Who Are the Saints Who Were Former Criminals or Lived Dissolute Lives?

Brief Overview

• Many saints recognized by the Catholic Church began their lives involved in serious wrongdoing or patterns of moral failure before experiencing a change of heart.
• These figures illustrate the Catholic belief that God’s mercy extends to all who seek forgiveness, no matter their past actions.
• Their accounts often involve encounters with Christ or the influence of faithful people that led to repentance.
• The Church uses these examples to teach about the process of turning away from sin and toward a life of virtue.
• Scripture and Church documents provide support for understanding how such transformations occur.
• These saints serve as models for Catholics facing their own struggles with sin.

Detailed Response

The Catholic Church holds up certain saints as examples of how individuals with histories of crime or moral laxity can achieve holiness through repentance and grace. These stories show that past mistakes do not define a person’s potential for sanctity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church addresses this in sections on conversion, such as CCC 1427-1433, where it explains the call to ongoing repentance. Many of these saints lived in different eras, from the early Church to more recent times. Their lives include elements of theft, violence, immorality, and persecution. Each one faced consequences for their actions before finding a path to redemption. The Church canonizes them to emphasize hope for all sinners. Scripture references, like Luke 15:11-32 on the prodigal son, parallel their experiences. Catholic teaching stresses that baptism and penance facilitate this change. These narratives encourage believers to trust in divine forgiveness.

St. Dismas

St. Dismas, known as the Good Thief, was crucified alongside Jesus for crimes that warranted capital punishment under Roman law. He admitted his guilt while defending Jesus against the mockery of the other criminal. His life before that moment involved theft and possibly other offenses that led to his execution. Tradition identifies him as a low-life criminal, perhaps an escaped slave who committed further wrongs. On the cross, he expressed remorse and asked Jesus to remember him in his kingdom. Jesus responded by promising him paradise that very day. This event is recorded in Luke 23:39-43. The Catholic Church views Dismas as the first canonized saint, declared so by Christ himself. His story highlights the possibility of last-minute repentance. CCC 1430-1431 discusses interior conversion, which aligns with Dismas’s final act of faith.

St. Dismas serves as a patron for those facing death or imprisonment. His conversion occurred without formal sacraments, showing God’s direct mercy. The Church commemorates him on March 25. Early Christian writers referenced his example to teach about salvation. No extensive biography exists beyond the Gospel account. Tradition sometimes names the other thief as Gestas. Dismas’s plea demonstrates acknowledgment of sin and recognition of Jesus’s innocence. This saint inspires hope for those who feel their sins are too great. Catholic art often depicts him on the cross with Jesus. His feast day reminds believers of immediate forgiveness through sincere contrition.

St. Paul the Apostle

St. Paul, originally Saul of Tarsus, actively persecuted early Christians, approving the stoning of St. Stephen. He sought out believers to arrest them and bring them to trial. His actions contributed to the scattering of the Church in Jerusalem. Before his conversion, he was a Pharisee zealous for Jewish law. He breathed threats and murder against the disciples, as described in Acts 9:1. His life involved violence against the faith community. On the road to Damascus, a light from heaven blinded him, and he heard Jesus’s voice. This encounter led him to baptism and a complete turnaround. He became a key missionary, writing much of the New Testament. CCC 1426 speaks to the conversion of the baptized, applicable to Paul’s transformation.

St. Paul’s letters address themes of grace over law, reflecting his own experience. He endured shipwrecks, beatings, and imprisonments for the Gospel. His former life as a persecutor made his apostleship a powerful witness. The Church regards him as a model for evangelists. Tradition holds he was martyred in Rome under Nero. His conversion story is repeated in Acts multiple times for emphasis. Paul acknowledged his past sins in his writings, like in 1 Timothy 1:15. This saint patronizes missionaries and theologians. Catholic teaching uses his life to illustrate radical change through divine intervention. His feast is celebrated on June 29 with St. Peter.

