Saints C - E
Saints: C
c. 1800s, Poland
St. Casimir
Born the Prince of Poland in the 15th Century, Casimir did not live the life of a prince. Instead, he spent his time praying, studying, and helping the poor. WHen he disobeyed his father and refused to lay seige on Hungary, he was banished from the castle. He continued to live a pious life until his death at the age of 23 in 1484. He is the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.
Feast Day: March 4
1887, Italy
St. Catherine of Genoa
Born to nobility in Genoa, Italy, Catherine was married at the young age of 16. Stuck in her marriage, Catherine saught comfort in doing works of charity, She also had numerous mystical encounters with God. She worked at the Hospital of Genoa until her death in 1510.
Feast Day: March 24
c. late 1800s, Italy
St. Cecilia
Born in Rome in the 2nd Century, Cecilia took a vow of virginity. On her wedding night she convinced her husband of her vow to God and as a result he was baptized. Cecilia baptized over 400 people throughout her lifetime. She and her husband were both sentenced to death for being Christians. However, it took her three days to die after the Romans tried to behead her. Cecilia is the patron saint of music because of the music she heard in her heart.
Feast Day: November 22
c. 1800s, Austria
St. Celestine I
Born in Campania, Celestine I was elected Pope in 422. He is accredited with founding the papal diplomatic service. He died in 432.
Feast Day: April 6
c. 1900s, France
St. Charlemagne
St. Charlemagne was crowned the first Roman Emperor in 800 by Pope St. Leo III on Christmas Day. Charlemagne became the symbol of the ideal emperor.
Feast Day: January 28
c. 1900
St. Charles Lwanga
Charles Lwanga was one of twenty-two martyrs from Uganda. He was killed for trying to protect the young men working for King Mwanga from his sexual abuse. Additionally, Charles would teach them the teachings of the Catholic Church. He was burned to death in 1886. Charles is the patron saint of youth and Catholic action.
Feast Day: June 3
1908, Italy
Blessed Chiara Bosatta
Born in Italy in 1858, Chiara dedicated her life to serving those in need. She and her sister supported the work of St. Luigi Guanella. She joined his congregation in 1886. Chiara worked with the poor and disabled up until her death in 1887.
Feast Day: April 20
1903, Italy
1896, France
St. Christopher
The life of St. Christopher has been based on various legends from about the 3rd Century. It is said that Christopher served the devil but when he met a hermit he changed his ways. He began to help travelers by carrying them across a river. One day, a child appear whom he helped across the river. This trip required more effort than others and it was revelaed that the child was Christ and Christopher had the weight of the world on his shoulders. From this day forward Christopher preached of his experiences. Christopher was eventually killed for his beliefs. His name means "Christ bearer." Christopher is the patron saint of travelers and children.
Feast Day: July 25
c. 1900s, Austria
Sts. Chrysanthus and Daria
The story of Saints Chrysanthus and Daria is based on legends from the 3rd Century. They were a married couple who converted to Christianity. They then converted many followers. Eventually, Chrysanthus and Daria were sentenced to death for their religion. After many attempts on their lives they were finally killed, but by then had created a massive following of Christians.
Feast Day: October 25
1905, Germany
St. Clement Hofbauer
Born in 1751 in Moravia (present day Czech Republic), Clement was a hermit before he entered the priesthood in 1785. He joined the order of Redemptorists and worked as a missionary in Poland for over twenty years. Clement was imprisoned by Napoleon in 1808 and exiled in Vienna. During his time in Vienna he opened a Catholic College. He was canonized in 1909.
Feast Day: March 15
c. 1890s, Germany
St. Colette
Born in 1380, Colette was an orphan who became a third order Franciscan. She lived a solitary life before joining the Poor Saint Clares, whom she hoped to reform. Over time she founded numerous convents under her new reformed order and she was appointed superior over them. Clare had many visions throughout her life. She was canonized in 1807.
Feast Day: March 6
c. 1890s, France
St. Columba of Iona
Born to royalty in Ireland in the 6th Century, Columba was ordained a priest and spent time preaching in Derry, Durrow, and Kells. Columba took the blame for a tragedy among his family and fled to the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland. He built a monastery on the island and convereted its inhabitants to Christianity. Columba also traveled throughout Scotland and northern England converting the people there as well. He is the patron saint of Derry, floods, bookbinders, poets, Ireland, and Scotland.
Feast Day: June 9
1913, Italy
St. Constantine
Born to St. Helena, Constantine was a Roman emperor in the 4th Century. He went into battle with the "chi-ro," a symbol of Christ, on his banners and defeated the enemy. In 313, Constantine issued the Edict of Milan which declared Christianity a free religion. He also oversaw the Council of Nicea in 325. He founded the city of Constantinople and declared it his new Christian capital.Constantine however did not formally convert to Christianity until his deathbed in 337.
Feast Day: May 21
1903, Switzerland
St. Crispin of Viterbo
Born in Italy in 1668, Peter Fioretti studied at Jesuit College before entering the Franciscan Capuchins at age 25. He took the name Crispin when he joined the Capuchins. Crispin was associated with many miraculous cures, prophesies and spirital wisdom. He died in 1750 and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1982.
Feast Day: May 23
1915, The Netherlands
St. Cunera
St. Cunera was a virgin martyr. Not much else is known about her life.
Feast Day: June 12
1894, Czechoslovakia
Sts. Cyril and Methodius
Cyril and Methodius were brothers from a prominent Christian family in Thessalonica (located in present day Greece). Methodius was a civil official and Cyril was a scholar. They were sent as missionaries to the Ukraine where they preached in the vernacular language. Their use of the native Slavic language as opposed to the traditional Greek or Latin resulted in opposition from many church officials. However, Cyril and Methodius continued their missionary work and were a vital component of Christianity in Eastern Europe.
Feast Day: February 14Saints: D
c. 1800s, Germany
Pope St. Dionysius
Dionysius was a Greek priest who lived and worked in Rome. He was elected Pope and served from 259 till 268. Dionysius is best known for his work rebuilding the Church after the persecution of Christians by Emperor Valerian.
Feast Day: December 26
c. 1870s, Germany
St. Dositheus of Gaza
Born a pagan, Dositheus traveled to Jerusalem where he viewed a depiction of heaven and hell that influenced him to convert to Christianity. He entered a monastery in Gaza and was guided by St. Dorotheus, an elderly monk there. He devoted his life to caring for the sick.
Feast Day: January 23Saints: E
c. 1950s, Germany
St. Elizabeth of Hungary
Elizabeth was the daughter of King Alexander II of Hungary in the 13th century. She married at a young age and lived a simple, religious life devoted to charity work. Elizabeth was widowed at a young age and became a tertiary of St. Francis. She opened a Franciscan Hospital in Marburg where she worked till her death in 1231 at the young age of 24. She is the patron saint of bakers, nursing services, widows, and young brides.
Feast Day: November 17
1898
St. Emidius
Emidius is a 6th century bishop and martyr. He was a pagan who converted to Christianity. Emidius is the patron saint for protection against earthquakes.
Feast Day: August 5
1894, Germany
St. Eugenius
Eugenius was Bishop of Carthage in the 5th Century. His appointment was met with opposition from the African King of the Vandals. After Eugenius refused to step down, the king began to persecute the Christians. Eugenius was exiled to Tripoli. He returned to Carthage after the king's death to only be exiled again years later. Eugenius died in exile.
Feast Day: July 13
1891, Italy
St. Euphemia
Euphemia was a virgin martyr. It is believed that she was tortured and then killed by a lion after refusing to partake in a pagan ceremony.
Feast Day: September 16