Saints

Saints timeline

The same dated events as each saint’s own History, in one larger view — no events are added here. A dot is a year (or an approximate year); a bar is a range; a pale band means only the century is known.

1st century

  1. c. 30sConversion · Saint Paul · Own account
  2. c. 46–58Missionary journeys and letters · Saint Paul · Documented
  3. 1st centurycentury onlyAnnunciation and birth of Jesus · Mary, Mother of Jesus · Scriptural account
  4. 1st centurycentury onlyAt the cross · Mary, Mother of Jesus · Scriptural account
  5. 1st centurycentury onlyFollower of Jesus · Saint Mary Magdalene · Scriptural account
  6. 1st centurycentury onlyWitness of the resurrection · Saint Mary Magdalene · Scriptural account
  7. 1st centurycentury onlyCalled by Jesus · Saint Peter · Scriptural account
  8. 1st centurycentury onlyLeader in Jerusalem · Saint Peter · Scriptural account
  9. 1st centurycentury onlyOne of the Twelve · Saint Thomas the Apostle · Scriptural account
  10. 1st century (tradition)century onlyMission to India · Saint Thomas the Apostle · Traditional
  11. c. 64–67Martyrdom in Rome · Saint Paul · Traditional
  12. c. 64–68Martyrdom in Rome · Saint Peter · Traditional

3rd century

  1. 3rd centurycentury onlyActs of Thomas written · Saint Thomas the Apostle · Documented
  2. c. 270Withdraws to ascetic life · Saint Anthony the Great · Traditional

4th century

  1. c. 303 (traditional)Martyrdom · Saint George · Traditional
  2. 325Council of Nicaea · Saint Athanasius of Alexandria · Documented
  3. 328Bishop of Alexandria · Saint Athanasius of Alexandria · Documented
  4. 335–366Five exiles · Saint Athanasius of Alexandria · Documented
  5. Early 4th centurycentury onlyDisciples gather · Saint Anthony the Great · Traditional
  6. 4th centurycentury onlyBishop of Myra · Saint Nicholas of Myra · Traditional
  7. 354Born at Thagaste · Saint Augustine of Hippo · Documented
  8. c. 356Death · Saint Anthony the Great · Approximate
  9. c. 360Life of Antony written · Saint Anthony the Great · Documented
  10. 373Death · Saint Athanasius of Alexandria · Documented
  11. 386–387Conversion and baptism in Milan · Saint Augustine of Hippo · Own account
  12. c. 395Bishop of Hippo · Saint Augustine of Hippo · Documented

5th century

  1. 430Death at Hippo · Saint Augustine of Hippo · Documented
  2. 431Council of Ephesus · Mary, Mother of Jesus · Documented
  3. 431Palladius sent to Ireland · Saint Patrick · Documented
  4. 5th–6th centurycentury onlyFoundation of Kildare · Saint Brigid of Kildare · Traditional
  5. Fifth centurycentury onlyBorn in Roman Britain · Saint Patrick · Own account
  6. Fifth centurycentury onlyMission in Ireland · Saint Patrick · Own account
  7. Fifth centurycentury onlyWrites the Confessio and the Letter to Coroticus · Saint Patrick · Documented
  8. c. 480Birth at Nursia (Norcia) · Scholastica · Approximate

6th century

  1. 7 December 521 (traditional)Birth at Gartan · Columba of Iona · Traditional
  2. c. 529Monte Cassino · Saint Benedict of Nursia · Traditional
  3. 10 February 543Death near Monte Cassino · Scholastica · Traditional
  4. 6th centurycentury onlyThe Rule written · Saint Benedict of Nursia · Documented
  5. c. 563Founding of the community on Iona · Columba of Iona · Approximate
  6. 565The water beast, as recorded by Adomnán · Columba of Iona · Legend
  7. 591Western conflation · Saint Mary Magdalene · Documented
  8. c. 593–594Gregory’s Dialogues · Saint Benedict of Nursia · Documented
  9. 9 June 597 (traditional)Death on Iona · Columba of Iona · Disputed

7th century

  1. c. 650Cogitosus writes her Life · Saint Brigid of Kildare · Documented
  2. Late 7th centurycentury onlyLives by Muirchú and Tírechán · Saint Patrick · Documented
  3. c. 672–673Birth on Monkwearmouth–Jarrow lands · Bede the Venerable · Approximate
  4. c. 679Sent to Monkwearmouth to be educated · Bede the Venerable · Approximate
  5. 686Survives the plague at Jarrow · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  6. c. 692Ordained deacon · Bede the Venerable · Approximate
  7. c. 700Vita Columbae composed · Columba of Iona · Documented

