Blessed Pope Benedict XI was born in Italy in 1240. He joined the Dominicans and became the ninth master-general of the order in 1296. He defended Pope Boniface VIII against William of Nogaret, who worked for King Philip IV of France. He became the 194th pope on Oct. 22, 1303. He wrote sermons on the...Read More

St. Henry II was born in Bavaria in 972. He became duke of Bavaria in 995 and king of Pavia in 1004. He married St. Cunegunda but never had children. Pope Benedict VII crowned St. Henry as Holy Roman Emperor in 1014. He helped start missions and began construction of a cathedral in Basel, Switzerland....Read More

St. Bonaventure was born in Tuscany in 1221. He joined the Franciscans when he was 22 years old. After taking his vows, he studied in Paris where he befriended St. Thomas Aquinas. When he was 35 he became the general of his order. He helped restore peace in his order and also composed “The Life...Read More

St. Marcellina was born in Gaul (what would now be Germany) circa 330. She is the sister of St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Satyrus. She moved to Rome as a young child and was raised by her older brothers. St. Marcellina became a consecrated virgin, and Pope Liberius gave her the veil on Christmas...Read More

St. Macrina the Younger was born in Cappadocia circa 327. She came from a Christian family. She was the granddaughter of St. Macrina the Elder, daughter of St. Emmelia, and sister of St. Basil the Great, St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Peter of Sebastea. Although she was betrothed to a lawyer when she was...Read More

St. Margaret of Antioch’s father was a pagan priest who disowned St. Margaret when she was converted to Christianity by her nurse. After being adopted by her nurse, the saint consecrated her virginity to God. A Roman prefect wanted to make St. Margaret his wife or mistress. When she refused, he brought her to trial....Read More

St. Christina lived in the third century. It’s likely that she was a member of the Roman Anicii family, a pagan family. St. Christina became a Christian as a child and got rid of her father’s idols. Circa 250, her father tried to drown her because of her new faith. When she survived that, she...Read More

Ss. Joachim and Anne are the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the grandparents of Jesus Christ. The two saints were elderly when their only child, Mary, was born. It is believed that Ss. Joachim and Anne gave Mary to the service of the temple when Mary was 3 years old. St. Joachim is...Read More