October is a month rich with the love of Heaven—from the beloved Holy Rosary, the month’s devotion, to some of the most cherished saints of all: little St. Thérèse, gentle St. Francis and his animals, the brave King Elesbaan, and hopeful St. Jude. As the leaves turn, these feast days give families simple, beautiful ways to draw closer to Jesus and Mary.

Monthly Overview

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• Monthly Devotion: The Holy Rosary

• Key Feast Days & Saint Celebrations:

  • October 1: St. Thérèse of Lisieux

  • October 4: St. Francis of Assisi

  • October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary

  • October 24: St. Elesbaan

  • October 28: St. Jude Thaddeus

About the Monthly Devotion: The Holy Rosary

October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary, one of the Church’s most beloved prayers. When we pray the Rosary, we hold beads and repeat the Hail Mary while thinking about special moments—called “mysteries”—from the lives of Jesus and Mary. It is a gentle, hands-on prayer that even little ones can join, and Mary always uses it to lead us closer to her Son.

Family Ideas for October:

• Pray one decade of the Rosary together each evening.

• Make a family Rosary from beads or knotted string.

• Learn the names of one set of mysteries (Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous).

• Keep a Rosary near each child’s bed.

Bring the October devotion into your mornings. Our Catholic Morning Menu features a beautiful cover and tracing page for each month’s traditional devotion—including October’s devotion to the Holy Rosary—plus prayers, a Bible memory verse, the liturgical season, and gentle preschool learning to start each day with the faith. See the Morning Menu →

October 1: St. Thérèse of Lisieux

Fun Facts:

1. She is known as “the Little Flower.”

2. She became a Carmelite nun at just 15 years old.

3. She taught the “Little Way”—doing small things with great love.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Do small acts of love and kindness all day, her “Little Way.”

• Plant, draw, or give someone a flower—especially a rose.

• Ask St. Thérèse to pray for you and to send a “rose.”

• Read a story about the Little Flower.

• Say a prayer trusting God like a little child.

Her Story:
St. Thérèse was born in France in 1873 and loved Jesus so much that she entered a Carmelite convent when she was only 15. She never did big or famous things. Instead, she became a great saint through her “Little Way”—doing ordinary tasks and small sacrifices with great love. She promised that after her death she would “let fall a shower of roses,” sending God’s help to people on earth. Thérèse died young, at just 24, but her simple message of trust and love has touched millions of hearts, and she was named a Doctor of the Church.

What Kids Can Learn from St. Thérèse:
We don’t have to do big or famous things to become saints. We can love God right where we are by doing small things with great love.

A Little Prayer:
St. Thérèse, you loved Jesus in small, hidden ways. Help our family to do little things with great love and to trust God like little children. St. Thérèse, pray for us. Amen.

October 4: St. Francis of Assisi

Fun Facts:

1. He gave up his riches to live simply and serve God.

2. He loved all of God’s creation, especially animals.

3. He is said to have created the very first Christmas Nativity scene.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Be kind to animals and help care for a pet.

• Spend time in nature thanking God for creation.

• Ask your parish about a pet blessing—many hold one this week!

• Do something kind for someone who is poor.

• Pray the “Peace Prayer” of St. Francis.

His Story:
St. Francis was born into a rich family in Assisi, Italy, in the 1180s, but as a young man he heard God call him to a very different life. He gave away his money and fine clothes to follow Jesus in poverty, caring for the poor and the sick. Francis loved everything God made—he preached to the birds, called the sun and moon his brother and sister, and is said to have set up the first-ever Christmas Nativity scene. He founded the Franciscans and remains one of the most beloved saints in the whole world.

What Kids Can Learn from St. Francis:
Everything God made is a gift, and we are called to care for creation and for the poor. True joy comes from loving God more than things.

A Little Prayer:
St. Francis, you loved God, the poor, and all of creation. Help our family to be gentle with animals, kind to those in need, and joyful in following Jesus. St. Francis, pray for us. Amen.

October 7: Our Lady of the Rosary

Fun Facts:

1. This feast celebrates the gift of the Holy Rosary.

2. It began as a day of thanksgiving after Christians prayed the Rosary for help in 1571.

3. Because of this feast, all of October is the Month of the Holy Rosary.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Pray a decade—or a whole Rosary—as a family.

