Blessed Alexander Sauli
A member of the Barnabite order and a close associate of Saint Charles Borromeo, Alessandro Sauli was appointed bishop of Aléria in 1570 to …
Historical markers
16th century
72 saints referenced
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Born into the illustrious House of Gonzaga, Aloysius renounced his titles and fortune to enter the Society of Jesus. A model of purity and p…
Saint Andrew Avellino of Castronuovo
A priest of the Theatine Order born in the 16th century, Andrew Avellino was a zealous reformer and a friend of Saint Charles Borromeo. Afte…
Venerable Anne of Jesus
Anne de Lobera, known as Anne of Jesus, was a Spanish Carmelite nun born in 1545. A disciple of Saint Teresa, she founded numerous monasteri…
Venerable Anthony Mary Zaccaria
A physician by training who became a priest in Cremona, Anthony Mary Zaccaria founded the Congregation of the Barnabites and the Order of th…
Saint Benedict the Moor (Benedict of San Fratello)
Born a slave in Sicily to African parents, Benedict was freed at birth and initially led a rigorous life as a hermit before joining the Orde…
Saint Cajetan of Thiene
A nobleman from Vicenza and doctor of law, Gaetano of Thiene founded the Order of Theatines in 1524 to reform the clergy through radical pov…
Saint Catherine de' Ricci
Born into the Florentine nobility, Catherine Ricci entered the Dominican convent in Prato at the age of thirteen. A great mystic, she receiv…
Blessed Catherine of Cardona
Born into the illustrious House of the Dukes of Cardona, Catherine fled the Spanish court to live for twenty years as a hermit in a cave nea…
Blessed Catherine Thomas
An orphan from Majorca mistreated by her uncle, Catherine Thomas was a pious shepherdess before entering the Augustinians of Palma at the ag…
Venerable César de Bus
A Provençal gentleman who initially led a worldly life, César de Bus underwent a radical conversion in Cavaillon. In 1592, he founded the Co…
Saint Charles Borromeo
Nephew of Pope Pius IV, Charles Borromeo became Archbishop of Milan and was one of the major figures of the Counter-Reformation. He distingu…
Blessed Charles Spinola
An Italian Jesuit sent on a mission to Japan at the beginning of the 17th century, Charles Spinola served there as a missionary and procurat…
Blessed Christine Ligarelli (Licarelli)
Born in Lodi in 1481, Christine Ligarelli distinguished herself from childhood by her piety and refusal of finery. At twenty-five, she joine…
Saint Felix of Cantalice
A 16th-century Capuchin religious, Felix of Cantalice spent forty years in Rome as a questing friar. Known for his simplicity and his perpet…
Saint Francis Borgia
A Grandee of Spain and Duke of Gandia, Francis Borgia left the court of Charles V after being struck by the vanity of earthly grandeur befor…
Saint Francis Caracciolo
Born in the Kingdom of Naples, Francis Caracciolo renounced the world after a miraculous recovery from leprosy. Together with John Augustine…
Saint Francis de Sales (Bishop and Prince of Geneva)
Bishop of Geneva residing in Annecy, Francis de Sales was one of the great Catholic reformers of the 17th century. Famous for his gentleness…
Saint Francis Solano
A 16th-century Spanish Franciscan friar, Francis Solano distinguished himself through his missionary zeal in South America. Known as the Apo…
Saint Francis Xavier (Apostle of the Indies)
Born in Navarre and educated in Paris, Francis Xavier became one of the first companions of Ignatius of Loyola. Sent as a missionary to the …
Françoise de Bermond (Mother of Jesus-Mary)
Françoise de Bermond introduced the Ursuline Order to France, transforming the associations of Saint Angela into regular communities. She fo…
Saint Germaine Cousin (Shepherdess of Pibrac)
Born infirm in Pibrac near Toulouse, Germaine Cousin lived a life as a shepherdess marked by poverty and the mistreatment of her stepmother.…
Blessed Gregory Lopez
Originally from Madrid, Gregory Lopez renounced his nobility to lead the life of a hermit in Navarre and then in New Spain. He lived for thi…
Hugues des Hazards
Hugues des Hazards (1454-1517) was the 75th Bishop of Toul. Known as the 'Good Father', this learned prelate and builder reformed his dioces…
Saint Hyacinth Mariscotti (Clarisse)
