St. Francis of Assisi 

 Francis was born in Assisi (Italy) in 1181/1182. After a carefree youth, he had a conversion experience and founded the Order of Friars Minor, commonly known as the Franciscans. Soon a young woman, Clare of Assisi, wanted to share his way of life and, during her lifetime, her little community of sisters developed into the Order of the Poor Sisters.
Francis received the stigmata in 1224 on the Mountain of La Verna, and the following year he composed the Canticle of Brother Sun, a prayer-poem of praise to God, the Creator of everything that exists. In 1979, this prayer and his attitude of reverence towards all created things led to his being proclaimed the patron saint "of those who promote ecology". Francis died in 1226 in Assisi, and was declared a saint in 1228.

1181 / 1182 Born in Assisi.
1205 Message of the Crucifix at San Damiano, Conflict with his father.
1209 Francis writes a brief Rule for himself and his eleven friars and seek the approval of Pope Innocent III in Rome.
1219 Francis meets with the Sultan.
1224 The long retreat of Francis at La Verna where he receives the Stigmata.
1226 Francis dies at the Portiuncula in the evening.
1228 Pope Gregory IX canonizes Francis.


St. Francis Xavier

Francis Xavier was born in his family's small castle in Navarre, in the north of Spain, and there received his early education. He went to Paris and  earned his licentiate degree in the spring of 1530. Xavier joined his friends August 15, 1534, in the chapel of Saint-Denis in Montmartre as they all pronounced private vows of poverty, chastity & obedience, and going to the Holy Land to convert infidels. Xavier was ordained  on June 24, 1537.
Francis left Lisbon on 7 April 1541 and devoted much of his life to missions in Asia. In April 1552 Xavier set out from India and entered the Bay of Canton in September.  On November 21 he came down with a fever and could not leave his leafy hut on the island's shore. Seven days later he fell into a coma, but on December 1 regained consciousness and devoted himself to prayer during his waking hours. He died on the morning of December 3 and was buried on the island, but his remains were later taken to Malacca and then to Goa where they were interred in the church Bom Jesus. He was canonized in 1622 and made patron of the Propagation of the Faith in 1910 and in 1927 was named patron of the missions.

1506 Born in Navarre, Spain.
1530 Francis earned his licentiate degree.
1534 Francis pronounced private vows of poverty, chastity & obedience.
1537 Francis was ordained as a priest.
1541 Francis left Lisbon on 7 April 1541 and devoted much of his life to missions in Asia.
1552 Francis died on the morning of December 3.
1622 Francis was canonized in 1622.
1927 Francis was named patron of the missions.


St. Francis de Sales

Francis de Sales was born in Thorens of the Savoy region of France on August 21, 1567. As a member of a noble family, he was educated in the humanities  at the University of Paris and received his doctorate in both civil and canon law from the University of Padua. Shortly after his ordination of priesthood in 1593, he began dangerous work in the Chablais region, attempting to reintroduce the Catholic religion in the midst of the Protestant Reformation. He developed a great reputation as a writer, preacher, and debater in defense of the Catholic faith.
Francis was ordained bishop on 8 December 1602 and became the good shepherd amongst his people. He was tireless in visiting his 450 parishes; one of the most important challenges he faced in the diocese was the reform of the clergy. Believing that learning for a priest was "the eighth sacrament" of the church, he went to work writing instructions and preaching sermons. Francis died of a stroke on 28 December 1622.  His funeral was solemnised at Annecy on 24 January following, and his remains transferred to the Visitation Convent. Francis was canonised on 19 April 1665 by Alexander VII; in 1877, Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church.  In 1923, Pope Pius XI named Francis de Sales the patron saint of Catholic writers and the Catholic press because of the tracts and books he wrote.

1567 Born in Savoy, France.
1602 Francis was ordained bishop.
1622 Francis died of a stroke on 28 December 1622.
1623 Francis' funeral was solemnised at Annecy on 24 January following.
1665 Francis was canonised on 19 April 1665 by Alexander VII.
1877 Pius IX declared him a Doctor of the Church.
1923 Francis was named as the patron saint of Catholic writers and the Catholic press.