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    Saint of the Day calendar

    Saint of the Day, December 21

    St. Peter Canisius

    In 2026, Weekday in Advent takes precedence; St. Peter Canisius may be commemorated.

    St. Peter Canisius

    St. Peter Canisius

    1521 – 1597

    Patron of catechists, Catholic press

    Saint Peter Canisius (1521–1597) was born in Nijmegen, in what is now the Netherlands, and became one of the first Dutch members of the new Society of Jesus. He spent most of his life in the German-speaking lands at a time when the Protestant Reformation had left the Catholic Church there confused, weakened and short of priests.

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