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St. Mark the Evangelist was a disciple of St. Peter. Sometime before the year 60 he wrote the second Gospel, which he wrote in Greek for the converts to Christianity. He traveled with St. Barnabas and St. Paul on a missionary trip through Cyprus. St. Mark also evangelized in Alexandria, Egypt, where he established the church and began a Christian school. He was martyred in the same city on April 25, 68. Often represented in art as a lion, St. Mark is patron saint of lions, notaries and Egypt.

St. Pius V was born in Lombardy, Italy, in January 1504. He joined the Dominican order in 1518 and became a teacher of philosophy and then theology. He began his involvement in the Inquisition in 1551, and he became a cardinal in 1557. He became the 225th pope in January 1566 and accomplished many things. He enforced reforms from the Council of Trent, opened seminaries, built hospitals and established foundations to spread the Catholic faith. He published a Roman Missal, the Roman Catechism and the revised Roman Breviary. St. Pius V also cared for the poor using the papal treasury. He died in 1572 in Rome, and he was canonized in 1712 by Pope Clement XI.

St. Joseph the Worker was the earthly husband to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the foster father of Jesus. He was visited by angels and always did what God asked of him immediately. Although he was of royal lineage, he was a carpenter of humble means. When he went to the Temple to have Jesus circumcised and Mary purified, he offered two turtledoves – an offering allowed only for people who couldn’t afford a lamb. It is believed that he died before the Passion as he did not appear in Jesus’ public life. St. Joseph is patron saint of workers, the universal church, fathers and social justice.

Today is the feast of Ss. Philip and James the Apostles. St. Philip, who was born in Palestine, was an Apostle and a confidant of Jesus. He brought St. Nathaniel to Jesus and preached in Asia Minor and Greece. St. Philip was martyred around the year 80 in Phrygia. St. Philip is patron saint of hatters and pastry chefs. St. James was an Apostle and the first bishop of Jerusalem. He was also one of the first to see the risen Christ. St. James died for his faith around the year 62 when he was beaten with clubs while he prayed for his attackers. Due to this association with clubs, St. James is patron saint of fullers and pharmacists.

St. Domitian of Huy, born in the sixth century, was a priest and bishop of Tongres. A steadfast opponent of heretics, he spoke out against them at the Synod of Orleans in 549 and encouraged sermons against heresy. In addition to working to convert those who did not believe, he built churches and hospices. His talent for fundraising helped ease a famine. St. Domitian died in Huy, Belgium, around the year 560 and is patron saint of that city.

St. Victor the Moor was born in the third century in Mauretania, Africa. Born a Christian, he became a soldier in the Roman Praetorian Guard. During Maximian’s persecution of Christians, St. Victor was arrested in Milan. He was tortured and killed for his faith around the year 303. St. Victor the Moor is patron saint of Varese, Italy.

St. John of Avila was born Jan. 6, 1499, to a wealthy family in Toledo, Spain. Having studied law and theology, he became a lawyer and a priest. The saint gave most of his fortune to the poor after his parents died. A man of faith, he spread the word of God and the influence of the Jesuits in Spain. St. John of Avila was spiritual director to St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis Borgia, St. John of God and St. Louis of Granada. He died May 10, 1758. St. John of Avila is patron saint of Spanish secular clergy.

St. Anthimus was a parish priest in Rome. He converted people, including a Roman prefect. However, in retaliation for converting the prefect, Roman officials condemned St. Anthimus to death by drowning. When the saint was thrown into the water, it is said he was rescued by an angel. St. Anthimus continued to preach his faith and convert others until he was later recaptured and martyred for his faith around 303.

Ss. Nereus and Achilleus were brothers who lived in the first century. They were soldiers in the Roman army. The brothers were converted to Christianity and were baptized by St. Peter. They were exiled because of their faith. Around the year 98, Ss. Nereus and Achilleus were martyred.

St. Andrew Fournet was born in France in 1752. His mother was very strong in her faith and urged her son to become a priest. St. Andrew resisted and began to lead a wild life. His mother eventually convinced him to stay with his uncle who was a priest. It was at this time that St. Andrew changed his wild ways, went back to school and realized his vocation to the priesthood. He became a parish priest in Maille, France. St. Andrew refused to take an oath denouncing his faith during the French Revolution. Along with St. Jeanne Elizabeth Bichier des Ages, he founded the Daughters of the Cross of St. Andrew. St. Andrew Fournet died May 13, 1834.

St. Matthias the Apostle replaced Judas Iscariot. For more than three decades, he preached the Gospel in Egypt, Judea and Ethiopia. St. Matthias preached about the necessity of mortification of the flesh regarding its desires. Around the year 80, he was stoned to death for his faith. St. Matthias is patron saint of reformed alcoholics.

St. Torquatus lived in the first century. Along with Ss. Ctesiphon, Caccilius, Secundus, Euphrasius, Indaletius and Hesychius, St. Torquatus was a Christian missionary in Spain and a disciple of Ss. Peter and Paul. St. Torquatus concentrated his missionary work in the Granada area. Most of these saints were martyred and share a feast day.