St. Rose was born in 1586 in Lima, Peru, to Spanish immigrants. She took a vow of chastity, and she lived in a garden where she prayed and grew vegetables to help support her family. She also did embroidery to help her family and the poor living around her. This mystic and visionary is said...Read More
St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles and a friend of St. Philip, who brought him to Jesus. Local tradition says that he preached in Ethiopia, India and Armenia, possibly leaving his writings behind. The saint died for his faith when he was flayed alive in Armenia. St. Bartholomew is patron saint of Armenia.Read More
St. Augustine of Hippo was born Nov. 13, 354, in North Africa to St. Monica and her husband. Although he was born a Christian, he wandered from his faith and lived wildly. He was a Manichaean for a number of years before he converted; St. Ambrose of Milan baptized him. After his mother’s death, he...Read More
St. Medericus was born in Autun, France, in the 600s. When he was 13 years old, he entered St. Martin’s monastery; he later became abbot of that monastery. He was a recluse at the end of his life. St. Medericus died in 700.Read More
Ss. Felix and Adauctus lived in the third century. St. Felix was a priest in Rome. After refusing to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods, he prayed and the idols broke. He was then arrested, tortured and beheaded for his faith in 303. St. Adauctus professed his faith when he saw St. Felix being...Read More
St. Zeno lived in the third century. Along with his sons, Concordius and Theodore, he was put to death for his faith in Nicomedia in 302. This happened when Emperor Diocletian was persecuting Christians.Read More
St. Albert of Pontida lived in the 11th century. He served as a soldier in the army of Bergamo, Italy. After being wounded in battle, he said he would start a religious life if he healed. When he did recover, he became a Benedictine monk. The saint founded the Abbey of St. James in Pontida...Read More
Ss. Protus and Hyacinth were brothers and servants in the house of St. Eugenia in Rome. The brothers were arrested and burned alive for their faith, circa 257 in Rome. Pope Damasus wrote the brothers’ epitaph.Read More
Today is the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. St. John the Evangelist wrote in his Gospel that Mary was overwhelmed with grief as she stood at the foot of Jesus’ cross. There are traditionally seven sorrows of Mary: the prophecy of Simeon, the flight into Egypt, the loss of the child Jesus for three...Read More
St. Cornelius lived in the third century. After being elected the 21st pope, he worked for the unity of the church during a time when the anti-pope Novatian claimed he was the true pontiff. The Romans exiled St. Cornelius in an effort to punish Christians who they said brought plagues against Rome. A document by...Read More
St. Robert Bellarmine was born Oct. 4, 1621, in Italy. After a Jesuit education, he joined the Jesuits in September 1560 despite his father’s opposition. He taught theology at the University of Louvain and Collegio Romano. He wrote a paper to defend the Catholic Church against Protestant attacks. He wrote a catechism for children and...Read More
St. Joseph of Cupertino was born June 17, 1603, in Naples, Italy. When he was 17 years old, he tried to join the Friars Minor Conventuals but was refused because of his lacking education. He also tried to join the Capuchins. Finally, he was accepted as an oblate at a Franciscan convent close to Cupertino....Read More