March 11

Born around 560, Sophronius rose to become the Patriarch of Jerusalem in 634 during a period of great upheaval in the Byzantine Empire. He was a prolific writer, composing treatises on Christology and the use of the term Theotokos for Mary. In 636, he negotiated with Arab general Amr ibn al-As to secure terms for the peaceful surrender of Jerusalem, preserving many Christian holy sites. His theological works influenced later debates in the Eastern Orthodox Church and cemented the title Theotokos at the Council of Ephesus. Sophronius was later venerated as a saint, and his legacy endures in both Eastern and Western Christian traditions.

Born in 1520 in Istria, Matthias Flacius studied at the University of Wittenberg under Philip Melanchthon and Martin Luther. He emerged as a zealous advocate for Reformation theology, particularly in his critique of the Council of Trent and the doctrine of original sin. Flacius co-authored the Magdeburg Centuries, a pioneering church history highlighting Protestant perspectives. He played a central role in the controversies within Lutheranism over doctrinal purity and was eventually exiled due to his uncompromising positions. Despite opposition, Flacius continued his scholarly work in Switzerland, publishing theological treatises that shaped early Lutheran thought. He died in 1575, leaving a complex legacy as both a staunch defender of Lutheran orthodoxy and a scholar of church history.

Born in Rotherham in 1839, Benjamin Waugh served as a Congregational minister in London. He became a leading social reformer, campaigning against cruelty to children in Victorian Britain. In 1884 he founded the London Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the first organization of its kind. Waugh's advocacy led to the Protection of Children Act in 1889, improving legal safeguards for minors. He also authored hymns and wrote on moral education, using his pulpit to champion social change. He died on March 11, 1908, leaving a lasting legacy in child protection.

Martin Adolf Bormann, born in 1930, was the son of a prominent Nazi official but forged his own path in the Catholic Church. He was ordained as a priest in 1961 and pursued advanced studies in theology. Bormann became a respected academic, teaching at the University of Fribourg and authoring influential works on ecclesiology and church history. He served as a key advisor in Vatican II councils and contributed to the church's post-conciliar reforms. His research bridged historical scholarship with contemporary theological debates. Bormann's legacy endures in Catholic academic circles for his commitment to theological renewal.

Karl Lehmann (1936–2018) served as Bishop of Mainz from 1983 until 2016 and was President of the German Bishops' Conference for two decades. Made a cardinal by Pope John Paul II in 2001, he was known for his commitment to ecumenism and dialogue between faiths. A respected theologian, Lehmann authored numerous works on ecclesiology and modern church challenges. He balanced progressive views with doctrinal fidelity, earning respect from both reformers and conservatives. His leadership helped guide the German Catholic Church through social change and secular pressures.