Saints

Franciscan preacher. Bernadino was born at Massa di Carrera in 1380, and brought up by an aunt after his parents died. As a young man he took charge of the La Scala hospital at Siena after most of the staff died of plague. He then looked after his bedridden aunt until her death. In 1402 he became a Franciscan friar and soon began to make a name for himself as a preacher. For many years he journe... Read More

Benedictine monk and reformer, Archbishop of Canterbury. Patron of goldsmiths, jewellers and locksmiths. Born in 909 at Baltonsborough, near Glastonbury, Dunstan was educated at Glastonbury and then after a spell of working for his uncle, joined the court of King Athelstan. In 935 he was expelled for studying pagan poetry and being a musician. For a time he considered marriage, but eventually de... Read More

Martyr. Jesuit priest. This Polish saint was born in 1591. He became a Jesuit at Vilno (Vilnius) in 1609 where he preached at the church of St Casimir before being appointed superior at the house at Bobruysk. During an epidemic of plague he worked night and day caring for the sick and dying. Later he served as a missionary, bringing whole villages of Orthodox Christians into communion with the Ca... Read More