June 2020: FAQs about “Saints”

Why did you write a book about saints?

I knew almost nothing about the saints when I became a Catholic as a young adult. But I quickly learned that good biographies of their lives helped me figure out how to live my life as a follower of Christ. Just like you and me, holy men and women of the past faced difficult relationships, indecision, bad health, and even epidemics.

Initially, I collected biographies from many books just to help me pray, but when my collection had become a book in itself, I decided to offer it to others, with the help of the wonderful people at Ignatius Press.

How did you choose the saints in your book?

Every author who writes a book about inspirational men and women has the difficult task of deciding which ones to leave out and which ones to leave in; I decided that only those men and women who have been declared saints and blesseds by the Catholic Church would be included in mine. The Church’s latest official list of saints and blesseds is called the Martyrologium Romanum (Roman Martyrology); it was last revised in 2004 and is only available in Latin. All the individuals in my book are present in the Martyrologium Romanum or have been officially declared saints or blesseds by the Church since 2004.

Although there are dozens or hundreds of saints listed for each day of the year in the Martyrologium Romanum, I selected anywhere from two to several saints for each day. All the most well-known saints are included, but almost every day also includes a martyr-saint,[1] and every pope who has been declared a saint or blessed is present.

Who are your favorite saints?

That’s like asking, “Which of your children is your favorite?” I try not to play favorites with my children, with my friends, or with the saints.

However, I have found Saints Teresa of Jesus, John of the Cross, and Therese of Lisieux most helpful in my prayer life; Saint Louis de Montfort most helpful in understanding the Blessed Virgin Mary; and the Doctors of the Church (whom I hope to write a separate book about someday) most helpful in understanding the truths of the faith.

Why have I never heard of the saints on your blog?

The best-known saints are described in my book; my daily blogs give short biographies of lesser-known saints and blesseds who are not in my book. The blogs give you an idea of the format of my book, but they also show you that there have been inspiring and holy Catholic men and women of all ages, from many countries, and from many different time periods—even though most of us have never heard of them.


[1] There are only a few days of the year where no martyr is listed in the Martyrologium Romanum.

Saint of the Day

May 14: Saint Erembert

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Saint Erembert (d. c. 672) was a Benedictine monk when the king of France nominated him as bishop of Toulouse. One event in his life has survived over the centuries.

He had traveled to his hometown to visit his brother when a fire threatened to destroy the town. Erembert prostrated himself outside the church and prayed. A wind diverted the flames, and the city was saved. His brother and his two nephews were so inspired by Erembert’s holy example that they also entered a Benedictine monastery and donated the family estates to it.

Saint Erembert, show me how to trust God with everything in my prayers.

Saint of the Day

May 13: Saint Servatius

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Saint Servatius lived in the fourth century and became the bishop of Tongres in modern Belgium. When Saint Athanasius, the famous archbishop who spoke out against the Arian heresy, was banished, Servatius not only wrote against Arianism but also sheltered Athanasius during his banishment. Servatius predicted that the Huns would invade the area—which they did several decades later—and he went on a pilgrimage to Rome to beg for the protection of his people.

Servatius was greatly revered for his faithfulness and holiness during the middle ages, and several relics of his were venerated during that time.

Saint Servatius, help me to stand up for those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.

Saint of the Day

May 12: Blessed Jane of Portugal

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Blessed Jane (d. 1490) was a princess of Portugal at her birth, and when her brother and mother died, she seemed to be the likely heir to her father’s throne. Despite her royalty, she lived the life of an ascetic—praying two hours late each night, wearing a hair shirt as a penance, and devoting herself to the practice of her faith.

Her father refused her repeated requests to join religious life until a successful expedition against invaders—and a younger brother and heir—made it possible. She immediately distributed all her personal possessions and left for a Dominican priory. Her family refused to let her take vows for a long time and kept trying to arrange politically expedient marriages for her, but she ultimately achieved her heart’s desire of living as a simple nun in the house and performed the same lowly tasks as every other member. She died at the age of thirty-eight and was perhaps poisoned by a disgruntled woman whom Jane had rebuked for her scandalous life.

