Little Lives Of The Great Saints John O'Kane Murray, M.A., M.D.
A great Lives of the Saints containing five to thirty pages on 33 of the most famous Saints of the Church, from the beginnings through the 18th century including the Blessed Mother, St. Joseph, St. John the Baptist, St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Christopher, St. Cecilia, St. Agnes, St. Basil the Great, St. Monica, St. Jerome, St. Patrick, St. Bridget, St. Bernard, St. Elizabeth, St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Teresa of Avila, St. Francis de Sales, St. Alphonsus Liguori and more.
Profile At age 12 or 13 Agnes was ordered to sacrifice to pagan gods and lose her virginity by rape. She was taken to a Roman temple to Minerva (Athena), and when led to the altar, she made the Sign of the Cross. She was threatened, then tortured when she refused to turn against God. Several young men presented themselves, offering to marry her, whether from lust or pity is not known. She said that to do so would be an insult to her heavenly Spouse, that she would keep her consecrated virginity intact, accept death, and see Christ. Martyr Foster-sister of Saint Emerentiana. Mentioned in first Eucharistic prayer. On her feast day two lambs are blessed at her church in Rome, and then their wool is woven into the palliums (bands of white wool) which the pope confers on archbishops as symbol of their jurisdiction. Died beheaded and burned, or tortured and stabbed to death, or stabbed in the throat (sources vary) on 21 January 254 or 304 (sources vary) at Rome; buried beside the Via Nomentana in Rome
Patron Of:
Moralists, Arthritis, Confessors, Final Perseverence, Theologians, Vocations, Scrupulous People, Against Scrupulosity
Born to the nobility, he was a child prodigy, was extremely well-educated, and received his doctorate in law from the University of Naples at age 16. He had his own practice by age 21, and was soon one of the leading lawyers in Naples, though he never attended court without having attended Mass first. He loved music, could play the harpsichord, and often attended the opera, though he frequently listened without bothering to watch the over-done staging. As he matured and learned more and more of the world, he liked it less and less, and finally felt a call to religious life. He declined an arranged marriage, studied theology, and was ordained at age 29.
Preacher and home missioner around Naples. Noted for his simple, clear, direct style of preaching, and his gentle, understanding way in the confessional. Writer on asceticism, theology, and history; master theologian. He was often opposed by Church officials for a perceived laxity toward sinners, and by government officials who opposed anything religious. Founded the Redemptoristines women's order in Scala in 1730. Founded the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (Liguorians; Redemptorists) at Scala, Italy in 1732.
Appointed bishop of Saint Agata dei Gotti by Pope Clement XIII in 1762. Worked to reform the clergy and revitalize the faithful in a diocese with a bad reputation. He was afflicted with severe rheumatism, and often could barely move or raise his chin from his chest. In 1775 he resigned his see due to his health, and went into what he thought was a prayerful retirement.
In 1777 the royal government threatened to disband his Redemptorists, claiming that they were covertly carrying on the work of the Jesuits, who had been suppressed in 1773. Calling on his knowledge of the Congregation, his background in thelogy, and his skills as a lawyer, Alphonsus defended the Redemptorists so well that they obtained the king's approval. However, by this point Alphonsus was nearly blind, and was tricked into giving his approval to a revised Rule for the Congregation, one that suited the king and the anti-clerical government. When Pope Pius VI saw the changes, he condemned it, and removed Alphonsus from his position as leader of the Order. This caused Alphonsus a crisis in confidence and faith that took years to overcome. However, by the time of his death he had returned to faith and peace.
Alphonsus vowed early to never to waste a moment of his life, and lived that way for over 90 years. Declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1871.
When he was bishop, one of Alphonsus's priests led a worldly life, and resisted all attempts to change. He was summoned to Alphonsus, and at the entrance to the bishop's study he found a large crucifix laid on the threshold. When the priest hesitated to step in, Alphonsus quietly said, "Come along, and be sure to trample it underfoot. It would not be the first time you have placed Our Lord beneath your feet."
French nobility. At age 22, fearing the ways of the world, he, four of his brothers, and 25 friends joined the abbey of Citeaux; his father and another brother joined soon after. Benedictine. Founded and led the monastery at Clairvaux which soon had over 700 monks and 160 daughter houses. Revised and reformed the Cistercians. Advisor to, and admonisher of, King Louis the Fat and King Louis the Young. Attended Second Lateran Council. Fought Albigensianism. Helped end the schism of anti-Pope Anacletus II. Preached in France, Italy, Germany. Helped organize the Second Crusade. Friend and biographer of Saint Malachy O'More. Spritual advisor to Pope Eugenius III, who had originally been one of his monks. First Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius VIII.
Every morning Bernard would ask himself, "Why have I come here?", and then remind himself of his main duty - lead a holy life.
