May is a month of warmth and growth as we begin to dream about summer and get out into our gardens. Often, the Easter season continues well into May, until it ends with Pentecost. May is also known for Mother’s Day in secular calendars and as the month in which we celebrate Mary as our spiritual mother. Canadian Catholics celebrate the feast days of two bishops and two religious sisters during this month, including Canada’s newest saint!
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May 4 – St. Marie-Léonie Paradis
Marie-Leonie Paradis is Canada’s newest saint, having been canonized in October 2024 by Pope Francis. She was born in 1840 in Quebec and joined the Marianite Sisters of the Holy Cross when she was 14. Over the next twenty years, she taught in Quebec, New York and Indiana.
In 1874, she went to New Brunswick to open a sewing workshop for young women drawn to religious life. In 1877, fourteen of her young women became religious sisters. In 1880, their new community was recognized by the Holy Cross fathers and served as domestic staff in diocesan colleges and seminaries.
Until her death in 1912, Mother Marie-Leonie traveled regularly to oversee her order. She wrote extensive letters, offering advice on cooking, menu preparation, gardening and building maintenance as well as spirituality and health. At her death, the Little Sisters of the Holy Family had 38 active houses across Canada and the United States.
Resources to learn about St. Marie-Leonie Paradis:
- explore the Centre Marie-Leonie Paradis in Quebec
Our mission in the Church is to help the priest on the temporal and spiritual planes. But what it really demands as a supreme witness is for us to love one another and to love all people, not with just any love, but with all the love that God wants to give them. We must therefore repeat without tiring that our principal work is to give love. ~ Saint Marie-Leonie Paradis
May 6 – St. François de Laval
Saint Francois de Laval founded schools, traveled vast distances to support his parishioners, gave generously to those suffering from poverty, and worked tirelessly to spread the Good News through North America. He came from a devout and noble but poor family and gave up his family’s wealth and title to become a priest. He was the first Bishop of Canada, serving in Quebec from 1659 until his retirement in 1688 and then again from 1700 to 1708.
This spiritual giant left a deep legacy of faith not only to Quebec but to all of Canada. He was canonized in 2014 by Pope Francis.
Resources to learn about St. François de Laval:
- Canadian Saints Kids’ Activity Book
- printable St. Francois de Laval activity pack
- Saint Francis of Laval Pastoral Letters and Circulars: Ontario
May 8 – Bl. Catherine de Saint-Augustine
Blessed Catherine de Saint-Augustine had a very deep faith from a young age. She made her final vows as a religious sister at age 16 and then sailed for New France to become a missionary. For the next twenty years, she served as treasurer, hospital director, and novice director in her community. She experienced deep prayer but also inner temptations and health problems.
She died in 1668 and was immediately recognized as a holy woman. St. Francois de Laval said, “I don’t need to see any extraordinary signs from her to be convinced of her holiness, because her virtues made me perfectly aware of it.” Just three years after her death, Father Paul Rageneau (Jesuit superior of the Huron missions) wrote her biography.
Resources to learn about Bl. Catherine de Saint-Augustine:
- explore the Catherine-de-Saint-Augustin Center
May 24 – Bl. Louis-Zéphirin Moreau
Blessed Louis-Zephirin Moreau served as a priest and bishop in Quebec in the late 1800s. Despite poor health which limited his education, he was known as a kind, saintly, and virtuous leader of the church. He was ordained a priest at age 22 and spent over twenty years serving the bishops in Montreal. He also founded a mutual aid society to provide protection for members and their families from severe blows such as unemployment, accidents, and early death.
In 1876, he was ordained as bishop and served in that role for the next quarter century. Bishop Moreau worked hard to expand his diocese, promote education (especially for priests), and encourage temperance. He died in 1901 and was beatified by Pope Saint John Paul II in 1987.
Pentecost
Pentecost will be celebrated on May 24 this year and is one of the most important feast days in the Catholic Church. It commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles in Acts and is considered the birth of the Church.
Consider praying a family novena for nine days before Pentecost to prepare for this special feast day. See if there’s anything red in your wardrobe which you could wear to Mass. Have a birthday cake or other fun birthday activities to celebrate the birthday of the church.
Catholic Answers explains that Pentecost “concludes the Easter season. During Pentecost Mass, the Church celebrates with rich substance and symbolism. For example, when the sacrament of confirmation is conferred, it strengthens today’s disciples in the present day to bear faithful witness. Additionally, priests wear red vestments to recall the tongues of fire that rested on the apostles. Moreover, the Church prays for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be poured out once again.”
Resources to learn about Pentecost:
- Before and After Easter: Activities and Ideas for Lent to Pentecost
- How and Why to Celebrate Pentecost with Your Kids
- Pentecost Novena Booklet from Catholic All Year
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