Today’s Saint

By Franciscan Media - We have an early, almost unembellished account of the martyrdom of Saint Maximilian in modern-day Algeria... Brought before the proconsul Dion, Maximilian refused enlistment in the Roman army saying, “I cannot serve, I cannot do evil. I am a Christian.”... Dion replied: “You must serve or die.”... “I will never serve. You can cut off my head, but I will not be a soldier of this world, for I am a soldier of Christ. My army is the army of God, and I cannot fight for this world. I tell you I am a Christian.”

By Franciscan Media - So many holy persons seem to die young. Among them was Dominic Savio, the patron of choirboys... Born into a peasant family at Riva, Italy, young Dominic joined Saint John Bosco as a student at the Oratory in Turin at the age of 12. He impressed Don Bosco with his desire to be a priest and to help him in his work with neglected boys. ..

Franciscan Media - Frances’ life combines aspects of secular and religious life. A devoted and loving wife, she longed for a lifestyle of prayer and service, so she organized a group of women to minister to the needs of Rome’s poor... Born of wealthy parents, Frances found herself attracted to the religious life during her youth. ...

Franciscan Media - Having given up active Christian belief while a soldier, John was 40 before the depth of his sinfulness began to dawn on him. He decided to give the rest of his life to God’s service, and headed at once for Africa where he hoped to free captive Christians and, possibly, be martyred.