March 27

Born in 1416 in Calabria, Francis of Paola embraced a hermit's life devoted to prayer and austerity. He founded the Order of the Minims in 1435, emphasizing humility, charity, and strict fasting. The new order gained papal approval and spread rapidly across Italy and France. Francis was known for his miraculous healings and peacemaking between feuding nobles. He became a spiritual advisor to King Louis XI of France and was revered for his counsel. Francis of Paola was canonized in 1519 in recognition of his piety and contributions to the Church. His legacy endures in the continued presence of the Minims order worldwide.

Born in 1681 into the noble Portocarrero family, Joaquín Fernández de Portocarrero pursued an ecclesiastical career in the Spanish Church. He was ordained and quickly rose through the clerical ranks, being appointed as a cardinal by Pope Clement XII. Portocarrero served as Spanish ambassador to the Holy See and later was named Viceroy of Sicily from 1744 to 1746. In Sicily, he navigated complex political challenges during the War of the Austrian Succession. Upon returning to Rome, he held senior positions within the Roman Curia and was known for his diplomatic skill and patronage of the arts. Portocarrero died in 1760, remembered as a bridge between Spanish and papal interests.

Jakob Sverdrup (1845–1899) was a Norwegian theologian and political leader. Born into the influential Sverdrup family, he became Bishop of the Diocese of Bjørgvin in 1893 and championed religious and educational reforms. That same year, he was appointed Minister of Education and Church Affairs, where he advocated for accessible schooling and the modernization of the state church. Sverdrup navigated debates on church-state relations and the role of faith in public life. He published theological writings and delivered lectures on morality and society. His efforts helped shape Norway’s educational policies and ecclesiastical governance in the late 19th century.

Joseph G. Morrison (1871–1939) began his career as a sea captain, sailing across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He later devoted his life to religious service as a minister in the Church of the Nazarene. Morrison was instrumental in establishing new congregations and leading evangelistic campaigns in the United States. His dynamic preaching and organizational skills helped expand the Nazarene denomination in the early 20th century. He is remembered for his dedication to community outreach and his lasting impact on religious education.

Stanley Rother was an American Roman Catholic priest from Oklahoma who dedicated his life to missionary work in Guatemala. Ordained in 1963, he served in the indigenous town of Santiago Atitlán, ministering to Mayan communities and translating scriptures into the local language. Despite increasing violence and threats from death squads during Guatemala's civil war, he refused to abandon his parish. In 1981, he was murdered at his parish rectory, becoming the first U.S.-born priest to die in odium fidei (in hatred of the faith). His unwavering commitment to the poorest populations and his ultimate sacrifice led to his beatification in 2017. Rother's life and legacy continue to inspire missionaries and the faithful worldwide.