May 22

Born in the late 12th century, Saint Humility entered religious life and took vows as a Benedictine nun. Around 1133, she established a convent at Faenza, which later became the Vallumbrosan order of nuns dedicated to strict austerity and contemplation. She gained a reputation for humility, poverty, and care for the sick and poor. Stories of her visions and miracles spread, attracting many women to join her community. She corresponded with church leaders and obtained papal approval for her order's rule. After her death in 1310, her sanctity was recognized by local devotion and later by formal canonization. Saint Humility's legacy endures in monastic spiritual traditions and the Vallumbrosan sisters who follow her example.

Born in 1381 in the town of Roccaporena, Rita entered a convent at a young age despite an arranged marriage. Widowed after her husband and sons died, she begged to join the Augustinian nuns at Cascia. Rita became known for her intense prayer life, charity to the poor, and ability to intercede in family disputes. Numerous miracles were attributed to her during her lifetime, including the healing of the sick and the multiplication of food. She experienced mystical phenomena such as receiving a wound in her forehead, which she carried for the rest of her life. After her death in 1457, devotion to Rita grew rapidly, leading to her canonization in 1900. She is venerated as the patron saint of impossible causes and abused wives.

Born in 1471, John Forest joined the Dominican order and became a respected friar. He served as a preacher and teacher, known for his devout scholarship. When Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church of England, Forest refused to accept the break with Rome. He was arrested for treason, tried, and condemned for opposing royal supremacy. On May 22, 1538, he was executed by burning at Smithfield. His unwavering conviction made him a lasting symbol of Catholic martyrdom during the English Reformation.

Born Fabio Chigi in 1599 in Siena, he was elected Pope Alexander VII in 1655 after a long career in papal diplomacy. As pope, he sought to address nepotism and improve church governance while facing political tensions between Rome and European monarchies. Alexander VII was a great patron of the arts and commissioned architects and sculptors, including Gian Lorenzo Bernini, to transform Rome with Baroque masterpieces. He supported missionary activities and strengthened the Church's spiritual outreach across continents. His diplomatic skills were tested in disputes with France, leading to complex negotiations over church authority. He died in 1667, leaving a cultural and administrative legacy that shaped the modern papacy.

Baal Shem Tov, born Israel ben Eliezer around 1700, emerged as a transformative figure in 18th-century Jewish spirituality. He emphasized joyous worship, heartfelt prayer, and personal mystical experience accessible to all. His charismatic leadership and reputation as a healer attracted disciples across Poland and Ukraine. Although he left few written works, his teachings were preserved and spread by his followers. The Hasidic movement he founded reshaped Jewish communal life, emphasizing piety and devotion. Known affectionately as the "Besht," his legacy endures in Hasidic traditions worldwide.