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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.

St. Felix of Valois was born in Valois, France, in 1127. While he was young, he was blessed by St. Bernard of Clairvaux and Pope Innocent II. He became a Cistercian monk at Clairvaux and lived as a hermit in the Italian Alps. Along with St. John of Matha, the priest founded the Order of the Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives. The order was formed to free Christians who were being held for ransom. St. Felix died in November 1212.

St. Elizabeth of Hungary was born in Presburg, Hungary, in 1207. A princess and daughter of Hungary’s King Andrew, Elizabeth married when she was 13 years old. She built a hospital and cared for the sick, despite her family’s opposition. One story goes that as she was bringing food to the hungry, her husband stopped her. He looked to see what she was carrying, but the food had turned into roses. She gave bread to the poor and grain to Germany during a famine. She died in 1231. St. Elizabeth of Hungary is patron saint of bakers, homeless people, hospitals and nursing homes.

St. Albertus Magnus was born in Swabia (now Germany) in 1206. This Dominican priest taught theology; St. Thomas Aquinas was one of his students. He became bishop of Regensberg (in present-day Germany) and brought Greek and Arabic philosophy and science to Europe. He was interested in the natural sciences and wrote guides. The theological writer is a doctor of the church. He died in 1280. St. Albertus Magnus is patron saint of philosophers, scientists, students and World Youth Day.

St. Serapion lived circa 252. He was martyred in Alexandria, Egypt, when anti-Christian riots broke out in the city. A mob threw him from his roof, and he died.

St. Nicholas I was born circa 825 in Rome. He became pope in 858. The pope tried to make the Holy See stronger, and he also found solutions for religious disputes. For example, he affirmed a bishop’s right to appeal against his archbishop to Rome. St. Nicholas I died in 867.