St. Luke the Evangelist, a physician and companion of St. Paul, authored the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. Writing for a Gentile audience, his Gospel emphasizes Jesus’ compassion, the Holy Spirit, and the dignity of the poor. Luke’s Gospel, written between 70–85 AD, includes unique details like the Annunciation and Magnificat. Acts continues the story, chronicling the Church’s early growth. Luke is also said to have painted the first icons of the Virgin Mary from life. He is the patron saint of artists, and several Marian icons are traditionally attributed to him, including Our Lady of Czestochowa. St. Luke the Evangelist Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: October 18 Title/Attributes: Evangelist Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Luke the Evangelist is one of the four Gospel writers and is the author of the Acts of the Apostles. St. Luke, a physician by trade, is believed to have been a Greek Gentile from Antioch (Modern Turkey). Luke was a convert to the new faith and accompanied St. Paul on his second missionary journey (c. 51). He remained six years in Philippi, Greece and went on the third missionary journey, the journey to Italy that included the famous shipwreck off the coast of Malta. He remained with Paul during Paul’s imprisonment. Paul wrote of Luke three times in the New Testament. St. Paul confirms that Luke practiced medicine in Colossians 4:14: “Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings.” He mentions that Luke is accompanying him in 2 Timothy 4:11: “Only Luke is with me” and in Philemon 24: “as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.” It is also possible to deduce Luke’s presence with Paul on the missionary journeys from numerous passages in Acts (16:10-17; 20:5-21:18;27:1-28:16). When St. Paul was martyred in 66, Luke went back to Greece, where he is believed to have died at the age of eighty-four “full of the Holy Spirit.” Luke’s Gospel was written between 70-85 AD, possibly in Greece, although Eusebius claims that it was written before the martyrdom of St. Paul in 66 AD. The point of view of the Gospel is that of a Gentile Christian for other Gentile (or non-Jewish) individuals. The Acts of the Apostles was written perhaps in Rome, either during the imprisonment of St. Paul or immediately after his death, or in the province of Achaea, in the area around Greece. The Acts details the Church from c. 35-63 AD, demonstrating in often superb prose the remarkable growth and the witness of the faithful. Luke is also the patron saint of painters. It is said that he painted portraits of the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he visited while they were both still living. There exist multiple traditions surrounding what happened to the original icon(s) that St. Luke wrote. One ancient account explains how during the 5th century a Byzantine Empress brought from Jerusalem to Constantinople an icon attributed to St. Luke. The Hodegon Monastery was built to enshrine it and later all copies of this icon became known as Hodegetria. Most believe the original image was lost during the Middle Ages. Whatever truth there is behind these traditions, here are a few more widely known icons attributed to St. Luke. Our Lady of Vladimir According to Russian sources the original Hodegetria was transferred from Constantinople to Vladimir in 1115 and remains one of the most popular images of the Virgin Mary in Russia. Our Lady of Czestochowa A popular account relates how in the 4th century St. Helena discovered an image of the Virgin Mary that was painted by St. Luke on a tabletop made by Jesus. She gave it to Constantine and it ended up in Constantinople. After that the image was eventually owned by Charlemagne, who gave it to Prince Leo of Ruthenia. By the 14th century the image was transferred to Jasna Gora in Poland in response to a request from Prince Ladislaus and remains there to this day. Salus Populi Romani Similar to Our Lady of Czestochowa, it is believed this image was discovered by St. Helena and taken first to Constantinople. By the 6th century the image was transferred to Rome and ever since has been enshrined in the church of Saint Mary Major. It is this image, known as "Protectress of the Roman People," before which Pope Francis prays and offers flowers each time he leaves Rome for a pontifical journey and again when he returns. Our Lady of Perpetual Help This particular icon is believed to be a replica of the original Hodegetria image in Constantinople. One story explains how the image was later enshrined in Crete, but then a thief stole the miraculous image from a monastery, bringing it to Rome in the 15th century. It is now located in the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori in Rome. "4 Icons of Mary Attributed to St. Luke the Evangelist." Aleteia, 18 Oct. 2017, https://aleteia.org/2017/10/18/4-icons-of-mary-attributed-to-st-luke-the-evangelist . Accessed 21 May 2025. Next Item Previous Item

St. Catherine was born in 1413 in Bologna, Italy, and was trained at the court of Margaret d’Este before joining the Poor Clares after her father’s death. Known for her visions of the Virgin Mary and Christ, she became famous for her holiness and spiritual insight. A gifted writer, her best-known work is "Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare". Other writings and mystical texts were rediscovered in 2000, highlighting her deep theological thought. Catherine was also an accomplished artist, illustrating her breviary and painting religious subjects. She is honored as the patron saint of artists. St. Catherine of Bologna Time Period: 1413-1463 Feast Day: March 9 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Franciscan Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Clothing St. Catherine of Bologna was born in Bologna, Italy in 1413. She was trained as a lady-in-waiting to Margaret d’Este. Her father, of the de’Vigri family, was a lawyer and diplomat for the d’Este family of Ferrara. When her father died around 1424, Catherine left the court and joined the Poor Clare’s, which is a Franciscan Order. Catherine experienced visions, one of which included the Blessed Virgin Mary and the infant Jesus. After visiting the Poor Clare’s established in Ferrara, Catherine went to the order’s convent in Bologna. There her supernatural gifts and sanctity brought considerable fame. Catherine was a writer and mystic. Her best-known work is “Seven Spiritual Weapons Necessary for Spiritual Warfare”. She also wrote lauds, short religious treatises, letters, and poems. Many of her writings were kept private within her Religious Order and were discovered in 2000 and described by Cardinal Giacomo Biffi as “"now revealed in their surprising beauty. We can ascertain that she was not undeserving of her renown as a highly cultivated person. We are now in a position to meditate on a veritable monument of theology which, after the Treatise on the Seven Spiritual Weapons, is made up of distinct and autonomous parts: The Twelve Gardens, a mystical work of her youth, Rosarium, a Latin poem on the life of Jesus, and The Sermons, copies of Catherine's words to her religious sisters." Catherine was also an artist and many of her works of art are preserved in her personal breviary. While she meditated and prayed through the scriptures she sketched images of Christ, Mother Mary, and many other saints. She completed many other paintings and works of art outside of her breviary. She is the patron saint of artists. