Meet the saints who inspire our school. Choose a portrait to discover a life of faith, learn about patronage and pray for our students.
There are many saints in the Church. These are a small selection, presented in random order.
Four saints at a time. Swipe right to see more saints; swipe left to return. Tap a portrait to read its story.
In Catholic faith, miracles are gifts from God. These profiles share Bible accounts, Church-recognised healings, personal testimonies and devotional traditions. Each account explains its source and connection with the saint.
01
Love in the little things
St Thérèse of Lisieux
The Little Flower
Born
2 January 1873Alençon, France
Died
30 September 1897Lisieux, France · aged 24
Patroness of
Missions and missionariesAlongside St Francis Xavier
Her life
Thérèse entered the Carmelite convent in Lisieux at fifteen. She taught the “little way”: trusting God and offering ordinary tasks and small acts of kindness with love. Through prayer she supported missionaries, even while living in the convent. Her writings helped others discover that holiness can grow in everyday life. She died at twenty-four and was later recognised as a Doctor of the Church for her spiritual teaching.
Miracles through her intercession
Charles Anne’s healing (1906). The Carmel archives record the recovery of a seminarian suffering from tuberculosis after prayers seeking Thérèse’s intercession.
Sister Louise de Saint-Germain’s healing (1916). Her recovery from a stomach ulcer was also accepted as a miracle in Thérèse’s beatification process.
Italy, Europe and RomeCo-patroness of Europe and Rome
Her life
Catherine joined the Dominican Third Order and lived a life of prayer and service while remaining at home. She cared for people who were poor or sick and worked for peace during troubled times. She urged Pope Gregory XI to return from Avignon to Rome. Her letters and her book, The Dialogue, encouraged love of God and neighbour. Her wisdom earned her the title Doctor of the Church.
Miracles & mystical experiences
The stigmata (1375). Dominican accounts describe Catherine receiving the signs of Christ’s wounds, a mystical experience of sharing in his suffering.
The exchange of hearts. Her spiritual guide, Raymond of Capua, recorded her account of Jesus giving her his heart. Pope Benedict XVI retold this vision as an expression of her close union with Christ.
Born Isabel Flores de Oliva, Rose lived in Lima and followed St Catherine’s example by joining the Dominican Third Order. She supported her family through gardening and embroidery. At home she made space to care for people in need, including children, elderly people and the sick. Prayer and practical charity shaped her life. She became the first person born in the Americas to be canonised.
Miracles & devotional accounts
Lima’s protection (1615). Catholic tradition credits Rose’s prayers before the Blessed Sacrament with helping protect Lima when Dutch pirates threatened the city. This is a devotional account of her intercession.
Christ’s invitation. The Vatican’s biography recounts Rose hearing the child Jesus speak while she prayed before an image of Mary and Jesus, inviting her to give him all her love.
A title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus
Born
Exact date unknownMary’s historical birth date is not recorded
Died / end of earthly life
Exact date unknownCatholics honour her Assumption into heaven
Patroness of
Mexico and the Americas
Her story
Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mary, the mother of Jesus, honoured under the title associated with her appearances to St Juan Diego at Tepeyac in Mexico from 9–12 December 1531. In the Catholic account, she asked for a shrine where people could receive comfort and care. Her image on Juan Diego’s cloak, or tilma, became a beloved sign of faith and hope. The Guadalupe feast is celebrated on 12 December.
Miracles in the Guadalupe account
The roses and the tilma. According to Catholic tradition, Juan Diego gathered roses in winter. When he opened his cloak before the bishop, the roses fell and Mary’s image appeared on the cloth.
Juan Bernardino’s healing. The apparition account also tells of Mary appearing to Juan Diego’s seriously ill uncle on 12 December 1531 and his recovery.
