St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 340–397 A.D.) was born in Gaul (modern France) and became a successful lawyer and governor in Milan, Italy. When the bishop of Milan died in 374 A.D., a movement arose among the people to demand that Ambrose take his place. At the time Ambrose was only a catechumen preparing for baptism; he was not yet a Christian. He went into hiding in an attempt to escape the...

Adolph Kolping (8 December 1813 — 4 December 1865) was a German Roman Catholic priest and the founder of the Kolping Association. He led the charge for providing and promoting social support for workers in industrialized cities while also working to promote the dignities of workers in accordance with the social magisterium of the faith. The beatification for the late priest commenced on...

Born to the Breton nobility and well educated, Justinian presented himself for ordination as a priest. He left his country to become a travelling evangelist and settled to live as a hermit on the Isle of Ramsey near southern Wales, living with a pious layman named Honorius; he moved in on the condition that all the women of the household were sent away. He visited Saint David of Wales, who was...

Saint John of Damascus (also known as John Damascene) was a Syrian monk and priest. Born and raised in Damascus c. 675 or 676, he died at his monastery, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem on 4 December 749. A polymath whose fields of interest and contribution included law, theology, philosophy, and music, he is said by some sources to have served as a Chief Administrator to the Muslim caliph of Damascus...

St. Francis Xavier (1506–1552) was born in his family castle in Navarre in what is today Spain. While studying in Paris he met St. Ignatius of Loyola and joined him in the foundation of the Society of Jesus. Instead of devoting himself to academic pursuits as he had planned, and in which he enjoyed great success, he became the first Jesuit missionary priest. His missionary activity began...