March 17

Giovanni Francesco Commendone was appointed papal nuncio to Poland and various German states, working to strengthen Catholic influence amidst Protestant expansion. He played a key role in the Council of Trent's final sessions, helping to shape the Church's response to the Reformation. Commendone negotiated sensitive alliances with European monarchs on behalf of the papacy, demonstrating both diplomatic skill and theological conviction. Elevated to cardinal in 1565, he continued his diplomatic missions across Europe. His efforts aided the Catholic Church's resurgence and consolidation of doctrine. Commendone's writings and correspondences provide valuable insight into the religious and political dynamics of 16th-century Europe.

Patrick Brontë was born in County Down, Ireland, in 1777 and studied at St John's College, Cambridge, before being ordained in 1806. He served as a parish priest in Haworth, Yorkshire, where he developed a reputation for compassionate pastoral care and progressive educational initiatives. An author in his own right, he published collections of poems and sermons that reflected his deep religious convictions. He encouraged his daughters Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Maria to pursue literary interests, profoundly shaping some of the most celebrated novelists of the Victorian era. Brontë established schools and reading rooms to foster literacy among working-class children. He remained in Haworth until his death in 1861, leaving a legacy that intertwined faith, education, and literature.

Thomas Chalmers was born in Anstruther, Scotland, in 1780 and ordained in the Church of Scotland in 1803. A gifted preacher and academic, he became the first professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh. Chalmers emerged as a key figure in the Disruption of 1843, leading to the creation of the Free Church of Scotland. He applied economic principles to social reform, advocating for organized poor relief and self-sustaining welfare institutions. His writings, including the influential 'Manual of Political Economy,' shaped debates on political economy and social policy. Chalmers's legacy endures in both religious circles and the study of Christian economics.

Born in Northern Ireland in 1938, O'Brien was ordained a priest in 1965 after completing his studies in moral theology. He taught at seminaries before becoming Bishop of Aberdeen in 1979, where he began his episcopal ministry. In 1985 he was appointed Archbishop of St Andrews and Edinburgh, leading Scotland's Catholic faithful for nearly thirty years. Pope John Paul II elevated him to cardinal in 2003, recognizing his contributions to church scholarship and leadership. As president of the bishops' conference, he played a key role in shaping the Church's stance on ethical and social issues. Controversy in 2013 led to his resignation, bringing an end to his public ministry. He died in 2018, remembered for both his theological insight and complex legacy.

Barry Minkow is an American entrepreneur who founded the carpet-cleaning company ZZZZ Best in his teens and gained national attention by taking it public. It was later exposed as a massive Ponzi scheme, leading to his 1988 conviction for securities and mail fraud and a five-year prison sentence. After his release, Minkow became a born-again Christian and was ordained as a pastor. He established the Fraud Discovery Institute to uncover corporate fraud and worked as a whistleblower. In 2011, he faced further legal scrutiny related to insider trading, highlighting the complexities of his redemption and controversy.