Home Page

St. Peter Claver was born in Spain in 1581. He became a Jesuit at age 20 and was ordained a priest. Under the influence of St. Alphonsus Rodriquez, he became a missionary in the Americas. He ministered to slaves as they arrived in Colombia and is said to have converted about 300,000. For 40 years, the saint also pushed for humane treatment of plantation slaves. He did in 1654. St. Peter Claver is patron saint of African-Americans, Colombia and African missions.

Today is the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. On this feast, the church celebrates with joy the birth of Mary, the mother of Jesus.

St. Regina lived in the third century. The daughter of a pagan, she was kicked out of her home for converting to Christianity. The poor shepherdess would not marry the Roman proconsul Olybrius, so she was imprisoned and tortured. She was martyred circa 286 in Autun, which is in modern-day France. St. Regina is patron saint of shepherdesses and poverty.

St. Donatian lived in the fifth century. Along with Fusculus, Germanus, Laetus, Mansuetus and Praesidius (all northern African bishops), he was against the church closings by King Hunneric of the Vandals, who was not a Christian. The bishops were tortured and left to die in the desert circa 484.

St. Boniface I was born in Rome circa 350. Ordained a priest, he became papal legate to Constantinople circa 405 for Pope Innocent I. St. Boniface was elected the 42nd pope in 418. Anti-pope Eulalius opposed Pope Boniface, so the Roman emperor exiled both men from Rome in an effort to keep peace. After Eulalius tried to return against the will of the emperor, he was exiled again and St. Boniface was declared pope. The saint strongly opposed Pelagianism. St. Boniface I died Sept. 4, 422, in Rome.

St. Gregory the Great was born circa 540 in Rome. He was prefect of Rome for a year before selling his possessions and turning his house into a Benedictine monastery. With his money, he built six monasteries in Sicily and one monastery in Rome. The future pope also served as a missionary to England. On Sept. 3, 590, he was elected the 64th pope. He sent St. Augustine of Canterbury and other monks to spread the word of God to England. The pope also sent missionaries to France, Spain and Africa. Since he collected melodies and plain chant, they became associated with him and are called Gregorian chants. He is one of the four great doctors of the church. He died in Rome in 604. St. Gregory the Great is patron saint of singers and England.

St. Giles was born in Athens, Greece, in the 600s. He used his wealth to help the poor, and was he was a miracle worker. He didn’t want followers, so he went to France circa 683 to live as a hermit in a cave. Legend says that he lived such an impoverished lifestyle that God sent him an animal to give him milk. One day the king’s hunting party chased the animal into the cave and shot an arrow, which then badly hurt the leg of St. Giles. The king visited St. Giles and eventually built a monastery, of which St. Giles became the first abbot. He died between 710 and 724 in France. St. Giles is patron saint of people with disabilities. He is one of the 14 holy helpers.

St. Raymond Nonnatus was born in Spain to a noble family in 1204. He became a Mercedarian priest and later became the master-general of his order. He spent his estate by trying to ransom Christians. Once he surrendered himself to free another Christian. Although he was sentenced to death, he was spared the ultimate sentence because he was worth a great ransom. He was imprisoned and tortured, yet he was able to convert some of his captors. He was finally ransomed and returned to Barcelona in 1239. Pope Gregory IX made him a cardinal. He died of a fever in 1240. St. Raymond is patron saint of fever and falsely accused people.

St. Monica was born in Algeria in 322. Although a Christian, she had to marry a pagan named Patricius who cheated and had a bad temper. She prayed for the conversion of her husband and also her son, St. Augustine of Hippo. Both men converted. A reformed alcoholic, she was St. Ambrose of Milan’s spiritual student. She died in Italy in 387. St. Monica is patron saint of alcoholics and victims of adultery.

St. Zephyrinus was pope from 198-217. It is said that he was a manager of the church as opposed to a theologian. During his pontificate, there were arguments and a schism over Christ’s nature. He died in 247.

St. Louis IX was born April 25, 1214, in Poissy, France. The son of King Louis VIII, he became king of France at age 11. However, his mother ruled as regent until the young king turned 22. The saint was a great promoter of Christianity in France; he began religious foundations, helped mendicant orders, built hospitals for those with leprosy, and collected relics. The king and married father of 11 gave his support to Pope Innocent IV in a war against the emperor of Germany. A Franciscan tertiary, he led two crusades. He died during one of them in Tunis, Algeria, in 1270. St. Louis IX is patron saint of parents of large families and soldiers.

Today is the feast of the Queenship of Mary, the mother of Jesus.