The Desert Fathers (and mothers) are such an intriguing topic for me. From about 200-600 AD this movement spread across Egypt and the Holy Land. Unique individuals so consumed by their hunger for faith, that they were willing to completely cut ties with the world. They moved to the remote wilderness, deserts, or even deep forests where survival was secondary to their prayers. Quite often they lived in caves pushing the boundaries of mental and physical discipline. I just can't help but envision Obi-Wan Kenobi in the deserts of Tatooine, living his hermit life among other outcast jedi. Many of these Christians were indeed escaping Roman persecution while others simply wanted to find complete seclusion. They were basically wild-people living off nothing but river water, herbs, and prayer.
From these early Desert Fathers came the concept of communal ascetism and the establishment of monasteries. This was a much healthier practice of structure and moral support with like-minding people of deep faith. Famous monks such as Pachomius and Benedict established some of the first major monasteries with a code of rules. The structure consisted of a balance of prayer with work-and-study. Monks were expected to support themselves financially thru the fruits of their communal labor. This often included farming, raising animals, brewing, and copying manuscripts. It actually doesn't sound like that bad of a life. To be free from all the noise, to just read, write, garden, drink, eat, and pray. I find I do enjoy the peace, quiet, and solitude of a hermit lifestyle. But even I could not fully commit to this level of devotion and isolation.
The Desert Fathers
Saint Paul the Hermit
- Years: 227-341 (113 years)
- Nationality: Thebes, Roman Egypt
- Life: He is considered the first hermit, who left society to live an isolated-monastic life in complete prayer and devotion to God. He was actually born into a wealthy family, very educated, and converted to Christianity at a young age. He decided to flee into eastern desert of Egypt so as to escape Roman persecution but also to live a solitary life dedicated to God. He found a cave with a spring and a palm tree, and spent approximately 90 years surviving on the bare essentials. He had absolutely no contact with human society for the majority of his life, aside from meeting Saint Anthony the Great (another famous desert ascetic). His life was one of legendary sacrifice to God, since he lived this way for 90 years (a feat even more impressive then martyrdom). He died at the old age of 113, and according to tradition he was buried by two lions, and was put in Anthony's cloak. He left no writings behind, all that survives is the legacy he lived from various witnesses. Much of his story was later recounted by famous theolgian scholars such as St. Jerome.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Hermits, ascetics, basket weavers, solitude
- Symbols: Two lions, palm tree, raven
- Feast Day: Jan 10
- Famous Churches:
- Monastery of Saint Paul the Anchorite (Eastern Desert, Egypt)- 5th century- Built near the holy site where Paul lived most of his ascetic life
- Saint Paul the First Hermit Cathedral (San Pablo City, Laguna, Philippines)- 18th century- Cathedral dedicated to Saint Paul the Hermit
- Church of St. Paul the Hermit (Mosta, Malta)- 14th century- rock cut chapel within a cave
Saint Anthony the Great
- Years: 251-356 (105 years)
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- Nationality: Koma, Egypt (Roman Empire)
- Life: He is regarded as the first monk, who abandoned all his possessions to live a life of isolation in the desert praying to God. At the age of 20 he began his hermit lifestyle in a cave and a fortress near the Nile River where he practiced asceticism and scriptural study. According to legend he was tempted by demons various times of which he often used a bell to drive them away. On one occasion he was attacked and nearly killed by them. When he asked the Lord why he had abandoned him, the lord responded it was to test his faith. Anthony then returned to face the demons and this time was protected by the light of the lord. He became a spiritual master and leader during his isolation and was visited by various other monks, priests, theologians, and prominent Christians (including Athanasius of Alexandria and Constantine the Great). In his elder years he played a pivotal role in developing theology that defended Christians from persecution, and helped strengthened the doctrine of the trinity (which was disputed by Arianism). He also helped develop the concepts of Christian monasticism and mysticism. He lived a long life and died at the age of 105 in the desert at Mount Colzim.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Animals, skin-disease, farmers, butchers, the poor, gravediggers, cemeteries, monasticism