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Peter –the first Pope and rock upon which Jesus built His church – is one of the greatest stories of redemption and love in the Bible. His bold faith was gained from humble beginnings, repeated missteps, and a stubborn trust that Jesus Christ was truly God. Jesus loved his Apostles dearly but was also unafraid to correct the words and actions of the fallible, fragile humans He chose to be His closest followers. Peter, an inquisitive, brash, hopeful follower of Christ, was the perfect leader of this group and provided the foundation for the Church we still have today. His feast day is June 29th. St. Peter the Apostle Time Period: 1st Century Feast Day: June 29 Title/Attributes: Apostle, Martyr Location of Relic: Main Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Peter – the most outspoken apostle, the first Pope, the rock upon which Jesus built His church – is one of the greatest stories of redemption and love in the Bible. His bold faith that would ultimately change the world was gained from humble beginnings, repeated missteps and a stubborn trust that Jesus Christ was truly God. It is nearly impossible to fully encompass all of Peter’s deeds in the Bible. His adventures are recounted throughout the Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, and numerous letters of St. Paul; his name appears a total of 187 times in the New Testament. As prominent of a role Peter played in Jesus’ ministry, we know very little about his life prior to his conversion. Tradition places his birth in the 1st century BC, and he was originally named Simon. He lived in the village of Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee, and scripture (as well as most historians) point to him having been married. Him and his brother Andrew were both fisherman by trade and Peter owned his own boat. It was in this boat that Peter’s life was changed forever. Matthew 4:18-19, Mark 1:16-17, and Luke 5:1-11 all depict Jesus encountering Peter as he was fishing on the Sea of Galilee. As the crowds listening to Jesus pressed in, He hopped into Peter’s boat and asked him to put out from the shore. Obeying the preacher, Peter rowed out so Jesus could continue to teach the people. After Jesus finished speaking, He turned to Simon Peter to teach one of the most important lessons Peter would ever learn: trust in Him. “When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Simon Peter, already sensing the prominence of Jesus by calling Him “master”, obliged the request, and upon seeing the miraculous catch of fish they procured, fell to his knees in front of Jesus. “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” But Jesus instead called him deeper, replying, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” So, they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.” The Gospel of John tells a slight variation of when Simon Peter first met Jesus, including an earlier name change than the other three Gospels. John 1:35-42 tells of Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, hearing John the Baptist cry out, “Look, the Lamb of God!” as Jesus passed by. After Andrew heard this, he immediately ran to find his brother and tell him, “We have found the Messiah.” Jesus, meeting Simon for the first time, greeted Simon with a gift: a new name. “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).” In all of the Gospels, Jesus began to travel throughout the region after he had called His first disciples. He taught in synagogues, healed sicknesses and attracted large crowds everywhere He went. How awestruck must these first Apostles have been witnessing these miracles and hearing the Sermon on the Mount as written in Matthew 5. Just a few chapters later, Simon Peter witnesses a very personal miracle, as Jesus visits his mother-in-law, sick in bed with a fever. Matthew 8:14-15 tells of Jesus “touching her hand and the fever left her.” The faith of Peter was growing. That faith would be tested though later in Matthew 8, when the experienced fisherman found himself caught in a furious storm while out in a boat with Jesus, who was sleeping. The Apostles, many of whom were likely still just beginning to grasp the divine abilities of Jesus, frantically awoke him saying “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” Matthew 8:26: “He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.” Sitting in the boat, an astonished Simon Peter stared at the calm waters which just seconds ago had been raging all around him. His faith was growing. Another miracle that Jesus would perform not long thereafter points to Simon Peter beginning to form a particular group with James and John out of the twelve Apostles. When a synagogue leader named Jairus earnestly pleaded with Jesus to heal his dying daughter, as written in Mark 5:21-43, Jesus would eventually only bring Peter, James, and John into the home to witness the healing. Perhaps it was for them to witness the mourners laughing at Jesus as He announced “The child is not dead, but asleep” or maybe Jesus wished Peter to see those miraculous steps the little girl took towards Him after she was resurrected. No matter what Jesus’ motives, it’s clear that this trio of Apostles (who would also be the only ones present at the Transfiguration of Jesus and were called deeper by Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane) were special. It’s clear throughout the Bible that Simon Peter was essentially the “spokesman” of the twelve Apostles. Whenever they are all listed by name (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16–19; Luke 6:14–16; Acts 1:13), Peter is mentioned first. On a few occasions, when multiple Apostles were present or speaking, only Peter is specifically mentioned by name and the others are merely with him (Mark 1:36; Luke 8:45). His authority was recognizable by others as well; Matthew 17:24 tells of the collectors of the temple tax approaching Peter specifically to question him regarding Jesus. Peter – displaying remarkable insight, developing a depth to his faith, but still harboring reservations and doubts – was the perfect representative of the Apostles, as stubborn and foolhardy as they often were. Matthew 14 and Matthew 16 both contain a monumental event in Peter’s life and both of them are preceded with a misstep or misunderstanding by the Apostles. In Matthew 14, Jesus attempts to retreat to a solitary place following the death of John the Baptist. Crowds followed Him regardless, and while still mourning the loss of His close friend, Jesus “had compassion on them and healed their sick.” As night fell though, the worn-out disciples implored Jesus to dismiss the crowds so they would go away to buy themselves food and leave them alone. Jesus, likely beginning to prepare the Apostles for their ministry following His ascension into heaven, replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” And while they could only muster five loaves and two fish, Jesus taught them an important lesson that night: despite their “little faith” (Matthew 8:26, 14:31, 16:8, 17:20), what they have is enough. After five thousand were fed and twelve baskets of leftovers collected, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into a boat (a recurring location of transformative moments in Peter’s life) and meet Him on the other side. Jesus dismissed the crowds and retreated up the mountainside to pray alone. As the night grew later, the Apostle’s boat traveled a “considerable distance from land” as the wind had picked up. As they continued to traverse across the lake and dawn approached, an impossible sight appeared: a man, Jesus himself, walking on the water. Matthew 14:26-27: When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Then, Simon Peter took a leap of faith. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Simon Peter, a normal fisherman from Bethsaida, stepped out of the boat. Eyes fixed on Jesus, he began to walk across the water. But as the wind picked up, his gaze on the Lord wavered and he instead looked at the waves all around him. Afraid and sinking into the cold water, Simon Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!” There was no hesitation at all by Jesus. Matthew 14:31 – “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”” Peter and Jesus returned to the boat, where the incredulous Apostles began to worship Jesus saying, ““Truly you are the Son of God.” Two chapters later, the second prominent milestone of Peter would take place, and it was preceded with Jesus yet again questioning the Apostles and their little faith while in a boat. Matthew 16:5-12 depicts Jesus and the Apostles traveling across a lake. The Apostles had forgotten to pack bread for their journey, and Jesus took the opportunity to begin teaching them to be on their guard against “the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” The Apostles took the words in a literal sense (as they too often did) and began to discuss the teaching among themselves, as they assumed it was a form of chastisement from Jesus brought forth due to their forgetfulness. Matthew 16:7 – “They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.” This reaction is unique for a number of reasons. Firstly, prior to this journey they had witnessed Jesus on multiple occasions supernaturally multiply bread right in front of them. Secondly, both scripture passages of this story (Mark 8:14-21 also tells of this moment) specifically displays them discussing this apparent chastisement by Jesus just among themselves, without including Jesus in the conversation. The all-knowing Jesus immediately cuts into the chatter and makes it clear that His teaching is regarding something much more serious than baking ingredients. Matthew 16:9 – Do you still not understand? Don’t you remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many basketfuls you gathered? How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” It’s not hard to imagine a stunned silence filling the boat, as Simon Peter and the other Apostles realized the profundity of Jesus’ words and the deeper meaning He was speaking to them. Arriving in the region of Caesarea Philippi, these thoughts were likely still swirling in Simon Peter’s head as Jesus turned to His disciples and asked: “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” The first replies were hesitant and non-committal: “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” Then, Jesus presented the most important question they’d ever face. Matthew 16:15 – “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” It was Simon Peter who stepped up for his second leap of faith. Matthew 16:16 – “Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”” This was the first outright proclamation by an Apostle that Jesus was truly the Messiah – the one promised by God to save His people. It was a significant moment, and the response by Jesus was also significant. Matthew 16:17-18 – “Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Simon Peter had become the foundation of the future Catholic Church, but just a few verses later, it was clear that his sturdiness was still under construction. With everything slowly falling into place for Jesus to fulfill His mission, He began to explain what was soon to come. Peter however, still riding high from being given the keys of the kingdom, wasn’t too fond of the idea of his closest friend going to Jerusalem to be killed. Matthew 16:22 – “Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”” Jesus replied with a stinging rebuke of His own, one that likely cut Peter to the core. Matthew 16:23 – “Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”” The teaching that followed from Jesus, as Peter stood reeling from the swift reproachment, was one that would shape the lives of many future holy men and women of the Catholic Church. Matthew 16:24-25 – “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.”” As sharp as this moment was for the future saint, Peter took it in stride. He experienced the wonder of the Transfiguration of Jesus just six days later, at which he had the unique opportunity of being interrupted by God Himself, speaking down from the clouds. Matthew 17:4-5 – “Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”” Peter and his fellow Apostles continued to do just that, but they found themselves dumbstruck while listening to Jesus on the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, as they sat around the table to eat: one of them would betray the Messiah and Peter would deny Jesus three times. Jesus, alluding again to His death, had foretold the desertion of the Apostles and Peter’s response again resolutely denied this charge: “Even if I fall away on account of you, I never will.” Matthew 17:34-35 – ““Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.” But try as he might to prevent Jesus from being taken away later that night, going so far as to strike the servant of the high priest with his sword and cut off his ear, Peter was forced to witness the betrayal of Judas and arrest of Jesus. Peter, his world crashing down all around him, retreated to the courtyard as Jesus was brought before the high priests, who mocked and scorned his friend, his leader, the Son of Man. First, a servant girl came to him: “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said to Peter as Jesus was spit at and struck. He uttered his first denial – “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then, a second slave woman noticed him and said to the people around them – “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” As bloodthirsty cries for Jesus, who had called Peter out into the depths, to be put to death rung out in the courtyard, Peter denied him again – “I do not know the man And a final time, as more bystanders noticed his accent and came up to him with accusations, he began to curse and swear, crying out – “I do not know the man!” Immediately, a rooster crowed, and the devastating words of Jesus Christ had come true: Peter had denied Jesus three times. Just before Jesus was led away to face Pontius Pilate, be crowned with thorns, and ultimately crucified upon Golgotha, He locked eyes with Peter, who was filled with sorrow. He left the courtyard and wept bitterly. But the tomb would not remain occupied for long, and redemption was on its way to Peter. All four Gospels tell of the Resurrection of Jesus, with the Gospel of John providing unique details to the discovery of the empty tomb. After Mary Magdalene discovered the stone had been rolled away, it was Peter who she ran to in distress, believing someone to have taken the body of Jesus from the tomb. Simon and John immediately ran to the tomb, with John arriving first but remaining outside. Peter however, arrived