St. Bernardine of Siena (1380–1444) was born to a noble family in Siena, Italy. As a young man he witnessed the bubonic plague raging mercilessly through the city, and volunteered to care for the sick in the local hospital. At this time he also spent much time praying and fasting to know God's will for his life. He discerned a call to Holy Orders and the religious life, and joined...

If we expect saints to do marvelous things continually and to leave us many memorable quotes, we are bound to be disappointed with Saint Theophilus. The mystery of God’s grace in a person’s life, however, has a beauty all its own. Theophilus was born in Corsica of rich and noble parents. As a young man, he entered the Franciscans and soon showed his love for solitude and prayer....

St. Felix of Cantalice (d. 1587) was born to a pious peasant family in Italy. He grew up tending sheep and was hired out to work for a farmer at the age of nine, which he did for twenty years. He evidenced signs of holiness and spent his free time in prayer, and had a friend read him the lives of the saints from which he drew much inspiration. Felix eventually joined the Capuchin Franciscans...

Paschal was a Franciscan lay brother who became famous for his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. In 1897 Pope Leo XIII declared him patron saint of Eucharistic Congresses and associations. Patrick Duffy tells his story.  Born in Torre Hermosa on the borders of Castile and Aragon of a poor shepherd family, Paschal tended flocks as well as getting an elementary and religious education. In...

Margaret was born of farming parents in Laviano, Tuscany. Her mother died when Margaret was seven; life with her stepmother was so difficult that Margaret moved out. For nine years she lived with Arsenio, though they were not married, and she bore him a son. In those years, she had doubts about her situation. Somewhat like Saint Augustine, she prayed for purity—but not just yet. One...