October 03

Born in 1458 as the third son of King Casimir IV of Poland, Casimir was Duke of Lithuania. Revered for his devout faith and charitable works, he renounced royal privileges to assist the poor. His commitment to prayer and simplicity earned him widespread admiration across Europe. Despite dying young at the age of 25 in 1484, his reputation for holiness grew rapidly. He was canonized by Pope Adrian VI in 1521 and became patron saint of Lithuania and Poland. His legacy endures in churches, schools, and various cultural traditions.

Born in France in 1610, Lalemant entered the Society of Jesus at age 18. He traveled to New France in 1646 and worked closely with the Huron-Wendat communities. Fluent in the Huron language, he ministered to converts and established missions in present-day Ontario. In 1649, he was captured and killed during Iroquois raids, becoming a martyr for his faith. He was canonized by Pope Pius XI in 1930 as one of the Canadian Martyrs. His dedication to missionary work under perilous conditions is remembered for its courage and self-sacrifice.

Born Hippolyte Léon Denizard Rivail in Lyon, France, he adopted the pen name Allan Kardec. A scholar and translator, he published "The Spirits' Book" in 1857, laying the foundation for Spiritism. Kardec systematized spiritist philosophy through several follow-up works, including "The Mediums' Book" and "The Gospel According to Spiritism". He organized spiritist studies and founded the Parisian Society of Spiritist Studies in 1858. His teachings emphasized moral improvement and scientific inquiry into spiritual phenomena, influencing spiritual movements worldwide before his death in 1869.

Joseph Beech was an American Methodist missionary born in 1867 who devoted his life to education in China. In 1910, he co-founded West China Union University in Chengdu, bringing Western higher education to the region. Beech served as president and professor, fostering academic exchange and training a generation of Chinese scholars and leaders. He worked to integrate Christian ethics with rigorous scholarship, promoting understanding between cultures. Beech published articles on education and missionary work, advocating for inclusive and progressive approaches. His efforts laid the foundation for modern higher education in Sichuan province and strengthened Sino-Western academic ties.

Al Sharpton founded the National Action Network in 1991, becoming a prominent voice for equality and justice in the United States. Born on October 3, 1954, he began his advocacy as a youth preacher and protest leader, addressing issues such as police brutality and voting rights. Sharpton has run for public office, hosted the television program PoliticsNation on MSNBC, and authored several books on civil rights. His work as a community organizer and political commentator has made him a polarizing yet influential figure in American discourse. Sharpton continues to mobilize grassroots movements and engage in public policy debates, striving to amplify marginalized voices.