Sebastian lived during the Roman Empire's frequent and unjust persecution of Christians. In an effort to save Christians from being persecuted, Sebastian became a soldier in the Roman army. For 3 years, he kept his faith hidden from the Emperor as he converted Roman soldiers to Christianity and protected fellow Christians from being persecuted. He was sentenced to death upon the Emperor discovering his Christian motives and ultimately survived the first execution attempt of being shot by arrows. Sebastian had unwavering faith and is known for his physical strength and endurance in the face of persecution. He’s an individual that many Christian athletes and soldiers draw inspiration from.

Joan of Arc lived during the Hundred Years' War, a period of conflict between England and France. As a young girl, she claimed to receive visions from saints directing her to support King Charles VII and lead the French forces to victory. At the age of 17, Joan gained permission to join the French army, where her leadership and military strategy were instrumental in several key victories. Her charisma, boldness, and unshakable faith inspired soldiers and rallied French forces. However, Joan's success eventually led to her capture. She endured a political trial in which she was accused of heresy and witchcraft. Despite her best efforts to defend herself, Joan was convicted and sentenced to death. Her life and legacy continue to captivate people around the world. She remains a national heroine in France and is a symbol of resistance, courage, and faith. Her story has inspired numerous works of literature, art, and film and has helped people stand firm in their beliefs and convictions.

Padre Pio was an Italian priest who lived during a time of incredible societal uncertainty and transformation with both World Wars taking place in his lifetime. From a young age, he had the ability to converse openly with Our Lord and knew shortly later that he was called to a life of spirituality. When he was 31 years old, he received what’s known as a stigmata—a phenomenon where an individual is marked with the wounds of Christ. He faced a tremendous amount of public scrutiny and skepticism for this. He continued to press on and live for Our Lord, becoming known for his piety, humility, and gifts of healing and prophecy - even the ability to know people’s sins! He served as a spiritual guide to countless people and founded a hospital dedicated to alleviating human suffering. Padre Pio's devotion to God and his ministry of compassion continue to inspire millions worldwide.

Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a Jewish Pharisee and persecutor of early Christians until a transformative encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus led to his conversion to Christianity. He went on to become one of the most influential figures in the early Church - fervently leading the expansion of Christianity by preaching the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire as an extremely intelligent, educated, and articulate man, able to connect with and relate to non-believers in a way that many other early church leaders couldn’t. He established Christian communities and wrote numerous letters to guide and encourage believers - with many of his known writings being deemed as inspired from God and accumulated to make up much of the New Testament. Paul endured imprisonment, beatings, and even shipwrecks as a result of his dedication to spread the message of Christ. His teachings on love, grace, and redemption continue to influence and inspire Christians worldwide today.

Mary, the mother of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is a key individual in salvation history. Her “Yes” to God’s will at the Annunciation set the stage for God to become Man and dwell among us. Along with Jesus’s foster father, Joseph, Mary protected and raised Jesus so He could grow as a faithful Jew and begin His public ministry. She was with Jesus throughout His proclamation of The Kingdom of Heaven - even encouraging His first public miracle to take place at The Wedding at Cana. She endured witnessing the crucifixion of her beloved Son, and following the Resurrection, she continued to support the early Christian community by offering guidance and encouragement. Mary's life exemplifies unwavering faith, obedience, and devotion to God's will. She holds a revered place in Christian theology as the Theotokos, or "God-bearer," and her life serves as a source of inspiration for countless believers worldwide.

Augustine lived during the decline of the Roman Empire and the spread of Christianity throughout the Mediterranean world. He went through personal struggles early in his life, mainly by indulging in worldly pleasures that left him emotionally empty. This led him on a search for spiritual truth and an eventual conversion to Christianity at the age of 32. He then dedicated himself to a life of prayer, study, and service, becoming a priest and bishop in the North African city of Hippo. Augustine's theological works, including "Confessions" and "City of God," are among the most influential writings in Christian thought. He addressed profound questions about human nature, the problem of evil, and the nature of God's grace, shaping the course of Christian theology for centuries to come. He is regarded as one of the most influential theologians and philosophers in Christian history.

