Saint of the day

Saint of the day

April 27: Saint Zita, Virgin

The patron saint of homemakers, domestic workers, and bakers

She was already regarded as a saint to the extent that Dante Alighieri mentioned her in his Divine Comedy shortly after her death. Zita is not only considered a saint by the poet in his own time, but is also identified with the city of Lucca. In fact, he refers to “one of the elders of Saint Zita!” in “Inferno”, Canto XXI. The “elders” were ten magistrates who governed Lucca, and Dante places one of them among those condemned to the punishment reserved to barrators.

April 26: Rafael Arnáiz Barón

“God Alone”

This was the motto of Rafael Arnáiz Barón: “God alone”. And also: “From the love of God comes everything.” He was a young man who placed the Lord first and made Him the reason for his short life.

April 24: Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Martyr

Apostolic missionary amid adversity

He is the protomartyr of Propaganda Fide, belonging to the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin, killed at only 44 years of age. He is Fidelis of Sigmaringen, born in 1578 in Sigmaringen, in what was then the Principality of Hohenzollern, into a well-to-do family. His father was John Roy, who died in 1591, and his mother was Genoveffa Rosenberger.

April 23: Blessed Maria Gabriella Sagheddu

A life offered for the unity of Christians

At a young age she offered her life to God for the unity of Christians—this was Maria Gabriella Sagheddu. Born in Dorgali (Sardegna, Italy) on March 17, 1914, into a family of modest means, from an early age she showed a strong and determined character, at times even capricious and moody. She began her studies and pursued them successfully, but due to numerous unfortunate family affairs, she was forced to abandon her studies and work in order to support her family.

April 22: Blessed Francis Venimbeni of Fabriano

In the steps of Saint Francis of Assisi

Francis Venimbeni was born in Fabriano (Ancona, Italy) in 1251 to Compagno, a physician, and Margherita. After completing his studies in philosophy, at the age of 16 he entered the Franciscan Order. He undertook his novitiate in the town of Fabriano. One day, he wished to go to Assisi to gain the indulgence of the Porziuncola, with the desire to meet Brother Leo, the most well-known of Saint Francis’s companions.

April 21: Saint Anselm of Aosta, Doctor of the Church

Father of Scholasticism

A Benedictine monk, later Abbot and Archbishop of Canterbury, and an eminent theologian, he was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church. This is Saint Anselm of Aosta, whose most famous work is the Proslogion (“Discourse”), known for its ontological argument for the existence of God. Born in Aosta in northern Italy, around 1033, he received both human and religious education from his mother, who later entrusted his formation to the Benedictines of a priory in Aosta.