February 12

Born in Ferrara, he joined the Jesuit order and became a dedicated writer and scholar. He authored the massive 'Istoria della Compagnia di Gesù', detailing the global activities of the Jesuits. His works combined meticulous research with engaging storytelling, covering missions in Asia and the Americas. He also wrote poetry and biographies, exemplifying Baroque literary style. His historical accounts remain key sources for studying the Catholic missions of the 17th century.

Born in Boston to a well-known New England family, he graduated from Harvard College at age 15. He became a leading Puritan minister, delivering sermons that shaped the religious life of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He authored over 450 works, including the influential 'Magnalia Christi Americana'. Though controversial for his involvement in the Salem witch trials, he later supported smallpox inoculation, saving many lives. His writings provide deep insight into 17th-century colonial society and Puritan theology.

Born in Quebec, Provencher joined the Red River missionary expedition in 1818 to serve Métis and Indigenous communities. He established the Saint-Boniface mission in present-day Manitoba, building the first chapel and school in the region. In 1844 Pope Gregory XVI appointed him Bishop of Saint-Boniface, creating the first Catholic diocese in Western Canada. Provencher championed education, healthcare, and agricultural development among settlers and Indigenous peoples. He navigated cultural and linguistic diversity, fostering dialogue between French, English, and Indigenous groups. His legacy endures in Manitoba's religious and cultural institutions, earning him the title of founder of the province.

Born Mool Shankar in 1824 in Gujarat, Dayananda Saraswati became a prominent Hindu monk and Vedic scholar. He rejected ritualism and caste discrimination, advocating a return to the authority of the Vedas and the unity of all Hindus. In 1875, he founded the Arya Samaj to promote education, women’s rights, and social reform across British India. His lectures and writings challenged orthodox practices and inspired a generation of nationalists. Dayananda’s emphasis on social equality and moral discipline influenced the Indian independence movement. He was assassinated in 1883 while campaigning in Punjab, but his reformist legacy endured through Arya Samaj institutions.

Born in 1876, the 13th Dalai Lama was recognized and enthroned at the age of three. He led Tibet through a period of turbulence, fleeing to Mongolia in 1904 after the British expedition and returning in 1909. He asserted Tibetan independence in 1913 and introduced government reforms to modernize administration. Under his guidance, Tibet established its first currency, postal system, and secular schools. He acted as both spiritual leader and temporal ruler, balancing tradition with modernization. He passed away in 1933, leaving a legacy of strengthened Tibetan sovereignty and institutional reforms.

Born in 1880 in Valletta, Malta, George Preca was ordained a Roman Catholic priest in 1906. In 1921, he founded the Society of Christian Doctrine to educate youth and adults in the Catholic faith. Preca authored catechetical manuals and traveled extensively to teach and evangelize across Malta. His dedication to lay education and pastoral care earned him beatification in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, becoming Malta's first native saint. He passed away in 1962, leaving a lasting spiritual legacy through the Society he established.

Bhante Dharmawara (1889–1999) was a Cambodian Buddhist monk who also trained as a lawyer and judge. He bridged religious and legal worlds by applying monastic principles to concepts of justice and ethics. Dharmawara traveled internationally to teach meditation and promote interfaith dialogue, earning respect across cultures. He served in various judicial roles in Cambodia before dedicating himself fully to monastic life. Living to the age of 110, his long life symbolized resilience and spiritual dedication, inspiring followers around the globe.