Catherine of Siena was a gifted writer, mystic, and theologian who lived in Italy during the Renaissance and when women had little public influence - making her life and work all the more impressive. She recalls having her first vision of Jesus at the age of 5 and soon after, by age 7, decided to dedicate her whole life to God. She faced push back from her family with her desire to join religious life, but she ultimately persisted in what she felt called to do. She served the sick and imprisoned in Siena and eventually became involved in politics so she could “speak truth to power”. She became well-known for her diplomatic efforts, working with both religious and political leaders as an advocate for Church unity and public peace. Her last words before she passed away were modeled after Jesus, “Father, into your Hands, I commend my soul and spirit.”

Peter, originally known as Simon, was a fisherman by trade before being chosen by Jesus Christ as one of the twelve apostles. He was known for his impulsive nature and fiery devotion to Jesus. His life was filled with significant encounters with Jesus, including the miraculous catch of fish, walking on water, and his confession of Jesus as the Messiah. Even though he had moments of doubt and denial, Peter emerged as a central figure among the apostles, often acting as their spokesperson and becoming the “rock” in which Christ would build His Church upon. After Jesus' death and resurrection, Peter lived out his calling to preach the Gospel fearlessly and establish the Church's foundation. He delivered powerful sermons, performed miracles, and faced regular imprisonment and persecution. Peter's vision of accepting Gentiles into the Christian community was a pivotal moment for Christianity, allowing God’s redemptive plan to transcend cultural and ethnic boundaries - making Christianity accessible to people from all walks of life. His eventual martyrdom serves as a powerful example of sacrificial love and commitment to one's beliefs, inspiring generations of Christians to stand firm in their faith, even in the face of adversity.

Joseph, the earthly father of Jesus and husband to Mary, is a central figure in Christianity, known for his humility, righteousness, and unwavering faith. As the leader of the Holy Family (Joseph, Mary, & Jesus), he played a pivotal role in protecting and providing for Mary and Jesus. His absolute faith and trust in the Lord is exemplified through the action he took in response to numerous dreams he had of an angel instructing him how to best care for his family. There are no known words of Joseph that are officially recorded in history, but it’s been strongly suggested that if there was anything Joseph would have said - it would have been just one word, “Jesus”, as he, a Jewish father, was in charge of naming his child and was instructed by an angel in a dream to do so. This suggestion is fitting and summarizes Joseph’s life perfectly. As a man of few words and massive actions, he did everything in his power to direct people’s attention towards Jesus. He serves as an inspiration to families, fathers, expectant mothers, travelers, immigrants, and workers around the world. 

Francis was born into a wealthy family in Assisi, Italy. He lived a life of luxury and indulgence until a series of spiritual experiences led him to renounce his family's wealth and dedicate his life to God. In 1206, Francis experienced a vision from God while praying in a broken-down church, where he heard Christ instruct him to "rebuild my church." Francis responded by rebuilding the physical structure of the church, yet he kept on hearing “rebuild my church”. Taking this message to heart spiritually now, Francis dedicated himself to serving the poor and spreading the teachings of Jesus Christ to build up the Kingdom of God. He preached a message of love, peace, and care for all God's creatures and the environment itself. His example continues to influence environmental movements and calls for conservation, reminding us of the sacredness and interconnectedness throughout God’s Creation. He received the stigmata, the wounds of Christ, in 1224, which further solidified his reputation as a saint. His legacy as a spiritual leader, mystic, and advocate of the poor and environment lives on, impacting the lives of millions around the world.

St. Teresa of Calcutta, commonly known in the present day as Mother Teresa, is one of the most inspiring figures of the 20th century. As a young girl, she was fascinated by stories of missionaries which led her to join religious life by the age of 18. In 1946, after working as a missionary for over a decade already, Mother Teresa described what she heard as a “call within a call” from Jesus to serve the poorest of the poor in India. She founded the Missionaries of Charity to provide care for the sick, orphaned, and dying and became known across the world for her love and compassion towards those who society regarded as lost and forgotten. She did not seek recognition, yet her selfless work ultimately led her to be the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979. Mother Teresa's impact on the world is continuing to this day, with the Missionaries of Charity gaining a presence in over 120 countries and serving thousands of people each and every day.

