ST. ELIZABETH, QUEEN AND WIDOW

Can sanctity run in family genes? This story is about St. Elizabeth, Queen of Portugal. She was the daughter of King Peter of Aragon, who was the son of Yolanda of Hungary, the half-sister of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. There was no social relationship between the two...

ST. BERNARD, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH

AUGUST 20 is the traditional feast day of ST. BERNARD, Abbot and Doctor of the Church (+1153). This saint was a major leader of Benedictine monasticism, through the newly found Cistercian order. Born about 1090, in Burgundy, France, near Dijon, he was the son of the...

ST. CLARE OF ASSISI

AUGUST 11 is the feast day of ST. CLARE (+1253). In 1969, it was moved from August 12. Clare’s is a surprising story of fortitude and commitment. Clare was born in Assisi 16 July, 1194, daughter of Favorino Sciffi, the wealthy count of Sasso-Rosso, and his wife...

St. Bonaventure

JULY 14 is the traditional memorial of ST. BONAVENTURE, BISHOP OF ALBANS (+1274). In 1221, a son was born to Giovanni de Fidanza and his wife, Maria Ritella. They named the child after the father, hence, Giovanni, Jr. The father was a physician and a man of means....