From an early age, Daniel Comboni believed he was called to missionary work in Africa. And indeed, within three years of his ordination at age twenty-two, Daniel and five other missionaries were in Sudan. There, his dream collided with reality.

Albert was curious, and you know what curious people do: They ask questions. They do research. And, often, they love teaching as a means of sharing what they’ve learned. Albert’s curiosity is breathtaking.

Benedict the African was a natural leader. But the way he exercised his leadership was different from the way we might expect.

“A single act of love makes the soul return to life.” (St. Maximilian Kolbe)

The Gospel writer Luke, who we know as a disciple of St. Paul drew on St. Mark’s Gospel for his own version of the story of Jesus’ life on earth.

Gerard believed he had found his vocation as a lay Redemptorist, throwing himself into whatever task the community assigned him: sacristan, gardener, carpenter, and of course tailor, which had been the young man’s training.

Call it palace intrigue, call it family intrigue. Edward the Confessor’s life was filled with alliances and misalliances. After repairing a rift with his powerful father-in-law, Edward became more focused on his faith (“confessor” refers to his piety, not that he was ordained).

Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli never left his roots as a northern Italian farmer’s son; it’s just that the places where he planted and sowed changed.

“Dear young people, let yourselves be taken over by the light of Christ, and spread that light wherever you are.” (St. John Paul II)