The Roman Martyrology , which is a non-exhaustive list of saints venerated by the Catholic Church, includes the following feast days [1] for saints who died before Pentecost, and therefore are considered saints of the Old Covenant. [2] Unlike modern saints, these Biblical figures did not go through any formal process of canonization. [3]
| Saint | Feast Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jeremiah | May 01 [4] | |
| Isaiah | May 09 [4] | |
| Job | May 10 [4] | |
| Elisha | June 14 [5] | |
| Amos | June 15 [5] | |
| Aaron | July 01 [6] | |
| Ezra | July 13 [7] | |
| Elijah | July 20 [7] | |
| Ezekiel | July 23 [8] | |
| Seven Holy Brothers | August 01 [9] | |
| Eleazar | August 01 [9] | |
| Samuel | August 20 [10] | |
| Melchizedek | August 26 [11] | |
| Joshua | September 01 [12] | |
| Moses | September 04 [12] | |
| Zechariah | September 06 [12] | |
| Jonah | September 21 [13] | |
| Gideon | September 26 [13] | |
| Abraham | October 09 [14] | |
| Hosea | October 17 [15] | |
| Joel | October 19 [15] | |
| Obadiah | November 19 [16] | |
| Nahum | December 01 [17] | |
| Habakkuk | December 02 [17] | |
| Zephaniah | December 03 [17] | |
| Haggai | December 16 [18] | |
| Micah | December 21 [19] | |
| All Holy Ancestors of Christ | December 24 [19] | |
| David | December 29 [19] | |
Although these saints are from the New Testament, they are nevertheless considered "Old Covenant" saints, because they died before the inauguration of the Catholic Church at Pentecost.[ citation needed ]
| Saint | Feast Day | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Simeon | February 03 [20] | |
| Anna | February 03 [20] | |
| Saint Joseph | March 19 [21] | |
| Saint Dismas | March 25 [22] | |
| Saint Joseph | May 01 [4] | |
| Saint John the Baptist | June 24 [23] | |
| Joachim | July 26 [8] | Apocryphal |
| Anne | July 26 [8] | Apocryphal |
| Saint John the Baptist | August 29 [11] | |
| Zechariah | September 23 [13] | |
| Elizabeth | September 23 [13] | |
| Holy Innocents | December 28 [19] | |
Canonization is the declaration of a deceased person as an officially recognized saint, specifically, the official act of a Christian communion declaring a person worthy of public veneration and entering their name in the canon catalogue of saints, or authorized list of that communion's recognized saints.
In Christian belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term saint depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, and Lutheran doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but a select are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation. Official ecclesiastical recognition, and consequently a public cult of veneration, is conferred on some denominational saints through the process of canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church after their approval. In many Protestant denominations saint refers broadly to any holy Christian, without special recognition or selection.
Pentecost is a Christian holiday which takes place on the 49th day after Easter Day. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles of Jesus while they were in Jerusalem celebrating the Feast of Weeks, as described in the Acts of the Apostles. The Catholic Church believes the Holy Spirit descended upon Mary, the mother of Jesus, at the same time, as recorded in the Acts of the Apostles.
The liturgical year, also called the church year, Christian year, ecclesiastical calendar, or kalendar, consists of the cycle of liturgical days and seasons that determines when feast days, including celebrations of saints, are to be observed, and which portions of scripture are to be read.
Philomena, also known as Saint Philomena or Philomena of Rome was a virgin martyr whose remains were discovered on May 24–25, 1802, in the Catacomb of Priscilla. Three tiles enclosing the tomb bore an inscription, Pax Tecum Filumena, that was taken to indicate that her name was Filumena, the English form of which is Philomena. Philomena is the patron saint of infants, babies, and youth, and is known as "The Wonderworker".
Ordinary Time is the part of the liturgical year in the liturgy of the Roman Rite, which falls outside the two great seasons of Christmastide and Eastertide, or their respective preparatory seasons of Advent and Lent. Ordinary Time thus includes the days between Christmastide and Lent, and between Eastertide and Advent. The liturgical color assigned to Ordinary Time is green. The last Sunday of Ordinary Time is the Solemnity of Christ the King.
Joel is a Biblical prophet, the second of the Twelve Minor Prophets, and, according to itself, the author of the Book of Joel, which is set in the early Assyrian period. Scholars meanwhile view the Book of Joel as having been completed in the Ptolemaic period due to its use of earlier texts and perspective on Yahweh and the nations.
A lectionary is a book or listing that contains a collection of scripture readings appointed for Christian or Jewish worship on a given day or occasion. There are sub-types such as a "gospel lectionary" or evangeliary, and an epistolary with the readings from the New Testament Epistles.
A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs and other saints and beati arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by names borrowed from neighbouring churches. Consolidation occurred, by the combination of several local martyrologies, with or without borrowings from literary sources.
Paul of Thebes, commonly known as Paul the First Hermit or Paul the Anchorite, was an Egyptian saint regarded as the first Christian hermit and grazer, who was claimed to have lived alone in the desert of Thebes, Roman Egypt from the age of sixteen to the age of one hundred and thirteen years old. He was canonized in 491 by Pope Gelasius I, and is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
The Chair of Saint Peter, also known as the Throne of Saint Peter, is a relic conserved in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the sovereign enclave of the Pope inside Rome, Italy. The relic is a wooden throne that tradition claims belonged to the Apostle Saint Peter, the leader of the Early Christians in Rome and first Pope, and which he used as Bishop of Rome. The relic is enclosed in a sculpted gilt bronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1647 and 1653. In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as "a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ's flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity."
Simeon at the Temple is the "just and devout" man of Jerusalem who, according to Luke 2:25–35, met Mary, Joseph, and Jesus as they entered the Temple to fulfill the requirements of the Law of Moses on the 40th day from Jesus' birth, i.e. the presentation of Jesus at the Temple.
The General Roman Calendar is the liturgical calendar that indicates the dates of celebrations of saints and mysteries of the Lord in the Roman Rite of the Catholic Church, wherever this liturgical rite is in use. These celebrations are a fixed annual date, or occur on a particular day of the week. Examples are the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord in January and the Feast of Christ the King in November.
All Saints' Day, also known as All Hallows' Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honour of all the saints of the Church, whether they are known or unknown.
The Roman Martyrology is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved appendices to it. It provides an extensive but not exhaustive list of the saints recognized by the Church.
Marcellus and Apuleius were third- or fourth-century martyrs who were inserted in the General Roman Calendar in the 13th century. They were recognized as saints by the Catholic Church, with 7 October as their feast day. Apuleius is considered purely legendary, and is no longer recognized.
1969 edition of the General Roman Calendar was promulgated on 1 January 1970 by Paul VI's Mysterii Paschalis. It is the current version of the General Roman Calendar.
It is true that, in the Catholic Church, Old Testament figures have not been formally canonized and given the title of 'saint.' ... The 'Roman Martyrology,' a compilation of those honored as saints, includes such notable Old Testament figures as Isaiah, Abraham, and King David.