Born 1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France
Died 20 August 1153 at Clairvaux
Canonized 1170 by Pope Alexander III
Born - 1090 at Fontaines-les-Dijon, Burgundy, France Died - 20 August 1153 at Clairvaux
Cultivated young patrician woman whose ancestors loomed large in Rome's history. She vowed her virginity to God, but her parents married her to Valerian of Trastevere. Cecilia told her new husband that she was accompanied by an angel, but in order to see it, he must be purified. He agreed to the purification, and was baptised; returning from the ceremony, he found her in prayer accompanied by a praying angel. The angel placed a crown on each of their heads, and offered Valerian a favor; the new convert asked that his brother be baptised.
The two brothers developed a ministry of giving proper burial to martyred Christians. In their turn they were arrested and martyred for their faith. Cecilia buried them at her villa on the Apprian Way, and was arrested for the action. She was ordered to sacrifice to false gods; when she refused, she was martyred in her turn.
The Acta of Cecilia includes the following: "While the profane music of her wedding was heard, Cecilia was singing in her heart a hymn of love for Jesus, her true spouse." It was this phrase that led to her association with music, singers, musicians, etc.
Died: martyred c.117; suffocated for a while, and when that didn't kill her, she was beheaded; her grave was discovered in 817, and her body removed to the church of Saint Cecilia in Rome; the tomb was opened in 1599, and her body found to be incorrupt
Patron Of:
Against Lightning, Archers, Automobiles, Bachelors, Boatmen, Bookbinders, Bus Drivers, Epilepsy, Floods, Gardeners, Hazards While Traveling, Lightning, Mariners, Motorists, Porters, Sailors, Storms, Sudden Death, Toothache, Travel, Travelers, Truck Drivers
Profile Third century martyr in the persecutions of Decius. Little else is known for sure.
His fame derives from the pious legend of him being a "Christ-bearer" (= Christopher). He was a powerfully built man who wandered the world in search of novelty and adventure. He came upon a hermit who lived beside a dangerous stream and served others by guiding them to safe places to cross. He gave Offero instruction in the truth of God. Offero took the hermit's place, but instead of guiding travelers, he carried them safely across the stream.
One day he carried a small child across the stream; the child's weight nearly crushed him. When they arrived on the other side, the child revealed himself as Christ, and he was so heavy because he bore the weight of the world on himself. He then baptized Offero with water from the stream. Christopher's service at the stream led to his patronage of things related to travel and travelers, people who carry things, etc. One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.
Born at Canaan as Offero
Died martyred c.251 Third century martyr in the persecutions of Decius. Little else is known for sure.
Profile Princess, the daughter of King Andrew of Hungary. Great-aunt of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal. She married Prince Louis of Thuringa at age 13. Built a hospital at the foot of the mountain on which her castle stood; tended to the sick herself. Her family and courtiers opposed this, but she insisted she could only follow Christ's teachings, not theirs. Once when she was taking food to the poor and sick, Prince Louis stopped her and looked under her mantle to see what she was carrying; the food had been miraculously changed to roses. Upon Louis' death, Elizabeth sold all that she had, and worked to support her four children. Her gifts of bread to the poor, and of a large gift of grain to a famine stricken Germany, led to her patronage of bakers and related fields.
Born 1207 at Presburg, Hungary
Died 1231 at Marburg of natural causes; her relics, including her skull wearing a gold crown she had worn in life, are preserved at the convent of Saint Elizabeth in Vienna, Austria
Canonized 27 May 1235 by Pope Gregory IX at Perugia, Italy
Profile Born in a castle to a well-placed family, his parents intended that he become a lawyer, enter politics, and carry on the family line and power. Studied at La Roche, Annecy, Clermont College in Paris, and law at the University of Padua. Doctor of Law. He returned home, and found a position as Senate advocate.
It was at this point that he received a message telling him to "Leave all and follow Me." He took this as a call to the priesthood, a move his family fiercely opposed. However, he pursued a devoted prayer life, and his gentle ways won over the family.
Priest. Provost of the diocese of Geneva, Switzerland, a stronghold of Calvinists. Preacher, writer and spiritual director in the district of Chablais. His simple, clear explanations of Catholic doctrine, and his gentle way with everyone, brought many back to the Roman Church.
Bishop of Geneva at age 35. Travelled and evangelized throughout the Duchy of Savoy, working with children whenever he could. Friend of Saint Vincent de Paul. Turned down a wealthy French bishopric. Helped found the Order of the Visitation with Saint Jeanne de Chantal. Prolific correspondent. Doctor of the Church.
Born 1567 at Chateau of Thorens, Savoy
Died 28 December 1622 at Lyons, France; buried at Annecy
Patron Of:
Belgium, Carpenters, Confectioners, Doubt, Dying, Engineers, Families, Happy Death, Hesitation, Married Couples, Peru, Pioneers, Universal Church, Workers
Also known as Joseph the Betrothed; Joseph the Worker
Profile Descendant of the house of David. Layman. Carpenter. Earthly spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Foster and adoptive father of Jesus Christ. Visionary who was visited by angels. Noted for his willingness to immediately get up and do what God told him.