8th century

  1. c. 702Ordained priest · Bede the Venerable · Approximate
  2. c. 723De temporum ratione · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  3. c. 731Ecclesiastical History of the English People completed · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  4. 734Letter to Ecgbert of York · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  5. 26 May 735Death at Jarrow · Bede the Venerable · Documented

9th century

  1. c. 807Book of Armagh copied · Saint Patrick · Documented
  2. Ninth centurycentury onlyThe twin tradition first appears · Scholastica · Traditional

11th century

  1. c. 1020Remains moved to Durham · Bede the Venerable · Approximate
  2. 1087Relics taken to Bari · Saint Nicholas of Myra · Documented
  3. c. 1090Birth at Fontaine-lès-Dijon · Bernard of Clairvaux · Approximate

12th century

  1. 1113Enters Cîteaux · Bernard of Clairvaux · Documented
  2. 25 June 1115Founds Clairvaux · Bernard of Clairvaux · Documented
  3. 1128 or 1129Council of Troyes · Bernard of Clairvaux · Approximate
  4. 1129In Praise of the New Knighthood · Bernard of Clairvaux · Documented
  5. 1136Becomes magistra · Saint Hildegard of Bingen · Documented
  6. 1141–1151Scivias written · Saint Hildegard of Bingen · Documented
  7. 1144Commissioned to preach the Second Crusade · Bernard of Clairvaux · Documented
  8. 20 August 1153Death at Clairvaux · Bernard of Clairvaux · Documented
  9. 8 August 1170Birth at Caleruega · Dominic de Guzmán · Approximate
  10. 18 January 1174Canonised · Bernard of Clairvaux · Church-recognised
  11. 1179Death · Saint Hildegard of Bingen · Documented

13th century

  1. c. 1206Conversion · Saint Francis of Assisi · Documented
  2. 1208Rosary vision at Prouille, by Dominican tradition · Dominic de Guzmán · Traditional
  3. 1209–1210Rule approved orally · Saint Francis of Assisi · Documented
  4. 1212Joins Francis · Saint Clare of Assisi · Documented
  5. December 1216Written authority to form the Order of Preachers · Dominic de Guzmán · Documented
  6. 6 August 1221Death at Bologna · Dominic de Guzmán · Documented
  7. 1224Stigmata reported · Saint Francis of Assisi · Traditional
  8. c. 1225Birth at Roccasecca · Thomas Aquinas · Approximate
  9. 1226Death · Saint Francis of Assisi · Documented
  10. 1228Canonised · Saint Francis of Assisi · Documented
  11. 3 July 1234Canonised · Dominic de Guzmán · Church-recognised
  12. c. 1244Escapes his family and joins the Dominicans · Thomas Aquinas · Approximate
  13. 1245–1252Study in Paris and Cologne under Albertus Magnus · Thomas Aquinas · Documented
  14. 1253Rule approved; death · Saint Clare of Assisi · Documented
  15. 1255Canonised · Saint Clare of Assisi · Documented
  16. 1259–1265Summa contra Gentiles · Thomas Aquinas · Documented
  17. 1265–1274Summa Theologiae (unfinished) · Thomas Aquinas · Documented
  18. 1273The Naples crucifix incident · Thomas Aquinas · Legend
  19. 7 March 1274Death at Fossanova · Thomas Aquinas · Documented

14th century

  1. 18 July 1323Canonised · Thomas Aquinas · Church-recognised
  2. 25 March 1347Birth at Siena · Catherine of Siena · Documented
  3. c. 1368Mystical marriage, according to Raymond of Capua · Catherine of Siena · Traditional
  4. 1370Shrine in the Galilee Chapel, Durham · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  5. 1375Stigmata at Pisa, according to Raymond of Capua · Catherine of Siena · Traditional
  6. June 1376Envoy to Avignon · Catherine of Siena · Documented
  7. January 1377The papacy returns to Rome · Catherine of Siena · Disputed
  8. 1377–1378The Dialogue of Divine Providence · Catherine of Siena · Own account
  9. 29 April 1380Death in Rome · Catherine of Siena · Documented

15th century

  1. 1405Annunciation Cathedral, Moscow · Saint Andrei Rublev · Documented
  2. 1408Dormition Cathedral, Vladimir · Saint Andrei Rublev · Documented
  3. 1410s–1420sThe Trinity icon · Saint Andrei Rublev · Disputed
  4. 1429Orléans and Reims · Saint Joan of Arc · Documented
  5. 1431Trial and execution at Rouen · Saint Joan of Arc · Documented
  6. 1456Conviction annulled · Saint Joan of Arc · Documented
  7. 29 June 1461Canonised · Catherine of Siena · Church-recognised
  8. c. 23 October 1491Birth at Loyola · Ignatius of Loyola · Approximate

