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St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born into a wealthy, Episcopalian family on Aug. 28, 1774, in New York City. At age 19, she married William Magee Seton and had five children. After her husband died, Elizabeth was a poor widow. She converted to Catholicism in 1805. She started a school for girls in Baltimore at the request of the archbishop; this is often referred to as the beginning of parochial schools in the U.S. She founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809. She died Jan. 4, 1821, in Emmitsburg, Md. She is patron saint of the Apostleship of the Sea, widows and also the death of children and parents.

St. Agatho, born in Sicily, spent his early life as a married businessman. However, he found his calling and became a monk in Palermo, Sicily. Agatho became pope June 27, 678. He resolved the first dispute in which English bishops appealed to Rome. He also reunited Constantinople and Rome. St. Agatho died in Rome in 681.

St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch was born in Cappadocia (present-day Turkey) in 423. He left home so that he could follow God. According to legend, he worked with St. Longinus in Jerusalem and led a church in the Bethlehem area. The hermit gathered followers and built a monastery. He also built a hospital and a hospice. He opposed the Eutychianism and Monophysitism heresies. St. Theodosius, who died in 529, is patron saint of file makers.

St. Arcadius of Mauretania was a wealthy man who hid his Christianity. During one of the persecutions in his area, he lived the life of a prayerful hermit to stay out of danger. In order to capture Arcadius, leaders captured one of his relatives circa 302. They would only release the relative if Arcadius made a pagan sacrifice. When Arcadius refused, he was mutilated and died. He preached throughout the mutilation. He is a martyr.

St. Felix of Nola was born in Italy in the third century. He sold his property and belongings to give money to the poor. After being ordained by St. Maximus of Nola, he was arrested and beaten because of his faith. One legend says that Felix was released by an angel so that he could help Maximus, who was sick. Felix, who died circa 255, is patron saint against eye trouble and lies.

St. Paul the Hermit was born in Egypt circa 230. He fled when Decius began persecuting Christians. St. Paul lived in the desert as a hermit for the rest of his life. He wore leaves and ate fruit and water to survive. He died in 342. St. Paul the Hermit is patron saint of weavers.

St. Marcellus I became pope in 308, during the end of Diocletian’s persecutions of Christians. The pope attempted to welcome back to the church those who had been afraid to practice their faith for fear of death. He also had to build up the clergy after many had been killed and others had been practicing in secret. St. Marcellus was exiled and died in 309. He is considered a martyr.

St. Joseph Cafasso was born in Italy in 1811. He was ordained in 1833 and taught moral theology at a college. He served as superior of the college from 1846 to 1860. Joseph had a ministry to prisoners – trying to reform and convert the prisoners. Additionally, he worked to improve the prisons. He died in 1860 and was canonized in 1947. St. Joseph Cafasso is patron saint of prisoners.

Today is the feast of Ss. Timothy and Titus. St. Paul the Apostle converted St. Timothy to Christianity circa 47. The two worked together. Timothy was a missionary and led the church in Ephesus. He was martyred in 97. Titus also followed St. Paul. Along with Timothy, he was given a canonical letter from St. Paul. Titus was the first bishop in Crete. He died circa 96.

St. Angela Merici was born March 21, 1474, in Italy. At the young age of 15, she became a Franciscan tertiary and had a vision that she would inspire women in vocations. While making a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, she became blind. Instead of going home, she continued on her pilgrimage. Afterwards, Angela Merici regained her sight. In 1535 she began the Ursuline sisters, who were formed to teach. She died in Italy in 1540. Her body was found incorrupt. St. Angela Merici is patron saint of people with disabilities and people who are sick.

St. Thomas Aquinas was born in Italy circa 1225. He joined the mendicant Dominicans in 1244. Ordained in 1250, he taught theology in Paris. He earned a doctorate and began working on the Summa Theologica. After a vision, he stopped his work on the Summa Theologica and died some months later in 1274. His writings were very important to the church, and he was made a doctor of the church. St. Thomas Aquinas is patron saint of philosophers, theologians, universities and students.

St. Brigid of Ireland was born in Ireland in 453. She befriended St. Patrick as a child. St. Brigid couldn’t bear to see anyone hungry, so she would often give them whatever she could – even if the items belonged to her father. St. Brigid became a nun and started convents all over Ireland. She traveled quite often, which is why she is the patron saint of travelers and sailors.