Saints Library · Teaching and Sharing

St. Canisius

Doctor of the Church

Current Church statusSaint
Feast / commemorationDecember 21
Remembered asDoctor of the Church
BirthplaceNijmegen
Country / regionSpanish Netherlands
Period1521–1597
Religious familySociety of Jesus

Life and historical setting

Canisius (1521–1597) is remembered in the Church as doctor of the Church. The supplied Catholic source associates this life with Nijmegen.

Documented offices and forms of service associated with Canisius include university teacher, Catholic priest, Doctor of the Church. The religious family connected with this vocation is Society of Jesus.

Canisius later became one of the first Jesuits.

The enduring witness of Canisius is especially connected with gospel encounter and discipleship, prayer and contemplation, and teaching and sacred learning. Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.

Vocation and witness

These themes were identified from the supplied source record and provide a structured guide to the life.

Gospel encounter and discipleship

The supplied account connects this life directly with Christ, the Gospel, or the apostolic witness.

Prayer and contemplation

Prayer, contemplation, or a disciplined interior life is a significant part of the recorded witness.

Teaching and sacred learning

Teaching, writing, study, or the formation of others belongs to the legacy preserved in the source.

Pastoral and ecclesial leadership

The account includes pastoral, monastic, or ecclesial leadership exercised for the good of the Church.

Martyrdom and sacrifice

The source presents suffering or death borne in fidelity to Christ and the faith.

Sharing the faith

The source presents teaching and evangelization as service to the Church and future generations.

Spiritual legacy

The enduring witness of Canisius is especially connected with gospel encounter and discipleship, prayer and contemplation, and teaching and sacred learning. Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.

Prayerful reflection

God of holiness, through the witness of Canisius, strengthen us in patient teaching, evangelization, and the faithful transmission of the Catholic faith. Keep our attention fixed on Jesus Christ, and teach us to answer grace faithfully in the duties, relationships, and needs placed before us. Amen.

Historical and liturgical note

Current Vatican News calendar listing; local and religious calendars may add other observances.

Other associated observances: April 27.

Dates, offices, and institutions are presented as biographical facts, while later devotional interpretation is kept distinct from the historical outline.

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