St Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) Feast Day: April 29th Joined the third order of St Dominic. She worked among the poor of Siena and converted many people. She believed in the unity of the Church and persuaded Gregory XI to remain in Rome. She continued to work to heal divisions and died in 1380 still fighting the cause of the true Pope. Patron Saint of Italy. “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire”
St Martin de Porres (1569-1639) Feast Day: November 3rd Born at Lima, in Peru, Martin became a barber and studied surgery before entering the Dominican Friary of Lima. He nursed the sick, the destitute, ill-treated slaves and all other unfortunates in the City. He became a much sought counsellor. He is invoked as the patron of all who work for harmonious race-relations. “Everything, even sweeping, scraping vegetables, weeding a garden and waiting on the sick could be a prayer, if it were offered to God”
St Teresa of Avila (1525-1582) Feast Day: October 15th She entered the Carmelite Convent aged 18 and founded her own reformed Carmelite Convent. She spent her life opening new houses and smoothing away difficulties for her nuns. She was favoured with remarkable mystical experiences. She is a saint of common sense, good humour, generous ideals and has had an influence on the spiritual lives of many Christians. She returned to the principles of poverty and manual work and was the first woman saint to be declared a Doctor of the Church. “Let nothing worry you, let nothing frighten you. All things pass away but God does not change. Patience achieves everything” St
St Vincent de Paul (1581-1660 Feast Day: September 27th Born in South West France, he studied with distinction before being ordained at the age of 20. He went to Paris and began a life of active charity caring for abandoned orphans, sick children, prostitutes, the poor, destitute, blind and mentally ill. A number of priests joined him, known as Vincentians. He organised one of the best known orders, the Sisters of Charity and is patron saint of all societies devoted to works of charity. “If God is the centre of your life, no words are necessary. Your mere presence will touch hearts”
St Clare of Assisi (c 1194-1253) Feast Day: August 11th At the age of 18, she was drawn to the ideal of Christian poverty as practised by St Francis. She established the first convent of the Poor Clares in San Damiano. She governed the convent for 40 years, during which time Popes, Cardinals and Bishops consulted her. She was instrumental in spreading the Franciscan movement, and defended her convent from attack on a number of occasions. She lived a life of extreme poverty and is renowned for serving her community with great joy and devotion. “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become. This means we are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others”
St Dominic de Guzman (1170-1221) Feast Day: August 8th Dominic spent his life carrying out an apostolate among heretics. He sent his friars to preach and teach and once his order was approved in 1216 it spread through Europe. He won the affection of his followers, known as the Order of Friar Preachers. His plan was to provide communities which were centres of sacred learning; members would be devoted to study, teaching, preaching and prayer. These communities still exist today. “I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God”
St Margaret Clitherow (died 1586) Feast Day: March 26th Margaret Clitherow lived in York during the reign of Elizabeth I. Her husband was not a Catholic, but he paid the fines for her when she didn’t attend the Church of England on Sundays. Margaret hid priests and told other Catholics when Mass was being said in her house. Her own son Henry secretly went abroad to train to be a priest. Her house was searched by authorities and things needed for Mass were found and she was taken to court. She was put to death in a cruel way and her last words were ‘Jesus, Jesus, have mercy on me’. “I ground my faith upon Jesus Christ and by Him I steadfastly believe to be saved”
St Stephen (died c35) Feast Day: December 26th He was the disciple chosen by the apostles ‘full of faith and the Holy Spirit’ as the first of the seven deacons. He was stoned to death by the Jews and became the first Christian martyr actively witnessed by St Paul. He was involved in looking after the distribution of alms to widows and to help in the ministry of preaching. A man full of God’s Grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people (Acts 6:8)
Updated Spring 2023