Exact date unknownMary’s historical birth date is not recorded
Died / end of earthly life
Exact date unknownCatholics honour her Assumption into heaven
Mother and intercessor for
The Church and all God’s childrenHonoured as Mother of God and Mother of the Church
Her life
Mary of Nazareth said yes to God and became the mother of Jesus Christ. Catholics honour her as Mother of God because her Son is God incarnate. She cared for Jesus, stood beside his cross and joined the disciples in prayer. Her trust and courage inspire Christians to love and serve. She is the same Mary honoured under the title Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Three miracles associated with Mary
The wedding at Cana — John 2:1–11. Mary brought a family’s need to Jesus and directed the servants to follow him. Jesus then changed water into wine; the Gospel presents the miracle as his work.
The Guadalupe image (1531). Catholic tradition tells of roses appearing in winter and Mary’s image becoming visible on Juan Diego’s cloak when he opened it before the bishop.
A healing linked to Lourdes (2008). Sister Bernadette Moriau recovered from a disabling spinal condition after a Lourdes pilgrimage. Her bishop recognised the healing as miraculous in 2018; Catholics associate Lourdes healings with Mary’s intercession.
About AD 64–67Rome · the precise year is uncertain
Patron of
FishermenAn apostle called from his work on the Sea of Galilee
His life
Originally named Simon, Peter was a Galilean fisherman who became one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles. He showed both courage and weakness, and learned to begin again after receiving Jesus’ forgiveness. Jesus entrusted him with caring for his flock. Peter preached and served the early Church, and Catholics honour him as the first pope. Christian tradition remembers his martyrdom in Rome.
Three miracles in the Acts of the Apostles
The man at the Beautiful Gate — Acts 3:1–10. Peter and John met a man unable to walk from birth. Peter called on Jesus’ name, took his hand and helped him stand; the man walked and praised God.
Aeneas healed — Acts 9:32–35. Peter visited Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years. He told him that Jesus Christ was healing him, and Aeneas got up.
Tabitha restored to life — Acts 9:36–42. After Tabitha, also called Dorcas, died, Peter knelt in prayer and called her to rise. She opened her eyes, sat up and was presented alive to the community.
Catholic schools and universitiesA special example for students and teachers
His life
Thomas joined the Dominican Order and devoted his life to prayer, study and teaching. He explored how faith and reason help people seek truth, and wrote works including the Summa Theologiae. He also composed Eucharistic hymns used in Catholic worship. His learning was joined to humility and love of God. The Church honours him as the Angelic Doctor and a guide for Catholic education.
Three miracles & mystical accounts
The angels’ cord. Dominican tradition recounts two angels girding Thomas with a cord after he prayed for purity of heart. The account expresses God’s help in remaining faithful to his vocation.
The voice from the crucifix. His early biographers describe Christ speaking to Thomas as he prayed in Naples, affirming his writings. Thomas replied that he desired the Lord himself above every reward.
The revelation during Mass (December 1273). Pope Benedict XVI recounts a supernatural revelation that led Thomas to stop writing. Compared with what he had encountered of God, he regarded his great works as inadequate.
Those seeking lost thingsAlso remembered for care of people in need
His life
Born Fernando in Lisbon, Anthony first entered the Augustinian community and later became a Franciscan friar. His deep knowledge of Scripture made him a gifted teacher and preacher. He travelled through Italy and France, calling people to conversion and defending those who were poor or powerless. His gentle use of learning and his love of Christ continue to inspire the Church, which honours him as a Doctor of the Church.
Three miracles in the Anthony tradition
The mule and the Eucharist. A devotional account tells of a hungry mule passing by food and kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament held by Anthony, a sign of Christ’s presence in the Eucharist.
Preaching to the fish. When people would not listen, tradition says Anthony preached by the water and fish gathered before him. The friars note that the story’s historical certainty is unknown; it expresses his call to conversion.
The vision of the infant Jesus. According to the account preserved by the friars, Count Tiso saw Anthony surrounded by light while embracing the infant Jesus during prayer.
Victims of human traffickingAn example of hope for people who have been exploited
Her life
Josephine was kidnapped and enslaved as a child in Sudan. In Italy she gained her freedom, became a Christian and joined the Canossian Sisters. For many years she served her community in Schio, welcoming children and visitors with gentleness and a warm smile. Her faith, forgiveness and hope made a lasting impression. Her life encourages us to respect every person’s dignity and care for those who suffer.
