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St. Elizabeth of Portugal (1271 – 1336) could be the patron saint of all well-to-do women who have compassionate hearts.   As wife of Denis, the King of Portugal, Elizabeth became a byword for her acts of piety and charity to the poor.  She founded convents, hospitals, and shelters for prostitutes.  After Denis died she became...

These days, lawyers and politicians are held in the lowest esteem by the public, along with tabloid journalists and estate agents. St Thomas More was both a lawyer and politician, who is today much admired for holding steadfastly to his faith-based principles. He lived in dangerous times, when anyone, even queens, who displeased King Henry...

Have you ever noticed how life-enhancing good ministers are? St Boisil (d.c.661) should be their patron saint. He did nothing spectacular, but he did everything that mattered. Boisil was a monk who became abbot of Melrose, in the Irish monastic tradition.  Boisil knew about God – he had spent years in study, and this earned...

Where do you go on your summer travels?  If you enjoy including a Christian element to your trips, such as making a pilgrimage, or visiting places rich in Christian history, then St. Willibald (d. 876) is the saint for you this month.  He was one of the most widely travelled Anglo-Saxons of his time. Willibald...

St Benedict (c.480 – c.550) was an abbot and author of the famous Rule that bears his name.  Because of his Rule, Benedict is also the Patriarch of Western Monasticism, and Patron Saint of Europe. Surprisingly little is known about his life.  Born at Nursia, Benedict studied at Rome, which he then left before completing...

Sometimes those who suffer are best at helping others in a similar situation.  Discharged from the Venetian army with an incurable leg wound, St Camillus (1550 – 1614) founded a religious order called the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians).  Both in their Holy Ghost Hospital in Rome, and by travelling to plague-stricken parts of...

New musical album released as demand for Daily Prayer app soars Vocations film and online service highlight God’s personal call  ‘I started noticing they had something I didn’t’ – students come to faith New Bible Society course uses video Why are Christians persecuted? From stained glass to medieval graffiti Fairtrade Foundation calls for tea-drinkers to ‘brew...

Many of us are gardeners, but not many of us are buried in our gardens. Phocus was a fourth century Christian gardener who ran a little guest house in Sinope, on the Black Sea (now part of modern Turkey). He used the produce from his garden to welcome and feed any visitors who came by,...

St Swithun is apparently the saint you can blame for rainy summers.  It is said that if it rains on his special day, 15th July, it will then rain for 40 days after that.  It all began when Swithun was made Bishop of Winchester in 852 by King Ethelwulf of Wessex. It was an important...

Mary Magdalene From the Vicar An Introduction to the Books of the New Testament: Romans The Nicene Creed part 2: Who is Jesus? Reflecting Faith: Saying ‘Hello’ Praying With the Prayers of the Bible:the Prayer of National Confession The story behind the hymn:Eternal Father Strong to Save ** Editor:  Canon Paul Hardingham considers the difference...

Take the book of Samuel in the Bible, add a bit of Luke Skywalker father/son conflict from Star Wars, stir in a dash of Pirates of the Caribbean, and you sort of have the story of St Helier – the first saint and martyr of Jersey. According to the legend, it all began in 6th...

Finders keepers? – finding things in street Where do cricket bats come from? Staring at beautiful objects really does spark inspiration Millions have ADHD, claims NHS Walking is amazing – here’s how to get started Why you should drink coffee Your daily cup of tea ** Editor:  Have you, or any of your readers, ever...