On August 28, the feast day of Saint Augustine of Hippo is celebrated, along with other saints and martyrs who have made significant contributions to the Church. This tradition dates back to times when children’s names were chosen in honor of the saint on the day they were born.
The term ‘name day’ refers to the day a saint is celebrated, and it is often confused with a birthday. However, this day is dedicated to commemorating those who have been recognized for their connection to the divine and their altruistic actions, which led them to be canonized or beatified.
On this date, special honor is given to Saint Augustine, an influential bishop and doctor of the Church, known for his profound conversion to Catholicism after a youth marked by doctrinal searching. Saint Ambrose of Milan baptized him. Upon returning to his homeland, Saint Augustine lived an ascetic life and excelled in the study of Holy Scriptures, eventually becoming the bishop of Hippo. Through his sermons and writings, he fought against the errors of his time and promoted the Christian faith.
Other saints and martyrs commemorated today include: Blessed Alfonso Maria Mazurek, Blessed Carlos Arnaldo Hanus, Saint Edmund Arrowsmith, Saint Florentina of Seville, Blessed William Dean and companions, Saint Hermes of Greece, Saint Julian of Brivet, Blessed Junípero Serra, Saint Moses the Ethiopian, Saint Pelagius of Constanza, Saint Restitutus of Carthage, Saint Vicinius of Sarsina, and Saint Viviano of Saintes.
Canonization is the process by which the Catholic and Orthodox Churches recognize a deceased faithful as a saint. This process involves a thorough investigation of the individual’s life and, for canonization to occur, at least two miracles must be confirmed (or one in the case of martyrs). The most recent canonization took place in October 2019, when the Pope declared Cardinal John Henry Newman and Sister Dulce from Brazil as saints.
Catholicism remains one of the world’s major religions, with over 1.360 million Catholics, according to the Vatican’s Ecclesiastical Statistical Yearbook. The largest concentration of Catholics is found on the American continent, followed by significant growth in Asia and Africa in recent years, while the presence in Europe has declined.
Source: www.infobae.com
