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Saints Alive! | St Angela Merici

In an era marred by frequent war and corruption, Angela’s heart went out to the women of Brescia, Italy. In 1535 she established a “Company” for women who consecrated themselves wholly to Christ and yet lived a life in the world. Her Company recalled the devoted widows of the early Church, and anticipated the secular institutes founded in the 20th century. In her testament, Angela wrote, “Be on your guard and especially take care to be of one heart and mind…. There is only one sign that is pleasing to the Lord, that of loving and being united to one another.” The Company that Angela founded is now known as the Ursulines. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | Sts Timothy & Titus

Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. Both men were close collaborators in Paul’s missionary journeys and continued his work among the Gentiles. Titus, Paul’s “partner and co-worker” (2 Cor 8:23), went to Crete, where he was charged with evangelizing the inhabitants, who were known to be “liars, vicious beasts, and lazy gluttons” (Ti 1:12). Timothy, “brother and co-worker for God in the gospel of Christ” (1 Thes 3:2), served in Ephesus. According to tradition, he became bishop and was martyred by pagans during the festival honoring the god Dionysus. For more about these saints, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | The Conversion of Saint Paul the Apostle

St. Paul the Apostle, originally named Saul, was an intelligent and zealous Jewish scholar and Pharisee who fiercely persecuted the first Christian converts among the Jews.  While on his way to Damascus with permission to arrest Christians, he received a vision of the resurrected Christ.  Jesus rebuked him for his actions and struck him blind, and through this encounter St. Paul was converted.  God then used St. Paul and his zeal to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ, especially to the Gentiles. St. Paul was martyred in Rome in the year 65 A.D.  The feast day of St. Paul's conversion is celebrated on January 25. For more about this great saint, apostle and slave of Christ Jesus, martyr, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St Francis de Sales

Born to a noble family in France in the mid-16th Century, St. Francis de Sales, known especially for his writings on practical spiritual direction for lay people, became a Doctor of the Church. In 1609 he published Introduction to a Devout Life, which has been in print ever since. He is the patron of teachers, the deaf, the Catholic press, confessors, educators, and authors. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Saints Alive! | St Sebastian

He's venerated as a martyr of the Christian faith. Exact details known about St Sebastian, except the fact that he was martyred early on in the persecutions of Diocletian, are obscure. St Ambrose knew of him and states that he was already venerated in Milan in the fourth century. One of the seven chief churches of Rome was built over his grave in 367. For more about this saint, please click on the image. Peace be with you!