Died 1st century, prior to the Passion, of natural causes
Patron Of:
Against Snakes, Archdiocese of Boston, Archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts, Archdiocese of Cape Town, South Africa, Archdiocese of New York, Australia, Diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Fort Worth, Texas, Diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Diocese of Portland, Maine, Diocese of Sacramento, California, Engineers, Fear of Snakes, Ireland, New Zealand, Ophidiophobics, Snake Bite, Toothache, Vermont
Also known as Apostle of Ireland; Maewyn Succat; Patricius; Patrizio Memorial 17 March Profile Kidnapped from the British mainland around age 16, and shipped to Ireland as a slave. Sent to the mountains as a shepherd, he spent his time in prayer. After six years of this life, he received had a dream in which he was commanded to return to Britain; seeing it as a sign, he escaped. He studied in several monasteries in Europe. Priest. Bishop. Sent by Pope Saint Celestine to evangelize England, then Ireland, during which his chariot driver was Saint Odran, and Saint Jarlath was one of his spiritual students. In 33 years he effectively converted the Ireland. In the Middle Ages Ireland became known as the Land of Saints, and during the Dark Ages its monasteries were the great repositories of learning in Europe, all a consequence of Patrick's ministry. Born 387-390 at Scotland as Maewyn Succat Died 461-464 at Saul, County Down, Ireland Canonized Pre-Congregation Name Meaning warlike (Succat - pagan birth name); noble (Patricius - baptismal name) Patronage archdiocese of Adelaide, Australia against ophidiophobia; against snakes; archdiocese of Armagh, Ireland; diocese of Auckland, New Zealand; diocese of Ballarat, Australia; archdiocese of Boston, Massachusetts; diocese of Burlington, Vermont; archdiocese of Cape Town, South Africa; diocese of Dromore, Ireland; engineers; diocese of Erie, Pennsylvania; excluded people; fear of snakes; diocese of Fort Worth, Texas; diocese of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Ireland; diocese of Kilmore, Ireland; Loiza, Puerto Rico; archdiocese of Melbourne, Australia; diocese of Mymensingh, Bangladesh; archdiocese of New York; Nigeria; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; ophidiophobics; diocese of Poona, India; diocese of Port Elizabeth, South Africa; diocese of Portland, Maine; diocese of Sacramento, California; snake bites
Patron Of:
Against Snakes, Authors, Hospital Public Relations, Journalists, Poisonous Snakes, Press, Publishers, Rome, Rope Makers, Snake Bite, Travel, Writers
Memorial
25 January (celebration of his conversion)
29 June (celebration of Saints Peter and Paul co-founders of the Church)
18 November (feast of the dedication of the Basilicas of St. Peter and of St. Paul) Profile
Saul was a Jewish Talmudic student. Pharisee. Tent-maker by trade. Saul the Jew hated and persecuted Christians as heretical, even assisting at the stoning of Saint Stephen the Martyr. On his way to Damascus to arrest another group of them, he was knocked off his horse and to the ground, struck blind by a heavenly light, and given the message that in persecuting Christians, he was persecuting Christ. The experience had a profound spiritual effect on him, causing his conversion to Christianity. He was baptized, changed his name to Paul to reflect his new persona, and began travelling, preaacing and writing. Author of much of the New Testament of the Sacred Scriptures. He was martyred in Rome. Born
c.3 as Saul at Tarsus, Cilicia (modern Turkey) Died
A martyr, beheaded c.65 at Rome, Italy Patronage
against snakes; authors; Bath Abbey; Bath, England; Catholic Action; Cursillo movement; diocese of Birmingham, Alabama; diocese of Calbayog, Philippines; diocese of Covington, Kentucky; evangelists; hailstorms; hospital public relations; journalists; Kavala, Greece; diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; lay people; Malta; diocese of Maralal, Kenya; missionary bishops; Münster, Germany; musicians; Naumburg, Germany; newspaper editorial staff; archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; poisonous snakes; Poznan Poland; diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; public relations personnel; public relations work; publishers; reporters; Rome; rope braiders; rope makers; saddlemakers; saddlers; snake bites; tent makers; Umbria, Italy; diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts; writers
Patron Of:
Against Fenzy, Bakers, Bridge Builders, Butchers, Clock Makers, Fever, Fishermen, Foot Trouble, Frenzy, Long Life, Masons, Net Makers, Papacy, Rome, Ship Builders, Shipwrights, Shoemakers, Stationers, Stone Masons, Watch Makers, Wolves
