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St. Martin de Porres was born Dec. 9, 1579, in Lima, Peru. He became a servant in a Dominican priory in Lima when he was just 11. When he served as the almoner (one who distributes alms), he begged from the rich to help the ill and poor in the city. He also cared for the sick in the infirmary. He took vows as a Dominican brother in 1603; before St. Martin, the Dominicans had a stipulation that black men could not take vows. This saint set up an orphanage and children’s hospital for poor children. He also nursed stray cats and dogs in a shelter he started. He died Nov. 3, 1639, of a fever in Lima. St. Martin de Porres is patron saint of black people, public education and poor people.

St. Charles Borromeo was born to a noble family Oct. 2, 1538, in Italy. He joined the religious life Oct. 13, 1547. He became a civil and canon lawyer when he was 21 years old. At age 22, he was made a cardinal in 1560. He served the church in a number of ways, including archbishop of Milan, prefect of the Tridentine Council and papal legate in Bologna. The saint also served as a member of the Apostolic Penitentiary. St. Charles Borromeo aided the sick and buried the dead during the plague. He began the Oblates of St. Ambrose in 1578. He enforced the Council of Trent’s decrees, and he founded schools, seminaries and hospitals. He died Nov. 3, 1584, in Milan, Italy. St. Charles Borromeo is patron saint of seminarians, spiritual directors and bishops.

St. Domninus (a doctor) was martyred along with Philotheus, Sylvanus (a Syrian bishop), and Theotimus. The condemned men were forced to work in mines before they were executed.

St. Josaphat was born in 1580 at Volodymyr, Lithuania. A merchant’s apprentice, he was offered partnership in the business and a chance to marry the partner’s daughter. However, Josaphat declined both offers because he was called to religious life. He joined the Ukrainian Order of St. Basil (Basilians) in 1604, at which time he took the name Josaphat. The monk was ordained a Byzantine rite priest in 1609. A preacher and later bishop, he tried to bring fallen away Christians back to the church and worked for unity in the church. In 1623, Josaphat was killed by a mob of people who invaded his residence. Canonized in 1876, Josphat was the first Eastern saint canonized by Rome.

St. Margaret of Scotland was born in Hungary circa 1045.The granddaughter of an English king, Margaret, along with her family, was exiled during an invasion of England. Her family ended up in Scotland when their ship crashed there. Scotland’s King Malcolm III helped the family. Margaret married the Scottish king in 1070 and had eight children. Margaret founded abbeys, worked for justice and aided the poor. She died Nov. 16, 1093, just a few days after her husband and son died. St. Margaret is patron saint of large families, queens, Scotland, death of children and widows.

St. Rose Philippine Duchesne was born Aug. 29, 1769, in Grenoble, France. As young as age 8, she knew she wanted to evangelize in America because she’d heard a Jesuit discuss his missionary work there. In 1788, she joined the Visitation nuns in Grenoble without her family’s knowledge. Her convent was closed in 1792 during the French Revolution, but she still lived as though in her order. St. Rose cared for the sick. She also began a school and hid priests during the revolution. When the Terror of the revolution was over, she tried to start up her order. However, the order was added to the Society of the Sacred Heart. St. Rose made her final vows as a member of that order in 1805. She left for the Louisiana Territory in 1818, finally fulfilling a dream she’d had since a child. Along with four other sisters, she tried to start the Society of the Sacred Heart in her new home. She opened schools and worked with American Indians. She died in Missouri in 1852. St. Rose is patron saint of the diocese of Springfield-Cape Girardeau, Mo.

St. Barlaam was born in Antioch sometime after 200. During the persecutions under Diocletian, this Christian peasant was jailed for his faith. At his trial in 304, he was tortured but refused to deny his faith. Barlaam lost his hand in fire when the judge tried to make it look like he was making a sacrifice to an idol. Finally, Barlaam was murdered. St. Barlaam is a martyr.

Today is the feast of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which honors her presentation in the temple when she was just a child. The feast began circa the seventh century; however, it was brought to the Western church in the 14th century. Pope Pius V eliminated the feast, but Pope Sixtus V brought it back in 1585.

St. Clement I, who was born in Rome, became the fourth pope circa 88. He wrote “Epistle to the Corinthians,” and his name is in the canon of the Mass. He worked with St. Paul the Apostle, according to St. Jerome and Origen. The pope was martyred under Trajan’s persecutions in 101. St. Clement I is patron saint of sailors.

St. Siricius, born circa 334 in Rome, was elected the 38th pope in 384. Siricius extended the authority of the pope, and he said papal documents must be widely distributed. In a synod in 386, he reaffirmed canon laws. The importance of celibate life for the religious and clergy was reaffirmed in another synod, 390-392. Siricius also healed a schism. He died Nov. 26, 399.

St. Eligius, a metalworker born in France circa 590, was the “master of mint” under King Clotaire II. As Eligius became famous for his work, he also became rich. He generously helped the poor, and he built churches and a monastery. Eligius was ordained a priest circa 640 and later became a bishop. He converted many people before his death circa 660. St. Eligius is patron saint of metalworkers.

St. Francis Xavier was born in Spanish Navarre in 1506. St. Ignatius of Loyola convinced his friend Francis Xavier to help spread the Gospel. Francis was one of the founding Jesuits and the first Jesuit missionary. Also a priest, he preached, helped the sick and taught the catechism to children in Goa. He served as a missionary in India, the East Indies and Japan. This miracle worker was a prophet and healer who is said to have calmed storms. He died of a fever in 1552. St. Francis Xavier is patron saint of African missions, Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand and Navarre, Spain.