Faustina was born into a poor and religious Polish family in the early 20th century. She felt a calling to enter into religious life at the age of 7, eventually becoming a nun when she grew older. A pivotal moment in Faustina's life came in 1931. While she was partaking in her daily prayer routine, she began experiencing a series of extraordinary visions and mystical encounters with Jesus. During these revelations, Faustina explains that Jesus entrusted her with a mission to spread the message of His mercy to the world, urging souls to trust in His immeasurable love and forgiveness. She recorded these experiences, teachings, and conversations with Christ in a diary, which later became known as "Divine Mercy in My Soul." Today, the devotion to Divine Mercy, inspired by Faustina's experiences and teachings, continues to draw millions of faithful to a deeper understanding of God's infinite love and mercy.

Maximilian Kolbe, born in Poland, lived during a time of political disorder and the rise of Nazi Germany. When he was 12, he committed to a life of purity and self-sacrifice after being inspired by a vision of Mary, the Mother of Our Lord. Soon after, he entered religious life and became a priest. His passion for spreading the message of Christ led him to establish a publishing house in Poland, where he printed religious literature and magazines that reached millions of readers. After World War II broke out, Kolbe helped over 2,000 Jews hide from the Nazi’s in a local monastery before he was discovered and arrested by the Gestapo. He was sent to Auschwitz, and after a few months there, Kolbe volunteered to take the place of a fellow prisoner condemned to die in a starvation bunker. While imprisoned in the bunker, Kolbe continued to inspire hope and faith among his fellow inmates, leading them in prayers and hymns until his death. The prisoner in which Kolbe sacrificed his life for miraculously survived Auschwitz, later saying,  “I could only thank him with my eyes. I was stunned and could hardly grasp what was going on. I was put back into my place without having had time to say anything to Maximilian Kolbe. I was saved. And I owe to him the fact that I could tell you all this. The news quickly spread all round the camp. It was the first and the last time that such an incident happened in the whole history of Auschwitz.” Kolbe’s selfless sacrifice became a symbol of love triumphing over hate, and his memory around the world lives on as a testament to the power of faith and compassion in the face of evil.

Karol Wojtyła, later known as John Paul II, grew up in Poland as an active, adventurous young man and entered into religious life after his parents died and he was unsure of what God had planned for him next. He was a brilliant man, intellectually sound, and a great communicator who became a priest, a bishop, and ultimately the Pope through years of his passion to serve Jesus Christ and spread the Gospel throughout the world. He played a vital role in the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe and was a tireless advocate for interfaith dialogue, seeking to promote understanding and reconciliation among religions. He faced numerous health challenges, including an assassination attempt in 1981, yet he continued to travel extensively, visiting over 120 countries and inspiring millions with his messages of faith, love, and a “universal call to holiness”. His dynamic personality and ability to connect with people from all walks of life made him one of the most beloved and influential figures of the 20th century. His legacy as a champion of human dignity, peace, and unity continues to inspire lives all over the world.

Therese lived in France during the late 19th century. She became known as “The Little Flower” for her belief that even the smallest of actions, performed with great love, could bring souls closer to God – calling this her “little way”. She grew up attending church regularly with her family, yet it was participating in Christmas Eve Mass when she was 13 years old that catapulted her spiritual life forward even more. She recalls that on the night, “God worked a little miracle to make me grow up in an instant”, and that, “He saw fit to have me come forth from the swaddling clothes and imperfections of childhood.” This powerful experience to “grow up” spiritually and become less concerned about the opinions of others led Therese to enter into religious life 2 years later. She wrote an autobiography called, "The Story of a Soul," which became a spiritual classic, revealing insights into her “little way” of life and belief that holiness is attainable for all, regardless of one's circumstances, through acts of love, humility, and trust in God. Her devotion to God in the ordinary moments of life, even during her battle with tuberculosis, continues to resonate with believers globally who are seeking closeness to Jesus.