Born into the Italian nobility, Hyacinthe Mariscotti initially lived a worldly life within her convent in Viterbo before a radical conversio…
Blessed Ignatius of Azevedo and his companions
A Portuguese Jesuit and visitor to the missions in Brazil, Ignatius of Azevedo was martyred in 1570 with thirty-nine companions during a voy…
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
A Basque nobleman born in 1491, Ignatius of Loyola abandoned his military career after a serious injury at Pamplona to dedicate himself to G…
Saint Jerome Emiliani
A Venetian nobleman and military captain, Jerome Emiliani converted after a miraculous deliverance from captivity by the Virgin Mary. He ded…
Blessed John Angel Porro
A religious of the Servite Order born into a noble Milanese family, John Angelus Porro lived for twenty years as a hermit on Monte Senario. …
Blessed John Baptist of the Conception
A 16th-century Spanish religious, John Baptist of the Conception was the reformer of the Trinitarian Order. Despite intense persecution from…
Blessed John Grande (the Sinner)
Born in Andalusia in 1546, Jean Grandé dedicated his life to the service of the poor, prisoners, and the sick, first as a hermit and then wi…
Venerable John Leonardi
A pharmacist by training in Lucca, John Leonardi became a priest in 1572 and founded the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of the Mother o…
Blessed John Marinoni of Venice
A Theatine religious born in Venice, John Marinoni distinguished himself by his heroic charity during the plague of 1528 before joining the …
Venerable John of Avila
A 16th-century Spanish priest, John of Avila was an indefatigable preacher in Andalusia and the spiritual director of great saints such as T…
Blessed John of Epirus
A young Catholic worker from Epirus, John worked in Constantinople in the 16th century. A victim of the jealousy and slander of his colleagu…
Blessed John of Jesus-Mary
Born in Spain in 1564, John of Jesus-Mary was an eminent theologian and mystic, elected General of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. Admire…
Saint John of the Cross
A 16th-century Spanish religious and collaborator of Saint Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross is the co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites.…
Blessed Ladislaus of Gielniów
A 15th-century Polish Franciscan religious, Ladislas of Gielniow was a renowned preacher and provincial of his order. Known for his missiona…
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi
Born Giulio Cesare in Brindisi, Lawrence became an eminent Capuchin, theologian, and diplomat in the service of the papacy and the Empire. H…
Saint Louis Bertrand of Valencia
A 16th-century Spanish Dominican, Louis Bertrand was a tireless missionary in South America, notably in Peru and Colombia, where he baptized…
Venerable Louis of Blois (Blosius)
A former page to Charles V, Louis de Blois renounced court life at fourteen to enter the Abbey of Liessies. Upon becoming abbot, he reformed…
Blessed Louise of Savoy
Having become a widow at twenty-seven, Louise of Savoy dedicated herself to charity and penance before joining the Franciscan monastery of O…
Blessed Marie of the Incarnation (Madame Acarie)
Born Barbe Avrillot in Paris, she led an exemplary life as a mother before becoming the central figure in the introduction of the Reformed C…
Blessed Martin de Porres
Born in Lima in 1569, Martin de Porres was a Dominican lay brother renowned for his profound humility and charity toward the poor, the sick,…
Blessed Mary Bartholomew Bagnesi
Born into the Florentine nobility, Marie-Bartholomew Bagnesi dedicated her life to God after a mysterious illness struck her upon the announ…
Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi
Born into an illustrious Florentine family, Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi entered the Carmel where she lived a life marked by mystical ecstasies …
Nineteen Martyrs of Gorkum
In 1572, during the Dutch Revolt, nineteen ecclesiastics (eleven Franciscans, two Premonstratensians, one Dominican, one Canon, and four sec…
Our Lady of Grace (Cotignac)
In 1519, the Virgin Mary appeared to Jean de la Baume on the hill of Verdale in Cotignac, requesting the construction of a chapel under the …