- Symbols: Bell, Lamb, Tau-shaped cross
- Feast Day: January 17
- Famous Churches:
- Monastery of Saint Anthony (Red Sea Desert, Egypt) 356- Burial site of Saint Anthony
- Saint Antoine l'Abbaye (Isere, France) 1297 - Became home to the monastic order known as Hospital Brothers of Saint Anthony with several of his relics
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Saint Pachomius the Great
- Years: 290-348
- Nationality: Thebaid, Roman Egypt
- Life: He is considered one of the early Desert Fathers who organized the monastic community way of of life. He was a Roman soldier as a young man who was moved by the plight of the persecuted Christians. He later converted to Christianity himself and sought a new extreme life to fully devote himself. He traveled to the desert to live the hermit life, where he was trained under an elder named Palamon. He came to discover that the solitude aspect was mentally damaging, and that more could be achieved thru communal monasticism. He then created a guide book of rules, duties, prayers, communities, and structure. His key rule was the monks should live in communal homes, headed up by an abbot. Also there should be structured days of prayer, work, meals, and rest. This was an early effort to scale back the individual extremism, and have a productive community. This laid the groundwork of many monk orders to follow such as the Benedictines, Franciscans, and Dominicans.
- Cause of Death: Plague
- Patronage: Monastic communities, abbots
- Symbols: Hermit robes, Crossing the Nile on the back of a crocodile
- Feast Day: May 9
- Famous Churches:
- Monastery of Saint Pachomius (Tabenna, Egypt)- 318-320- Founded by Pachomius as the first cenobitic monastery
- Basilica of Saint Pachomius (Pbow, Egypt)- 336-337- Major shrine dedicated to Saint Pachomius
- Monastery of Saint Pachomius (Luxor, Egypt)- 4th century
Saint Hilarion
- Years: 291-371
- Nationality: Gaza, Palestine
- Life: He was born of pagan parents, but later converted to Christianity as he studied in Alexandria, Egypt. While in Egypt he visited the famous monk Anthony the Great and became one of his disciples. He then took on his own vow of ascetism settling in the deserts of Gaza, Palestine. He became famous during this time for performing miracles of healing and exorcisms. He also was tormented by demons (just like Anthony) which even included a naked woman trying to tempt him. Hilarion often resisted these temptations and trials thru prayer and intense body discipline. Hilarion would often have to relocate to new places so that he could find true isolation in the desert. This included the deserts of Egypt, Libya, Sicily, and Cyprus. He is considered the father of the Palestinian monasticism.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Hermits, monks, Palestine
- Symbols: scroll monk robes
- Feast Day: Oct 21
- Famous Churches:
- Monastery of St. Hilarion (Gaza, Palestine)- 4th century- One of the earliest Christian monasteries in the Holy Land established by St. Hilarion
Saint Macarius the Great
- Years: 300-391 (90 years)
- Nationality: Shabsheer, Egypt
- Life: He was a camel driver, who was falsely accused of fathering child. Rather than fight the case, he humbly accepted the accusation and supported the woman and child. Once the woman confessed the truth he decided to live an ascetic life in the desert devoted completely to God. During this time he documented many of his mystical experiences and inner theological thoughts such as the heart being the source of sin and the Holy spirit dwelling in the soul. He also famously preached in favor of compassion over judgement. Unlike many other hermits, Macarius still lived a public life and had many visitors that saw him as a spiritual leader. He also shared many of his theological writings the most famous being the Macarian Homilies. He died at the ripe old age of 90, most of which was spent living in solitude in the desert. However much of his theology on inner transformation was preserved in writings. He is regarded as one of the key Desert Fathers alongside Anthony the Great.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Monks, hermits, spiritual leaders
- Symbols: Desert, elder with long white beard, basket, skull
- Feast Day: Jan 15
- Famous Churches:
- Monastery of Saint Macarius the Great (Wadi El Natrun, Egypt)- 360-385- Principle shrine dedicated to St. Macarius. One of the oldest active monasteries in the world.
