Category Archives: Popular saints

St. Margaret of Cortona

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Margaret of Cortona, penitent, was born in Loviana in Tuscany in 1247. Her father was a small farmer. Margaret’s mother died when she was seven years old. Her stepmother had little care for her high-spirited daughter. Rejected at home, Margaret eloped with a youth from Montepulciano and bore him a son out of wedlock. After nine years, her lover was murdered without warning. Margaret left Montpulciano and returned as a penitent to her father’s house. When her father refused to accept her and her son, she went to the Friars Minor at Cortona where she received asylum. Yet Maragaret had difficulty overcoming temptations of the flesh. One Sunday she returned to Loviana with a cord around her neck. At Mass, she asked pardon for her past scandal. She attempted to mutilate her face, but was restrained by Friar Giunta. Margaret earned a living by nursing sick ladies. Later she gave this up to serve the sick poor without recompense, subsisting only on alms. Evenually, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis, and her son also joined the Franciscans a few years later. Margaret advanced rapidly in prayer and was said to be in direct contact with Jesus, as exemplified by frequent ecstacies. Friar Giunta recorded some of the messages she received from God. Not all related to herself, and she courageously presented messages to others. In 1286, Margaret was granted a charter allowing her to work for the sick poor on a permanent basis. Others joined with personal help, and some with financial assistance. Margaret formed her group into tertiaries, and later they were given special status as a congregation which was called The Poverelle (“Poor Ones”). She also founded a hospital at Cortona and the Confraternity of Our Lady of Mercy. Some in Cortona turned on Margaret, even accusing her of illicit relations with Friar Giunta. All the while, Margaret continued to preach against vice and many, through her, returned to the sacraments. She also showed extraordinary love for the mysteries of the Eucharist and the Passion of Jesus Christ. Divinely warned of the day and hour of her death, she died on February 22, 1297, having spent twenty-nine years performing acts of penance. She was canonized in 1728. Her feast day is February 22nd.

St. Daniel

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

Died in 309, He and four companions, Elias, Isaias, Jeremy and Samuel were Egyptians who visited Christians condemned to work in the mines of Cilicia during Maximus persecution, to comfort them. Apprehended at the gates of Caesarea, Palestine, they were brought before the governor, Firmilian and accused of being Christians. They were all tortured and then beheaded. When Porphyry, a servant of St. Pamphilus demanded that the bodies be buried, he was tortured and then burned to death when it was found he was a Christian. Seleucus witnessed his death and applauded his constancy in the face of his terrible death; whereupon he was arrested by the soldiers involved in the execution, borught before the governor and was beheaded at Firmilian’s order. Feast day Feb. 16.

St. Rose Venerini

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Rose was born at Viterbo in 1656, the daughter of Godfrey Venerini, a physician. Upon the death of a young man who had been paying court to her, she entered a convent, but after a few months had to return home to look after her widowed mother. Rose use to gather the women and girls of the neighborhood to say the rosary together in the evenings, and when she found how ignorant many of them were of their religion, she began to instruct them. She was directed by Father Ignatius Martinelli, a Jesuit, who convinced her that her vocation was as a teacher “in the world” rather than as a contemplative in a convent; whereupon in 1685, with two helpers, Rose opened a preschool for girls in Viterbo: it soon became a success. Blessed Rose had the gift of ready and persuasive speech, and a real ability to teach and to teach others to teach, and was not daunted by any difficulty when the service of God was in question. Her reputation spread, and in 1692, she was invited by Cardinal Barbarigo to advise and help in the training of teachers and organizing of schools in his diocese of Montefiascone. Here she was the mentor and friend of Lucy Filippini, who became foundress of an institute of maestre pie and was canonized in 1930. Rose organized a number of schools in various places, sometimes in the face of opposition that resorted to force in unbelievable fashion – the teachers were shot at with bows and their house fired. Her patience and trust overcame all obstacles, and in 1713 she made a foundation in Rome that received the praise of Pope Clement XI himself. It was in Rome that she died, on May 7, 1728; her reputation of holiness was confirmed by miracles and in 1952, she was beatified. It was not until sometime after her death that Blessed Rose’s lay school teachers were organized as a religious congregation: they are found in America as well as in Italy, for the Venerini Sisters have worked among Italian immigrants since early in the twentieth century. Her feast day is May 7.

St. Kiara

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Kiara, also known as Saint Cera or Chier, is an early Irish saint from the 7th century. Here are some key points about her:

Historical Background: Kiara is thought to have been born in the region of present-day County Tipperary, Ireland. She is associated with the monastic traditions of early medieval Ireland, a period marked by the establishment of many religious communities.
Monastic Life: Kiara became a nun and founded a convent in Kilkeary, which is located near Nenagh in County Tipperary. This convent became a center for religious life and education for women during her time.
Legacy and Miracles: Kiara is remembered for her piety and dedication to the monastic life. Like many early saints, she is attributed with performing miracles. One notable miracle involved her prayers leading to the growth of an abundant crop to alleviate famine.
Feast Day: Saint Kiara’s feast day is celebrated on March 5. On this day, people remember her contributions to the Christian faith and the monastic tradition in Ireland.
Veneration: Although not as widely known as some other Irish saints, Kiara is venerated in specific regions of Ireland where her influence was significant. Her life and work are part of the rich tapestry of early Christian history in Ireland.

