Jmj

Today, March 13, we members of the Catholic Church family honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

Bl. Agnellus of Pisa (Italian, Franciscan friar in France, provincial in England, died at Oxford in 1236)
St. Ansovinus of Camerino (Italian, hermit, bishop, emperor's confessor, miracle-worker, d. 840)
St. Christina of Persia (virgin, martyred by scourging)
St. Euphrasia of Constantinople (Roman born in Asia Minor [Turkish], noblewoman, nun in Egypt, d. 420)
St. Gerald of Mayo (English, abbot in Ireland, d. 712)
Bl. Heldrad of Novalese (French, Benedictine abbot, d. 842)
Sts. Macedonius, Patricia, Modesta, and 19 (?) companions (from Asia Minor [Turkish], husband/wife/daughter and others, martyred c. 304)
St. Mochoemoc of Leamokevoge (Irish, abbot, c. 656)
St. Nicephorus of Constantinople (from Asia Minor [Turkish], patriarch, opposed iconoclasts, d. 828)
Bl. Peter of Cava (Italian, abbot, d. 1208)
St. Ramirus and companions (Spanish, abbey prior and all his monks, martyred by Visigoths [Arian heretics] while chanting Nicene Creed in 6th or 7th century)
Sts. Roderic and Solomon [Rodriguez and Salomon] (Spanish ... priest and fellow prisoner ... martyred [beheaded] by Muslims in 857)
St. Sabinus (Egyptian, nobleman, martyred by drowning in 287)
Sts. Theusitas, Horres, Theodora, Nymphora, Mark, and Arabia (Bithynian [Turkish] ... father, son, and others ... early martyrs)

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 saint -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints and want to find out more about him/her, please ask. 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), March 13, 2002

Answers

-- (_@_._), March 13, 2002.

Dear John: what is the meaning in Greek of the name Euphrasia? BTW what does Euphrosina mean? Thanks.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), March 14, 2002.

Hello, Enrique.
In Greek, the prefix "eu-" means "good." Both "-phrasia" and "phrosina" are from the same root, and I think that it means "cheerfulness." So ... "good cheer."

Here is an interesting item I found about a certain herb that people have used as a remedy:

"Eyebright ([genus and species:] Euphrasia officinale) -- Eyebright ... was used by ancient Greeks to treat eye infections. The name Euphrasia is derived from the Greek 'euphrosyne' which means gladness, (the name of one of the three Graces, who was distinguished for her joy and mirth). It's believed the name was given to the plant because eyebright induced gladness by helping the patient to see. In the 14th century, eyebright was used to cure 'all evils of the eye.' In Queen Elizabeth I's time, eyebright ale was a popular beverage."

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 14, 2002.

Jmj

On March 13, 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:

Bl. Agnello of Pisa (Italian, Franciscan friar in France, provincial in England, died at Oxford in 1236)
St. Ansovinus of Camerino (Italian, hermit, bishop, emperor's confessor, miracle-worker, d. 840)
St. Christina of Persia (virgin, martyred by scourging)
St. Euphrasia of Constantinople (Roman born in Asia Minor [Turkish], noblewoman, nun in Egypt, d. 420)
St. Gerald of Mayo (English, abbot in Ireland, d. 712)
Bl. Heldrad of Novalese (French, Benedictine abbot, d. 842)
Sts. Macedonius, Patricia, Modesta, and companions of Nicomedia (from Asia Minor [Turkish], husband/wife/daughter and others, martyred c. 304)
St. Mochoemoc of Leamokevoge (Irish, abbot, c. 656)
St. Nicephorus of Constantinople (from Asia Minor [Turkish], patriarch, opposed iconoclastic heresy, d. 828)
Bl. Peter of Cava [Pietro] (Italian, abbot, d. 1208)
St. Ramirus and companions of Leon (Spanish, abbey prior and all his monks, martyred by Visigoths [Arian heretics] while chanting Nicene Creed in 6th or 7th century)
Sts. Roderic and Solomon of Cabra (Spanish ... priest and fellow prisoner ... martyred [beheaded] by Muslims in 857)
St. Sabinus (Egyptian, nobleman, martyred by drowning in 287)
Sts. Theusitas, Horres, Theodora, Nymphora, Mark, and Arabia of Nicaea (Bithynian [Turkish] ... father, son, and others ... early martyrs)

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. 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), March 13, 2003.