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(1540-1592) Pascal was born in Torre Hermosa, in Aragon, on Pentecost Sunday. He was christened Pascua in honor of the feast. As a boy, Paschal worked as a shepherd for his father. It is said that he performed miracles and was distinguished for his austerity. He also taught himself to read. At some point Pascal […]

(1247-1297) Margaret was the child of farmers of Laviano, Tuscany. Her mother died when Margaret was 7. Her father remarried, but life with her stepmother became so difficult that Margaret moved out. For nine years she lived with a man named Arsenio. Though they were not married, Margaret eventually bore him a son. Understandably, Margaret […]

(1070-1130) St. Isadore gives hope to those of us who will never build a church, convert the masses or have beatific visions and yet yearn to lead a blessed life. Isadore was a simple man and following his very modest path, has been recognized as the patron of farmers. When he was barely old enough […]

(Died 1st century) Matthias was not one of the original Apostles, although he was with Jesus from his baptism through the Ascension. It was after that when Peter proposed that the assembled disciples, who numbered about 120, nominate two men to replace Judas. They chose Joseph called Barsabas (whose surname was Justus) and Matthias. Then […]

(1917) The first apparition of Our Lady to three shepherd children occurred on May 13, 1917, in the small village of Fatima in Portugal. She appeared six times to Lucia, 9, and her cousins Francisco, 8, and his sister Jacinta, 6, between May 13, 1917, and Oct. 13, 1917. She appeared to the children who […]

(1866-1942) Leopold Mandic was a native of Croatia who joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years later despite several health problems. He could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered from se vere arthritis, poor eyesight, and a stomach ailment. For many years Leopold taught patrology, the […]

(Died 303 AD) Legends say that when the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife Lucina (Lycinia), well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Anthimus in prison. Anthimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured. Gratefully, Pinianus liberated all of the Christian prisoners in […]

(1499-1569) John of Avila was born in the Castile region of Spain. He was sent at the age of 14 to the University of Salamanca to study law. He later moved to Alcala, where he studied philosophy and theology before his ordination as a diocesan priest. After John’s parents died and left him as their […]

(8th century BCE)  Isaiah was the first of the major prophets of the Old Testament and delivered oracles for the southern kingdom of Judah in the eighth century B.C. Isaiah had a prophetess wife and two sons named Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Isaiah described his calling to the Lord in the sixth chapter of his book. […]

(550-615) Boniface IV was a doctor’s son from L’Aquila, in the Abruzzi region of Italy. He rose through the ranks of the Church to become a deacon and treasurer to St. Gregory the Great. Boniface was elected pope in late 607 but was not enthroned until September, 608, when his election was confirmed by Emperor […]