Jmj

On December 31, 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:

Pope St. Sylvester I of Rome (Italian, priest, elected to papacy in 314, pope during reign of Emperor Constantine and First Nicene Council, reigned until death in 335)

St. Barbatian of Ravenna (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], monastic superior in Italy and counselor to the emperor, 5th century)
St. Columba of Sens (Spanish, virgin, martyred by beheading in France at about age 16 in 273)
Sts. Donata, Paulina, Rustica, Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria, and companions, of Rome (early martyrs)
St. Hermes of Rome (Italian, exorcist, martyred c. 270)
St. Marius of Burgundy (French, bishop of Avenches in Switzerland, died at about age 64 in 594)
St. Melanie the Younger of Rome (Italian, noblewoman, widow, patron of St. Augustine, friend of St. Jerome, died in Jerusalem at about age 56 in 439)
St. Offa of Benevento (Italian, Benedictine abbess, c. 1070)
Bl. Peter of Subiaco [Pietro] (Italian, Benedictine abbot, tortured [blinded] and martyred in 1003)
Sts. Sabinian and Potentian of Sens (French, bishops, martyred c. 300)
Sts. Stephen, Pontian, Attalus, Fabian, Cornelius, Flos, Quintian, Minervinus, and Simplician, of Catania (Sicilian, early martyrs)
Bl. Walembert of Cambrai [also known as Garembert] (Belgian, hermit, Augustinian abbot, died at about age 57 in 1141)
Bl. Wisinto of Kremsmünster (Austrian, Benedictine priest, c. 1250)
St. Zoticus of Constantinople (Roman, priest in Asia Minor, cared for poor and orphans, opposed Arianism, martyred [dragged by a wild ass] c. 350)

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 23, 2004

Answers

John,

Thanks for the threads this past year. I would imagine that is quite a few hours putting together for 365 day?

May God bless you on your journey& keep your safe.

-- + (You.stay@safe..), December 31, 2004.