St. Peter Canisius, December 21
A Dutch Jesuit, Peter Canisius (1521-1597) traveled across Germany, Austria and Switzerland in response to the Protestant Reformation. His catechisms were reprinted hundreds of times and shaped generations of Catholics. He died in Fribourg and is a Doctor of the Church.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 21 is an optional memorial: Saint Peter Canisius, priest and doctor.
December 21 on the calendar
December 21 is the 355th day of the year (the 356th in a leap year), with 10 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday |
| 2027 | Tuesday |
| 2028 | Thursday |
| 2029 | Friday |
| 2030 | Saturday |
Keeping December 21
December 21 falls in the last days of Advent. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival.
Saints of the week around December 21
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 18 | St. Flannan |
| December 19 | Bl. Urban V |
| December 20 | St. Dominic of Silos |
| December 22 | St. Frances Xavier Cabrini |
| December 23 | St. John of Kanty |
| December 24 | Sts. Adam and Eve |
The day before, December 20, is the day of St. Dominic of Silos. The day after, December 22, belongs to St. Frances Xavier Cabrini. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.