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St. Giovanni Calabria was born Oct. 8, 1873, in Verona, Italy. This priest started homes for abandoned teens throughout his home country. He also founded the Congregation of the Poor Servants of Divine Providence. He died Dec. 4, 1954, in Italy. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1999.

St. Sabbas was born in Cappadocia in 439. An anchorite as of age 30, he renounced the world in order to devote his life to prayer and work. He wove baskets, which he took to a monastery led by St. Euthymius to trade for food and materials to make more baskets. When St. Euthymius died, St. Sabbas was co-superior, along with St. Theodosius, of the area’s monks and hermits. He died in 532.

St. Nicholas was a priest, abbot and bishop of Myra (located in present-day Turkey) who was very generous to those who were in need. He also protected the innocent. He is known by many as Santa Claus. There are many stories about St. Nicholas. Once he heard of a poor man who was going to make his daughters become prostitutes; St. Nicholas threw bags of gold through their window to save the girls. He died circa 346. St. Nicholas is patron saint of children, sailors, students, unmarried girls and newlyweds.

St. Eulalia of Merida was born circa 290. This consecrated virgin wanted to be a martyr. During the persecutions of Christians by Emperor Diocletian, Eulalia confessed her faith. She was tortured and burned alive for her faith circa 304. St. Eulalia is patron saint of torture victims and Merida, Spain.

St. Lucy of Syracuse was born in Sicily circa 283. She promised to live her life for Christ, but Lucy’s mother arranged her marriage. After Lucy prayed at St. Agatha’s tomb and her mother’s illness was cured, Lucy’s mother agreed that Lucy did not have to marry. However, Lucy’s would-be groom told the governor that Lucy was a Christian. They gouged her eyes, tortured her and killed her. St. Lucy is patron saint of the blind, authors and sore throats.

St. Olympias was born to a noble family in Constantinople but was orphaned when she was young. After she was married and widowed, she decided to devote her life to the church. She built a hospital and an orphanage, and she performed other charitable works. In 404 she was exiled because she supported St. John Chrysostom. She died in 408.

Blessed Urban V was born with the name Guillaume Grimoard in 1310. He was elected pope Sept. 28, 1362. He lived in Avignon at the beginning of his papacy, but he later moved the papacy back to Rome. He restored discipline of the clergy. Urban V worked for peace in Europe. He died Dec. 19, 1370.

St. Peter Canisius was born in Holland in 1521. He became a Jesuit and worked with St. Ignatius of Loyola. He had a vision of the Sacred Heart while he was praying. He was a leader of the German Counter-Reformation. He was ordained in 1546, and his catechism was translated into multiple languages. He also founded colleges. This saint died in 1597 in Switzerland. He is a doctor of the church. St. Peter Canisius is patron saint of the Catholic press and Germany.

St. Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in Italy in 1850. In 1877 she took religious vows and worked in an orphanage. When the orphanage closed, Frances founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart to take care of poor children; she did this at her bishop’s request. The pope had her move to the United States to continue caring for the poor. After arriving in New York in 1889, she worked with immigrants along with six other sisters. She founded schools, hospitals and orphanages. She died Dec. 22, 1917, in Chicago. St. Frances Xavier Cabrini is patron saint of immigrants, orphans and hospital administrators.

St. John Cantius was born in Poland in 1390. John was a priest and professor of theology at the University of Cracow, Poland. After attacks by his associates, John left the university to work in a parish. However, he later returned to the university and taught Scripture. He died in Poland in 1473. St. John Cantius is patron saint of Lithuania and Poland.

St. Tarsilla, a Roman citizen, was the daughter of St. Sylvia, the sister of St. Emiliana and the aunt of St. Gregory the Great. She didn’t join an order, but she took private vows to live a religious life. She had a vision of St. Felix III, and, after her death, she appeared to Emiliana in a vision. She died Dec. 24. St. Tarsilla is patron saint of single laywomen.

Today is the feast of the Holy Innocents. These innocents are the children killed by Herod while he attempted to kill the infant Jesus. The Holy Innocents are patron saints of infants and children’s choirs.