Saint John of Capistrano was born on June 24, 1386 in Naples, Italy. Early on in John’s childhood, his father passed away. This event was hard for John to get through, but it made him a much stronger person overall. Saint John of Capistrano attended the University of Perugia, and used his education to become a lawyer. This is why Saint John of Capistrano is remembered as the patron saint of jurists. When Perugia’s governor wished to step down from his position, John was chosen to be his replacement.

When war seemed eminent between Malatesta and Perugia, John put forth a valiant effort at keeping the peace. His efforts would fail though and he would be thrown in jail by enemies.

John’s enemies were not in a hurry to set him free. He realized that the salvation of his soul was more important than anything else.

John was held in prison for many years, he was not released until age 30. After having plenty of time to contemplate what he would do with his life while in prison, John made up his mind that he wanted to join a religious society. John chose to become a Franciscan friar.

John would live life in a monastery for a few years before deciding he wished to be a priest. Once John was a priest he went all over preaching. He would continue his preaching and traveling for forty years.

The Turks took over the European continent and attempted to wipe out Christianity. Pope Callistus II told John to visit all the Christian countries and speak to their leaders of fighting to defend Christianity. John rounded up a gigantic army of 70,000 men.

Saint John got all the soldiers fired up to be in battle, and even when things were looking grim he kept their spirits high. Although they were greatly outnumbered by the Turks, they would win the battle.

After the battle, Saint John would pass away on October 23, 1456. His feast day falls on that same day each year.

Saint Brendan the Navigator was born in the year 460 in Tralee, Ireland. Anybody who likes to sail or travel should pray to Saint Brendan because he is their patron saint. Saint Brendan’s sister was also very religious and a saint as well, her name was Brig. Brendan’s religious knowledge was taught to him by Saint Ita of Killeedy in his youth.

Once Saint Brendan was of sufficient age, he started a monastery of his own because it had been his dream since his childhood. Open doing this Brendan gained many followers who wanted to be taught the ways of God by him. This flattered him and also caused him make several other monasteries in the area because his one was getting so overcrowded. Brendan’s most renowned monastery is in Clonfert. This monastery is still intact today.

Brendan’s travels tie him to the creation of many monasteries in Ireland and Scotland too. Many of these monasteries fall next to or near to the Shannon River. Brendan met other important religious figures in his journeys such as Saint Columba, and Saint Malo.

Saint Brendan is best known for his supposed travels to the Americas with a group of other Irish monks. Their journey is said to pre-date Columbus’s, and while their have been numerous disagreements on the topic, it is true that nobody will truly ever know who got there first. Both the men’s accomplishments are impressive either way.

On Mount Brandon, it is said that Saint Brendan saw apparitions of the Promised Land. He got a crew together to sail towards the land he had seen. Their journey was a unsuccessful, but they were not unnerved by their failure. The men left for a second excursion to find the Promised Land. The never found it but ended up on an epic quest. The men are said to have traveled through Greenland, Iceland, and many other places as well.

During his long travels Brendan also ended up meeting Saint Patrick. Their are also stories of Brendan riding on the backs of whales and battling sea monsters. Brendan would later return back to Ireland to run his monasteries again. He would spend the rest of his life there, and would pass away in the year 578.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, was originally born with the name Luigi. His family was very wealthy and Aloysius grew up in a castle in Castiglione delle Stiviere, which is in the northern part of Italy. His family was very well known around his parts, St. Aloysius Gonzaga was the son of Ferrante Gonzaga.

While Aloysius grew up his family, especially his father, expected him to be soldier. This was due to the always ongoing local wars that took place in Italy. Aloysius did as they pleased, and began his military training when he was very young. He learned this along with foreign languages and several other subjects.

At the young age of eight, Aloysius was shipped of to Florence with his brother to further his education, while serving at the court of Grand Duke of Matua. Aloysius did not enjoy the way of life he was introduced to in Florence, it was far to frantic and wild for his taste.

