Top 10 Converts-To-Saints

These Catholic saints weren't always Catholic. They were all converts from another faith or atheism, and lived extraordinary lives. They are wonderful examples for all of us today.

1. St. Edith Stein

Via carmelites.net

Edith Stein, also known as St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, was raised in a Jewish home. By the time she was an adolescent, she had become an atheist. In her graduate studies in philosophy, she had read from St. Teresa of Jesus, a Carmelite nun and was inspired to convert to Catholicism. She eventually entered the Carmelites herself, but the monastery was unable to keep her safe from the Nazis. She was killed in 1942 in a gas chamber in Auschwitz, and today you can read many of her writings that she left behind.

2. St. Josephine Bakhita

Via archden.org

St. Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in the late 19th century and was part of the Daju people, who practice a tribal religion. As a child, she was kidnapped and forced into slavery and converted to Islam as well. She endured extraordinary physical and emotional trauma at the hands of her many owners, but was lucky enough to be purchased from an Italian man. Because this Italian was building a home, he needed a temporary space for Josephine, and she ended up in the convent of the Canossian Sisters in Venice. When her master came back, she refused to leave; Italian courts ultimately decided that legally, Josephine was never a slave, and thus had freedom. She was baptized into the Catholic Church in 1890. Despite her many struggles in life, she maintained peace and left a legacy of the good that can come from suffering.

3. St. Paul

Via melkite.org

St. Paul is one of the most famous writers from the early Christian church. Originally known as Saul, his religious background was Jewish. Because he saw Christianity as a threat to Judaism, he persecuted and tortured many Christians. His famous conversion experience is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles; he was on the road to Damascus when the resurrected Jesus appeared to him, who asked Paul why he was persecuting Him. He was struck blind for three days, and after his sight was restored by a Christian disciple, he devoted the rest of his life to Christianity and Jesus Christ. He was martyred in the 60s A.D. in Rome.

4. St. Kateri Tekakwitha

Via rcchurch.com

St. Kateri Tekakwitha, aka Lily of the Mohawks, was a Native American Catholic saint. She lived in the 16th century in what is now New York, and lost her parents and brother at a young age due to smallpox. She too had contracted smallpox, and was left with scars and poor eyesight from the disease. Throughout her adolescence she was encouraged to marry, but she continuously refused, much to the chagrin of her extended family. By the time she was 18, she had met a Jesuit priest and expressed interest in converting to Christianity. She was baptized despite some opposition from her tribe. She devoted her life to penance and suffering for the repentance of sins, and died when she was 23-24. Her last words were "Jesus, Mary, I love you."

5. St. Augustine of Hippo

Via wikipedia.org

St. Augustine is one of the greatest theologians in all of Christianity. He was the son of a Christian mother (St. Monica) and a pagan father. In his young adulthood, he spent many a night with a mistress and even had a child out of wedlock. He was in his early thirties when he heard a childlike voice telling him to read, meaning the Holy Bible. He opened to St. Paul's letter to the Romans, which spoke to him and led to his transformation. He was baptized and eventually ordained as a priest; his writings today still impact modern Christianity. Read up on his Confessions or City of God for a grand old time.

6. St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Via piercedhearts.org

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was the first native-born citizen of the U.S. to become a Catholic saint. She was raised in a Protestant household and as a young married woman, was affiliated with the Episcopalian church. She spent much of her time in charity to others, aiding the poor and sick. Her husband William had been ill with tuberculosis and was encouraged to go to Italy for his health; while he unfortunately passed away, Elizabeth was introduced to Catholicism. Upon her return to New York, she was received into the Catholic church. As a widow, she supported herself and her family by starting a school for young women. Her commitment to education was the springboard for the formation of Catholic schools across the country. She also helped found a branch of the Daughters of Charity in the United States, and today there are six other branches of the order.

7. St. Cyprian

Via catholic.org

St. Cyprian lived in the third century and came from a wealthy pagan family. He converted and was baptized at 35 years of age, and was ordained first as a deacon. He eventually became a bishop known for his pastoral skills. He died under the persecution of Christians by Valerian I; he was beheaded by the sword as he knelt and prayed.

8. St. Genesius

Via stgenesius.com

Legend states that St. Genesius was an actor in the early fourth century who was performing in a satire of Christian baptism in front of the emperor Diocletian. During the performance, something sparked within him that converted him to Christianity. When he proclaimed his faith to Diocletian, he was tortured so that he would sacrifice to pagan deities. When he did not give in, Diocletian ordered St. Genesius to be beheaded.

9. St. Mary of Egypt

Via catholic.org

St. Mary of Egypt lived in the late 4th century and early 5th century. She lived a very loose life, filled with sexual favors. She decided to do an anti-pilgrimage to Jerusalem, paying her way by offering sexual favors to other pilgrims. When she arrived at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, an invisible force kept her from entering. She realized her impurity kept her from within, and she sought forgiveness and repentance. The following day she was absolved from her sins and lived the rest of her life as an ascetic in the desert.

10. St. Olga

Via orthodoxwiki.org

St. Olga of Kiev was married into royalty in Russia in the early 10th century. After her husband's death, she was incredibly cruel and murdered hundreds of people. She converted in Constantinople in 957 and chose to lead a Christian life, placing much emphasis and effort on Christianizing Russia. Though her attempts were not fruitful, her grandson, Vladimir I, did manage to bring Christianity to prominence throughout Russia.