Also known as Cephas; Prince of the Apostles; Simon Memorial 29 June (feast of Peter and Paul) 22 February (feast of the Chair of Peter, emblematic of the world unity of the Church) 18 November (feast of the dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul) Profile Fisherman. Brother of Saint Andrew the Apostle who led him to Christ. Apostle. Renamed "Peter" (rock) by Jesus to indicate that Peter would be the rock-like foundation on which the Church would be built. Bishop. Miracle worker. First Pope. Born as Simon Died martyred c.64 crucified head downward because he claimed he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ Canonized Pre-Congregation Name Meaning rock Patronage against frenzy; bakers; Bath Abbey; Berchtesgaden Abbey; Bremen, Germany; bridge builders; butchers; diocese of Calbayog, Philippines; Chartres, France; clock makers; cobblers; Cologne, Germany; Corbie Abbey; archdiocese of Davao, Philippines; Exeter College Oxford; Dunajská Streda, Slovakia; feet problems; fever; fishermen; foot problems; harvesters; diocese of Jackson, Mississippi; Köpenick, Germany; diocese of Las Vegas, Nevada; Lessines, Belgium; Leuven, Belgium; locksmiths; longevity; diocese of Maralal, Kenya; diocese of Marquette, Michigan; masons; Moissac, France; Naumburg, Germany; net makers; Obermarsberg, Germany; papacy; archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Popes; Poznan Poland; diocese of Providence, Rhode Island; Regensburg, Germany; Rome; Saint Petersburg, Russia; diocese of Scranton, Pennsylvania; ship builders; shipwrights; shoemakers; Sint Pieters Rode, Belgium; stone masons; Toa Baja, Puerto Rico; Umbria, Italy; Universal Church; watch makers; Worms, Germany
Patron Of:
Headaches, Lace Makers, Loss of Parents, Sick, Spanish Catholics, Writers
Profile Spanish noble, the daughter of Don Alonso Sanchez de Cepeda and Doña Beatriz. She grew up reading the lives of the saints, and playing at "hermit" in the garden. Crippled by disease in her youth, which led to her being well educated at home, she was cured after prayer to Saint Joseph. Her mother died when Teresa was 12, and she prayed to Our Lady to be her replacement. Her father opposed her entry to religious life, so she left home without telling anyone, and entered a Carmelite house at 17. Seeing her conviction to her call, her father and family consented.
Soon after taking her vows, Teresa became gravely ill, and her condition was aggravated by the inadequate medical help she received; she never fully recovered her health. She began receiving visions, and was examined by Dominicans and Jesuits, including Saint Francis Borgia, who pronounced the visions to be holy and true.
She considered her original house too lax in its rule, so she founded a reformed convent of Saint John of Avila. Founded several houses, often against fierce opposition from local authorities. Mystical writer. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church on 27 September 1970 by Pope Paul VI.
Born 28 March 1515 as Teresa Sanchez Cepeda Davila y Ahumada at Avila, Castile, Spain
Died 4 October 1582 at Alba de Tormes in the arms of her secretary and close friend Blessed Anne of Saint Bartholomew; body incorrupt; relics preserved at Alba; her heart shows signs of Transverberation (piercing of the heart), and is displayed, too
Angelic Doctor;
Doctor Angelicus;
Doctor Communis;
Great Synthesizer;
The Dumb Ox;
The Universal Teacher
Profile Son of the Count of Aquino, born in the family castle in Lombardy near Naples. Educated by Benedictine monks at Monte Cassino, and at the University of Naples. He secretly joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. His noble family kidnapped and imprisoned him for a year to keep him out of sight, and deprogram him, but he rejoined his order in 1245.
He studied in Paris from 1245-1248 under Saint Albert the Great, then accompanied Albertus to Cologne. Ordained in 1250, then returned to Paris to teach. Taught theology at University of Paris. He wrote defenses of the mendicant orders, commentaries on Aristotle and Lombard's Sentences, and some bible-related works, usually by dictating to secretaries. He won his doctorate, and taught in several Italian cities. Recalled by king and university to Paris in 1269, then recalled to Naples in 1272 where he was appointed regent of studies while working on the Summa Theologica.
On 6 December 1273 he experienced a divine revelation which so enraptured him that he abandoned the Summa, saying that it and his other writing were so much straw in the wind compared to the reality of the divine glory. He died four months later while en route to the Council of Lyons, overweight and with his health broken by overwork.
His works have been seminal to the thinking of the Church ever since. They systematized her great thoughts and teaching, and combined Greek wisdom and scholarship methods with the truth of Christianity. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 1567.
Born c.1225 at Roccasecca, Aquino, Naples, Italy
Died 7 March 1274 at Fossanuova near Terracina of apparent natural causes; relics interred at Saint-Servin, Toulouse, France; relics translated to the Church of the Jacobins, Toulouse on 22 October 1974
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