Saints & sinners

Some of our predecessors among Dominican tertiaries (lay Dominicans) in the past have been declared blessed and holy by the Church to be regarded as examples of heroic virtue; some have even been martyred. Most of us are quite ordinary people (if there is such a thing as just "ordinary" people), but still try to pursue our high ideals. The following is a list of men and women interesting enough to be famous, and worth knowing:

¶ St. Zdislava of Limberk (1220?-1252). Czech noblewoman, healer, wife and mother. Patron saint of Czech families.

¶ St. Catherine of Siena (1347-1380). Italian visionary, Doctor of the Church, Patron Saint of Europe.

¶ Michelangelo (1475-1504). Italian sculptor and painter.

¶ Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543). Polish astronomer.

¶ Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901-1925). Italian student. Patron saint of Dominican laity.

¶ Eric Gill (1882-1940). British stone carver, wood engraver, essayist and typographer.

¶ Sigrid Undset (1882-1949). Norwegian writer, awarded the 1928 Nobel prize in Literature.

¶ Carlos Saavedra Lamas (1878-1959). Argentinian statesman, awarded the 1936 Nobel Peace prize.

¶ Bernard Albert Houssay (1887-1971). Argentinian doctor and scientist, awarded the 1947 Nobel prize in Medicine.

¶ Aldo Moro (1916-1978). Italian law professor and statesman.