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St. Ambrose of Milan was born in Gaul (modern-day Germany) circa 340. He tried to mediate a dispute over the replacement for the bishop of Milan after the bishop died. Both sides were so impressed with Ambrose that he was chosen to become bishop. Ambrose was baptized, ordained a priest and made a bishop Dec. 7, 374. He gave his money to the church and the poor. He aided in the conversion of St. Augustine of Hippo. Ambrose is known as the “honey tongued doctor” due to his great preaching skills. He died in 397. He is patron saint of beekeepers.

St. Bibiana was a virgin and martyr. Although there is very little information about her, one account says she lived during the time Julian the Apostate. Julian persecuted Christians, including Bibiana and her family. Her parents and her sister were persecuted and died. Bibiana was tortured to death. St. Bibiana is patron saint of torture victims.

St. Andrew the Apostle, a fisherman, followed St. John the Baptist until St. John pointed to Jesus and called him the Lamb of God. After that, Andrew followed Jesus and knew he was the Messiah. Andrew brought his brother Simon (who became St. Peter) to Jesus. Jesus told them they would be fishers of men. After Jesus’ resurrection, Andrew preached in Greece. He was martyred. St. Andrew is patron saint of Russia and Scotland.

St. Saturninus lived in the third century. The pope sent him to Gaul around 245 so that he could preach. Saturninus became bishop of Toulouse, where he converted many through his preaching. He was martyred circa 257.

St. James of the Marches, who was born in Ancona, became a Franciscan in 1416. Ordained at age 29, he served as a missionary in Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Poland and Hungary. Along with St. John Capistran, he was named inquisitor against the Fraticelli by Pope Martin V. He went to Austria and Hungary to fight the Hussites in 1456, and later became involved in the inquisition. He died in Naples and was canonized in 1726.

St. Virgil was born in Ireland in the eighth century. The Benedictine monk made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 743, but he stopped in Bavaria on his way home and never left. He became abbot of St. Peter’s monastery in Salzburg, Austria, and later became bishop of the same city in 765. St. Virgil rebuilt the cathedral in Salzburg and sent priests to Carinthia to serve as missionaries. He died in Salzburg in 784. St. Virgil is patron saint of Salzburg.

St. Mercurius was a military hero following a battle with the barbarians. It is said that during the First Crusade, he helped St. Demetrius and St. George. For this reason he is seen as a warrior saint. St. Mercurius was martyred when he refused to sacrifice to pagan gods. He died circa 250 in what is now Turkey.

Ss. Flora and Mary of Cordoba were Christians who lived in the 800s. Flora was born into a Muslim family, but she converted to Christianity. The young woman took a vow of chastity. When Flora’s parents arranged for her to get married, Flora ran away with her Christian friend Mary. They were betrayed by Flora’s brother, and they were tortured and martyred in the 850s. Ss. Flora and Mary are patron saints of martyrs.

St. Cecilia lived in late first and early second century. She promised God her virginity, but her parents arranged for her to marry Valerian. Cecilia told Valerian that she was with an angel, but he had to be purified so that he could see the angel. Valerian was purified and baptized, and he saw Cecilia praying with an angel by her side. Valerian asked that his brother be baptized. The two brothers were martyred for burying martyred Christians. When Cecilia buried her husband and brother-in-law, she was arrested. After refusing to make a sacrifice to idols, she was martyred circa 117. The saint’s body was found incorrupt after her tomb was opened in 1599. St. Cecilia is patron saint of musicians because it is said she sang a song in her heart about her love for Jesus.