This Saturday, August 22, we commemorate the name days of several saints and blesseds in the Christian tradition. Historically, parents have named their children in relation to the feast days of saints, a custom that persists among Catholics and Orthodox Christians, who congratulate those who bear a name on their day. The term “name day” specifically refers to the celebration of a saint’s day and should not be confused with a birthday.
Among the saints celebrated today is Saint Mary Queen, whose royalty is linked to her Assumption into Heaven and her role as the mother of Jesus Christ. The Virgin is recognized for her loving care over all creation, sharing dignity with her Son, King of the Universe.
Other saints commemorated on this date include: Blessed Elias Leymarie de Laroche (18th century), Blessed Simeon Lukac (20th century), Saint Philip Benizio (13th century), Saint Timothy of Rome (4th century), Blessed James Bianconi (14th century), Saint John Kemble (17th century), Saint John Wall (17th century), Saint Simphorian (4th century), Blessed Timothy of Montículo (16th century), Blessed Thomas Percy (16th century), Saint Fabricius of Toledo, and Saint Philibert of Toledo.
Canonization is the process by which the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church consider a deceased person as a saint, including them in the canon. This requires a thorough investigation of their life and, normally, the verification of at least two miracles. The canonization ceremony is carried out through a papal declaration and a specific day is assigned for their veneration.
There is no fixed period for canonization; there are historical cases where it has taken centuries, such as Saint Peter Damian, canonized 756 years after his death, while Saint Anthony of Padua was canonized just 352 days after his passing. The last canonization was in October 2019, when the Pope recognized Cardinal John Henry Newman and Sister Dulce from Brazil as saints.
Catholicism is one of the most widely practiced religions worldwide, with over 1.360 billion Catholics, according to the Vatican’s Statistical Yearbook. The majority are found in America, especially in South America, although notable growth has been observed in Asia and Africa in recent years, while the Catholic presence in Europe has declined.
Source: www.infobae.com
