May Feast Days– Catholic Saints to Celebrate with Children

Free Printable Activities to Celebrate May Feast Days

Studying the lives of the saints and holy people helps build family faith and inspires Catholic kids. Feast days are an opportunity to remember and be inspired by the lives of the saints, who are examples of holiness for us today. Children and families in your Catholic religious education program can use the resources below to celebrate popular saint feast days in May!

In this kit you’ll find short biographies and printable activities for these Catholic saints with May feast days:

• Saints Isidore and Maria
• Saint Madeline Sophie Barat
• Saint Philip Neri
• Saint Joan of Arc

May Feast Day– Saints Isidore and Maria

On May 15, the Church celebrates the feast day of St Isidore and Maria.

Saints Isidore and Maria remind us that no matter how ordinary our lives seem we can lead lives of holiness. Download a printable primary activity to celebrate the feast day of Saint Isidore and Saint Maria with children or students! Download available in English and Spanish.

The Lives of St Isidore and Maria 

During the lifetimes of Isidore and Maria, there was a war between Christians and Muslins in Spain. Knights and peasants from across Europe took part in the first Crusade. They traveled to Jerusalem to fight for control of the city and make it Christian. The Chinese invented military rockets. The first European universities were started. Compasses were first used to tell direction when traveling by water.

Isidore married Maria and they had a son. Their son died when he was very young. From that moment on they dedicated their lives to serving God and others. Even though they did not have much, they always shared with the poor. Isidore and Maria also give us the example of sharing all that we have with those who are in need. 

No matter how ordinary our lives seem we can lead lives of holiness as Isidore and Maria did. No matter where we work or what we do, if it is at school, at home, or in an office, we should work with dignity and always do our best. Isidore and Maria also give us the example of sharing all that we have with those who are in need.

May Feast Day– Saint Madeline Sophie Barat

The Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Madeline Sophie Barat on May 25.

Download a printable primary activity to celebrate the feast day of Saint Madeline Sophie Barat with students. Printable activity is available in English and Spanish.

The Life of St Madeline Sophie Barat 

During Saint Madeline Sophie Barat's lifetime the storming of the Bastille and the French Revolution took place. This was a time of great unrest and violence in France. The guillotine was used to execute political prisoners. Napolean became the ruler of France. The United States of America declared independence and George Washington was president. During her lifetime, Abraham Lincoln also served as president of the United States and the American Civil War was fought. 

Department stores, public buses and subways were invented. The telephone, the light bulb, and the phonograph were also invented during Saint Madeline Sophie Barat's lifetime. 

Madeline Sophie Barat was born in France. She was the youngest of three children. Madeline Sophie was very enthusiastic about life and had common sense and good judgment. As a young child, she was devoted to her faith and prayer life. Her older brother, Louis, was a priest, and he was responsible for her education. Louis was very serious about his sister's education and made her learn Greek, Latin, physics, history, and mathematics. Even though there was little time in her life for play and friends, Madeline Sophie loved learning.

The religious order, the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, founded by Madeline Sophie Barat is still in existence today. This order still operates schools throughout the world for young women. These schools are known for providing an excellent education in a Christian environment.

St Madeline Sophie Barat shared her love of God and love of education with others. By opening schools, she made it possible for other young women to get the high quality education that she received. We can follow her example by sharing our blessings with others.

May Feast Day– Saint Philip Neri

On May 26, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Philip Neri, who said, "Cheerfulness strengthens the heart and makes us persevere in a good life. Therefore the servant of God ought always be in good spirits."

Download a primary activity in English or Spanish to celebrate the feast day of Saint Philip Neri. 

The Life of St Philip Neri 

Philip Neri was born on July 22, 1515. He lived during the Renaissance, a resurgence of learning, affecting philosophical thought, science and art. This was also a time of great exploration of the world. 

Philip was born in Florence, Italy. He had two sisters and a brother who died as a child. His parents were not wealthy. When he was eighteen years old, Philip's father sent him to live and work with an older cousin who was successful in business. While living with his cousin, Philip would often go pray in the mountains. It was then that he decided to dedicate his life to God.

He was well-liked because he was gentle, kind, and had a warm personality. He had a wonderful sense of humor and used this gift when helping others. His two favorite books were the Bible and a joke book. He used his gifts of charm and humor to teach others about Jesus. He shared joy and kindness with the poor and helped them find food and homes.

In 1544, Philip Neri had a mystical experience while praying in the Catacombs of San Sebastian. A globe of fire miraculously entered his chest and enlarged his heart, breaking his ribs. This experience changed him for life.

