<p>Jane Frances Frémiot was born at Dijon, France, in 1572. She and her husband, Baron de Chantal, had six children. In 1601, her husband died in an accident and after overcoming her initial depression, Jane Frances sought the spiritual dimension of her suffering. With her spiritual advisor, Francis de Sales, she founded the Congregation of the Visitation for women who wished to live a religious life but could not endure the austerity of the existing religious orders.

<p>Anselm lived from 1033 to 1109. Having decided to enter a monastery, he was attracted to Bec in Normandy by the reputation of the great teacher, Lanfranc. Anselm became a monk at 27, and a student and close friend of Lanfranc, eventually succeeding him as prior and abbot of Bec, and becoming a still more famous teacher.</p>

<p>Clare was born in Assisi, about the year 1193. At the age of 18 she heard a sermon by Francis of Assisi and committed herself to a life of gospel poverty. On the evening of Passion Sunday 1212, she secretly left her home and went to the place where Francis lived with his community. Before the altar in the little church, she received the habit from him and went to live in a nearby Benedictine convent.</p>

<p>Lawrence suffered his martyrdom in the year 258, three days after Sixtus II and six other deacons (see August 7). A defender of the Church in Rome, he was the most venerated Roman martyr of the early Church and is a patron of Rome. He is mentioned in the canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer I).<br /></p>
<p>©2011 <em>Living with Christ, </em>Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., <strong>http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/</strong&gt;. Reprinted with permission.</p>

<p>Dominic de Guzman, born in Caleruega, Spain, around 1172, began his priestly life in Osma as a cathedral canon. In 1205, he and Bishop Diego of Osma were sent to the south of France to combat the Albigensian heresy. The Albigensians believed that all matter was evil, and all good resided solely in the spiritual realm. Dominic worked tirelessly to defend the truth of the Incarnation, the redemption of humankind through the Body and Blood of Christ, using his extensive knowledge and great skill as a preacher.

<p>Little is known about George, killed for his faith at Lydda, in Palestine, at the beginning of the 4th century. It seems that he was a soldier in the Roman army, was quite involved in the organization of a Christian community at Urmiah (modern Iran), and visited Britain on an imperial expedition. During the reign of Edward III (14th century), he was made patron of the kingdom. George is also patron of several Mediterranean countries, as well as several European countries and cities, and the Boy Scouts.

<p>Pontius, a biographer, writes that Sixtus was a "good and peaceable priest" who became pope in the year 257, succeeding Stephen I. That same year, persecution of Christians began under Emperor Valerian, and the next year, Sixtus and several of his deacons were put to death in a catacomb where they celebrated Mass. Sixtus offered himself in order to prevent the arrest of many others and was beheaded while sitting in his chair, speaking to the assembly. Then the four deacons were martyred, followed by two others later in the day.

<p>The Feast of the Transfiguration has been observed on this day by the universal Church since the 15th century, although it was celebrated in the East as early as the 5th century. On this day we are encouraged to pray and reflect on the biblical account of the Transfiguration. This day coincides with the anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945 and on Nagasaki three days later.<br /></p>

<p>Mark Roy was born in Sigmaringen, Swabia (Germany) in 1578. He held doctorates in philosophy, canon law and civil law, and served as a tutor to nobles in France, Italy and Spain. Known as the "lawyer of the poor," he gave up practising law to enter the Capuchins in Freiburg, Switzerland, in 1612; he accepted the name Fidelis of Sigmaringen.</p>

<p>The name of this French priest may be unfamiliar to many, but by his title he is world renowned: the Curé d'Ars. He was born in 1786 near Lyons, France, three years before the French Revolution. At age 20, he enrolled in a school run by Abbé Balley, but found studying difficult. Having learned the rudiments of theology, John was ordained in 1815.</p>