Martyrs of Uganda · Feast day June 3
St. Charles Lwanga and Companions
The feast day of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions is June 3, a memorial in the US Catholic calendar. Traditionally invoked as patron of African youth.
| Feast day | June 3 |
|---|---|
| In the US calendar | Memorial |
| Title | Martyrs of Uganda |
| Died | 1886 |
| Patron of | African youth |
| Next on Bless’s Today screen | None left in the published calendar (through December 31, 2028) |
Life
Pages and officials of the court of Buganda, converts of the White Fathers’ young mission, who resisted the predations of King Mwanga and would not renounce the faith. Charles Lwanga, master of the pages, baptized the youngest of them the night before dying.
Twenty-two Catholics — with Anglican companions beside them — were speared or burned alive at Namugongo, the youngest, Kizito, about fourteen, laughing and praying in the fire. Within a generation, the Church in Uganda numbered hundreds of thousands.
Patron of
Tradition invokes St. Charles Lwanga and Companions as patron of African youth.
Patronages are traditional, not an official list. All patron saints in Bless, A to Z.
In the calendar
The upcoming dates, through December 31, 2028, when Bless’s Today screen shows St. Charles Lwanga and Companions. Where the US calendar keeps another celebration that day, it is named instead and no rank is given.
Readings
No dates are left in Bless’s published calendar, which runs through December 31, 2028. St. Charles Lwanga and Companions keeps June 3 in Bless’s calendar of saints: see the saints of June.
All the saints of June Born on June 3? A saint for every day
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