St. Matthew the Apostle

St. Matthew worked as a tax collector, a profession despised for extortion and collaboration with Romans. He collected duties at Capernaum, often overcharging people. Tax collectors were grouped with sinners in Jewish society. His role involved handling money considered unclean. Jesus called him from his booth with the words “Follow me.” Matthew left everything to become a disciple. He hosted a banquet for Jesus with other tax collectors and sinners. This is detailed in Matthew 9:9-13. After the resurrection, he preached the Gospel, possibly in Ethiopia. Tradition says he wrote the Gospel bearing his name.

St. Matthew’s conversion shows Jesus’s preference for calling the marginalized. The Church sees him as a patron for accountants and bankers. His Gospel emphasizes mercy and forgiveness. Early Church fathers confirmed his authorship. Matthew’s past life highlights that social outcasts can become apostles. CCC 1434 mentions acts of penance, which Matthew practiced by leaving his wealth. His feast day is September 21. Catholic iconography depicts him with a money bag or angel. His story encourages those in unethical professions to change. The Church uses his example in teachings on vocation.

St. Mary Magdalene

St. Mary Magdalene is traditionally associated with a life of sin before meeting Jesus. Scripture describes her as having seven demons cast out by Jesus. Some traditions identify her with the woman who anointed Jesus’s feet. She followed Jesus after her deliverance and supported his ministry. At the crucifixion, she stood by the cross. She was the first to witness the empty tomb and the risen Christ. This is recorded in John 20:11-18. The Church honors her as the apostle to the apostles. Her past, whether prostitution or other sins, shows redemption. CCC 1439 discusses the process of conversion through encounters with Christ.

St. Mary Magdalene’s feast is July 22. She is a patron for penitents and women. Early Church writings expand on her role. Her story emphasizes faithfulness after conversion. Catholic art portrays her with ointment or at the tomb. She traveled to preach after the ascension, according to legend. Her life demonstrates women’s importance in the Church. The Catechism references her in sections on the resurrection. She inspires those seeking healing from inner torments. Her example teaches persistence in faith despite past failures.

St. Augustine of Hippo

St. Augustine lived a youth marked by immorality, including a long-term relationship outside marriage. He fathered a son named Adeodatus. He followed Manichaeism, a heretical sect, for years. His famous theft of pears symbolized sin for its own sake. He pursued rhetoric and philosophy in Carthage. His mother, St. Monica, prayed constantly for his conversion. In Milan, he heard St. Ambrose preach, influencing him. A child’s voice saying “Take and read” led him to Romans 13:13-14. He was baptized at age 33. He became a bishop and Doctor of the Church.

St. Augustine wrote the Confessions, detailing his path from sin to faith. His works shaped Catholic theology on grace and original sin. He founded a monastery and fought heresies like Pelagianism. CCC 1446 refers to reconciliation, which Augustine experienced. His feast is August 28. He is a patron for theologians and converts. Catholic education often studies his writings. His life shows intellectual struggles leading to belief. He died during a Vandal siege in 430. His example aids those with doubts or moral lapses.

St. Augustine’s conversion involved gradual steps, as he described. He resisted grace for years before yielding. His relationship with his concubine ended painfully. He valued education but saw its limits without faith. His prayers reflect deep remorse for past actions. The Church canonized him for his contributions to doctrine. Tradition holds relics in Pavia, Italy. His story parallels many modern conversions. Catholic retreats use his methods of discernment. He emphasizes God’s initiative in salvation.

St. Pelagia

St. Pelagia was an actress in Antioch, known for a life of luxury and seduction. She influenced men to abandon families and fortunes. Crowds followed her due to her beauty and wealth. She wore expensive jewels and had many servants. St. John Chrysostom called her vile in her stage life. Speculation arose about her use of charms or drugs. A bishop’s sermon on mercy touched her heart. She sought baptism immediately after. She gave away her possessions and became a hermit. Tradition says she lived as a man to avoid recognition.

