Saint of the Day for 19 April
Saint of the Day 19 April: 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!
Expeditus is believed to have been martyred in Melitene in the 4th century; but beyond that, not much is known about him. He is typically represented in military garments, while stepping on a crow crying out “tomorrow,” and a cross or a clock with the word “today.” He is the patron of urgent causes.
Liturgical Calendar
19 April: Holy Saturday
Today's Readings and Gospel
Is 52,13–53,12 ; Dt 4,14-16 ; 5,7-9 ; Ga 18,1–19,42 (Đ)
Liturgical vestments: Red
“For what idea could the human person have of God before, except maybe that of an idol which his own heart had made? Once God was incomprehensible and inaccessible, invisible and entirely unthinkable. But now He wanted us to be able to understand him. How was this done? By lying in a manger, preaching on a mountain, praying through the night, and hanging on a cross...” (Saint Bernard)
“The divine darkness of this day, of this century which is increasingly becoming one long Holy Saturday, is speaking to our conscience. It holds something of comfort for us. The death of God in Jesus Christ is at the same time the expression of his radical solidarity with us. The most obscure mystery of the faith is at the same time the clearest sign of a hope without end.” (Benedict XVI)
“Christ's death was a real death in that it put an end to his earthly human existence. But because of the union which the person of the Son retained with his body, his was not a mortal corpse like others, for ‘it was not possible for death to hold him’ (Acts 2:24) (…). Jesus' Resurrection ‘on the third day’ (I Cor 15:4) was the sign of this, also because bodily decay was held to begin on the fourth day after death.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 627)