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October Saints
50
items This list features Saints with October feast days featured at Saints_Aplenty on Zazzle. October brims with an embarrassment of riches: some of the most popular saints on the Church's calendar! We've added many October bonus items now--recommended films, non-fiction books, and historical novels--to further inspire you! + See you in November!
Sections
3
Special October Commemorations
Saints_Aplenty's October Saint COLLECTIONS
Non-Fiction Books, Movies & Historical Novels
Special October Commemorations
October commemorates several special occasions. Saints_Aplenty joins in marking Breast Cancer Awareness month with a special pink St. Agatha Collection and the Month of the Holy Rosary with a colorful collection of flags devoted to the rosary's myste...
A short introduction…
Why Do Catholics Pray the Rosary and What Does it Mean?
A detailed explanation of praying the rosary from an authoritative source…
How to Pray the Rosary
Pray the Rosary house and garden flags are available in two styles--traditional and modern--at Saints_Aplenty on Zazzle in a variety of bead and background colors based on the symbolism of the rosary's Mysteries. We also offer flags devoted to Our La... View the entire collection at our store!
Pray the Rosary Flags COLLECTION
A good introduction to St. Agatha and her patronage…
Who is the patron saint of breast cancer patients? - National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. + St. Agatha of Sicily (c. 231-251) is invoked against this disease, having had her breasts removed as part of her martyrdom. In our special collection, St. Agatha wears pink, the internationally recognized c...
Pink St. Agatha (M 003): A Special COLLECTION
Saints_Aplenty's October Saint COLLECTIONS
There is much to celebrate in October! Some of the most popular saints of the Church have feasts this month: St. There of Lisieux, St. Francis of Assisi, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Luke the Evangelist, and St. Jude Thaddeus--to cite but a few! Each of ...
One of the most popular saints in the history of the Church, St. Therese of Lisieux, affectionately known as the "Little Flower," was a French Carmelite nun who died from tuberculosis in 1897 at the age of 24. She is famous for her simple, practical ... + Feast: October 1 + This beautiful collection features her iconic image!
St. Therese of Lisieux the Little Flower (BJE 01)
Another of the Church's perennial favorites… St. Francis of Assisi (c. 1181-1226) was an Italian mystic and stigmatist, poet, and Catholic friar who was inspired by Christ's life to live in abject poverty as a beggar and itinerant preacher. He founde... October 4 + Lovely collection!
St. Francis of Assisi COLLECTION (BK 002)
In 1224, while meditating on Mt. Alvernia in the Apennines on Christ’s Passion, St. Francis had a vision. He beheld a seraph, a six-winged angel of the highest order, on a cross. In response to his prayer to more closely imitate Christ, the angel gif...
St Francis of Assisi, Pater Seraphicus, COLLECTION
Another splendid version of the miracle on Mt. Alvernia in the Apennines in an altogether different style… includes yet another image in black and white!
St. Francis of Assisi, Seraphic Father, COLLECTION
Dare I say it? Yet another especially popular saint!… St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) was a Spanish noblewoman who grew from a shallow, materialistic, and worldly teenager into a spiritual writer and mystic of great depth. Although prone to bouts of illness during which she gained insigh...
St. Teresa of Avila COLLECTION (SNV 27)
A very beautiful (and popular!) collection featuring St. Teresa from small details to multi-panel posters…
St. Teresa of Avila COLLECTION (SAU 028)
If this image looks both familiar and somehow unusual, it's because it's an engraved variant of famous 1827 painting of the saint by François Gérard (1770-1837), a French NeoClassical portrait painter with leanings toward Romanticism. Read about it at our store! + Lovely in its own subdued way…
St. Teresa of Avila COLLECTION (M 008)
St. Luke, a friend and travel companion of St. Paul, is credited with the writing of two New Testament books--a Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Here is an attractive collection featuring the saint with his symbol, a winged ox. + Feast: October 18
St. Luke the Evangelist COLLECTION (RLS 08)
It is apt in this new COLLECTION from Saints_Aplenty on Zazzle that St. Luke the Evangelist, perhaps a Gentile Greek physician and Christian convert, is portrayed writing books with a quill pen. By tradition, St. Luke is credited with authorship of t...
