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St. Anthony the Abbot was born in Egypt in 251. He sold his possessions and land, gave his money to the poor and became an anchorite – living alone in penance and prayer. He had many followers and founded two monasteries. He died in 356. Many in the area where he lived made baskets for a living, so St. Anthony became patron saint basket makers. He is also patron saint of epileptics, monks and animals.

St. Hilary of Poitiers was born in France in 315. Although he was born a pagan, he converted to Christianity after reading the Bible. He served as bishop of Poitiers from 353 to 368. Although exiled, Hilary converted people through his writing. He died in 368. In 1851, he was made a doctor of the church. St. Hilary is patron saint of snake bites.

St. Adrian of Canterbury was born in North Africa circa 635. This Benedictine monk became an abbot and an advisor to Pope Vitalian. He went to England in 669 and became abbot of St. Peter’s Monastery. Adrian evangelized England and taught languages, math and astronomy. He died Jan. 9, 710, in Canterbury, England. In 1091, St. Adrian’s body was found incorrupt.

St. Severinus of Noricum was born in North Africa circa 410. He was wealthy but gave it all away to live as a hermit. He spread Christianity in Noricum. He helped set up centers for people who lost their homes during the invasion of Attila. He preached and healed in Austria and Bavaria. He died singing Psalm 150 in 482. St. Severinus is patron saint of Austria.

St. Raymond of Penafort was born in Spain in 1175. He was a philosophy teacher and priest who joined the Dominicans in 1218; he also went to law school. He was given the task of collecting the pope’s official letters dating back to 1150. He became master general of his order in 1238 and reviewed the group’s Rule; he resigned his position in 1240. He helped write church law and is therefore patron saint of lawyers. St. Raymond died in 1275 and was canonized in 1601.

Today is the feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. The Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles (through the three kings), the baptism of Jesus and the first miracle at Cana. Traditionally, the feast is celebrated Jan. 6 – the twelfth day after Christmas.

St. John Neumann was born March 28, 1811, in Bohemia (Czech Republic). He became a seminarian, but his bishop decided to stop ordinations due to the great number of priests. John learned English and was ordained in New York. He joined the Redemptorists and was later made bishop of Philadelphia in 1852. He organized Catholic schools in the City of Brotherly Love and is considered one of the founders of American Catholic education. He learned a number of languages so that he could hear confessions from many people. John Neumann died Jan. 5, 1860, in Philadelphia. He is patron saint of Catholic schools.

Today is the feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus. St. Bernard, St. John Capistrano and the Franciscans especially supported the devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus.

St. Basil the Great was born in 329 in what is now Turkey. He was such a successful speaker that he feared he would lose his piety. Therefore, he gave away his money and things to become a priest and monk. The bishop and archbishop of Caesarea founded monasteries; he also made rules for monks who lived in the desert. He is a doctor of the church and a father of the church. He died in 379. St. Basil is patron saint of hospital administrators, reformers and Russia.

Today is the solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. She was the mother of Jesus and the wife of St. Joseph. The title, Mother of God, was used by St. Elizabeth when Mary visited her before the birth of Jesus.