St. Peter Nolasco inherited a fortune at 15 years of age when his father passed away. He used this wealth to ransom Christian prisoners from the Moors in southern Spain. From this missionary activity, together with St. Raymond of Peñafort, Peter decided to found the Order of Our Lady of Ransom (the Mercedarians). Papal approval for the Order came from Pope Gregory IX in 1235 A.D. The Mercedarians took a fourth religious vow - that of giving themselves, if necessary, in exchange for a slave (died ca. 1258 A.D.).
St. Anastasia of Sirmium was the daughter of a noble Roman and married a pagan. On the death of her husband, she went to Aquileia to minister to the Christians suffering from Diocletian's persecution of the Christians. She was eventually arrested for her Christian faith and was burned to death on the island of Palmaria. Anastasia has been venerated in Rome since the fifth century (died ca. 304 A.D.).
St. Eugenia was the daughter of a nobleman of Alexandria during the reign of Emperor Valerian. Because of the persecution of Christians during Valerian's reign, Eugenia dressed in male attire and fled to Heliopolis where she entered an abbey. She had trouble when she was accused and charged with adultery. Brought to court, she was exonerated of the charge by the magistrate, who fortunately was her father. When she took off her male attire and revealed herself to her father, Eugenia was able to convert her father to the Christian faith. She converted many others including her mother. Eugenia suffered martyrdom by sword for her faith in Christ (died ca. 257 A.D.).
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