Saint Onuphrius
- Years: 320-400
- Nationality: Ethiopia
- Life: He is another of the famous Desert fathers, who abandoned his life in the monastery to live in complete solitude. He spent approximately 60 to 70 years in the desert without any human contact. He lived mostly off of water, wild herbs, and constant prayer. He was eventually discovered by another hermit named Paphnutius who witnessed him as a very skinny wild-man with a very long beard. They briefly had a conversation and shared a meal that was provided by the angels. Paphnutius heard his testament and later preserved his legacy thru writings. Before he died Onuphrius made one request to Paphnutius, that he spread the word of God's mercy. According to legend his body was immediately buried by angels and his hermit-cave crumbled shortly after.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Weavers, jurists
- Symbols: loincloth, long beard, hermit with an angel, hermit with a crown at his feat, dove
- Feast Day: June 12
- Famous Churches:Saint Onofrio al Gianicolo (Rome, Italy)- 1419-1439- Dedicated to Saint Onuphrius and those who practiced desert spirituality
- St. Onuphrius Monastery (Jerusalem, Israel)- 4th century; rebuilt in 1892- believed to have been a cave where Onuphrius spent some time. Also believed to be the site where Judas hung himself.
- Monastery of Saint Onuphrius (Lviv, Ukraine)- 1292; rebuilt in 1680
Saint Moses the Black
- Years: 330-405 (75 years)
- Nationality: Scetis, Egypt
- Life: Similar to Mary of Egypt, Moses the Black also underwent a major transformation in the Egyptian deserts. As a young adult he was a dangerous criminal known for thievery, drinking, and even murder. At one point he fled from the authorities to hide in the Scetis desert (same location as Macarius the Great). It was here that he met various monks and was suddenly moved by the Holy Spirit to change his ways. He completed devoted himself to isolated prayer and repentance for his past life. He even became a monk and fought against his wicked demons thru prayer, fasting, and manual labor. Thru his devout transformation he eventually became a priest, especially administering to those with troubled pasts. He met a heroic death when a band of raiders approached his monastery. He confronted the raiders by telling them those who live by the sword shall die by the sword. This allowed the other monks to escape, while Moses the Black was killed by the raiders. This was a very heroic act of martyrdom, however I decided to include him here with the monastic saints since he is considered one of the primary Desert Fathers.
- Cause of Death: Sword
- Patronage: Africa, nonviolence
- Symbols: Leaking basket of sang, broken sword, desert, scroll
- Feast Day: Aug 28
- Famous Churches:
- Paromeos Monastery (Scetis, Egypt)- 335- Founded by Macarius the Great, this is where Moses lived as a monk. This is also where he was martyred. This is his primary shrine that contains some of his relics
Saint Arsenius
- Years: 350-445 (95 years)
- Nationality: Rome, Roman Empire
- Life: He was a highly educated scholar from Rome, and was even chosen by Emperor Theodosius to tutor his son. He later became a deacon and for a while lived among the wealthy circles of Constantinople. One day while praying to Christ, he heard a response in his head, telling him to flee from men and your soul shall be saved. In 394 Arsenius took to heed the message and abandoned all his material wealth to live in the desert of Scetis, Egypt (the same region as Macarius the Great). He took on a new discipline of silence and humility during his isolation. He spent most his time living in a cell, fasting, praying, and doing manual labor. He had to relocate several times due to barbarian raids. Although he spent over 50 years isolated in the desert he did have some interactions with the monastery of Scetis which preserved his legacy. He is considered as one of the great foundational desert fathers of the monastic life.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Monks, hermits, silence
- Symbols: Elder monk with long beard, scroll, finger to the lips indicating silence, desert
- Feast Day: May 8
- Famous Churches:
- Protaton Church (Mount Athos, Greece)- 9th-10th century- Although not dedicated to him, there are many frescoes glorifying his monastic example
Saint Simeon Stylites the Elder
- Years: 390-459
- Nationality: Sis, Eastern Roman Empire (Turkey)
- Life: He was born near Syria from a poor Christian family, and was drawn to the monastic life by the Beautitudes. He built a reputation from the start of his extreme discipline ranging from starvation of fasting, refusal to sit down for days, and injuring himself with flagellins. Eventually the monastery asked him to leave due to this unorthodox behavior even for a monk. He then began an independent hermit life, continuing his extreme masochist patterns dedicated to God. In 423 AD he came up with the idea to completely remove himself from people by living on a high pillar (50 feet tall). He had many followers who lived below, and provided him with food and water via ropes. He eventually achieved some fame for this outrageous discipline, and began consulting people, even the emperors. He spent most of his time standing in prayer for 35 years until his death. The church later recognized him as a holy man, and many other saints committed similar acts of devotion that became known as stylites. There were also examples of people who lived up in trees in total isolated devotion.
