St. Josaphat (1580-1623). Born in the Ukraine of Orthodox parents, he became a “western” Catholic and joined the monks of St. Basil. Becoming a priest, he was elected Bishop of Polock where he worked strenuously for the unity of the Church before suffering martyrdom at the hands of his enemies.
Picture: Martyrdom of Josaphat Kuntsevych(c. 1861) by Józef Simmler, National Museum in Warsaw
St. Angela Merici (1470-1540). Born at Desenzano near Brescia, she took on the habit of the Third (lay) Order of St. Francis and gathered together girls whom she formed in works of charity. The so-called Third Order, which some religious Orders have, is for those who wish to remain married/unmarried outside of a convent, but […]
St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1369). A member of the noble family of Aquino, he studied firstly at Monte Cssino and then at Naples. Having become a Dominican monk, he completed his studies at Paris and Cologne under the great St. Albert. An outstanding teacher of philosophy and theology, many of his writings are still used in […]
St. John Bosco (1815-1888). Born at Castelnuovo in Turin, he had a poverty-ridden childhood, but was eventually ordained to the priesthood. He founded religious Congregations which still exist today for the formation of young people, and also wrote short works in defence of the faith.