Saints

The story of John the Baptist is recorded in all four Gospels. He is also mentioned by the Jewish historian Josephus. John was the son of Zachariah, a Temple priest and Elizabeth, a quite old cousin of the Virgin Mary. An angel foretold his birth, adding that he would prepare people for the Lord. In the Gospel of Luke Our Lady travelled to the hill country to visit Elizabeth immediately after the... Read More

Nun and foundress. Etheldreda was a seventh century queen, the daughter of Anna, King of East Anglia. In her younger days she had two arranged marriages before following her true desire, to be a nun. In 673 she founded the double monastery of Ely. Etheldreda lived an austere life of fasting and prayer. She died in 679, together with several other members of her community, of the plague which ca... Read More

This fifth century bishop of Reggio in Italy, is not commemorated in the city's large cathedral, but in a small church tucked behind it. He served Reggio for more than 20 years and was much loved for his kindness and modesty. He cared so little about his own glory that he specially asked to be buried in the small church outside the city walls, rather than the cathedral. When a rich young man ask... Read More