St. Luke the Evangelist Writing COLLECTION
Before he was an Evangelist, St. Luke was a physician—perhaps, a ship’s doctor. This collection features an image of the saint adapted by Saints_Aplenty for the medical community. + Feast: October 18 + Very special!
St. Luke, Beloved Physician COLLECTION
Little is known of St. Viator of Lyon (4th century), a Gallo-Roman lector. As assigned by his bishop St. Justus, St. Viator proclaimed the Scriptures at liturgy and instructed young people in the Faith at Lyon Cathedral. Thus, St. Viator is patron saint of Catechists or Catechism Teachers. + Feast: October 21 + A collection of items for a hard-to-find patron saint! Available fully colorized or monochromatic.
St Viator of Lyon the Catechist COLLECTION (LD 01)
Another collection of splendid gifts for Catechism teachers honoring their patron St. Viator of Lyon… Feast: October 21
St Viator of Lyon the Catechist COLLECTION (BF 02)
A colorful collection with stylized images featuring two of the original Twelve Apostles… After the Ascension, SS. Simon the Zealous and Jude Thaddeus traditionally evangelized in Persia where they met their deaths c. 65. Simon was sawn in half and Jude, beaten to death with a club. + Joint Feast: October 28
SS. Simon and Jude Thaddeus COLLECTION (RLS 16)
His patronage of golf isn't official, but St. Jude is surely invoked for those bad lies and difficult shots that abound in the sport! Here are the Saints_Aplenty items that picture the Saint with a cross, a golf bag and golf club, (I say golf club to distinguish it from the heavy club that was used to beat him to his martyr's death. Ironic isn't it?) + Feast: October 28. Genial[y humerous!
Just St. Jude Thaddeus as Golfer
Non-Fiction Books, Movies & Historical Novels
This month we include two classic works of non-fiction here, both connected with Carmelite nuns. + As noted before, I grew up in the Biblical Epic and Sword and Sandal era of filmmaking. Historical films and novels still interest me after Lo! these m...
The non-fiction spiritual memoir of St. Therese of Lisieux written down in obedience to her superiors… It is a principal biographical resource detailing her early childhood, her “little doctrine,” and her life as a religious. It was first published exactly one year after her death and has appeared in many editions and translations since. Reading this short volume is the natural starting point for anyone interested at all in the saint.
Story of a Soul: Autobiography of St. Thérèse
A somewhat dark retelling of St. Therese's life… Minimal treatment of her early life; long, sentimental but educational scenes of her taking the veil; and her bedevilment--literally by the Devil personified--by spiritual doubt at key moments of her spiritual life. BTW… Starting at about 12 minutes in, there is an interesting sequence on Therese's parents--Louis and Zelie Martin--who themselves have been canonized as saints.
La vie miraculeuse de Therese Martin (Julien Duvivier, 1929) Subs esp.
An overlooked treasure in St. Therese's filmography… Dated 1929, the film, sometimes referred to as the “Dying Nun,” is an Italian movie about St. Therese of Lisieux. Only Part 7 of the 16mm silent film appears to have survived. In it, St. Therese helps a young devotee decide on her life's path forward...
Shower Of Roses, Part 7 (silent, 1929)
I have not seen this 1939 film directed by Maurice de Canonge (1894-1978) and starring Irene Corday (1919-1996). Unless I am missing something, it is not currently available for viewing even on YouTube.
Thérèse Martin (film)
Procès au Vatican ("Trial at the Vatican") AKA La vie miraculeuse de Thérèse Martin; in English: The Miracle of Saint Therese… II saw this movie in the theater as a girl and remember it fondly. If you are at all familiar with the artworks and photographs of St. Therese done by her sister Celine (known in religion at the Lisieux Carmel as Sister Genevieve,), the early scenes are their eq...https://archives.carmeldelisieux.fr/en/photos-de-therese/ and https://archives.carmeldelisieux.fr/naissance-dune-sainte/iconographie-theresienne/. For many years, the definitive portrayal.
