February 08

Born into a noble Venetian family in 1514, Daniele Barbaro became Patriarch of Aquileia. He was made cardinal and served as a papal diplomat across Europe. Barbaro wrote influential commentaries on Vitruvius’s 'De architectura'. He collaborated with architect Andrea Palladio on designs and treatises. His work on perspective and iconography shaped Renaissance art theory. He died in 1570, remembered as a key figure of Italian humanism.

Born in 1577, Robert Burton was educated at Oxford and became a Church of England priest. In 1621 he published 'The Anatomy of Melancholy', blending medical, literary, and philosophical analysis. The work was expanded in subsequent editions and admired for its erudition and wit. Burton’s study influenced early modern psychology and the understanding of mental health. He served as vicar of St Thomas’s Church in Oxford for many years. He died in 1640, leaving a lasting legacy as a pioneering scholar of human emotion.

Born on February 8, 1829, in Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, Lower Canada. Grandin was ordained as a Catholic priest before being appointed Bishop of St. Albert in 1871. He worked tirelessly to establish schools, parishes, and missions among Indigenous and settler communities. Grandin played a central role in building infrastructure for the Church and advocating for religious education in the prairies. Despite controversies over his role in residential schools, he significantly shaped the spiritual and social landscape of Western Canada. He died on November 30, 1902, remembered as a devoted clergyman and missionary leader.

Adelir Antônio de Carli was born on February 8, 1967, in Brazil. He was ordained as a Catholic priest and served in the Diocese of Paranaguá. In 2008, he embarked on a high-altitude balloon flight to raise funds for needy children, attaching over 1,000 helium balloons to a lightweight chair. The flight lifted him to significant heights over the Atlantic Ocean before he lost contact. He was declared missing when his balloons drifted off course during the mission. After an extensive search, his body was found days later floating in the ocean. His daring mission highlighted his commitment to charity and adventurous spirit.