St. John of Parma was a Franciscan priest born in 1209 in Italy. He taught theology in Bologna and Naples, Italy. He became the Franciscans’ seventh minister general in 1247, and he traveled to the Franciscan provinces of various countries. St. John of Parma also served as papal legate to Constantinople. He is patron saint...Read More

St. Lea lived in the fourth century. After she became a widow, she went to a Roman monastery and would later become the superior there. Writing after St. Lea’s death, St. Jerome praised St. Lea for living such a devout life free of the things of the world. He proposed a life of renunciation.Read More

St. Catherine of Sweden, born in 1331, was the daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden. Although she married at age 13, she took a vow of chastity. Around 1350, she went to Rome to see her mother and was widowed soon after. The two women went on a series of pilgrimages. When they were not...Read More

St. Guntramnus was the son of King Clotaire and St. Clothildis. He was king of Orleans and Burgundy in 561. His wife, whom he had divorced, became very ill. When her doctor couldn’t help her, St. Guntramnus had the doctor murdered. However, when he converted to Christianity he felt so wretched over his actions that...Read More

St. John Climacus was born in Syria sometime between 505 and 579. He began to live as a monk and hermit at age 16 on Mount Sinai. St. John Climacus became an abbot at Mount Sinai around age 72, although he resigned his position to take up hermit life once again shortly before his death....Read More

St. Celsus of Armagh, a Benedictine monk, was born in Ireland in 1079. He is said to have been the last hereditary archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. He taught in Oxford, England. He traveled across Ireland to preach and reform. In 1111, he helped preside at a synod that helped align the Irish church with...Read More

St. Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1350. He became a Dominican friar at age 18 despite his family’s disapproval. He was a priest and missionary who taught theology. A great preacher, he converted many people across Europe, including people in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England and Scotland, among others. He worked to...Read More

St. William of Eskilsoe was born in Paris in 1125. He became a priest and was known for leading an austere and holy life. St. William helped reform the liturgical devotion of Danish monasteries. He decided to stay at Eskilsoe and became its abbot. He founded the abbey of St. Thomas in Aebelholt, Zeeland, Denmark....Read More