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On January 27, 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. Angela de' Merici of Desenzano (Italian, orphan, Franciscan tertiary, visionary, foundress of Institute of St. Ursula [Ursuline Sisters], died at age 65 in 1474 [beatified 1768, canonized 1807] [incorruptible])

St. Avitus (African, bishop in Canary Islands, martyred)
St. Candida of Bañoles (Spanish, widow, c. 798)
Sts. Datius, Julian, Vincent, and 27 companions (African, martyred by Arians in 5th or 6th century)
St. Devota of Macinaggio (Corsican, virgin, martyred [racked to death] c. 303)
St. Emerius of Bañoles (Spanish, Benedictine abbot, 8th century)
Bl. Gamelbert of Michaelsbuch (Bavarian, shepherd, parish priest for fifty years, died at about age 80 c. 800 [beatified 1909])
Bl. George Matulaitis [or Matulewicz] of Lugin [Jerzy (Polish), Jurgis (Lithuanian)] (Lithuanian, orphaned peasant, priest in Poland, teacher in Russia, renewed Marian Order, founded Congregation of Sisters of the Immaculate Conception, founded Sisters Servants of Jesus in the Eucharist, archbishop in Lithuania, died at age 55 in 1927 [beatified 1987])
St. Gilduin of Dol (French, priest, died at about age 25 in 1077)
St. Henry de Osso y Cervello of Vinebre [Enrique] (Spanish, priest, teacher, founder of Institute of Josephine Sisters, founder of missionary Congregation of St. Teresa [Teresians], died at age 55 in 1896 [beatified 1979, canonized 1993])
Bl. John of Warneton [Jean] (French, bishop of Therouanne, d. 1130)
St. Julian of Sora (Dalmatian [from part of what is now Croatia], martyred by beheading in Italy c. 150)
St. Julian of Rome (Italian, nobleman, bishop of Le Mans in France, hermit, martyred in 3rd century)
St. Lupus of Châlons (French, bishop, c. 610)
St. Marius of Bodon (French, abbot, c. 555)
Bl. Michael Pini of Florence [Michele] (Italian, Medici courtier, Camaldolese priest, hermit, prophet, died at about age 77 in 1522)
St. Natalis of Ulster (Irish, abbot, 6th century)
St. Reatrus and companions (African, early martyrs)
St. Theodoric of Orléans (French, Benedictine monk, bishop, d. 1022)
Pope St. Vitalian of Segni (Italian, elected to papacy in 657, reigned until death in 672)

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), January 27, 2005

Answers

[From St. Angela:]
"If any person, because of his state in life, cannot do without wealth and position, let him at least keep his heart empty of the love of them."
["Blessed are the poor in spirit ..."]

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), January 27, 2005.