A humble man, John Duns Scotus has been one of the most influential Franciscans through the centuries. Born at Duns in the county of Berwick, Scotland, John was descended from a wealthy farming family. In later years, he was identified as John Duns Scotus to indicate the land of his birth; Scotia is the Latin name for Scotland. John received the habit of the Friars Minor at Dumfries, where his...

Saint Engelbert of Cologne, also known as Engelbert of Berg, was born around 1185 in Berg, Germany. He came from a noble family, the son of Count Engelbert of Berg and Margaret, the daughter of the Count of Gelderland. Engelbert received his education at the cathedral school in Cologne, where he showed promise and intellect. At a young age, he was appointed provost of churches in Cologne and...

Thousands of men and women died for their faith during the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Spanish Civil War from 1934 to 1939. In keeping with the nature of November, they are remembered as a group on November 6. Their individual feasts are scattered throughout the calendar. November 6 is also the Commemoration of the Poor Souls of the Seraphic (Franciscan) Order. Of the thousands who...

Saint Bertille, also known as Bertilla, was a French noblewoman who lived during the reign of King Dagobert I. She was a close friend and spiritual student of Saint Ouen of Rouen. Although Bertille desired to enter religious life, she hesitated due to concerns about her parents' opposition. However, to her pleasant surprise, they did not oppose her choice, and thus she joined the...

St. Charles Borromeo (1538–1584) was born into an ancient and wealthy family in Lombardy, Italy. When his uncle became Pope Pius IV, Charles was brought to Rome to take over several important assignments connected with the Vatican. He was ordained to Holy Orders at the age of 25 and was later made Archbishop of Milan, a position of high influence in the Church, and Cardinal. He initiated...