ÿþ<HEAD><TITLE>Role Models </TITLE><meta name=author content="M C MONTANA"></meta><meta name=keyword content="saints, exemplary life, role models"></meta><style type="text/css"><!-- #s7a{font-family:arial,helvetica,sans serif;font-size:7pt;color:"#000000";font-weight:bold;}#s8a{font-family:arial,helvetica,sans serif;font-size:8pt;color:"#000000";font-weight:bold;}</style> </head><body><a name="top"></a><CENTER><STRONG><font size="5" color="#CCCC33" face="lucida handwriting, arial, helvetica, sans serif"><b>What made them Saints?</FONT></b></center><p align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2"><i>While you don&#8217;t have to be a Christian to believe that love is crucial to human happiness, you cannot be a Christian without love. St John tells us that the person "who does not love does not know God, because God is love"(1 John 4:8) ----- Cardinal Pell<p align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2">The Communion of Saints - these <b>heroes</b> and <b>heroines</b> who are in paradise. They help us in three ways: they are our brothers and sisters in The Great Family of God; they inspire us to do better by the way they lived here; they intercede for us before the throne of God. ----- Fr Jim Doyle</i><P align="left"><br><font size="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <ul><li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjoseph.asp" target=_blank><span id="s8d">St Joseph</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://torch.op.org/preaching_sermon_item.php?sermon=5439&ref=date" target=_blank>A Link in the Chain</a><br> <li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/P/stpatrick.asp"><span id="s8d">St Patrick</a><br><br> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=240" target=_blank><b>St Scholastica</b></a><br> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=39" target=_blank><b>Sts Cyril and Methodius</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/F/stfrancisofassisi.asp" target=_blank><b>St Francis of Assisi</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/francis2.htm" target=_blank>The Prayer of St Francis of Assisi</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.capuchinfriars.org.au/" target=_blank>Capuchin Franciscan Friars</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.franciscans.org.au/" target=_blank>Franciscan Friars</a> - Province of the Holy Spirit<br><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1156" target=_blank><b>The Guardian Angels</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1155" target=_blank><b>St Teresa of the Child Jesus</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1154" target=_blank><b>St Jerome</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1153" target=_blank><b>Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels</a></b><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; <a href="http://home.iprimus.com.au/morningstar/referen/faq.htm " target=_blank>More</a>.....<br><br><li><a href="http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2009/2009918_366.shtml" target=_blank>St Matthew</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/fun_facts_arch.php?image=/saints/ff_images/39.jpg&si=84&s=St.%20Matthew" target=_blank>Saint Matthew sez</a>.....<br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=311" target=_blank>St Padre Pio</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/fun_facts_arch.php?image=/saints/ff_images/31.jpg" target=_blank>Saint Padre Pio sez</a>.....<br><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=471" target=_blank><b>Sts. Cosmas & Damian</b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=326" target=_blank><b>St Vincent de Paul</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1121" target=_blank>St Augustine</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.augustinians.org.au/augustinians/who.html" target=_blank>Augustinians</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1120" target=_blank>St Monica</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1117" target=_blank>St. Bartholomew, Apostle</a><br><br><br><li><a href="http://www.marymackillop.org.au/" target=_blank>St Mary MacKillop</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sosj.org.au/" target=_blank>Josephites</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1103" target=_blank>St Lawrence</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1104" target=_blank>St Clare</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://poorclare.org/" target=_blank>Poor Clares</a><br><br><li><a href="#alphonsus"><b>St Alphonsus Liguori</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.cssr.com/english/" target=_blank>Redemptorists</a><br><li><a href="http://www.stpeterjulianhaymarket.org.au/ourstory/default.cfm?loadref=3" target=_blank>St Peter Julian Eymard</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.stpeterjulianhaymarket.org.au/joinus/default.cfm?loadref=14" target=_blank>Blessed Sacrament Congregation</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1097" target=_blank><b>St. John Vianney</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/J/stjohnvianney.asp" target=_blank>More</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=59" target=_blank><b>St James, Apostle</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=22" target=_blank><b>Sts. Joachim and Anne</a>, Parents