Saints

Nun and foundress of the Handmaids of Charity. Mary took seriously Jesus' words that whoever helped the least of his brethren did it to him. Born in 1813, in Brescia, since she was a young girl Mary was always very concerned about the poor and sick. She regularly visited the women and child factory workers who lived in appalling conditions. She also went to the hospital each day to visit patient... Read More

Carmelite friar, and one of Spain's foremost poets, mystics and theologians. John was born in Toledo in 1542 to a noble but poor family. He was brought up by his mother, went to a poor school, and was then apprenticed to a silk weaver. He had little aptitude for this trade and in 1563 joined the Carmelites. He studied theology and was ordained priest in 1567. St Theresa of Avila persuaded him t... Read More

Empress, wife and mother. This much-loved 10th century saint lived in Alsace. After her first husband, King Lothair of Italy, died in 950, she became the second wife of King Otto the Great (whose first wife had been Edith, sister of the English king). In 962 Adelaide and Otto were crowned emperor and empress of the Holy Roman Empire, by Pope John XII. After Otto died in 973, Adelaide suffered ma... Read More