February 22

Maximianus served as Bishop of Ravenna from 546 until his death in 556. During his episcopacy, he oversaw the restoration and embellishment of important basilicas, fostering early Byzantine mosaic art. He commissioned works for churches such as Sant'Apollinare in Classe that remain central to the city's cultural legacy. His leadership helped stabilize Ravenna in the aftermath of the Gothic War. Remembered for his piety and support of the arts, he left a lasting religious and cultural impact. His contributions shaped Ravenna's status as a key center of Christian art.

Sabinian served as Pope from 604 until his death in 606. He focused on strengthening ties with the Eastern Roman Empire and securing privileges for the papacy. His strict management of church finances earned him a reputation for austerity among the clergy and laity. Despite criticism, he obtained imperial support from Emperor Phocas that bolstered papal authority. His brief pontificate set administrative precedents during a formative period for the medieval church.

Peter Damian was a Benedictine monk who became Cardinal Bishop of Ostia in 1057. He emerged as a leading voice in the 11th-century reform movement, battling simony and advocating clerical celibacy. His writings influenced the Gregorian Reforms and reinforced papal authority across Europe. A prolific theologian, he authored letters and treatises that shaped medieval spirituality and church governance. Later canonized and declared a Doctor of the Church, his legacy endures through his contributions to monastic and ecclesiastical reform.

John of Fécamp was a Benedictine monk born in Italy in the early 11th century. He became Abbot of Fécamp Abbey in Normandy, where he led significant spiritual and intellectual revival. He was renowned for his theological writings and efforts to preserve classical manuscripts. His letters and sermons influenced monastic thought across Europe. John’s leadership strengthened the Benedictine tradition in the region. He died on February 22, 1079, leaving a lasting legacy of scholarship and reform.

Margaret of Cortona was born in 1247 into a noble family near Arezzo. After a scandalous love affair ended in tragedy, she experienced a profound spiritual conversion. She joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and dedicated her life to prayer, penance, and caring for the poor. Margaret founded a hospital in Cortona and became renowned for her mystical visions and counsel. Canonized in 1728, she is venerated as the patron saint of the falsely accused and those seeking reconciliation.

Francis Atterbury (1663–1732) was a high-ranking English churchman and scholar who became Bishop of Rochester. An outspoken Tory and staunch Anglican, he opposed the Whig government and was a leading figure in the Jacobite cause. Atterbury used his pulpit and writings to challenge the Hanoverian succession and advocate for the exiled Stuarts. In 1722, he was arrested for his alleged role in the Atterbury Plot to restore James Francis Edward Stuart to the throne. Tried by Parliament, he was deprived of his bishopric and exiled to France, where he continued to write political pamphlets. His exile lasted until his death in 1732, and his case remains a defining example of church-state conflicts in early 18th-century Britain.