Saints

Polish prince. Patron of Lithuania. Casimir was the third son of King Casimir IV of Poland. Born in 1458, he was educated by John Dlugosz, canon of Krakow, the mediaeval capital of Poland. When Casimir was just 13 there was an attempt to place him on the throne of Hungary. This failed and he was banished to a castle outside the city. The court then tried to pressurise him into marrying a daughte... Read More

Nun and foundress. Katharine Drexel was the daughter of a millionaire banker. Born in Philadelphia in 1858, she had an excellent education and travelled widely. Her unusual family had their own railway car and were used to every luxury. But her mother also opened the door of their home to the poor three days each week and her father spent half an hour each evening in prayer. As a young woman Kat... Read More

Bishop and monk. Ciaran was born in West Cork in the 6th century. He came from an Ossory family. Ciaran went to Europe as a young man, where he was baptised and ordained. He returned to Ossory and settled at Saighir near Birr in Co Offaly, first as a hermit, then later as the abbot of a large monastery. He may have been consecrated bishop by St Patrick. There are many legends about St Ciaran. He ... Read More