HEAVENLY
BRICKS

Very little is known about St. Sebald's life, but he has been venerated since at least the 11th century in Nuremberg, Germany, where his major shrine is still located. He was a hermit who became a missionary and performed many miracles. His most famous miracle was when he was visiting a poor man in the depths of winter. The fire was low and Sebald and the man grew very cold, so Sebald asked him if he could put more wood on the fire, but the man said he was so poor to keep up such a fire. Sebald then asked for a bundle of icicles, which he threw on the fire. To the man's amazement, the ice burned like logs of wood! Lifetime:  800s or 900s Region:  Modern Nuremberg, Germany Patronages:  Cold weather; Nuremberg Iconograpy: Staff and cap; Burning icicles Feast Day:  August 19

St. Clare of Assisi was one of the first followers of St. Francis of Assisi , and went on to form her own order for women in the style as his Franciscans, known commonly as the Poor Clares. She is known for several miracles - once, when she was sick and unable to attend Mass, the image of the liturgy she was missing appeared on her bedroom wall so that she could still participate (for this reason she is the patron saint of television). Another time, soldiers tried to storm Assisi, she placed a monstrance displaying the Blessed Sacrament and prayed, and following a bright light, the soldiers were overcome with fear and fled the city. Lifetime:  1194 to 1253 Region:  Assisi, Rome (modern Italy) Patronages:  Eye disease; Needle workers; Television Iconograpy:  Monstrance or lamp sending out a beam of light; Poor Clares habit Feast Day:  August 11