St. Frances Xavier Cabrini tried to enter the convent twice, but was declined admission for health reasons. She became a schoolteacher instead. But when the local bishop encouraged her to become a missionary, Frances organized a small community of sisters in 1880 A.D. She received papal approbation for her community in 1887 A.D. (her Rule would be approved years later). Her community took the name Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Upon seeking an audience with Pope Leo XIII, her community was commissioned to take care of some 50,000 Italian immigrants in the USA. They started their work in New York, and then extended it to Chicago, New Orleans and other USA cities. Frances and her communities also extended their work and foundation to France, Spain, Italy and in the other parts of the Americas (died 1917 A.D.).
St. Stanislaus Kostka walked from Vienna to Rome to plead his case with the Pope, because the Jesuit provincial in Vienna refused to admit him to the novitiate. On his way to Rome, Stanislaus encountered St. Peter Canisius, who encouraged the young man in his desire for a Jesuit vocation, but tested him by assigning him to menial tasks. Eventually, the master general of the Jesuits, St. Francis Borgia, accepted the young man. Stanislaus became a Jesuit novice, but died nine months after his admission to the novitiate. Stanislaus was known for his studious ways, deep religious fervor, and mortifications (died ca. 1568 A.D.).
St. Homobonus was a tailor and a cloth merchant in Cremona, Lombardy, in northwest Italy. He was so generous to the poor that he was called the "Father of the Poor". Of a middle-class family, he was canonized a saint only two years after his death - and during a time when almost all canonizations were for bishops, monks, martyrs and royal personages. St. Homobonus is the patron saint of tailors, shoemakers, garment workers, merchants and business people (died ca. 1197 A.D.).
St. Didacus lived as a recluse in his youth under the guidance of a priest. He then became a Franciscan lay brother at Arrizafa. He was sent to the missions in the Canary Islands, and then spent his last years in Franciscan friaries in Seville, Salcedo and Alcalā. St. Didacus was noted for his healing powers and miracles (died ca. 1463 A.D.).
St. Arcadius was a married man with children. He and his children were all exiled to Africa by Arian King Genseric, when they refused to adhere to the Arian beliefs. The Roman Martyrology records that they were tortured and the put to death. Listed among the children of St. Arcadius were: Paschasius, Eutychian, and Paulillus (died ca. 437 A.D.).
St. Brice was brought up by St. Martin of Tours. Before his change of heart, Brice became vain, overly ambitious, and held Martin in contempt. Despite this attitude, St. Martin was very patient with Brice. In time, Brice felt remorse and asked Martin's forgiveness. Eventually, he succeeded St. Martin as bishop of Tours in 397 A.D., but upon taking office, he reverted back to his old self. Because he neglected the needs of his diocese, Brice was exiled. He went to Rome and in the years of his exile there, he repented and mended his ways. Brice was able to return to his diocese and ruled it with such humility and holiness that he was venerated by the people at the time of his death (died ca. 444 A.D.).
St. Eugenius of Toledo became a cleric in the cathedral of Toledo, Spain, under St. Helladius. He then decided to become a monk at Saragossa. When he was appointed bishop of Toledo in 647 A.D., it was against his wishes, but he had to accede. He administered the see very well and was also known to be a good musician and poet - with writings that are still preserved to this day (died ca. 657 A.D.).
St. Maxellendis fled into hiding when her father insisted that she marry Harduin of Solesmes. It was against her wishes because she planned to enter a convent. Harduin and several of his friends sought her. When Maxellendis was discovered, she fought and struggled strongly against them. In his rage, Harduin killed Maxellendis. In an instant, Harduin was struck blind. When Maxellendis' body was brought to Caudry, Harduin begged forgiveness before Maxellendis' coffin and suddenly his sight was restored (died ca. 670 A.D.).
St. Kilian was a relative of St. Fiacre - an Irish hermit who was given large tracts of land for him to develop and build a hospice for travellers. Nothing much is known of Kilian save for his being born in Ireland and becoming a missionary to Artois, in Gaul (died ca. 7th century A.D.).
St. Nicholas I was elected pope in April 22, 858 A.D. and exhibited the courage and energy by which he became known. He insisted on the sanctity and indissolubility of marriage. Aside from concerning himself with the politics of his time, Nicholas also encouraged missionary activities. He sent St. Anskar as a missionary to Scandinavia and also sent missionaries to Bulgaria. But his noted achievement as pope was to restore the papacy to its highest prestige, without neglecting also the apostolates to the poor, matters of justice, and the reforms needed in the Church (died ca. 867 A.D.).
St. Abbo of Fleury entered the monastery of Fleury-sur-Loire, in present-day France. In 986 A.D., he became director of the monastery school in Ramsey, Huntingtonshire, England. When he returned to Fleury, he was elected abbot. St. Abbo became a diplomat - settling disputes and mediating between warring factions. Because of his zeal for peace, he was killed. Abbo was also widely known as a scholar and a writer (died ca. 1004 A.D.).
Sts. Nicholas Tavelic, Adeodatus Aribert, Stephen of Cueno and Peter Narbonne were Friar Minors. Nicholas was sent as a missionary to Bosnia and evangelized the people there for 20 years. Then he was sent to Palestine for another mission. It was here that he was arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Christian faith to the Moslems. Arrested together with him were: Adeodatus, Stephen and Peter. The four were hacked to death in Jerusalem (died ca. 1391 A.D.).
Sts. Aloysius Versiglia and Callistus Caravario were Salesians of Don Bosco. Aloysius led the first Salesian mission to China. After 15 years, he was consecrated bishop. Callistus was also sent to China as a missionary. Bishop Aloysius ordained Callistus and appointed him Vicariate of Shiu Chow in 1929 A.D. When the two missionaries defended the safety and virtue of three young Chinese women, they were arrested and put to death (died ca. 1930 A.D.).
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