Western Christians who are working for greater dialogue with Orthodox Christians may be reaping the fruits of Father Leopold’s prayers. A native of Croatia, Leopold joined the Capuchin Franciscans and was ordained several years later in spite of several health problems. He could not speak loudly enough to preach publicly. For many years he also suffered from severe arthritis, poor...

St. Francis de Girolamo (1642-1716) was the eldest of eleven children born to honorable and virtuous parents in Naples, Italy. As a child he was drawn to God and a life of prayer. Realizing his vocation to Holy Orders, he was ordained a Jesuit priest at the age of 28. He became a renowned public preacher with his distinguished loud and eloquent voice, described as ‘a lamb when he talks...

Job is remembered on May 10. The Roman Martyrology offers this simple description: “In the land of Hus, the holy prophet Job, a man of wonderful patience. He is the central figure of the Book of Job in the Bible. In rabbinical literature, Job is called one of the prophets of the Gentiles. In Islam, Job is also considered a prophet. Job is presented as a good and prosperous family man...

Isaiah was the 8th-century BC Israelite prophet after whom the Book of Isaiah is named. He is regarded as one of the great Messianic prophets, and, consequently, his writings are heavily used during the Season of Advent as the Church awaits the celebration of the birth of the Savior. Isaiah may have been one of the priests of the Temple of Solomon. His call to the life of a prophet seems...

St. Peter of Tarantaise (Saint Pierre de Tarentaise) was a French Roman Catholic abbot who served as the Archbishop of Tarentaise from 1141 until his death. His example in his childhood and adolescence became so pious to those he knew that his parents and siblings all followed him into the religious life. He served as an abbot for a new cloister and tried to refuse an elevation to the...