- Cause of Death: Exhaustion
- Patronage: Hermits, Stylites, fasting, solitude
- Symbols: Monk robes, standing on top of pillar
- Feast Day: Sept 1
- Famous Churches:
- Church of Simeon Stylites (Aleppo, Syria)- 5th century- Church complex constructed on the site of Simeon's stylite pillar. It is mostly in ruins now but still considered his primary shrine.
Desert Mothers
Saint Syncletia of Alexandria
- Years: 315-375
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- Nationality: Alexandria, Egypt
- Life: She is one of the foundational Desert mothers, who gave up her wealth and beauty to completely live an ascetic life dedicated to God. She found isolation with her sister in the remote wilderness on the outskirts of Alexandria, Egypt. She practiced silence, prayer, fasting, and charitable service. She grew a reputation for her devout sacrifice and gathered many female followers. Many of her teachings were preserved iby Saint Athansaius in the Sayings of the Desert Fathers scrolls. Her most famous teachings were that joy could be achieved thru dedicated prayer; the importance of humility; the unending threat of temptation; and the mental and physical aspects of ascetic life. Her final few years she suffered a painful cancer, but endured it with great humility. She taught her students that thru the pain and suffering she got closer to God.
- Cause of Death: Old age, cancer
- Patronage: Spiritual mothers, long illness and suffering
- Symbols: Scroll, cross, elderly women
- Feast Day: Jan 5
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Saint Paula of Rome
- Years: 374-404
- Nationality: Rome, Roman Empire
- Life: She was also a Roman aristocrat who gave everything up to live an ascetic life in the deserts of Palestine. While she went on long periods of isolation she did still stay involved with local monasteries and religious communities. She traveled excessively throughout the Holy Land, Turkey, and Egypt where she established 4 monasteries. She eventually settled in Bethlehem with her daughter St. Eustochium where she worked closely with St. Jerome. In Bethlehem she established her most famous convent for women of which she was the abbess of until her death.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Widows, monks, nuns, Order of St. Jerome
- Symbols: Abbess with a book, depicted as a pilgrim, with St. Jerome, embarking in ship
- Feast Day: Jan 26
- Famous Churches:
- Church of Saint Paula the Roman (Rome, Italy)- 1949-1951- Primary church dedicated to Saint Paula
- Monastic Complex of Saint Paula and St. Eustochium (Bethlehem, Israel)- St. Paula's famous monastery established near the Church of the Nativity. This is where she spent her final years and is buried here with her daughter.
