Saint Aderald of Troyes
Archdeacon of Troyes in the 10th century, Adérald distinguished himself by his austere piety, his twelve pilgrimages to …
Category
founder
138 saints
Saint Alberic
Saint Alberic was one of the three founding pillars of the Cistercian Order in the 11th century. Succeeding Saint Robert…
Blessed Alexis Falconieri
A 13th-century Florentine merchant, Alexis Falconieri founded the Order of the Servants of Mary with six companions foll…
Saint Alferius
A high-ranking nobleman at the court of Salerno and an ambassador, Alferius became a monk at Cluny following an illness.…
Saint Alphonsus Liguori
A brilliant lawyer in Naples, Alphonsus Liguori left the world after a judicial error to dedicate himself to God. Founde…
Saint Amand of Maastricht
Saint Amand was one of the greatest missionaries of the 7th century, evangelizing Flanders, the Slavic lands, and Vascon…
Saint Ammon (Amon)
A 4th-century Egyptian nobleman, Ammon lived in continence with his wife for eighteen years before retiring as a hermit.…
Venerable Anthony Mary Zaccaria
A physician by training who became a priest in Cremona, Anthony Mary Zaccaria founded the Congregation of the Barnabites…
Saint Aredius (Yrieix)
Born in Limoges in the 6th century, Saint Arède (or Yriez) was a chancellor at the court of Austrasia before dedicating …
Saint Arthaud of Belley
Born in 1101 in the Valromey, Arthaud was initially a courtier before becoming a Carthusian monk at Portes. Founder of t…
Saint Aurelian of Lyon
Born in the province of Lyon, Aurelian was a great monastic reformer and Archbishop of Lyon in the 9th century. After le…
Saint Baudilus
Originally from Orléans, Baudile evangelized Nîmes in the 3rd century. He was martyred by beheading after interrupting a…
Saint Benedict (Patriarch of Western Monks)
Born in Nursia around 480, Saint Benedict abandoned his studies in Rome for the solitude of Subiaco. Founder of the Abbe…
Saint Benedict Biscop
An English nobleman who became a monk at Lérins, Benedict Biscop founded the abbeys of Wearmouth and Jarrow in the 7th c…
Saint Benezet (Benedict)
A humble shepherd from Savoy born in 1165, Bénézet received a divine command to build a bridge over the Rhône in Avignon…
Saint Berchaire of Aquitaine
A 7th-century Aquitanian nobleman, Berchaire was a disciple of Saint Nivard before becoming the founding abbot of Hautvi…
Saint Bernard of Abbeville (of Tiron)
Born near Abbeville in the 11th century, Bernard was a reforming monk and a rigorous hermit. After leading the Abbey of …
Saint Bernard of Menthon (Apostle of the Alps)
A 10th-century Savoyard nobleman, Bernard of Menthon fled a prestigious marriage to dedicate himself to God in Aosta. Ha…
Saint Berno, Abbot of Baume and founder of Cluny
The son of a Burgundian nobleman, Bernon became a monk at Autun before restoring the abbey of Baume and founding that of…
Saint Bertin of Sithiu
A nobleman from Constance, Bertin trained at Luxeuil before evangelizing Northern Gaul with Saint Omer. He founded the A…
Saint Bruno of Cologne
Born in Cologne and a brilliant chancellor of Reims, Bruno left behind honors to found the Carthusian Order in 1084 in t…
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…
Saint Calminius (Calmine)
A Duke of Aquitaine from a senatorial family in the 6th century, Calminius renounced his duties to lead a hermit's life …
Saint Camillus de Lellis
A former Italian soldier converted after a life of debauchery and gambling, Camillus de Lellis founded the Order of Mini…
Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle
Pierre de Bérulle was a major figure of the Catholic Reformation in France in the 17th century. Founder of the Oratory a…
Saint Castor of Nîmes
A former lawyer and judge in Nîmes, Castor founded the monastery of Mananque before becoming Bishop of Apt in the 5th ce…
Venerable César de Bus
A Provençal gentleman who initially led a worldly life, César de Bus underwent a radical conversion in Cavaillon. In 159…
Saint Columba (Colum Cille)
Born into the noble house of O'Neill in Ireland, Columba founded numerous monasteries before exiling himself to Scotland…
Saint Columbanus of Luxeuil
An Irish monk of the 6th century, Columbanus left his homeland to evangelize Gaul, where he founded the famous abbeys of…
Saint Convoion
Born around 788, Saint Convoion was archdeacon of Vannes before founding the abbey of Redon in 832 under the Rule of Sai…
