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On October 16, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- "saints" and "blesseds" whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Hedwig of Andechs [Jadwiga] (Bavarian, princess, mother of seven, nun in widowhood, died at about age 69 in 1243 [canonized 1267])
St. Margaret Mary Alacoque of L'Hautecourt [Marguerite-Marie] (French, nun of the Order of the Visitation, received visions of Jesus and Mary, encouraged devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, died at age 43 in 1690 [beatified 1864, canonized 1920] [incorruptible])

St. Ambrose of Cahors (French, bishop, d. 772)
St. Anastasius of Venice [Anastasio] (Italian, Benedictine monk in Spain [evangelizing Moslems] and France, died at about age 65 in 1085)
Bl. Anicletus Koplinski of Debrzno [Anicet] (Polish, Capuchin priest, martyred by Nazis at Debrzno [Poland] at age 66 in 1941 [beatified 1999])
St. Balderic of Montfauçon (French, abbot, 7th century)
St. Baldwin of Laon (French, archdeacon, martyred c. 680)
St. Bercharius of Moûtier-en-Der (French, abbot, died at about age 60 in 696)
St. Bertrand of Comminges (French, bishop for 50 years, d. 1123 [canonized 1309])
St. Bolonia (French?, virgin, martyred in 362)
St. Conogan of Quimper (bishop in France, d. 460)
St. Dulcidius of Agen (French, bishop, d. 450)
Sts. Eliphius, Eucharius, and two companions, of Toul (Irish or Scottish, two brothers and two sisters, missionaries in France, martyred by beheading in 362)
St. Eremberta of Wierre (French, Benedictine abbess, 7th century)
St. Florentinus of Trier (German, bishop, 4th century)
St. Gall of Arbon (Irish, missionary priest in France, hermit in Switzerland, exorcist, c. 630)
St. Gerald of Clairvaux (Italian, Cistercian abbot in France, d. 1177)
St. Gerard Majella of Muro Lucano [Gerardo Maiella] (Italian, Redemptorist brother, miracle worker, died at age 29 in 1755 [beatified 1893, canonized 1904])
Bl. Joseph Jankowski of Czyczkowy [Józef] (Polish, Palottine priest, martyred by Nazis [beaten to death] at Auschwitz [Poland] at age 30 in 1941 [beatified 1999])
St. Junian of Commodoliacus (French, hermit, 5th century)
St. Kiara of Kilkeary (Irish, virgin, c. 680)
St. Lull of Wessex (British, Benedictine missionary monk in Germany, bishop of Mainz, d. 786)
St. Magnobodus of Angers (French, bishop, c. 670)
Sts. Martinian, Saturian, Maxima, and companions (North African, four brothers and a fellow slave, martyred [the men dragged by horses] in 458)
St. Mommolinus of Noyon (Swiss, Benedictine monk, bishop, c. 686)
St. Saturninus, Nereus, and over 360 companions (North African, martyred by Arian Vandals c. 450)
St. Vitalis of Moirmoutier (French, Benedictine monk, hermit, c. 740)

If you have anything to share about these holy people, please reply now -- biographical episodes, prayers through their intercession, the fact that one is your patron -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints or blesseds and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. Additional information is sometimes available on the Internet.

All you holy men and women, saints of God, pray for us.
God bless you.
John

-- J. F. Gecik ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 16, 2004

Answers

[From the words of St. Gerard Majella:]

"The Most Blessed Sacrament is Christ made visible. The poor sick person is Christ again made visible."
"Consider the shortness of time, the length of eternity and reflect how everything here below comes to an end and passes by. Of what use is it to lean upon that which cannot give support?"

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 16, 2004.