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(1866-1942) Leopold Mandic was a native of Croatia who joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years later despite several health problems. He could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered from se vere arthritis, poor eyesight, and a stomach ailment. For many years Leopold taught patrology, the […]

(Died 303 AD) Legends say that when the Roman governor of Bithynia, Pinianus, fell ill, his Christian wife Lucina (Lycinia), well known for her charity to imprisoned Christians and niece of the Emperor Gallienus, found Anthimus in prison. Anthimus converted Pinianus, and the governor was cured. Gratefully, Pinianus liberated all of the Christian prisoners in […]

(1499-1569) John of Avila was born in the Castile region of Spain. He was sent at the age of 14 to the University of Salamanca to study law. He later moved to Alcala, where he studied philosophy and theology before his ordination as a diocesan priest. After John’s parents died and left him as their […]

(8th century BCE)  Isaiah was the first of the major prophets of the Old Testament and delivered oracles for the southern kingdom of Judah in the eighth century B.C. Isaiah had a prophetess wife and two sons named Shear-jashub and Maher-shalal-hash-baz. Isaiah described his calling to the Lord in the sixth chapter of his book. […]

(550-615) Boniface IV was a doctor’s son from L’Aquila, in the Abruzzi region of Italy. He rose through the ranks of the Church to become a deacon and treasurer to St. Gregory the Great. Boniface was elected pope in late 607 but was not enthroned until September, 608, when his election was confirmed by Emperor […]

(1656-1728) Rose was born in Viterbo, Italy, in 1656. She was the daughter of Godfrey Venerini, a physician. Upon the death of a young man who had been courting her, she entered a convent, but after a few months had to return home to look after her widowed mother. Rose used to gather the women […]

(Died 259) Born in North Africa, Marian was a lector or reader; James was a deacon. For their devotion to the faith, they suffered during the persecution of Valerian. Prior to their persecution, Marian and James were visited by two bishops who encouraged them in the faith not long before they themselves were martyred. A […]