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...

Saint Giles (Egidio) Maria of Saint Joseph (16 November 1729 – 7 February 1812) - born Francesco Postillo - was an Italian professed religious of the Order of Friars Minor. Postillo became a Franciscan brother rather than an ordained priest due to his lack of a proper education and so dedicated himself to the care of the poor and ill in southern Italian cities such as Taranto and Naples...

Virgin and martyr, Dorothea of Caesarea was persecuted during the persecution of Diocletian, 6 February, 311, at Caesarea in Cappadocia. She was brought before the prefect Sapricius, tried, tortured, and sentenced to death. On her way to the place of execution the pagan lawyer Theophilus said to her in mockery: "Bride of Christ, send me some fruits from your bridegroom's garden."...

Adelaide was the daughter of Megingoz (Megengose), Count of Guelders. She joined the Ursuline convent at Cologne, Germany. Later she became a Benedictine nun. Abbess of Villich, Germany as well as Abbess of Our Lady of the Capitol at Cologne. Both houses had been founded by her father. She insisted that the sisters in her houses study Latin so they would better understand the Mass. She was...