Jmj

On June 29, 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:

Sts. Peter of Capernaum and Paul of Tarsus [originally named Simon and Saul] (Israelite and Cilician [from what is now Turkey] ... fisherman/denier of Jesus and Pharisee/tent-maker/persecutor of Jesus ... who became apostles of Jesus [to the Jews and Gentiles] ... first pope [bishop of Antioch, then Rome] and greatest missionary bishop ... writers of New Testament letters ... martyred [inverted crucifixion, beheading] in Rome c. 64 and 65)

St. Cassius of Narni (Italian, bishop, d. 558)
St. Cocha of Saighir (Irish, nurse, abbess, 6th century)
St. Gemma of Carinthia (Austrian? widow, nun, d. 1045)
Sts. Judith and Salome of Niederaltaich (German, princesses, niece and her aunt, hermitesses, 9th century)
St. Mary of Jerusalem (Israelite, mother of St. Mark [Acts 12], 1st century)
St. Syrus of Genoa (Italian, parish priest, bishop, c. 380)

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), June 29, 2004

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), June 29, 2004.

JFG>both Peter and Paul show up in today's saints on http://www.catholic.org/saints/ St. Peter Feastday: June 29

Simon Peter or Cephas, the first pope, Prince of the Apostles, and founder, with St. Paul, of the see of Rome.

St.Paul Feastday: June 29

St. Paul, the indefatigable Apostle of the Gentiles, was converted from Judaism on the road to Damascus. He remained some days in Damascus after his Baptism, and then went to Arabia, possibly for a year or two to prepare himself for his future missionary activity. Having returned to Damascus, he stayed there for a time, preaching in the synagogues that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. For this he incurred the hatred of the Jews and had to flee from the city. He then went to Jerusalem to see Peter and pay his homage to the head of the Church. Pax Christi

-- Andrew m Tillcock (drewmeister7@earthlink.net), June 29, 2004.

Sorry JFG didn't read the top line carefully and went straight to the list of saints my mistake.

God Bless and thanks..

-- Andrew m Tillcock (drewmeister7@earthlink.net), June 29, 2004.