Short Hagiography of Saints (February 6)

St. Peter Baptist joined the Franciscans in 1567 A.D. In 1593 A.D., he was sent to Japan where he served as commissary for the Franciscans. He was martyred for his faith in Christ - crucified with twenty-five other Christians during Toyotomi Hideyoshi's persecution of Christians. Canonized in 1862 A.D., St. Peter is one of the Martyrs of Japan (died ca. 1597 A.D.).

St. Paul Miki was educated at a Jesuit college. He joined the Jesuits in 1580 A.D. Paul is also one of the twenty-five who were martyred for his faith in Christ during the persecution of Christians in Japan. Together with St. Peter Baptist and companion Japanese lay men, they were to be the seeds of the Christian faith in the Far East - the Martyrs of Japan (died ca. 1597 A.D.).

Sts. Mel and Melchu were brothers, the sons of St. Patrick's sister, Darerca. They accompanied their uncle St. Patrick to Ireland where they became missionaries and bishops. Mel became bishop of Armagh, while Melchu became bishop of Ardagh (died ca. 488 A.D.).

St. Vedast was ordained in Toul, and worked with St. Remigius in the mission among the Franks. Vedast became bishop of Rheims in 499 A.D. He established well the Christian faith in his diocese (died ca. 539 A.D.).

St. Amand became a monk on the island of Yeu, was ordained at Tours, in France, and then lived as a hermit for fifteen years at Bourges. He was then consecrated as bishop in 629 A.D. and became a missionary. He evangelized the people at Ghent, founded monasteries, and continued to be an active missionary until he became abbot of Elnon (died ca. 679 A.D.).

St. Guarinus became a monk at Molesmes and then was appointed abbot of St. John of the Alps near Geneva. He affiliated his monastic community to the Cistercians at Clairvaux, France. He then left his post as abbot of St. John when he became bishop of Sion in present-day Switzerland (died ca. 1150 A.D.).

St. Hildegund came from a noble German family. When her mother and sister entered the convent, she followed them and became a religious like them. After making a pilgrimage to Rome, she returned home and made her castle near Cologne into a convent. She became prioress of that convent when it attracted many followers (died ca. 1183 A.D.).

St. Dorothy (died ca. 1917 A.D.) was a resident of Caesarea, Cappadocia. When she refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was ordered to be executed. On the way to her execution, she met a lawyer named Theophilus, who mocked and taunted her for being a Christian. St. Dorothy prayed, and an angel appeared miraculously to Theophilus. Theophilus was converted by the experience and eventually also died as a Christian martyr.