Prayerbook, Holy Sacrifice of Mass, Old Latin Mass, Feastdays...FEB

Care should be taken always to consult the Proper of the local Diocese, as some Feasts are not celebrated by the Universal Church but are kept only in a particular diocese and by some religious Congregations.

The date is usually the date of the saint's death, known as a feast day because death was the beginning of life in heaven, or of the translation of his or her relics.

Feast Days are also known as Name Days and, in countries with a strong Catholic tradition, are sometimes celebrated instead of Birthdays.

1	ST. Ignatius, Bishop, Martyr	St. Ignatius, second successor of St. Peter at Antioch, was martyred about 107. "The whole system of Catholic doctrine may be discovered at least in outline in...his seven epistles" (Cardinal Newman). He was sent in chains to Rome and being thrown to the beasts exclaimed, "May I become agreeable bread to the Lord."
2	Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary	The Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary commemorates not only the obedience of the Bless Virgin Mary to the Mosaic Law in going to Jerusalem forty days after the birth of Christ, but also the Presentation of our Lord in the temple. Candles are blessed on this day, a symbolic representation of the words of holy Simeon concerning Christ; "A light of revelation to the Gentiles." A procession of the faithful with lighted candles is held to commemorate the entry of Christ, the Light of the World, into the temple of Jerusalem.
3	St. Blaise, Bishop, Martyr	St. Blaise, Bishop of Sebaste, was beheaded after terrible torments, under Licinius in 317. Among his many miracles, there is cited one in which he cured a boy who was choking from a fishbone. Thus, he is venerated as the Patron Saint against diseases of the throat.
4	St. Andrew Corsini, Bishop, Confessor	St. Andrew was a famous Carmelite friar who was raised to the dignity of Bishop of Fiesole. He was know for his great love of the poor and as a peacemaker. He died in 1373.
5	St. Agatha, Virgin, Martyr	St. Agatha, an illustrious Sicilian virgin, was martyred at Catania in 251, for refusing the solicitations of a Roman Senator. Her name appears in the Canon of the Mass.
6	St. Dorothy, Virgin, Martyr	This great Saint of Cappadocia died in the 3rd century, receiving at the same time the crown of martyrdom as well as the crown of virginity.
6	St. Titus, Confessor, Bishop	St. Titus was the friend and disciple of St. Paul. He as also ordained Bishop of Crete by St. Paul. One of the canonical epistles addressed by St. Paul to Titus forms part of the New Testament. He died at the age of 105. St. John Chrysostom and St. Jerome eulogized him.
7	St. Romuald, Abbot	St. Romuald, born at Ravenna, Italy, became the hero of penance and the angelic hermit of the Camaldolese forests. A follower of St. Benedict, he in turn founded the Camaldolese monks. He died in 1027 at 100 years of age.
8	St. John of Matha, Conessor	St. John of Matha was born in Provence, France. With his countryman, St. Felix of Valois, he founded the Order of the Holy Trinity. He died at Rome in 1213.
9	St. Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Confessor	St. Cyril was born in Alexandria about 375. As a Bishop and Doctor he became the glory of the Church in Egypt. He is renowned principally for his strenuous defense of the Divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgil Mary against the heresy of Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople. He died in 444.
10	St. Scholastica, Virgin	St. Scholastica was the twin sister of St. Benedict. embracing the rule of her brother, she founded the Order of Benedictine nuns. She died in 542.
11	The Apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Lourdes	The first of the eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary to the humble Bernadette took place at Lourdes on February 11, 1858. On March 25, when Bernadette asked the Beautiful Lady her name, she replied: "I am the Immaculate Conception." The devotion of people in all parts of the world to our Lady of Lourdes, together with the countless miracles that have been wrought through her intercession, has caused one of the most marvelous spiritual regenerations in the history of the Church.
12	The Seven Holy Founders of the Servites, Confessors	In 1233 seven members of a Florentine Confraternity founded the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Servites led an austere life, meditating constantly on the Passion of our Lord and venerating the Blessed Virgin as Our Lady of Sorrows.
14	St. Valentine, Priest, Martyr	This holy Roman priest ministered to a great number of martyrs and was himself martyred about 270.
15	Sts. Faustinus and Jovita, Martyrs	Sts. Faustinus and Jovita were brothers of noble origin. They were martyred for their faith at Brescia in 117.
18	St. Simeon, Bishop, Martyr	St. Simeon, who was closely related to the Blessed Virgin, became Bishop of Jerusalem after St. James.
18	St. Marie Bernadette Soubirous, Virgin	Marie Bernadette Soubirous was born at Lourdes in 1844. At 14 years of age, she witnessed 18 apparitions of our Blessed Lady at Lourdes, instructing her to make known the miraculous healing powers which the Blessed Virgin, by her presence would give to the waters at Lourdes. She was canonized on Dec. 11, 1933.
22	St. Peter's Chair at Antioch	This Feast commemorates the seven years residence of St. Peter at Antioch, as first Bishop of that city.
23	St. Peter Damian, Bishop, Confessor	Peter Damian, a Benedictine monk, rendered immense services to Gregory VII in his struggle for the rights of the Church. He died in 1072.
24	St. Matthias, Apostle	St. Matthias was the Apostle chosen to take the place of Judas. He propagated the Faith in Palestine, and was stoned to death in the year 64.
27	St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Confessor	St. Gabriel was born at Assisi in 1838. He was guided by our Lady into the Passionist Institute and became a veritable Apostle of her Sorrows. At twenty-four years of age, he died of consumption, having already attained to a heroic degree of sanctity by a life of self-denial and great devotion to our Lord's Passion. He is the Patron of youth and especially of young religious.