Saint Peter the Apostle

Saint Peter, named Simon at birth, was a fisherman from the village of Bethsaida
in Galilee. His brother Andrew was also a fisherman. One day as the brothers were
mending their fishing nets, Jesus called out to them. Jesus said, “Come after me, and I
will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). Both brothers left their nets to become
disciples of Jesus. Peter was present during the major events of Jesus’ ministry.

After Jesus rose from the dead, Peter was

one of the first to see him alive. Peter’s
given name was Simon, but Jesus gave
“Lord, you know
him the name “Peter.” The name means
“rock.” Jesus entrusted Peter with a very
everything; you know
Born: unknown
Died: c. 64 a.d. special task. He appointed him the leader that I love you.”
Feast Day: June 29 of the Church. Jesus said, “You are Peter,
and upon this rock I will build my church”

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(Matthew 16:18).

Peter received the Holy Spirit with the other disciples at Pentecost. The gifts of the
Holy Spirit enabled him to carry out the mission of Jesus to witness to the Gospel. He
encouraged the early Christians to spread the Gospel message to people of all nations.
Peter listened to Jesus and learned that Jesus’ message was God loves us and wants
us to love him and others. Saint Peter tried to share this message even when it was
difficult to do.

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal

Saint Elizabeth was related to kings, queens, emperors, and a saint! She was the
daughter of the king and queen of Aragon, a land now part of Spain. One grandfather
was the king of Sicily, and the other was an emperor. She was named after her great-
aunt, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, another queen who was a saint. These connections
did not guarantee that she would be a great queen or a saint. She became both.

Elizabeth married Dinis, the king of

Portugal. The couple ruled wisely and “God made me queen
well. They worked to improve the lives of
their subjects. They provided education,
so that I may serve
Born: Summer 1271
Died: July 4, 1336
justice, and protection for the people in
their kingdom. Elizabeth supervised the
others.”
Feast Day: July 4 building of hospitals, orphanages and churches. She also worked among the poor and
sick, often feeding or caring for them. As a result, the people dearly loved their king
and queen.

Saint Elizabeth of Portugal devoted her life to maintaining peace in her kingdom. She
tried to change the minds and hearts of others by showing the joy she received from
serving God. She saw her role as queen as an opportunity to share the love and care of
God with others.

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 Saint Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict was born in Nursia, Italy in 480 a.d. He was born to a wealthy family
and grew up in Rome. When he was done with his studies, he decided to leave the
city and live a life devoted to prayer in
the mountains of Subiaco. Here, Benedict
met a monk named Romanus whose “He who labors as he
monastery was on a cliff over the cave
in which Benedict was living. Benedict prays lifts his heart to
continued to live in solitude in the cave,
but Romanus helped him by giving him
God with his hands.”
food and clothing.

Born: Spring 480 a.d.
Died: Spring 547 a.d.
 Although he rarely communicated with the outside world, the people of Subiaco
Feast Day: July 11 respected him deeply. When the abbot, or leader of the monastey passed away,
Benedict was the community’s first choice for a replacement. He accepted the

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position.

During his time at the monastery, many people began to hear about Benedict’s
hospitality. People from all over Italy traveled to Subiaco so that Benedict could guide
them. For these people, he built twelve monasteries and placed twelve monks in each
of them. He remained in charge of all of them, but he lived in his own monastery in
solitude. Some of these monasteries eventually became schools for children. Near
the end of his life, he wrote a book known as his Rule, which is a list of precepts for
monastic living in a community.

The Rule of Saint Benedict is the most popular Rule used by Christian communities
today. He teaches important concepts in his Rule such as hospitality, charity, and the
importance of prayer. While not everyone chooses a monastic life like Saint Benedict
did, we can all learn from his example and devote ourselves to helping others.

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

Kateri Tekakwitha was born near the present-day town of Auriesville, New York. Her
mother, an Algonquin, was a Christian. Her father, a leader among his people, the
Mohawk, was not. When a smallpox epidemic struck her village, her family was killed.
Kateri was adopted by her uncle, a Mohawk chief. Although he disapproved, he
granted Kateri’s request to receive religious instruction from a Jesuit missionary.

After her baptism, Kateri was shunned

by her village and she decided to travel
to a Catholic mission near Montreal, in
“Who can tell me what
Canada. At the mission Kateri taught is most pleasing to God
prayers to children and told them stories
Born: 1656
Died: April 17, 1680
about the life of Jesus. She nursed the that I may do it?”
sick, gathered offerings for those in need,
Feast Day: July 14 and helped the elderly with their daily chores.

When her life became hard, Kateri turned to God in prayer. She focused on helping
others, sharing stories about Jesus, and doing everyday chores as acts of love.
5

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 Saint Ignatius Loyola
Ignatius Loyola was born in Guipúzcoa, in northern Spain. As a boy, he dreamed of
becoming a famous soldier. As a soldier in the Spanish army, he was badly wounded.
During his long and painful recovery he read a life of Jesus Christ and lives of the
saints. These books inspired him to change his goals. He wanted to dedicate his life
to Jesus. He devoted long hours to prayer and to caring for the sick. He wrote a book
called The Spiritual Exercises to help people become more like Christ.

Ignatius decided to study for the

priesthood. His life of prayer and
simplicity influenced several of his fellow
“Teach us to give and
Born: 1491
students. After they were ordained priests,
they all made a special vow of obedience
not to count the cost.”
Died: July 31, 1556
to the pope. They called themselves the
Feast Day: July 31
Society of Jesus and received formal recognition as a religious order from Pope Paul III.

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The Society of Jesus soon came to be known as the Jesuits.

Ignatius was elected as the Jesuits’ first general, or leader. He saw Jesuits start schools,
lead retreats based on The Spiritual Exercises, and sail off to far away countries as
missionaries. Today the Jesuits form the largest male religious order in the Catholic
Church, and are present in almost every country in the world. The Spiritual Exercises
that Ignatius wrote so many years ago remain popular today as a way to grow closer
to Christ.

Saint Edith Stein

Edith was born in Breslau, Germany, the youngest of eleven children in a practicing
Jewish family. In 1921, when she was thirty years old, Edith read the life story of
Saint Teresa of Ávila. She finished the book in one night. She believed she had found
the truth. She decided to become a Catholic. She was baptized in 1922. She later
became a Carmelite sister and took the name Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross.
She continued to study, teach, and write.

Meanwhile, the Nazis were coming

into power in Germany. They were
“If anyone comes to
persecuting Jews. When it was no longer me, I want to lead
safe for Edith to stay in Germany, the
Born:October 12, 1891
Died: August 9, 1942
Carmelite community moved her to them to Him.”
Holland. The Nazis’ power continued
Feast Day: August 9
to grow, and Edith was captured with her sister, Rosa. They were taken to a prison
camp and killed a week later. Before Edith died, she tried to comfort the people with
her, especially the children.

Edith is an example of courage in times of great difficulty and dedication to the

truth found in Christ. She helped and cared for those around her. She was willing to
die for and with the Jewish people. At the time of her arrest, she told her sister, Rosa,
“Come, let us go for our people.”

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