of Our Lady<br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1091" target=_blank><b>St Martha</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1092" target=_blank><b>St. Peter Chrysologus</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1090" target=_blank><b>St. Leopold Mandic</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1084" target=_blank><b>St Mary Magdalene</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1445" target=_blank><b>St. Bonaventure</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=26" target=_blank><b>St Benedict</a></b><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://christdesert.org/Saint_Benedict/St__Benedict_and_His_Order/The_Spirit_of_Benedictine_Life/index.html" target=_blank>The Spirit of Benedictine Life</a></b><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.benedictine.org.au" target=_blank>In Arcadia</a></b><br><br><li><b><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1429" target=_blank><b>Sts. Peter and Paul</a></b> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1424"><b>Birth of John the Baptist</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=324" target=_blank><b>St Thomas More</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1421"><b>St Aloysius Gonzaga </a><br><li><b><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Anthony/0-86716-202-3_lf.asp" target=_blank><font size="2">St Anthony of Padua</a></b><br><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1277" target=_blank><b>St. John Bosco</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1274" target=_blank><b>St. Thomas Aquinas</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1272" target=_blank><b>Sts. Timothy and Titus </a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=410" target=_blank><span id="s10b"><b>St Thomas, Apostle</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1270" target=_blank><b>St. Francis de Sales</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.sydney.catholic.org.au/news/latest_news/2011/2011114_1136.shtml" target=_blank><b>St Paul the Hermit</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1263" target=_blank><b>St Anthony</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj092806.asp" target=_blank><b>St Teresa of Avila</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carmelite.com">Discalced Carmelites</a><br><br><li><a href="#john"><b>St John Chrysostom</a></b><br><li><a href="#ignatius">St Ignatius of Loyola</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.jesuit.org.au/who-are-we/who-are-the-jesuits" target=_blank>Jesuits</a><br><li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/S/ststephen.asp" target=_blank><font size="2">St Stephen</a><br><li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/J/stjohnofthecross.asp" target=_blank>St John of the Cross</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.ewtn.com/saintsholy/saints/A/stambrose.asp">St Ambrose</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=109"><b>St Andrew</a><br><li><a href="#jk1"><b>St Martin De Porres</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1210"><b>St Columban</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1182"><b>Sts Simon and Jude</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/e-News/FriarJack/fj092806.asp"><b>St Teresa of Avila</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.carmelite.com">Discalced Carmelites</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1171"><b>St Ignatius of Antioch</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.australia.op.org/voc/dominic.php" target=_blank>St Dominic</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.australia.op.org/" target=_blank>Dominicans</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=369" target=_blank>St. Maximilian Kolbe</a><br><li><a href="#jk4">St Margaret d&#8217;Youville</a><br><li><a href=" http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1411"><b>St Barnabas</a></b><br><li><a href=" http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Anthony/0-86716-202-3_lf.asp"><b>St Anthony of Padua</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=97"><span id="s8d">St.Philip Neri</a><br><li><a href="http://www.maristfathers.org.au/Pages/2b-Saints%27Peter-Chanel.htm"><span id="s8d">St. Peter Chanel</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.maristfathers.org.au/Pages/2-about-us.html">Society of Mary</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=9"><span id="s8d">St. Catherine of Siena</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1371"><b>St Athanasius</b></a><br> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1283"><b>St Paul Miki and Companions</a></b><br><li><a href="#jk3"><b>St Francis Xavier</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1172">St Luke</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/m9.html#BM3">St Gregory the Great</a><br><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=305"><span id="s8d">St. Mark</a><br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ewtn.com/library/SCRIPTUR/frdomstmark.HTM">More on St Mark</a><br> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1327"><span id="s8d">St Joseph</a><br> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=510"><b>St Faustina<a></b><br> <li><a href="http://americancatholic.org/features/teresa/WhoWasTeresa.asp">Blessed Mother