at the tomb and went straight in. Stunned, Peter saw the strips of linen and the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head, lying on the ground. The immensity of what had happened was beginning to dawn on them. Even when Mary Magdalene told them of her seeing Jesus risen from the dead, many of the Apostles were likely still in a state of tense disbelief while together later that day in the locked upper room. But before they knew it, Jesus was there, standing in their midst. He would appear in the room again a week later to prove He had returned to Thomas the Apostle, who had been absent at the first reappearance. But it was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after being raised from the dead that was most significant for Peter. John 21:1-14 tells of the Apostles once again on the Sea of Galilee. Peter, likely still yearning for a chance to reconcile with Jesus after his denials, had returned to his original occupation and familiar pastime: fishing. In a reflection of the first time Peter had encountered Jesus, they were fishing without success until a man on the shore called out to them. John 21:5-6 – “He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.” The disciple whom Jesus loved immediately cried out “It is the Lord!” and that was all Peter needed to hear. Refusing to even wait for the boat to return to shore, Peter sprung into the water and swam the roughly hundred yards to shore, where Jesus was preparing a familiar breakfast of bread and fish. It was after this meal that Jesus finally spoke to Peter, but the conversation did not go how the future saint likely expected. John 21:15 – “When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”” Twice more Jesus would ask Peter, “Do you love me?” and a perplexed Peter responded earnestly in affirmation but was hurt by what he perceived as a lack of trust between Jesus and himself on account of the repeated questions. “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you,” Peter responded to Jesus’ final question. But it was not an absence of trust that had led Jesus to ask Peter three times, but instead an opportunity for redemption – the three denials of Jesus had now been countered with three declarations of love. With that conversation Jesus reinstated Peter; the betrayal had been superseded by an ultimate act of forgiveness and love. Peter was at the head of a flurry of activity following the Ascension of Jesus Christ, which is depicted clearly in the Acts of the Apostles. He was in charge of appointing the replacement of Judas Iscariot, he was the first to preach following the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (which was so powerful that 3,000 people asked to be baptized following his preaching), and he even was the first one to defend the Church by rendering judgement upon anyone who sought to damage it (the first case being Ananias and Sapphira for lying about their almsgiving). He was even the first Apostle to perform a miracle of healing. A crippled beggar, cast down lame on the side of the road by some affliction, asked Peter for some money. While he had none on him, he instead told the man that in the name of Jesus the Nazarene, to arise and walk. Immediately cured of his lameness, the beggar stood up and was able to walk freely. As the Apostles began to fan out across the regions, Peter was instrumental in spreading the message of Jesus, but not without coming into conflict with the Jewish authorities, still dismayed by the boldness being displayed by the followers of the man they had put to death. Acts 4 tells of Peter and John being brought before the same high priests who had not long ago been spitting upon Jesus, to question their power to teach the people. Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered a matchless declaration that it was by the name of “Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead” that they did their mighty deeds. The high priests were astonished that these “unschooled, ordinary men” could have such wisdom and courage and they quickly attempted to threaten and silence them. But it was the faith of Peter, growing steadily through every miracle and misstep he had experienced in his journey with Jesus Christ, that led him to boldly reply, “we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” Even when King Herod attempted to arrest and persecute some who belonged to Christ’s Church, including Peter, God had other plans for him. Acts 12 depicts Peter, bound with chains, freed and guided out of the prison by an angel; an escape so miraculous that when he arrived at the house of Mary, the mother of John, he had to knock multiple times before they believed it was truly him to let him in! On and on the stories continue, as Peter preached to countless regions and races, converting hearts for the Lord. We don’t know precisely the events towards the end of his life and details such as whether he ever physically resided in Rome, but testimony of Peter’s martyrdom is widespread. Following the Great Fire of Rome in A.D. 64, the emperor Nero wished to place the blame on Christians for the fire that had destroyed their city. Three months after the fire, on the “dies imperii” of Nero assuming power (the ten-year anniversary of him ascending the throne), Church tradition tells of Peter being sentenced to death by crucifixion at Vatican Hill. Peter had initially been encouraged to flee the city by his followers, in order to escape persecution, but stories tell of Peter coming across Christ, heading the other way as he fled the city. Peter asked Jesus, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Realizing he is about to make the same mistake he made when denying Jesus three times, Peter turned around to return to Rome and accept his martyrdom. The death of Peter had been foretold by Jesus during that fateful breakfast next to the Sea of Galilee: “when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” However, Peter felt he was unworthy to die in the exact same manner that Jesus had, so he made one final request: to be crucified upside down. Most historians believe he died between the ages of 62 and 67. Most recounts of Saint Peter’s life tell of him having been buried in Rome near Vatican Hill. It was at his burial site that in the early 4th century, Emperor Constantine I built a large basilica in honor of Peter. The exact location of Peter’s body and relics were largely a mystery until 1950, when human bones were discovered beneath the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. Believing these to belong to Saint Peter, an excavation began in 1953 that unearthed St. Peter’s tomb in Jerusalem (bearing the name Simon) as well as the tombs of other apostles. More excavations were conducted in the 1960s, which eventually led to Pope Paul VI in 1968 announcing that the relics they had discovered belonged to the Apostle Peter. Finally, on November 24, 2013, Pope Francis revealed the relics of nine bone fragments for the first time to the public during a Mass celebrated in the very square that bore Peter’s name. Jesus did not coddle the twelve Apostles. He loved them and cared for them deeply, but He was unafraid to correct the course of their words and actions. Fully God and fully man, He purposely selected fallible, fragile humans to be His closest followers. Saint Peter, an inquisitive, brash, hopeful follower of Christ, was the perfect leader of this group and provided the foundation for the Church we still love and cling to today. As the waves of our life rise, and the winds blow all around us, may we keep our eyes on Jesus as Peter did, and walk towards him with trust and faith. Next Item Previous Item

