Saint Paul First century. Feast Day: June 29.

Patron of: Evangelists. Snake bite. Malta. Journalists. Formerly an enemy of all Christians, Paul was knocked off his horse by a blinding light on the road to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see or eat while Christian teachings were infused in him. He became a zealous preacher of Christianity, traveling all over the ancient world. He was martyred in Rome. He holds his hand in blessing, he has the closed book of innate knowledge, and his attribute is a sword because he was beheaded and he was a great leader.

Novena to Saint Paul

Saint Peter  First century. Feast Day: June 29.

Patron of: The Universal Church. Stone masons. Bakers. Peter was the leader of the original twelve apostles. His bad temper and errors in judgement make him the most human of apostles. It was to him that Jesus left the leadership of his church, calling Peter the rock. He was martyred in Rome by being crucified upside down, and the site of his tomb is now Saint Peter’s Basilica. He holds two keys, one of heaven, one of hell. He has an open book for the wide ranging spread of the faith.

Saint John the Baptist  Died 30 a.d. Feast Day: June 24.

Patron of: Lambs. Baptism. Monks. A cousin of Christ, John began preaching in the wilderness that people should repent because the kingdom of heaven was at hand. He would baptize his followers, Christ among them, in the river Jordan. He hailed Christ as the lamb of God in reference to Isaiah’s image of the lamb led to slaughter to bear the sins of mankind, and also because of the custom of sacrificing a lamb at Passover. He holds the banner of Christ with a lamb on the book of innate knowledge.

Dining With the Saints in Honor of Saint John the Baptist

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga  1568–1591.

Feast Day: June 21. Patron of : AIDS victims. AIDS caregivers. Teenagers. He grew up in a castle and was trained as a soldier and courtier from the age of four. A kidney infection left Aloysius bedridden, with much solitary time spent in prayer. At the age of eighteen he became a Jesuit novice, signing his inheritance away to his family. He tended plague victims in Rome before dying of the plague himself.

Saint Anthony of Padua  1195–1231.

Feast Day: June 13. Patron of: Lost Articles. Those in Debt. Portugal. A Franciscan friar known for his extraordinary preaching ability, he is also known as “The Wonderworker.” He is always shown with the baby Jesus because an uncle once saw Anthony laughing and playing in the garden with an infant who kissed him, then disappeared. The angels hold the psalter that was stolen then returned to Anthony after praying for it.

The above holy card saints for June have been excerpted from the book: “Holy Cards” by Barbara Calamari and Sandra DiPasqua. All images are from the collection of Father Eugene Carrella.

Novena to Saint Anthony of Padua

More about Saint Anthony of Padua

Saint Joan of Arc  1412–1431. Feast Day: May 30.
Patron of: France. Soldiers. Captives.
A mystic with the gift of prophecy, Joan was a young French peasant girl who was counseled by three voices, Michael the Archangel, Margaret of Antioch, and Catherine of Alexandria. Using their guidance she was able to inspire the French to free themselves from British domination. She is shown with her banner reading “Jesus Mary,” with which she led troops into battle. She is surrounded by lilies for purity. This card was made before she was declared a saint and was still a Blessed.

More on Saint Joan of Arc

Blessed Mary Bartholomea de Bagnesi  1511–1577.
Feast Day: May 27.
Because of her many physical ailments, Mary Bartholomea led a pained and difficult life as a Dominican nun. Eventually bedridden, her room radiated such peace and calm that it attracted many. Cats especially loved her. She is shown with the halo of the Blessed, a cat drinking the milk of human kindness at her feet. She holds a whip for her life of penance, a cross (the object of her meditations), and lilies for purity.

Blessed Peter Sanz and His Companions  1680–1747.
Feast Day: May 26.
Peter Sanz and his four companions were a group of Dominican missionaries credited with converting thousands of Chinese to Christianity. They were incarcerated by the governor of Peking. When they began converting their jailors and other prisoners, they were tortured by fire and executed on the chopping block.

Blessed Eve of liège  Died 1266. Feast Day: May 26.
Eve was a Cistercian nun who lived as a recluse. When Saint Julienne of Cornillon was driven from her convent, she took shelter in Eve’s cell. Eve helped her to propagate the Feast of Corpus Christi. Eve holds the Papal Proclamation of the feast and an open book which signifies the widespread celebration of this feast. She has the halo of the Blessed.