Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo (d. 1524) was a Spanish Mercedarian priest, and the first priest to arrive on Mexican soil in 1516 at the age of 31. He was chaplain for the expedition of Spanish Conquistador Fernando Cortés, who began the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the downfall of the Aztec empire. Bartholomew was well-liked by the native people. He taught them the Christian faith...

St. José was born on March 28, 1913, in Sthuayo, Michoacán, Mexico. Wanting to defend the faith and the rights of Catholics, he followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers and asked his mother for permission to join the Cristeros. She objected, telling him that he was too young.  “Mama,” he replied, “do not let me lose the opportunity to gain Heaven so easily and...

In the mid 640's, his family fled to Naples, Italy ahead of Arab invasion. Adrian joined a Benedictine monastery when quite young. Later in life he became the Abbot of Hiridanum, Isle of Nisida, Bay of Naples. He was acquainted with Emperor Constans II, who later introduced him to Pope Saint Vitalian. He then became an advisor to Vitalian. He was twice offered the Archbishopric of...

St. Frances of Rome (1384-1440) was born to a noble family in Rome. As a young girl her desire to become a nun was refused by her father, who instead arranged her marriage at the age of 12. St. Frances accepted this as God’s will for her life. She was married for 40 years and had children, two of whom died from the plague. In her time Rome was at war and the city was in chaos from...

Gerolamo Emiliani (Italian: Gerolamo Emiliani (1486 – 8 February 1537), was an Italian humanitarian, founder of the Somaschi Fathers, and saint. He was canonized in 1767 and is the patron saint of orphans. Jerome was born in Venice, the son of Angelo Emiliani (popularly called Miani) and Eleonore Mauroceni. His father died when he was a teenager and Gerolamo ran away at the age of 15 to...