Saint Cyran (Sigiran)
A nobleman from Berry and cupbearer at the court of Dagobert, Cyran renounced the world to become an archdeacon in Tours…
Saint Deicolus (Desle)
An Irish monk and disciple of Saint Columbanus, Desle founded the Abbey of Lure in Franche-Comté in the 7th century. Kno…
Saint Die (Didier, Deodat)
Bishop of Nevers in the 7th century, Saint Dié renounced his office to embrace the eremitic life in the Vosges and Alsac…
Saint Dominic of Guzman
Born in Castile in 1170, Dominic de Guzman became the founder of the Order of Preachers. He dedicated his life to preach…
Saint Domitian of Joux
Born in Rome in the 4th century, Domitien fled political unrest to settle in Gaul. After a period at the Abbey of Lérins…
Saint Drausin of Soissons
Born in Soissons to an illustrious family, Drausin became bishop of his native city in 638. A great builder, he founded …
Saint Erkenwald
Son of a king of the Heptarchy, Erkonwald founded the monasteries of Chertsey and Barking before becoming Bishop of Lond…
Saint Fazzio (Facio)
A goldsmith born in Verona in 1190, Fazzio distinguished himself by his piety and charity towards the poor of Cremona. A…
Saint Felix of Valois
A prince of the House of Valois, Felix renounced his titles to become a hermit and then a monk at Clairvaux. With Saint …
Saint Francis Caracciolo
Born in the Kingdom of Naples, Francis Caracciolo renounced the world after a miraculous recovery from leprosy. Together…
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. Famou…
Saint Francis of Assisi (Confessor)
Son of a wealthy merchant of Assisi, Francis renounced his fortune to marry 'Lady Poverty' after a worldly youth. Founde…
Saint Francis of Assisi (Stigmata)
Two years before his death, during a fast on Mount La Verna, Saint Francis of Assisi miraculously received the stigmata …
Saint Francis of Paola
Born in Calabria in 1416, Francis of Paola founded the Order of Minims, characterized by extreme austerity and the vow o…
Venerable Francis-Mary-Paul Libermann
Son of a rabbi from Metz, François-Marie-Paul Libermann converted to Catholicism in 1826. Despite severe epilepsy that d…
Saint Fulrad, Abbot of Saint-Denis
Abbot of Saint-Denis in the 8th century, Fulrad was an influential diplomat to the Carolingian kings and popes, playing …
Saint Gall of Ireland
An Irish monk and disciple of Saint Columbanus, Gall participated in the evangelization of Gaul and Switzerland in the 7…
Saint Gaucher of Meulan
Originally from Meulan, Gaucher retired to Limousin in the 12th century to lead a hermit's life. Founder of the monaster…
Saint Gerald (Gerard)
A monk of Corbie suffering from severe neuralgia, Géraud was miraculously healed before becoming abbot of Saint-Vincent …
Saint Gerard of Macon
Bishop of Mâcon in the 10th century, Gérard was distinguished by his learning and virtue before renouncing his office in…
Blessed Géraud de Sales-Cadouin
Born in Périgord, Géraud de Sales was a disciple of Robert d'Arbrissel before becoming a hermit and itinerant preacher. …
Saint Germer of Vardes
A Frankish noble and advisor to kings Dagobert I and Clovis II, Germer left the court for monastic life after raising a …
Saint Ghislain (Guillain)
Originally from Athens, Ghislain left his episcopal see following a vision to settle in Hainaut. There, he founded the m…
Saint Gilbert of Sempringham
An English priest of the 12th century, Gilbert founded the Gilbertine Order at Sempringham, uniting communities of men a…
Saint Guenole (Guingalois)
Born in Armorica in the 5th century, Guénolé was trained by Saint Budoc before founding the famous abbey of Landévennec.…
Saint Gundelbert
Archbishop of Sens in the 7th century, Gundelbert left his see due to civil wars to retire into the solitude of the Vosg…
Saint Guntram, King of Burgundy
Grandson of Clovis and King of Burgundy in the 6th century, Gontran distinguished himself by his piety and clemency afte…
Saint Heribert of Cologne
Chancellor to Emperor Otto III and later Archbishop of Cologne in 999, Heribert distinguished himself by his immense cha…
Blessed Herve
Treasurer of Saint-Martin de Tours in the 11th century, Hervé dedicated his life and fortune to the reconstruction of th…
Saint Hidulph of Trier
A Bavarian nobleman who became Archbishop of Trier, Hidulphe renounced his dignity to embrace monastic life in the Vosge…
Blessed Hildemar
