Today, August 25, we celebrate the name day of Saint Joseph of Calasanz, founder of the Order of Pious Schools, as well as other saints recognized in Catholic and Orthodox traditions.
For centuries, it has been common for parents to name their children in relation to the feast days of the saints celebrated on those days. This tradition persists especially among Catholics and Orthodox, who often congratulate people on their saint’s day. The term ‘name day’ specifically refers to the commemoration of a saint and should not be confused with a birthday.
Today, we honor those men and women who, through their actions and ethics, have been canonized or beatified, recognized as exemplars of Christian virtues. In this context, August 25 honors Saint Joseph of Calasanz, who, born in Peralta de la Sal, is known for being the first educator to establish a free educational system accessible to all children, regardless of their social class or religion. Saint Joseph of Calasanz died in Rome at the age of 91 and was declared by Pope Pius XII in 1948 as “celestial patron of all Christian popular schools”.
In addition to Saint Joseph of Calasanz, other saints are also celebrated on this day, including: Saint Geruncius of Italica, Saint Gregory of Utrecht, Blessed Luis Urbano Lanaspa, Saint Louis IX of France, Saint Menas of Constantinople, Blessed Maria Cabanillas, Blessed Paul John Charles, Saint Severus of Agde, and Saint Thomas Cantelupe.
The canonization of a person, a process that has been formalized since the Middle Ages, requires thorough investigation of the individual’s life, and only those who have lived virtues to a heroic degree or suffered martyrdom for their faith may be included in the list of saints. These procedures are specific to the Catholic Church, which recognizes the power of these figures before God.
Catholicism continues to be one of the most practiced religions globally, with over 1.360 billion believers according to the latest Vatican Statistical Yearbook. While the Catholic presence has grown in Asia and Africa, a decline has been observed in Europe and stability in Oceania.
Source: www.infobae.com
