Saints

Nurse and nun. Maria was born in 1888 to a poor Italian family in Brendola in northern Italy. Her father was a violent alcoholic. She was considered not very bright at school, and was called a 'goose' by the local clergy. In 1904, she joined the sisters of St Dorothy and worked in the kitchens and laundry. In 1907, when she took her final vows she became a nurse in the children's diphtheria ward.... Read More

St Paul of the Cross Founder of the Passionists. Born in northern Italy in 1694, Paul Daneo lived at a time when many regarded Jesus as a great moral teacher but no more. After a brief time as a soldier, he turned to solitary prayer, developing a devotion to Christ's passion. Paul saw in the Lord's passion a demonstration of God's love for all people. In turn that devotion nurtured his compassion ... Read More

Abbot and monastic pioneer of Palestine. Hilarion was born in 291 in Gaza. He studied at Alexandria, where he became a Christian. After the death of his parents, he gave all he owned to his brothers and the poor and went to live as a hermit at Majuma. He followed the same regime as St Antony - a diet of figs, bread, vegetables and oil. First he built a small shelter of reeds, later a stone cell ... Read More