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(496-576) St. Germain, Bishop of Paris, was born in Saône-et-Loire and studied at Avalon and also at Luzy under the guidance of his cousin Scapilion, a priest. He was ordained at the age of 34 and became the Abbot of Saint-Symphorien near Autun. Germain was so famous for his generosity to the poor that his […]

(Died 604) Augustine (not to be confused with Augustine of Hippo) was the prior of a monastery in Rome when chosen by Gregory the Great, who was Pope at the time, to lead a mission to England. The Christian faith had already been introduced in the 3rd or 4th century, but the gradual collapse of […]

(1515-1595) Philip Neri was born in Florence on July 21, 1515. As a child he was known for his cheerfulness and obedience. In fact, he was referred to as “good little Phil.” He received his early teachings from friars at the Dominican monastery in Florence, San Marco. At 18-years-old, while living with a wealthy relative […]

(1566-1607) Catherine de’ Pazzi was a member of one of the great families of Florence. Ordinarily, a young woman of her stature would have been paired for marriage to a young man of one of the other aristocratic families, but Catherine determined at a very young age that she would remain a virgin and dedicate […]

(5th century) Little is known of the life of Vincent of Lérins, but his work is renown. He was known for his eloquence and knowledge. He was of noble birth and once was a soldier but became a monk in the south of France. In about 434, Vincent authored his famous work the Commonitorium. Written […]

(1698-1764) John Baptist de Rossi was born in Voltaggio, Italy, to poor, but religious parents. They were responsible for setting him on the path to a fine education. A pair of local priests also took upon themselves his early education and faith formation as a part of their apostolate, taking him under their spiritual care. […]

(1371-1447) Margherita Lotti — “Rita” for short — was born in the small township of Roccaporena in Umbria, probably in 1371. Her parents, poor farmers, and peasants made sure she had good schooling and religious education in the nearby Cascia, in the care of the Augustinian friars. From the friars, Rita learned devotion to St. […]

(1869-1927) Cristobal Magallanes Jara was born on a farm in Mexico. He entered the seminary at 19, and served as parish priest at Totatiche, Mexico. He also helped found schools, a newspaper, catechism centers for children and adults, carpentry shops and an electric plant to power the mills. In addition, he worked with the indigenous […]

(1380-1444) Bernardine was a Friar Minor, missionary and reformer, often called the “Apostle of Italy,” of the noble family of Albizeschi of Massa, near Siena of which his father was then governor. Left an orphan at the age of 6, Bernardine was brought up by his pious aunts. In 1397, after a course of civil […]