Home Page

Blessed Pope Benedict XI was born in Italy in 1240. He joined the Dominicans and became the ninth master-general of the order in 1296. He defended Pope Boniface VIII against William of Nogaret, who worked for King Philip IV of France. He became the 194th pope on Oct. 22, 1303. He wrote sermons on the Gospel of Matthew, the Book of Job and Psalms. Benedict XI wasn’t pope for long; he died July 7, 1304. Some believe he was poisoned by William of Nogaret. He was beatified in 1773.

St. Henry II was born in Bavaria in 972. He became duke of Bavaria in 995 and king of Pavia in 1004. He married St. Cunegunda but never had children. Pope Benedict VII crowned St. Henry as Holy Roman Emperor in 1014. He helped start missions and began construction of a cathedral in Basel, Switzerland. He also was generous to the poor until he died in Saxony in 1024. St. Henry II is patron saint of kings and childless people.

St. Camillus of Lellis was born in Italy in 1550. After an idle youth, he was converted by the Capuchins while doing construction work for them. He tried to enter the order, but a leg injury stopped him each time. St. Camillus later became an administrator of a hospital and a priest. The saint founded the Congregation of the Servants of the Sick (the Camellians) who care for the sick in their homes and in the hospital. St. Camillus, who died in 1614, is patron saint of sick people, hospitals and those who work at hospitals.

St. Bonaventure was born in Tuscany in 1221. He joined the Franciscans when he was 22 years old. After taking his vows, he studied in Paris where he befriended St. Thomas Aquinas. When he was 35 he became the general of his order. He helped restore peace in his order and also composed “The Life of St. Francis.” While helping at the Second Council of Lyons on July 15, 1274, the saint died. St. Bonaventure is a doctor of the church.

St. Marcellina was born in Gaul (what would now be Germany) circa 330. She is the sister of St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Satyrus. She moved to Rome as a young child and was raised by her older brothers. St. Marcellina became a consecrated virgin, and Pope Liberius gave her the veil on Christmas in 353. After her brother, St. Ambrose, became a bishop, she worked with him. She lived a very austere life and died in 398.

St. Emilian lived in the fourth century. He was a martyr of Sillistria, which is located in Bulgaria. He died for his faith while Julian the Apostate was emperor.

St. Macrina the Younger was born in Cappadocia circa 327. She came from a Christian family. She was the granddaughter of St. Macrina the Elder, daughter of St. Emmelia, and sister of St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Peter of Sebastea. Although she was betrothed to a lawyer when she was 12 years old, she never married because the lawyer died before the wedding. Instead, she devoted herself to a religious life, becoming a nun. She headed a community of women in Pontus. She died there in 397.

St. Margaret of Antioch’s father was a pagan priest who disowned St. Margaret when she was converted to Christianity by her nurse. After being adopted by her nurse, the saint consecrated her virginity to God. A Roman prefect wanted to make St. Margaret his wife or mistress. When she refused, he brought her to trial. St. Margaret would not believe in the gods of the state, so she was sentenced to death. She died for her faith when she was beheaded, perhaps circa 303. She is said to have appeared to St. Joan of Arc and is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. It is said that St. Margaret was swallowed by the devil in the form of a dragon, but she was able to escape because her cross hurt the dragon. It is because of this that St. Margaret is patron saint of pregnant women and is patron saint against sterility.

St. Bridget of Sweden was born in 1302 or 1303 in Uppsala, Sweden. When she was 7 years old, she began having visions of the crucifixion. When she was 13 she married Prince Ulfo of Nercia and had eight children, including St. Catherine of Sweden. When her husband died in 1344, she went on a pilgrimage and decided to live a religious life. She became a Franciscan tertiary and a Cistercian. She founded the Order of the Most Holy Savior (Bridgettines) in 1346. She counseled three popes, Clement VI, Urban VI and Gregory XI. She encouraged each of the three popes to leave Avignon and return to Rome. She died in 1373. St. Bridget is patron saint of Sweden and widows.

St. Christina lived in the third century. It’s likely that she was a member of the Roman Anicii family, a pagan family. St. Christina became a Christian as a child and got rid of her father’s idols. Circa 250, her father tried to drown her because of her new faith. When she survived that, she suffered many other punishments, including being shot full of arrows. St. Christina, a martyr, is patron saint of archers.

Ss. Joachim and Anne are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. The two saints were elderly when their only child, Mary, was born. It is believed that Ss. Joachim and Anne gave Mary to the service of the temple when Mary was 3 years old. St. Joachim is patron saint of grandfathers, and St. Anne is patron saint of mothers and grandmothers.

St. Pantaleon was a Christian and a physician who never married. He gave the poor money and medical treatment at no charge. Other doctors told authorities that St. Pantaleon was a Christian, and he was brought to trial. While on trial, St. Pantaleon healed a sick man by mentioning Jesus’ name; the pagan priests weren’t able to heal anyone. Witnesses converted to Christianity. The saint wouldn’t give up his faith, so he was martyred circa 305. St. Pantaleon is patron saint of doctors and bachelors.