diff --git a/saints/saints.service b/saints/saints.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7bf0f39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/saints/saints.service
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# lives at ~/.config/systemd/user/saints.service
+
+# User-level systemd service to run get_saint_of_the_day.py
+# Configuration is via ~/.config/saints.env, no in-file path edits needed.
+# Create that file with one line:
+#   REPO_PATH=/absolute/path/to/this/repo
+# Then run:
+#   systemctl --user daemon-reload
+[Unit]
+Description=Run get_saint_of_the_day.py (profile stats updater)
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+EnvironmentFile=%h/.config/saints.env
+ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/nm-online -q
+ExecStartPre=/bin/bash -c 'for i in {1..30}; do getent hosts tildegit.org && exit 0; sleep 1; done; exit 1'
+ExecStart=/bin/bash -lc 'cd ${REPO_PATH} && uv run get_saint_of_the_day.py'
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=default.target
diff --git a/saints/saints.timer b/saints/saints.timer
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c6ede9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/saints/saints.timer
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# lives at ~/.config/systemd/user/saints.timer
+
+# User-level systemd timer that "catches up" missed runs if the machine was off.
+[Unit]
+Description=Schedule get_saint_of_the_day.py with catch-up if missed
+
+[Timer]
+# Change this to your desired schedule; examples:
+# OnCalendar=daily
+# OnCalendar=Mon..Fri 09:00
+# See man systemd.time for syntax.
+OnCalendar=daily
+Timezone=America/New_York
+Persistent=true
+Unit=saints.service
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=timers.target