Saint Melania the Younger
Saint Mary of Egypt
Communal Monastics
Saint Benedict of Nursia
Saint Columba
Saint Romuald
Saint Bruno of Cologne
Saint Gertrude the Great
Saint Rita of Cascia
- Years: 383-439
- Nationality: Rome, Roman Empire
- Life: Just like many other great hermits, she was also wealthy and decided to renounce everything to completely devout herself to God. She was the granddaughter of Melania the Elder, who had also become a famous Desert Mother. She was married for a brief while, but when she lost both of her infant children this drove her into a deep somber state. She moved to live an ascetic life in North Africa for a while, then eventually settled in Jerusalem. While there she established a women's monastery where she became the abbess for the rest of her life. Many of her spiritual teachings were preserved in writings by her students.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Widows, Abbesses, pilgrims, loss of a child
- Symbols: Scroll, monastic building, cross, veil
- Feast Day: Dec 31
Saint Mary of Egypt
- Years: 430-520
- Nationality: Alexandria, Egypt
- Life: She was a harlot from Alexandria, who sought pleasure in sexual promiscuity. However one day she joined some pilgrims to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Jerusalem and something magical happened. She was unable to cross thru the threshold of the church due to her life of sin. She then heard the voice of Mother Mary tell her to cross the River Jordan to find rest. From this point on she made a vow to live a life of purity and devotion to Christ. She relocated to the desert east of the Jordan River and lived a life of solitude for 47 years in total repentance. She struggled with many of her past demons and found peace thru fasting and prayer. Towards the end of her life she met a traveling monk, St. Zosimas whom documented her story. Apparently Mary knew this man's name without ever meeting him. The following year Zosimas brought her holy communion and saw her walking on water. He then found her dead in the desert the next year. Truly a unique story of someone who underwent an extreme conversion from wickedness to holy mystical devotion to God. Her story has many similarities to that of Mary Magdalene.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Chastity, deliverance from lust, sexual demons, fever, skin disease
- Symbols: Cilice, skull, loaves of bread
- Feast Day: April 1
Communal Monastics
Saint Benedict of Nursia
- Years: 480-547 (67 years)
- Nationality: Nursia, Italy
- Life: He began his calling as a hermit living in a cave for three years, where another monk lowered food to him. Just like with Saint Anthony he fought many inner demons during this period. At one point he desired a woman badly and decided to roll in a thorn bush to put the lust to rest. He later accepted a role as abbot of a monastery however was disliked by the other monks who attempted to poison him (which miraculously shattered before he could drink from it). St. Benedict then began to gain some following and established twelve monasteries throughout Subiaco. He later established one of his most famous monasteries at Monte Cassino, where he wrote the Rule of Saint Benedict (guidelines for the monastic life). Throughout the later part of his life it is believed he performed many miracles of visions, foresight, multiplying food, and driving out demons. There were also examples of monks who decided to leave his monastery and were met with mysterious episodes of convulsions or a giant dragon. Long after he died his monastic order survived to this day to become one of the largest and most famous (alongside the Dominicans and Franciscans).
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Against poison and curses, agriculture, engineering, fever, monks, illness, schools, students
- Symbols: Bell, broken cup, and serpent bush, bundle of sticks, raven
- Feast Day: July 11
- Famous Churches:
- Monte Cassino Abbey (Montecassino, Italy)- 529- Birthplace of the Benedictine Rule
- Sacro Speco (Subiaco, Italy)- Sacred cave where Benedict lived as a hermit
- Monastery of St. Benedict (Subiaco, Italy)- Monastery near the sacred cave
Saint Scholastica
- Years: 480-543
- Nationality: Monte Cassino (Ostrogothic Kingdom)- Germanic Rome
- Life: She was the twin sister of the famous Benedict of Nursia, he had a similar devout calling to the monastic life. She established the first women's monastery using principles that her brother had outlined. According to legend Benedict and Scholastica met once a year between their monasteries to pray and discuss theology together. She famously convinced her disciplined brother to stay longer with her so they could continue their sibling connection. When Benedict tried to refuse, thunder struck, which they both understood as a sign from God, convincing Benedict that it was okay to spend extra time with his sister (even if she was a woman). While Benedict embodied prayer, structure, and discipline, Scholastica embodied prayer, love, and relationship. When she died Benedict saw her spirit rise like a dove. They were both later buried together.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Nuns, sisterhood, convents
- Symbols: Sister robes, holding crozier or book, dove flying over her head.
- Feast Day: Feb 10
- Famous Churches:
- Abbey of Monte Cassino (Cassino, Italy)- 529- Monastery founded with her brother. This is her primary shrine and contains her tomb next to her brother.
