December 14

Philander Chase was born in 1775 in Connecticut and became a leading figure in the early American Episcopal Church. Ordained in 1799, he served congregations in New York and Ohio, emphasizing clerical education. In 1824, Chase founded Kenyon College in Ohio to provide classical education to clergy and laity on the frontier. He secured funding through lectures in England and served as the college's first bishop and president. Chase also established Bexley Hall seminary to train Episcopal priests in the young nation. His vision of combining religious instruction with liberal arts influenced American higher education. He died in 1852, remembered for his missionary zeal and educational leadership.

Charles Wolfe was born in 1791 in Munster, Ireland, and educated at Trinity College Dublin. Ordained as an Anglican priest, he served various parishes in County Kerry. Wolfe's poetry gained acclaim for its emotional depth and lyrical quality. His most famous work, 'The Burial of Sir John Moore at Corunna', commemorates a British general of the Napoleonic Wars. Though published posthumously, the poem brought Wolfe lasting fame and influence. He combined his religious vocation with literary pursuits, writing sermons and devotional texts. Wolfe died in 1823 at the age of 32, leaving a small but impactful body of poetry.

Abraham Hochmuth was born in 1816 in Hungary into a rabbinical family. He studied Talmudic literature and Jewish law, becoming a respected rabbi and teacher. Hochmuth worked to modernize Jewish education, integrating secular studies with traditional curricula. He served as a community leader in various Hungarian towns, advising on religious and social matters. Hochmuth published scholarly works on Jewish law and ethics that influenced Central European Jewry. His efforts helped bridge the gap between Orthodox traditions and modern intellectual trends. He died in 1889, leaving a legacy as an educator and pillar of the Hungarian Jewish community.

Leonardo Boff (born 1938) is a Brazilian Catholic priest, theologian, and author recognized as a pioneering voice in liberation theology. His work blends Marxist social analysis with Christian doctrine to champion the rights of the poor and marginalized. Boff's influential books, such as Church: Charism and Power and Cry of the Earth, Cry of the Poor, have shaped debates on ecology, ethics, and ecclesial reform. He has taught internationally and remained a prominent critic of authoritarianism and social inequality within the Church and society.