Feast of St. Blath of Kildare, lay sister and cook in St. Brigid’s convent in Kildare, Ireland. She was renowned for her simple, personal sanctity, holiness and for her loyalty to Saint Brigid. Died in 523.

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Italian Dominican priest, Doctor of the Church, philosopher, theologian, jurist, the father of Thomism.  Patron of Academics, book sellers, Catholic academies, schools, universities, chastity, learning, pencil makers, publishers and students.

Feast of St. Angela Merici, Franciscan tertiary, founder, the Company of St. Ursula (Order of Ursulines). Patron of the sick, disabled and physically challenged and those grieving the loss of parents.

Feast of St. Paula of Rome, married Toxotius, had 5 children, Blaesilla, Paulina, Eustochium, Toxotius, and Rufina. Widowed, built a hospice, monastery and a convent with St. Jerome in the Holy Land.  Patron of widows, Order of St. Jerome, monks and nuns.

Feast of St. Dwynwen, daughter of King Brychan Brycheiniog, credited with the saying: “Nothing wins hearts like cheerfulness”.  Welsh patron saint of lovers, making her the Welsh equivalent of St. Valentine. She is also the patron saint of sick animals.

Feast of St. Francis de Sales, Bishop, Founder, Doctor of the Church. Patron of Catholic writers, the Catholic press, the deaf, journalists.

Feast of St. Marianne Cope, O.S.F. (St. Marianne of Molokai).  American nun born in Heppenheim, Hesse, Germany. Superior General, Sisters of St Francis of Syracuse, NY.   Worked with lepers on Molokai. Patron of Hawai’i, lepers, those with HIV/AIDS.

Feast of St. Vincent Saragossa, deacon of the Church of Saragossa, protomartyr of Spain. Patron of São Vicente, Lisbon, Diocese of Algarve, Valencia, Vicenza, Italy, vinegar-makers, wine-makers and the Order of Deacons of the Catholic Diocese of Bergamo, Italy.

Feast of St. Agnes of Rome, virgin and martyr. She rests below the high altar of Sant’Agnese fuori le Mura, (Basilica of St. Agnes Outside the Wall) Rome, Italy. Patron of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape survivors, virgins and the Children of Mary. Died in 304.

Feast of St. Sebastian, Martyr. He served in the Praetorian Guard to protect Emperor Diocletian. Shot with arrows, recovered by Irene of Rome and nursed back to health. He was later beaten to death. Patron of soldiers, athletes, archers and against plague.