La vie de Sainte Thérèse de Lisieux Film 1952
Another item--this one a documentary--that I have not been able to run down…
Le vrai visage de Thérèse de Lisieux (Court-métrage 1964)
Award-winning film directed by Alain Cavalier and starring Catherine Mouchet… Won 6 César Awards including best picture. (The César is the highest film honor in France and the French equivalent of the Academy Award.) Minimalist, episodic, simple but not simplistic, and beautifully acted. Nevertheless, it will not appeal to everyone. Parental guiidance is advised.
Therese (1986)
To date, the widely regarded best and most sensitive cinematic bio of the saint. Less controversial and more family friendly than the 1986 French film.
Thérèse: The Story of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (2004) ⭐ 6.3 | Biography, Drama, Family
And, a coming attraction…
A feature film project on Thérèse of Lisieux soon to be released - Sanctuary of Lisieux - Basilica of Saint Thérèse
This film is noteworthy as being the first in a long line of movies--many, of course, Italian in origin--about the much beloved St. Francis of Assisi. Regrettably, it does not seem to be available even on YouTube. + Be sure to add the movies about SS. Francis and Clare featured in our August Saints list to your watchlist!
San Francesco il poverello d'Assisi (Short 1911) | Short
The earliest silent film on the life of St. Francis currently available for viewing. Worthwhile for the film (and for the organ music)… Has an interesting take on St. Clare's role on Francis's transformation….
Silent film FRATE SOLE (1918) on the life of St. Francis | Ferruccio Bartoletti organ improvisation
The original title of this film was “Frate Francesco” directed by Giulio Cesare Antamoro. Unfortunately, only two partial copies of the film survive amounting to less than half its original footage. A 2-minute segment is available on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFr9xj7---g&list=RDvFr9xj7---g&start_radio=1 and the film's interesting history is recounted at it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frate_Francesco
The Passion of St. Francis (1927) | Drama, History
A 1944 talkie but in Spanish (with auto-translated closed captions available)… Filmed in Mexico.
St. Francis of Assisi (1944) ⭐ 8.3 | Biography, Drama
Also available on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=bHHH6kP3hGE… A Christian classic film directed in 1950 by Roberto Rossellini and enacted by real live monks from the Nocere Inferiore Monastery… A charmingly simple movie comprised of nine episodes or vignettes depicting significant incidents in the lives of St. Francis and his early followers. (In black and white with English subtitles)
The Flowers of St. Francis (Criterion DVD)
This is the biopic of St. Francis that will be familiar to most people--sincere, family-friendly, reverential…
Francis of Assisi
Definitely not family fare and not for sensitive viewers… I would read the following review before watching: decentfilms.com/reviews/francesco
Francesco 1989 - Mickey Rourke
On my watchlist for today 😇
San Francesco - film 2002
A non-fiction Catholic Christian classic… When St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) entered Carmel, she was joining the order, the Discalced [Shoeless] Carmelites, as reformed by her 16th-century predecessor St. Teresa of Avila ( 1515-1582). A Spanish ...archive.org/search?query=interior+castle&and[]=creator:"teresa,+of+avila,+saint,+1515-1582") and for purchase on Amazon (amzn.to/491YG9T). See, especially, The Interior Castle: Modern Update of the Spiritual Guide by Teresa of Ávila, by M.B. Anderson (amzn.to/4q85sB6). + St. Teresa’s Interior Castle is a much more challenging read and a less autobiographical book than St. Therese’s Story of a Soul.
The Interior Castle: Modern Spiritual Guide
Because St. Teresa’s Interior Castle is a much more challenging read than St. Therese’s Story of a Soul, we recommend two translations with study guides. The first is good reading for an individual or a small, informal group of like-minded persons. N...
