Saints

St Eusebius of Vercelli Bishop. Born in Sardina in the fourth century, to a Christian family who had suffered persecution for their faith, Eusebius grew up in Rome, became a priest there and was named bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont in 340. During the early years of his episcopate he lived with his priests in an organised community - possibly the first bishop to do so. His troubles began when he ... Read More

Bishop and founder of the Redemptorists. Alphonsus was born in 1696 near Naples, the son of a Neapolitan nobleman. He studied law and became a distinguished and eloquent barrister. One day his rhetoric carried him away. He forgot to read an important point in a document and lost a case worth a large fortune. From that time onwards, he abandoned law and studied to be a priest. Alphonsus was ordai... Read More

Cistercian abbot. Of noble birth, (he was the son of Earl Simon of Northampton and Matilda, the great niece of William the Conqueror) Waldef (Waltheof) was born in 1100 and grew up in the Scottish court. He could have become a court cleric, but chose the monastic life, becoming an Austin canon at Nostell in Yorkshire. In 1134, he became prior of Kirkham. In 1140 he was a favourite to become Archb... Read More