Born in Tournai and educated in England, Hildemar was master of the chapel to William the Conqueror before retiring to t…
Blessed Hippolytus Galantini
A silk weaver in Florence, Hippolytus Galantini dedicated his life to the religious instruction of children and the uned…
Saint Honoratus of Arles
Born into a Gallic consular family, Honoratus renounced his nobility for Christ. After a journey to the East marked by t…
Saint Hugh of Grenoble
Bishop of Grenoble for fifty-two years, Hugh was a zealous reformer who fought against simony and corruption. He is famo…
Blessed Hugh of Poitiers
A monk and founder of the priory of Anzy-le-Duc in the 10th century, Hugh of Poitiers was a model of charity and monasti…
Saint Hymetius (Imetier)
A monk of the Abbey of Condat in the 6th century, Hymetière retired as a hermit in the Jura on the banks of the Valouse …
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
A Basque nobleman born in 1491, Ignatius of Loyola abandoned his military career after a serious injury at Pamplona to d…
Jacques Olier
Jacques Olier (1608-1657) was the founder of the Society of Saint-Sulpice and a major figure of the Catholic Reformation…
Saint James of Tarentaise
A former Persian officer who converted, Jacques became the first bishop of Tarentaise in the 5th century after training …
Jean-Baptiste Rauzan
Jean-Baptiste Rauzan was a priest from Bordeaux and founder of the Society of the Missions of France. After enduring the…
Jean-Joseph Allemand
A priest from Marseille born at the end of the 18th century, Jean-Joseph Allemand dedicated his life to the Christian ed…
Saint Jerome Emiliani
A Venetian nobleman and military captain, Jerome Emiliani converted after a miraculous deliverance from captivity by the…
Venerable John Baptist de La Salle
Born in Reims in 1651, Jean-Baptiste de La Salle renounced his fortune and his canonry to dedicate himself to the free e…
Blessed John Cassian
John Cassian (c. 350-433) was a major monk and theologian, founder of the Abbey of Saint-Victor in Marseille. After expe…
Saint John Colombini of Siena
A Sienese nobleman and gonfaloniere, John Colombini underwent a radical conversion after the fortuitous reading of the l…
Venerable John Eudes
A 17th-century Norman priest, Jean Eudes is the founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary and the Order of Our Lady …
Saint John Gualbert
An 11th-century Florentine nobleman, John Gualbert renounced vengeance after forgiving his brother's murderer before a c…
Venerable John Leonardi
A pharmacist by training in Lucca, John Leonardi became a priest in 1572 and founded the Congregation of the Clerics Reg…
Saint John of Matha
Born in Provence in the 12th century, John of Matha founded the Order of the Trinitarians after a miraculous vision duri…
Saint John of the Grille
A Cistercian monk trained by Saint Bernard, Jean became abbot of Busay and then bishop of Aleth in 1140. He is the histo…
Blessed John the Good of Mantua
Born in Mantua, John the Good led a dissipated youth before an illness led him to a radical conversion. Becoming a hermi…
Saint Joseph Calasanz of Peralta
Saint Joseph Calasanz is the founder of the Congregation of the Pious Schools in Rome, dedicated to the free education o…
Saint Junien of Mairé
A hermit at Chaunay and later the founding abbot of Mairé in the 6th century, Saint Junien was the spiritual friend of S…
Saint Kentigern (Mungo)
Bishop of Glasgow in the 6th century, Kentigern (known as Mungo) was a great evangelizer of Scotland and Northern Europe…
Saint Lambert of Chézery
Born in Dauphiné, Saint Lambert entered the Abbey of Bonnevaux before following his brother Peter to Tamié. In 1140, he …
Saint Landelin
A Frankish nobleman who became a brigand leader, Landelin converted under the influence of Saint Aubert following the su…
Saint Lautein (Lothain)
A 5th-century Aeduan nobleman, Lautein left the worldly life of Autun for the monastery before isolating himself in the …
Saint Leobald (Liebault)
Born into a wealthy family, Saint Liébault renounced his possessions to become a monk at Saint-Aignan d'Orléans. With th…
Saint Leobard (Leuvart)
A disciple of Saint Columbanus, Leobard founded the Abbey of Marmoutier in Alsace in the early 7th century on a royal es…
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice
An 18th-century Franciscan friar, Leonard of Port Maurice was one of the greatest missionaries in Italy. Founder of the …
Saint Leufroy
