Author: Editor

(Died 741) Pope St. Gregory III was born in Syria. He was so respected that he was elected pope by those attending the funeral procession of his predecessor, Gregory II, on Feb. 11, 731. In an instant this humble man found himself to be the chief shepherd of the Catholicism. He jumped into a conflict […]

(Died 304 AD) St. Leocadia is highly reverenced in Spain. She was a native of Toledo, and was apprehended by an order of Dacian, the cruel governor under Diocletian, in 304. She was asked to renounce her Christian faith and refused. She was subjected to terrible torture but remained steadfast in her convictions. She died […]

(6th century) St. Budoc (aka Beuzec and Budeaux) was born at sea. In fact, his name could mean “saved from the waters,” if based on the Breton word “beuziñ,” which means “drown.” Another interpretation comes from the Celtic word, “boudi” for “victory” and “profit.” In any case, a legend says that Budoc was grandson of […]

(340-397) Ambrose was born in Trier, Germany, to a Roman Christian family, the third son after two other children, the saints Marcellina and Satyrus. In Rome he had completed his juridical studies in the footsteps of his father, prefect of Gaul, learning Greco-Latin oratory and literature. He lived during the time of the “Arian Controversy,” […]

(3rd century) Of course, even little children know Santa Claus! The name we call him today is a derivative of the Dutch, “Sint Nikolaas,” which later evolved into “Sinterklaas.” Get the connection? But what of the real man upon whom the famous holiday spirit is based? Nicholas was born at Patara, a seaside town in […]

(439 -531) St. Sabas was born near Caesarea, and as a child was orphaned. At the age of 15, having suffered the abuse of his uncle, he decided to forsake the world and enter a monastery not far from his family home. He then spent 10 years in religious life and despite being the youngest […]

(c. 674-749) John was a native of Syria. When it was overrun in the 630s by a new, martial religion that originated in Saudi Arabia, his family served in the local caliph’s administration. The Muslim conquest was facilitated by the local population of subjugated, but educated, Christians and Jews who were conquered but not displaced. […]

(1506-1552) St. Francis Xavier was born near Pamplona, on April 7, 1506. Xavier was educated at the University of Paris. In 1529, while in Paris, he met the Spanish ascetic Ignatius of Loyola. Xavier was one of the groups that joined Ignatius to found the Order of Jesus. In 1537 Xavier became the first secretary […]

(4th century) According to legend, Bibiana was the daughter of a former Roman prefect, Flavianus, who was banished by Julian the Apostate. His wife, Dafrosa, and two daughters, Demetria and Bibiana, were also persecuted by Julian. Dafrosa and Demetria died a natural death and were buried by Bibiana in their own house; but Bibiana was […]