
Saint Ignatius of Antioch was taken to Rome under military guard after he was condemned to die in the Roman amphitheater. On the way, he wrote inspiring letters to Christian communities. Nothing would stop him from carrying out his ministry of preaching the Gospel.
The Old Testament writer Jeremiah (Jeremias) was called at a youthful age to become one of Israel's greatest prophets.
Saint John Chrysostom was very vocal in condemning the sinful customs of his society, earning the name "John of the Golden Tongue." With his powers of persuasion, he stopped immoral performances of plays.
Saint John Vianney is the patron saint of parish priests with a special concern for men who enter the priesthood late in life. He himself had a delayed vocation, and he managed to get through seminary only with great difficulty.
Saint Joseph of Cupertino endured much rejection
Saint Lucian was a devil worshipper who converted to Christianity. He is the patron of possessed people
Saint Marcellinus was a priest who was martyred for his faith. He thought of his imprisonment as just one more opportunity to evangelize. He converted his jailer and his family, and his executioner became a Christian after his death.
Saint Martin of Tours was raised by pagan parents, but after joining the Roman army he began to study the Christian faith. When his desire to imitate Christ compelled him to help a beggar, God came to him in a vision and called him to receive baptism and enter religious life. Eventually he became a bishop and banished pagan worship from his diocese.
Before the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples, He chose Saint Matthias to replace Judas as the twelfth apostle. This was the beginning of the apostolic succession and a reminder to us today that God is the One who calls men to the priesthood.
He lived as a hermit at Einsiedeln and was martyred in 861 when he gave hospitality to two criminals.
Saint Moses the Ethopian was an Abyssinian slave feared for his strength and ferocity. He led of a gang of thieves but converted to Christ. He had supernatural gifts, and his wisdom is included in the sayings of the Desert Fathers.