January 05

Gaspar de Bono was born in Valencia and entered the Order of Minims, following the austere rule of St. Francis of Paola. He became known for his deep humility, ascetic practices, and devoted care for the sick and poor. As a prior and spiritual director, he guided many in the order with a focus on prayer and penitence. Stories of his miracles and intercessions spread after his death, leading to a lasting popular devotion. Though never officially canonized universally, he is honored in local liturgical calendars. His life exemplifies the spirit of early modern Spanish mysticism and religious reform.

Anton Füster (1808–1881) was an Austrian priest, theologian, and professor at the University of Vienna. He became a vocal supporter of liberal reforms and joined students and workers in the 1848 revolution, delivering fiery sermons in support of constitutional change. As a result, he was arrested and later forced into exile. After returning from exile, he continued his pastoral work and wrote extensively on the intersections of faith and social justice. His life blended religious devotion with a commitment to political activism.

Mariam Baouardy (1846–1878), also known as Saint Mariam of Jesus Crucified, was born in I'billin in the Ottoman province of Syria. After surviving a near-fatal illness, she joined the Carmelite Order in France, where she experienced mystical visions and stigmata. In 1875, she co-founded the Carmel of Bethlehem, seeking to bring contemplative spirituality to the Holy Land. Her writings and spiritual insights attracted followers across Europe and the Middle East. Beatified in 1983 and canonized in 2015, she is celebrated as one of the first female Middle Eastern saints of the Catholic Church.

Born in 1893 in Gorakhpur, India, Paramahansa Yogananda became one of the first Indian gurus to bring Eastern spirituality to America. He founded the Self-Realization Fellowship in California to teach meditation and Kriya Yoga. His best-selling Autobiography of a Yogi has inspired generations of seekers with its accounts of mysticism and spiritual experience. Yogananda spent decades traveling and lecturing, promoting interfaith understanding and spiritual unity. His teachings continue to influence modern yoga practitioners and spiritual communities worldwide. He passed away in 1952, leaving a lasting legacy as a bridge between East and West.

Sivaya Subramuniyaswami was born Robert Hansen in 1927 in Oakland, California. After ordination in India, he took the name Sivaya Subramuniyaswami and became the first Western-born Hindu religious leader recognized as a Swami. He established the Himalaya Shaivism Order and founded Kauai's Hindu Monastery in Hawaii, where he oversaw the construction of the white marble Iraivan Temple. Subramuniyaswami authored more than twenty books on Hindu philosophy, yoga, and culture, and launched Hinduism Today magazine to promote knowledge of the faith worldwide. His teachings emphasized the unity of all spiritual paths and respect for traditional rituals. He trained many disciples and inspired global communities with his scholarship and compassion. He passed away in 2001, and the monastery continues to thrive under his spiritual legacy.