BLAZE-ing a trail of faith leadership

Maria was the daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer and had no chance to go to school; she never learned to read or write. She was martyred at a young age.

At her beatification in 1947, her 82-year-old mother, two sisters, and her brother appeared with Pope Pius XII on the balcony of St. Peter’s. Three years later, at Maria's canonization, 250,000 gathered, showing how many were touched by her simple story.

Learn more at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-maria-goretti

Volodymyr the Great became Grand Prince of Kyiv in 980. Impressed by the progress of Christianity, he approached Eastern Emperor Basil II about marrying the emperor's daughter Anna. He converted, reformed his life and married Anna. Under Volodymyr's reign, Christianity became the official religion of the region, which facilitated the spread of Byzantine culture, and the first schools and churches were built.

Learn more at http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CV%5CO%5CVolodymyrtheGreat.htm

Joachim and Anne, parents of Mary and grandparents of Jesus, serve as role models for parents for their devotion to God. Very little is known about these important figures in salvation history.

Learn more at https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saints-joachim-and-anne