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. Angelo, May 5

Source Angelo was born in Jerusalem to Jewish parents who later converted to Christianity. At the age of eighteen, he and his twin brother became Carmelites. Angelo lived for five years as a hermit and then he went to Sicily to convert Jews. He was finally stabbed to death in 1220.

Priestley and Cavendish: How their discoveries worked together

Joseph Priestley was born near Leeds, England, in 1733. He wanted to become a minister, yet he had been studying math, astronomy, and chemistry, too! Then he met Ben Franklin. They both happened to be in London at the same time, and Priestley decided to devote his life to science. (To be continued... From The Mystery of the Periodic Table)

St. Anselm of Nonantola, Mar. 3

Source Anselm was a duke in earlier life, and he served his brother-in-law who was a king. He left for Rome to be a monk in around 753. He was later appointed abbot and given permission to inter Pope Sylvester's remains into his abbey. He died in 803, having been a Benedictine for fifty years.

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