Brigid lived in the 5th century and from her youngest years showed an interest in religious life. She was inspired by St. Patrick, who had baptized her parents. Brigid founded...
In 1830, Our Lady appeared three times to Catherine Labouré, then a novice with the Daughters of Charity in Paris. She asked Catherine to create a medal depicting one of...
An early follower of Saint Francis of Assisi, Clare is the foundress of an order of nuns known well as the "Poor Clare's." Having heard Francis speak, Clare discovered a...
Born in 1840, Fr. Damien spent the last 16 years of his life on the Hawaiian island of Moloka'i. For decades, authorities used the island to banish anyone found suffering...
Dominic was born in Spain in 1170 and held a deep understanding of the spiritual disciplines. But Dominic saw a need to use those disciplines in a new way to...
Elizabeth Ann Seton was born in 1774 and is the very first American saint. She lived a difficult life of loss and personal challenges, including the death of her husband...
Elizabeth was the daughter of the King of Hungary in the early 13th century. Because of her elite royal status, her peers chastised her for her love of the poor...
In 1931, Jesus appeared to a Polish nun named Sister Faustina. She recounted the event in her diary: “Jesus said to me, ‘Paint an image according to the pattern you...
Florian was a 3rd-century commander in the Roman army. He organized the army's firefighting brigade and personally trained an elite group of firefighters. For refusing to persecute Christians, Florian was...
Following his ordination in 1593, Francis de Sales traveled throughout Switzerland to share the Faith. Hoping to open hearts, he slipped simple pamphlets under doors instead of lecturing people. He...
Born in Assisi, Italy, around the year 1181, Francis was born wealthy but gave away all that he owned to follow Christ in humility. He soon attracted many followers and...
George was a Christian in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, one of the most violent persecutors of Christians in history. Having ascended in the ranks, George...
A man of deep faith, Gerard Majella passionately vowed obedience to God’s will. As a child, he was surrounded by miracles which grew more intense over time. Gerard was able...
Pope St. Gregory the Great joyfully began his religious life around the year 575 as a Benedictine monk. So, when he was elected pope, Gregory was hesitant to take the...
Enjoying the life among royals as an apprentice in Spain, Ignatius eventually went to war seeking more glory and fame. A serious cannonball injury left him recuperating in a hospital....
St. Irenaeus was born around the year 125 A.D. His passion for spreading the true Christian message - grounded in Scripture and passed down through the Apostles - made him...
One of the four Gospel writers, John the apostle has a very special role in Church history. John was the only apostle to stand loyally beneath Christ at the crucifixion....
Born in France in 1651 and considered the founder of Catholic schools, John Baptist de La Salle is the patron saint of teachers and principals. Through his generous spirit and...
As a boy, John Bosco would juggle and do magic tricks for his peers. Having captured their attention, he would use the opportunity to share a sermon he had heard...
St. John Neumann was born in Central Europe in 1811. He moved to New York and was ordained a priest at the age of 25, joined the Redemptorists at 29,...
The Bible tells us that John "leapt for joy” in his mother’s womb when news arrived that Mary was to give birth to Jesus. Thirty years later, living on the...
From a young age, John Vianney felt called to the priesthood. But with little formal education, he struggled in his studies. John hired a tutor, worked hard and was eventually...
Josemaria Escriva was a priest from Spain. In 1928, he founded Opus Dei, an institution of the Catholic Church which emphasizes that all of us are called to sainthood and...
Josephine Bakhita was born in 1869 in Sudan. As a child, she was kidnapped, enslaved, sold, tortured and humiliated. Eventually, a master moved her to Italy. There Josephine met the...
In 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to a Mexican peasant named Juan Diego and asked him to have a church built at the site of the apparition. Seeking proof, Juan...
Junípero Serra was an 18th-century Franciscan priest and a driving force in the Spanish colonization of what is now the state of California. Even more importantly, he was a passionate...
Often referred to as the Lily of the Mohawks, St. Kateri was born in 1656, the daughter of a Native American warrior. She was baptized at the age of 20...
In 1858, Katharine Drexel was born into a wealthy Philadelphia family. The loving family prayed daily and provided food, clothing and rent to those in need. Katharine’s devotion to the...
Born in France in 1844, St. Leonie Aviat co-founded, alongside Blessed Louis Brisson, a religious congregation focused on outreach to young factory workers who needed homes, education and support with...
Born in France, St. Louis de Montfort became a priest in 1700. He was an amazing preacher who traveled far and wide, inspiring others to follow the example of loving...
Louis, King of France, was crowned at the young age of 12 and married at 19. He focused heavily on the less fortunate by founding hospitals, caring for the sick...
One of the four Gospel writers, Luke is known for his impressive writing skills which probably stemmed from his education. Luke was a physician by trade and a friend of...
Born in Italy in 1890, Maria Goretti was only 11 years old when she was attacked by her neighbor. After pleading more for his soul than her own safety, Maria...
Martin de Porres was born in Lima, Peru, the son of a Spanish nobleman and black former slave. He became a Dominican friar at a young age and was known...
Mary Magdalene is infamous for her name as well as her possibly checkered past. What many people do not know about Mary Magdalene is that she was present at the...
In 1941, Father Maximilian Kolbe was arrested by the Nazis and placed in the Auschwitz concentration camp. When ten men were chosen to die one day, Kolbe volunteered to replace...
Moses the Black is probably one of the most dynamic and exciting saints of all time! This knife-wielding bandit terrorized northeast Africa with his tribe of felons until, while seeking...
Born as an answer to his mother’s prayers, Nicholas demonstrated saintliness at an early age and later joined the Augustinian Friars. He was devoted to the poor, sick and dying...
Around the end of the 7th century, Odilia of Alsace was born blind. Because of her afflication, she was rejected by her father, a French duke, and sent to live...
St. Olaf was King of Norway from 1015 to 1028. He reigned during a particularly harsh and brutal time and led with the Viking principles of courage, aggression, preparation, shrewdness...
Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887, was the son of poor Italian farmers. He became a Capuchin priest in 1910 and in 1918 received the visible marks of Christ...
Originally from Scotland, Patrick was kidnapped and enslaved at only 14. He was taken to Ireland to work as a shepherd. In the fields his faith grew immensely. He later...
Paul is one of the most significant figures in all of Christian history. Once a vicious persecutor of Christians, Paul was thrown from his horse as God commanded him to...
Born in the 13th century, Peregrine lived a life of great charity with a deep love of penance. The holy saint was miraculously healed of cancer a day before his...
Peter, a simple fisherman by trade, was far from perfect. The saying "ye of little faith" stems from St. Peter's distrust when Jesus invited him to walk on water. It...
Rita was forced into an arranged marriage with a mean-spirited man. Through her love, patience and prayer, he repented but soon after was murdered. Their two sons wanted revenge. Rita's love...
Sebastian was a Roman soldier around the year 275. Because his Christian faith was forbidden, Sebastian was tied to a tree, shot full of arrows, and left for dead. He...
Teresa was born in Spain in the early 1500’s. Like many teenage girls, she loved fashion, boys and dreaming about the world outside. This same passion inspired her to follow...