Teresa</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"><a href="http://americancatholic.org/features/teresa/">Other related matters/articles</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Newsletters/EDC/ag0701.asp#Saints"><b>Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha </a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1369"><span id="s8d">St. Pius V</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1090"><b>St Leopold Mandic</a><br><li><a href="#jk3"><b>St Francis Xavier</a><br></b><li><a href="http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/saintday/m8.html#BM27">St. Bartholomew</a><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1911"><span id="s8d">St. Louis Mary de Montfort</a> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1270"><b>St Francis de Sales</a> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1273"><b>St Angela Merici</a> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=63"><span id="s10b"><b>St John Bosco</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=231">St Lorenzo Ruiz</a></br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1106">Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus</a> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=409">St. Stephen of Hungary</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=391"><b>St. Bernardino Realino</a> <li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=228"><b>St John, the Apostle</a></b> <li><a href=" http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1236">St Peter Canisius</a> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1221"><b>St Nicholas</a></b> <li><a href="http://www.opusdei.org/art.php?w=32&a=40#top">St Josemaria Escriva</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"><a href="http://www.opusdei.org/art.php?w=32&s=8">Opus Dei</a><br><li><a href="http://www.columban.org.au/edu_whowas.htm"><b>St Columban<a></b><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"><a href="http://www.columban.org.au/edu_whoare.htm">The Columbans</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=4610"><b>St Rita of Cascia</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.maristoz.edu.au/schools/education/marist/index.html"><b>St Marcellin Champagnat</a></b><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.catholicvocation.org.au/FMS.htm">Marist Brothers</b></a><br><li><a href="http://www.lcm.org.au/Mary_Potter/mary_potter.html"><b>Venerable Mary Potter</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.lcm.org.au/Ministry/ministry.html">Sisters of the Little Company of Mary</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.lcmh.org/body.cfm?id=23">Hospitals & Health Centers</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/daughters/alberione1.html"><b>Blessed James Alberione</a></b><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/daughters/ssp.html"><b>Society of St Paul</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"><a href="http://www.daughtersofstpaul.com/daughters/index.html"> <b>Daughters of St Paul</b></a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=153">St John Baptist De La Salle</a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.catholicvocation.org.au/FSC.htm">De La Salle Brothers</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=3047">Bl. Edmund Ignatius Rice</b></a><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"> <a href="http://www.catholicvocation.org.au/CFC.htm"><b>Christian Brothers</b></a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=59"><b>St James</a></b><br><li><a href="#hedwig"><b>Hedwig of Poland</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1204">St. Agnes of Assisi</a> <li><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1268"><b>St Vincent</a></td></tr><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=746"><b>St Simon Stock</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=114"><b>St. Dismas</b><br><li><a href="#stjohn">St John of God</a></b><br><img width="10" src="spacer.gif"><a href="http://www.stjohnofgod.org.au">Brothers of St John of God</a><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=261"><b>St Basil the Great</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=558">St Benilde</a></b><br><li><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=461"><b>St Maro</a></b><br><li><a href="#jk2"><b>St Albert the Great</a></b><br><br><br><P><TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%" cellpadding="1"><tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#8B0009"><FONT SIZE="3" color="#FFFFFF"><P align="center"><a name="ignatius"></a><br><B>St Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556)<br><P align="justify"><FONT color="#FFFFFF" SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">St Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuits, a religious order of priests renowned for their learning, schools, missionary and social welfare ministries. Yesterday, 31 July, was the feast day of St Ignatius. Ignatius was a military man. Recovering from a wound to his right leg during a military campaign, Ignatius was unable to find any love story books to read in his convalescence. Instead, he turned to reading lives of Christ and the saints. His conscience was deeply touched. He would now be a soldier of Christ. Ignatius set off on a journey across Spain. He visited the shrine of the Virgin Mary in