St. Augustine of Hippo had such a great influence in Catholic faith and history, that most of the quotations in the Catechism are from his writings. (Second to him in the Catechism are from the writings of St. Thomas of Aquinas). Due to his popularity, many are familiar with his biography. Aside from his conversion experience written well in his book, "The Confessions", he then led a very exemplary life, pastoring his faithful with the utmost compassion and influencing Catholicism with his writings. St. Augustine also organized the clergy in a common life, and wrote a famous rule for religious women (died ca. 430 A.D.).
St. Hermes was a resident of Rome. He lived in the second century - a time when Christian martyrdom abounded with the likes of St. Ignatius of Antioch and St. Justin Martyr. Because of his faith in Christ, St. Hermes was imprisoned like many other Christians of his time. It was a judge named Aurelian who had Hermes arrested and executed for his Christian faith (died ca. 120 A.D.).
St. Julian of Brioude was a Christian army officer of Rome before he retired to Auvergne in France. The governor of Vienne at that time launched a persecution of Christians. Because of Julian's Christian faith, he had to surrender to the authorities of the State. He was sentenced to death and beheaded for his faith in Christ (died ca. 304 A.D.).
St. Alexander was elected patriarch of Constantinople when he was seventy-three years old. Known for his wisdom and holiness, he attended the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D. - joining the other Council Fathers who were in opposition to Arianism. In 336 A.D., Arius, leader of the Arianism movement, was about to enter into the patriarchate of Alexander. St. Alexander prayed that Arius' movement may not influence his patriarchate. Arius died before he was able to enter Constantinople (died ca. 340 A.D.).
St. John III was a lawyer before he was ordained. Known for his scholarly abilities, he acted as legate for the patriarch of Constantinople. He edited a lot of canons of ecclesiastical law and his revisions developed into the Nomokanon - a compendium of Eastern Church law. St. John III was also appointed as Patriarch of Constantinople in 565 A.D. (died ca. 577 A.D.).
St. Paul IV, like St. Alexander and St. John III, became patriarch of Constantinople. He began to administer the patriarchate in 780 A.D. Paul IV requested the restoration of icons when the movement towards iconoclasm was threatening the reverence due to icons. He moved and retired to Florus monastery in 784 A.D. and from there pleaded that a Council be convoked to condemn iconoclasm. The Council was convoked three years after his death (died ca. 784 A.D.).
St. Moses the Black was initially a servant in the household of an Egyptian official. Because of his criminal behavior in that household, he was dismissed. He then became leader of a notorious band of outlaws that terrorized travelers in Egypt. But he was converted to the Christian faith. And tradition tells the story that when he was sought after because of a crime, he fled and hid among the hermits of the Skete Desert in Lower Egypt. He eventually joined the monks at Petra Monastery, lived as a hermit, and was ordained by Theophilus of Alexandria. When a band of marauding Berbers took siege of their monastery, St. Moses was killed when he refused to defend himself by force (died ca. 405 A.D.).
St. Edmund Arrowsmith was born into an English Catholic family at a time when England was persecuting Roman Catholicism. In 1605 A.D., Edmund left England and went to Douai to study for the priesthood. Ordained in 1612 A.D., he was sent for a mission to England the following year. Edmund ministered to the Catholics at Lancashire. In 1624 A.D., he joined the Jesuits. Because of the tension between Catholics and Anglicans in England, St. Edmund was arrested in 1628 A.D. He was convicted as a Catholic priest and was martyred for his faith. He is one of the Martyrs of England and Wales (died ca. 1628 A.D.).
St. Joaqunia of Vedruña was married. When her husband died in 1816 A.D., she brought her children to Vich and became a Franciscan tertiary. In 1820 A.D., a Capuchin priest encouraged Joaquina to be a nun, but to have her own community - one devoted to the education of the young and the ministry of the sick. Thus, in 1826 A.D., the Carmelites of Charity was founded. The Order spread first to Spain and to France (died ca. 1854 A.D.).
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