September 17

Born in 1433 to King Edward of Portugal and Queen Eleanor. At age 13, he was appointed cardinal-deacon by Pope Nicholas V. He studied theology in Rome and was active in curial affairs. Despite his youth, he held several benefices and influenced church politics. He returned to Portugal occasionally but spent most of his life in Italy. He died in 1459 at the age of 26, remembered as one of the youngest cardinals in history.

Born in 1550 into the Borghese family, Camillo Borghese studied law at the University of Padua. He served in various diplomatic posts before being appointed cardinal in 1596. Elected Pope in 1605, he took the name Paul V. He fiercely defended papal authority in conflicts such as the Interdict of Venice. His papacy saw the completion of St. Peter’s Basilica and patronage of artists like Bernini. He expanded the church’s diplomatic network and reinforced Catholic orthodoxy after the Council of Trent. He died in 1621, leaving a lasting impact on the Catholic Church’s spiritual and artistic heritage.

Born in 1578 in Devon, Prideaux studied at Exeter College, Oxford, where he later became a fellow. He was appointed Regius Professor of Divinity in 1610 and served as Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University from 1618 to 1620. In 1621, he was consecrated Bishop of Worcester. He authored several theological works and promoted reforms in university administration. During the English Civil War, he maintained the university’s academic functions amid turmoil. He died in 1650, leaving a reputation as a learned scholar and capable churchman.

Born in 1639 in Basel, Herr became a prominent bishop in the Swiss Mennonite Church. Facing religious persecution, he guided families in planning the migration to Pennsylvania in 1710. Arriving in America, he helped establish the first Mennonite congregation in Lancaster County. He played a key role in organizing the Amish settlement and maintaining religious traditions. Herr authored letters and led meetings that shaped early Anabaptist communities in the New World. He died in 1725, revered as one of the founding leaders of American Amish and Mennonite churches.

Hovie Lister was an influential American gospel pianist, vocalist, and church minister. Born in 1926 in Georgia, he began playing piano in church at a young age and developed a passion for gospel music. Lister co-founded the Statesmen Quartet in 1948, serving as its leader and innovator in quartet arrangements. Under his direction, the group achieved widespread popularity, blending traditional hymns with jazz and blues influences. He also served as a Baptist minister and music director, mentoring countless gospel artists and pioneering modern gospel concerts. Lister's dynamic performances and recordings left a lasting impact on Southern gospel before his death in 2001.

Jean-Marie Lustiger was a prominent French cardinal and Archbishop of Paris. Born in 1926 to Jewish parents, he converted to Catholicism during World War II and was ordained in 1954. Lustiger served as Archbishop from 1981, becoming a cardinal in 1983 and one of the most influential Church figures in France. He championed Jewish-Christian dialogue, emphasizing his own heritage in promoting reconciliation. Lustiger participated in Vatican councils and held key roles in papal diplomacy, advising Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI. He retired in 2005 and continued to write and lecture until his death in 2007, remembered for his intellectual rigor and interfaith leadership.

Bhakti Charu Swami was an influential teacher and leader in the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, noted for his deep scholarship in Vaishnavism. Born in India, he joined ISKCON in the 1970s and quickly became a close disciple of founder A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. He led multiple ISKCON temples worldwide, established educational institutions, and oversaw the publication of key spiritual texts. Swami was known for his eloquent lectures, devotional music, and translation of Sanskrit scriptures. He traveled extensively to spread the teachings of Krishna consciousness and inspired many through his personal example of devotion. Until his passing in 2020, he remained a prominent figure in the global Vaishnava community, leaving a lasting spiritual legacy.