Ignatius, originally named Niketas, was a son of the Emperor Michael I Rangabe and Prokopia. His maternal grandfather was Nikephoros I. Although he was still a child, Niketas had been appointed nominal commander of the new corps of imperial guards, the Hikanatoi. He was forcibly castrated (and thus made ineligible for becoming emperor, since the emperor could not be a eunuch) and tonsured...

Saint Alodia of Huesca, also known as Alodia of Spain, was born in Huesca, Spain, to a Muslim father and a Christian mother. She was one of two sisters, the other being Saint Nunilo of Huesca. Both Alodia and Nunilo were raised in the Christian faith by their mother. Tragedy struck their family when their father passed away. Soon after, their mother married another Muslim man who began...

Charles was the son of Archduke Otto and Princess Maria Josephine of Saxony; he was also the great-nephew of Emperor Francis Joseph I. A stigmatic nun prophesied that he would be the victim of attacks and great suffering. A group of people were specifically assigned to pray for him at all times; after his death this group formed the League of Prayer of the Emperor Charles for the Peace of the...

James was born in the 14th century of a noble Polish family of Strepar and was educated in a Christian manner by his pious parents. To escape the dangers of the world, he entered the poor order of St. Francis when he was a young man. Very soon he became distinguished among his brethren for eminent virtue, rare attainments, and zeal for the salvation of souls. The neighboring realm of Russia...

Saint Laura of Córdoba, also known as Laura de Córdoba, was a remarkable figure who lived during the period of the Moorish occupation of Spain. She was born in Córdoba, Spain, and little is known about her early life, except that she married and became a widow. After her husband's death, Saint Laura felt a deep calling to dedicate her life to God. She entered religious life as a nun and...