July 15

Born in 1221 in Bagnoregio, Italy, Bonaventure joined the Franciscan Order and became a leading 13th-century theologian. He was appointed cardinal-bishop of Albano by Pope Gregory X and served as Minister General of the Franciscans. Bonaventure earned the title ‘Seraphic Doctor’ for his mystical writings and contributions to scholastic theology. His works, including The Journey of the Mind to God, influenced both medieval and modern religious thought. He was canonized a saint in 1482 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1588 for his enduring spiritual legacy.

John Ball was an English Lollard priest and radical preacher whose sermons challenged social and ecclesiastical hierarchies. He gained fame for the phrase 'When Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?', inspiring peasants to demand equality. In 1381, his calls for social justice helped ignite the Peasants' Revolt against feudal oppression. After the revolt was crushed, he was captured, tried for treason, and hanged later that year. His life and martyrdom made him a symbol of resistance against unjust authority.

Anne-Marie Javouhey was born in 1779 in France and became a nun shortly after the French Revolution. In 1807 she founded the Sisters of St Joseph of Cluny, dedicating herself to educating and serving the poor. Under her leadership, the order expanded to Africa, Latin America, and the Indian Ocean, establishing schools, hospitals, and missions. Javouhey was known for her innovative approach to training sisters in trades and languages to better serve communities. She was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1950. Javouhey died in 1851, remembered as a visionary missionary and compassionate leader.

Born in 1825 in Alsace, France, Jean-Baptiste Salpointe was ordained a priest before emigrating to the United States in 1850. He served as the first bishop of Tucson and later as the second Archbishop of Santa Fe, expanding the Catholic Church’s presence in the region. Salpointe championed the establishment of schools, hospitals, and missions to serve Native American and Hispanic populations. He worked tirelessly to improve clergy training and to foster unity across diverse cultural groups. His tenure laid the groundwork for the growth of the Catholic Church in the American Southwest.

Born in 1846 in Tehran, Bahíyyih Khánum was the daughter of Baha'u'llah, the founder of the Baha'i Faith. Known as the “Greatest Holy Leaf,” she provided crucial leadership during a formative period of Baha'i history and upheld community unity amid persecution. She managed administrative affairs following the passing of ʻAbdu'l-Bahá and prior to the establishment of the Universal House of Justice. Her letters and writings clarified core teachings and offered spiritual counsel to believers worldwide. Respected for her compassion and dedication to social welfare, her legacy endures as a pioneering woman in religion and interfaith unity.

Geevarghese Mar Ivanios (1882–1953) was a pivotal leader in the Indian Christian community as Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum. He founded the Order of the Imitation of Christ to promote spiritual renewal and social service across Kerala. An outspoken advocate for education, he established numerous schools and colleges for underprivileged communities. His reunion movement facilitated the integration of the Syro-Malankara Church into full communion with Rome. Known for his ecumenical vision, he engaged in interfaith dialogue to foster unity among diverse Christian traditions. Mar Ivanios also promoted indigenous liturgical practices, blending Eastern rites with broader Catholic traditions. His enduring legacy is seen in the educational institutions and charitable organizations he inspired.