St. Isabel of France, Roman Catholic Virgin and Nun, St. Porphyry of Gaza, Roman Catholic Priest and bishop of Gaza, St. Alexander of Alexandria, Roman Catholic Priest, Feb. 26

St. Isabel of France, Roman Catholic Virgin and Nun. Sister of St. Louis and daughter of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile, she refused offers of marriage from several noble suitors to continue her life of virginity consecrated to God. She ministered to the sick and the poor, and after the death of her mother, founded the Franciscan Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Longchamps in Paris. She lived there in austerity but never became a nun and refused to become abbess. Feastday February 26

St. Porphyry of Gaza, Roman Catholic Priest and bishop of Gaza, known from the account in his Life for Christianizing the recalcitrant pagan city of Gaza. Feb. 26

St. Alexander of Alexandria, Roman Catholic Priest becoming the bishop of the see in 313. The heresy of Arianism was sweeping the region, as Arius was preaching the doctrine there. Alexander excommunicated Arius in 321, a decision upheld by a council. Alexander is also credited with drawing up the acts of the First General Council of Nicaea in 325. Feb. 26