April 26

Rafael Guízar y Valencia was born in 1878 in Cotija, Mexico. He was ordained a priest in 1900 and later appointed Bishop of Xalapa in 1919. During the Cristero War and anti-Catholic persecution, he ministered in secret, offering sacraments and support. He founded schools, seminaries, and orphanages to aid the rural poor. Exiled for a time, Guízar returned to Mexico and continued his pastoral work until his death in 1938. Canonized in 2006, he is honored as the patron saint of catechists.

Born in 1904 in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec, Paul-Émile Léger was ordained a priest in 1927. He taught theology and rose quickly through Church ranks, becoming Archbishop of Montreal in 1950. Made a cardinal by Pope Pius XII in 1953, Léger participated in the Second Vatican Council, advocating for pastoral reforms and greater outreach to the poor. After resigning in 1967, he devoted himself to humanitarian work, particularly in developing countries. Cardinal Léger passed away in 1991, remembered for his compassion and progressive vision within the Church.

Israr Ahmed was a leading Pakistani Islamic scholar who founded the Tanzeem-e-Islami movement in 1975, advocating for a comprehensive revival of Islamic values. He earned a reputation for his in-depth Quranic commentary (Tafsir) series, which reached audiences throughout South Asia via television and radio. Born in India in 1932, he migrated to Pakistan after partition and later served as a professor of Islamic studies at the University of Karachi. He emphasized practical spirituality and social justice in his teachings. Ahmed's works influenced a generation of Muslim thinkers until his death in 2010.