Sacred Texts  Christianity 
St. Mary Magdeline, by Titian [1565] (Public Domain Image) -- See July 22.

Lives of the Saints

by Alban Butler, Benziger Bros. edition

[1894]
Contents    Start Reading

This is the Benziger Brothers edition of Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints. Butler (1711-1773), was an English Roman Catholic priest. This, his principal literary work, was published between 1756 and 1759. Lives of the Saints has hundreds of capsule descriptions of Catholic saints, organized by the saint's day of the year. The 1894 Benziger Brothers edition, originally published in 1878, was heavily edited by John Gilmary Shea (here uncredited. Source: MELVYL). The 'Reflections' were not in the original Butler text, and were probably added by Shea.

The full text of Alban Butlers' work, which occupies over 1,200 pages of two-column small type, will have to wait for another time. However this imprimatur edition was apparently widely used by American Catholics at the turn of the 20th century, and remains accessible to contemporary readers.

January | February | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December
Title Page
Index

Lives of Certain Saints

St. Philip of Jesus
St. Turribius, Archbishop of Lima
St. Francis Solano
St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus
St. Joan of Arc
St. Rita of Cascia, Widow
St. Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother

Lives of the Saints

January

1. The Circumcision of our Lord
2. St. Fulgentius, Bishop
2. St. Macarius of Alexandria
3. St. Genevieve, Virgin
4. St. Titus, Bishop
4. St. Gregory, Bishop
5. St. Simeon Stylites
6. The Epiphany of Our Lord
7. St. Lucian, Martyr
8. St. Apollinaris, the Apologist, Bishop
9. Ss. Julian and Basilissa, Martyrs
10. St. William, Archbishop
11. St. Theodosius, The Cenobiarch
12. St. Aelred, Abbot
13. St. Veronica of Milan
14. St. Hilary of Poitiers
15. St. Paul, the First Hermit
16. St. Honoratus, Archbishop
17. St. Antony, Patriarch of Monks
18. St. Peter's Chair at Rome
19. St. Canutus, King, Martyr
20. St. Sebastian, Martyr
21. St. Agnes, Virgin, Martyr
22. St. Vincent, Martyr
23. St. Raymund of Pennafort
24. St. Timothy, Bishop, Martyr
25. The Conversion of St. Paul
26. St. Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr
27. St. John Chrysostom
28. St. Cyril of Alexandria
29. St. Francis of Sales
30. St. Bathildes, Queen
31. St. Marcella, Widow

February

1. St. Bridgid, Abbess, and Patroness of Ireland
1. St. Ignatius, Bishop, Martyr
2. The Purification, Commonly Called Candlemas-Day
3. St. Blase, Bishop and Martyr
4. St. Jane of Valois
5. St. Agatha, Virgin, Martyr
5. The Martyrs of Japan
6. St. Dorothy, Virgin, Martyr
7. St. Romuald, Abbot
8. St. John of Matha
9. St. Apollonia and the Martyrs of Alexandria
10. St. Scholastica, Abbess
11. St. Severinus, Abbot of Agaunum
12. St. Benedict of Anian
13. St. Catherine of Ricci
14. St. Valentine, Priest and Martyr
15. Sts. Faustinus and Jovita, Martyrs
16. Blessed John de Britto, Martyr
16. St. Onesimus, Disciple of St. Paul
17. St. Flavian, Bishop, Martyr
18. St. Simeon, Bishop, Martyr
19. St. Barbatus, Bishop
20. St. Eucherius, Bishop
21. St. Severianus, Martyr, Bishop
22. St. Peter's Chair at Antioch
23. St. Peter Damian
23. St. Serenus, a Gardener, Martyr
24. St. Matthias, Apostle
25. St. Tarasius
26. St. Porphyry, Bishop
27. St. Leander, Bishop
28. Sts. Romanus and Lupicinus, Abbots
29. St. Oswald, Bishop

