Author: Editor

(Died 1606) Nicholas’ nickname was “Little John” for his small stature. It could have easily been “Little Fox” for all the times he deceived authorities to save Catholic priests and laymen from the religious persecution of the English crown. Over a period of 20 years Nicholas used his skills to build secret hiding places for […]

(Died 530) Just a few days after the feast of Ireland’s most famous saint, Patrick, we celebrate another Irish trailblazer, Enda of Aran. He is a remarkable character in Catholic and Irish history, as his life’s path took a 180-degree turn. Enda inherited control of a large territory in present-day Northern Ireland from his father […]

(1520-1567) St. Salvator of Horta was born of poor parents in 1520. Orphaned when still quite young, he tended cattle and was later sent as an apprentice to a shoemaker in Barcelona. When he was 20 years old, he entered the Franciscan Order as a lay brother. He distinguished himself among his brethren by rigorous […]

Undoubtably, the news that his intended bride was pregnant came as a shock to Joseph. But as Matthew says in his Gospel, Joseph was “just” man. Instead of his wounded pride or dignity, Joseph first thought was to save Mary from public shame or, worse still, from the stoning to which she risked being condemned. […]

(315-387) Cyril was born in Jerusalem about 315, shortly after the legalization of Christianity throughout the Roman Empire. Although that legalization put a stop to many of the persecutions that threatened the Church for two centuries, it indirectly gave rise to a number of internal controversies—both in regard to theology, and the jurisdiction of bishops—in […]

(circa 385-461) One of the most famous of all saints, Patrick was born as Maewyn Succat in Roman Britain to a Christian family. When he was 15 or 16, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates who sold him in Northern Ireland as a slave. In his “Confession,” in which he signs himself Patricius and tells […]

(1751-1820) Today’s saint demonstrates that luck, or divine providence, plays an important role in our lives. He was born into a poor family with the name John in Moravia. He was the ninth of 12 children. Although he longed to be a priest, there was no money for studies, and he was apprenticed to a […]

(1581-1660) Louise was born in Paris in 1581, never having known her mother; she was raised by her father, a member of the aristocracy. When her father married, Louise had a difficult time adjusting and was placed in the royal Monastery of Poissy and educated by the Dominican Sisters. There, she learned art, music and literature […]

(895-968) Matilda, the daughter of a German count, was brought up at the monastery of Erfurt in Germany. She was betrothed at age 14 to Henry, who became the king of Germany. She would bear him two sons: Otto and Henry. Matilda became admired by her subjects almost like a mother. She visited and tended […]

(534 -600) Leander was born at Cartagena, Spain. St. Isidore and Fulgentius, both bishops, were his brothers, and his sister Florentina is numbered among the saints. He became a monk at Seville and then the bishop of the See. He was instrumental in converting the two sons Hermenegild and Reccared of the Arian Visigothic King […]