Blessed Jane, show me how to rid my life of things that separate me from God.

Saint of the Day

May 11: Saint Gengulf

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Saint Gengulf (d. 760) was a trusted knight serving under Pepin the Short (who was at the time Mayor of the Palace but later became King of France). When Gengulf discovered that his wife had been repeatedly unfaithful to him, he tried to reconcile with her and restore their marriage. She refused. So he left her and lived a penitential, simple life in solitude. Several years later, it’s said that his wife’s lover snuck in and killed him during the night. Miracles through his intercession caused him to be named a saint.

Saint Gengulf, help me to love those who betray so much that I will even offer penances for them.

Saint of the Day

May 10: Blessed Beatrice of Este

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Blessed Beatrice (d. 1226) was born in a castle in d’Este, Italy. But despite the wealth and power of her noble family, her childhood was full of losses: her mother died when she was a baby, her father died when she was six years old, and her older brother died of poisoning when she was only ten, leaving her in the care of a stepmother and an aunt.

From the time her father died, Beatrice would only wear simple clothing, and when her family began planning a suitable marriage for her, she begged to enter religious life instead. Her older brother refused to consider this, so she secretly left the castle one night and entered a Benedictine abbey. She was only fourteen years old. Until her death at the age of twenty, she lived a holy life as a Benedictine nun, living only for her Lord.

Blessed Beatrice, pray that my grief will only lead me closer to Christ.

Saint of the Day

May 9: Blessed Stefan Grelewski

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Blessed Stefan Grelewski (1899-1941) was born in Poland. An outstanding priest, he also earned a doctorate in canon law, wrote and translated works from French and German into Polish, founded a Catholic magazine, and organized the first Eucharistic Congress in his diocese.

He was the director of a boys’ grammar school when World War II broke out. He secretly continued teaching the faith to his flock during the Nazi occupation until he and his younger brother were arrested–solely because they were priests–and sent to a concentration camp. Stefan died of starvation on this date in the Dachau camp.

Blessed Stefan, help me to forgive those harm me.

Saint of the Day

May 8: Saint Gibrian

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

An old tradition says that seven brothers and three sisters, all members of the same family, left Ireland and settled in France in the late fifth century. They lived as solitaries, though they lived close enough to one another to visit each other occasionally. Saint Gibrian was the oldest and was a priest, and he lived a life of such deep prayer and personal austerity that a chapel was built over his tomb.

Saint Gibrian, teach me your love of being alone with God.

Saint of the Day

May 7: Blessed Albert of Bergamo

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

Blessed Albert was born at Villa d’Ogna, Italy, into a devout family of farmers in the thirteenth century. He married, became a farmer, and also became a tertiary in the Dominican order. Though he was poor himself, he was generous with others who were in need. He also showed his devotion through making multiple pilgrimages—no small task in an age without modern transportation and tour guides–traveling to Rome, to Jerusalem, and to Compostela in Spain. After he settled in Cremona, Italy, he became known as a wonderworker through his prayers. He died in 1279.

Blessed Albert, teach me how to pray like a saint.

Saint of the Day

May 6: Blesseds Edward Jones and Antony Middleton

If you enjoy this daily blog of lesser-known saints, see my book, which contains short biographies of saints for every day of the year.

In the sixteenth century, it was illegal to be Catholic and deadly to be a Catholic priest. Edward Jones was born in Wales; Antony Middleton was born in Yorkshire. They both traveled to France to study for the priesthood and then returned to England secretly.

Edward had a youthful appearance and was able to remain undetected for some time. Antony became known as a zealous preacher, making him a more obvious target in anti-Catholic England. Spies who pretended to be Catholic tracked down both men and had them arrested. Though the trial, according to witnesses, was full of irregularities, the two men were condemned to death. Blesseds Edward and Antony died by hanging on this date in 1590.

Holy Martyrs, show me how to live and die for Christ.