Three miracles & devotional accounts
A Canossian sister’s healing. The healing recognised for Bakhita’s 1992 beatification is reported as the recovery of a sister with severe knee disease after a novena asking Bakhita to intercede.
Eva da Costa Onishi’s healing (1992). Eva, a Brazilian woman with serious infected leg ulcers, recovered after prayers to Bakhita. This healing was accepted in the process leading to Bakhita’s canonisation in 2000.
Protection during wartime. Aid to the Church in Need recounts a local tradition that bombs near Bakhita’s community failed to explode. Residents credited her prayers with protection. This is a reported devotional account, rather than a canonisation miracle.
Not applicableAn angel created by God, not a human being
Died
Not applicableAn immortal spiritual being; no human death date
Defender of
The Church and God’s peopleInvoked for protection from evil
His mission
Michael is an archangel, a spiritual being who serves God. His name means “Who is like God?” Scripture presents him as a protector of God’s people and a leader in the struggle against evil. Catholics ask for his protection and intercession. His wings, armour and sword in sacred art express his mission; they are symbols, not a human biography.
Three biblical accounts of his protection
Help in a spiritual struggle — Daniel 10:12–13. An angel tells Daniel that Michael came to help him overcome opposition. The passage shows Michael serving God and helping carry out his purpose.
Trust in the Lord’s authority — Jude 9. In the dispute over Moses’ body, Michael calls upon the Lord to rebuke the devil. His strength is shown through trust in God’s authority.
The defeat of the dragon — Revelation 12:7–9. Michael and his angels fight the dragon, who is cast out of heaven. This biblical vision proclaims God’s victory over evil.
First century ADThe precise date and place are uncertain
Patron of
Difficult and seemingly hopeless causesA companion in prayer when we feel discouraged
His life
Jude, also known as Thaddeus, was one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles. He is distinct from Judas Iscariot. At the Last Supper he asked Jesus about revealing himself to his disciples, and Jesus answered with a teaching about love and obedience. Christian tradition associates Jude with missionary work alongside Simon. His devotion encourages people to bring difficult situations to God with hope.
Three biblical and devotional accounts
The gift of the Holy Spirit — Acts 1–2. Jude is named among the apostles gathered in prayer. At Pentecost, the disciples received the Holy Spirit, with tongues like fire. This is a shared biblical event, not a miracle attributed to Jude alone.
King Abgar’s healing. A devotional legend links Jude with bringing Christ’s image to the sick king of Edessa, who was healed. This tradition explains the medallion of Jesus in Jude’s portraits; it is not a Gospel account.
Help for a seriously ill relative. The Dominican Rosary Shrine publishes a family’s testimony of finding a specialist and receiving life-saving surgery after prayers to Jude. They understood this as answered prayer; it is a personal testimony, not a formally recognised cure.
Church singing and the study of faithRemembered for hymns and the defence of sacred images
His life
John grew up in a Christian family in Damascus and received a strong education. He left public service to become a monk at Mar Saba near Jerusalem. Through books, sermons and hymns he helped explain the Christian faith. He defended sacred images while teaching that worship belongs to God alone. Both Eastern Christians and Catholics honour his contribution, and the Catholic Church names him a Doctor of the Church.
Three miracles & Eastern Christian traditions
The restoration of his hand. Eastern Christian tradition tells how John’s right hand was restored after he prayed before an icon of Mary. In thanksgiving he added a silver hand to the image, giving rise to the “Three Hands” icon.
A vision encouraging his writing. The traditional life recounts Mary appearing to John’s monastic elder and telling him to allow John to write again. This is a devotional vision associated with his hymns and teaching.
The icon’s journey to safety. A later tradition says the Marian icon associated with John was placed on a donkey for protection and arrived at Hilandar monastery without a guide. This account concerns the icon after John’s lifetime.
