Jmj

Today, December 8, we members of the Catholic Church family celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We also honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Eucharius (German, bishop, 1st century)
St. Gunthildis (English, Benedictine abbess in Germany, c. 748)
St. Jane of Cáceres (Spanish, Cistercian abbess, martyred in 1383)
St. Romaric (French, nobleman, widower, abbot for 30 years, d. 653)

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/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), December 08, 2001

Answers

-- (_@_._), December 08, 2001.

It is customary in Mexico and in other Spanish speaking countries to use the titles or privileges of Our Blessed Mother to name girls , for instance my maternal grand mother was called Concepcion, and so is one my sisters. The persons who have this name are "carinosamente" called Concha or Conchita (like in Conchita Alonso). May be many of our English speaking friends did not know the origin of this name. The same goes for names like Asuncion (Chuncha, Chonita), Dolores (Sorrows)(Lola and Lolita) and many others.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 09, 2001.

Thanks for that interesting information, Enrique.
Can you help me with a question that is possibly related?
In this area, one of our radio stations has a female reporter named Milagros Ardin. I know that "milagros" means "miracles." Does her name come from a title of Our Lady, or is it just a reference to Our Lord's miracles?

God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 09, 2001.

You are right, John, it refers to the miracles of Our Lord. WE have many other examples: Angustias (Anguishes), Pasionaria, Ascencion, etc.

In the case of Our Lady we have many other cases: Rosario (Chayo, Chayito) Anunciacion(Chona,Chonita), Refugio(Cuca, Cuquita), Carmen, Carmela, etc.

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 10, 2001.

Thanks, Enrique.
It's very interesting that you mentioned "Rosario (Chayo, Chayito)."
Just two days ago, I found out that that the flamboyant Spanish singer nicknamed "Charo" [similar to Chayo] has the name Maria Rosario Pilar Martinez Melina Baeza.
I'm curious as to why the name Rosario (with the masculine "o" ending) is given rather than "Rosaria" (with a feminine ending).
God bless you.
John

-- (jfgecik@hotmail.com), December 10, 2001.

John: It is true that sometimes the way we use the names of persons disocncerts our English speaking friends. As a general rule (at least in Mexico) when a name is not distinctly masculine or feminine it is customary to put the name José before a masculine name and the name María before a feminine name. I give you some examples: José Remedios (Reme)

José Refugio (Cuco)

José Guadalupe (Lupillo, Lupito)

José Mercedes (Merce)

José Rosario

José Pilar (Pillo, Pilo)

And the feminine equivalents:

María Remedios (Medi)

María Refugio (Cuca, Cuquita)

María Guadalupe (Lupe, Lupita)

María Mercedes (Meche, Mechita)

María Rosario (Chayo, Charo, Chayito, Charito)

María Pilar (Pili, Pila), and so on.

Enrique

-- Enrique Ortiz (eaortiz@yahoo.com), December 13, 2001.

Jmj

On December 8, we members of the Catholic Church family celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
We also honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Eucharius of Trier (German, bishop, 1st century)
Pope St. Eutychian of Etruria (Italian, elected to papacy in 275, reigned until death in 283)
St. Gunthildis of Wimborne (English, Benedictine abbess in Germany, c. 748)
St. Jane of Cáceres [Juana] (Spanish, Cistercian abbess, martyred in 1383)
St. Macarius of Alexandria (Egyptian, early martyr)
Bl. Narcisa of Jesus Martillo Moran of Nobol (Ecuadoran, laywoman, died in Peru at age 36 in 1869 [beatified 1992])
St. Patapius (Egyptian, hermit near Constantinople, 7th century)
St. Romaric of Remiremont (French, nobleman, widower, abbot for 30 years, d. 653)

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), December 08, 2003.