Saints M-V

c. 1800s, Belgium

St. Margaret of Antioch

St. Margaret of Antioch was a martyr. Not much else about her life is known. She was most likely a convert to Christianity. St. Margaret is one of the saints who appears to St. Joan of Arc.

c. 1870s, France

St. Margaret of Cortona

Born in Tuscany, Margaret was rejected by her family, eloped at a young age, and had a child out of wedlock. She sought sanctuary with the Friars in Cortona. While there she performed many acts of penance for her sins and eventually joined the Third Order of St. Francis. She worked with the poor sick till her death in 1297.

c. 1900s, Austria

St. Martina

St. Martina was a virgin martyr of Rome. A basilica was erected in her honor at the Roman Forum. She is a patron saint of Rome and of nursing mothers.

c. 1800s, Switzerland

St. Mathilda

St. Mathilda was the Queen of Germany in the early 10th Century. She lived a pious life as queen, and made it her mission to care for the sick and poor, and convert the non-Christians. 

1922, Belgium

St. Maurice

St. Maurice was an officer in the Roman army. He and his fellow Christian soldiers refused to offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods and therefore the entire legion was put to death.

1852, Switzerland

St. Meinrad

St. Meinrad was a 9th Century martyr from Einsiedeln, Switzerland. He spent many years a hermit, and was murdered by robbers who he let stay in his home. and After his death the Benedictine's built a monastery where his hermitage was. Meinrad is the patron saint of Einsiedeln and hospitality. 

Feast Day: January 21

c. 1900, Belgium

St. Mildred

St. Mildred was the daughter of St. Ermenburga and King Merewald of Kent in the 7th century. She lived a holy life and entered a monastery where she eventually became an abbess.

1916, Italy

St. Nicholas of Myra

St. Nicholas was a Turkish bishop in the 4th Century. Many legends surround the story of his life. One such story claims he brought three children back to life while another story describes his prayers coming the sea after a terrible storm. He is the patron saint of children, sailors, and bakers.

late 1800s, Switzerland

St. Nothburga 

Born to a poor family in Austria in 1265, Nothburga lived a life of servitude. She was employed by the local count and was always getting in trouble for giving away food to the poor. She is the patron saint of servants and peasants.

ca. 1800s, Switzerland

St. Philip Neri

Born in 16th century Florence, St. Philip Neri dedicated his life to God. He began his studies in Rome where he decided to become a hermit. He eventually became a priest and attracted a group of followers who would work and pray with him. They would become the Congregation of the Oratory. St. Peter Neri is a patron saint of Rome.

c. 1900, Italy

St. Philomena

St. Philomena was martyred as a young girl in the 4th century. Not much is known about her life. Her bones were found buried in the catacomb of St. Priscilla in Rome and numerous miracles were associated with them. She was canonized a saint in 1837 and is the patron saint of babies, infants, and youth.

c. late 1800s, Switzerland

St. Pirmin

St. Pirmin lived in 8th century Spain. He was forced to leave his homeland and traveled to present-day Germany. While there he worked towards rebuilding numerous churches and monasteries.

c. 1900, Belgium

St. Rose of Lima

St. Rose was born in Lima, Peru and always wanted to become a nun. At first her family did not agree with her decision, and Rose tried to make herself unappealing to potential suitors. Eventually she was able to join the Third Order of St. Dominic. She lived a life of chastity, fasting, and prayer. She is the patron saint of Latin America, the Philipines, florists, and people who suffer from family problems.

1950s, Ireland

St. Senan

St. Senan was a soldier from Ireland. He eventually became a monk and built numerous churches throughout Ireland.

1884, Belgium

St. Stanislaus Kostka

St. Stanislaus was born in Poland to a noble family in the 11th century. He was ordained a priest and eventually elevated to Bishop of Krakow. Stanislaus became a well known spiritual advisor. Stanislaus was murdered by the king of Poland after he excommunicated him.

c. 1870s, Germany

St. Sturmi

St. Sturmi was from Bavaria and studied under St. Bonifice. He would eventually become abbot of the monastery of Fulda, founded by St. Bonifice.

c. 1890s, France

St. Theodulf

Theodulf was born in Spain around 760.  He was appointed Bishop of Orléans by Charlemagne, and was known as a reformer of both church and people.  He was a writer on theology who took part in the dispute over the term Filioque (the procession of the Holy Ghost from the Son as well as from the Father) and defended this doctrine in the treatise, “De spiritu sancto.” He died at Angers, France, December 18, 821.

c. 1900s, France

St. Thomas

St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles, lived before the formal establishment of the Catholic Church, but was a true follower of Christ.  St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday earned him the title of "doubting Thomas."  According to tradition, Thomas was killed in an accident when a fowler shot at a peacock and struck Thomas instead. Following his death, some of his relics were taken to Edessa while the rest were kept in what is now known as India. They can still be found within the San Thome Basilica in Chennai, Mylapore, India.  The relics taken to Edessa were moved in 1258 to Italy, where they can be found in the Cathedral of St. Thomas the Apostle in Ortona, Italy. However, it is believed that Saint Thomas' skull rests in the Monastery of Saint John the Theologian on the Greek Island Patmos.

1880, Belgium

St. Thomas Aquinas

Born to wealthy parents in the Kingdom of Sicily in 1225, as the youngest son Thomas was expected to enter the monastery.  At university, he met a Dominican preacher, who influenced him to join the recently founded Dominican Order.  Thomas was held captive by his family for one year as they tried to keep him from joining the Dominicans. His mother eventually helped him escape, and he continued his studies, and then became a teacher and writer.  His most famous work was Summa theologiae.  The Dominicans called Thomas to establish a university wherever he wanted with a staff of whomever he wished. He established the university in Naples. In May 1274, Thomas was called to the Second Council of Lyon, but while journeying to the meeting, Thomas hit his head on the branch of a fallen tree and fell ill. He died on March 7, 1274. Thomas' remains were placed in the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse on January 28, 1369.

1905, Belgium

St. Vincent de Paul

St. Vincent de Paul, the patron saint of all charitable causes, was born to a poor family in France on April 24, 1581. His was educated by Franciscans, and then studied theology at the University of Toulose.  He was ordained in 1600 and in 1605, while traveling on a ship, was captured, brought to Tunis and sold as a slave. Two years later he and his master managed to escape and both returned to France.  St. Vincent went to Avignon and later to Rome to continue his studies. While there he became a chaplain to the Count of Goigny and was placed in charge of distributing money to the deserving poor. From that point forward he spent his life preaching missions to and providing relief to the poor. He even established hospitals for them and founded the Ladies of Charity, a lay institute of woman, to help, as well as a religious institute of priests - the Congregation of Priests of the Mission, commonly known as the Vincentians.  He also cofounded the Daughters of Charity along with St. Louise de Marillac. He died in Paris on September 27, 1660.