Catherine received the stigmata on the fourth Sunday of Lent, 1375, although the marks remained invisible until after her death.
Summary: Saint Robert of Molesme (c. 1028 – 1111) was a Christian saint and abbot, one of the founders of the Cistercian Order in France.
Patrick Duffy reviews his life.
Early life as a Monk
Summary: St Crónán, hermit, Crónán was born in the territory of Ely O’Carroll, Near Roscrea, Ireland and became founder of a school and Roscrea Abbey
Early Years His father’s name was Odhran, while his mother came from west Clare. [...]
Summary St Louis Marie de Montfort saw himself as a “slave” of Jesus Christ. He became a vagabond preacher, walking around France and was often banned by the episcopal authorities from preaching in their diocese. Here Fr John [...]
While Chanel tended Musumusu, the king's agent, took an axe and clubbed him on the head. Peter Chanel died that day
Summary: St Hugh was a monk, then abbot of Cluny for sixty years and advisor to nine popes. He was one of the most influential leaders of the Middle Ages. It is important to distinguish him from St Hugh of Lincoln, a Frenchman who came to England about [...]
They soon found that Zita was not mean-spirited as they were, but a genuine saint.
Summary: St Maughold; prince, pirate, convert, missionary, bishop. It was on the Isle of Man that this saint is said to have landed on from Ireland. He has a number of variations to his name: one is Machalus and another is MacCaille. Is he the patron saint of [...]
In spite of her household duties and many hardships, Mary attained the heights of mystical holiness.
Mark having become the interpreter of Peter, wrote down accurately whatever he remembered and formed it into his Gospel.
The crowd offered to save his life if he would join the Calvinists. Fidelis replied: "I am sent to root out heresy, not to embrace it.
George became a type or symbol of successful combat against evil, so the legends grow up around his name and memory.
After ten years of being archbishop, Theodore decided to leave administrative tasks to return to his life of contemplation as a monk.
Anselm was well known for his insight into human nature, the virtues and vices, but also for his devotion and asceticism.
Summary: St Beuno, as a 6th Century monk had a reputation for being relentless with hardened sinners but compassionate to those in distress. An important [...]
Agnes was a no-nonsense, energetic holy woman. She died aged forty-nine.
As pope, Leo encouraged reform, discouraged clerical marriage, simony and nepotism.
Laserian was a strong proponent of the Roman method of calculating Easter
Donan and all his fifty two monks were herded into the refectory and it was set on fire.
Summary: St Bernadette Soubirous, visionary, was a simple shepherd girl of fourteen, who hadn’t even made her first communion, when Our Lady appeared to her at the rock of Massabielle near Lourdes. Lourdes itself grew to be the foremost Marian shrine in the world.
Patrick Duffy tells [...]
Damien had worked with the lepers for twelve years when he himself was diagnosed with the disease.
Summary: St Benedict Joseph Labre is the patron saint of beggars and the homeless. Born in Boulogne, France, he spent most of his life as [...]
Benedict collapsed just after attending Mass. That evening he died. He was thirty-five.
Martin, wishing to avoid bloodshed, forbade resistance and was brought before the Emperor Constans for trial.
Zeno probably lived as a monk in the city until in 362 when he was chosen as bishop.
King Boleslaus attacked and murdered Stanislaus while he was saying Mass.
Summary: Gemma Galgani was an extraordinary young Italian woman, who had intense mystical experiences and a great love for the passion of Jesus. When she died at the age of twenty-five, a Passionist convent was founded in her home town of Lucca.
Patrick [...]
Stanislaus of Krakow was martyred by King Boleslaus II and is the patron saint of Poland.
After trying out her vocation with the Carmelites, she realised she really wanted to serve the needy without restriction.
"She bought three loaves and went to live in the desert, where she lived on the bread which never diminished."
