Jmj

On December 15, 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. Adalbero (French, Benedictine monk, bishop of Verdun, bishop of Metz, d. 1005)
Bl. Charles Steeb of Tubingen (German, convert from Lutheranism in Italy, priest, co-founded Institute of the Sisters of Mercy, died at about age 81 in 1856 [beatified 1975])
St. Florentius of Bangor (Irish, abbot, 7th century)
St. Irenaeus, Anthony, Theodore, Saturninus, Victor, and 17 companions, of Rome (Italian, martyred c. 258)
St. John the Barefoot of Rennes [Jean Discalceat] (French, stone mason, Franciscan priest, died at about age 69 in 1349)
St. Julia of Arezzo (Italian, Camaldolese nun)
Bl. Mary Frances Schervier of Aachen [Maria Franziska] (German, foundress of Sisters of the Poor of St. Francis, nursed U.S. Civil War wounded, cured of asthma at Lourdes, died at age 57 in 1876 [beatified 1974])
St. Mary of the Crucifix di Rosa of Brescia [Maria Crocifisa] [baptized Paola Francesca Maria (Paula Frances Mary)] (Italian, noblewoman, virgin, co-foundress of Handmaids of Charity, served the needy for 25 years, died at age 42 in 1855 [beatified 1940, canonized 1954])
St. Maximinus of Micy (French, abbot, d. 520)
St. Nino of Bodbe ["Apostle of Georgia"] (female slave, c. 320)
St. Paul of Latros (Turkish, Byzantine hermit, d. 956)
St. Silvia of Constantinople (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], fighter of heresies, c. 420)
St. Urbicus of Bordeaux (French, hermit, died in Spain c. 805)
St. Valerian of Abbenza (African, bishop, martyred [exposed to elements] by Arian heretics at about age 80 in 457)
St. Virginia Bracelli of Genoa [nee Centurione] (Italian, widow, co-founded Congregation of Daughters of Mount Calvary, died at age 64 in 1651 [beatified 1985, canonized 2003])

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), December 10, 2004

Answers

May St. John the barefoot of Rennes pray for you Mr. Gecik.

-- Ol (+..+....@...), December 15, 2004.

Thanks, Ol, for your prayer -- and for bumping threads while I was away. JFG

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 16, 2004.