Jmj

On October 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. Paul of the Cross Francis Danei of Ovada [Paolo Francesco] (Italian, priest, missionary, founder of Barefoot Clerics of the Cross [Passionists], died at age 81 in 1775 [beatified 1853, canonized 1867]) {feast moved from October 19 in U.S.}

St. Acca of Northumbria (British, Benedictine abbot, bishop of Hexham, died at about age 82 in 742)
St. Adeline of Moriton (French, Benedictine abbess, d. 1125)
St. Aderald of Troyes (French, archdeacon, d. 1004)
St. Aidan of Mayo (Irish, bishop, d. 768)
St. Andrew the Calybite (Cretan, monk, denounced iconoclast emperor, tortured and martyred by stabbing in Constantinople in 766)
St. Artemius of Antioch (army officer, prefect in Egypt, opponent of pagans, martyred by beheading in 363)
Sts. Barsabas and eleven companions (Persian, abbot and monks, tortured and martyred by beheading c. 342)
St. Bernard of Bagnorea (Italian, bishop of Vulcia, bishop of Ischia di Castro, c. 801)
St. Caprasius of Agen (French, martyred by beheading in 303)
St. Francis Serrano Frias of Guenejea [Francisco] and St. Francis Diaz del Rincon of Ecija [Francisco] (Spanish, Dominican missionary priests in China, tortured [branded, etc.] and martyred by strangulation at ages 53 and 35 in 1748 [beatified 1893, canonized 2000])
St. Gonzalo of Silos (Spanish, monk, c. 1073)
St. Irene of Tomar (Portuguese, nun, martyred c. 653)
Bl. Jacob Kern of Vienna [Jakob] [baptized Franz Alexander (Francis Alexander)] (Austrian, Norbertine priest, died at age 27 in 1924 [beatified 1998])
Sts. Martha, Saula, and companions, of Cologne (French, virgins, early martyrs)
St. Mary Bertilla Boscardin of Gioia di Brendola [baptized Anna Francesca (Ann Frances)] (Italian, peasant and servant, member of Sisters of St. Dorothy [Daughters of the Sacred Heart], nurse, died [cancer] at age 34 in 1922 [beatified 1952, canonized 1961])
Bl. Mary Teresa de Soubiran of Castelnaudary [Marie-Therese] (French, noblewoman, Carmelite nun, mystic, died at about age 65 in 1889 [beatified 1946])
St. Maximus of Aquila (Italian, deacon, martyred by being thrown off a cliff c. 250)
St. Sindulphus of Rheims (French, priest, hermit, d. 660)
St. Vitalis of Salzburg (Austrian, Benedictine abbot, bishop, d. 745)
Bl. William of Savigny [Guillaume] (French, Benedictine monk, c. 1122)

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 20, 2004

Answers

[From a letter by St. Paul of the Cross:]

"It is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord, and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom, for it was there that all the saints learned it. Therefore, be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will."

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

[Note: I am copying the following (indented) message from the old, obsolete "saints" thread for this day of the year, so that the old thread can later be deleted. JFG]

Hi,John.

Our Blessed Virgin Mary asked St.Paul of the Cross..."Found an Order to keep alive the memory of the Passion of my Beloved Son".

The Passionist Monastery of the Immaculate Conception has one of the highest quality Mass Card folders in the country today. A special Mass is offered eacdh day for the members of the Benefactors Society. Besides throughout the year other Masses are offered for them in every Passionist Monastery in the world. Members also share in the prayers, penances and good works of every Passionist. The living and the deceased may be enrolled.

If anyone wanted more information on these beautiful Mass folders, their website is www.ICMonastery.org

God Bless.

-- David -- October 20, 2001.

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