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On October 17, 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. Ignatius of Antioch ["Theophoros" ("Carrier of God")] (Syrian, bishop of Antioch, writer of extant letters, referrred to “Catholic Church,” martyred [torn by wild beasts] in Rome c. 107)

St. Anstrudis of Laon (French, abbess, d. 688)
Bl. Balthasar Ravaschieri of Chiavari [Baldassare] (Italian, Franciscan friar, died at about age 72 in 1492 [beatified 1930])
St. Berarius I of Le Mans (French, bishop, c. 680)
St. Colman of Kilroot (Irish, abbot, bishop, 6th century)
Bl. Contardo Ferrini of Milan (Italian, civil and canon lawyer, teacher, Franciscan tertiary, died at about age 43 in 1902 [beatified 1947])
St. Florentius of Orange (French, bishop, c. 526)
St. Francis Isidore Gagelin of Montperreux [François-Isidore] (French, missionary priest in Vietnam, martyred by strangling at about age 34 in 1833 [beatified 1900, canonized 1988])
St. Gilbert the Theologian of Citeaux (English, Cistercian abbot in France, d. 1167)
St. Heron [or Herodion] of Antioch (Syrian, bishop, disciple and successor of St. Ignatius, martyred c. 136)
St. John the Dwarf of Basta (Egyptian, hermit, d. in 5th century)
Blessed Martyrs of Laval (French, 15 men and 4 women, martyred by revolutionaries in 1794 [beatified 1955])
----- Bl. John Baptist Turpin du Cormier of Laval [Jean-Baptiste] (diocesan priest, died at about age 61)
----- Bl. John Mary Gallot of Laval [Jean-Marie] (diocesan priest, died at age 46)
----- Bl. Joseph Mary Pellé of Laval [Joseph-Marie] (diocesan priest, died one day before his 74th birthday)
----- Bl. Rene Louis Ambroise of Laval [René-Louis] (diocesan priest, died at age 73)
----- Bl. Julian Francis Morvin de la Gérardière of Saint-Fraimbault-de-Prières [Julien-François] (priest, died at age 50)
----- Bl. Francis Duchesne of Laval [François] (diocesan priest, died at age 58)
----- Bl. John Baptist Triquerie of Laval [Jean-Baptiste] (Franciscan priest, died at about age 56)
----- Bl. James André of Saint-Pierre-la-Cour [Jacques] (diocesan priest, died at age 50)
----- Bl. Andrew Duliou of Saint-Laurent-des-Mortiers [André] (diocesan priest, died at age 66)
----- Bl. Louis Gastineau of Loiron (diocesan priest, chaplain, died at about age 66)
----- Bl. Francis Migoret-Lambarière of Saint-Fraimbault-de-Lassay [François] (diocesan priest, died at about age 65)
----- Bl. Julian Moulé of Le Mans [Julien] (diocesan priest, died at age 77)
----- Bl. Augustine Emmanuel Philippot of Paris (diocesan priest, died at age 77)
----- Bl. Peter Thomas of Mesnil-Rainfray [Pierre] (diocesan priest, died at age 64)
----- Bl. James Burin of Champfleur [Jacques] (diocesan priest, died at age 38)
----- Bl. Frances Mézière of Mézangers [Françoise] (laywoman, died at age 48)
----- Bl. Frances Trahet of Saint-Mars-sur-la-Futaie [Françoise] (religious of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron, died at age 37)
----- Bl. Joan Véron of Quelaines [Jeanne] (religious of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Evron, died at age 27)
----- Bl. (Sister) St. Monica Lhullier of Arquenay [(Soeur) Sainte-Monique) [baptized Marie] (sister of the Hospitaller Canonesses Regular of the Mercy of Jesus, died at age 49)
St. Louthiern of Cornwall (Irish, bishop, 6th century)
St. Mamelta of Bethfarme (Persian, former pagan priestess, martyred by stoning and drowning c. 344)
St. Nothelm of Canterbury (British, archbishop, c. 740)
Bl. Peter of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Casani of Lucca [Pietro] (Italian, priest, religious of the Order the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools, died at age 77 in 1647 [beatified 1995])
St. Regulus (Scottish, abbot, 4th century)
St. Richard Gwyn of Llanidloes [alias White] (Welsh, teacher, poet, martyred under Elizabeth I at about age 47 in 1584 [beatified 1929, canonized 1970])
Bl. Roman Sitko (Polish, diocesan priest, martyred by Nazis at Auschwitz [Poland] at age 62 in 1942 [beatified 1999])
St. Rudolph of Gubbio [Rodolfo] (Italian, nobleman, Benedictine monk, bishop, c. 1066)
St. Solina of Gascony (French, virgin, martyred by beheading c. 290)
Blessed Ursuline Martyrs of Valenciennes (French, eleven Ursuline sisters, martyred [guillotined] by revolutionaries in 1794 [beatified 1920]) [Their names are:]
----- Bl. Ann Mary Joseph Erraux of Pont-sur-Sambre [Anne-Marie-Joseph] [baptized Marie-Augustine (Mary Augustine)] (formerly a Brigittine nun, died at age 32)
----- Bl. Mary Augustine Clementine Joseph of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Déjardin of Cambrai [Marie-Augustine-Clémentine-Joseph de Sacre-Coeur de Jesus] [baptized Marie-Madeleine (Mary Magdalen)] (died at age 34)
----- Bl. Mary Clotilda Angela of St. Francis Borgia Paillot of Bavay [Marie-Clotilde-Angele de Saint-François Borgia] [baptized Clotilde-Joseph (Clotilda Joseph)] (died at age 55)
----- Bl. Mary Cordula Joseph of St. Dominic Barre of Sailly-en-Ostrevant [Marie-Cordule-Joseph de Saint-Dominique] [baptized Jeanne-Louise (Joan Louise)] (died at age 44)
----- Bl. Mary Josephine Leroux of Cambrai [Marie-Josephine] [baptized Anne-Joseph] (died at age 47)
----- Bl. Mary Lavinia Joseph Lacroix of Pont-sur-Sambre [Marie-Liévine-Joseph] [baptized Marie-Françoise (Mary Frances)] (formerly a Brigittine nun, died at age 41)
----- Bl. Mary Lawrence Joseph of St. Stanislaus Prin of Valenciennes [Marie-Laurentine-Joseph de Saint-Stanislas] [baptized Jeanne-Reine (Joan Regina)] (died at age 47)
----- Bl. Mary Louise Joseph of St. Francis Ducrez of Condé [Marie-Louise-Joseph de Saint-François] [baptized Marie-Geneviève] (died at age 38)
----- Bl. Mary Natalie Joseph of St. Louis Vanot of Valenciennes [Marie-Natalie-Joseph de Saint-Louis] [baptized Marie Louise] (died at age 66)
----- Bl. Mary Scholastica Joseph of St. James Leroux of Cambrai [Marie-Scholastique-Joseph de Saint-Jacques] [baptized Marie-Marguerite (Mary Margaret)] (died at age 45) and her blood sister ...
----- Bl. Mary Ursula Joseph of St. Bernardine Bourla of Condé [Marie-Ursule-Joseph de Saint-Bernardin] [baptized Hyacinthe-Augustine-Gabrielle] (died at age 48)
St. Victor of Capua (Italian, bishop, ecclesiastical writer, d. 554)

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 17, 2004

Answers

[From one of the letters of St. Ignatius of Antioch:]

"No earthly pleasures, no kingdoms of this world can benefit me in any way. I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire. The prince of this world is determined to lay hold of me and to undermine my will which is intent on God. Let none of you here help him; instead show yourselves on my side, which is also God's side."

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 17, 2004.