St. Libaire was born into an imperial Roman patrician family which provided the Church with many saints. She was the daughter of Baccius Lientrude and sister of Saint Amée, Saint Francule, Saint Gontrude, Saint Hoilde, Saint Lintrude, Saint Menne, Saint Ode, Saint Pusinne and Saint Suzanne. She worked for her family as a shepherdess, spending her time with the flocks spinning, praying and...

St. Bruno (1030-1101) was born to a noble and prominent family in Cologne, Germany. He was well educated and excelled in his studies, and became a priest around the year 1055. He went on to direct and teach at the episcopal school at Reims for many years, earning a reputation as a learned scholar. After also serving as the chancellor of his archdiocese, he and a few companions left their...

Francis was one of twelve children born to Mang and Frances Schwarzenbach Seelos; he was named for Saint Francis Xavier. His father was a textile merchant who became parish sacristan. Francis was Confirmed on 3 September 1828, and made his first Communion on 2 April 1830. The boy wanted to be a priest from an early age, and often claimed he would be another Francis Xavier. He completed his...

Though October 4 is the feast of the well-known Francis of Assisi, there are several others who are remembered on this date. Sts.  Felix and Adauctus (d. 303) were according to tradition, Christian martyrs who were said to have suffered during the Great Persecution during the reign of the Roman emperor Diocletian. The Acts, first published in Ado's Martyrology, relate as...

Gerard was born to the Belgian nobility; son of Stance and Plectrude and raised in a military atmosphere. He became a courtier to the Count of Namur. Disappointed by court life, and ashamed of the many privileges he received from his family and military post, Gerard realized that he was called to the monastic life. He found Belgian monasteries too lax in their discipline. While visiting...