Saints

We know Saint Michael first from Scripture: "Then war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels battled against the dragon." (Revelation 12:7) Mi...

Joseph is a quiet hero, the man God trusted to be Mary's husband and Jesus' foster-father. Joseph showed deep faith during Mary's pregnancy, great ...

St. Francis was born in Assisi, Italy, the son of a wealthy merchant. He joined the military but soon became a prisoner of war. When he finally ret...

Thérèse, often called "The Little Flower," was an intelligent and loving child, but she experienced deep suffering and anxiety. In 1886, Jesus answ...

St. Anthony of Padua was a 13th-century Franciscan friar known for his rich knowledge of Church theology. Even more importantly, he had an incredib...

As pope from 1978 to 2005, Pope John Paul II tackled difficult global issues, visited 116 countries, and met frequently with world leaders. His mes...

Cecilia was a 2nd-century Christian from Rome. She was forced to marry, despite the fact that she had dedicated herself to Jesus. During her weddin...

"By blood, I am Albanian. By citizenship, an Indian. By faith, I am a Catholic nun. As to my calling, I belong to the world. As to my heart, I belo...

Originally from Scotland, Patrick was kidnapped by pirates at only 14 and enslaved as a shepherd in Ireland. There, Patrick's faith grew. He prayed...

Born a peasant in eastern France, Joan of Arc heard God calling her to lead France to victory during the Hundred Years' War. She refused an arrange...

Anne was the mother of Mary and grandmother of Jesus. We only know a little about her through tradition, but she must have been a woman of great fa...

Saint Jude Thaddeus, not to be confused with Judas Iscariot, was one of the twelve apostles and likely a cousin of Jesus. He is the "patron saint o...

Padre Pio, born Francesco Forgione in 1887, was the son of poor Italian farmers. He became a Capuchin priest and eventually, an inspiration to mill...

Christopher was a 3rd-century Christian; a "carrier" by trade, who transported goods and people safely across a river. Legend has it that one day, ...

We meet the archangel Raphael in the Old Testament book of Tobit. He appears with a mission of healing, saying "...the Lord has sent me to heal you...

Nicholas, a generous 3rd-century bishop, came from a wealthy family. Legend has it that Nicholas would toss bags of gold through the windows of fam...

In 1931, Jesus appeared to a Polish nun. Sister Faustina wrote: "Jesus said to me, 'Paint an image according to the pattern you see, with the inscr...

Born in 1922, Dr. Gianna Beretta Molla was an Italian pediatrician, wife, and mother. She understood the rigors of balancing work and family, and s...

Sebastian was a captain of the Roman Praetorian Guard in the 3rd century. When his Christian faith was revealed, Sebastian was tied to a tree, shot...

Catherine was one of 25 children. Her family gave her the nickname "Euphrosyne" (Joy) because of her cheerful personality. Catherine had visions of...

Father Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan with a deep love for Mary, especially her Immaculate Conception. To share the Gospel, he founded mo...

From Rose's birth in 1586, people admired her exceptional beauty. However, she knew she was not called to marriage. This angered her parents, but R...

Dymphna was an Irish princess, whose mentally ill father became violent and dangerous. Accompanied by her chaplain, court jester, and servants, Dym...

According to legend, young Lucy brought food and aid to fellow Christians hiding from persecutors during the third century. She used a candle-lit w...

The angel Gabriel visited Mary to announce that God had chosen her to be the mother of Jesus. In fact, the words Gabriel spoke that day form much o...

When Kateri was just a child, smallpox left her with poor vision and a scarred face. However, Kateri found peace in Jesus, especially in the Euchar...

Clare was encouraged by her dear friend, St. Francis of Assisi, toward a religious life of poverty and piety. In the year 1244, Emperor Frederick I...

Born in 1774 in New York, Elizabeth lost her mother at a young age, but found comfort in reading, nature, poetry, music, and horseback riding. Eliz...

George was a Christian soldier in the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who enacted violent persecutions of Christians. George pro...

Thomas Aquinas, a 13th century Dominican, is perhaps the most influential Christian thinker of all time. He was called "Dumb Ox" by his teachers as...

Monica's husband, a pagan, led a scandalous life and influenced their son to do the same. Monica herself struggled with alcoholism. However, after ...

Bernadette Soubirous was only 14 years old when Mary appeared to her at a grotto in Lourdes, France. There, Mary told Bernadette to dig a small spr...

Peter, a simple fisherman, was hardly perfect. Scripture describes Peter's fear when Jesus invited him to walk on water. Peter also impulsively sev...

Augustine was born in 354 A.D. in North Africa. As a young man, he loved partying and spending his money. However, through prayer, reflection and s...

Maria Goretti was born in Italy in 1890. After her father died, Maria's mother and siblings farmed while Maria tended to the home. When Maria Goret...

Brigid was born in Ireland around the year 450. Her father, a nobleman, rejected her and her mother, who was a Christian slave. Brigid was good fri...

In 1802, the tomb of a 4th-century teenage girl was discovered with the inscription "Peace be with thee, Philomena." The young Philomena had refuse...

St. Elizabeth was a righteous woman, blameless before God, but unable to bear children. However, an angel appeared to her husband, Zechariah, telli...

We don't know much about Mary Magdalene, beyond that she was freed by Jesus from seven demons, and she served Jesus faithfully. She was present at ...

Andrew and his brother, Peter, were fishermen until Jesus invited, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Andrew, a disciple of St. John ...

James was fishing with his brother, John, when Jesus called him to be an apostle. He followed Jesus faithfully, ultimately to martyrdom. His remain...

One of the four Gospel writers, Luke was a physician by trade. His impressive writing skills probably stemmed from that education, and tradition be...

As Jesus carried the heavy cross on the way to his crucifixion, one woman in particular took great pity on him. In a brief moment of relief for Jes...

As a young man, Benedict fled Rome to become a monk. Many others followed him, and he developed the Rule of Saint Benedict to give them a balanced ...

Once a vicious persecutor of Christians, Paul was thrown from his horse and blinded as God commanded him to change. Paul became the Apostle to the ...

Teresa was born in Spain in the early 1500s. Like many teenage girls, she loved fashion, boys and reading novels. Her vibrant personality inspired ...

Agnes' name means "pure" in Greek and "lamb" in Latin. She lived around the year 300, a time of terrible persecution. This beautiful 13-year-old da...

Matthew was a tax collector during a time of corruption, and many people questioned his integrity. When Jesus invited Matthew to follow him as one ...