Teresa of Jesus, Carmelite reformer and Doctor of the Church
Born
28 March 1515Ávila, Spain
Died
4 October 1582Alba de Tormes, Spain · the calendar then skipped to 15 October
Patroness of
Catholic writersA teacher of prayer and spiritual friendship
Her life
Teresa entered the Carmelite community in Ávila and grew through illness, struggle and prayer. She helped reform Carmel, founding communities centred on simplicity, friendship and love of Christ. Working with St John of the Cross, she encouraged a life of prayer and service. Her writings, including The Interior Castle and The Way of Perfection, continue to teach Christians. She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970.
Three miracles & mystical accounts
The piercing of her heart in prayer. In her autobiography Teresa describes a vision of an angel with a fiery golden dart. She understood this experience, called transverberation, as an overwhelming gift of God’s love.
Mary and Joseph’s reassurance. Teresa recounts seeing Mary and St Joseph clothe her in a bright white garment and assure her of help for her new convent. This is her account of a mystical vision.
Her nephew Gonzalo’s restoration to life. The traditional 1561 account tells of Gonzalo de Ovalle being found dead during the preparation of her first foundation and returning to life after Teresa’s prayers. The Prado Museum documents the story depicted in a later painting.
13 November 354Tagaste, North Africa · now Souk Ahras, Algeria
Died
28 August 430Hippo Regius, North Africa · now Annaba, Algeria
Patron of
Theologians and seekers of truthA guide for thoughtful study and conversion
His life
Augustine was a gifted student and teacher who searched for truth through many ideas and experiences. With the prayers of his mother, St Monica, and the guidance of St Ambrose, he came to the Catholic faith. He became bishop of Hippo and served through preaching, teaching and care for his people. His Confessions and City of God reflect on faith, grace, love and the human heart’s longing for God.
Three miracle accounts from Augustine’s time
The sick man brought to his bedside. His biographer Possidius recounts a man bringing a sick relative to Augustine during the bishop’s final illness. Augustine laid his hand on the sick man, and the account credits God with his healing.
Innocentius’ recovery in Carthage. Augustine writes that he was present when Innocentius recovered after urgent prayers before a planned operation. He records this as a healing granted by God, not as his own personal power.
A blind man restored to sight in Milan. In City of God Augustine recalls a healing when the relics of St Gervasius and St Protasius were brought to light under St Ambrose. Augustine was in Milan and recorded the event; this is a miracle he reported.
About 347Stridon, in the Roman world · exact date unknown
Died
30 September 420Bethlehem · some historical sources give 419
Patron of
Translators and biblical scholarsAn inspiration for careful reading and language study
His life
Jerome studied in Rome and devoted himself to Scripture, learning Greek and Hebrew as well as Latin. At the request of Pope Damasus, he revised and translated biblical texts. Later he settled in Bethlehem, where he taught, wrote and welcomed pilgrims with the support of St Paula. His work helped form the Latin Vulgate. He encourages students to read carefully and seek Christ in God’s word.
Three visions & devotional accounts
The dream that changed his priorities. In Letter 22 Jerome recounts a dream in which he was challenged to put Christ before his love of classical literature. He understood the vision as a call to deeper Christian commitment.
The lion’s injured paw. The medieval Golden Legend tells how Jerome and his monks cared for a lion whose paw held a thorn. After healing, the lion stayed peacefully with them. This is a devotional legend, not a contemporary medical report.
The lost donkey returned. The same medieval tradition tells how the lion, wrongly blamed for a missing monastery donkey, later brought it back from a caravan. The story invites reflection on kindness and fair judgment; it is not a documented event from Jerome’s lifetime.
7th centuryGeel, in present-day Belgium · exact date uncertain
Patroness of
People experiencing mental or emotional distressA companion in prayer for families and carers
Her life
Dymphna’s early history is uncertain. Catholic tradition remembers her as an Irish princess who fled a dangerous home with the priest Gerebernus. They settled near Geel, where she was killed while still a teenager. Her shrine became a place of prayer for people experiencing mental distress. The care and welcome offered at Geel remain an important part of her legacy.
Three devotional & reported healing accounts
The white stone tombs — devotional tradition. The National Shrine recounts a legend that workers found Dymphna and Gerebernus in white stone tombs whose appearance seemed extraordinary. This is a traditional account, not a documented modern miracle.
Healings at Geel — shrine tradition. The shrine’s history describes pilgrims reporting relief from mental distress after seeking Dymphna’s intercession. These reports helped establish her devotion and patronage.
A family’s hope — personal testimony. One letter published by the National Shrine describes a son improving while receiving care from a different doctor. His family also credits prayer through Dymphna. This is their personal testimony, not a formally recognised canonisation miracle.
Early 1st centuryTarsus, Cilicia · now in Türkiye · exact date unknown
Died
About AD 65–67Rome · precise year uncertain
Patron of
Rome, alongside St PeterAn inspiration for sharing the Gospel
His life
Paul was a Jewish man from Tarsus who first opposed the followers of Jesus. His encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus changed his life. He travelled widely, founded Christian communities and wrote letters that are part of the New Testament. Through hardship and imprisonment, he continued to proclaim Christ and encourage faith, hope and love. He died as a martyr in Rome.
Three biblical miracle accounts
The man at Lystra — Acts 14:8–10. Acts describes a man who had been unable to walk since birth. Paul saw his faith and called him to stand. The man stood up and began to walk.
Eutychus restored to life — Acts 20:7–12. When a young man fell from a window during a gathering, Paul went down and embraced him. Acts says the community later brought the boy home alive and was greatly comforted.
Publius’s father healed — Acts 28:7–9. On Malta, Paul visited Publius’s sick father, prayed and laid his hands on him. Acts records his healing and says other sick people on the island also came and were cured.
A young martyr remembered for faith and forgiveness
Born
16 October 1890Corinaldo, Italy
Died
6 July 1902Nettuno, Italy · aged 11
Patroness of
Young people and victims of violenceRemembered for courage and forgiveness
Her life
Maria grew up in a poor farming family in Italy. After her father died, she helped her mother and cared for her younger siblings. Her faith was simple and sincere. At eleven she died after a violent attack, having forgiven the man who harmed her. She was canonised in 1950. Her story invites care for young people, respect for their dignity and protection from harm.
Three healing & devotional accounts
Anna Musumarra’s healing — recognised miracle. The Passionists record Anna’s recovery from a serious chest illness in 1947. The healing was one of the two accepted for Maria’s canonisation in 1950.
Giuseppe Cupo’s healing — recognised miracle. The same Passionist account describes a worker’s sudden recovery from a severe foot injury in 1947. This was the second healing accepted for her canonisation.
A radiant lady — reported vision. The Passionist biography recounts Maria speaking of a beautiful lady surrounded by light and flowers near the end of her life. This is a reported devotional vision, distinct from the two canonisation healings.
1491Loyola, in the Basque region of Spain · exact day unknown
Died
31 July 1556Rome, Italy
Patron of
Spiritual exercises and retreatsA guide to prayer and thoughtful choices
His life
Ignatius first sought honour as a courtier and soldier. While recovering from an injury at Pamplona, he read about Christ and the saints and began to seek a different life. Prayer, pilgrimage and study shaped his Spiritual Exercises. In Paris he gathered companions who became the Society of Jesus, approved in 1540. He encouraged people to reflect carefully, serve others and find God in everyday life.
Three reported mystical experiences
Mary and the child Jesus — Loyola, 1521. Ignatius’s autobiography recounts a consoling vision of Mary with the infant Jesus during his recovery. He understood it as encouragement to follow Christ.
New understanding — the Cardoner, 1522. While praying near the river at Manresa, Ignatius described a profound illumination that changed how he understood faith and the world. Jesuit accounts present it as a formative mystical experience.
Placed with the Son — La Storta, 1537. Near Rome, Ignatius reported a vision of God the Father placing him with Jesus, who carried the cross. He understood it as a call to serve Christ with his companions.
Mother Teresa · founder of the Missionaries of Charity
Born
26 August 1910Skopje · now in North Macedonia
Died
5 September 1997Calcutta, now Kolkata, India · aged 87
Co-patroness of
The Archdiocese of CalcuttaAlongside St Francis Xavier
Her life
Born Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu, Teresa joined the Sisters of Loreto and became a teacher in India. She later felt called to serve people experiencing extreme poverty. In 1950 she founded the Missionaries of Charity, whose work spread around the world. She encouraged practical kindness and respect for every person. The Church canonised her in 2016, recognising a life devoted to prayer and service.
Three healing & mystical accounts
Monica Besra’s healing — beatification miracle. The Mother Teresa Center identifies Monica’s recovery from an abdominal tumour as the healing accepted for Teresa’s beatification in 2003. The Church attributed it to her intercession.
Marcilio Haddad Andrino’s healing — canonisation miracle. The Center also identifies a Brazilian man’s recovery from a serious brain illness as the miracle accepted for her canonisation in 2016, following prayers seeking her intercession.
The call within a call — 10 September 1946. The Holy See’s biography describes an interior call from Jesus during a train journey to Darjeeling, followed by visions and interior words. This mystical experience inspired her mission to people in need; it is distinct from the two healing miracles.
Father of Western monasticism · co-patron of Europe
Born
About AD 480Nursia, now Norcia, Italy
Died
Traditionally 21 March 547Monte Cassino, Italy · ancient chronology is approximate
Co-patron of
EuropeA guide to Benedictine monastic life
His life
Benedict left his studies in Rome to seek God in a life of prayer. After living as a hermit at Subiaco, he formed monastic communities and later settled at Monte Cassino. His Rule encouraged prayer, listening, study, work and hospitality. Its balanced guidance still shapes Benedictine life and offers students a model of patience, discipline and care for others.
Three miracles in Gregory’s account
The poisoned cup — Dialogues II, 3. Gregory the Great relates that a cup containing poisoned wine broke when Benedict made the sign of the cross over it. Benedict responded by asking God to forgive those responsible.
Placidus rescued — Dialogues II, 7. In Gregory’s account, Benedict sent Maurus to rescue a boy who had fallen into a lake. Maurus crossed the water and brought him safely back, with Benedict’s blessing.
The raven and the bread — Dialogues II, 8. Gregory describes a raven carrying a poisoned loaf away at Benedict’s command so nobody would eat it. These three stories belong to an ancient devotional biography.
Mid-6th centuryTraditionally 10 February · Church sources give 543 or 547
Patroness of
Benedictine sistersRemembered for prayer and loving community
Her life
Scholastica dedicated herself to God from her youth and is honoured as an early Benedictine abbess. Tradition identifies her as Benedict’s twin sister. She led a community of women near Monte Cassino and met her brother to speak about spiritual life. Gregory the Great’s account remembers her deep trust in prayer and the strength of her love.
Three prayer & devotional accounts
The storm — Gregory’s miracle account. When Benedict wished to leave their final meeting, Scholastica prayed. Gregory relates that a sudden storm kept him there, allowing them to continue their conversation about God through the night.
The dove — a reported vision. After Scholastica’s death, Benedict reportedly saw her soul rising to heaven in the form of a dove. He gave thanks to God for her heavenly life.
A shared tomb — a biographical witness. Gregory says Benedict had her buried in the tomb prepared for himself. Their shared resting place expresses the love that united them in God; this is a burial account, not an additional miracle.
A young witness to the Eucharist · canonised 7 September 2025
Born
3 May 1991London, England · grew up in Milan, Italy
Died
12 October 2006Monza, Italy · aged 15
A model for
Young people and those who use technologyOften called the saint of the internet
His life
Carlo was an Italian teenager who loved the Eucharist and used his computer skills to share his faith. He created an exhibition about Eucharistic miracles, while making time for school, friendship and care for people in need. He died of leukaemia at fifteen. Pope Leo XIV canonised him on 7 September 2025. His example encourages students to use technology with kindness and purpose.
Two healing miracles & a witness to faith
Matheus’s healing — beatification miracle. The Church accepted the healing of a young Brazilian boy with a serious pancreatic condition after prayers seeking Carlo’s intercession and contact with a relic in 2013. This was the miracle associated with Carlo’s beatification in 2020.
Valeria’s recovery — canonisation miracle. A Costa Rican university student suffered a severe head injury in Florence in 2022. Vatican News reports her recovery after her mother prayed at Carlo’s tomb. The Church recognised this healing in 2024 for his canonisation.
Eucharistic miracles — the exhibition he created. Carlo researched and presented accounts of Eucharistic miracles to help others learn about Jesus in the Eucharist. These are accounts he shared, not miracles he personally performed or a third healing accepted for his canonisation.
A Marian devotion close to Trinidad and Tobago’s heart
Born
Historical date unknownA title of Mary, the mother of Jesus · the same Mary honoured as Our Lady of Guadalupe
Died
Date of her earthly life’s end unknownCatholic teaching honours her Assumption into heaven
Marian role
Our Lady, the Divine ShepherdessHonoured at the shrine in Siparia, Trinidad
Her life and this devotion
La Divina Pastora means the Divine Shepherdess and honours Mary, the mother of Jesus. Catholic devotion sees her leading people to her Son, the Good Shepherd. Siparia’s mission was dedicated to this title in the mid-1750s. Its crowned, dark wooden Marian image draws pilgrims who seek comfort, give thanks and pray for their families.
Three accounts of protection, prayer & hope
A priest’s protection — local tradition. The parish’s history records a Spanish priest bringing the image and saying it had saved his life. The account’s details are unknown, so it is presented as a local tradition.
Answered prayers — pilgrims’ testimony. The parish describes pilgrims visiting in gratitude for answered prayers. The parish records these as devotional testimonies, without medical case details.
Hearts turned toward peace — the Archbishop’s teaching. At the 2019 feast, Archbishop Jason Gordon urged people seeking Mary’s help to welcome others and follow Jesus, the Prince of Peace. He spoke of hearts changing as a powerful gift of God.
Founder of the Friars Minor · the Poverello of Assisi
Born
About 1181–1182Assisi, Italy · exact date uncertain
Died
3 October 1226The Portiuncula, Assisi, Italy · feast day 4 October
Patron of
EcologistsAlso co-patron of Italy; loved for his care for animals
His life
Francis grew up in a prosperous merchant family, but gradually chose a life of poverty, prayer and service to people in need. His companions became the Friars Minor. He preached peace and praised God through creation, calling creatures his brothers and sisters. His example invites students to live simply, care for others and protect the world around them.
Three miracle & mystical accounts
The speaking crucifix — San Damiano tradition. The Holy See recounts Francis hearing Christ’s call from the crucifix to repair the Church. This reported mystical experience helped shape his conversion and mission.
The stigmata — La Verna, 1224. The Holy See describes a vision of the Crucified Lord and the gift of marks of Christ’s Passion. Catholic tradition understands this as a sign of Francis’s deep union with Jesus.
The wolf of Gubbio — a later devotional legend. The Little Flowers, a medieval collection, tells how Francis made peace between a frightened town and a wolf. The story teaches reconciliation; it is identified as a legend, not a modern verified event.
St Pio of Pietrelcina · a Capuchin priest and confessor
Born
25 May 1887Pietrelcina, Italy · born Francesco Forgione
Died
23 September 1968San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy · aged 81
Patron of
Civil protection volunteers in ItalyHonoured as their patron since 2004
His life
Padre Pio joined the Capuchin friars and became a priest. At San Giovanni Rotondo he devoted many years to prayer, the Eucharist, confession and spiritual guidance. He encouraged prayer groups and established a hospital to care for people who were suffering. Canonised in 2002, he is remembered for trust in God and compassionate service.
Two recognised healings & a mystical gift
Consiglia De Martino — beatification miracle. The Holy See identifies Consiglia’s healing as the miracle accepted for Padre Pio’s beatification in 1999. The Church attributed this recovery to his intercession.
Matteo Pio Colella — canonisation miracle. The Holy See identifies the healing of the young Matteo as the miracle accepted for Padre Pio’s canonisation in 2002, following the Church’s medical and theological examination.
The stigmata — reported on 20 September 1918. Padre Pio’s official shrine describes his account of receiving marks of Christ’s Passion while praying. This mystical gift is presented separately from the two recognised healing miracles.
Elizabeth of Thuringia · a mother, widow and servant of the poor
Born
1207Hungarian royal family · exact birthplace disputed
Died
17 November 1231Marburg, in present-day Germany · aged 24
Patroness of
The Secular Franciscan OrderAlso the Third Order Regular of St Francis
Her life
Elizabeth was born into Hungary’s royal family and grew up at the court of Thuringia. As a wife and mother she shared food and cared for people in need. After her husband’s death, she founded a hospital at Marburg and served the sick herself. Franciscan spirituality shaped her generous life. She died at twenty-four and was canonised in 1235.
Three miracle & devotional accounts
Bread changed into roses — a devotional tradition. Pope Benedict XVI retells the story of bread for the poor becoming roses when Elizabeth showed what she was carrying. The roses became a lasting symbol of her charity.
Christ recognised in a sick guest — a vision of faith. A traditional biography describes her husband recognising Christ in the sick person Elizabeth had welcomed. The Hungarian bishops’ archive explains this as an inner vision of faith, later embellished in retellings.
Miracles at her grave — early testimony. The same archive records reports of miracles after her death and testimony gathered before her canonisation. These are early devotional reports, with no individual medical case details supplied here.
Foundress of the Poor Clares · companion in faith of St Francis
Born
About 1193–1194Assisi, Italy · exact date uncertain
Died
11 August 1253San Damiano, Assisi, Italy
Patroness of
TelevisionA witness to wise and faithful use of media
Her life
Inspired by Francis, Clare left a wealthy family’s life to follow Jesus in prayer, poverty and community. She led the sisters at San Damiano, who became known as the Poor Clares. She cared for sick sisters and wrote a Rule for their way of life. Her courage and love of the Eucharist continue to encourage people seeking God.
Three protection & mystical accounts
San Damiano protected — Eucharistic tradition. Church accounts describe Clare praying before the Blessed Sacrament when soldiers threatened her monastery. She trusted Christ’s protection, and the community was spared.
Assisi protected — a second prayer account. Pope John Paul II recalls another episode in which Clare’s faith and prayer helped deliver the city from danger. This is a separate protection account in the Church’s tradition.
Christmas at a distance — a reported mystical experience. Tradition relates that Clare, confined by illness, heard Christmas worship and saw the celebration from afar. Pope John Paul II recalls the experience in 1252; Pope Pius XII connected it with her television patronage.
The Flying Friar · patron of students and examinations
Born
17 June 1603Copertino, Italy
Died
18 September 1663Osimo, Italy · aged 60
Patron of
Students and examination candidatesAlso honoured by aviators and astronauts · feast: 18 September
His life
Joseph faced poverty, illness and great difficulty with learning. After setbacks, he joined the Conventual Franciscans and became a priest. He loved the Mass, Eucharistic adoration and Our Lady. His humility and perseverance encourage students who feel discouraged. St John Paul II presented him as an example of prayer and faithful daily work.
Three miracle & grace accounts
Rising during prayer — reported mystical levitation. Franciscan biographies recount Joseph being lifted from the ground during prayer and Mass, including an occasion before Pope Urban VIII. These reports gave rise to his title, the Flying Friar.
Healing the sick — Franciscan testimony. Accounts from his years in Assisi describe sick people recovering after contact with his habit. These are historical devotional reports of healing, understood as gifts from God.
Help in examinations — a traditional providence account. A biography relates that Joseph’s examination included a Gospel passage he could explain; a later examination ended before he was questioned. Students remember these events as signs of God’s help, alongside Joseph’s efforts to study.
