Saint Nathaniel is the same person as Saint Bartholomew, the Apostle whose greatest desire was to know the truth. His initial reaction to Jesus was, "How can anything good come from Nazareth?" But when he met Jesus, he wanted to become one a disciple. Jesus said of him, "Here is a man in whom there is no deception."

Saint Cornelius was pope during terrible persecutions, and he anguished over the sufferings of his people. Saint Cyprian was his friend and said to him, "Let us relieve burdens and afflictions by mutual love."

Saint Nicholas was an archbishop who dearly loved to help the poor, especially young children. He worked to protect the innocent and minister to those who were wronged. Eventually, the stories of his kindness evolved into the legend of Santa Claus.

Saint Neol Chabanel was a missionary priest killed with other North American martyrs by the Iroquois in a violent raid. He had not liked his assignment, so to put God above his personal desires, he had made a solemn vow, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, to remain until death in this service. Soon after the massacre, many Iroquois converted.

Saint Norbert chose the priesthood because it seemed to be a good career move, but God changed his heart. A dramatic escape from death convinced him to take his vows seriously, and he began a new life of penance. He devoted his time to teaching priests and increasing their holiness.

Saint Oliver Plunkett was an archbishop of Ireland during anti-Catholic persecutions. Though he had to go into hiding, he was determined to continue shepherding his people. Later, he chose to die rather than give false evidence against other bishops.

Saint Otto of Bamberg was a priest who worked for the royal court, but when his emperor broke from Rome and then appointed him bishop, the saint refused the position, declaring his obedience to the Church. He became bishop only after the Pope consecrated him.

Though Saint Ouen was a chancellor to the king, he also served the Church. Later, he was ordained and became an archbishop who encouraged learning and the growth of monasteries. He was known for his spirituality and generosity, and he supported missionary activities.

Saint Paschal was a pope who gave refuge to people escaping persecutions. He built and redecorated many churches in Rome and transferred many relics from the catacombs to churches in the city.

Saint Patrick had been born in Scotland to Roman parents who were in charge of the British colonies. When he was about fourteen, he was kidnapped during a raid and taken to pagan Ireland to herd sheep. He learned the Druidic language and practices of the people, which later helped him to evangelize them when he returned as a bishop.

Saint Paul the Apostle was converted from persecuting the Christians by an encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascas, after which he poured his passionate enthusiasm into spreading the Gospel. His powerful leadership was marked by boldness and unwavering conviction.

Jesus gave Saint Peter his name (changing it from Simon) to signify that he was the rock upon which He would build Your Church. After Jesus' resurrection, He ordained Peter as the first leader of the Church.

Saint Peter Chanel became a priest at a time when many had lost interest in the Faith. Assigned to a parish that was spiritually dead, he discovered that frequent prayer and daily Mass kept him from becoming discouraged. In just three years of working to inspire people to get excited about Jesus and His Church again, the parish came alive with spiritual fervor.

Saint Peter Claver was known as "the Slave of the Blacks" because during the arrival of slaves in America, he ministered to them physically and spiritually. He entered the smelly cargo holds of the ships to care for the dead and sick captives. He also baptized 300,000 slaves, and he worked to influence plantation owners to treat their slaves humanely.

Jesus chose Saint Philip to be one of His first disciples, because he so openly and obviously loved God.

Saint Philip Neri was a priest whom the people nicknamed the "Saint of Joy" because God had gifted him with a special sense of humor. His smile went with him when he visited the sick and the imprisoned, and when he served pilgrims who traveled to Rome.

Saint Pius V was the pope who reformed the Church after the Protestant division. To propagate improved standards, he published a new breviary and missal, he issued a new catechism to help people understand clearly the teachings of the Church, and he promoted the Rosary.

Saint Pius X was the pope who authorized children to receive Holy Communion and encouraged everyone to receive the Eucharist as often as possible. During his papacy, he had many heavy responsibilities that increased in difficulty, and he relied on God, saying, "His Power is infinite, and if I lean on him, it will be mine. His Wisdom is infinite, and if I look to Him for counsel, I shall not be deceived."

Saint Quintinus was a Roman who went to Gaul as a missionary. He was so successful in preaching that he was imprisoned, tortured and beheaded.

Saint Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. The angel of healing, he is the one who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool in Jerusalem. He is the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers.

Saint Raymond Nonnatus spent his inheritance paying the ransom for Christians who had been enslaved and even traded himself to set others free. Because he miraculously survived his birth as his mother died, he is a patron saint for pregnancies.

Saint Rene Goupil was the first of those martyred by the Iroquois. He had tried to become a Jesuit priest, but his health prevented the completion of his novitiate. He then studied surgery and went to Canada, where he offered his services to the missionaries. He was tomahawked for making the Sign of the Cross on some children.

Saint Richard was the father of Saints Willibald, Winnebald, and Walburga. He was on a pilgrimage to Rome with his two sons when he became ill and died. Miracles were reported at his tomb.

Saint Robert Bellarmine is the patron saint of catechumens because he wrote two catechisms and devoted much of his time to teaching the Faith to children. He also wrote a revised version of the Bible.

Saint Roderic, also known as Ruderic, was a priest during persecutions by the Moors. His own brothers, one a Mohammedan and the other a lax Catholic, beat him unconscious when he tried to stop an argument between them and refused to give up his Christian beliefs. He was also imprisoned for a long time and martyred for his faith.

Saint Roger (Ruggiero da Todi) received the habit from Saint Francis of Assisi. The latter appointed him to serve as spiritual director at one of the communities he founded.

Saint Romanus of Condat was a monk who lived as a hermit with his brother and sister. His spiritual teachings attracted followers, and he healed two lepers by embracing them. He is patron of drowning victims and the mentally ill.

Saint Rupert was a Benedictine abbot and an archbishop who evangelized southern Germany. The Duke of Bavaria gave him a ruined town to rebuild, which Rupert renamed as Salzburg.