St. Pelagia’s conversion demonstrates the impact of preaching. She spent years in prayer and penance. The Church commemorates her on October 8. She is a patron for actresses and penitents. Early accounts describe her transformation vividly. Her story aligns with CCC 1431 on the Holy Spirit’s role in conversion. Catholic hagiography preserves her legend. She died in Jerusalem after ascetic practices. Her example shows escape from worldly enticements. She inspires those in entertainment fields.

St. Mary of Egypt

St. Mary of Egypt ran away young and lived promiscuously in Alexandria. She seduced men for pleasure, not just money. For seventeen years, she taught depravity to others. She joined pilgrims to Jerusalem, continuing her behavior on the ship. At the church door, an invisible force stopped her entry. Before an icon of Mary, she repented deeply. She crossed the Jordan to live as a hermit. For decades, she fought temptations in the desert. A monk named Zosimas discovered her and gave her communion. She died after receiving the Eucharist.

St. Mary of Egypt’s feast is April 1. She is a model for extreme penance. Her life story was preserved orally then written. CCC 1432 mentions the heart’s change through God’s word. Catholic icons show her with long hair covering her. She levitated in prayer, according to legend. Her conversion involved immediate abandonment of sin. The Church uses her in Lent readings. She patronizes chastity and hermits. Her example teaches victory over habitual sin.

Pope St. Callixtus I

Pope St. Callixtus I, as a slave, mismanaged funds in a bank, losing money of Christian widows. He started a fight in a synagogue while recovering debts. Authorities arrested him for disturbance. He was sent to Sardinian mines as punishment. Released through intervention, he returned to Rome. He experienced conversion and rose in Church ranks. St. Hippolytus criticized his lenient policies on sinners. He became pope in 217. He was martyred around 222. His story shows rise from servitude to leadership.

Pope St. Callixtus I allowed remarried sinners back into communion. This caused schism with rigorists. CCC 1447 discusses forms of penance in Church history. His feast is October 14. He is patron for cemetery workers. Early catacombs bear his name. His life illustrates mercy toward penitents. Catholic historians debate details of his biography. He built the church of Santa Maria in Trastevere. His example aids understanding early Church conflicts.

St. Moses the Black

St. Moses the Black was a slave dismissed for theft and suspected murder. He led a gang of robbers in Egypt. His strength and ferocity made him notorious. He committed violence and lived as an outlaw. Seeking shelter at a monastery, he converted to Christianity. He became a monk and faced temptations from his past. Demons of lust and theft assaulted him. Through prayer and labor, he overcame them. He became a priest and founded a community. Raiders killed him while defending monks.

St. Moses the Black’s feast is August 28. He is patron for African Americans and nonviolence. Desert Fathers’ sayings include his wisdom. CCC 1435 mentions fasting and almsgiving as penance. His skin color earned him the name “the Ethiopian.” He forgave a monk who insulted him racially. Catholic monasteries honor his asceticism. His story shows transformation from violence to peace. He baptized after proving his change. His example helps those with aggressive pasts.

St. Camillus de Lellis

St. Camillus de Lellis gambled excessively and lived as a soldier of fortune. He frequented taverns and lost all possessions. An ulcer on his leg plagued him. He worked in a hospital but was dismissed for quarreling. Capuchins rejected him due to his condition. He returned to the hospital as a servant. His care for the sick led to founding the Camillians. He nursed plague victims personally. Ordained a priest, he expanded his order. He died in 1614 after long service.

St. Camillus de Lellis is patron for the sick and nurses. His feast is July 14. CCC 1436 links Eucharist and penance for healing. His red cross symbol inspired later organizations. Catholic health care follows his model. His conversion came through suffering and reflection. He emphasized dignity in care. Tradition says he saw visions of Mary. His life shows purpose from hardship. He aids those with addictions.

St. Margaret of Cortona

St. Margaret of Cortona lived as a nobleman’s mistress for nine years. She bore him a son outside marriage. Her beauty and wealth came from this relationship. After his murder, she found his body dragged by a dog. This shocked her into repentance. She returned to her father’s home but faced rejection. Franciscans in Cortona accepted her. She practiced severe penances for her sins. She founded a hospital for the poor. Visions of Christ guided her.

