September 18

Wenilo served as a leading ecclesiastical figure in the Frankish realm during the reign of Charles the Bald. He played a significant role in church councils and the implementation of religious reforms. His tenure reflected the close relationship between the Carolingian monarchy and the Church. Wenilo was involved in diplomatic missions, bridging royal authority and spiritual leadership. He supported monastic foundations and promoted clerical education. He died in 869, leaving a legacy in the early medieval French Church.

Konrad von Hochstaden led the Archbishopric of Cologne from 1238 until his death in 1261. He was instrumental in imperial politics as one of the seven prince-electors. Konrad arranged the election and crowned Richard of Cornwall as King of the Romans in 1257. He managed the archdiocese’s secular territories and improved its administrative structures. He sponsored significant construction around Cologne Cathedral, enhancing its Gothic design. His tenure exemplified the dual spiritual and temporal roles of medieval archbishops.

He hailed from the influential House of Luxembourg and pursued a career in the Church. He was appointed Archbishop of Rouen, a key ecclesiastical seat in northern France. As archbishop, he played a prominent role in royal councils and church synods. He also acted as a mediator in disputes between the crown and the papacy. He died in 1443, leaving a record of diplomatic and religious leadership.

Born in 1552, he entered the priesthood and quickly rose through ecclesiastical ranks. He became Bishop of Vienna and was later elevated to cardinal by Pope Paul V. As a diplomat, he negotiated the 1606 Peace of Vienna between the Habsburgs and Protestant estates. He was a leading figure in implementing Catholic reforms in the Holy Roman Empire. He died in 1630, having shaped the course of Habsburg religious and political policy.

Born in 1704, Spangenberg became a close associate of Count Zinzendorf and was instrumental in organizing the Moravian Church after the renewal at Herrnhut. He traveled extensively to oversee congregations and missions across Europe and America, earning a reputation as a dedicated pastor and church administrator. Appointed bishop in 1737, he helped establish a disciplined educational system and missionary training. Spangenberg's written works on theology and church order were widely read throughout Protestant Europe. His leadership and vision contributed significantly to the growth and global reach of the Moravian movement.

Born in Huntly, Scotland in 1824, George MacDonald was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. He gained fame for novels and fairy tales such as 'Phantastes' and 'At the Back of the North Wind'. His writing blended Christian themes with imaginative storytelling, influencing writers like C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. MacDonald also produced volumes of poetry and sermons, showcasing his theological grounding. He toured the United Kingdom and the United States as a lecturer on literature and faith. He died in 1905, leaving a legacy as one of the founding fathers of fantasy fiction.

Born in 1898 in Konnersreuth, Germany, Neumann suffered paralysis before claiming to experience mystical visions of Jesus Christ. Beginning in 1926 she reported receiving the stigmata, bearing wounds mirroring the crucifixion wounds of Christ. For over 40 years she claimed to live entirely on the Eucharist, a phenomenon known as inedia. Pilgrims, clergy, and medical investigators flocked to witness her alleged miracles and visions. Her detailed accounts of the Passion and biblical events drew both devotion and skepticism. She died in 1962, leaving a controversial legacy in Catholic mystical studies.

Emil L. Fackenheim (February 16, 1916 – September 18, 2003) was a Jewish philosopher and theologian who survived the Holocaust and became a leading voice in post-war Jewish thought. Appointed a rabbi in Canada, he taught philosophy at the University of Toronto, exploring the theological implications of the Shoah. Fackenheim articulated the '614th commandment,' urging Jews to survive as a defiance against Nazi genocide. His writings, such as 'To Mend the World,' examined faith, history, and morality in the aftermath of atrocity. His scholarship helped shape modern Holocaust theology and interfaith dialogue.