Born in 1878 in Italy, Saint Gemma Galgani’s life was a testament to extraordinary faith and profound suffering. From a young age, she displayed a deep devotion to Christ, often experiencing mystical visions and receiving the stigmata. Gemma’s life was marked by illness and tragedy, losing her parents, and enduring her own physical ailments. Despite these challenges, she embraced her suffering as a means of union with God and offered her life as a sacrifice for the salvation of souls. Gemma’s unwavering trust in divine providence, coupled with her ardent love for Jesus, earned her recognition as a saint and an enduring inspiration for believers worldwide. Her feast day is April 11th. St. Gemma Galgani Time Period: 1878-1903 Feast Day: April 11 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Passionist Sister, Stigmata Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Body Gemma Galgani was born on March 12, 1878 in Bogonuovo di Camigliano (Lucca) and was struck by suffering from a very early age: she was in fact only 7 years old when her mother died. But the family was struck by other losses: the death of her brother Gino, a seminarian, then that of her father. The Galgani brothers ended up broke and Gemma was taken in by an aunt. Her very existence was also marked by illness: lumbar vertebrae osteitis and mastoid otitis. She remained in bed semi-paralyzed for several months. During that period she read the biography of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, which struck her deeply. She then invoked Saint Mary Margaret Alacoque and after a novena, she was healed. It was 1899. The young Gemma deeply felt the desire to consecrate herself to the Lord but for various reasons she was not given the opportunity to become a cloistered nun. This however did not prevent her from immersing herself in the contemplation of Jesus Crucified. On June 8, 1899, the Octave of Corpus Christi and the eve of the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, she received the stigmata, which would be repeated periodically from Thursday evening to 3:00 pm on Friday. For a certain period they will manifest themselves almost every day. Some had doubts about the authenticity of these signs, but Father Germano Ruoppolo, general postulator of the Passionists and a great scholar of mysticism, defended her. Strong expression of her mystical life are also the conversations with Jesus, Mary, the Guardian Angel and Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. These conversations are reported in the correspondence, the Diary and the Autobiography. A guest in Lucca at the Giannini house, this would be like a family to her until her death. In May 1902 Gemma was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She therefore had to move to another apartment, even if it was close to the Gianninis'. His death occurred on Holy Saturday, April 11, 1903, when the bells had already announced the Resurrection of Christ. She was beatified 30 years later by Pius XI. She was canonized in 1940 by Pius XII who called her “the star of his Pontificate”. Next Item Previous Item

St. Alexander Sauli was the apostle of Corsica and bishop. At an early age he entered the Barnabite Congregation, and became a teacher at the University of Pavia and superior general of the congregation. In 1571, he was appointed by Pope St. Pius V to Aleria on the island of Corsica. Taking three companions, they rebuilt churches, founded seminaries and colleges, and stood off the pirate raids in the area. He became the bishop of Pavia, serving only a year before his death. St. Alexander was a noted miracle worker and the spiritual adviser to St. Charles Borromeo and Cardinal Sfondrato, who became Pope Gregory XIV. St. Alexander Sauli Time Period: 1533-1592 Feast Day: October 11 Title/Attributes: Bishop, Confessor Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Alexander Sauli was the apostle of Corsica and bishop. At an early age he entered the Barnabite Congregation, and became a teacher at the University of Pavia and superior general of the congregation. In 1571, he was appointed by Pope St. Pius V to Aleria on the island of Corsica. Taking three companions, they rebuilt churches, founded seminaries and colleges, and stood off the pirate raids in the area. He became the bishop of Pavia, serving only a year before his death. St. Alexander was a noted miracle worker and the spiritual adviser to St. Charles Borromeo and Cardinal Sfondrato, who became Pope Gregory XIV. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Anthony of the Desert had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius. But what we do know is that he spent most of his days in solitude- living in the desert as a hermit – while occasionally traveling into cities to defend Christians from Roman persecution or spreading heresy. Anthony was extremely devoted to the Lord, and his ascetic lifestyle inspired many to devote themselves as well. His feast day is January 17th. St. Anthony of the Desert Time Period: 250-356 Feast Day: January 17 Title/Attributes: Abbott, Hermit Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones Saint Anthony of the Desert went by many names (St. Anthony of Egypt, St. Anthony the Great, St. Anthony Abbot, and more) but had a singular purpose – become a “lover of God” by resisting the Devil and yielding to Christ. He is a mysterious figure, with nearly everything we know about him coming from a biography written by Saint Athanasius titled “The Life of Saint Anthony the Great.” But what we do know about him, is inspiring in our current day and age. Anthony was born around 250 A.D. in the village of Coma, located in Lower Egypt to an extremely wealthy family. His parents owned three hundred acres of land, which Anthony inherited around the age of 20 when his parents died, leaving him with vast wealth and the care of his unmarried sister. One day while attending Mass though, a reading from the Gospel of Matthew changed everything for the future Father of All Monks. “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasures in heaven.” – Matthew 19:21 While most would balk at the prospect of living out those words to their fullest, Anthony decided to do just that around the year 285: he gave away some of the inherited land to his neighbors, sold the remaining property, and donated all of the funds to the poor. Placing his sister in the care of a group of Christian virgins, he left the city and entered the desert. Anthony was not the first monk or ascetic hermit, but he was notable for being one of the first to truly cut himself off from civilization. While most monastics chose to practice their lifestyle on the outskirts of cities, Anthony decided to head into the desert region called the Nitra, which was about 95 km west of Alexandria and filled with some of the most rugged terrain that could be found. According to Athanasius’ biography, Anthony remained in this area for 15 years, practicing a strict ascetic diet of only bread, salt and water, eating at most only once a day. He took up strenuous spiritual exercises, such as staying up all night, choosing sleepless nights of prayer over a restful night of