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Inspired by the example of his cousin Pietro, who was a few years older, Giovanni Becchetti entered the Augustinian convent in Fabriano, in the Marches region of Italy, at a very young age. We do not know the exact date of his birth, but it can be placed in the second half of the fourteenth century.
Saint Apollinaris, regarded as the first Bishop of Ravenna, lived around the middle of the 2nd century. Ancient inscriptions found in the area of Classe show that a well-organized Christian community already existed in Ravenna at a very early date.
Thomas, also called Didymus (which means “Twin”), was part of the small group of disciples chosen by Jesus from the very beginning of His public ministry. He was one of the Twelve Apostles, as emphasized by the Evangelist John. John also recounts several episodes that help us understand Thomas’s personality.
Isabella of Aragon, Queen of Portugal, distinguished herself through her dedication to promoting peace among rulers and her generosity toward the poor. After the death of her husband, King Denis, she chose to consecrate her life to God by joining the Third Order of Saint Clare in the convent of Estremoz, which she herself had founded.
“It is truly the mark of great hearts to serve others without expecting anything in return” so often said Saint Anthony Zaccaria.
He was born into a noble family in Cremona, Italy in 1502. Left fatherless at an early age, he was lovingly raised by his mother, who was herself still very young.
A martyr of the faith at only 12 years of age, Maria Goretti chose to die rather than give in to the sexual advances of a violent young man, her neighbor. Faced with his repeated attempts, she always firmly refused, wanting to remain pure. Eventually, blinded by passion, the young man fatally attacked her. But before dying, Maria forgave him and said she wished to have him with her in Heaven.
NNazaria Ignazia March Mesa was born in Madrid on January 10, 1889, into a large family: eighteen children were born to her parents, of whom only ten survived. At the age of nine, while preparing for her First Holy Communion, she felt the Lord’s call: “You, Nazaria, follow me,” and she replied: “I will follow you, Lord, as closely as it is possible for a human creature to do.” On August 15, 1900, she made a vow of virginity.
He was first a Benedictine monk and later was sent by Pope Gregory III to assist Saint Boniface in the work of evangelizing Bavaria.
This was Willibald, the firstborn son of a landowner from southern England. Born on October 22, 700, in Wessex, he spent a year at the monastery of Waltham. Around 720, he accompanied his father and his brother Wunibald on a pilgrimage to Rome, and from there he traveled to Jerusalem, where he remained for three years.
“As soon as Peter recognized the Lord, he threw himself into the water and reached Him, while the others arrived by boat. [This event…] is a sign of Peter’s unique authority as Pontiff […]. [Peter] was given governance over the whole world, not just a single boat like the other Apostles.
She experienced mystical phenomena, had visions of Hell and Purgatory, and even received the stigmata—so much so that the Inquisition became suspicious. After a thorough investigation, however, they confirmed the authenticity of her experiences.
“Rogate”: the discovery of the necessity of prayer for vocations, according to the Gospel — “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray [Rogate] the Master of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest” (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2) — is the essence of the charism of Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia. The premature death of his father also led him to develop a special tenderness and loving care toward orphans.
Her life is closely connected with the earliest presence of the Dominicans in Bologna. She herself entered the Order and founded the Monastery of Saint Agnes. She was Diana degli Andalò, born in Bologna around the year 1200 into a noble and influential family. Her father, Andrea Lovello (from whom came the nickname Andalò), belonged to the Carbonesi noble clan.
Saint Barnabas, though not one of the original twelve Apostles directly chosen by Jesus, was recognized as a true Apostle by the early Church Fathers and by Saint Luke. This recognition was granted not only because of his special vocation inspired by the Holy Spirit but also due to the significant role he played in the spread of Christianity, actively collaborating with the other Apostles.
"The heart of Christ, as the symbol of the deepest and most personal source of his love for us, is the very core of the initial preaching of the Gospel. It stands at the origin of our faith, as the wellspring that refreshes and enlivens our Christian beliefs.”
With these words, Pope Francis expressed himself in his encyclical Dilexit nos on the human and divine love of the Heart of Jesus Christ, dated October 24, 2024.
Pope Leo III, born in Rome, was educated from childhood within the vestiarium of the Roman Church, the office that managed the papal treasury.
Ordained as a subdeacon and later as Cardinal with the titular church of Santa Susanna, he maintained an important role in that administration which he officially headed in 789, becoming one of the main collaborators of Pope Adrian I.
A Portuguese nobleman who renounced wealth and honors to join the Augustinian Canons, Saint Anthony of Padua was deeply moved by the martyrdom of five Franciscan proto-missionaries. Inspired by their example, he became a disciple of Saint Francis of Assisi, dedicating his life to preaching the Word of God.
“We have strayed from that path of peace. We have forgotten the lesson learned from the tragedies of the last century, the sacrifice of the millions who fell in two world wars. We have disregarded the commitments we made as a community of nations. We have betrayed peoples’ dreams of peace and the hopes of the young.
Elisha is still a common name among African Christian families today. It comes from the Hebrew meaning “God is Lord” (El-Yah). In the Bible, Elisha is presented as a prophet who lived in the 8th century B.C., a disciple of the great prophet Elijah. His calling is recounted in the First Book of Kings, chapter 19:
He is known for founding the famous hospices on the alpine passes of the Great St. Bernard and the Little St. Bernard, which were named after him. These hospices, located at altitudes of 2,469 meters and 2,188 meters respectively, were established to meet the needs of travelers crossing the Alps. They offered shelter, medical assistance, and spiritual support to pilgrims and wayfarers in difficulty. In a short time, the hospices became a symbol of Christian charity and dedication to others.
Quiricus and Julita were two martyrs of the 4th century: a mother and her three-year-old son, killed together in Tarsus, in what is now Turkey. Julita was a noblewoman of royal lineage from Iconium in Lycaonia, a central region of present-day Turkey.
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