Every May, the Church celebrates many saints with feast days and memorials, honoring their unique contributions to the faith and reflecting on their examples of service. From Jesus’ earthly father to the man who helped defeat Arianism, these saints each have something to teach us. Read about four saints celebrated this month and why you should know their stories.
May 1 – Saint Joseph the Worker
As the earthly father of Jesus, St. Joseph played an important role in raising Jesus until the time of His ministry. Though Mary’s unexpected pregnancy must have been difficult to comprehend, Joseph did not hesitate to follow God’s command to keep her as his betrothed. In addition to his example of unwavering obedience, Joseph also demonstrated the value of human labor as instituted by God; as a carpenter, he worked hard to provide for his family and ensure their well-being. As Joseph labored in his profession, we also should labor, to the glory of God.
May 3 – Saint Athanasius
Born around the year 296 in Alexandria, Saint Athanasius was at the forefront of the debates over the Arian heresy. Promulgated by Arius, a citizen of Alexandria, Arianism claimed that Christ was created by the Father and was not fully God. As Arius’ teachings grew in popularity, the Church decided to hold the Council of Nicaea in 325 to clarify theological questions. In response to the heresy, the Church not only formulated the Nicene Creed, but condemned Arius in an encyclical letter which may have been written by Athanasius himself. At the very least, he was present for the council.
After assuming the role of bishop of Alexandria in 328, Athanasius ardently defended the fundamentals of the Nicene Creed and soon found himself assailed by lawsuits, harassment, and more. At one point, after being ambushed by troops amidst a church vigil, Athanasius fled Alexandria and spent six years in hiding. Despite his frustrations, this was a prolific era for him, when he produced some of his most significant works, including polemics against Arianism and a biography of St. Anthony. During his ministry, he also created the first list of books to be included in the Christian Bible, and his selection was later confirmed as canon by St. Jerome. Not long after being invited back to serve as bishop of Alexandria, Athanasius passed away in 373.
May 4 – Saint Philip and Saint James the Younger
Out of the 12 men called by Jesus to be disciples, Saints Philip and James the Younger are generally lesser-known than many of their peers. They were neither Gospel writers, nor frequently-mentioned figures in the Gospel accounts – and yet, they were faithful servants of Jesus, eager to carry out the mission of sharing the way of salvation with others.
James, the son of Alphaeus, is known as “James the Younger,” so as not to be confused with James, the brother of John (who is known as “James the Elder”). Some believe that he may also have been Jesus’ cousin, the son of Mary of Clopas. Along with the other apostles, James was given power to heal and to cast out demons (Matthew 10, Mark 3, Luke 6) and commissioned to go and spread the Gospel. James accompanied Jesus throughout much of His ministry, and was also present at Pentecost.
Biblical accounts state that Philip was from Bethsaida, and Jesus called him as His disciple after meeting him in Galilee. Philip was ever the practical disciple, as demonstrated in the story of the loaves and fishes. When Jesus asked Philip where they could get food for the crowd, Philip exclaimed, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little!” (John 6:7). Philip’s other notable interaction with Jesus was at the Last Supper, when he asked Jesus to show them the Father, and was met with a reprimand, as John 14: 9-10 reads:
“How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works.”
Philip and James demonstrate how Jesus can transform even the most ordinary men into mighty instruments of His divine purposes. Though Philip and James may not have always shown great spiritual understanding, Jesus was patient as He instructed them in the truth of the Gospel. Empowered by Jesus and the Holy Spirit, they helped the Church grow through their bold witness and commitment to the Great Commission.
Sources:
Butler’s Lives of Saints, ed. Bernard Bangley.
“Saint Athanasius,” Franciscan Media.
“St. Athanasius,” EWTN.
The Way of Saints, Tom Cowan.