Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595)
As a youth, Saint Philip Neri was instructed in the humanities by the Dominicans. When a family member was struggling with his business, Philip moved to San Germano to help him. While there, Philip would often disappear to a Dominican …
Saint Bede the Venerable (672-735)
Saint Bede was raised in the abbey of Saints Peter and Paul at Wearmouth-Jarrow in England. He became a Benedictine monk, and was a famous teacher and author. He was known as one of the most learned men of his …
Saint Vincent of Lerins (d.445)
Saint Vincent of Lerins was a soldier, but felt called to become a monk. He entered a monastery on the coast of southern France and was later ordained. His most famous written work is the Commonitorium, which determined between true …
Saint Julia (fifth century)
Saint Julia was born to a noble family in northern Africa. When she was a young girl, her city was taken over by barbarians. Julia was captured by the conquerors and sold as a slave to a pagan merchant. She …
Saint Rita of Cascia (1381-1457)
Saint Rita of Cascia showed an interest in religious life as a young woman, but was betrothed instead, at the wish of her parents. Rita bore her husband twin sons, but he was a violent and cruel man. Even though …
Saint Cristóbal Magallanes Jara (1869-1927)
Saint Cristóbal Magallanes lived at a time when there was a very anti-Catholic government in Mexico. The government had forced churches, schools, and seminaries to close. They also banished the foreign clergy. Cristóbal established a secret seminary in Jalisco. He …
Saint Bernardino of Siena (1380-1444)
Saint Bernardino was a Franciscan who was a great preacher, traveling from town to town on foot, often preaching for hours to great crowds. He was a leader of his order and established schools of theology for his monks. Even …
Saint Theophilus of Corte (d.1740)
Saint Theophilus was born in Corte, Italy, and given the name Biagio Arrighi. When he as a young man he felt called to enter religious life and joined the Franciscans, taking the name Theophilus. He exhibited a great passion for …
Saint John I (d.526)
Saint John I was elected pope at a time when Italy's ruler, Theodoric the Goth, supported the Arian heresy. However, Theodoric tolerated Catholics during his reign. Theodoric underwent a change though, and became suspicious of everyone, visualizing plots to seize …
Saint Paschal Baylon (1540-1592)
Saint Paschal Baylon was born to humble and pious peasants. From a young age, he showed a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. As a lad, he worked as a shepherd. He was extremely honest, even offering to compensate owners …
Saint Brendan (d.577)
Saint Brendan was from Tralee, on the west coast of Ireland. Brendan famously sailed with 60 of his friends in tiny boats to find the Isles of the Blessed in the roaring Atlantic Ocean. Scholars now think that Brendan actually …
Saint Hallvard (c.1020-c.1043)
Saint Hallvard was a brave young man of faith--both faith in God and faith in innocence. One day Hallvard was preparing to cross a fjord in a boat, when a woman falsely accused of theft ran up to him. Hallvard …
Saint Matthias (1st century)
For years Matthias followed Jesus. He was with him from the time John the Baptist baptized Jesus until Jesus ascended into heaven. It wasn’t until after the Ascension that the Apostles selected him to replace Judas. (Taken from "Take Ten: …
Saint John the Silent (454-558)
When Saint John the Silent's parents died, he used his inheritance to construct the Church of the Most Holy Mother of God. By the time he reached 20, he had established a monastery for himself and 10 of his young …
Saint Epiphanius of Salamis (c.310-403)
Saint Epiphanius of Salamis was a man of many and great accomplishments. He was the founder of a Christian monastery while still very young, and served as abbot at that monastery for 30 years. He was then elected bishop in …
Saint Ignatius of Laconi (1701-1781)
Saint Ignatius of Laconi was born to a poor farm family. At 17, he became severely ill. He made a promise to God that, if he was cured, he would devote his life to being a Franciscan. He was cured, …
Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka'i (1840-1889)
Damien was a farm boy in Belgium who had to quit school as a teenager. Eventually he became a priest and volunteered to go to a remote island in Hawaii where people with the terrible disease of leprosy were isolated. …
Saint Catherine of Bologna (1413-1463)
Saint Catherine was born in Bologna, Italy. She had a great love for the arts. Her noble lineage allowed her to be educated at court, where she became interested in painting. After her education, Catherine joined the Poor Clares. She …
Saint Peter of Tarentaise (1102-1175)
Saint Peter was the abbot at a Cistercian monastery. He replaced a very corrupt bishop when he was appointed archbishop of Tarentaise. He accepted his new position with enthusiasm and eagerness. Peter reformed his archdiocese, replaced corrupt clergy, and ministered …
Saint Rose Venerini (1656-1728)
Saint Rose Venerini was engaged to be married, but joined a convent upon the death of her fiance. Shortly thereafter, her father also passed away, and Rose returned home to comfort and care for her mother. While at home, Rose …
Saint Eadbert (d.698)
Saint Eadbert lived as a monk at Lindisfarne Abbey in Ireland. The other monks admired his deep personal holiness, vast knowledge of the Bible, and charity towards the poor. In fact, Eadbert gave the poor one-tenth of his possessions each …
Saint Hilary of Arles (d.449)
Saint Hilary of Arles was born into an aristocratic family. He had a tough decision to make: strive for a secular career or enter into religious life. With the persuasion and guidance of a family member, Saint Honoratus, Hilary chose …
Saint Florian (d.304)
Saint Florian was an officer in the Roman army. He was a Christian, but kept his faith a secret for fear of persecution. Even though he kept it hidden, Florian's faith was so strong that he saved an entire town …
Saint Philip (1st century)
Saint Philip was one of the Twelve Apostles. He is said to have been young and shy, but practical as well. He was with Jesus when he performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. He was …
