Born in Catelat, north of Limoges in the year 588, St. Eligius was a youth of uncommon genius, and by his extraordinary application become an exceptional goldsmith. He was made master of the mint by King Clotaire II after being commissioned by him to make him a magnificent chair of state, adorned with gold and…

Together with Sts. Agnes and Cecilia, St. Bibiana is one of the virgin martyrs held in particular veneration in Rome. She was a holy virgin and native of Rome, daughter of a Roman knight, Flavian, and wife Dafrosa, both zealous Christians. After their parents were martyred, St. Bibiana and her sister Demetria were stripped of…

The Society of Jesus, which has always had many missionaries in its ranks, glories in possessing the great 16th century apostle, St. Francis Xavier, among its founders. St. Ignatius, his fellow-student in Paris, won him to the cause of Christ. Sent to the Indies, he embarked on a wonderful and triumphal apostolic campaign. Alone and…

St. Peter was made bishop of Ravenna as the result of St. Peter’s appearing to Sixtus III. In the fifth century St. Peter was one of the great bishops who defended the purity of Christian doctrine against the heresy of Eutyches. He preached untiringly to his people. His eloquence and the soundness of his teaching…

A famous solitary of the 5th century, St. Sabbas ranks with St. Euthymus and St. Gerasimus as one of the chief organizers and luminaries of monasticism in Palestine, and his rule had a great influence on Eastern monasticism. He founded several monasteries, including the famous “laura” named after him. Devotion to him was introduced to…

St. Nicholas is very popular today and was revered in his own day as well. He was held as a living martyr by the emperor and bishops at the council of Nicea in 325. He was bishop of Myra in Asia Minor at the beginning of the fourth century. Devotion to him, already widespread in…

Born at Treves about 335, Ambrose belonged to an illustrious family of Roman magistrates. He was governor of Milan when called by the people to become bishop of the city. He was a great churchman who exerted a considerable influence. As an imperial counselor he resisted heresy; his unruffled energetic insistence brought the Emperor Theodosius…

Placed at a young age by her parents in the monastery of Winchester, St. Wulfhilde was greatly admired by King Edgar but she rejected his continuous offers sent via many gifts and letters to the monastery. An aunt tricked her by feigning sick and asked that she come to her from the monastery so that…

St. Melchiades, who suffered greatly during the last persecutions, and succeeded Eusebius in the see of Rome in 311, had the joy before dying of seeing peace restored to the Church by the edict of Milan in 313. Among the first laws which he enacted in favor of Christians, he passed one to exempt the…

St. Damasus was made Pope in 366. He was archivist of the Roman Church before his elevation to the papal throne, and on becoming Pope continued to concern himself with the history and cult of the martyrs: the walls of the catacombs contain many epitaphs of his composition. He opposed the heresies of his times,…