St. Finbar was educated at the monastery in Kilmacahill, Kilkenney. After his education, he became a preacher of the Gospel in southern Ireland. Then he decided to live a secluded life in Gouganebarra to have more time for prayer and meditation. He was then able to establish a monastery in Loigh Eirc and called it the Corcaghmer monastery. This monastery became a major influence in southern Ireland. The city of Cork, Ireland developed around the monastery's environs (died ca. 633 A.D.).
Bl. Herman the Cripple was born with a deformity that his family had to place him in Reichenau Abbey, Switzerland. The monks at the abbey taught Herman well until he developed a very keen mind and became known to scholars all over Europe at the time. He wrote the hymns Salve Regina and Alma Redemptoris mater. He also wrote poetry, a universal chronicle, and a mathematical treatise. Bl. Herman spent all his life in Reichenau Abbey (died ca. 1054 A.D.).
St. Sergius of Radonezh is the Russians' "Francis of Assisi". He founded about 40 monasteries, mediated at political disputes, and prevented four civil wars between princes. The monastic movement he initiated reestablished monasticism in Russia after the Tartar invasions of the 13th century almost destroyed everything in it. In 1387 A.D., he was to be elected to the patriarchate of Moscow, but he humbly declined. St. Sergius was also instrumental in the defeat of the Tartars in the Battle of Kulikov Polye in 1380 A.D. (died ca. 1392 A.D.).
St. Ceolfrid became a monk at Gilling monastery and then moved to St. Wilfrid's monastery at Ripon. He became master of novices at Ripon and then appointed prior of St. Peter's at Wearmouth by St. Benedict Biscop. When Benedict Biscop founded St. Paul monastery at Jarrow, he made Ceolfrid his deputy. Ceolfrid succeeded as abbot when Benedict passed away. He developed St. Paul's monastery into a great center of learning (died ca. 716 A.D.).
St. Firminus was a martyr during Diocletian's persecution of Christians. Baptized by St. Honestus, he became a bishop. Catholic tradition says that he went to Gaul as a missionary and built a church at Amiens. It was here where he was arrested, tortured and beheaded for his faith in Christ (died ca. 4th century A.D.).
St. Cadoc was educated by St. Tatheus of Caerwent. He decided to become a monk, then founded a monastery at Llancarfan, near Cardiff. This monastery he founded became well-known. After these, he pursued more studies in Ireland, and then at Brednock. A very zealous monk, he returned to his monastery to become its abbot. He then visited Brittany, Cornwall, Scotland, and made pilgrimages to Rome and to Jerusalem (died ca. 575 A.D.).
St. Aunacharius spent his youth in the court of King Guntram of Burgundy. He then left to serve under bishop Syagrius of Autun. Aunacharius was then ordained and later on was elected bishop of Auxerre in 561 A.D. Very zealous in ecclesiastical matters, he attended two synods, held two in his own diocese and introduced many reforms within his episcopal jurisdictions (died ca. 605 A.D.).
St. Albert of Jerusalem became bishop of Bobbio, Italy. In 1205 A.D., he was appointed patriarch of Jerusalem. Because the Saracens were still influential in Jerusalem at the time, he was obliged to establish his see at Akka. St. Albert took a prominent role in both the civil and ecclesiastical affairs under his jurisdiction. He was known to have mediated disputes between different Frankish factions. He is also especially known to have composed a rule of life for a community of hermits led by St. Brocard at Mount Carmel - the first fule of life of the Carmelites (died ca. 1214 A.D.).
St. Vincent Strambi resisted his parents' wish to become a diocesan priest. Instead, he chose to be a religious and joined the Passionists in 1768 A.D. He became provincial in 1781 A.D., and then a bishop in 1801 A.D. After being expelled from his see because of Napoleon Bonaparte, he returned in 1813 A.D. Bishop Strambi imposed reforms in his see, cared for his faithful during a typhus epidemic, and resigned from his see to become the papal adviser of Pope Leo XII (died ca. 1824 A.D.).
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