Saints

Visionary, and later nun. Born in 1844, Bernadette was the eldest of six children born to Francois Soubirous, a miller, and his wife Louise. The family lived in great poverty. When they couldn't afford to pay the rent, after 1857 the family were forced to live in one room of an old prison. Throughout her childhood Bernadette suffered many illnesses, including cholera. She had asthma all her life... Read More

Monk. This sixth century Irish saint was the founder and abbot of Lothra in Co Tipperary. Coming from a royal Munster family, he studied under St Finian at Clonard. He is sometimes described as a bishop and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is said to have replaced St Brendan (the Navigator) at Lorrha, who preceded to cross the Shannon and set up his monastery at Clonfert Co Galway. In ... Read More

Abbot. Stephen was probably born in Dorset, during the last part of the 11th century. He studied at Sherbourne Abbey and then travelled abroad, becoming a monk at Molesme in Burgundy. In 1098 he went to Citeaux, with a group of other monks. In 1106 he became the third abbot there. St Stephen was an important reformer of the Cistercian order. His early years at Citeaux were difficult, but when S... Read More