March

1. St. David, Bishop
1. St. Albinus, Bishop
2. St. Simplicius, Pope
3. St. Cunegundes, Empress
4. St. Casimir, King
5. Sts. Adrian and Eubulus, Martyrs
6. St. Colette, Virgin
7. St. Thomas Aquinas
8. St. John of God
9. St. Frances of Rome
10. The Forty Martyrs of Sebaste
11. St. Eulogius, Martyr
12. St. Gregory the Great
13. St. Euphrasia, Virgin
14. St. Maud. Queen
15. St. Zachary, Pope
16. Sts. Abraham and Mary
17. St. Patrick, Bishop, Apostle of Ireland
18. St. Cyril of Jerusalem
19. St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin and Patron of the Universal Church
20. St. Wulfran, Archbishop
21. St. Benedict, Abbot
22. St. Catharine of Sweden, Virgin
23. Sts. Victorian and Others, Martyrs
24. St. Simon, Infant Martyr
25. The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
26. St. Ludger, Bishop
27. St. John of Egypt
28. St. Gontran, King
29. Sts. Jonas, Barachisius, and their Companions, Martyrs
30. St. John Climacus
31. St. Benjamin, Deacon, Martyr

April

1. St. Hugh, Bishop
2. St. Francis of Paula
3. St. Richard of Chichester
4. St. Isidore, Archbishop
5. St. Vincent Ferrer
6. St. Celestine, Pope
7. St. Hegesippus, a Primitive Father
7. Blessed Herman Joseph of Steinfeld
8. St. Perpetuus, Bishop
9. St. Mary of Egypt
9. St. John the Almoner
10. St. Bademus, Martyr
11. St. Leo the Great
12. St. Julius, Pope
13. St. Hermenegild, Martyr
14. St. Benezet, or Little Bennet
15. St. Paternus, Bishop
16. Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa, and St. Encratis, or Engratia, Virgin, Martyr
17. St. Anicetus, Pope, Martyr
18. St. Apollonius, Martyr
19. St. Elphege, Archbishop
20. St. Marcellinus, Bishop
21. St. Anselm, Archbishop
22. St. Soter, Pope, Martyr
22. St. Leonides, Martyr
23. St. George, Martyr
24. St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen
25. St. Mark, Evangelist
26. Sts. Cletus and Marcellinus, Popes, Martyrs
27. St. Zita, Virgin
28. St. Paul of the Cross
28. St. Vitalis, Martyr
29. St. Peter, Martyr
29. St. Hugh, Abbot of Cluny
30. St. Catherine of Siena

May

1. Sts. Philip and James, Apostles
2. St. Athanasius, Bishop
3. The Discovery of the Holy Cross
4. St. Monica
5. St. Pius V
6. St. John Before the Latin Gate
7. St. Stanislas, Bishop, Martyr
8. The Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel
9. St. Gregory Nazianzen
10. St. Antoninus, Bishop
11. St. Mammertus, Archbishop
12. St. Epiphanius, Archbishop
13. St. John the Silent
14. St. Pachomius, Abbot
15. Sts. Peter and Dionysia
16. St. John Nepomucen
17. St. Paschal Baylon
18. St. Venantius, Martyr
19. St. Peter Celestine
20. St. Bernardine of Siena
21. St. Hospitius, Recluse
22. St. Yvo, Confessor
23. St. Julia, Virgin, Martyr
24. Sts. Donatian and Rogatian, Martyrs
25. St. Gregory VII
26. St. Philip Neri
26. St. Augustine, Apostle of England
27. St. Mary Magdalen of Pazzi
27. Venerable Bede
28. St. Germanus, Bishop
29. St. Cyril, Martyr
30. St. Felix I., Pope and Martyr
31. St. Petronilla, Virgin