Our Lady of Guadalupe
In December 1531, the Virgin Mary appeared to a converted indigenous man named Juan Diego on a hill near Mexico City. To prove her request t…
Our Lady of Loreto (Lille)
The cult of Our Lady of Loreto in Lille centers on two chapels, the most famous of which was rebuilt in 1708 by the Elector of Cologne as a …
Our Lady of Médous (Sancta Maria de melle dulci)
In 1588, the Virgin Mary appeared to a pious widow, Domenge Liloye, to warn the town of Bagnères of an imminent punishment. After ignoring t…
Saint Ozanna
A member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic in Mantua, Ozanne dedicated her life to God from childhood despite her parents' opposition. Fav…
Blessed Paul of Arezzo
Of noble origin and an upright lawyer in Naples, Paul of Arezzo joined the Theatines before becoming Bishop of Piacenza and then Cardinal-Ar…
Blessed Peter Canisius of Nijmegen
A 16th-century Dutch Jesuit, Peter Canisius was one of the key figures of the Counter-Reformation in Germany. A theologian at the Council of…
Blessed Peter Faber of Villaret
Born in 1506 in Savoy, Peter Faber was the first priest of the Society of Jesus and one of the first companions of Saint Ignatius of Loyola.…
Saint Peter of Alcantara
A 16th-century Spanish Franciscan religious, Peter of Alcantara is famous for his extreme asceticism and his reform of the Seraphic Order. A…
Saint Philip Neri
Born in Florence in 1515, Philip Neri settled in Rome where he became the 'Second Apostle' of the city. Founder of the Congregation of the O…
Blessed Pierre Fourier
A Lorrain priest and exemplary parish priest of Mattaincourt, Pierre Fourier dedicated his life to education and religious reform. Founder o…
Saint Pius V (Michel Ghislieri)
A 16th-century Dominican Pope, Pius V was a rigorous reformer of the Church and its customs following the Council of Trent. He is famous for…
Blessed Rainier (Regnier) of Borgo San Sepolcro
Born in Tuscany around 1510, Raynier entered the Capuchins after a brief marriage imposed by his parents. Recognized for his humility, obedi…
Venerable Robert Bellarmine
Born in 1542, Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit, cardinal, and Archbishop of Capua, renowned for his talents as a theologian and controversiali…
Blessed Salvador of Horta
A 16th-century Spanish Franciscan religious, Salvador of Horta lived a life of humility as a shepherd, shoemaker, and then cook friar. Famou…
Blessed Sebastian of Aparicio
Sebastian of Aparicio was a 16th-century Spanish entrepreneur who emigrated to Mexico, where he laid out major roads. After two marriages li…
Venerable Sister Grace of Valencia
A member of the Third Order of Saint Francis of Paola in Valence, Sister Grâce lived for 112 years in extreme austerity, marked by long fast…
Saint Stanislaus Kostka of Poland
A young Polish nobleman, Stanislaus Kostka fled Vienna on foot to join the Society of Jesus in Rome despite his family's opposition. Marked …
Blessed Stephana de Quinzani
A 16th-century Dominican nun, Stefana de Quinzani dedicated herself to God from childhood. She experienced a profound mystical union marked …
Saint Teresa of Avila
Born in Avila in 1515, Teresa entered the Carmel where she experienced intense mystical events, including the transverberation of her heart.…
Saint Thomas of Villanova (the Almoner)
Born in Castile in 1488, Thomas of Villanova was an Augustinian friar famous for his scholarship and immense charity. Having become Archbish…
Saint Toribio of Mogrovejo
A Spanish magistrate appointed Archbishop of Lima in the 16th century, Toribio dedicated his life to the evangelization of Peru and the defe…
Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan
In 1597, under Emperor Taikosama, twenty-six Christians including Franciscans, Jesuits, and Japanese laypeople were martyred in Nagasaki. Af…
Saint Vincent de Paul
A 17th-century priest from the Landes, Vincent de Paul dedicated his life to the relief of all human misery. A captive in Tunis and later ch…
Venerable Yves Mahyeuc
A Dominican religious born in 1462, Yves Mahyeuc became the confessor to Queen Anne of Brittany before being appointed Bishop of Rennes in 1…