Even before he became a priest in 1551, Philip Neri increased the faith of many He spent seventeen years serving as a layman in Rome before being officially ordained. Though he was well known for his cheerfulness, he was a serious preacher and a confessor.

As a priest, Philip Neri began the Congregation of the Oratory in 1575. This group, dedicated to preaching and teaching, was also known as the Oratorians. The Oratorians are still active today. A famous Oratorian, Cardinal John Henry Newman, described the approach that Philip Neri employed in inspiring so many people from so many walks of life: “cor ad cor loquitor” or, in English, “heart speaks to heart.”

Philip died after a long illness, in May of 1595. The entire city of Rome mourned. Because of Philip, many people's faith was increased. Philip Neri was beatified in 1615 by Paul V and canonized in 1622 by Gregory XV.

Saint Philip Neri is remembered today. Pope John Paul II wrote of Philip Neri, “The loving figure of the ‘saint of joy’ even today still maintains intact that irresistible charm that he exercised on all those who drew near him to learn to know and experience the authentic sources of Christian joy. Leafing through the biography of St Philip, in fact, one is surprised and fascinated by the cheerful and relaxed method he used to educate, supporting each person with fraternal generosity and patience” (Letter of His Holiness John Paul II on the Occasion of the IV Centenary of the Death of St Philip Neri, October 7, 1994). Pope Francis also delivered a message marking the 500th anniversary of Saint Philip Neri’s birth. He called the saint, ““passionate proclaimer of the Word of God.”

Philip Neri also began a tradition that continues today. He organized and led walks to important Churches in the city. These walks included music, singing, and laughter and drew many people.. Through these little pilgrimages, people of all ages visited important churches in the city while they connected with each other and strengthened their faith.

Philip used humor to solve many problems and to help other people. We can follow his example and use joy and humor to help others.

May Feast Day– Saint Joan of Arc

On May 30, the Church celebrates the feast day of Saint Joan of Arc.

Download a primary activity in English or Spanish to celebrate the feast day of Saint Joan of Arc.

The Life of St Joan of Arc 

Joan of Arc was born on January 6, 1412 at Domremy, a small village between France and Lorraine. She lived at the time of the beginning of the Renaissance, which was a revival of classical art, architecture, literature, and learning. This was a time of transition from medieval times to modern times. 

Joan also lived during wartime. When Joan of Arc was born, France was involved in the Hundred Years War with England, so named because of its long length. Because of this war, much of the farmland in France was ruined and people were starving because of lack of food. During Joan's life, many people in France died from the Black Death, a deadly plague that was spreading throughout Europe. People lived in fear of not only the English and the plague, but also of local French people who raided towns and villages. 

Joan’s father was a farmer. Although she did not have much formal education and she could not read or write, her mother taught her prayers. Her parents were known to be good Christians and provided a strong foundation in faith for their daughter. Joan always listened to her parents and tried to do what they asked of her. She attended Mass every day and she tried to help the poor. She was quiet and preferred to play alone rather than with others. She enjoyed playing in the woods and she was good at spinning and weaving cloth. 

As the Hundred Years War raged on, Joan’s home country of France was divided and had no king. When she was thirteen years old, Joan began hearing the voices of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. They told Joan that she was chosen by God to unite France and to help Charles be crowned king. Joan was very surprised because she knew nothing about politics or about the military. She wanted to serve God, but she did not know how to help her country. Finally, she realized that this was God's will and that he would lead her.

Even prior to her official canonization in 1920, Joan of Arc was considered a great saint. She has long been a symbol of French unity and nationalism as “the Maid of Orléans.” She was beatified in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris by Pope Pius X in 1909.

Joan of Arc was faithful to God's will in her life. Even when she was laughed at, she kept her focus on God and what he asked her to do. When things seem to be impossible in our lives, we can be like Joan and let our faith guide us, with courage and conviction. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, Joan of Arc “fearlessly bore the great light of the Gospel in the complex events of history. . . . With her luminous witness St Joan of Arc invites us to a high standard of Christian living: to make prayer the guiding motive of our days; to have full trust in doing God’s will, whatever it may be; to live charity without favouritism, without limits and drawing, like her, from the Love of Jesus a profound love for the Church.” (General Audience, January 26, 2011)

When things seem to be impossible in our lives, we can be like Joan and let our faith guide us.

In Summary

The saints’ love and prayers for the Church are constant. Teaching children about saints provides inspiring examples of discipleship and models for living out their faith. Children in Catholic religious education programs can use the activities in this article at home or in the classroom to celebrate saint feast days in May!

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Popular Saints for Kids

Looking for more resources about popular saints for kids? Let Catholic kids and their families be inspired by these and other Catholic saints any time of year!