16th century

  1. 28 March 1515Birth at Ávila (birthplace uncertain) · Teresa of Ávila · Approximate
  2. 20 May 1521Wound at Pamplona · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  3. March 1522Vigil at Montserrat · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  4. 1522Manresa: visions and formulation of the Exercises · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  5. 1534Enters the Carmelite Convent of the Incarnation · Teresa of Ávila · Documented
  6. 1539–1540Society of Jesus formed, then approved · Ignatius of Loyola · Church-recognised
  7. 24 June 1542Birth at Fontiveros · John of the Cross · Documented
  8. 1548Spiritual Exercises published · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  9. 1555Autobiography published · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  10. 31 July 1556Death at Rome · Ignatius of Loyola · Documented
  11. from St Peter’s Day 1559Visions of Christ begin · Teresa of Ávila · Own account
  12. 1562Founds the reformed convent of San José, Ávila · Teresa of Ávila · Documented
  13. 1562–1565Life written at Ávila · Teresa of Ávila · Own account
  14. 1566The Way of Perfection published · Teresa of Ávila · Documented
  15. 15 April 1567Declared a Doctor of the Church · Thomas Aquinas · Church-recognised
  16. 28 November 1568First Discalced house founded at Duruelo · John of the Cross · Documented
  17. 2 December 1577Seized at Ávila and held at Toledo · John of the Cross · Documented
  18. 1577The Interior Castle written · Teresa of Ávila · Documented
  19. 1578First stanzas of the Spiritual Canticle composed in prison · John of the Cross · Documented
  20. 15 August 1578Escapes from Toledo · John of the Cross · Documented
  21. 1579Born in Lima · Saint Martin de Porres · Documented
  22. 22 June 1580Pia Consideratione: separation of the Discalced Carmelites authorised · John of the Cross · Documented
  23. 4 or 15 October 1582Death at Alba de Tormes · Teresa of Ávila · Documented
  24. 14 December 1591Death at Úbeda · John of the Cross · Documented

17th century

  1. 1618First publication of his writings · John of the Cross · Documented
  2. 12 March 1622Canonised · Ignatius of Loyola · Church-recognised
  3. 1622Canonised · Teresa of Ávila · Church-recognised
  4. 1630Spiritual Canticle first included in an edition · John of the Cross · Documented
  5. 1639Death · Saint Martin de Porres · Documented

18th century

  1. 1726Canonised · John of the Cross · Church-recognised

19th century

  1. 1830Declared a Doctor of the Church · Bernard of Clairvaux · Church-recognised
  2. 1831Bones reburied in a new tomb · Bede the Venerable · Documented
  3. 1854 and 1950Catholic Marian dogmas · Mary, Mother of Jesus · Documented
  4. 1899Canonised and declared a Doctor of the Church · Bede the Venerable · Church-recognised

20th century

  1. 1920Canonised · Saint Joan of Arc · Documented
  2. 1926Declared a Doctor of the Church · John of the Cross · Church-recognised
  3. 1928Joins the Loreto Sisters · Saint Teresa of Calcutta · Documented
  4. 1950Missionaries of Charity founded · Saint Teresa of Calcutta · Documented
  5. 1962Canonised · Saint Martin de Porres · Documented
  6. 1964Patron of Europe · Saint Benedict of Nursia · Documented
  7. 4 October 1970Declared a Doctor of the Church · Catherine of Siena · Church-recognised
  8. 27 September 1970Declared a Doctor of the Church · Teresa of Ávila · Church-recognised
  9. 1979Nobel Peace Prize · Saint Teresa of Calcutta · Documented
  10. 1988Canonised · Saint Andrei Rublev · Documented
  11. 1997Death in Kolkata · Saint Teresa of Calcutta · Documented
  12. 1 October 1999Named co-patron of Europe · Catherine of Siena · Church-recognised

21st century

  1. 2012Doctor of the Church · Saint Hildegard of Bingen · Documented
  2. 2016Feast raised in the Roman calendar · Saint Mary Magdalene · Documented
  3. 2016Canonised · Saint Teresa of Calcutta · Documented
  4. 2023Irish public holiday · Saint Brigid of Kildare · Documented

Dates that cannot be placed on the scale

These are given relative to a life (“around age 16”), as an unknown, or as a period without a century; they stay in each saint’s History.

  1. High Middle AgesDragon legend spreads · Saint George
  2. Around age 16Captured and taken to Ireland · Saint Patrick
  3. About six years laterEscapes and returns to Britain · Saint Patrick
  4. 432; 461 or 493Later annal dates · Saint Patrick
  5. Shortly before her deathLast meeting with Benedict · Scholastica
  6. Traditional date not knownTraditional foundation of the Benedictine nuns · Scholastica
  7. Not datedLater at Jarrow with Ceolfrith · Bede the Venerable

Traditions, Saints and Orders will share this kind of record; a combined, filterable timeline needs the Orders and Traditions events reviewed in the same way first.