Tuesday 20th, St. Bernardine of Siena, born 1380. As a young man he took charge of a hospital in Siena during a plague. Then he became a Franciscan, travelled through Italy, preaching with great success. He promoted devotion to the Holy Name and to St. Joseph. He died in 1444.
Thursday 22nd, St. Rita of Cascia, 1386-1457, was married for eighteen years. Her husband, an ill-tempered and abusive man, was murdered. Later Rita entered the Augustinian convent in Cascia and spent forty years in prayer and charity, and working for peace in the region.