SAINT OF THE DAY

(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 […]

(1538-1606) Imagine someone who had never been a priest, let alone a bishop, stepping out of layman’s shoes into those of archbishop of an episcopate 6,000 miles from home. If you can come up with a name, it would be Turibius of Mogrovejo. As a young man, Turibius was a brilliant scholar of the law […]

(1917-1980) Oscar Arnulfo Romero was born in 1917, in Ciudad Barrios in the province of San Miguel, El Salvador. His father trained him to be a carpenter, but at the age of 14, he left home to study to be a priest. He was ordained a priest for the Diocese of San Salvador in 1942 […]

(1672-1732) Lucy Filippini was orphaned at an early age. At age 6, she went to live with her aristocratic aunt and uncle who encouraged her religious inclination by entrusting her education to the Benedictine nuns at Santa Lucia. Under the patronage of Cardinal Marcantonio Barbarigo, she was entrusted with the work of founding schools for […]

(1447-1510) Catarinetta (little Catherine) Fieschi, was a child of a noble family of Genoa. At 13, she wanted to enter a convent but was refused admission because of her youth. When she was 16, she was given in marriage to a young nobleman, Julian Adorno. For this reason, she is sometimes called St Catherine Fieschi-Adorno. […]

(660- 710) Tradition states that Rupert was a descendent of the first kings of France (the Merovingians). Though regarded for his wisdom and devoutness, he was forced to leave his post as bishop of Worms by the largely pagan population there. He was invited by the duke of Bavaria to spread Christianity among the people […]

(1304-1346) Venturino was born at Bergamo and joined the Order of Friars Preachers on Jan. 22, 1319. By 1335 he became famous preaching in all the cities of northern Italy. In 1335, he planned to make a penitential pilgrimage to Rome with about 30,000 of his converts. Pope Benedict XII, then residing at Avignon, thought […]

(Died 1195) Legends say that Berthold was born in Limoges, France, studied in Paris, and was ordained a priest there. He was a relative of Aymeric, the Latin patriarch of Antioch who was installed in Antioch during the crusades. The story continues when Berthold accompanied Aymeric on the crusades and found himself in Antioch when […]

(1390-1456) Peter was born in the city of Valladolid, Spain to noble parents conspicuous for their wealth and virtue. Though he lost his father in his early youth, he was piously educated by his mother. At age 10, Peter begged to be admitted into the Seraphic Order, which was granted to him three years later […]

(329-424 AD) Christians had enjoyed 12 years of peaceful worship when suddenly in 420 AD, Bishop Abdas, in the pitch of religious fervor, burned the Persians Temple of Fire. The Persian king Isdegerd threatened to destroy all the Christian churches unless bishop rebuilt the temple. Abdas refused to comply and built someplace dedicated to idolatry. […]