Franciscan Media

This millennial was a self-taught computer whiz, defender of bullied students, soccer enthusiast, and deeply devoted to the Eucharist—all this in a life cut short by leukemia at the age of 15.

When Marie-Rose Durocher was 29, Bishop Ignace Bourget became bishop of Montreal. He faced a shortage of priests and sisters and a rural population that had been largely deprived of education.

Francis Xavier Seelos was born in Bavaria. He studied in Munich before coming to the United States to serve the German-speaking immigrants. He remained here his entire adult life serving both his parishioners and fellow Redemptorists.

A shy, retiring man, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli became our beloved Pope Saint John XXIII. Perhaps the greatest irony was that his fellow Cardinals elected him as a stop-gap pope to give them time to get the politics ironed out for a more permanent candidate. Little did they know what the Holy Spirit had in store for the Church through this “temporary” Pope.

Saint Francis Borgia had it made according to every social standard. He had name, position, power, etc. But after a series of events, including the death of his wife, he joined the Jesuits, where he used his professional talents and abilities in the service of his Order and the Church.

This martyr and patron of France is regarded as the first bishop of Paris. His popularity is due to a series of legends, especially those connecting him with the great abbey church of St. Denis in Paris.