SAINTS - G

St. Gabriel - Feast: September 29th (Feast)
Born: Not Applicable -- Died: Not Applicable -- Canonized: Unknown
Roman Calendar: Yes -- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. Gabriel the Archangel's feast had been celebrated on March 24th until 1921 when it was combined with St. Michael and St. Raphael. His name means "God's strength". St. Gabriel is mentioned four times in the Bible. He appeared to Mary to announce that she would bear Jesus as the Son of God (Luke 1:26). Also, he appeared to Zechariah to announce that Elizabeth was pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:19). St. Gabriel is the Patron Saint of Broadcasters, Communiciations, Messengers, Postal Employees, Radio Workers, Telecommunications and Telephone/Telegraph.

St. George - Feast: April 23rd (Optional Memorial)
Born: Unknown -- Died: 303 -- Canonized: Unknown
Roman Calendar: Yes -- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. George was born in Cappadocia. He was a defender of Christianity and died a martyr around 303 A.D. He suffered many tortures. Once he was beaten with clubs and tortured with hot irons. Our Saviour came that night and restored him to health. Also, St. George drank deadly poison, was squeezed between two spiked wheels and boiled in lead all of which had no affect on him. Each of these things caused a member of the Datianus court including his wife to convert to Christianity. Eventually he was beheaded. St. George is the Patron Saint of England, Boy Scouts, Calvaryman, Chivalry, Farmers and Soldiers.

St. Gertrude - Feast: November 16th (Optional Memorial)
Born: 1256 -- Died: 1302 -- Canonized: 1678
Roman Calendar: Yes (1738)-- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. Gertrude entered the Benedictine Monastery at the age of 5. She had the first of the revelations for which she is famous at age 26. St. Gertrude was extremely devoted to the mystery of the Incarnation, expressed in the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Eucharist. She is the Patron Saint of Travellers.

St. Aloysius Gonzaga - Feast: June 21st (Obligatory Memorial)
Born: 1568 -- Died: 1591 -- Canonized: 1726
Roman Calendar: Yes -- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. Aloysius was from the princely family of Castglione and renounced all inheritance to become a Jesuit. He was born in 1568 A.D. near Mantua. St. Aloysius while serving the sick during the plague, contracted the disease and died at age 23 in 1591 A.D. His spiritual advisor was Robert Bellarmine. He is the Patron Saint of Youth and students in Jesuit college.

St. Maria Goretti - Feast: July 6th (Optional Memorial)
Born: 1890 -- Died: 1902 -- Canonized: 1950
Roman Calendar: Yes -- Roman Canon: No -- Other:

St. Maria Goretti is the first saint in history whose mother was present at her canonization. Believe or not so was Alexander Serenelli, her killer. When St. Maria was 10 years old her father died and Alexander said he would kill her if Maria did not give into his seductions. She refused and he stabbed her 14 times. St. Maria on her death bed forgave Alexander and appeared to him in a dream 8 years after her death and gave him a bouquet of flowers. He converted to Catholicism and was later pardon by the wishes of St. Maria's mother. He was released from prison after 26 years. He became a Franciscan tertiary before he died. St. Maria is the Patron Saint of Teenage Girls and Youth.

Pope St. Gregory the Great - Feast: September 3rd (Obligatory Memorial)
Born: 540 -- Died: 604 -- Canonized: 604
Roman Calendar: Yes -- Roman Canon: No -- Other: Pope, doctor of the Church

St. Gregory was born in Rome around 540 A.D. He is considered to be one of the four great doctors of the western Church. St. Gregory was elevated to Pope on September 3, 590 A.D. He called himself "servus servorem Dei". St. Gregory is the Patron Saint of Musicians, Singers, and Teachers.

Pope St. Gregory VII - Feast: May 25th (Optional Memorial)
Born: 1020 -- Died: 1085 -- Canonized: 1606
Roman Calendar: Yes (1728) -- Roman Canon: No -- Other: Pope

Pope St. Gregory VII was born as Hildebrand in Tuscay. He was educated in Rome and entered a monastery of the Order of St. Benedict. Pope St. Gregory became the secretary to Pope Gregory VI and served under five more popes before being elevated to the Chair of St. Peter. He fought against simony, clerical marriage, and lay investiture. Pope St. Gregory excommunicated Henry IV and the anti-pope, St. Clement XIII, in 1084. After the excommunications he lived in exile until his death.