Saints & Heroes

October 4: Francis was born in Assisi, in the Italian region of Umbria. His father was a wealthy cloth merchant and his mother is said to have belonged to a noble family.

October 9: Legend has it that after St. Denis was beheaded, his body stood up, and before the astonished onlookers, picked up his head, and walked six miles.

October 10: As commissary general, Saint Francis Borgia practically founded the Jesuit presence in Spain establishing many houses and colleges.

October 11: Saint Mary Soledad was superior of a the Handmaids of Mary Serving the Sick. During the cholera outbreak of 1865, their dedicated service won the love and respect of all.

September 11: Saint Paphnutius suffered persecution under the rule of Emperor Maximinus, which is said to have been the bloodiest persecution of Christians during the Roman Empire.

September 19: Legend has it that the pagans threw Saint Januarius onto a flaming furnace, but he was unscathed. He was fed to hungry wild animals, but they did not touch him.

September 20: Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gon was the Son of Korean converts who were martyred during the persecution of 1839. He was later ordained a priest and martyred with his companions.

September 21: It was while Matthew was working at a tax collector’s bench in the custom house of Capernaum that Jesus passing by called him saying, “Follow me.”

September 22: Saint Thomas of Villanova was committed to the poor, established care for orphans, and convinced the emperor to provide funds to organize priests for service among the converted Moors.