St. Catherine of Sweden, born in 1331, was the daughter of St. Bridget of Sweden. Although she married at age 13, she took a vow of chastity. Around 1350, she went to Rome to see her mother and was widowed soon after. The two women went on a series of pilgrimages. When they were not...Read More

St. Guntramnus was the son of King Clotaire and St. Clothildis. He was king of Orleans and Burgundy in 561. His wife, whom he had divorced, became very ill. When her doctor couldn’t help her, St. Guntramnus had the doctor murdered. However, when he converted to Christianity he felt so wretched over his actions that...Read More

St. John Climacus was born in Syria sometime between 505 and 579. He began to live as a monk and hermit at age 16 on Mount Sinai. St. John Climacus became an abbot at Mount Sinai around age 72, although he resigned his position to take up hermit life once again shortly before his death....Read More

St. Celsus of Armagh, a Benedictine monk, was born in Ireland in 1079. He is said to have been the last hereditary archbishop of Armagh in Ireland. He taught in Oxford, England. He traveled across Ireland to preach and reform. In 1111, he helped preside at a synod that helped align the Irish church with...Read More

St. Vincent Ferrer was born in Valencia, Spain, in 1350. He became a Dominican friar at age 18 despite his family’s disapproval. He was a priest and missionary who taught theology. A great preacher, he converted many people across Europe, including people in France, Italy, Spain, Germany, England and Scotland, among others. He worked to...Read More

St. William of Eskilsoe was born in Paris in 1125. He became a priest and was known for leading an austere and holy life. St. William helped reform the liturgical devotion of Danish monasteries. He decided to stay at Eskilsoe and became its abbot. He founded the abbey of St. Thomas in Aebelholt, Zeeland, Denmark....Read More

St. Waltrude was the daughter of St. Bertille and the sister of St. Aldegondes. She married a lord in the king’s court and had four children. She convinced her husband, St. Vincent of Siognies, to become a monk. St. Waltrude founded a religious community, but she was member and not a leader of the community....Read More

St. Benedict Joseph Labre was born in March 1748 in France. He tried to join the Trappists, Carthusians and Cistercians, but he was rejected by all three orders. For years, the impoverished saint wandered around Europe, spending his time in adoration in cathedrals. St. Benedict Joseph Labre begged and would give anything extra to others...Read More