Théophane, a French missionary, was beheaded for his faith. His letters inspired St Thérèse of Lisieux who later become patroness of the missions.

Summary 1: Bridget patroness of those who have a care for the earth, for justice, equality and peace and also model for contemplative prayer.

Brigidine Sister Rita Minehan profiles St Brigid here as a model for contemplative prayer.

"From the time I first directed my mind on God," said Brigid (Mary of the Gael',"I have never taken it away from him."

John priest, educator and founder of the Salesian Order spent most of his life rehabilitating boys from lives of poverty and crime to become productive and virtuous men.

In 580, Aidan returned to Ireland and the coast of Wexford. Here, well known for generosity and kindness, he served in the area around Ferns.

Margaret Ball and Francis Taylor, were among a group of seventeen Irish martyrs beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1992.

St Gildas is best known for his historical work ‘De excidio Britanniae’, (“On the Ruin of Britain”) and for a Penitential, both of which were widely used in [...]

The Council of Trent placed Thomas' Summa Theologica, his summary of theology, on the altar beside the Bible as a mark of reverence..

If feminism means promoting the dignity of women, Angela Merici, can certainly claim to be among the first. She founded the Ursuline community

Timothy and Titus were two of Paul's most loyal companions, disciples and helpers.

Most of what we know about Paul, the 'apostles of the Gentiles' comes from the Acts of the Apostles and from his letters.

Francis was an influential bishop, spiritual director, author and preacher. "To be an angel in prayer and a beast in one's relations with people is to go lame on both legs."

Ildephonsus of Toledo, abbot and archbishop reflects the growth of Christianity in Toledo, Spain, at the beginning of the 7th century.

Vincent Pallotti was a bubbly personality who endeared himself to the people of Rome inspiring others to become active apostles for Christ.

The deacon Vincent's fearless manner so angered the governor that he was tortured and killed at Valencia. He was the earliest of the Spanish martyrs.

Agnes aged 13, chose Christ as her spouse, refused to worship the Roman Gods, was denounced and condemned to death.

Fabian, layman and pope, and Sebastian, soldier and martyr, are named together as martyrs and companions in the Litany of the Saints.

Branwalader, honoured in Cornwall, Dorset and Jersey, was a celtic monk of probably Welsh origin., and may have been a bishop,

Margaret, as a Dominican nun, spent many whole nights before the Blessed Sacrament and undertook many extravagant penances.

Anthony retired into solitude to live a life of prayer and fasting and converted many back to the faith. He is called the 'Father of monasticism'.

Antony lived at first in total solitude but later allowed a monastic community to be formed around him. He was famous for his insights into the spiritual life.

Fursey (or Fursa), born in Ireland, was the ascetic leader of a group of monastic missionaries that went first to East Anglia and later to France.

Ita is the patroness of Munster, often called 'foster-mother of the saints of Ireland' and a natural organizer.

Kentigern's (or Mungo's) chief association is with Strathclyde and the city of Glasgow, where the cathedral popularly known as St Mungo's commemorates him as the city's first bishop.

Hilary, orator, married man, bishop, monk, theologian, "the Athanasius of the West" was very much anti Arian heresy and pro the Trinity.

Aelred had a charism for chaste spiritual friendships. When he was abbot at Rievaulx There were over three hundred monks there.

Paulinus was a grammarian from near Trieste who became a priest, an influential scholar at Charlemagne's court, missionary and Patriarch of Aquileia

Paul is traditionally regarded as the first Christian hermit and is called Paul of Thebes from the Theban desert in Egypt. He is associated with St Antony.

An African by birth, Adrian became a monk and an abbot in Italy, and finally supervised a flourishing school in Canterbury.

Nathalan, a Scot by birth, a rich man by legend, he was a contemplative monk who earned his living by cultivating the soil.