August is a beautiful month in the Church, full of inspiring saints and meaningful feasts. As summer winds down, we’re invited to draw closer to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, the month’s devotion, and celebrate the saints and Marian feasts that illuminate the path to Christ.

Monthly Overview

• Monthly Devotion: The Immaculate Heart of Mary

• Key Feast Days & Saint Celebrations:

  • August 8: St. Dominic

  • August 15: Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (a holy day of obligation!)

  • August 23: St. Rose of Lima

  • August 24: St. Bartholomew

  • August 28: St. Moses the Strong

  • August 28: St. Augustine

About the Monthly Devotion: Immaculate Heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary reflects her deep love for God and for all of us. Her heart is “immaculate,” or pure, and she invites us to love Jesus with the same openness and trust she had. This devotion often includes prayers of consecration, acts of reparation, and meditating on Mary’s life in the Gospels.

Family Ideas for August:

• Display a picture of the Immaculate Heart in your home.

• Pray a family Rosary or even a single decade each evening.

• Bake heart-shaped cookies and talk about loving Jesus like Mary does.

• Encourage children to write a “letter to Mary,” sharing something they are thankful for or asking for her help.

August 8 – Feast of St. Dominic

Fun Facts:

1. Founder of the Dominican Order, known as the “Order of Preachers.”

2. Promoted the Rosary as a tool for prayer and meditation.

3. His mother dreamed of a dog with a torch, symbolizing he would bring Christ’s light to the world.

4. He lived a life of poverty and travel to spread the Gospel.

5. Patron of astronomers and the Dominican Order.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Pray a decade of the Rosary as a family.

• Make a “star” craft to remind kids to bring Christ’s light to others.

• Read a story of St. Dominic’s life.

• Write a prayer for courage to share your faith.

About the Saint:
St. Dominic (1170–1221) founded the Dominicans to preach truth in love and counter the heresies of his time. His devotion to Mary and the Rosary still inspires the Church today.

August 15 – Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Fun Facts:

1. Celebrates Mary being taken body and soul into Heaven at the end of her earthly life.

2. It is a Holy Day of Obligation in many countries, including the U.S.

3. The Assumption points to our own hope of resurrection in Christ.

4. Pope Pius XII formally defined this dogma in 1950.

5. Many cultures celebrate with processions, flowers, and Marian hymns.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Attend Mass as a family for this Holy Day.

• Place fresh flowers before a statue of Mary.

• Sing or listen to a Marian hymn like “Hail, Holy Queen.”

• Have a special family meal to honor the day, including a Marian dessert (like a blue and white cake).

• Read the Magnificat (Luke 1:46–55) and talk about Mary’s “yes” to God.

About the Feast:
The Assumption of Mary reminds us of God’s promise to raise the faithful to eternal life. Mary’s body was not left to decay but gloriously assumed into Heaven, showing us the beauty of a life fully surrendered to God.

August 23 – Feast of St. Rose of Lima

Fun Facts:

1. First canonized saint of the Americas.

2. Known for her life of prayer and penance in Peru.

3. Loved caring for the poor and sick at home.

4. Wore a hidden crown of thorns as an act of sacrifice.

5. Patron saint of florists and gardeners.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Plant flowers or make a floral crown for Mary.

• Bake rose-shaped treats or decorate with edible flowers.

• Share one secret act of kindness as a family.

• Tell her story to inspire simple, hidden acts of holiness.

About the Saint:
St. Rose of Lima (1586–1617) lived a quiet life of holiness and service, offering her life in love for God and the poor.

August 24 – Feast of St. Bartholomew (Apostle)

Fun Facts:

1. Also known as Nathanael in the Gospels.

2. Jesus praised him as a man “without guile” (John 1:47).

3. He spread the Gospel in India and Armenia.

4. Patron saint of tanners, plasterers, and Armenia.

5. Martyred for his unwavering faith.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Read John 1:45–51 together.

• Talk about honesty and living with integrity.

• Make a “mission map” of the Apostles’ journeys.

• Pray for modern-day missionaries.

About the Saint:
St. Bartholomew’s missionary zeal and courageous martyrdom inspire us to live the faith boldly.

August 28 – Feast of St. Moses the Strong (St. Moses the Black)

Fun Facts:

1. Former bandit and gang leader turned desert monk.

2. Lived in the Egyptian desert, embracing a life of prayer.

3. Famous for his humility and forgiveness.

4. A powerful example of repentance and transformation.

5. Venerated in Coptic and Catholic traditions.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Share a family story about forgiveness and second chances.

• Light a candle to symbolize God’s mercy.

• Encourage kids to forgive someone they’ve struggled with.

• Discuss how God can transform any heart.

About the Saint:
St. Moses (c. 330–405) became a model of nonviolence and humility, showing the power of grace to rewrite a life story.

August 28 – Feast of St. Augustine

Fun Facts:

1. Famous Doctor of the Church and theologian.

2. Author of Confessions and City of God.

3. Known for a dramatic conversion after a wild youth.

4. His mother, St. Monica, is a model of persistent prayer.

5. Patron of theologians and printers.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Share a short story of conversion or answered prayer.

• Read a quote from Confessions as a family reflection.

• Thank God for mentors and parents who nurture faith.

• Let children illustrate one of St. Augustine’s famous sayings.

About the Saint:
St. Augustine (354–430) reminds us that no one is beyond God’s reach. His writings help us seek God with all our hearts.