September 10

Nicholas of Tolentino (1245–1306) joined the Augustinian order and became renowned for his deep mystical experiences. He devoted himself to caring for the sick and impoverished, traveling extensively to provide aid and comfort. Nicholas was especially venerated for his prayers on behalf of departed souls, earning him the title ‘Guardian of Souls’. He founded or reformed several convents across central Italy, promoting spiritual renewal. Canonized in 1446 by Pope Eugene IV, he is remembered as the patron saint of Holy Souls and animals. Nicholas died on 10 September 1306 in Tolentino, leaving a lasting legacy of humility and charity.

Jacopo Piccolomini-Ammannati (1422–1479) was an Italian cardinal who served as a key figure in the Roman Curia and a close advisor to Pope Pius II. A talented humanist, he authored biographies, letters, and treatises reflecting classical learning and Christian theology. Elevated to cardinal in 1460, he undertook diplomatic missions to negotiate alliances and church reforms. Jacopo patronized art and scholarship, supporting works that bridged classical and Christian traditions. His correspondence offers insight into the politics and culture of the Renaissance papacy. He died on 10 September 1479, remembered for his intellect and ecclesiastical contributions.

William Morgan served as Bishop of Llandaff and later Bishop of St Asaph in Wales. In 1588, he published the first full translation of the Bible into Welsh, a milestone for Welsh literature. His work preserved the Welsh language and fostered national identity through faith. Morgan's translation became the standard text for Welsh-speaking Protestants. He is revered as a pioneer of Welsh cultural and religious heritage.

Ignacia del Espíritu Santo was born in Manila in 1663 and dedicated her life to spiritual service. In 1684, she established a beaterio that evolved into the Religious of the Virgin Mary. Her congregation focused on educating young women and serving the poor in colonial Philippines. She led with humility and devotion, earning respect from both Spanish clergy and local communities. Her legacy endures in numerous schools and charitable institutions run by her order.

Ferdinand Konščak was a Croatian Jesuit missionary active in New Spain. He led expeditions in the 1740s to explore and map the western coast of Mexico's Baja California. Konščak's surveys confirmed that Baja California was a peninsula, not an island. His detailed journals provided valuable geographic and ethnographic information to the Spanish Crown. His discoveries advanced understanding of North American geography and aided future colonization.

Born in 1787 in Philadelphia, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet trained as a Congregational minister before dedicating his life to deaf education. After meeting a deaf child, he traveled to Europe to study leading teaching methods and brought those insights back to America. In 1817, he co-founded the American School for the Deaf in Hartford, Connecticut, pioneering structured instruction for deaf students. Gallaudet blended French manual language with indigenous signs to develop what would become American Sign Language. He served as the school's principal for decades, setting standards for deaf education that endure today.

Born around 1880, Father Divine's early life remains shrouded in mystery and myth. In the 1910s, he claimed divinity and established the International Peace Mission movement, attracting followers nationwide. He promoted racial integration, celibacy, and communal economics, organizing free public banquets and founding businesses. His legal battles over tax exemptions and civil rights cases garnered national attention and court victories. At the height of the Great Depression, his movement offered refuge and relief to thousands suffering economic hardship. Father Divine died in 1965, leaving a legacy as a controversial yet influential figure in American religious and social history.

Paul K. Sybrowsky (1944–2014) was a leader in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and an educational administrator. He held key roles within the church’s organizational structure, overseeing programs and church education initiatives. Concurrently, he served in academic leadership at church-affiliated institutions, guiding curriculum development and institutional growth. Sybrowsky was respected for his commitment to both faith and scholarship, emphasizing the integration of spiritual and intellectual pursuits. He mentored many students and church members, leaving a strong legacy of service. He passed away in 2014 at the age of 70, remembered for his dedication to community and learning.