July 15

Born in 1273 in the region of Shire, he traveled to Jerusalem to deepen his monastic studies. Upon returning home, he established a rigorous ascetic community on Lake Hayq, emphasizing Sabbath observance. His insistence on Saturday worship led to conflicts with the Ethiopian Orthodox hierarchy. Despite opposition, his teachings spread across the Ethiopian highlands, giving rise to the Ewostathian church. He is venerated as a saint for his visionary leadership and enduring impact on Ethiopian Christianity.

Born near Venice in 1359, he was the nephew of Pope Gregory XII and entered the Church at a young age. He was created cardinal in 1408 and served as papal legate to France and Germany, negotiating church unity. Correr participated in the Council of Constance, which resolved competing papal claims and ended the schism. He later became bishop of Modon and cardinal-priest of San Marco, supporting Renaissance humanism. He died in Rome in 1445, remembered for his diplomatic skill and commitment to ecclesiastical reform.

August Gottlieb Spangenberg, born in 1704, was a prominent leader in the Moravian Church and a theologian of the Pietist movement. A close collaborator of Count Zinzendorf, he helped organize the church's missionary activities and theological education. Spangenberg served as bishop and wrote extensively on Christian doctrine, emphasizing personal faith and communal living. He guided the expansion of Moravian settlements in Europe and the Americas. His leadership and writings shaped the church's identity and influenced Protestant missions worldwide.

Henry Edward Manning was born in 1808 in Devon, England. Educated at Oxford University, he was ordained in the Church of England in 1833. Influenced by the Oxford Movement, he converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1852. He became Archbishop of Westminster in 1865 and was elevated to cardinal in 1875. Manning was a strong advocate for papal infallibility during the First Vatican Council and championed social justice initiatives in England. He led efforts to expand Catholic education and charitable works until his death in 1892.

Frances Xavier Cabrini was born in 1850 in Lombardy, Italy, and became a nun with the Institute of the Sacred Heart. In 1880, she founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to serve poor and immigrant communities. Invited to the United States in 1889, Cabrini established schools, hospitals, and orphanages across the country, focusing on Italian immigrants. Her compassionate leadership and organizational skills led to the opening of over 60 institutions in the Americas. She also worked in South America and Europe, spreading her congregation’s mission of education and healthcare. Canonized by Pope Pius XII in 1946, she was the first U.S. citizen saint. Cabrini died in 1917, and her legacy endures in the institutions she founded worldwide.

Einosuke Akiya (born 1930) has served as a prominent leader within the Soka Gakkai Buddhist movement. He became the third president of Soka Gakkai International, promoting peace and cultural exchange worldwide. Akiya advocated for interfaith dialogue and educational initiatives based on Nichiren Buddhism. He traveled internationally, delivering lectures and fostering community development. Under his guidance, SGI expanded its humanitarian and cultural activities. He remains active in promoting Buddhist philosophy and social engagement.