Throughout human history many people have performed one or more great accomplishments that caused their names to be remembered for centuries, even to this day. Although they are famous to the world, there is an interesting, but widely unknown, quality to these particular historic figures:

Dante is known chiefly for his work "Divine Comedy", a poem about the afterlife. To this day it is renowned as one of the most important literary works of all time.

Giotto was highly praised for his emphasis on realism in artwork - both in form and emotion - in contrast to the stylized art common in his day, handed down from previous centuries. Numerous chapels still bear his art.

Duns Scotus, a Scottish priest and university professor, is among the eminent philosophers and theologians of the Middle Ages - alongside St. Bonaventure, who is known as the "Seraphic Doctor" of the Church.

Roger Bacon is chiefly known for his work "Opus Majus", an almost 900 page treatise on a wide range of subjects including science, logic, mathematics and philosophy. He was so highly regarded during his life that it was Pope Clement IV who asked him to write this "Greater Work" ("Opus Majus" in Latin).

St. Louis of France and St. Elizabeth of Hungary, possibly the most well-known royal saints, were highly esteemed and beloved by their people. Respect for St. Louis was so widespread that neighboring rulers would ask him to come and peacefully resolve their disputes. As to St. Elizabeth, her charity toward the sick and poor was legendary.

These historic people all lived during the 13th century, yet their names still hold weight today.

Christopher Columbus, two hundred years later, is iconic for his expeditions to America.

Finally, closer to our own era, we have three men, Galvani, Volta and Ampère. The electrical terms, still in use today, "galvanism", "volt" and "amp", are derived from the names of these prominent pioneers in electricity.

There are many others renowned for their valuable contributions to the benefit of society. But the people listed above share something else in common. They were all Catholic, devout Catholics - so devout, that religion played a prominent role in their daily routine.

Duns Scotus, Roger Bacon, and of course St. Bonaventure, were all Franciscan friars. The rest of these great historical figures were Third Order Franciscans. They faithfully brought God into their lives, and in turn, He blessed their work with such success that they will always be an important part of human history.