June

1. St. Justin, Martyr
1. St. Pamphilus, Martyr
2. Sts. Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus, Attalus, Blandina, and the other Martyrs of Lyons
3. St. Clotilda, Queen
4. St. Francis Caracciolo
5. St. Boniface, Bishop, Martyr
6. St. Norbert, Bishop
7. St. Robert of Newminster
7. St. Claude, Archbishop
8. St. Medard, Bishop
9. Sts. Primus and Felicianus, Martyrs
9. St. Columba, or Columkille, Abbot
10. St. Margaret of Scotland
11. St. Barnabas, Apostle
12. St. John of St. Fagondez
13. St. Antony of Padua
14. St. Basil the Great
15. Sts. Vitus, Crescentia, and Modestus, Martyrs
16. St. John Francis Regis
17. St. Avitus, Abbot
18. Sts. Marcus and Marcellianus, Martyrs
19. St. Juliana Falconieri
20. St. Silverius, Pope and Martyr
21. St. Aloysius Gonzaga
22. St. Paulinus of Nola
23. St. Etheldreda, Abbess
24. St. John the Baptist
25. St. Prosper of Aquitaine. St William of Monte-Vergine
26. Sts. John and Paul, Martyrs
27. St. Ladislas, King
28. St. Irenæus, Bishop, Martyr
29. St. Peter, Apostle
30. St. Paul

July

1. St. Gal, Bishop
2. The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin
3. St. Heliodorus, Bishop
4. St. Bertha, Widow, Abbess
5. St. Peter of Luxemburg
6. St. Goar, Priest
6. St. Palladius, Bishop, Apostle of the Scots
7. St. Pantænus, Father of the Church
8. St. Elizabeth of Portugal
9. St. Ephrem, Deacon
10. The Seven Brothers, Martyrs, and St. Felicitas, their Mother
11. St. James, Bishop
12. St. John Gualbert
13. St. Eugenius, Bishop
14. St. Bonaventure
15. St. Henry, Emperor
16. St. Simon Stock
17. St. Alexius
18. St. Camillus Of Lellis
19. St. Vincent of Paul
20. St. Margaret, Virgin and Martyr
20. St. Jerome Emiliani
21. St. Victor, Martyr
22. St. Mary Magdalen
23. St. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr
24. St. Christina, Virgin and Martyr
25. St. James, Apostle
26. St. Anne
27. St. Pantaleon, Martyr
28. Sts. Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs
29. St. Martha, Virgin
30. St. Germanus, Bishop
31. St. Ignatius of Loyola

August

1. St. Peter's Chains
2. St. Stephen, Pope and Martyr
2. St. Alphonsus Liguori
3. The Finding of St. Stephen's Relics
4. St. Dominic
5. The Dedication of St. Mary ad Nives
6. The Transfiguration of Our Lord
7. St. Cajetan
8. St. Cyriacus and His Companions, Martyrs
8. Blessed Peter Favre
9. St. Romanus, Martyr
10. St. Laurence, Martyr
11. Sts. Tiburtius and Susanna, Martyrs
12. St. Clare, Abbess
13. St. Radegundes, Queen
14. St. Eusebius, Priest
15. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
16. St. Hyacinth
17. St. Liberatus, Abbot, and Six Monks, Martyrs
18. St. Helena, Empress; St. Agapetus, Martyr
19. St. Louis, Bishop
20. St. Bernard
21. St. Jane Frances de Chantal
22. St. Symphorian, Martyr
23. St. Philip Benizi
24. St. Bartholomew, Apostle
25. St. Louis, King
26. St. Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr
27. St. Joseph Calasanctius
28. St. Augustine of Hippo
29. The Beheading of St. John the Baptist
30. St. Rose of Lima
30. St. Fiaker, Anchorite
31. St. Raymund Nonnatus

September

1. St. Giles, Abbot
2. St. Stephen, King
3. St. Seraphia, Virgin and Martyr
4. St. Rosalia, Virgin
5. St. Laurence Justinian
6. St. Eleutherius, Abbot
7. St. Cloud, Confessor
8. The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin
8. The Festival, on the Sunday Within the Octave of Her Nativity, of The Holy Name of Mary
9. St. Omer, Bishop
9. Saint Peter Claver
10. St. Nicholas of Tolentino
11. St. Paphnutius, Bishop
12. St. Guy of Anderlecht
13. St. Eulogius, Patriarch of Alexandria
14. The Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ
15. St. Catherine of Genoa
16. St. Cyprian, Bishop, Martyr
17. St. Lambert, Bishop, Martyr
18. St. Thomas of Villanova
19. St. Januarius, Martyr
20. Sts. Eustachius and Companions, Martyrs
21. St. Matthew, Apostle
22. The Theban Legion
23. St. Thecla, Virgin, Martyr
24. The Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy
25. St. Firmin, Bishop, Martyr. St. Finbarr, Bishop
26. Sts. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs
27. Sts. Cosmas and Damian, Martyrs
28. St. Wenceslas, Martyr
29. St. Michael, Archangel
30. St. Jerome, Doctor

