Blessed Innocent XI, pope, was born May 19, 1611, in Como, Italy. A priest, he earned a law degree in 1639 and served the church in a number of roles over the years, including papal legate, bishop and cardinal. He was elected the 240th pope on Sept. 21, 1676, and he was installed Oct. 4,...Read More

Today is the feast day of Ss. Pontian and Hippolytus. St. Pontian was born in Rome. He was elected the 18th pope July 21, 230. He ended a schism in the church. Emperor Maximinus Thrax forced him to go to Sardinia to work in mines. The saint stepped down as pope on Sept. 28, 235,...Read More

St. Jane Frances de Chantal was born in January 1572 in France. She was married at age 20, had four children and was widowed at age 28. She then took a personal vow of chastity. After meeting St. Francis de Sales, she kept in touch with the saint and became his spiritual student. St. Jane...Read More

St. Bernard of Clairvaux was born in 1090 in Burgundy, France. He joined the abbey of Citeaux when he was 22 with four brothers and about 25 friends. He founded the monastery at Clairvaux. Under his direction, the monastery soon had more than 700 monks and more than 150 daughter houses. The saint worked to...Read More

St. Bartholomew was one of the Twelve Apostles and a friend of St. Philip, who brought him to Jesus. Local tradition says that he preached in Ethiopia, India and Armenia, possibly leaving his writings behind. The saint died for his faith when he was flayed alive in Armenia. St. Bartholomew is patron saint of Armenia.Read More

St. Augustine of Hippo was born Nov. 13, 354, in North Africa to St. Monica and her husband. Although he was born a Christian, he wandered from his faith and lived wildly. He was a Manichaean for a number of years before he converted; St. Ambrose of Milan baptized him. After his mother’s death, he...Read More

Ss. Felix and Adauctus lived in the third century. St. Felix was a priest in Rome. After refusing to make a sacrifice to the pagan gods, he prayed and the idols broke. He was then arrested, tortured and beheaded for his faith in 303. St. Adauctus professed his faith when he saw St. Felix being...Read More

St. Zeno lived in the third century. Along with his sons, Concordius and Theodore, he was put to death for his faith in Nicomedia in 302. This happened when Emperor Diocletian was persecuting Christians.Read More