The Interior Castle: Mansions of St. Teresa
As just noted, because St. Teresa’s Interior Castle is a much more challenging read than St. Therese’s Story of a Soul, we recommend two translations with study guides. The second is a deeper and broader treatment historically and sociologically gear...
The Interior Castle: Study Edition
Better quality and more complete video of the film than the version at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5ARWGPgK-c. Just don't let the picture of St. Therese of Lisieux(!) uploaded by the film's uploader (Santa Teresita Radio) confound you! The film is indeed about the Spanish saint, not the French one! + That being said, this film is a black-and-white theatrical film with autogenerated English subtitles. Until it was superseded by the 1984 TV mini series, it was the best--albeit imperfect--film treatment available. + I know of no earlier film though I feel certain one must exist.
SANTA TERESA DE JESÚS - Película Completa - 1962
The definitive celluloid biography…All 8 “chapters” of this 1984 made-for-Spanish-TV mini series are available with English subtitles free for viewing on YouTube…
Teresa de Jesús: Capítulo 1 - Camino de perfección | RTVE Archivo
For those desiring to purchase the aforementioned mini series, we recommend buying from the ETWN gift shop. Do be sure to check with them that the DVDs will play on American machines. The imports on Amazon don't.
ST. TERESA OF AVILA - DVD | EWTN Religious Catalogue
This 2015 Spanish movie was made for television. A contemporary, bullied teenager named Teresa in modern-day Avila is given a biography of her patron saint by a teacher. When Teresa is locked in a storeroom at school by her tormentors overnight, she passes the time by reading about St. Teresa. St. Teresa's life then unfolds as she labors to overcome opposition to her reform and writings…. Worth watching.
Teresa (2015) #basadoenhechosreales #peliculascristianas #peliculas #vidadesantos #catolicos
The trailer for the latest Teresian movie… Not currently available for viewing. From the featured user review on IMDb (imdb.com/title/tt12410714), the movie would appear to have limited popular appeal except for academics and intellectuals…
Teresa - Trailer
Taylor Caldwell's Dear and Glorious Physician is a fictionalized biography of St. Luke and his search for faith. Written in 1958, some readers find it inspiring; others, very dated. It is a long read. Perhaps you have to be of a certain age or at lea...https://archive.org/search?query=dear+and+glorious+physician). If you haven't already read her 1970 book Great Lion of God about St. Paul, read this one first. (See our June Saints list.)
Dear and Glorious Physician: Novel on Saint Luke
Speaking of St. Paul…. At first glance, it may seem odd to include a DVD with this title here. But the 2018 mini series is as much about St. Luke as it is about St. Paul--even more perhaps. Throughout, Paul is largely imprisoned.. It is Luke we follow moving furtively through Rome, dealing with its Christian community, plying his profession as a doctor, and visiting Paul and carrying Paul's last messages. + Also available to rent or buy... YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sx7ivr4BZPU + Outstanding.
Paul, Apostle of Christ [DVD]
See also the media tie-in book!
Paul, Apostle of Christ: Biblical Ancient World
St. Luke is primarily known as the author of a Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. This 2017 DVD of a 2015 film is part of a Gospel series (see the next entry) that features word-for-word readings of the texts (NIV or KJV) accompanied by live-action...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiRt5Lu5L7Q + To each, his or her own.
The Gospel Of Luke [DVD]
All four of the Gospels read word-for-word and accompanied by live-action visuals… See the preceding note on St. Luke's Gospel. If you're iinterested in owning all four Gospels in the series, the 2018 set is a bargain.
The Gospel Collection [DVD]
The Acts of the Apostles has been dramatized several times in film. We cite only one example here: the Visual Bible's 1994 outing. It represents a different take on approaching the New Testament text than the preceding two entries. + Though Scripturally faithful (the relevant passage number is displayed in the screen's lower right-hand corner), the text is fully dramatized by actors speaking their own dialogue. Dean Jones, acting in character as St. Luke, provides narrative continuity as he tells the story to his shipboard companions while doctoring. Available free for viewing on YouTube at youtube.com/watch?v=q5bTIUrUw0M
Visual Bible - Acts