Saints

Founder and reformer. The son of a count, Cajetan was born in Vicenza, Italy, in 1480. He graduated from the University of Padua with law degrees. After working in the papal offices in Rome he was ordained a priest. With the death of Pope Julius II in 1513, Cajetan withdrew from the Papal Court. Recalled to Vicenza by the death of his mother, he founded a hospital for incurables in 1522. By 1523... Read More

Pope and martyr. Sixtus was a Greek philosopher who became a Christian and was made Pope Sixtus II in 257. In that year, the Emperor Valerian issued his first decree condemning Christianity. He ordered that the farms and estates, honours, goods and even lives of those who refused to renounce their faith should be sacrificed. Pope Sixtus fled to the catacombs along the Appian Way with his followe... Read More

Saint Dominic Founder of the Dominicans. Saint Dominic was born at Calaruega in Castile in 1170, the youngest son of the town warden. His uncle educated him and he became an Austin Canon at Osma cathedral. In 1201, he was made sub-prior. Three years later, on his way to Denmark he met the Cathars for the first time. These were a popular sect that lived communally and had a number of extreme beli... Read More