Saint Edmund Campion (1540-1581)
Saint Edmund Campion was born in London, England. He was extremely bright, and was given a scholarship to Saint John's College, Oxford, when he was only 15 years old. Edmund was raised a Catholic, but chose to become an Anglican …
Saint Andrew (1st century)
Matthew tells us that Andrew was a fisherman, along with his brother Peter. In the Gospel of John, we learn that Andrew was also a disciple of John the Baptist (see 1:40). With John the Baptist, Andrew was waiting for …
Saint Radbod (d.918)
Saint Radbod lived a very quiet and holy life. He was the grandson of the last pagan king of the Frisions in the Netherlands. Radbod was raised and educated by his uncle, the bishop of Cologne. He became the bishop …
Saint James of the Marche (1391-1476)
Saint James was born in the Marche of Ancona in Italy. He attended the University of Perugia, where he attained doctorates in canon law and civil law. After he earned his degrees, he felt called to join the Franciscans and …
Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani (1681-1742)
Saint Francesco Antonio Fasani was born in Lucera, Italy. He was a very devout child and entered the order of Conventual Franciscans, taking the name Francis. He was ordained 10 years later and taught philosophy to younger friars in the …
Saint Conrad (d.975)
Saint Conrad was born into a prominent Guelph family. He received an education at the Cathedral School at Constance and was ordained a priest. Conrad was appointed provost of the cathedral and was then selected bishop of Constance. He was …
Saint Catherine of Alexandria (d.305)
Saint Catherine is thought to have been born in Alexandria to a noble family. She converted to Christianity after she had a life-altering vision. Catherine criticized Emperor Maxentius for his persecution of Christians. In an attempt to sway Catherine away …
Saint Andrew Dung-Lac (1795-1839)
Saint Andrew Dung-Lac was one of 117 people martyred in Vietnam for their Catholic faith between 1820 and 1862. Of the 117 martyrs, 96 were Vietnamese, 11 were Spanish, and 10 were French. Christianity arrived in Vietnam through the Portuguese, …
Saint Columban (543-615)
Saint Columban was a famous Irish missionary. Columban received a good education, and resolved to live a life of simplicity and abstinence. However, he began to worry that this might not be possible because he was tempted by the pretty …
Saint Cecilia (2nd century)
Saint Cecilia is the patron saint of musicians, singers, and poets. She lived in the second century and died a martyr. Although not much is known about her, a fifth-century legend holds that she had taken a vow of virginity, …
Saint Albert of Louvain (1166-1192)
Saint Albert of Louvain entered into religious life at the age of 12. However, he left the priesthood at the age of 21 to become a knight of Count Baldwin. He planned to go on a crusade, but did not, …
Saint Edmund the Martyr (c.841-870)
Saint Edmund the Martyr was the king of Norfolk and Suffolk in England in the ninth century. Exact details about his life are fuzzy. It is known that Edmund defended his people against Danish invaders and was killed when the …
Saint Agnes of Assisi (1197-1253)
Saint Agnes was the sister of Saint Clare, and also her first follower. At first, her family disapproved of her choice, and tried to bring her back home. However, when they tried to take her from the monastery, her body …
Saint Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852)
Sister Rose Duchesne was known for praying without ceasing. She was also a woman who gave thanks to God, even though as a missionary to the United States she lived a life of great physical hardship on the frontier. Sister …
Saint Elizabeth of Hungary (1207-1231)
Saint Elizabeth was born in 1207 as a princess of Hungary. She lived there until she was four, and then went to live with her betrothed, Louis, the Landgrave of Thuringia. When Franciscan friars arrived in Germany, Elizabeth not only …
Saint Gertrude (1256-1301)
Saint Gertrude was born at Eisleben, Saxony, in 1256. She was entrusted to the care of Benedictine nuns at the age of five. When she grew up, she became a Benedictine nun herself, and was elected abbess of the monastery …
Saint Albert the Great (1206-1280)
Saint Albert the Great was born in 1206 to a wealthy and powerful German family. He was well educated, and despite disapproval from his family he joined the Dominicans. He was an educator at Paris and at Cologne, and had …
Saint Laurence O'Toole (1128-1180)
Saint Laurence O'Toole was born in the year 1128 in Ireland. At the age of 10 he became the hostage of one of his father's enemies and brought to the king of Leinster, who mistreated him. After two years of …
Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini (1850-1917)
Francesca Cabrini was born in northern Italy in 1850, the youngest of 13 or more children. As a child she dreamed of being a missionary to faraway lands. When she was 18, she tried to join a religious community, but …
Saint Josaphat (c.1580-1623)
This saint, who was a bishop and martyr, spent his life working for the unity of all Christians. He was a reform-minded bishop who brought order and proper procedure into his diocese. Josephat also helped bring the Eastern Church of …
Saint Martin of Tours (c.316-397)
Saint Martin became a Christian at the age of 18. Even though his father was a military officer, Martin believed that Christians were not allowed to kill. He became a conscientious objector, even though he was imprisoned for refusing to …
Saint Leo the Great (c.400-461)
Saint Leo was a pope who lived in the early centuries of the Church. Elected in 440, he was a talented administrator who was equally gifted at spiritual leadership. He was the first pope to claim to be Peter’s heir …
Saint Benen (d.467)
Saint Benen was the son of an Irish chieftain. He was baptized by Saint Patrick, and was so enraptured by him and his work that he asked the saint if he could accompany him on his travels as a missionary. …
Saint Godfrey (c.1066-c.1115)
Saint Godfrey started his monastic life at a very young age. He was raised from the age of five in the Benedictine Abbey of Mont-Saint-Quentin, where his godfather was abbot. He was given his own tiny habit, and lived life …
