St Felix II

Felix was the Great-Grandfather of Pope St. Gregory the Great. Pope St. Gregory wrote about his Great-Grandfather Felix's life. He wrote that when his aunt was dying, his Great-Grandfather Felix appeared to her and told her to come to heaven to be with him there. Felix was Pope during a really hard time in the Church, people were arguing about what the Church was teaching. Pope Felix proved that he was very brave by defending the truth in the Church. Pope Felix really tried to be a peacemaker for the Church around the world, just like Jesus taught us to be.

Sts Romanus & Lupicinus

Romanus and Lupicinus were brothers. Romanus wanted to live a simple life, so left his home and settled in the Jura mountains, between Switzerland and France. There he lived as a hermit, all alone with Jesus. He spent his time praying and growing his own food. He had not been gone very long when his brother Lupicinus came to live with him. Romanus and Lupicinus lived such simple and holy lives that soon many men came to live with them, to learn how to become closer to Jesus. They built 2 monasteries and focused their time on praying and hard work. They also started a convent for women, which was run by their sister. They decided to take a vow of silence to help them grow even closer to Jesus. Their sacrifices really helped them to live very holy lives.

St Gabriel of OLS

St. Gabriel was named Francis Possenti when he was born. He was born to a rich and important family. He loved to be around people and enjoyed going to parties and celebrations. When he was young, he became really sick, not just once but twice. Both times, he promised Mary, Jesus' Mother, that if she helped him get better, he would become a priest. He was miraculously healed from both his illnesses, but both times he did not become a priest. When he was 18 years old, he saw a procession with a picture of the Sorrowful Mother. It was as if the eyes of the picture were fixed on him, and then he heard a voice saying that this world was no longer for him. After that he knew he was supposed to give his life to Jesus and he joined the Passionist Order. That is when he took the name Gabriel of the Sorrowful Mother. Gabriel is remembered for his obedience, humility, and mostly for his great joy for Jesus and Mary. He shared this joy so happily with all those around him. He had only been a Passionist priest for 4 years when he died of tuberculosis (a sickness in his lungs) at the age of 24.

St Porphyry

Porphyry was born to a rich family. He his rich family when he was a young man and he left his home to go to Egypt, where he joined a monastery. He traveled to the Holy Land to visit the places where Jesus lived and he preached to the people there. He loved it so much that he stayed. He asked that all his possessions back in Greece be sold and he gave away all his money to help the poor in Palestine. He then lived as a hermit ( all by himself) in a cave near the river Jordan. When he turned 40, he became a priest and later became the Bishop of Gaza. He worked hard to serve the people of his Church and he taught many people about Jesus. He was loved and admired by his Christian community for how faithfully he loved and served Jesus.

St Caesarius Nazianzen

Caesarius was born into a family who loved and followed Jesus. His father and mother both became Saints, St. Gregory the Elder of Nazianzen and St. Nonna. His brother also became a Saint, St. Gregory of Nazianzen. Caesarius went to school to become a doctor and he worked hard to become a really great doctor. He was very well known and respected for how great of a Doctor he was. He was so good that the Emperor of Constantinople, whose name was Julius, asked Dr. Caesarius to become his personal doctor. Julius had once been a Christian but gave up his faith and was known to hate Christians. He made an exception for Dr. Caesarius because he was such a good doctor. Julian tried very hard to get Caesarius to give up his faith. He promised him lots of money and other possessions. With the help of his brother and father, Dr. Caesarius was able keep from being tempted by Julius to turn away from Jesus. A year before he died, a terrible earthquake almost killed Dr. Caesarius. He saw this as a sign from God to leave everything and follow Him. He gave everything he had to the poor and left his work as a doctor to live a peaceful and prayerful life. He died a year later after faithfully serving God and giving Him his whole life.

Sts Montanus

Montanus, Lucius and their companions were followers of St. Cyprian. Shortly after Cyprian was put to death, rebels nearly killed one of the Roman soldiers involved in Cyprian’s death. The soldier wrongly accused the followers of Cyprian as being responsible for the attack and he had them arrested. Montanus, Lucius, and their companions were put in dark dungeons and were given very little food or water. They were forced to work very hard during the day. This group of prisoners drew strength from their faith in Jesus and the support they had in each other. They were each killed because of their faith in Jesus, one right after the other. They all died a martyrs death for Jesus, their King and Savior.

St Polycarp

Polycarp was a disciple of St. John the Evangelist, he became a priest and later was made Bishop of Smyrna which is now Turkey. Polycarp was a very faithful follower of Jesus, who helped lead the new Catholic Church in the direction of Jesus' teachings. The people of Smyrna loved their Bishop and he lead many people to Christ with his humble service. At the age of 86, in the year 156 AD, he was arrested and brought to Rome to be put to death for his beliefs. He was told to give up his faith but he refused and he faced death by praising Jesus and asking that he could be with Jesus in Heaven. They tried to burn him with fire but the flames raged on either side of him but would not burn him. Since he wasn't being touched by the fire, they stabbed him and his blood put out the fire. St. Polycarp bravely served Jesus in both his life and his death as a martyr for Christ.