sleep. He had discovered, as written in his biography, that “the mind of the soul is strong when the pleasures of the body are weak.” Trial would soon arrive at Anthony’s doorstep, as the devil perceived the strength of this ascetic monk. Anthony, who had walled himself into a ruin in order to devote himself fully and perfectly to the Lord, was afflicted with boredom, laziness and even the phantoms of women as the devil attempted to break his focus. Anthony combatted these afflictions with the power of prayer, which would eventually form a theme for future Christian art. Saint Anthony being assailed by demons became a popular subject in the history of art and literature in the 15th Century. The earliest depiction of him being attacked by demons can be traced to a wall painting in the atrium of Santa Maria Antiqua, a Catholic Church in Italy, from the 10th Century. Perhaps the most famous depiction was an engraving by Martin Schongauer titled “The Temptation of St. Anthony”, which Michelangelo would later use to paint one of his earliest known paintings, “The Torment of Saint Anthony.” The calmness of Saint Anthony depicted in the artwork is hard to believe when reading the torments he endured, as recounted by Athanasius. The demons would assault him furiously, both physically and spiritually, but Anthony endured the attacks. Despite being beaten to the point of unconsciousness, phantoms appearing in the form of horrid wild beasts, and repeated attacks, he persevered. When he would see the wolves, lions, snakes and scorpions gathering in an attempt to attack, he would laugh at them scornfully and say, “If any of you have any authority over me, only one would have been sufficient to fight me.” At the age of 35, he wished to retreat to absolute solitude and relocated to an abandoned Roman fort for another 20 years of ardent prayer. Food was thrown to him over the wall, and he would not allow anyone to enter, but word of his devotion to the Lord spread, and gradually a number of would-be disciples would come to the wall to listen to his advice. As the number of followers grew to the nearby caves and huts around the mountain, many begged Anthony to come out and be a guide for those wishing to imitate his spiritual life. Finally, around the year 305, Anthony emerged from his retreat. By this time, after decades of solitude, most expected him to have wasted away physically or been driven insane mentally, but who would emerge but a perfectly healthy and serene Anthony of the Desert, clothed in sackcloth and sheepskin but rippling with muscle. Rejuvenated, he continued his mission to serve the Lord, even as his legend grew. He would soon found two monasteries for the great body of monks which had formed, and he wrote a rule of life in order to help guide them in the path of ascetism. These were reportedly the first monasteries ever founded, which led to the namesake “Father of All Monks”, despite the fact Anthony himself was not in fact, the first monk to exist. Anthony is noted for not allowing the attention or number of followers distract him from remaining solely focused on the Lord, both in his own personal life, and in the monasteries he was founding. It is written he had a disdain for “stately buildings and well-laden tables”, so all of his efforts were rooted in a focus on Christ alone. After his time guiding those seeking to practice self-denial and the hermetic life, he focused his efforts on aiding the Church amidst the persecution of Egyptian Christians in the early 300’s. Word had spread to Anthony of the severe attacks by the Roman Emperor Diocletian, in which churches were razed, scriptures burned, and Christians martyred. He and several monks traveled to Alexandria, where they ministered to the persecuted. The Governor of Alexandria is reported to have ordered Anthony not to show up in the city and continue to comfort those imprisoned, but Anthony, in hopes that he would be tortured and martyred, refused. He was 60 years old at the time, and fearlessly exposing himself to danger in hopes of being an ultimate witness to the faith. He spent the majority of his remaining years returning to solitude in order to pray, as well as share teachings with those who traveled to hear him. Occasionally, he would grow tired of visitors keeping him from his worship, so he eventually went further into the Eastern Desert of Egypt, finding a spring of water and palm trees. He created an inner monastery there, where he would often retreat to following trips to the desert to visit the brethren of monks. On the spot where he settled amid the palm trees now stands the Monastery of Saint Anthony the Great. He traveled out of his desert solitude only one additional time, around the year 338 when the Arian heresy began spreading in Egypt. The former deacon Arius began swaying many Egyptian Christians with his teachings about how Jesus was not equal with God, and the leader of the church in Alexandria, Athanasius himself, called upon Anthony to join him in a campaign to champion the truth to the people of Egypt. The future saint provided an eloquent defense of the belief as Jesus being true God and true Man, which led to the eventual elimination of Arianism. Anthony would live to be over 100 years old, but still miraculously maintain the appearance of youth. Eventually, Anthony felt that the day of his departure was nearing. He commanded his disciples with strict instructions to give away his possessions (which consisted of a staff and two sheepskin cloaks) and to bury his body in an unmarked, secret grave, lest his body become an object of veneration. He died around the year 356. He was 105 years old. Saint Anthony was canonized Pre-Congregation and left no physical writings behind. A handful of his words are included in the Apophthegmata, a collection of sayings attributed to the early desert fathers and mothers, but he most likely only spoke his native language of Coptic, and almost certainly was illiterate. But through the life of Saint Anthony of the Desert, we discover a great, divine paradox. He hardly ate, yet remained in perfect health. He grew extremely old, yet retained the appearance of youth. He lived in extreme isolation, yet grew agonizingly popular. He possessed so little, yet continually gave so much. Saint Anthony, devoted to the Lord, persevering against afflictions, and emboldened in faith, was aware of his shortcomings, but rooted himself in what he knew to be his ultimate strength. When two Greek philosophers traveled to speak with Anthony, he questioned why they “wished to meet with a fool.” They replied that they viewed him as no fool, but wise and prudent. In response, Anthony said: “If you think me prudent, become as I am, for we ought to imitate what is good. And if I had come to you, I should have imitated you; but if you to me, become as I am, for I am a Christian.” While those philosophers departed in silence, having no desire to be converted, may we have our hearts and lives converted by Saint Anthony the Great. Next Item Previous Item

Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. At 16, she was sent by her father to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns, and she eventually joined the Carmelite Order. After a severe bout of Malaria and a series of striking visions, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites, opening more than 30 convents in her lifetime. She is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and is one of the four women to be named a Doctor of the Church. St. Teresa of Ávila Time Period: 1515-1582 Feast Day: October 15 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Doctor of the Church, Carmelite Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Right Section Type of Relic: Bones The religious reformer known as Saint Teresa of Ávila was born Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada on March 28, 1515 in Ávila, Spain. She was the third child in a family descended from Jewish merchants who converted to Christianity. Growing up, Teresa was captivated by the thought of spending eternity with God, and she soon became intrigued by the lives of saints and martyrs. So infatuated was Teresa, that before she would even turn ten years old, she would try to run away from home to devote her life to Christ as a martyr in a Muslim country, although her uncle found her down the road and sent her back home to Beatrice, her mother. Beatrice would pass away when Teresa was 14, causing a profound grief that would initially prompt a stronger devotion to the Virgin Mary, but by the age of 16, Teresa was more focused on clothes, flirting and rebelling. This newfound interest in worldly matters, along with the strict religious standards imposed by her father, caused Teresa to have a harsh sense of self-judgement, considering herself a “miserable sinner.” It wasn’t long before her father noticed the loss of her childhood zeal for God, and decided Teresa would benefit from a change of scenery. She was sent to be educated in a convent of Augustinian nuns. While Teresa found their way of life dull at first, she grew to like religious life, and when the time came for her to choose between marriage or religious life, she became a nun of the Carmelite Order (a decision which she wrote was “the safest for someone as prone to sin as she was”). This decision though was in direct opposition of the will of her father, who was displeased by the easy-going nature of the Carmelite Convent. Indeed, the convent was not the pious, contemplative institution Teresa expected. Many women who had no place else to go would end up in the convent, whether they felt they had a vocation or not, and numerous women were accepted for purely financial reasons. Parties seemed to take priority over piety, and the convent became overcrowded with a steady stream of visitors, which caused Teresa to struggle to grow in her relationship with God or find time for quiet reflection. Shortly after becoming a nun, Teresa experienced a severe case of malaria that would leave her in great pain for years. She was bedridden for a long period of time, endured a four-day coma, and many were convinced she would not survive. However during this period of pain, she began her very first experiences of divine visions. Teresa described the sensation as an inner sense of peace that seemed to transcend the intense physical pain of the body. One of the more striking visions Teresa experienced came in the form of an angel who would appear holding a long, golden spear. The angel was smiling and gentle, so Teresa wasn’t frightened by him, but she was surprised when he thrust the spear into her heart. She simultaneously felt severe pain and sweet ecstasy from the spear, a symbol of God’s love. Writing in her autobiography, Teresa described the experience – “the sweetness of the pain was so surpassing that I couldn’t possibly wish to be rid of it. My soul couldn’t be content with anything but God.” Many clergy dissuaded her from pursuing the visions though, as they felt they were the delusions of the devil. Nonetheless, Teresa grew significantly in mental prayer during her recovery, but once back to health, her prayer life plateaued. Having lost the confidence to pray as she ought, she settled instead to lapse into a more routine prayer life. She would remain an obedient Carmelite, but struggle to establish a close personal connection to God for nearly twenty years. Around the age of 40, Teresa experienced a spiritual awakening, finding herself dramatically called back to the practice of contemplative mental prayer. Furthermore, she felt called to restore the Carmelite spirituality back to its original purpose: to live for God. She plunged back into her faith, emboldened to reform the Church. Teresa desired to found a new convent that refocused on the basics of contemplative prayer and poverty. Around the same time, she became close friends with a Spanish priest named Juan de Yepes y Álvarez, who would come to be known as St. John of the Cross. With his close collaboration, Teresa founded the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Discalced means barefoot, a term Teresa chose to symbolize the simplicity to which she wished to return the order. The move was met with intense opposition and scrutiny from public officials and religious leaders, who denounced her from the pulpit, started legal proceedings against her, and told her she should raise money for the convent she was already in. The bulk of the hostility came from the fact that the convent existed without endowment, but Teresa stood firm on the focus of poverty, and eventually the opposition waned. In 1562, with Pope Pius IV’s authorization, she opened the first convent of the Carmelite Reform, St. Joseph’s. Teresa would go on to found 30 more convents during her life, as St. John of the Cross was initiating the Carmelite Reform for men, opening the first monastery of the Primitive Rule in Duruelo Spain in 1568. Teresa’s health never fully recovered following her bout with malaria, and the rigors of opening more convents and traveling around Spain left her frail. However she never let her poor health dissuade her from her life’s mission, and she persevered through continued criticism, clashes with the Spanish Inquisition, and even an attempt to excommunicate her order. While traveling through Salamanca in 1582, her health failed her for the final time, and she accepted her illness as God’s chosen means for calling her into His presence forever. A fellow Carmelite described the hours before her passing: “She remained in this position in prayer full of deep peace and great repose. Occasionally she gave some outward sign of surprise or amazement. Her facial expression was so wondrously changed that it looked like a celestial body to us. Thus immersed in prayer, happy and smiling, she went out of this world into eternal life.” She died in October of 1582, at the age of 67. Teresa of Ávila was canonized on March 12, 1622, and in 1970, she received the prestigious title of Doctor of the Church by Pope St. Paul VI. She is only one of four women to have ever been proclaimed as such. Saint Teresa is remembered as one of the great mystics of the Catholic faith, and her writings are heralded as literary canon regarding Christian mysticism and Christian meditation. Her writings Way of Perfection and The Interior Castle have helped generations of faithful Christians grow in contemplative prayer to this day. Teresa lived in a tumultuous time, but was determined to stand on her own two feet, and boldly pursue the call of God. Enthusiastic, courageous, and outgoing, she brought about immense reform despite the opposition of poor health, political turmoil, and her own feelings of mediocrity. Yet she struggled forward, faithful until the end, to found monasteries, share the beauty of mental