Saint Leufroi, a nobleman of Neustria in the 8th century, became an abbot and founder of the monastery of La Croix-Saint…
Venerable Louis-Marie Baudouin
A Vendéen priest and founder, Louis-Marie Baudouin lived through the French Revolution while remaining faithful to the C…
Venerable Louis-Marie Grignion de Montfort
Born in Brittany in 1673, Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort was an indefatigable apostolic missionary who traveled through…
Saint Ludger
Born in Frisia and saved from infanticide, Ludger became a learned disciple of Alcuin before evangelizing Northern Europ…
Saint Macarius
Saint Macarius is the author of spiritual homilies and the founder of a famous monastery in the Nitrian Desert in Egypt.…
Saint Meinrad
A 9th-century Benedictine monk from Reichenau, Meinrad retired as a hermit into the forests of Switzerland, founding wha…
Blessed Nicholas of Forca Palena
Born in 1349 in the Abruzzo region, Nicholas of Forca Palena was a priest and hermit who founded several monasteries, no…
Saint Nilus of Rossano (the Younger)
Saint Nilus of Rossano, a major figure of 10th-century Italo-Greek monasticism, lived a life of rigorous asceticism betw…
Saint Norbert of Magdeburg
Noble by birth and a courtier to Emperor Henry IV, Norbert converted after being struck by lightning. In 1120, he founde…
Saint Pachomius (Abbot)
Born a pagan in Egypt, Pachomius converted to Christianity after being moved by the charity of the faithful during his m…
Saint Patern the Elder
The first bishop of Vannes in the 5th century, Patern was a monk of Gallo-Roman origin who traveled to Great Britain and…
Saint Paul of the Cross (Paul-Francis)
Born in Italy at the end of the 17th century, Paul of the Cross founded the Congregation of the Passionists dedicated to…
Saint Peter Celestine (Celestine V)
An Italian hermit renowned for his holiness, Peter of Morrone was elected pope against his will in 1294 under the name C…
Blessed Peter of Vallombrosa
Formerly abbot of Saint-Vigile in Brescia, Peter retired as a hermit in the Apennines in the 11th century. After miracul…
Blessed Peter the Hermit
A nobleman from Amiens who became a hermit, Peter was the instigator and one of the leaders of the First Crusade followi…
Saint Philibert (Filibert)
Saint Philibert was the founder of the great abbeys of Jumièges and Noirmoutiers in the 7th century. After courageously …
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 C…
Saint Pirmin
Saint Pirmin, an 8th-century abbot and bishop, was a great missionary and founder of famous abbeys such as Reichenau, Mu…
Saint Raymond of Toulouse
A regular canon in Toulouse in the 11th century, Raymond dedicated his life and fortune to the poor and public works aft…
Blessed Remi of Strasbourg
Nephew of Saint Odile and Bishop of Strasbourg in the 8th century, Remi was a close associate of Charlemagne and a great…
Reverend Father Marie-Joseph Coudrin
A priest from Poitou, Marie-Joseph Coudrin exercised a heroic and clandestine ministry during the French Revolution. In …
Reverend Father Muard
A 19th-century Burgundian priest, Jean-Baptiste Muard was an apostle of diocesan missions before founding the monastery …
Blessed Robert of Arbrissel
Robert of Arbrissel was a famous Breton preacher and reformer of the 11th century, founder of the Order of Fontevraud. A…
Saint Robert of La Chaise-Dieu
Born into the nobility of Aurillac, Robert was a canon at Brioude before founding the famous Abbey of La Chaise-Dieu in …
Saint Ursus of Aosta
Originally from Scotland, Saint Ursus became archdeacon of Aosta in the 6th century after evangelizing Meyronnes. A defe…
Saint Ursus of Cahors
Originally from Cahors in the 6th century, Saint Ours founded several monasteries in Berry and Touraine, notably at Loch…
Saint William of Aquitaine (William of Maleval)
Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou in the 12th century, William initially led a life of debauchery and schism before …
Blessed William of Brabant
Born in Brabant, William initially led a life of wandering before responding to an angelic vision calling him to penance…
Venerable William of Champeaux
A nobleman from Brie and brilliant professor in Paris, William of Champeaux founded the Abbey of Saint-Victor before bec…
Saint William of Montevergine (of Vercelli)
A nobleman from Vercelli, William renounced the world at fifteen to become a pilgrim and hermit. In 1119, he founded the…