Saint Jerome
Born in Dalmatia, Sophronius Eusebius Hieronymus—later known simply as Jerome—received an excellent education in Rome under the famous rhetorician Donatus. He was baptized only after completing his studies. A tireless traveler, Jerome encountered monastic life at Trier, a decisive experience for his future vocation. In Aquileia he joined a group of ascetics, among them Rufinus, […]
Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael
The name Michael in Hebrew means “Who is like God?” The angel Michael appears four times in Sacred Scripture: twice in the Book of Daniel, where he is presented as one of the chief “princes” and protector of God’s chosen people (Dn 10:13; 12:1); in the Letter of Jude (v. 9), where he is called […]
Saint Lawrence Ruiz and Companions
Saint Lorenzo Ruiz holds a special veneration as the proto-martyr of the Philippines, even though he did not shed his blood for Christ in the Philippine islands. Born around 1600 in Binondo (today part of the populous Manila), the son of a Chinese father and a Tagalog mother, he was educated by the Dominicans and […]
Saint Wenceslaus
In Stará Boleslav (Bohemia), Saint Wenceslaus, duke of Bohemia and grandson of Saint Ludmila (herself also martyred), was assassinated. The ancient biographies present the young prince as deeply concerned with the cultural and, above all, the religious renewal of his people, and the Church venerates him as a martyr. The reasons for his murder are […]
Saint Vincent of Paul
Vincent de Paul was a Gascon, born into a peasant family. Ordained a priest at the age of nineteen, he went to Paris in search of a benefice, after having endured two years in captivity among the Muslims. He became chaplain to Queen Margaret of Valois, obtained the revenues of an abbey and some parish […]
Saints Cosmas and Damian
Cosmas and Damian suffered martyrdom at Cyrrhus (Kyros), a city of Syria, though the exact date is unknown. A basilica was built there in their honor, and from the fifth century their cult spread universally. All that has come down to us about their lives belongs to legend. The miraculous healings attributed to them gave […]
Saint Pius of Pietrelcina
Saint Matthew
Not everyone agrees in identifying Matthew with Levi, the tax collector, son of Alphaeus (the Gospels themselves do not make the identification explicit). Yet ancient Christian tradition generally supports this view. Tradition is also not unanimous regarding his missionary work after the Ascension. Some sources speak of Parthia, others of Persia, and still others of […]
Saints Andrew Kim Tae gon Paul Chong Hasang and Companions
Andrew Kim Taegon was born in 1821 at Solmoe (Chungcheong) into a Korean family long rooted in the Christian faith. Once well-to-do, his family had fallen into hardship because of the severe persecutions inflicted on Christians by the authorities. Yet they gave a shining witness of perseverance in their faith. Encouraged by a missionary of […]
Saint Januarius
Saint Januarius and his companions in martyrdom—Saints Festus, Desiderius, Sossius, Proculus, Eutychius, and Acutius—form a difficult hagiographical case, since the surviving accounts of their passion were written long after the events they claim to describe. Even so, Januarius remains today one of the most venerated saints. Much is debated about his person, the exact period […]