October

1. St. Remigius, Bishop
2. The Holy Guardian Angels
3. St. Gerard, Abbot
4. St. Francis of Assisi
5. St. Placid, Martyr
6. St. Bruno
7. St. Mark, Pope
8. St. Bridget of Sweden
9. St. Dionysius and his Companions, Martyrs. St. Louis Bertrand
10. St. Francis Borgia
11. St. Tarachus and his Companions
12. St. Wilfrid, Bishop
13. St. Edward the Confessor
14. St. Callistus, Pope, Martyr
15. St. Teresa
16. St. Gall, Abbot
17. St. Hedwige. Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque
18. St. Luke
19. St. Peter of Alcantara
20. St. John Cantius
21. St. Ursula, Virgin and Martyr
22. St. Mello, Bishop. St. Hilarion, Abbot
23. St. Theodoret, Martyr
24. St. Magloire, Bishop
25. Sts. Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs
26. St. Evaristus, Pope and Martyr
27. St. Frumentius, Bishop
28. Sts. Simon and Jude
29. St. Narcissus, Bishop
30. St. Marcellus, the Centurion, Martyr
31. St. Quintin, Martyr

November

1. All-Saints
2. All-Souls
2. St. Malachi, Bishop
3. St. Hubert, Bishop
4. St. Charles Borromeo
5. St. Bertille, Abbess
6. St. Leonard
7. St. Willibrord
8. The Feast of the Holy Relics
9. St. Theodore Tyro, Martyr
10: St. Andrew Avellino
11. St. Martin of Tours
12. St. Martin, Pope
13. St. Stanislas Kostka
14. St. Didacus
14. St. Laurence O'Toole, Archbishop of Dublin
15. St. Gertrude, Abbess
16. St. Edmund of Canterbury
17. St. Gregory Thaumaturgus
18. St. Odo of Cluny
19. St. Elizabeth of Hungary
20. St. Felix of Valois
21. The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
22. St. Cecilia, Virgin, Martyr
23. St. Clement of Rome
24. St. John of the Cross
25. St. Catherine of Alexandria
26. St. Peter of Alexandria, Bishop, Martyr
27. St. Maximus, Bishop
28. St. James of La Marca of Ancona
29. St. Saturninus, Martyr
30. St. Andrew, Apostle

December

1. St. Eligius
2. St. Bibiana, Virgin, Martyr
3. St. Francis Xavier
4. St. Barbara, Virgin, Martyr
5. St. Sabas, Abbot
6. St. Nicholas of Bari
7. St. Ambrose, Bishop
8. The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
9. St. Leocadia, Virgin, Martyr
10. St. Eulalia, Virgin, Martyr
11. St. Damasus, Pope
12. St. Valery, Abbot. St. Finian, Bishop
13. St. Lucy, Virgin, Martyr
14. St. Nicasius, Archbishop, and his Companions, Martyrs
15. St. Mesmin
16. St. Eusebius, Bishop
17. St. Olympias, Widow
18. St. Gatian, Bishop
19. St. Nemesion, Martyr
20. St. Philogonius, Bishop
21. St. Thomas, Apostle
22. St. Ischyrion, Martyr
23. St. Servulus
24. St. Delphinus, Bishop. Sts. Thrasilla and Emiliana, Virgins
25. The Nativity of Christ, or Christmas Day
26. St. Stephen, First Martyr
27. St. John, Evangelist
28. The Holy Innocents
29. St. Thomas of Canterbury
30. St. Sabinus, Bishop, and his Companions, Martyrs
31. St. Sylvester, Pope