Franciscan proto-martyrs
Saint Francis had sent them to announce the Gospel to Muslims in Spain and Morocco. The friars Berard, Otho, Peter, Accursius and Adjutus received the blessing from Francis on the day of Pentecost and started their journey towards Spain, when the actual Reconquista was still far away (it took place only in 1492).
Saint Maurus
Together with Saint Placidus, he was the most famous disciple of Saint Benedict of Nursia (480-547). Most of the information about Saint Maurus is found in the biography of the great monk and patron of Europe as told in the second book of Dialogues by Pope Gregory the Great (540-604).
Saint Felix of Nola
Felix († 14 January, after 250) was born in Nola to a wealthy Syrian who was there on business. After the death of his father, he sold most of his assets and distributed the proceeds to the poor, consecrated himself to Christ as a priest and became a collaborator of Bishop Maximus.
Saint Hilary of Poitiers
He was called the Athanasius of the West because, similarly to the great Bishop of Alexandria of Egypt, Saint Hilary of Poitiers (ca. 310-367) dedicated his whole religious life to the defence of Christ true God and true man.
Saint Margaret Bourgeoys
The story of Marguerite Bourgeoys (1620-1700) is a cross-section of the Catholic hallmark (nowadays repudiated by secularism) that the missionaries left behind them in Canada and in particular in the Quebec region, where the saint carried out her apostolate.
Saint Hyginus
Saint Hyginus, the ninth pope, was elected in 138 after the death of Saint Telesphorus, who, according to Saint Irenaeus of Lyons (130-202), suffered a "glorious martyrdom".
Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Together with his brother Basil the Great and his friend Gregory of Nazianzus, Saint Gregory Nyssen (c. 335-395) is one of the group of Cappadocian Fathers, united by their common geographical origin and, above all, by their theological and philosophical significance.
The Baptism of Jesus
"It is I who need baptism from you, and yet you come to me!". Even John the Baptist, called to prepare the way for the Lord by preaching conversion through baptism, was unable to penetrate the divine mystery of the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan.
Saint Severinus Abbot
In almost thirty years of mission in Noricum, Severinus founded churches and monasteries, and by his preaching he induced many souls to abandon paganism worship and convert to Christianity
Saint Raymond of Penyafort
Nothing precise is known about the actual date of his birth but contemporary chronicles report that he died at about 100 years old. During his long life, Saint Raymond of Penyafort (c. 1175-1275), a great connoisseur of canon law and third Superior General of the Dominican Order, left a significant mark on the history of the Church.
Epiphany of the Lord
After the shepherds, the humblest among the chosen people, had glorified God at the sight of the Child Jesus lying in a manger, the Saviour "began to make himself known to the pagans" (Saint Augustine) through the Epiphany (that is, 'manifestation') to the Magi came from the east, the sign that all peoples are called to salvation.
Saint Edward the Confessor
Before being crowned King of England, Saint Edward the Confessor (1003-1066) lived most of his life in exile. Son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, when he was still a child his mother took him to Normandy with his brother Alfred to escape from the Danes, who were invading England (1013).
