Paulinus was born in Bordeaux, around the year 353. Rich in land, culture and learning, he became a prominent lawyer and held public offices while still young. He married a Spanish noblewoman, Therasia, and was baptized in 389, after the death of his infant son. This event changed his life. He and his wife moved to Spain where they began to divest themselves of their estates for the benefit of the poor. About 394, at the insistence of the people of Barcelona, he was ordained a priest. Moving to Nola, near Naples, Paulinus and his wife used their Italian resources for good works, and founded a semi-monastic community with a guest house for pilgrims to the local shrine.

In 409 Paulinus became Bishop of Nola. He died in 431. He was held in esteem by many of the great saints of the period: Ambrose was his friend and he corresponded with Augustine, Martin of Tours and Jerome. Details of his life can be found in those letters and poems which have survived.

Saint John Fisher

Born in Yorkshire in 1469, John Fisher was ordained to the priesthood by special permission when he was just 22 years old since he had excelled in his studies at Cambridge. He held many important positions at the University and in 1514 was elected chancellor for life. An eminent theologian, John sought to improve the university's academic standards and advised the hiring of Erasmus to lecture in Greek. John, Erasmus and Sir Thomas More became great friends.

Meanwhile, in 1504, John was made bishop of Rochester, a poor diocese which he shepherded for 30 years. When Henry VIII began to seek to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon, John defended the queen's position to the end, refusing to sign that part of the Act of Succession of 1534 which had the effect of overriding papal authority, which Henry counted as treason. Old and sick, John Fisher was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Several months later, the pope made him a cardinal and this so angered the king that, rather than wait for him to die, Henry had John beheaded. Four hundred years later, along with his friend Sir Thomas More, John was declared a saint.

Saint Thomas More

Thomas More was born in London in 1478, the son of a lawyer and judge. At 18, after two years at Oxford, he was sent to study law and called to the bar in 1501. Three years later he entered Parliament and soon made an impression as a lawyer, a scholar and a politician. An enlightened man, he insisted that his 3 daughters receive the same education as his son.

Thomas' diverse achievements were recognized and Cardinal Wolsey and the King wanted his services at court; he reluctantly agreed. In 1532, when Wolsey was disgraced, Thomas replaced him as Lord Chancellor (Prime Minister). He resigned three years later, openly opposing the king and his increasing claims, as did John Fisher. Nearly reduced to poverty, he spent a year in retirement but, with the passing of the Act of Succession in 1534, was sought out and required to accept it. He refused twice and was imprisoned in the Tower of London. There he wrote letters of consolation to his family and the best of his spiritual works. Nine days after the death of John Fisher, Sir Thomas, age 57, met the same death, claiming to be "the King's good servant, but God's first." He is a patron saint of lawyers, statesmen and politicians.©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.