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St. Mary Magdalen was a sinner who repented before Jesus. She anointed Jesus and used her hair to wash his feet. Jesus also exorcised Mary Magdalen. She became a dedicated friend and follow of Jesus. The saint was also visited by Jesus after he rose from the dead. St. Mary Magdalen is patron saint of penitent women and apothecaries.

St. Lawrence of Brindisi was born in Italy in July 1559. When he was 16 he joined the Capuchin Friars. He studied theology and many languages, including French, Greek and Hebrew. He became a priest and taught theology. This saint also began convents in various cities. In 1601, St. Lawrence became the chaplain for the Holy Roman Empire’s army. He was also master general of his order from 1602-1605, after which he began to evangelize in Germany. He died in 1619. Pope John XXIII named him an Apostolic Doctor of the Church in 1959.

Today is the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The history behind this feast begins in the 13th century when the Carmelites were being persecuted. While praying, the general of the order, St. Simon Stock, had a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She handed him a scapular, explaining that it was a sign of salvation and a promise of peace and protection. She said whoever dies wearing the scapular will not go to hell. The scapular is a devotion to Mary.

St. John Gaulbert was born to a noble family in Florence, Italy, circa 985. After his brother was murdered, St. John tracked down the perpetrator. He found the man on Good Friday and then had a vision of Christ on the Cross. After the vision, he pardoned the killer and converted to Christianity. He became a Benedictine monk and built a monastery in Italy in 1038. After leaving, St. John started a number of abbeys in various cities. He died near Florence in 1073. St. John Gaulbert is patron saint of parks.

St. Benedict, twin brother of St. Scholastica, was born to a noble family circa 480 in Italy. He studied in Rome until he tired of his classmates’ attitudes. The saint then decided to live as a hermit. He founded a monastery at Monte Cassino, near Rome. There he wrote his order’s Rule. Some monks tried to poison St. Benedict, but he was able to make it safe by blessing it. He gained so many followers that he founded 12 monasteries. The saint died in 547 of a fever. St. Benedict is patron saint of monks and against poison.

Ss. Rufinus and Secundus were martyrs who were buried at the eleventh milestone of Rome. In the 12th century their relics were moved to the Lateran Basilica.

St. Adrian III was elected pope in 884. He was opposed to a faction in Rome led Formosus. He also had a member of that group, George of the Aventine, tried and condemned for the murders he committed. St. Adrian III died while heading to Worms, Germany.

Blessed Pope Eugene III was a Cistercian monk and was friends with St. Bernard of Clairvaux. Blessed Eugene, the abbot of the monastery Tre Fontaine, became pope Feb. 15, 1145. He promoted the Second Crusade. Pope Eugene III was exiled from Rome from 1146-1149 and in 1150. As pope, he tried to reform clerical discipline. Blessed Eugene III died in 1151.

St. Maria Goretti was born in 1890 in Italy. In 1902, when St. Maria was 12, she was attacked by a farm-hand named Alessandra Serenelli. He tried to rape the young girl, but she fought him and yelled that it was a sin. Serenelli choked and stabbed her. St. Maria survived the attack for two days, long enough to forgive Serenelli and ask God to forgive him. She then died holding a medal of Our Lady and a crucifix. She is considered a martyr. While in prison, Serenelli had a vision of St. Maria. He converted to Christianity and testified at the cause for her beatification. The young girl was canonized in 1950 in front of about 250,000 people, including her mother. St. Maria Goretti is patron saint of girls and rape victims.

The Protomartyrs of Rome lived in the first century. Nero accused these Christian men and women of burning Rome, although Nero was the actual culprit. Some martyrs were fed to wild animals, some were crucified and others were burned at banquets. They are called the Protomartyrs of Rome because they died before Ss. Peter and Paul.

Ss. John and Paul were Christian brothers who lived in Rome. They were martyred in their home after refusing to serve in the household of Julian the Apostate, a pagan emperor. The brothers are listed in the “Communicantes” in the Roman Canon of the Mass. A basilica in Rome is named for the brothers.

St. Audrey, a princess, was born circa 640. She married but was widowed three years later. Although St. Audrey took a vow of virginity, she married again for political reasons. Her second husband became impatient with her vow and tried to convince the local bishop, St. Wilfrid of York, to release her from it. Instead, the bishop helped St. Audrey escape. Some consider the lengthy high tide that kept St. Audrey’s husband away divine intervention. After an annulment, St. Audrey founded an abbey at Ely. She died in 679. St. Audrey is patron saint of widows.