Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
» Bitter» – that is how many still label Martha of Bethany today. «Lord, do you not care that my sister leaves me alone to work?» she complains to Jesus in Luke’s Gospel (Luke 10:40). While she devotedly cares for Jesus and his disciples, her sister Mary sits with the guests and listens. But Jesus […]
Saints Joachim and Anne
Joachim, the father of Mary, whose name means «God raised (him) up», came from the House of David. The couple had remained childless for twenty years. When the high priest rejected their offering in the temple because they had «not increased the people of God», Joachim felt deeply humiliated and fled to his flocks in […]
Saint James
His pilgrimage site in Santiago de Compostela enjoys unbroken popularity thanks to the ongoing pilgrimage trend – and the self-confident James would probably not have minded. He was the son of the fisherman Zebedee and, together with his younger brother John, was one of the first called disciples (cf. Mt 4:21f). James and John are […]
Saint Sharbel Makhluf
Sharbel (Charbel, Sabelius) Makhluf* (baptismal name: Joseph) was a Christian from Lebanon. The son of a poor family of small farmers in the mountainous country, he entered the monastery of the Lebanese Order of St. Anthony in Maifuq at the age of 13, then came to the monastery of St. Maron in Annaye, where he […]
Saint Bridget of Sweden
In 1999, Pope John Paul II declared one of the most impressive female figures of the Middle Ages to be the patron saint of Europe: Birgitta of Sweden (around 1303-1373). She came from the Swedish aristocracy and wanted to become a nun as a child, but her parents married the 13-year-old to an influential nobleman […]
Saint Mary Magdalene
Legends of saints usually become more and more beautiful and radiant over time – with Mary Magdalene it was exactly the opposite. The oldest surviving testimony about her is the New Testament, where she plays an important role in all four Gospels as «Mary Magdalene». Together with other female disciples, she followed Jesus and did […]
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi
Born Giulio Cesare Russo in Brindisi, Italy, on July 22, 1559, Saint Lawrence of Brindisi (San Lorenzo da Brindisi) was a remarkable figure of the Counter-Reformation era. A Capuchin friar, renowned scholar, and skilled diplomat, he left an enduring mark on the Church and European history. Essential Data: Stories from His Life: Sources for Further […]
Saint Apollinaris
«Preach the truth, even in the face of adversity.» Saint Apollinaris (died c. 79 AD) is traditionally considered the first bishop of Ravenna, Italy. According to Christian tradition, he was ordained by Saint Peter and sent to evangelize the region. He faced persecution and exile for his preaching but is credited with establishing a strong […]