St. Cajetan (1480-1557)
Like most of us, Cajetan seemed headed for an ordinary lifefirst as a lawyer, then as a priest engaged in the work of the Roman Curia.
His life took a characteristic turn when he joined the Oratory of Divine Love in Rome, a group devoted to piety and charity, shortly after his ordination at 36. When he was 42 he founded a hospital for incurables at Venice. At Vicenza, he entered a disreputable religious community that consisted only of men of the lowest stations of lifeand was roundly censured by his friends, who thought his action was a reflection on his family. He sought out the sick and poor of the town and served them.
The greatest need of the time was the reformation of a Church that was sick in head and members. Cajetan and three friends decided that the best road to reformation lay in reviving the spirit and zeal of the clergy. (One of them later became Paul IV.) Together they founded a congregation known as the Theatines (from Teate [Chieti] where their first superior-bishop had his see). They managed to escape to Venice after their house in Rome was wrecked when Charles Vs troops sacked Rome in 1527. The Theatines were outstanding among the Catholic reform movements that took shape before the Protestant Reformation. He founded a monte de pieta (mountain [or fund] of piety) in Naplesone of many charitable, nonprofit credit organizations that lent money on the security of pawned objects. The purpose was to help the poor and protect them against usurers. Cajetans little organization ultimately became the Bank of Naples, with great changes in policy.
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St. Bonaventure (1221-1274)
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St. John Francis Regis (1597-1640)
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St. Thomas the Apostle
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St. Gregory Grassi and Companions (d. 1900)
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Blessed Adolph Kolping (1813-1865)
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Assumption of Mary
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St. Adrian of Canterbury (d. 710)
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St. Adalbert of Prague (956-97)
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Blessed Junipero Serra (1713-1784)
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Sts. John Jones and John Wall (c. 1530-1598; 1620-1679)