Saint of the Day for 18 December
Saint of the Day 18 December: Celebrating the Lives of the Church’s Saints
Every day, the Catholic Church honors a saint or blessed who stood out for their faith, dedication, and love for God. The Saint of the Day is an opportunity for the faithful to learn more about the history of the Church and be inspired by the witness of these men and women who lived according to Christ’s teachings.
The Meaning of the Saint of the Day
The celebration of the Saint of the Day is a Church tradition that helps us remember those who were examples of faith and holiness. Saints may have been martyrs who gave their lives defending their faith, missionaries who spread the Gospel, or ordinary people who lived in deep communion with God through simplicity.
Learning about each saint’s story inspires us to live with more love, patience, and hope. It also reminds us that we are all called to holiness.
Why Do We Celebrate the Saints?
Saints serve as models of Christian life. Their stories show us that, despite challenges, it is possible to live according to God’s will. Moreover, the faithful often seek the intercession of saints, believing that they are close to God and can pray for our needs.
Following the Saint of the Day is a way to strengthen our spiritual journey and learn from those who dedicated their lives to serving God. May we follow their examples and strive each day to live with greater love, faith, and hope!
🙏 May today’s Saint of the Day intercede for us and inspire us to live according to God’s will!
Lived between the 6th and 5th centuries B.C. on returning from the Babylonian exile, he denounced the external religiosity of his countrymen, far from God and justice. He exhorts us to prepare for the meeting with the Lord and foretells the coming of the messenger of God, John the Baptist.
Sent in the 3rd century to evangelize the Roman province of Gaul, he was the first bishop of the city of Tours, where he met with great hostility, so much that he had to celebrate in the catacombs. There, with courage and perseverance, he preached the Gospel for 50 years.
Liturgical Calendar
18 December: Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
Today's Readings and Gospel
Reading 1 :
Jeremiah 23:5-8
Alleluia:
Gospel :
Matthew 1:18-25
Liturgical vestments: Purple
“You have heard, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son; you have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit. The angel awaits an answer. The price of our salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent” (Saint Bernard)
“Let us allow ourselves to be ‘filled’ with St Joseph's silence! We are in such deep need of it! During this season of preparation for Christmas, let us cultivate inner recollection” (Benedict XVI)
“The Gospel accounts understand the virginal conception of Jesus as a divine work that surpasses all human understanding and possibility. ‘That which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit’, said the angel to Joseph about Mary his fiancée (Mt 1:20). The Church sees here the fulfillment of the divine promise given through the prophet Isaiah: ‘Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son’ (Is 7:14)” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 497)