- Abbey of Saint Scholastica (Lazio, Italy)- 6th century- Benedictine monastery founded by Benedict but dedicated to his sister
- Cathedral of Saint Scholastica (Lazio, Italy)- 6th century; rebuilt in 18th century
- Years: 521-597 (75 years)
- Nationality: Gaelic, Ireland
- Life: He was an Irish monk who played a key role in spreading Christianity thru Ireland and Scotland. He was known for his poetic oratory and established many monasteries throughout Ireland by the age of 40. In 563 AD he then went on a mission with 12 companions to spread the faith into pagan Scotland. There on the island of Iona he founded a very famous monastery. He converted many of the local Pict tribes and had dealings with kings and other notable warlords. His most famous legend is his confrontation with the iconic Loch Ness monster. After his death, his monastery at Iona became one of the most important monasteries during the Middle Ages. He is celebrated as the patron saint of Scotland.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Scotland, Derry, flood, bookbinders, poets, Ireland
- Symbols: monk robes, crosier, Celtic cross
- Feast Day: June 9
- Famous Churches:
- Iona Abbey (Iona, Scotland)- 563- He established this monastery as the spiritual center of his Celtic Christian mission. Many of his relics are here.
- Monastery of Kells (County Mearth, Ireland)- 6th century
- Dunkeld Cathedral (Dunkeld, Scotland)- 6th century; rebuilt in 1260- Columba's original burial location
Saint Romuald
- Years: 951-1027
- Nationality: Ravenna, Italy
- Life: As a young man Romuald witnessed his wealthy father kill a man in a duel which had a significant impact on him. He decided to break away from society and completely devout himself to the Benedictine monastic order. Romuald quickly realized that the life in the monastery was too luxurious and he wanted something more remote and isolated. Despite his reluctance to be independent he was frequently called upon to be an abbot at various monasteries due to his deep faith. He eventually established his own order of monks known as the Camaldoli Order. It was essentially a monastery with hermit cells thus allowing individuality and community. Even after this however he continued to travel and establish new monasteries and continued to live a life of extreme ascetism.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Camaldolese Order, hermits, silent prayer
- Symbols: White monk robes, ladder ascending into heaven, hermits cell
- Feast Day: June 19
- Famous Churches:
- Camaldoli Holy Hermitage and Monastery (Arezzo, Italy)- 1012- Primary monastery established by Saint Romuald that is still active today.
- Chiesa di San Biagio e San Romualdo (Marche, Italy)- 17th century- Shrine for St. Romuald's tomb
Saint Bruno of Cologne
- Years: 1030-1101
- Nationality: Cologne, Germany
- Life: He was a highly educated scholar from Cologne, Germany who taught at the University of Reims. During this time he taught future bishops and popes and even counseled kings. He suddenly realized he was driven by too much ambition and was losing his soul in the process. In his mid-40s he left all his high-status posts to live an isolated life of a hermit. Similar to Saint Romuald, he sought community but also isolation at the same time. He eventually came up with an idea to start a new order on this basis. In the Alp mountains of Grenoble, France he and his companions built a monastery comprised of separate hermit cells. This gave each monk their own private quarters to spend time in prayer while still part of a community. It became known as the Carthusian Order. Due to his established fame, the monastic order quickly became quite popular. Even the pope, whom he had trained visited and called Bruno up for counsel. His holy act of dropping all his successful achievements to dedicate himself fully to God led to his canonization.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: hermits, isolation
- Symbols: Carthusian white robes, holding a skull, cave, crucifix
- Feast Day: Oct 6th
- Famous Churches:
- Eglise-Saint-Bruno-des-Chartreux (Lyon, France)- Dedicated to Saint Bruno
- Eglise-Saint-Bruno (Grenoble, France)- near the original site of his first Cathusian monastery
- Santuario di San Bruno (Calabria, Italy)- Sanctunary founded by Bruno that contains his tomb
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux
- Years: 1090-1153 (63 years)
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- Nationality: Burgundy, France
- Life: He was born into a noble devout family, his father a knight his mother a very pious woman. He later joined a Benedictine monastery in Citeaux dedicating his soul to God. At the age of 25 he established a new monastery in Clairvaux in which he became abbot. During his time as abbot he also became a highly regarded theologian with an emphasis on how to love God. As his writings gained popularity he quickly rose to a public role advising kings and popes. He was a key player in calling for the Second Crusade and the Knights Templar as a means to defend the sacred land of Christians from conquest. He was later a crucial architect of the Marian devotion which emphasized the importance of Mary. It is also believed he performed many miracles such as healing, prophecies, mystical visions, and exorcisms. Thru his theological writings he is also considered a Doctor of the Church.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Cistercians, Burgundy, Beekeepers, candlemakers, Knights Templar
- Symbols: Cistercian habit, book, crosier
- Feast Day: Aug 20
- Famous Churches:
- Clairvaux Abbey (Clairvaux, France)- 1115- The monastery founded by Saint Bernard still stands today. This is his burial site and primary shrine. During the French Revolution his tomb was destroyed and body was scattered as a protest against religion.
