The brother of John the disciple, he was also known as St James the Greater since he was taller than the other James. He was one of Jesus’ first disciples and one of the three that witnessed Jesus’ transfiguration. He is the patron saint of pilgrims and Spain. His feast day is on 25th July.

One of the greatest saints of the Bible, St Mary Magdalene is well known for her remarkable deliverance and conversion. She is the patron saint of converts, penitent sinners, people ridiculed for their piety, women and many more. Her feast day is on 22nd July.

St Benedict the abbot was a reformer and is well known for his persuasive speaking. His followers are called Benedictines and known for their black cassocks. He is the patron saint of students and Europe and his feast day is on 11th July.

St Thomas was an apostle of Jesus and is commonly known as ‘Doubting Thomas’. He was the saint that ultimately reached India and is responsible for spreading the gospel in southern India. He is the patron saint of Architects and his feast day is 3rd July.

St Josemaria was the founder of Opus Dei which means ‘The work of God’. It is an institution within the Catholic Church dedicated to helping people in all walks of life to follow Christ, to seek holiness in their daily life and grow in love for God and their fellow men and women. It is made up of lay people as well as the religious and has more than 84,000 members in 60 countries. St Josemaria’s feast day is on 26th June.

St Anthony of Padua was an eloquent speaker and he preached the true gospel of Jesus that even the simple people could understand his message clearly. His notebook was once stolen by someone; after St Anthony prayed, the man returned his notebook and rejoined the seminary as well. Hence St Anthony is the patron saint of lost articles. His feast day is on 13th June.

St Barnabas is mentioned in the acts of the apostles. He was a wealthy Jew who sold his property and gave the proceeds to the apostles and went on to live a simple life and spread the gospel especially to the pagans along with St Paul. St Barnabas’ feast day is on June 11th.

St Charles Lwanga was from Uganda and he along with many of his other companions were martyred by the evil king Mwanga who resented Christians. Charles and his companions triumphantly proclaimed that Mwanga could not do anything to their souls. They gladly accepted death on a pyre. St Charles Lwanga’s feast day is on June 3rd.

St Rita of Cascia was married off at a very young age and she became a mother when she was just 12 years old. She later became a widow and even lost her two sons. Her desire to join the convent of her choice was finally fulfilled at the age of 36. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22nd.

St. Matthias was selected as the 12th apostle to replace Judas. The apostles had cast lots to choose him after Jesus’ ascension into heaven and before the Holy Spirit descended on the apostles at Pentecost. St. Matthias’ feast day was moved to May 14th from February 24th so as to celebrate it in Eastertide close to the Solemnity of the Ascension.