Alphonsus Liguori (died 1787): lawyer; founded the Redemptorists; opposed Jansenism, stressing Christ's love "copiosa apud eum redemptio" and Mary's help; bishop of Sant'Agata del Goti; master of moral theology; patron of confessors and moral theologians. (August 1)

Eusebius (died 371): considered the founder of the canons regular in the West, defender of St. Athanasius; exiled to Palestine by Constantius; with St. Hilary, an opponent of Arianism. (August 2)

Born at La Mure, France, Peter Julian Eymard became a parish priest in 1834 and joined the Marists five years later. He fostered Eucharistic adoration throughout his life and founded a religious order of priests-adorers of the Holy Eucharists who came to be known as the Priests of the Blessed Sacrament. (August 2)

Jean-Baptiste Marie Vianney (died 1859): universally known as the "Cure of Ars", compassionate confessor and spiritual counsellor; patron of priests and the parish clergy. (August 4)

Sixtus II and four deacons were arrested on 6 Aug. 258 while celebrating the Eucharist in the cemetery of Callixtus; by the order of Valerian, they were decapitated that same day; Sixtus is named in the Roman Canon. (August 7)

Cajetan (died 1547): from Venice; co-founded the Theatines, clerks regular devoted to reform, prayer and ministry especially to the poor and the sick. (August 7)

Dominic de Guzman (died 6 Aug. 1221): born in Caleruega, Spain; founded the Order of Preachers, an elective, fraternal form of community life devoted to contemplation, study and preaching; sought to bring Albigensians back into the Church through preaching and living evangelical poverty; his ideal contemplata tradere; canonized in 1234. (August 8)

Edith Stein was born of Jewish parents in 1891, becoming an influential philosopher following her extensive studies at major German universities. Following her conversion to Catholicism she became a major force in German intellectual life, entering the Discalced Carmelites in 1933. Sister Teresa Benedicta was arrested by the Nazi regime in 1942, along with all Catholics of Jewish extreaction and transported by cattle train to the death camp of Auschwitz. She died in the gas chambers at Auschwitz that same year. (August 9)

Clare of Assisi (died 1253): disciple of Francis; founded the Poor Clares whose first convent at Assisi she directed as abbess for 42 years. (August 11)

Pontian (died 235): bishop of Rome exiled to Sardinia where he was reconciled with Hippolytus; buried in the cemetery of Callixtus. (August 13)

Hippolytus (died 235/36): authored Apostolic Tradition; Roman presbyter and stern rigorist; opposed Sabellianism and milder penitential discipline of Pope St. Callixtus (died 222); exiled to Sardinia with Pontian; source of Eucharistic Prayer II. (August 13)

Maximilian Kolbe became a Franciscan in 1907 and devoted his life to fostering devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a priest, a publisher and the founder of the "City of the Immaculate." Sentenced to hard manual labor at Auschwitz, he offered his life in exchange for that of an innocent man. He is remembered for his prophetic words, "Hatred is not a creative force. Only love is a creative power." (August 14)

Stephen (died 1038): as the first Christian king of Hungary he united and Christianized the Magyar people; received the "holy crown" from Pope Sylvester II in 1000; renowned for his charity to beggars; known as the "apostolic king and apostle of Hungary." (August 16)

John Eudes (died 1680): founded (1643) the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists) for training the clergy (today numbering about 750 religious). And the Sisters of the Good Shepherd for assisting morally endangered women, especially prostitutes; promoted cult to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. (August 19)

Ezechiel Moreno was born in Alfaro (La Rioja, Spain on 9 April 1848; he professed his vows in the Order of Augustinian Recollects in Monteagudo (Navarra) in 1865; was ordained priest in Manila in 1857 and worked for 15 years as a missionary in the Philippines. Prior of Monteagudo in 1885, he left for Columbia in 1888 where he restored the Augustinian Recollect Order and reactivated the old missions. Named Apostolic Vicar of Casanare (1893) and Bishop of Pastro (1896), he was a model of a pastor for his fidelity to the Church and for his apostolic zeal. He fell ill and in 1906 returned to Spain where he died of cancer on August 19 of the same year in the convent of Monteagudo. Innumerable cures, especially cancer, are attributed to his intercession. Beatified on 1 November 1975, he was canonized, on 11 October 1992 in Santo Domingo on the occasion of the fifth Centenary of the Christianization of America. (August 19)

Bernard (died 1153): Cistercian abbot of Clairvaux; reformer and spiritual author (e.g., On Loving God; 86 sermons on the Canticle of Canticles); preached against the Albigensians; founded 68 monasteries; preached the 2nd Crusade; denounced injustice and worked for peace; known as Doctor mellifluus; patron of Gilbraltar. (August 20)

Pius X (died 20 Aug 1914): undertook liturgical and canonical reforms especially communion for children and frequent communion for adults; condemned Modernism in Lamentabili and Pascendi dominici gregis (1907); motto "renew all things in Christ"; patron of sick pilgrims. (August 21)

Isabela de Oliva (died 1617): died at age 31; Peruvian mystic; nicknamed "Rosa" because of her beauty; OP tertiary who lived a life of penance and solitude, caring for the homeless, elderly and sick; first declared saint of the New World (1672); patroness of South America, especially Peru; also of florists and gardeners. Proclaimed by Pius XII as Secondary Patroness of the Philippines. (August 23)

Louis IX of France (died 1270): model ruler and father of 11 children; Franciscan tertiary who cared especially for lepers; built Sainte Chapelle in Paris as a reliquary for the crown of thorns; while on his second crusade, died of the plague near Tunis; patron of masons and sculptors. (August 25)

Joseph Calasanz (died 1648): from Aragon; founded Piarists, dedicated to helping poor children; faced many trials and calumnies for his work, including the temporary suppression of his Institute; patron of all Christian schools dedicated to assisting the poor. (August 25)

Monica (died 387): at Ostia; born in Tagaste in Roman Africa; after 30 years of prayer, she obtained the conversion of her dissolute pagan husband; under the guidance of Ambrose, she won the conversion of her eldest son, Augustine; patroness of mothers. (August 27)

Augustine (died 430): born in Tagaste, North Africa; after a dissolute life, he received baptism at age 33 from Ambrose; elected bishop of Hippo; combatted Manicheans, the Donatists and Pelagius; most noted for his Confessions and the City of God; over 500 homilies are extant; considered a founder of monastic life in the West, his Rule is observed by some 150 religious communities today; one of the four great doctors of the Latin Church; called the "Doctor of grace." (August 28)