Did you know Saint Aloysius Gonzaga suffered from kidney disease? Well he did, and this is the main reason why he became interested in the Catholic religion. In his free time while he was sick, Aloysius began reading every day about different saints. This led to him eventually spending many hours a day in prayer.

Saint Aloysius took a private vow of chastity, when he was just nine years old.

In 1580, Aloysius met Cardinal Charles Borromeo. The cardinal realized that nobody had ever given Aloysius his first holy communion, and proceeded to give him his.

Aloysius really wanted to join a religious order and had narrowed it down to two. He either wanted to join the Capuchins or the Jesuits. He chose to become a Jesuit.

His family did not fully support his decision though. His mother didn’t like his decision but still supported him, but his father was outraged that his son would not carry on his way of life.

His family tried to convince him to become a secular priest, so he could still indulge in the two different ways of life, but Aloysius did not want that. He wanted to truly give himself to the Lord.

Aloysius gave up all of his rights that he held by being the first born son in his family. He gave let all the possessions he would have eventually received go to his younger brother. To do this he had to visit Rome because he was from such a well known, and wealthy family.

On November 25, 1585 Aloysius was accepted into the Jesuit novicate. Aloysius still suffered even more health issues after his kidney troubles. He also had chronic headaches, insomnia, and a skin disease. Aloysius studied in Milan for a few months, but had to be sent back to Rome shortly after due to his declining health.

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga took three vows in his lifetime. These were vows of poverty, obedience, and chastity. In 1590, Aloysius had a vision from the Archangel Gabriel, who told him that he would die within one year of that day.

In the next year the plague would break out in Rome. Aloysius helped out in a hospital the Jesuits started to help those afflicted by the illness.

This is what led to his eventual death. Aloysius became infected with the plague and this, on top of his other illnesses, was too much for him to handle.

He passed away on March 21st of that year he was pronounced dead. Aloysius is buried in the Church of the Most Holy Annunciation, in Rome. That church has been since renamed the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Aloysius changed his name to Robert right before his death, he did so in memory of Robert Bellarmine, a cardinal who he confessed his sins to before death.

Pope Paul V canonized Aloysius a saint on October 19, 1605. This was just fourteen years after he passed away!

Saint Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of people living with AIDS, young students, and the town of Valmontone. His feast day is celebrated on June 21st each year, and his is usually depicted with page or symbolized as a lily, a cross, or a skull.

Saint Agnes of Rome was born in the year 291. She is also known as Saint Ines, and is remembered as a virgin-martyr. The name Agnes is taken from a Greek word meaning “sacred or pure”.

Saint Agnes was from a family of Roman nobility and was raised as a Christian. Her tradgic death occured at the young age of thirteen when she was told she was to be raped as a sacrifice to the pagan gods that many worshipped in Rome during those times.

Agnes was still a virgin and wished to remain that way until her marriage, due to her good Christian faith. However the men would have none of this, and continued to insist she must be raped. The pagans took Agnes to a Temple that was made in honor of the Roman goddess Minerva, and still the arguement carried on for quite some time with no progress made, until numerous men offered to marry Agnes and then carry on with the ritual.

This was done to make Agnes feel what she was allowing to happen was acceptable. Agnes found this to be inadequate and rejected these offers. Stating she would rather face death and not disgrace her Lord.

So St. Agnes was tied up and pulled through the streets of Rome naked headed for a brothel. Upon her arrival, numerous men attempted to rape her but they became immediately blind when they made their attempts. The men became infuriated and all agreed to burn her at the stake. The bundle of wood the men brought to burn her with would not light though, and the men became even angrier.

This led to one of the soldiers in charge of the execution drawing his sword and beheading Agnes. Agnes showed great strength in her beliefs and faced death, rather than give in the pagans and their demands. This is why she is remembered as a saint and a martyr.

Saint Agnes is the patron saint of gardeners, virgins, rape victims, engaged couples, and girls, and her feast day is celebrated on January 21st each year.

Welcome to the blog we have set up for The Catholic Gift Shop! Here we hope to get into more of a conversation with you about relevant topics, questions you may have about items seen in the store, and some additional background we simply could not fit elsewhere!