Franciscan Media

The Blessed Virgin has many, many titles–among them is Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Mount Carmel is in northern Israel and has long been the site of a monastery of religious monks. The entire Church celebrates this feast along with the Carmelite Monks and Nuns.

Saint Bonaventure was in many ways the second founder of the Franciscan Order. He served as the Minister General of the Franciscans and as the Cardinal Bishop of Albano. Through his teaching, writing, and mysticism, Bonaventure captured the spirit of Saint Francis and renewed the order accordingly.

Known as the Lily of the Mohawks, Saint Kateri Tekakwitha courageously converted to Catholicism at age 19 despite her family’s disapproval. She was ostracized and forced into extreme poverty. Escaping to Montreal, Kateri continued to live a life of prayer and penance.

Saint Henry, a German king and Holy Roman Emperor, lived life according to the customs of his times, but did it in a holy way. He is a clear witness to the holiness of secular life lived according to the gospel norms.

Saints John Jones and John Wall were ordained diocesan priests who later joined the Franciscans. Living almost a century apart, these two saints shared a common characteristic.

Saint Benedict is known as the Father of Western Monasticism due to his great influence on the shape and character of monastic life in the West. Living the life of a hermit, others witnessed his lifestyle and wanted to follow.