St. Margaret of Cortona’s feast is February 22. She is patron for the homeless and single mothers. CCC 1438 notes times of intense conversion like Lent. Her incorrupt body is in Cortona. Catholic pilgrims visit her shrine. Her story emphasizes horror of sin. She read souls and counseled sinners. Tradition calls her the second Magdalene. Her example supports those regretting relationships. She joined the Third Order Franciscan.

Bl. Bartolo Longo

Bl. Bartolo Longo rejected faith and became a satanic priest. He participated in séances and mocked Christianity. A friend urged him to confess. Dominican friar Alberto Radente guided his return. He promoted the Rosary in Pompeii. He built a shrine to Our Lady of the Rosary. He founded schools for orphans. His past in occultism contrasted his later devotion. Pope John Paul II beatified him. His conversion involved renouncing evil practices.

Bl. Bartolo Longo’s feast is October 5. He is a model for former occultists. CCC 1437 speaks to reading signs of the times for conversion. His writings include prayers to Mary. Catholic groups use his method for Rosary promotion. His life shows reversal from blasphemy to piety. He cared for children of prisoners. Tradition says he predicted his death. His example helps those leaving false religions. He died in 1926.

St. Angela of Foligno

St. Angela of Foligno lived in wealth and committed adultery. She neglected spiritual life for social pleasures. At 37, she felt disgust with her sins. She confessed and began ascetic practices. Family deaths freed her for religious life. She joined the Franciscan Third Order. Visions and ecstasies marked her mysticism. She dictated her experiences in a book. The Church calls her a Doctor. Her conversion started with fear of hell.

St. Angela of Foligno’s feast is January 4. She is patron for widows. CCC 1433 mentions the Spirit as master of interior life. Her book details steps of penance. Catholic mystics study her writings. Her story shows mid-life change. She sold possessions to help the poor. Tradition preserves her relics. Her example aids married people in crisis. She died in 1309.

St. Charles de Foucauld

St. Charles de Foucauld led a dissolute military life with excesses. He explored Morocco disguised as a Jew. Loss of faith marked his youth. A cousin’s piety influenced him. He returned to sacraments at 28. He became a Trappist monk then hermit. In Algeria, he lived among Tuaregs. Muslims killed him in 1916. He founded the Little Brothers of Jesus. His conversion involved searching for truth.

St. Charles de Foucauld’s feast is December 1. He is patron for secular institutes. CCC 1430 emphasizes interior penance. His writings include Gospel meditations. Catholic missions follow his hidden life model. His story shows exploration leading to faith. He learned local languages. Tradition says he adored the Eucharist alone. His example helps those in secular careers. He was canonized in 2022.

St. Ignatius of Loyola

St. Ignatius of Loyola pursued vanity and military glory as a young noble. He gambled and dueled frequently. A cannonball shattered his leg in battle. During recovery, he read lives of saints. This sparked his conversion. He confessed sins for three days. At Montserrat, he left his sword at the altar. He lived in a cave at Manresa praying. He founded the Jesuits. His Spiritual Exercises guide retreats.

St. Ignatius of Loyola’s feast is July 31. He is patron for soldiers and educators. CCC 1434 lists prayer as expression of conversion. His order spread worldwide. Catholic schools bear his name. His story shows illness as catalyst for change. He studied in Paris later. Tradition holds visions at La Storta. His example aids discernment. He died in 1556.

The lives of these saints collectively affirm Catholic teaching on redemption. No sin excludes one from sanctity if repentance follows. The Church encourages invocation of their intercession. Their diverse backgrounds show universality of grace. Scripture abounds with similar transformations. CCC 1987-1995 on justification relates to their experiences. Catholic liturgy includes their memorials. These stories foster compassion for sinners. Ongoing conversion remains key for all believers. They remind us of God’s patient love.