Saint Kiara’s story is an example of the important role that women played in the early Irish church, particularly in the establishment and leadership of monastic communities.

St. Jessica

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

Jessica is a derivation of Joanna. Joanna was the wife of Chuza, steward of King Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee. She was one of the women who helped provide for Jesus and the Apostles and was one of the three women who discovered the empty tomb of Jesus on the first Easter morning. Her feast day is May 24th.

St. Charbel

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Charbel Makhlouf, also known as Youssef Antoun Makhlouf, was a Maronite monk and priest from Lebanon. His life is marked by holiness, miracles, and the ability to unite Christians, Muslims, and Druze. Here are some key details about his life:

Early Life: Youssef Antoun Makhlouf was born on May 8, 1828, in the mountain village of Bekaa Kafra, the highest elevation in Lebanon. His father, a mule driver, died when Youssef was only three years old. Raised in a pious home, he was drawn to the lives of saints and the eremitical practices of his uncles.
Monastic Journey:
- In 1851, Youssef joined the Lebanese Maronite Order at the Monastery of Our Lady in Mayfouq. Later, he transferred to the Monastery of Saint Maron in Annaya.
- He took the religious name Charbel, after the 2nd-century Christian martyr of Antioch.
- Charbel made his final religious profession in the order on November 1, 1853.
- He studied philosophy and theology, preparing for ordination.
Life as a Monk:
- Charbel lived and served in the monastery for 19 years, devoted to prayer, manual work, and contemplative silence.
- His superiors witnessed God’s supernatural power at work in his life, and he became known as a wonder-worker even among some Muslims.
- In 1875, he was granted permission to live as a solitary monk in a nearby hermitage dedicated to Saints Peter and Paul.
- Deeply devoted to the Eucharistic presence, he suffered a stroke while celebrating the Divine Liturgy of the Maronite Catholic Church on December 16, 1898.
- Charbel passed away on Christmas Eve of the same year.
Miracles and Canonization:
- St. Charbel’s tomb has been a site for pilgrimages since his death.
- Hundreds of miracles are attributed to his intercession, both in Lebanon and worldwide.
- He was beatified in 1965 and canonized in 1977 by Pope Paul VI.
- Pope Paul VI hailed him as an “admirable flower of sanctity blooming on the stem of the ancient monastic traditions of the East.”

St. Charbel Makhlouf is celebrated on July 24 by the Latin Church and on the third Sunday of July by the Maronite Church. His life continues to inspire people of various faiths. 🙏✨
¹: Wikipedia
²: Catholic News Agency
³: EWTN
⁴: Franciscan Media

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 05/06/2024
(1) Charbel Makhlouf – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charbel_Makhlouf.
(2) St. Charbel Makhlouf – Catholic News Agency. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint/st-charbel-makhlouf-534.
(3) St. Charbel Makhlouf | EWTN. https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/saints/charbel-makhlouf-523.
(4) Saint Sharbel Makhlouf | Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-sharbel-makhlouf/.

Sts. Cosmas & Damian

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

Sts. Cosmas & Damian were twin brothers who lived during the 3rd century and are venerated as saints in both the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. They were reputed to be skilled physicians and were known for their charitable work, providing medical care without charging fees, which earned them the title “Anargyroi” (meaning “the silverless” or “the unmercenary” in Greek).

Historical Background

Early Life and Profession: Cosmas and Damian were born in Arabia and practiced medicine in the Roman province of Syria (modern-day Turkey). According to tradition, they were well-educated and proficient in the healing arts.
Christian Faith and Martyrdom: They were devout Christians, which led to their persecution during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, known for his severe persecutions of Christians. They were arrested, tortured, and ultimately martyred around the year 303 AD.

Legacy and Veneration

Miraculous Healing: Numerous legends attribute miraculous healings to Cosmas and Damian, both during their lives and posthumously. One of the most famous stories involves them performing a miraculous transplantation of a leg from a deceased Ethiopian to a white patient.
Feast Day: Their feast day is celebrated on September 26 in the Western Church and on November 1 in the Eastern Church.
Patronage: Cosmas and Damian are patron saints of physicians, surgeons, pharmacists, and barbers. They are also invoked for protection against plague and other diseases.
Relics and Churches: The Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian in Rome houses their relics and is one of the primary sites of their veneration. Numerous other churches and medical institutions worldwide are dedicated to them.

Artistic Depictions

Iconography: They are often depicted in medieval and Renaissance art as standing together, dressed in the attire of physicians or holding medical instruments. Sometimes, they are shown with the palm of martyrdom, indicating their status as martyrs.

Influence

Medical Ethics: Their practice of offering medical services without charge has inspired various Christian medical missions and charitable organizations.

Sts. Cosmas and Damian’s story is a powerful testament to the intersection of faith, charity, and professional excellence in the field of medicine. Their legacy continues to inspire medical professionals and faithful alike.