Monserrat, near Barcelona, and then retired to nearby Manresa where he stayed a year, living in extreme asceticism. Here Ignatius had visions - so characteristic of Spanish spirituality of the time  that may well have been hallucinatory experiences arising from the physical deprivations he had imposed upon himself. It led him to experiencing religious scruples and what was probably depression. With the help of some kind people in Manresa, he recovered from his disturbed mental and spiritual condition, and made his way to Rome before travelling on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Upon returning to Spain, Ignatius&#8217; one desire was to be a priest. He undertook theological studies and was even imprisoned for a time by the Inquisition for suspected heresy. He later studied in Paris where he gathered around himself a small group of friends. They were all ordained in Italy and the little group took the name The Society of Jesus, a new religious order authorized by Pope Paul III.<br><br> The Society expanded rapidly. By the time of Ignatius&#8217; death there were a thousand members, the numbers swelling to twenty-two thousand a century later. Numerical growth went hand in hand with geographical expansion across Europe and to the New World of the Americas. The Jesuits were characterized by unswerving obedience to the pope, as well as by a high degree of organization and a military structure. They were known as  the pope&#8217;s men in the age of the Counter-Reformation. From the beginning, the Jesuits committed themselves to education. Ignatius&#8217; greatest literary work was The Spiritual Exercises, one of the great classics of Christian spirituality. His constant advice to his followers was to &#8220;find God in all things.&#8221;<br><br> <br><font size="1" color="#FFFFFF">Source: Peter Lynch, The Church s Story: A History of Pastoral Care & Vision</font><br><br> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top"><br>Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#CCCC99"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="hedwig"></a><br><B>Hedwig of Poland<br><font size="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">1374 - 1399<br><br>Feast Day July 17</b> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Hedwig, or Jadwiga, was the daughter of King Louis of Poland and Hungary and his wife, Elizabeth of Bosnia.&nbsp;After her father&#8217;s untimely death, Hedwig was made Queen of Poland at age 10. Her betrothed was Grand Duke Jagiello of Lithuania.&nbsp;He converted to Christianity and the royal marriage was the key in the conversion of Lithuania. &nbsp;Hedwig dealt with many revolts and tried to find peaceful solutions to conflicts.&nbsp;She encouraged perpetual adoration and helped to unite Latin and Orthodox Christians.<br><br> <br><font size="1" >Source: The Catholic Weekly, July 14, 2002</font><br><br> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top"><br>Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#FFE4B5"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="alphonsus"></a><br><B>St Alphonsus</b></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Alfonso Maria Liguori was born in 1696 in Marianella, a suburb of Naples in Italy. By the age of 16, he earned a doctorate in civil and church law and for several years he practised as a lawyer.<br><br>At the age of 26, he abandoned his career to study for the priesthood. He was ordained in 1726 and became known for his zeal and powerful missionary preaching in the Naples area. However, he soon devoted his ministry to the poor to bring them the news of God&#8217;s unconditional love. <br><br>This was his mission in life and the mission of the new congregation of <a href="http://www.cssr.com/english/works/whatwedo.shtml" target=_blank>Redemptorists</a> he would found, which, he said, would stand till the end of time because "it is not my work but God&#8217;s."<br><br>Alphonsus died in 1787 in his ninety-first year. He was canonised in 1839, declared a Doctor of the Church in 1871, and Patron of Confessors and Moralists in 1950.<br><br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: Redemptorists Booklet - A Taste of Alphonsian Spirituality</font><br><P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top"><br>Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#EOFFFF"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="stjohn"></a><br><B>St John of God<br>Feast Day 8 March</B></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> St John was born in Portugal in 1495. In 1540 he hired a house to harbour sick persons and this laid the foundation of a new Order, the Brothers Hospitallers of St John of God. He devoted himself with unremitting zeal to the care of the sick until he too fell ill and died in 1550.<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC"><br>Source: Parishwide - Volume 225, St Joseph&#8217;s Parish (Rockdale)</font><br><br><br> Click <a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=68"> here</a>, if you want to know more about the life of St John of God.<br> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="FF8050"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="augustine"></a><br><B>St Augustine</b></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> St Augustine was born in Africa and as a yong man led an unsettled and profligate life. His mother, St Monica, prayed and worked hard for his conversion which occurred when he turned 33. He became a leader of the early Christian Church and his writings have had a great influence on religious thought to the present day. He wrote of his early life and struggles in his biography <i> Confessions</i>.