St. Paul Miki (1562–1597) and his twenty-five companions, known as the Martyrs of Nagasaki, were crucified for the faith in Nagasaki, Japan, in 1597. A Japanese layman of great nobility and wealth, Paul was converted to Christianity by St. Francis Xavier. Although the Christian missionaries did not meet with opposition initially, the Japanese rulers eventually launched a brutal campaign...

Blessed Françoise Mézière, also known as Françoise Mézière, was a devout lay woman born on August 25, 1745, in Mézangers, Mayenne, France. She lived during a tumultuous time in French history, marked by the French Revolution. Françoise Mézière dedicated her life to her faith and became a revered figure in the Diocese of Laval, France. Little is known about the specific details of Françoise...

Saint John de Brito, also known as the Apostle of Madura, was born on March 1, 1647, into the noble family of Portugal. He was a favored individual of Don Pedro, the king of Portugal, as well as the son of the governor of Brazil. From a young age, John demonstrated a strong devotion to his faith and at the age of 15, he joined the Society of Jesus, or the Jesuits. He pursued his studies at the...

The Bible contains only three sentences about Anna the prophetess, but they are important lines: Luke 2:36-37 tells us Anna was the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. At 84, she was considered “very old,” and had been a widow for many years. She only had seven years with her husband before his passing, and she had lived in the temple as a widow since. Scripture tells us...

Saint Maria Domenica Mantovani, also known as Mother Maria of the Immaculate, was born on 12 November 1862 in the small farm village of Castelletto di Brenzone, Italy. She was the eldest of four children born to Giovanni and Prudenza Zamperini. Growing up in a pious family, Maria received a strong religious education from her parents, although she only attended elementary school for three...