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On August 20, 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. Bernard of Clairvaux (French, Cistercian monk, Doctor of the Church, died at about age 63 in 1153 [canonized 1170])

St. Bernard of Valdeiglesias [Bernardo] (Spanish, Cistercian monk, d. 1155)
Sts. Christopher and Leogivild of Cordova (Spanish, monk and priest, martyred by Moslems in 852)
St. Edbert of Northumbria (British, king, Benedictine monk, d. 960)
St. Gobert of Apremont (Belgian, count, crusader, and monk, d. 1263)
St. Haduin of Le Mans (French, bishop, c. 662)
St. Heliodorus (Persian [from what is now Iran], martyr, d. 362)
St. Herbert Hoscam of Conze (English, archbishop in Italy, d. 1180)
Bl. James Bell of Warrington (English, priest, martyred by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1584 [beatified 1929])
Bl. Ladislaus Maczkowski of Ociaz [Wladyslaw] (Polish, diocesan priest, martyred by Nazis at Dachau [Germany] at age 31 in 1942 [beatified 1999])
St. Lucius of Cyrene (North African, early martyr)
St. Mary de Mattias of Vallecorsa [Maria] (Italian, virgin, foundress of Congregation of the Adoring Sisters of the Blood of Christ, died at age 61 in 1866 [beatified 1950, canonized 2003])
St. Maximus of Tours (French, disciple of St. Martin, abbot, d. 470)
St. Oswin of Deira (British, king, martyred 651)
St. Ronald of Kirkwall (Scottish, warrior chieftain, erected cathedral, martyred in 1158)
St. Samuel of Ramathaim-zophim (Israelite, Old Testament prophet, anointed kings Saul and David, c. 1000 B.C.)
Holy Martyrs of Thrace (Greek, 37 early martyrs [feet and hands cut off, burned to death])

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 20, 2004

Answers

[St. Bernard of Clairvaux is closely associated with deep Marian devotion. Here is an excerpt from his writings:]

"In dangers, in doubts, in difficulties, think of Mary, call upon Mary. Let not her name depart from your lips, never suffer it to leave your heart. And that you may obtain the assistance of her prayer, neglect not to walk in her footsteps. With her for guide, you shall never go astray. While invoking her, you shall never lose heart. So long as she is in your mind, you are safe from deception. While she holds your hand, you cannot fall. Under her protection you have nothing to fear. If she walks before you, you shall not grow weary. If she shows you favor, you shall reach the goal."

[One of my favorite non-scriptural religious passages is the following meditation on the Annunciation by St. Bernard. The Church offers it in the "Office of Readings" in the Liturgy of the Hours:]

"You have heard it said, O Virgin, that you will conceive and bear a son. You have heard that it will not be by man but by the Holy Spirit.
The angel awaits an answer. It is time for him to return to God who sent him. We too are waiting, O Lady, for your word of compassion. The sentence of condemnation weighs heavily upon us.
The price of salvation is offered to you. We shall be set free at once if you consent. In the eternal Word of God we all came to be, and behold, we die. In your brief response we are to be remade in order to be recalled to life ...
Answer quickly, O Virgin. Reply in haste to the angel, or rather through the angel to the Lord. Answer with a word, receive the Word of God. Speak your own word, conceive the divine Word. Breathe a passing word, embrace the eternal Word.
Why do you delay, why are you afraid? Believe, give praise and receive. Let humility be bold, let modesty be confident. This is no time for virginal simplicity to forget prudence. In this matter alone, O prudent Virgin, do not fear to be presumptuous.
Though modest silence is pleasing, dutiful speech is now more necessary. Open your heart to faith, O blessed Virgin, your lips to praise, your womb to the Creator. See, the desired of all nations is at your door, knocking to enter. If he should pass by because of your delay, in sorrow you would begin to seek him afresh, the One whom your soul loves.
Arise, hasten, open. Arise in faith, hasten in devotion, open in praise and thanksgiving.
'Behold the handmaid of the Lord,' she says. 'Be it done to me according to your word.'"

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 20, 2004.