- Troyes Cathedral (Troyes, France)- 13th century- Although dedicated to Peter and Paul, many of Bernard's relics were moved here after the events of the French Revolution.
- Basilica and Convent of Saint Bernard (Fontaine-les-Dijon, France)- 11th century- The site of Bernard's birthplace.
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Saint Gertrude the Great
- Years: 1256-1302 (46 years)
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- Nationality: Thuringia, Holy Roman Empire (Germany)
- Life: She was a scholar highly educated in scripture, Latin, philosophy, and theology (influenced by the life of Hildegard of Bingen). At the age of 25 she received a vision from Christ that inspired her to dedicate herself to ascetic prayer and meditation. She became a Benedictine nun where she spent much of her time studying and in prayer. She became an advocate for the study of Christian mysticism. She was also one of the early promoters of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus (alongside St. Bernard of Clairvaux). This theological idea emphasizes the love Christ showed for us by dying for our sins. It puts more emphasis on his physical heart, rather then his suffering pain on the crucifix. Gertrude's most famous writings included The Herald of Divine Love and Spiritual Exercises. She continued to experience mystical visions throughout her life during her deep prayer and meditations.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Mysticism, theologians, purgatory, the Sacred Heart of Jesus
- Symbols: Cross, radiant heart
- Feast Day: Nov 16
- Famous Churches:
- Helfta Abbey (Eisleben, Germany)- 13th century; Rebuilt in 1999- This was the Benedictine monastery she spent most of her time in. She was buried here however the original site was destroyed during the Reformation. It was just recently rebuilt with new shrines to honor her.
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- Years: 1381-1457
- Nationality: Cascia, Italy
- Life: She felt the calling to Christ at a very young age however was pushed into a marriage at 18 with Paolo, a violent husband. Eventually this violent lifestyle caught up with her husband and he was murdered by a rival. The two sons of Rita and Paolo wanted vengeance for the murder but Rita prayed that they would be saved from committing the mortal sin of murder. Both sons later died of an illness, which was painful for their mother Rita, however she was also glad they did not commit murder. She then fully devoted herself to being a nun at the Augustine convent in Cascia (according to legend she was denied several times until the saints intervened on her behalf). In 1442 she experienced her claim to fame when she received a stigmata wound on her forehead while praying. She believed the wound was from the Crown of thorns and the pain stayed with her for the rest of her life. At her deathbed she asked for a rose, which seemed impossible in the midst of winter. However miraculously one of her relatives was able to find one rose in a snow covered garden to give to Rita before she died.
- Cause of Death: Old age
- Patronage: Lost and impossible causes, sickness, wounds, abuse, marital problems
- Symbols: Forehead wound, rose, bees, grape vine
- Feast Day: May 22
- Famous Churches:
- Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia (Cascia, Italy)- 1937-1947- Principle shrine dedicated to Saint Rita which contains her shrine, tomb, and relics.
- Monastery Church of Mary Magdalene (Cascia, Italy)- 13th century- the monastery where Rita spent her life as a nun
- Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini (Rome, Italy)- 1615-1660- Baroque church dedicated to Saint Rita
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