<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: Parishwide (Volume 219), St Joseph&#8217;s Parish (Rockdale)</font> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top"><br>Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#FFF5EE"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="john"></a><br><B>St John Chrysostom<br>Feast Day 13 September</B></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Born at Antioch and after a brilliant course of studies he began to lead a life of austerity. He became a priest and was then made Bishop of Constantinople. He strove to reform the morals of both clergy and people. He incurred the hatred of the imperial court and his work was undermined because of jealousy. His sermons and writings earned him the title of "John the Golden Mouth".<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: Parishwide, St Joseph&#8217;s Parish (Rockdale)</font> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br><br></td></tr> <tr><td border valign="top" bgcolor="#E8E8E8"> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="jk1"></a><br><B>St Martin De Porres<br>Feast Day 3 November</B></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Martin was born at Lima in Peru in 1579, the son of a Spanish father and a coloured mother. As a young man he learnt the art of a dispenser of medicine, and afterwards when he joined the Dominican Order he practised this for the sake of the poor. He led a humble and austere life and had a great devotion towards the Holy Eucharist. He died in 1639.<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: Parishwide (Volume 222), St Joseph&#8217;s Parish (Rockdale) <font size="2" color="#000000"><br><br><br> To know more of St Martin&#8217;s life, click <a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1188"> here</a>.</font><br><P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br></td></tr> <P><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#CCFFCC"><br> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="jk2"></a><B>St Albert the Great<br>1701-1771<br>Feast Day November 15</b></font><p align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Albert was born at Lauingen on the Danube in Germany about 1206. He studied at Padua and Paris and then entered the Dominican Order and was engaged in teaching in a number of places with great merit. He was ordained Bishop of Regensburg and made great efforts to secure peace between peoples and between cities. He wrote many eminent works of doctrine and natural science. He died at Cologne in 1280.<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: Parishwide (Volume 222), St Joseph&#8217;s Parish (Rockdale)<P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br></td></tr> <P><tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#FFFF99"><br> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="jk3"></a><B>St Francis Xavier<br>1506-1552<br>Feast Day 3 December</B></font> <P align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Francis is among the first Jesuits. He met Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, in Paris in 1528. At age 35, Francis began an 11-year journey which would take him to India, Ceylon, Malacca and Japan. He offered sacraments to prisoners, lepers, slaves and children and set his religious instruction to popular music so the lessons were easily understood and passed along. He was known for his spiritual and physical endurance and for having a tender heart for the oppressed and poor. He is patron of missionaries.<br><br><font size="1" color="#CCCCCC">Source: The Catholic Weekly, 2 December 2001<br><br><br><font size="2" color=#000000">To read more of St Francis&#8217; life, click <a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1218"> here</a>.<br><br><br> <P><center><font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br></td></tr> <P> <tr><td valign="top" bgcolor="#D8BFD8"><br> <FONT SIZE="3"><P align="center"><a name="jk4"></a><B>St Margaret d&#8217;Youville<br>1701-1771<br>Feast Day December 23</b></font><p align="justify"><FONT SIZE="2" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif">Founder of the Grey Nuns, the Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Margaret is the first native-born Canadian saint.<br><br>She was a widow with two children when she began her religious vocation.<br><br>She and her nuns ministered to the poor, the sick, prisoners, African slaves, Indians and prostitutes. They nursed soldiers and civilian casualties on both sides of the Franco-British struggle.<br><br>Margaret&#8217;s prayer was "Give us this day our daily bread or if not to us, at least to the poor.<br><br>She was canonised in 1990.<br><br> <font size="1" color="#000000"><br><br>Source: The Catholic Weekly, 16 December 2001</font> <P><center> <font size="2" color="#CCCC99" face="arial, helvetica, sans serif"> <a href="#top">Back to top</a></FONT><br><br></td></tr></font><P><center> </table> <P align="left"> <font size="1" face="lucida handwriting, arial, helvetica, sans serif"> Created: 30 December 2001<br></FONT> </BODY></HTML>