Ignatius was born at Laconi, Sardinia in Italy. He was the son of a poor farmer with seven children and Ignatius grew up working in the fields. When he was about seventeen, he became very ill and Ignatius promised God he would become a Franciscan if he got cured. But when the illness left him, his father convinced him to wait.

Two years later, Ignatius was almost killed when he lost control of his horse. But suddenly, the horse stopped and trotted on quietly. Ignatius was certain, then, that God had saved his life. He made up his mind to follow his religious calling and became a Franciscan friar at once.

Brother Ignatius never had any important position in the Franciscan order. For fifteen years he worked in the weaving shed. Then, for forty years, he was part of the team who went from house to house asking for food and donations to support the friars.

Ignatius visited families and received their gift. But the people soon realized that they received a gift in return. Brother Ignatius consoled the sick and lonely and cheered the children of the street. He made peace between enemies, softened the hearts of people that had become hardened by sin and advised those in trouble. They began to wait for his visits.

There were some difficult days, too. Once in a while, a door was slammed in his face, and often the weather was bad. Always, there were miles and miles to walk. But Ignatius did his duty well.

People noticed that Ignatius always skipped the house of a rich moneylender. This man never forgave a debt and made the poor pay back much more than they could afford. He felt bad because Ignatius never visited his home to ask for donations and complained to Brother Ignatius’ superior.

The superior knew nothing about the moneylender so he sent Ignatius to his home. Brother Ignatius obeyed without a word. He returned with a large sack of food. It was then that God worked a miracle. When the sack was emptied, blood dripped out.

“This is the blood of the poor,” Ignatius explained softly. “That is why I never ask for anything at that house.” The friars began to pray that the moneylender would repent. Brother Ignatius died at the age of eighty, on May 11, 1781.

St. Andrew Fournet was born at Maille, a little town near Poitiers, in France. Andrew’s parents were religious people and his mother had her heart set on Andrew becoming a priest. The little boy was fed-up of hearing this. One day he declared, “I’m a good boy, but I’m still not going to be a priest or monk.”

When he grew up, he went to Poitiers to study college subjects. But he made some bad friends and soon dropped out to have a good time. His mother tried to help by finding him good jobs but Andrew could not keep them. His mother was frantic.

There was now only one more possibility. She talked Andrew into going to stay for a while with his uncle, a priest. His uncle’s parish was poor and his uncle was a holy man. For some reason, Andrew agreed. This was God’s “teachable moment.”

Andrew’s uncle recognized his nephew’s good qualities. His own example sparked something in Andrew and he settled down. He began to study seriously and to make up for lost time. He was ordained a priest and was assigned to his uncle’s parish. In 1781, he was transferred to his home parish in Maille. His mother was delighted. He had become a caring, prayerful priest.

When the French Revolution began, St. Andrew refused to take an oath that was against the Church. He became a hunted man. In 1792, he was forced to flee to Spain. There he remained for five years. But he worried about his people and went back to France. The danger was as great as before.

Father Fournet was protected by his flock nearly escaping death several times. Meanwhile, he heard confessions, celebrated the Eucharist and gave the Last Rites.

When the Church was free again, St. Andrew came out of hiding. He was always inviting his people to love and serve God. One of the good ladies from the area, St. Elizabeth Bichier des Ages, helped St. Andrew very much. Together they started an order of sisters called the Daughters of the Cross. St. Elizabeth’s feast day is August 26.

St. Andrew died on May 13, 1834, at the age of eighty-two.