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On December 23, 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. John of Kanty [Jan] [also called "John Cantius"] (Polish, parish priest, university professor of Scripture, miracle worker, died at age 83 in 1473 [beatified 1676, canonized 1767])

Bl. Anthony of St. Anne Galvão de Franca of Guaratingueta [Antonio Sant' Anna] (Brazilian, Franciscan priest, died at about age 83 in 1822 [beatified 1998])
St. Besa (Egyptian, abbot, 5th century)
King St. Dagobert II of Austrasia (German, son of a saint, father of two saints, martyred in 679)
St. Frithbert of Hexham (British, Benedictine monk, bishop for 34 years, d. 766)
Bl. Hartmann of Polling (Austrian, bishop of Brixen, died at about age 74 in 1164 [beatified 1784])
Bl. Helen Guerra of Lucca [Elena] (Italian, foundress of Handmaids of the Holy Spirit [missionary sisters], died at about age 79 in 1914 [beatified 1959])
Bl. Hermann of Scheda (German, convert from Judaism, Norbertine abbot, c. 1200)
Bl. John Cirita of Tononca [Juan] (Spanish, Benedictine monk in Portugal, c. 1164)
St. Mazota of Abernethy (Irish, abbess in Scotland, 8th century)
Sts. Migdonius and Mardonius of Rome (Italian, imperial officials, martyred [one burnt, one drowned] in 303)
St. Servulus the Paralyzed of Rome (Italian, beggar, c. 590)
Sts. Theodulus, Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zeticus, Cleomenes, Agathopus, Basilides, and Evaristus (Cretan, martyred in 250)
Bl. Thorlac Thorhallsson of Skalholt (Icelandic, abbot, bishop, died at about age 60 in 1193 [beatified 1198])
St. Vintila of Orense (Spanish, Benedictine hermit, d. 890)

[From St. John of Kanty]
"Fight all error, but do it with good humor, patience, kindness, and love. Harshness will damage your own soul and spoil the best cause."

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 22, 2004

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 23, 2004.