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On September 25, 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. Albert Avogadro of Parma [Alberto] (Italian, bishop of Bobbio, bishop of Vercelli, patriarch (bishop) of Jerusalem, murdered at about age 66 in 1215) [commemorated by some on April 8]
St. Anacharius of Auxerre (French, bishop, d. 604)
Bl. Augustine Ota of Firando (Japanese, Jesuit catechist, martyred by beheading in 1622 [beatified 1867])
St. Austin of Bordeaux [Ostend] (French, Benedictine abbot, archbishop of Auch, d. 1068)
St. Cadoc of Llancarvan (Welsh, priest, hermit, martyred c. 580)
St. Caian of Brecknock (Welsh, 5th century)
St. Ceolfrid of Northumbria [aka Jeffrey, Godfrey] (British, Benedictine abbot, died at about age 74 in 716)
St. Cleophas (Israelite, disciple of Jesus [one of two at Emmaus], wife of Mary [at Calvary], possibly father of St. James the Less, possibly brother of St. Joseph, 1st century)
St. Egelred of Crayland (British, Benedictine monk, martyred by pagan Danes in 870)
St. Finbarr of Connaught (Irish, bishop of Cork, died at about age 73 in 623)
St. Firminus of Pamplona (Spanish, missionary in France, bishop of Amiens, martyred by beheading at about age 31 c. 303)
St. Fymbert (Scottish, bishop, 7th century)
St. Herculanus of Rome (Italian, soldier, martyred in second century)
Bl. Hermann the Cripple of Altshausen [also called “Herman Contractus”] (German, Benedictine monk, poet, composed immortal Marian hymns ["Salve Regina" and "Alma Redemptoris Mater"], died at age 41 in 1054 [beatified 1863])
St. Lupus of Lyons (French, archbishop, d. 542)
Bl. Mancius Shisiso-iemon (Japanese, Augustinian tertiary, martyred by beheading at Nagasaki in 17th century)
Bl. Mark Criado of Andujar [Marco] (Spanish, Trinitarian priest, martyred by Moslems in 16th century)
St. Mewrog (Welsh)
St. Paphnutius of Alexandria (Egyptian, abbot, d. 480)
Sts. Paul and Tatta of Damascus (Syrian, husband and wife, tortured, early martyrs)
St. Vincent Mary Strambi of Civitavecchia [Vincenzo Maria] (Italian, druggist's son, parish priest, Passionist provincial, theology professor, bishop of Macerata-Tolentino, advisor to pope, died on his 79th birthday [January 1] in 1824 [beatified 1925, canonized 1950])

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), September 25, 2004

Answers

[Two Gregorian chant "classics" by St. Herman Contractus:]

SALVE, REGINA, mater misericordiae:
vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra, salve.
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Hevae.
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle.
Eia, ergo, advocata nostra,
illos tuos misericordes oculos ad nos converte.
Et Iesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui,
nobis post hoc exsilium ostende.
O clemens, O pia, O dulcis Virgo Maria. Amen.

ALMA REDEMPTORIS MATER, quae pervia caeli porta manes,
et stella maris, succurre cadenti,
surgere qui curat, populo:
tu quae genuisti, natura mirante,
tuum sanctum Genitorem virgo prius ac posterius,
Gabrielis ab ore sumens illud Ave, peccatorum miserere.

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 25, 2004.