St. Gertrude of Nivelles, Mar. 17

Gertrude was born in Landen in 626 and was the daughter of Bls. Pepin and Itta. She refused to marry, becoming a nun instead. After her father died, her mother founded a double monastery at Nivelles. She became abbess in 652, the year that her mother died. She died on March 17, 659.

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St. Louis de Montfort, Apr. 28

Source Louis Mary Grignion was born on January 31, 1673 in Montfort. He was ordained in 1700 and later made a chaplain at a hospital near Poitiers but later resigned. He later went to Rome and the pope made him a missionary. He also wrote a book called True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin . He died at Saint-Laurent-sur-Sèvre in 1716.

St. George the Younger, Apr. 7

Source George the Younger was a native of Mitylene and he was a rich man, but he gave his money to the poor and entered a monastery. Not long after, he was appointed bishop! When Leo the Armenian became emperor, George stood up against the persecutions, but he was exiled to Chersonese and died there in 816.

Saint Vincent de Paul (1581-1660)

Vincent grew up a farmer's son, and he tended sheep when he was young. He wanted to be a priest, so Vincent studied, took up, and got ordained. His mission was to help the poor; he provided food and clothing for them. Tradition says that he was seized by pirates (while onboard a ship) and sold into slavery in North Africa! But he escaped (phew!) and made his way to Rome. He went back to France, and was appointed court chaplain to Queen Margaret of Valois. He is the patron saint of all charities.

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