Saints

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of of Mary Ward, whose cause for Beatification is underway at the Vatican. She was born in 1585, into a family of Yorkshire recusants, outlaw Catholics refusing to conform to the state religion. Condemned to death in London for her work among underground Catholics, she fled to the continent with a group of companions in 1609, believing herself called to st... Read More

Priest and founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate. The son of a Roman grocer, Vincent was ordained priest in 1817. He taught theology at Sapienza, but was much more interested in pastoral work and resigned from teaching to become chaplain to several Roman colleges, including the English, Scottish and Irish. Although he was not encouraged by the clergy he developed a lay apostolate whi... Read More

Bishop of Geneva. Patron saint of writers and journalists, and a patron saint of the deaf. Francis was born in Savoy in 1567. A delicate child, he was educated at home first and then studied rhetoric, philosophy and theology at the University of Paris. In 1591 he became a Doctor of Law at Padua. Although he could have had a brilliant career in the world, he refused many opportunities, because ... Read More