Obscure Catholic Saints, Part 2 Quiz

Answer: St. Erasmus

St. Erasmus was the bishop of Formiae, Campagna, Italy. He fled to Mount Lebanon in the persecutions of emperor Diocletian; he was fed by a raven so he could stay in hiding. After he was discovered, he was imprisoned; an angel then rescued him. After he was recaptured, he was martyred. St Erasmus is also the namesake for Saint Elmo's Fire.

Answer: St. Matthew the Apostle

He was the son of Alphaeus, he lived at Capenaum on Lake Genesareth. He was a Roman tax collector. Jesus' contemporaries were surprised to see Christ with a traitor, but Jesus explained that he had come "not to call the just, but sinners."

Answer: St. Catherine of Alexandra

Catherine was educated in science and oratory. She converted to Christianity after receiving a vision. When she was 18 years old, during the persecution of Maximus, she offered to debate the pagan philosophers. Many were converted by her arguments, and immediately martyred. Maximus had her scourged and imprisoned.

The empress and the leader of Maximus' army, amazed by the stories, went to see Catherine in prison. They converted and were martyred. Maximus ordered her broken on the wheel, but she touched it and the wheel was destroyed.

She was beheaded, and her body whisked away by angels.

Answer: St. Blaise

He lived in a cave on Mount Argeus. St. Blaise was a healer of men and animals; according to legend, sick animals would come to him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer. He was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his association with and patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then beheaded.

Answer: St. Bernard of Clairvaux

Every morning Bernard would ask himself, "Why have I come here?", and then remind himself of his main duty - to lead a holy life.

Answer: St. Agatha

Legend says that carrying her veil, taken from her tomb in Catania, in procession has averted eruptions of Mount Etna.

Answer: St. Vincent of Saragossa

He was a friend of Saint Valerius of Saragossa in Spain, and served as his deacon. He was imprisoned and tortured in Valencia, some of it by burning on a gridiron, for his faith. He ended up converting the jailer, and was finally offered release if he would give up the sacred texts to the fire, but he refused. He was martyred during the persecutions of Diocletian.

Answer: St. Fiacre

He was raised in an Irish monastery, which in the 7th century were great places of learning, including the use of healing herbs, a skill studied by Fiacre. His knowledge and holiness caused followers to flock to him, which destroyed the holy isolation he sought.

Answer: St. Bartholomew the Apostle

He was one of the Twelves Apostles. Probably a close friend of Saint Philip; his name is always mentioned in the Gospels in connection with him, and it was Philip who brought Bartholomew to Jesus. He may have written a gospel, which is now lost; it is mentioned in other writings of the time. He also may have preached in Asia Minor, Ethiopia, India and Armenia.

Answer: St. Apollonia

After her teeth were broken with pincers, she was given the choice of renouncing Christ or being burned alive; she leapt onto the fire herself.