Marian Visionary, Lover of the Immaculate Conception, Model of Humility St. Bernadette Soubirous Born in Lourdes, France on January 7, 1844, Bernadette was the first of five children born to Francois and Louise Soubirous. She grew up in poverty and was often a sickly child, unable to do much because of asthma. When she was [...]
Strong-willed Child, Courageous Reformer, Doctor of the Church, Patroness of Europe St. Catherine of Siena Catherine was born in 1347 and grew up in a large family in Siena, Italy, where her childhood home still stands. She was a light to her family, and they nicknamed her “Euphrosyne” which is Greek for “joy.” Catherine’s parents [...]
Attentive Friend, Enthusiastic Disciple, Suffering Servant, Light of the Gospel Blessed Chiara “Luce” Badano After 11 years of prayer for a child, Chiara’s birth was a special gift to Ruggero and Maria Teresa Badano. When welcoming their only daughter into the world on October 29, 1971, her parents understood that she was God’s child first, [...]
Talented Pianist, Fiery Temper, Indwelling Presence, Lover of the Trinity St. Elizabeth of the Trinity Elizabeth Catez enjoyed the parties and friendships that made up her active social life and had a love of beautiful clothes and the latest hairstyles. She was an accomplished pianist, studying at the Conservatory of Dijon, and was well-known for [...]
Religious Foundress, Servant of the Incurable, Model of Holy Perseverance Rose Hawthorne Lathrop She was the third daughter of the celebrated American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne, but she abandoned a life of literature to care for the cancerous poor. Rose Hawthorne Lathrop was born in Massachusetts, one year after her father’s work The Scarlet Letter was published. [...]
Renowned Lace Maker, Loving Wife, Mother of Saints St. Zélie Guérin Martin If you had told the young Zélie Martin that she would someday become a famous lace maker, marry the man of her dreams, and raise five daughters who would become brides of Christ, one of whom would later become a canonized saint and [...]
Model of Feminine Authority, Writer, Composer, Visionary, Doctor of the Church St. Hildegard von Bingen St. Hildegard’s feminine strength and authority, combined with her intellectual talents and mystical gifts, allowed her to be a courageous and outspoken presence to the Church leaders and political figures of her time. Hildegard was born in the year 1098 [...]
Mother, Doctor, Fashionista, Lover of Life St. Gianna Beretta Molla Often women wonder, how is it possible to do it all, to juggle a career, a family, and still have time for my own sanity? This modern saint tells us the secret, which lies in our total surrender to God and in loving Him above [...]
Talented Storyteller, Visionary, “Secretary of Mercy” St. Maria Faustina Kowalska St. Faustina was chosen by Jesus to be His missionary of the powerful message of Divine Mercy, but her visionary spiritual life was hidden by her humble external appearance. In 1905, she was born as Helena Kowalska to a family of poor peasants in Poland [...]
Teacher, Consecrated Lay Woman, Foundress, Modern Spiritual Leader Chiara Lubich Chiara Lubich is the foundress of the Focolare Movement (The Work of Mary) and is regarded as one of the most influential spiritual leaders of the twentieth century. Born in 1920 in Northern Italy and baptized Silvia Lubich, she experienced a profound religious awakening at [...]