• Make your own Rosary with beads or string.

• Learn the names of the mysteries of the Rosary.

• Give a Rosary to someone as a gift.

• Place flowers before an image of Mary.

The Story:
The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, on October 7, celebrates one of the Church’s most beloved prayers. When we pray the Rosary, we hold beads and repeat the Hail Mary while thinking about special moments—called “mysteries”—from the lives of Jesus and Mary. In 1571, when Christian lands were in great danger, Pope St. Pius V asked people everywhere to pray the Rosary. After a great victory at sea on October 7, he set aside this day to thank Mary for her help. This feast reminds us that Mary always hears our prayers and leads us straight to Jesus.

What Kids Can Learn from Our Lady of the Rosary:
The Rosary is a beautiful way to pray with Mary and think about Jesus. Even praying one Hail Mary brings us closer to God.

A Little Prayer:
Our Lady of the Rosary, thank you for the gift of this beautiful prayer. Help our family to pray the Rosary with love and to draw ever closer to Jesus. Mother Mary, pray for us. Amen.

October 24: St. Elesbaan

Fun Facts:

1. He was a king of Ethiopia about 1,500 years ago.

2. He bravely defended Christians who were being hurt for their faith.

3. He gave his crown to God and spent the rest of his life as a humble hermit.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Find Ethiopia together on a map or globe.

• Make a paper crown and place it on your family prayer table as a gift to Jesus, our true King.

• Pray for Christians around the world who suffer for their faith.

• Spend a few quiet minutes in prayer, like a hermit.

• Try an Ethiopian food, like injera bread.

His Story:
St. Elesbaan (also known as Kaleb) was a Christian king who ruled the kingdom of Aksum, in what is now Ethiopia, in the 500s. When he heard that Christians across the Red Sea were being attacked for believing in Jesus, he sailed to protect them and helped them live their faith in peace. Later in his life, Elesbaan did something surprising: he gave up his throne. Tradition tells us he sent his royal crown to Jerusalem as a gift to God and went to live as a hermit, spending his days in simple prayer and quiet work. He knew that Jesus is the greatest King of all.

What Kids Can Learn from St. Elesbaan:
Even a king is small next to God. We can use our gifts to protect others, and we can always give our hearts—our very best—to Jesus.

A Little Prayer:
St. Elesbaan, you protected God’s people and gave your crown to Jesus. Help our family to stand up for others and to love Jesus as our true King. St. Elesbaan, pray for us. Amen.

October 28: St. Jude Thaddeus

Fun Facts:

1. He was one of Jesus’ twelve Apostles.

2. He is also called Thaddeus.

3. He is the patron saint of hopeless or difficult causes.

Ways to Celebrate:

• Pray to St. Jude when something feels impossible.

• Talk about never giving up hope.

• Make a “mission map” of where the Apostles traveled.

• Do something kind for someone who is discouraged.

• Thank God for the twelve Apostles.

His Story:
St. Jude, also called Thaddeus, was one of the twelve Apostles that Jesus chose to be His closest friends and helpers. After the Resurrection, he traveled far to preach the Good News about Jesus, and tradition says he gave his life for his faith. St. Jude is especially loved as the patron saint of hopeless or impossible causes—so when something feels too hard, many people ask for his prayers. The Church celebrates his feast on October 28.

What Kids Can Learn from St. Jude:
Jesus chose ordinary people to be His Apostles, and He calls us to share His love too. With God, no situation is ever truly hopeless.

A Little Prayer:
St. Jude, you followed Jesus faithfully and shared His love with the world. Help our family to trust God when things are hard and to never lose hope. St. Jude, pray for us. Amen.

More Monthly Feast Day Guides

Looking ahead or catching up? Explore more of our monthly feast day guides for Catholic families:

• September Feast Days — Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Matthew, the Archangels & more.

• November Feast Days — St. Charles Borromeo, St. Cecilia, St. Andrew & more.

• December Feast Days — St. Nicholas, Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Lucy & more.

Want to build your own family rhythms around the liturgical year? Start with Create Feast Day Traditions Based on Your Love Languages and Liturgical Living Made Simple.