Saints

King and martyr, Oswald was the son of Ethelfrith, king of Northumbria. When Edwin seized the kingdom in 616, he fled to Scotland with his family and became a Christian at Iona. When Edwin died in 633, the royal exiles returned to Northumbria. Oswald's brothers, Osric and Eanfrid, were killed by the tyrannical British king Cadwalla. Although he had a much smaller army, Oswald beat Cadwalla's forc... Read More

Patron saint of parish priests. John Vianney - 'the Cure D'Ars' - was the son of a farmer. Born in 1786, he grew up during the aftermath of the French Revolution when clergy were outlawed and many schools were closed. He had little education, but at the age of 20, began training for the priesthood. His studies were interrupted by military conscription. Like many others, he deserted and got back t... Read More

Pope and martyr. Sixtus was a Greek philosopher who became a Christian and was made Pope Sixtus II in 257. In that year, the Emperor Valerian issued his first decree condemning Christianity. He ordered that the farms and estates, honours, goods and even lives of those who refused to renounce their faith should be sacrificed. Pope Sixtus fled to the catacombs along the Appian Way with his followe... Read More