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St. Margaret of Cortona was born in Tuscany in 1247. After an early life of sins, she went to seek asylum with the Friars Minor at Cortona. She became a penitent and nursed the sick and poor. She joined the Third Order of St. Francis, and she later formed a group called “The Poverelle” (the Poor Ones). She also founded the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy and a hospital in Cortona. She is the patron saint against temptations.

Blessed Thomas Mary Fusco was born in Italy in 1831 and became a priest in 1855. He opened a school for boys, spent time as a traveling missionary, opened a school of moral theology, founded the Priestly Society of the Catholic Apostolate to support missions, and founded the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood – an order devoted to caring for orphans. When Pope John Paul II beatified Blessed Thomas in 2001, the pontiff said Blessed Thomas was an example for priests and for the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood.

St. Walburga, virgin, was born in England around 710. St. Walburga became a nun and went to Germany to help St. Boniface with his missionary work in 748. She later became abbess of the double monastery, where she remained superior of both men and women until her death in 779. She is the patron saint against plague, rabies and coughs because she was a noted healer.

St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows was born in 1838 in Assisi, Italy. After a youth spent in society and chasing women, Our Lady led him to the Passionist Order. He devoted his life to prayer, devotion to Our Lady and contemplation of her sorrow over the suffering of Jesus. Pope Benedict XV lifted him as an example for young people. St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows is the patron saint of students and young people.

St. Hilary was pope from 461 until his death in 468. As pope, St. Hilary confirmed the work of various councils, including the Council of Nicaea and the Council of Ephesus. He worked to strengthen and unite the church in Spain. He also affirmed the pope’s role as leader in spiritual matters and helped define the role of the church in the empire.

St. Angela of the Cross Guerrero was born in Spain in January 1846. From a young age, St. Angela devoted herself to prayer. She joined religious orders twice, but her poor health required her to return to her family both times. St. Angela had a vision in 1873 that she had a mission to care for the poor. In August 1875, she began the Congregation of the Cross to work with the sick, the poor, orphans and the homeless. Before St. Angela died in 1932, the congregation grew to have 23 convents.

St. Cunegundes, wife of St. Henry, became empress in Rome in 1014. She lived a vow of virginity with her husband’s consent. After she was widowed in 1024, St. Cunegundes became a nun and lived in the convent she had previously built at Kauffungen for the Benedictine nuns. She prayed and worked there until her death 15 years later. She is patron saint of Lithuania.

St. Casimir was a Polish prince born in October 1458. He became the grand duke of Lithuania in 1471. He dedicated his life to celibacy, despite pressure to marry the emperor’s daughter. St. Casimir spent much of his time in prayer and supported the poor. He also had a devotion to Mary. During his father’s absence, he reigned as king for a brief amount of time. St. Casimir is patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.

St. Perpetua was born to a noble pagan family, but she converted to Christianity with her maid and friend, St. Felicity. The two saints became martyrs in Carthage, North Africa, when they were mauled by animals and beheaded for their faith. They are patron saints of cattle and martyrs.

St. John of God was very wild when he was young. He was a soldier in the army as Charles V and was also a mercenary. Though he didn’t have any religious beliefs while he was young, he sold religious books. After St. John of God had a vision of Jesus while he was in his 40s, he left the military and began caring for the sick, poor and homeless. St. John of God also converted the people he helped, and he founded the Order of Charity and the Order of Hospitallers of St. John of God. He is patron saint of booksellers, hospitals and those who work in hospitals.

St. Frances of Rome was married at age 12, had three children, and was widowed after 40 years of marriage. She spent her entire life helping the sick and the poor. She founded the Oblates of the Tor de’ Specchi (Collatines). It is said that an archangel guided her throughout her life, lighting the road for her with a lantern (like a headlight) to keep her safe. Therefore, St. Frances of Rome is patron saint of motorists.

St. Eulogius of Cordoba was a priest and headed an ecclesiastical school. During Islamic persecutions, he comforted Christian martyrs and their survivors. While imprisoned for his faith, he wrote “Exhortation to Martyrdom.” This was not the only time he was imprisoned; he was arrested many times for his faith. He later died for his faith in Cordoba, Spain, in 859. St. Eulogius is patron saint of carpenters and coppersmiths.