St. Paul Miki

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Paul Miki was a notable figure in the history of Christianity in Japan. Here are some key details about his life and significance:

Early Life

Birth: Paul Miki was born in 1562 in Japan to a wealthy family. He was educated by the Jesuits and joined the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) as a novice.

Missionary Work

Missionary Activities: As a Jesuit seminarian, Paul Miki was known for his eloquent preaching and dedication to spreading Christianity in Japan, which was increasingly under scrutiny and persecution from local authorities.

Martyrdom

Arrest and Persecution: In 1596, Paul Miki and 25 other Christians (both foreign missionaries and Japanese converts) were arrested by the orders of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, who was the de facto ruler of Japan. This was part of a broader crackdown on Christianity, which was seen as a threat to national unity and stability.
Execution: On February 5, 1597, Paul Miki and his companions were executed by crucifixion on a hill near Nagasaki, known as the site of the “Martyrs of Japan.” Even while being crucified, Paul Miki continued to preach to the people, forgiving his executioners and affirming his faith in Christ.

Legacy

Canonization: Paul Miki and his companions, known as the 26 Martyrs of Japan, were beatified by Pope Urban VIII in 1627 and canonized by Pope Pius IX in 1862.
Feast Day: Their feast day is celebrated on February 6.
Impact: St. Paul Miki and his fellow martyrs are remembered for their steadfast faith and courage in the face of persecution. They are an important symbol of the early Christian community in Japan and their enduring legacy in the history of the Church.

St. Paul Miki’s life and martyrdom highlight the challenges and sacrifices faced by early Christian missionaries and converts in Japan, and his story continues to inspire many in their faith.

St. Florian

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Florian is a revered saint in the Catholic Church. Known for his bravery and protection against fire, he is often invoked by firefighters and those in danger of fire. The title St. Florian carries a sense of reverence and respect within religious circles. St. Florian’s reputation as a patron saint of firefighters and fire protection has made him an important figure in Catholicism. Many people turn to him in times of danger or crisis, seeking his intercession and guidance. His legacy as a courageous and protective saint has resonated with believers for centuries.

The devotion to St. Florian continues to inspire and offer solace to those facing the destructive force of fire. St. Florian holds a significant place in the Catholic Church due to his bravery and his role as a protector against fire. Firefighters and individuals at risk of fire often invoke him for assistance. The title of St. Florian is highly regarded and respected within religious communities. His association with firefighters and fire protection has established him as an influential figure in Catholicism. Many individuals seek his intercession and guidance during times of peril or emergency.

St. Florian’s legacy as a courageous and protective saint has deeply impacted believers throughout history. The devotion to St. Florian remains a source of inspiration and comfort for those confronting the destructive power of fire. Florian has become a symbol of hope and support for those facing the devastating force of fire. The Catholic Church reveres St. Florian for his bravery and role as a guardian against fire. Firefighters and individuals at risk of fire often turn to him for assistance. St. Florian’s title holds great esteem and reverence within religious communities. His association with fire protection has solidified his influential status in Catholicism. Many individuals seek his intercession and guidance in times of danger or crisis. Florian’s legacy as a courageous and protective saint has had a profound impact on believers throughout history. The devotion to St. Florian continues to inspire and provide solace to those confronting the destructive power of fire.

St. Simon

Feast day	September 25
Patron	of Cork, Diocese of Cork
Birth	550
Death	620

St. Simon, also known as Simon the Zealot, was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. Here are some key points about him:

Identity and Title:

Simon is often referred to as Simon the Zealot to distinguish him from Simon Peter, another apostle.
The title “Zealot” may indicate his previous membership in a Jewish nationalist movement or simply describe his zealousness for Jewish law and customs.

Role as an Apostle:

As one of the twelve apostles, Simon the Zealot was chosen by Jesus to be part of his closest group of followers. His role involved spreading Jesus’ teachings and playing a part in the early Christian church’s formation.

Biblical Mentions:

Simon the Zealot is mentioned in the New Testament in the lists of apostles found in the Gospels of Matthew (10:4), Mark (3:18), and Luke (6:15), as well as in the Acts of the Apostles (1:13).

Historical and Legendary Accounts:

Historical details about Simon the Zealot’s life and ministry are scarce. However, various traditions and legends suggest he may have traveled to Persia, Egypt, and/or Armenia to spread Christianity.
Some accounts claim he was martyred, although the specifics vary widely between traditions. Common legends suggest he was either crucified, sawed in half, or died a peaceful death.

Feast Day:

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates the feast day of St. Simon the Zealot on October 28, often in conjunction with St. Jude Thaddeus. The Eastern Orthodox Church commemorates him on May 10.

Symbols and Iconography:

In Christian art, Simon the Zealot is often depicted with a saw, reflecting the manner of his martyrdom according to some traditions.
Other symbols associated with him include a fish (representing his role as a “fisher of men”) or a book, indicating his spreading of the Gospel.

St. Simon’s life and ministry, though not extensively documented in the Bible, highlight his dedication and zeal in following and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ.