Lives of the Saints

Wreath I


Virtue - Faith

St. Catherine of Siena

1347-1380

Feast Day:  April 29

Catherine had a very important task in life.  When she was a little girl, Jesus appeared to her.  "Please give me your heart," He asked of her.  When she offered Jesus her love, He gave her His Sacred Heart in return.  Though many rich young men wanted to marry her, she chose instead to become a Dominican Sister.

At that time, Pope Gregory XI was living in exile in France.  Catherine went to see him.  She told him he should go back to Rome where his true home was.  Because of Catherine, he returned to Rome in 1376.
excerpt from: The Children's Book of Saints

Virtue - Hope

St. Monica

333-387

Feast Day:  August 27

St. Monica was married by arrangement to a pagan official in North Africa, who was much older than she, and although generous, was also violent tempered.  His mother lived with them and was equally difficult, which proved a constant challenge to St. Monica.  She had three children; Augustine, Navigius, and Perpetua.  Through her patience and prayers, she as able to convert her husband and his mother to the Catholic faith in 370.  He died a year later.  Perpetua and Navigius entered the religious life.  St. Augustine was much more difficult, as she had to pray for him for 17 years, begging the prayers of priests who, for a while, tried to avoid her because of her persistence at this seemingly hopeless endeavor.  One priest did console her by saying, "it is not possible that the son of so many tears should perish."  This thought, coupled with a vision that she had received strengthened her.  St. Augustine was baptized by St. Ambrose in 387.  St. Monica died later that same year, on the was back to Africa from Rome in the Italian town of Ostia.

from Catholic Online

Virtue - Love of God

St. Agnes

d. 304

Feast Day:  January 21

Agnes was only twelve years old when she was martyred for Christ.  In those days, the Romans hated Christians, and the soldiers were ordered to force Christians to worship the Roman gods.

For Agnes, to offer prayers and incense to Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, would be a sin against God.  So, instead of lighting the Roman incense, Agnes prayed aloud to Jesus in front of the soldiers.  They were so angry when Agnes did not obey that they handcuffed her, whipped her, and dragged her through the streets, hoping that people would laugh at her, but they did not.  Instead, some tried to help her.

One young Roman offered to marry her so she would be protected.  "it will save your life if you marry me," he said.  Agnes replied, "I belong to my Savior alone."  At that, the angry soldiers killed her.  She was truly a brave young woman.
excerpt from: The Children's Book of Saints

Virtue - Love of Neighbor

St. Jane Frances de Chantal

Virtue - Obedience

St. Joan of Arc