prayer, and fall into the embrace of the Lord. A Doctor of the Church are certain men and women who are revered by the Church for the special value of their writings and preaching and the sanctity of their lives. They each made important and lasting contributions to the faith and are to be recognized for their great merits. To be declared a Doctor of the Church, you have to meet three basic requirements: First, you must have lived a life of exemplary holiness, or insignis vitae sanctitas (outstanding sanctity). In short, you have to be a saint. Second, to be a Doctor of the Church you must have deepened the whole Church's understanding of the Catholic Faith with emins doctrina (eminent teaching). Which is to say, sanctity isn't enough. There are thousands of saints, but only 37 Doctors of the Church. To be a Doctor one must do more than just live the Faith. Rather, one must significantly and profoundly contribute to our understanding of Divine Revelation, helping us to know more deeply some truth about God and His actions in the World. And third, a pope must officially declare you a Doctor. That being said, as the Church understands it, when a pope declares someone a Doctor of the Church, he's not so much making someone a Doctor as he is recognizing what the Holy Spirit has already done - that He has conferred the charism of Doctor upon them. Next Item Previous Item

St. Edith Stein, born into a Jewish family in Breslau, was a brilliant philosopher who converted from atheism to Catholicism after reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila. A student of Edmund Husserl and an expert in phenomenology, she later explored Catholic theology through the lens of Thomistic philosophy. Baptized in 1922, she left academia to teach, eventually joining the Carmelite Order in 1934. Fleeing Nazi Germany to the Netherlands, she was arrested in 1942 and sent to die in Auschwitz. Canonized in 1998, she is honored as a martyr and co-patroness of Europe. St. Edith Stein Time Period: 1891-1942 Feast Day: August 9 Title/Attributes: Virgin, Martyr Location of Relic: Back Left Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Piece of clothing St. Edith Stein is also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (religious life name). She was a brilliant philosopher, spiritual writer, and convert to the Church from Judaism. During World War II, she perished in the Auschwitz concentration camp. Edith Stein was born at Breslau to a Jewish family, she abandoned the Jewish faith in 1904 and became a self-proclaimed atheist. Entering the University of Göttingen, she became a protégé of the philosopher Edmund Husserl and a proponent of the philosophical school of phenomenology both at Göttingen and Freiburg in Breisgau. She earned a doctorate in 1916 and emerged as one of Europe’s brightest philosophers. One of her primary endeavors was to examine phenomenology from the perspective of Thomistic thought, part of her growing interest in Catholic teachings. Propelled by her reading of the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila, she was baptized on January 1, 1922. She gave up her university post and became a teacher in the Dominican school in Speyer, receiving as well in 1932 the post of lecturer at the Educational Institute of Munch. She then resigned under pressure from the Nazis who were now in control of Germany. In 1934, Edith entered the Carmelite Order. Smuggled out of Germany into the Netherlands in 1938 to escape the mounting Nazi oppression, she fell into the hands of the Third Reich with the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in 1940. Edith was arrested in 1942 with her sister Rosa (also a Catholic convert) as part of Hitler’s order to liquidate all non-Aryan Catholics. She was taken to Auschwitz and on August 9, 1942, she died in the gas chamber. In the years after the war, her extensive spiritual and philosophical writings were collected and published, receiving promotion by the Archivum Carmelitanum Edith Steith at Louvain, Belgium. Later, Pope St. John Paul II declared her one of the co-patrons of Europe. Next Item Previous Item

St. Martin de Porres was a Dominican lay brother and mystic born in Lima, Peru, the son of a Spanish nobleman and a freed Panamanian slave. Despite facing discrimination, he devoted his life to caring for the sick, poor, and enslaved. He joined the Dominicans in 1594 and performed humble tasks while also founding an orphanage and hospital. Known for his humility and charity, he was gifted with miracles such as bilocation and levitation. A close friend of St. Rose of Lima, he died in 1639. St. Martin is the patron saint of interracial justice. St. Martin de Porres Time Period: 1579-1639 Feast Day: November 3 Title/Attributes: Confessor, Dominican Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Center Section Type of Relic: Bones St. Martin de Porres was a Dominican mystic and friend of St. Rose of Lima. He was born in Lima, Peru, the illegitimate son of a Spanish Knight, John de Porres, and a freed Panamanian slave named Anna. In 1594, Martin became a Dominican lay brother in Lima and served in various menial offices. Outside of the monastery he became known for his care of the poor and the sick. Martin founded an orphanage and ministered to African slaves brought to Lima. He was aided by St. Rose of Lima, who respected his penances and labors. Martin experienced many mystical gifts, including bilocation and aerial flights. When he was dying in Rosary Convent on November 3, the viceroy, the count of Cichon, knelt by his bed, seeking Martin’s blessing. Martin de Porres is the patron of interracial justice. Next Item Previous Item

The Seven Holy Founders established the Servite Order (Servants of Mary) in 1233 in Florence. Troubled by the city’s immorality and materialism, these laymen of the Confraternity of Our Lady withdrew from society after a vision of the Virgin Mary instructed them to lead a life of prayer and penance. Retreating to Mount Senario, they adopted a black habit and embraced the Rule of St. Augustine, professing vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Pope Benedict XI approved the order in 1304, and the founders were canonized in 1887. Their names are Bonfilio, Alexis, Manettus, Bartholomew, Uguccio, Sostenes, and Buonagiunta. The Seven Founders of the Servite Order Time Period: 1233 Feast Day: February 17 Title/Attributes: Confessors, Servites Location of Relic: Back Right Reliquary - Left Section Type of Relic: Bones The Seven Holy Founders were the founders of the Servants of Mary, commonly known as the Servite Order. The seven were members of the Confraternity of Our Lady of Florence, who were appalled at the excessive humanism, immorality, and materialism of the city. After receiving a vision of the Blessed Virgin, who told them to withdraw from the world, they departed the community and retreated to Mount Senario, where they established the origins of the Servite Order. The Virgin instructed them to adopt a black habit and to follow the Augustinian rule, with vows of chastity, poverty, and obedience. Pope St. Benedict XI gave formal papal approval in 1304, and the Seven Holy Founders were canonized in 1887. The Seven founders were: Bonfilio Monaldo Alexis Falconieri Manettus dell'Antello (Benedict) Bartholomew Amidei (Rocovero) Uguccio Uguccione (Gherardino) Sostenes Sostegno Buonagiunta Monetti (John) Next Item Previous Item