Saint Marina of Omura was a devout Catholic laywoman who lived during a time of intense persecution of Christians in Japan. Born in Omura, Nagasaki, Japan, she embraced her faith from a young age and grew in her devotion to God. Marina's upbringing was heavily influenced by the Catholic community in Omura, which was known for its commitment to the faith. She was deeply inspired by the...

Pope St. Leo the Great (c. 400–461 A.D.) was born in Tuscany to an aristocratic family. After serving as deacon under two popes he became the Roman Pontiff from 440 to 461 A.D. He was one of the greatest Holy Fathers the Church has known; he was the first pope, and one of only two, to bear the title “Great.” He guided the Church through the turbulence of the collapse of the...

The Abrahamite Monks, also known as the Martyrs of Constantinople, were a group of courageous monks who lived during the iconoclast persecutions of Emperor Theophilus in the 9th century. They took their name from their founder, Saint Abraham of Ephesus, who established a monastery in Constantinople. Saint Abraham of Ephesus was a devout and learned monk who sought to follow the teachings of...

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...