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On August 14, 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. Maximilian Mary Kolbe of Zdunska Wola [Maksymilian Maria] [baptized Rajmund (Raymond)] (Polish, son of poor weavers, Franciscan priest and superior, religious journalist, martyred [starved and poisoned] at age 47 by Nazis at Auschwitz death camp in 1941 [beatified 1971, canonized 1982])

Bl. Antony Primaldi of Otranto [Antonio] and 800 companions (Italian, artisan and other citizens of Otranto, rejected forced conversion to Islam, martyred [hacked to pieces] by Moslem invaders in 1480 [beatified 1771])
St. Athanasia of Constantinople (Greek, married woman living in what is now Turkey, d. 860)
St. Demetrius (African, early martyr)
Bl. Eberhard of Einsiedeln (German, Benedictine hermit and abbot in Switzerland, d. 958)
Bl. Elizabeth Renzi of Saludecio [Elisabetta] (Italian, virgin, founded Sisters of Our Lady of Sorrows, d. 1859 [beatified 1989])
St. Eusebius (Palestinian, priest, martyred by beheading in 3rd century)
St. Eusebius of Rome (Italian, priest, c. 357)
St. Fachanan of Ross (Irish, bishop, 6th century)
Bl. Juliana Puricelli of Busto-Arsizio (Italian, Augustinian nun, died at about age 74 in 1501 [beatified 1769])
St. Marcellus of Apamaea (Cypriot, bishop in Syria, martyred [burned] in 389)
Bl. Sanctes Brancasino of Monte Fabri (Italian, Franciscan brother, d. 1490 [beatified 1770])
St. Ursicius of Nicomedia (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], army officer, martyred by beheading in 304)
St. Werenfrid of Arnheim (British, Benedictine monk, missionary in Holland, c. 780)

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), August 14, 2004

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 14, 2004.