church keeps the Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, Archangels, long known in English as Michaelmas. For centuries the date honored St. Michael alone, recalling the dedication of a basilica in his name on the Via Salaria near Rome; since the calendar reform of 1969, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael share the feast. Scripture calls Michael "the great prince, who standeth for the children of thy people" (Daniel 12:1). He disputes with the devil in the

St. Francis of Assisi composed the Canticle of the Sun (also called the Canticle of the Creatures) near the end of his life, around 1225, while he was nearly blind and in great pain. It is one of the first great poems written in Italian. In it, Francis praises God for Brother Sun, Sister Moon, wind, water, fire, and Mother Earth, and in the final verses even for Sister Death. Pray it outdoors, at sunrise, on the feast of St. Francis (October 4), when blessing animals, or when

St. Agnes was a girl of about twelve or thirteen who was martyred in Rome around the year 304 because she refused to give up her faith or her consecration to Christ. Her courage astonished the pagan city, and she became one of the most honored martyrs of the early Church. She is named in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and her name is linked to the Latin word for lamb, agnus. Lambs blessed on her feast provide the wool for the pallium worn by archbishops. Her feast is January 21

Pope Leo XIII composed this prayer in 1889, in his encyclical Quamquam pluries on devotion to St. Joseph, at a time when the Church faced great hostility. He asked that it be added to the Rosary during October, and it has been a favorite ever since. It calls on St. Joseph as guardian of the Holy Family to protect the Church, which is the family of Christ, from error and every danger. Pray it after the Rosary, especially in October; on Wednesdays, the day traditionally dedicat

This short prayer comes from the close of one of St. John Henry Newman's sermons, preached in 1834 when he was an Anglican vicar in Oxford. Its gentle images of lengthening shadows, a quiet world, and the fever of life ending make it a favorite evening prayer, and it is often prayed at funerals and at the bedside of the dying. Pray it at the end of a long day, at Night Prayer, in old age, or for someone nearing the end of life. It asks God to carry us through every day until

St. John Henry Newman (1801-1890) wrote these verses in 1833, years before he became a Catholic, while he was stranded on a ship becalmed between Corsica and Sardinia, weak from illness and longing to get home to England. Unsure of the future, he asked only for enough light to take the next step. The poem became one of the best-loved hymns in the English language. It is a perfect prayer for times of uncertainty, discernment, illness, grief, or a new chapter of life, when you

In this famous meditation, St. John Henry Newman reflects that God has created each person for a particular purpose that no one else can fulfill. It comes from his Meditations and Devotions, published in 1893, three years after his death. Its central line, "God has created me to do Him some definite service," has encouraged countless people who wonder whether their life matters. Pray it when discerning a vocation or career, during sickness or disappointment, when you feel use

St. Peregrine Laziosi (1260-1345) is the patron saint of people living with cancer and other serious illnesses. As a young man in Forli, Italy, he was hostile to the Church, but after his conversion he joined the Servite Order and became known for his penance and care for the poor. Late in life he developed a painful, cancerous wound on his leg and was to have it amputated. After praying through the night before a crucifix, he awoke healed. Pray to him for yourself, for a lov

St. Cecilia was a Roman noblewoman martyred in the early centuries of the Church, and she is one of the virgin martyrs named in the Roman Canon of the Mass. According to her ancient acts, on her wedding day, while the musicians played, she "sang in her heart to the Lord alone." From that line she became the patron of music, musicians, singers, and composers, and many choirs and music schools bear her name. Her feast is November 22. Pray to her before a rehearsal, performance,

St. Blaise was a bishop of Sebaste in Armenia who was martyred around the year 316. A beloved story tells how, on the way to prison, he healed a boy who was choking on a fish bone. Ever since, Catholics have turned to him for protection against illnesses of the throat, and on his feast, February 3, priests bless throats with two crossed candles blessed the day before on Candlemas. The blessing words below are the traditional formula; the priest says them while holding the can

St. Lucy of Syracuse was a young Christian woman martyred in Sicily around the year 304, during the persecution of Diocletian. Her name comes from the Latin word for light, and she has long been honored as patron of the blind and of anyone with eye trouble. She is named in the Roman Canon of the Mass, and her feast on December 13 falls in the darkest part of the year, when many countries celebrate her as a sign of Christ's light coming at Christmas. Pray to her for good eyesi

St. Monica (331-387) is the patron saint of mothers, wives in difficult marriages, and parents whose children have drifted from the faith. For years she prayed and wept for her brilliant, restless son Augustine, who was living far from God. A bishop comforted her with the words, "It is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish." Augustine was baptized in 387, became a bishop and Doctor of the Church, and wrote movingly of his mother's prayers in his Confessions

This short prayer for generosity is traditionally attributed to St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), the founder of the Jesuits, and it captures the spirit of his Spiritual Exercises: wholehearted service of God without calculating the cost. It has been a favorite of students, soldiers, scouts, and volunteers for generations. Pray it when you are tired of giving, before a demanding day of work or service, or when discerning a vocation. It asks for the grace to give without cou

St. Augustine of Hippo (354-430) spent much of his youth searching for truth and happiness everywhere except in God. After his conversion, he wrote the Confessions, a long prayer addressed to God that tells the story of his restless heart. Two passages from it have become some of the most quoted prayers in Christian history: the opening line about our restless hearts, and the lament "Late have I loved Thee." These words speak to anyone who has come to faith late, returned aft

St. Christopher is one of the most popular saints in the world, and his medal hangs in countless cars. He was a martyr of the third century, and his name means "Christ-bearer." According to the well-known legend, he was a giant who carried travelers across a dangerous river. One night he carried a child who grew heavier with every step, and the child revealed Himself as Christ, carrying the weight of the whole world. Christopher is patron of travelers, drivers, and those in d

St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), the Dominican theologian and Doctor of the Church, is patron of students, schools, and universities. He is said to have prayed this prayer, known from its Latin opening as Creator ineffabilis, before he studied, wrote, or preached. It asks God to lift the double darkness of sin and ignorance and to give the gifts every learner needs: sharp understanding, a good memory, method, and clear expression. Students often pray it before homework, lectur

St. Patrick's Breastplate, also called the Lorica or the Deer's Cry, is an ancient Irish prayer of protection traditionally attributed to St. Patrick, the fifth-century apostle of Ireland. A "lorica" was a breastplate, and the prayer wraps the one who prays it in the armor of the Holy Trinity, the mysteries of Christ, and the powers of creation against every danger of body and soul. The verse below comes from the well-known metrical version by Cecil Frances Alexander (1889),

St. Richard of Chichester (1197-1253) was an English bishop known for his simple life, generosity to the poor, and courage in standing up to the king. According to his early biographer, he spoke this prayer on his deathbed. Its closing lines, asking to know Christ more clearly, love Him more dearly, and follow Him more nearly, became famous in the twentieth century as the song "Day by Day." The prayer joins thanksgiving for all Christ has done with a desire to grow closer to

St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582), the great Carmelite reformer and Doctor of the Church, lived through illness, opposition, and constant travel, yet she was known for her humor and deep peace. After her death these short lines were found written in her breviary, and they have been treasured ever since as a remedy for worry and fear. The English version below is by the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The prayer is short enough to memorize and repeat slowly whenever an

St. Dymphna is the patron saint of those who suffer from anxiety, depression, and mental and emotional illness. According to her ancient story, she was a young Irish princess of the seventh century who fled her home to escape her father, who had become unstable after her mother's death. He found her at Geel, in present-day Belgium, and killed her there. Healings were soon reported at her tomb, and for centuries Geel has been known for its loving care of people with mental ill