The man we now call the “St. Francis of the Americas” began life in 1626, growing up a poor shepherd in the Canary Islands. He often lived in a cave. As he cared for the sheep, he spent his time growing closer to God in prayer. He longed to travel to Guatemala City, where he hoped he could earn a better living.
Pope Leo IX was the first pope who worked for reform in the Church. He was born in 1002 and given the name Bruno at Baptism. He was educated at a school for the children of Germany’s royal families and taught by the bishop of his diocese. As a priest, Father Bruno served at the cathedral before being named bishop of Toul.
Anselm’s desire to become a monk led him from his childhood home in Italy to a famous Benedictine monastery in France.
Mark was an Evangelist—one of the four men who wrote the Gospels found in the New Testament. Mark’s Gospel was written first, and it is the shortest description of Jesus’ life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. Mark’s writings helped both Matthew and Luke to write their Gospels.
Sometimes saints lead very normal lives. They love sports and have hobbies. They get married and have children. Some, like Gianna Molla, are even modern-day working mothers.
Catherine’s parents lived in Siena, Italy, and had 25 children. Catherine, who was born in 1347, was number 23. From an early age she loved to pray, and at the age of seven she already knew she wished to remain chaste and unmarried to devote her life to God. By the time of her death in 1380—when she was only 33—she had touched the lives of many people.
Catalina nació en 1347 y fue la penúltima de 25 hijos en una familia que vivía en Siena, en Italia. Le gustaba mucho rezar desde que era pequeña, y a la edad de siete años hizo un voto privado de castidad y celibato para consagrar su vida a Dios. Catalina murió en 1380, cuando tenía sólo 33 años, y en su caminar tocó la vida de muchas personas. Una de ellas fue el Papa Urbano VI: En 1378 la Iglesia estaba dividida porque dos hombres aseguraban ser el Papa, y fue Catalina la que logró que los cristianos reconocieran a Urbano como el verdadero Papa
When we talk about St. Athanasius, we use two important words–“orthodoxy” and “heresy.” Orthodoxy means right belief. Heresy means false belief.
Athanasius was born in about 297 AD in Alexandria, Egypt. When he grew up, he became the bishop there. Then he spent the rest of his life defending one true belief of the Church–the divinity of Christ Jesus.
Born in 1864 and raised in a large farm family in Spain, José entered the seminary in 1876 when he was only 12 years old. After ordination in 1887, he worked as a parish priest and was a professor at the seminary in Madrid.
James was given the nickname “the Less” so that he would not be confused with the other Apostle named James, whose feast we celebrate on July 25. We believe that it means that he was younger than the other St. James, who was called “the Greater.” James the Less was the son of Alphaeus. His mother stood at the Cross with Mary on the day Jesus was crucified.