September 15

Saichō (767–822), also known posthumously as Dengyō Daishi, was the founder of the Tendai sect in Japan. He traveled to China in 804 to study the Tiantai tradition before returning home and establishing Enryaku-ji on Mount Hiei. His reforms integrated esoteric practices and emphasized the universality of Buddha nature. Saichō’s teachings had a lasting impact on Japanese Buddhism and religious institutions. His legacy continues through the Tendai school, one of Japan’s major Buddhist traditions.

Giovanni Battista Rinuccini (1592–1653) was appointed Archbishop of Fermo before serving as papal nuncio to Ireland in 1645. Sent by Pope Innocent X, he played a pivotal role in supporting the Irish Catholic Confederation during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Rinuccini negotiated military aid and insisted on robust terms for Catholic rights in Ireland, often clashing with moderate factions. After the Confederation’s defeat, he returned to Italy and wrote memoirs detailing his mission. His diplomatic efforts and writings provide key insights into 17th-century European religious and political conflicts.

Titus Oates (1649–1705) was an English Anglican priest notorious for inventing the Popish Plot in 1678, a fictitious Catholic conspiracy to assassinate King Charles II. His sensational accusations led to the execution and persecution of innocent Catholics and deepened sectarian tensions in England. Oates was eventually exposed as a perjurer, convicted, and sentenced to life imprisonment; he endured several stints in the pillory. Despite repeatedly seeking royal pardons, he died in relative obscurity and poverty. His case remains a cautionary tale of mass panic fueled by false testimony.

Cyprien Tanguay (1819–1902) was a Catholic priest and pioneering French-Canadian historian. He dedicated decades to compiling parish records and genealogies of Quebec families. Tanguay’s magnum opus, the 'Dictionnaire généalogique des familles canadiennes,' became an essential reference. His work preserved vital information on early settlers and church communities. Tanguay traveled extensively across rural parishes to collect original documents. His meticulous research methods laid the foundation for genealogical studies in Canada. He balanced his clerical duties with scholarly pursuits, leaving a lasting legacy in Canadian history.

Charles de Foucauld began his career as a French army officer before converting to Catholicism and joining the priesthood. He chose a hermitic life in the Sahara Desert, learning the Tuareg language and fostering interfaith dialogue. De Foucauld translated parts of the Gospels into local dialects and authored contemplative writings on desert spirituality. In 1916, he was killed by bandits and later recognized as a martyr by the Catholic Church. His life and teachings inspired the founding of the Little Brothers of Jesus and other lay religious communities. Beatified in 2005, he is celebrated for his commitment to prayer, service, and cultural understanding. His legacy endures in Christian spirituality and ongoing dialogue with Islam.

Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, Burrows was introduced to The Salvation Army through her family. She dedicated her life to the organization, rising through the ranks from a young officer. In 1986, she was appointed the 13th General, becoming only the second woman to lead the Salvation Army globally. Burrows modernized the movement by implementing new management practices and expanding outreach programs. She championed initiatives for poverty alleviation, education, and community development. Under her leadership, the Salvation Army experienced significant growth in membership and service impact. Even after retiring in 1993, Burrows remained an active advocate for humanitarian causes until her passing in 2015.

Born in 1935, he became the Catholicos-Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East in 1976, leading the global diaspora. He relocated the patriarchal seat to Chicago and worked tirelessly for the rights and recognition of his community. A vocal advocate for ecumenical dialogue, he fostered relationships with other Christian denominations. Under his leadership, the church expanded educational and humanitarian missions worldwide. His tenure of nearly four decades marked a period of growth and resilience before his death in 2015.

Born in 1937 in Palermo, Puglisi was ordained a priest in 1960 and dedicated his life to serving the youth of Brancaccio, a Mafia-controlled neighborhood. He established recreational centers and educational programs to offer alternatives to organized crime. His outspoken criticism of the Sicilian Mafia made him a target, and he was murdered outside his parish church on his 56th birthday. Puglisi became a symbol of resistance against Mafia violence and was beatified by the Catholic Church in 2013. His martyrdom inspired anti-mafia movements across Italy. He is remembered as a courageous advocate for social justice.

Mauro Piacenza is an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church. Born in 1944, he was ordained to the priesthood in the late 1960s and holds advanced degrees in canon law. In 2010, Pope Benedict XVI created him cardinal and appointed him Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy. He previously worked in the Apostolic Signatura, the Vatican's highest judicial authority. Known for his legal expertise and administrative leadership, Piacenza has played a key role in the governance of the Church's clergy. His career reflects a focus on doctrinal and disciplinary matters within the Vatican's central administration.

Mirza Masroor Ahmad is the current and fifth caliph of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, elected in 2003. Born in Pakistan, he moved to the United Kingdom before assuming the caliphate. He leads a global community of over ten million followers advocating peace and tolerance. Ahmad has delivered lectures and addresses at the United Nations and other international forums. Under his guidance, the community engages in charitable, educational, and humanitarian projects worldwide. He emphasizes interfaith dialogue and the peaceful spread of Islam through non-violence.