Jmj

Today, August 31, the Catholic Church honors, in a special way, the following friends of God, saints whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Aidan (Irish, monk, bishop in England, d. 651)
St. Raymond Nonnatus (Spanish, Mercedarian priest, cardinal, d. 1240)

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 saint -- whatever moves you. If you are interested in one of these saints and want to find out more about him, please ask. 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 (jgecik@amdg.ihs), August 31, 2001

Answers

"Nonnatus" was not St. Raymond's surname. It was a Latin nickname -- non natus -- meaning "not born" (i.e., not delivered naturally).
Because he was born by Caesarian section -- which I imagine was rare in those days of little surgery and no injected anaesthetic -- he is a patron saint of expectant mothers, newborn infants, midwives, and obstetricians.

-- (jgecik@amdg.ihs), August 31, 2001.

[Here are some August 31 saints/blesseds to be added to those listed in the opening message:]

St. Albertinus of Fonteavellana (Italian, Benedictine prior general, d. 1294)
St. Amatus of Nusco (Italian, Benedictine monk, bishop, 11th or 12th century)
St. Aristides the Athenian (Greek, philosopher, c. 133)
St. Babolenus of Bobbio (Italian, Benedictine abbot, c. 640)
St. Caesidius and companions (Italain, priest and disciples, martyred in 3rd century)
St. Cyriaca (Roman, widow, martyred by scourging in 249)
St. Dominic del Val ["Dominguito"] (Spanish, altar boy, kidnapped and martyred [nailed to wall] at age 7 in 1250)
St. Optatus of Auxerre (French, bishop, c. 530)
St. Paulinus of Trier (French, bishop, strong opponent of Arian heresy, d. 358)
Bl. Richard Bere (English, Carthusian monk, martyred by starving in prison in 1537)
Sts. Robustian and Mark (Italian, early martyrs)
Bl. Servite Martyrs (64 Servite friars in Bohemia [Czech Republic], martyred [burned in church] by Hussite heretics in 1420)
Sts. Theodotus, Rufina, and Ammia (Cappadocian [Turkish], martyred c. 270)
St. Waldef of Northampton (English, count, d. 1076)

JFG

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 03, 2002.

Jmj

On August 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:

St. Aidan of Lindisfarne (Irish, monk, bishop in England, d. 651)
St. Albertino of Fonteavellana (Italian, Benedictine prior general, d. 1294)
St. Amatus of Nusco (Italian, Benedictine monk, bishop, 11th or 12th century)
St. Aristides of Athens (Greek, philosopher, c. 133)
St. Babolenus of Bobbio (Italian, Benedictine abbot, c. 640)
St. Caesidius and companions (Italian, priest and disciples, martyred in 3rd century)
St. Cyriaca of Rome (Italian, widow, martyred by scourging in 249)
St. Dominic del Val of Zaragoza ["Dominguito" (little Dominic)] (Spanish, altar boy, kidnapped and martyred [nailed to wall] at age 7 in 1250)
St. Optatus of Auxerre (French, bishop, c. 530)
St. Paulinus of Trier (French, bishop, strong opponent of Arian heresy, d. 358)
St. Raymond Nonnatus of Portella [Ramon] (Spanish, Mercedarian priest, cardinal, d. 1240)
Bl. Richard Bere of Glastonbury (English, Carthusian monk, martyred by starving in prison under Henry VIII in 1537)
Sts. Robustian and Mark (Italian, early martyrs)
Bl. Servite Martyrs (64 Servite friars [including 4 Italians] in Bohemia [modern Czech Republic], martyred [burned in a church] by Hussite heretics in 1420)
Sts. Theodotus, Rufina, and Ammia, of Cappadocia (from Asia Minor [Turkish], martyred c. 270)
St. Waldef of Northampton (English, count, d. 1076)

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. 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), August 30, 2003.