Missionary, Foundress, Chronic Poor Health, Fearful of the Ocean St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Born prematurely as the youngest of 13 children to a peasant Italian family in the year 1850, Francesca Cabrini was inspired by stories of the missionary life and developed a deep love for the missions at an early age, despite her fragile [...]

Survivor of the Slave Trade, Catholic Convert, Model of Forgiveness St. Josephine Bakhita God’s loving mercy is powerfully displayed when He takes a life of tremendous suffering and transforms it into a marvelous work of grace. Such is the case of this great saint, who from a young age was exposed to cruel and unjust [...]

Debutant, Heiress, Foundress, Missionary to American Indians and African Americans St. Katharine Drexel Katharine Drexel’s decision to leave high society and spend her life dedicated to service of American Indians and African Americans shocked those who were not aware of her ardent desire to be involved in the missions. Katharine was born in 1858 to [...]

Teacher, Catholic Convert, Wife, Mother, Foundress St. Elizabeth Ann Seton The struggles of living during the American Revolution did not damper the warm and outgoing demeanor of Elizabeth Ann Bayley. She was born on August 28th, 1774, into an upper-class Anglican family in New York City. Living in in the comforts of high society, she loved [...]

Brilliant Philosopher, Catholic Convert, Modern-Day Martyr St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross St. Edith Stein was born as the youngest of 11 children into a prominent Jewish family in Breslau, Germany on October 12th, 1891. That year her birthday coincided with Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement and the holiest day of the Hebrew [...]