Saints Protus and Hyacinth
The brothers Protus and Hyacinth suffered martyrdom presumably during the persecutions of Valerian (257-260) or at the latest during the Great Persecution of Diocletian (303-305). They were then honoured by one of the famous Latin inscriptions of St Damasus (304-384), who had their sepulchres unearthed.
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (1245-1305) was born in Sant'Angelo in Pontano, a small town in the Marche region, from two devout Christians. He is famous for his gifts as a thaumaturge and particularly invoked for the liberation of souls in Purgatory.
Saint Peter Claver
The area in which he carried out his mission was present-day Colombia at the time of the slave trade. St Peter Claver (1580-1654) faced this phenomenon with true Christian charity, bringing material aid to the deported Africans and teaching them the way of Jesus.
Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
“Let us celebrate with joy the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, for from her arose the sun of justice, Christ our God.” The liturgical antiphon expresses incisively the reason for today's feast, which celebrates the mystery of the birth of Mary Most Holy, Mother of the Saviour.
Saint Gratus of Aosta
The patron saint of the city and diocese of Aosta, Saint Gratus (5th century), was the second bishop of the capital city of the Valle d’Aosta. He succeeded Eustasius, with whom he probably shared a Greek origin.
Saint Zechariah
He should not be confused with the homonymous father of John the Baptist. Saint Zechariah is the penultimate of the Old Testament prophets and, after Isaiah, the most quoted in the New Testament.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta
“By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belong entirely to the Heart of Jesus.” The best presentation of St Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997), known by all as Mother Teresa, could only be given by herself, the little nun who expanded her heart to embrace every man as her neighbour.
Saint Rosalia
Rosalia was born into a family of the high nobility, namely Count Sinibaldo de' Sinibaldi and Maria Guiscardi, who had close ties of kinship with the Norman Hauteville dynasty. The day before her wedding, while she was looking in the mirror, she saw reflected the image of Jesus suffering. Later, she lived in caves dedicating herself to penance and contemplation of God
Saint Gregory the Great
While Italy was going through one of the darkest periods of its history, beset by famine and substantial anarchy, the figure of Saint Gregory I (540-604), known as ‘the Great’, was a beacon of light. In the 14 years of his pontificate he carried out a profound moral reform of the Church and played a decisive role as peacemaker in the most dramatic phase of the Lombard invasion.
Saint Elpidius (abbot)
We do not know much about the life of Saint Elpidius (4th century). A disciple of St John Chrysostom speaks of him. Elpidius was originally from Cappadocia and had lived for 25 years as an anchorite in the caves near Jericho, natural shelters for various other men eager to dedicate themselves to the contemplation of God.
Saint Giles (abbot)
Saint Giles (Aegidius) (c. 640 - c. 720) was a hermit and abbot. According to the Vita sancti Aegidii (dating back to the 10th century) he was born in Athens and moved to France, where he is mainly referred to as Saint Gilles. He settled in the southern part of France, spending his days in prayer and contemplation.
Saint Raymond Nonnatus
Saint Raymond Nonnatus (c. 1200-1240) lived during the Reconquista of Spain. He wore the habit of the Mercedarians, that is, of those religious who professed a fourth vow - called “of redemption” - and undertook to free the Christians enslaved by the Muslims. To this end they offered their goods in exchange or even took the place of prisoners at risk of renouncing the faith.
