Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist († 1153) was a French abbot and the primary reformer for the Cistercian order known for his contemplative mysticism, his devotion to Mary, and his reputation for eloquence. He was the first Cistercian monk placed on the calendar of saints after pope Alexander III canonized him in 1174. Pope Pius VIII bestowed on him the title Doctor of the Church and labeled him "Mellifluous Doctor" for his eloquence. He is a patron of Cistercians, Burgundy, beekeepers, candlemakers, Gibraltar, Algeciras, Queens' College, Cambridge, Speyer Cathedral, Knights Templar.
Saint John of Nepomuk (John Nepomucene, Jan Nepomucký; Johannes Nepomuk; Ioannes Nepomucenus) (†1393) is the saint of Bohemia who was drowned in the Vltava river at the behest of Wenceslaus, King of Bohemia. Later accounts state that he was the confessor of the queen of Bohemia and refused to divulge the secrets of the confessional. On the basis of this account, John of Nepomuk is considered the first martyr of the Seal of the Confessional, a patron against calumnies and, because of the manner of his death, a protector from floods and drowning. He was beatified in 1721, by Pope Innocent XIII and canonized in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII. His Feast day is celebrated on 16 May.
St. Lucia of Syracuse (†304), also known as Saint Lucy, or Saint Lucia (Italian: Santa Lucia), was a young Christian martyr who died during the Diocletianic Persecution who is venerated as a saint by the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Churches. She is one of eight women, who along with the Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is a patron of the blind; martyrs; Perugia, Italy; Mtarfa, Malta; epidemics; salesmen, Syracuse, Italy, throat infections, and writers.
Saint Francis de Sales, CO OM OFM Cap. (French: François de Sales; †1622) was a Bishop of Geneva and is honored as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church. He became noted for his deep faith and his gentle approach to the religious divisions in his land resulting from the Protestant Reformation. Along with St. Jane Frances de Chantal, Sales founded the women's Order of the Visitation of Holy Mary (Visitandines) in 1610. Francis de Sales was beatified in 1661 by Pope Alexander VII, who then canonized him four years later. He was declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Pius IX in 1877. He is a patron saint of confessors; deaf people; educators; writers; journalists; Oblates of St. Francis de Sales; and Salesians of Don Bosco.
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. (Italian: Luigi Gonzaga; † 1591) was an Italian aristocrat who became a member of the Society of Jesus. While still a student at the Roman College, he died as a result of caring for the victims of an epidemic. He was beatified in 1605, and canonized in 1726. He is a patron of students, Christian youth, Jesuit scholastics, the blind, AIDS patients, AIDS caregivers.
Saint Anthony the Great (†356), was a Christian monk from Egypt, revered since his death as a saint. He is distinguished from other saints named Anthony such as Anthony of Padua, by various epithets: Saint Anthony, Anthony of Egypt, Anthony the Abbot, Anthony of the Desert, Anthony the Anchorite, Anthony the Hermit, and Anthony of Thebes. For his importance among the Desert Fathers and to all later Christian monasticism, he is also known as the Father of All Monks. The biography of Anthony's life by Athanasius of Alexandria helped to spread the concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe via its Latin translations. Anthony was among the first known to go into the wilderness (about AD 270), which contributed to his renown. Accounts of Anthony enduring supernatural temptation during his sojourn in the Eastern Desert of Egypt inspired the depiction of his temptations in visual art and literature. Anthony is appealed to against infectious diseases, particularly skin diseases. In the past, many such afflictions, including ergotism, erysipelas, and shingles, were referred to as Saint Anthony's fire. His feast day is celebrated on 17 January among the Orthodox and Catholic churches and on Tobi 22 in the Coptic calendar.
Saint Philip Neri, (Italian: Filippo Romolo Neri; † 1595), known as the Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest noted for founding a society of secular clergy called the Congregation of the Oratory of Filippo Neri. Patron of Rome, Mandaluyong, US Special Forces, Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, laughter, humor, and joy.
Saint Camillus de Lellis, M.I., († 1614) was an Italian priest who founded a religious Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm (abbreviated as M.I.), better known as the Camillians dedicated to the care of the sick. Camillus was beatified by Pope Benedict XIV in the year 1742, and canonized by him four years later in 1746. His mortal remains are located in the altar in the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Rome, along with several of his relics. He is a holy patron of the sick, hospitals, nurses, and physicians and invoked to assist with gambling. His feast day is commemorated on July 14th.