Saints

Missionary and patron saint of the African slaves. The son of a Catalonian farmer, Peter Claver was born at Verdu, in 1581. He obtained his first degrees at the University of Barcelona. At the age of 20 he entered the Jesuit noviciate at Tarragona. While he was studying philosophy at Majorca in 1605, Alphonsus Rodriguez, the door-keeper of the college, advised him to set out to evangelize the Spa... Read More

We do not usually celebrate the birthdays of saints. Instead we celebrate the day they died, because that is the day they were born into the joys of heaven. But the birthday of Mary, is an exception. We celebrate her birthday because she came into this world full of grace and because she was to be the Mother of Jesus. In both the East and West, Mary is the most important of saints. St Matthew de... Read More

Irish Abbot and bishop. St Finnian is sometimes called Finbar. This sixth century saint is said to have been an Ulsterman, from the royal race of Dal Fiatach. He was educated at Dromore and then at Whithorn in Galloway. He was probably ordained in Rome, before returning to Ireland, bringing with him a manuscript of a Latin biblical text. Finnian founded a monastery at Dromin in Louth, and anothe... Read More