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On February 10, 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. Scholastica of Nursia (Italian, twin sister of St. Benedict, first Benedictine nun, died at about age 63 c. 543)

Bl. Alexander Baldrati of Lugo [Alessandro] (Italian, Dominican friar, tortured and martyred [hacked to pieces] by Moslems on an island at about age 50 in 1645)
Bl. Aloysius Victor Stepinac of Zagreb [Alojzije Viktor] (Croatian, soldier, cardinal archbishop, defended human rights against Nazis and Communists, imprisoned for five years, died [possibly murdered by poisoning] at age 61 in 1960 [beatified 1998])
Sts. Andrew and Aponius, of Bethlehem (Israelite, martyred during persecution [Acts 12] in 1st century)
St. Austreberta of Pavilly (French, Benedictine abbess, miracle-worker, visionary died at about age 74 in 704)
St. Baldegundis of Poitiers (French, abbess, c. 580)
Bl. Clare Agolanti of Rimini [Chiara] (Italian, noblewoman, Franciscan tertiary, widow, died at about age 61 in 1344 [beatified 1784])
St. Desideratus of Clermont (French, bishop, 6th century)
St. Erluph of Werden (Irish, missionary bishop in Germany, martyred by pagans in 830)
Bl. Eusebius of Murano [Eusebio] (Spanish, ambassador, Camaldolese monk on Venetian island, d. 1501)
Bl. Hugh of Fosse (Belgian, Norbertine priest and superior general, died at about age 71 in 1164 [beatified 1927])
Bl. Paganus (Sicilian, Benedictine monk, hermit, d. 1423)
St. Prothadius of Besançon (French, bishop, d. 624)
St. Salvius of Albelda (Spanish, Benedictine abbot, d. 962)
St. Silvanus of Terracina (Italian, bishop)
St. Soteris of Rome (Italian, noblewoman, virgin, tortured and martyred [beheaded] in 304)
St. Trumwin of Whitby (British, Benedictine monk, bishop to the Picts, c. 700)
St. William of Maleval [Guillaume] (French, soldier, Benedictine hermit in Italy, d. 1157 [canonized 1202])
Sts. Zoticus, Irenaeus, Hyacinth, Amantius, and six companions (soldiers, martyred in Rome in 120)

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), February 10, 2005

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 10, 2005.