Jmj

On August 28, 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. Augustine of Tagaste [originally Aurelius Augustinus] (Numidian [from what is now Algeria], convert at 30, monk, bishop of Hippo, Doctor of the Church, author of many philosophical and theological books/treatises/sermons, died at age 75 in 430)

St. Alexander of Constantinople (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], bishop, opposed Arian heresy, d. 340)
Bl. Alphonse Mary of the Holy Spirit Mazurek of Baranowka [Alfons Maria] [baptized Jozef (Joseph)] (Polish, Discalced Carmelite priest, martyred by Nazis [shot] at Nawojowa Gora [Poland] at age 53 in 1944 [beatified 1999])
St. Brian Edmund Arrowsmith of Haydock [preferred his Confirmation name] (English, Jesuit priest, martyred [drawn, hanged, and quartered] at about age 44 under Charles I in 1628 [beatified 1929, canonized 1970])
St. Fortunatus (Italian, martyred in 303)
St. Gorman of Reichenau (Benedictine monk, bishop of Schleswig in Denmark, d. 965)
Bl. Henry Webley of Gloucester (English, layman, martyred at about age 30 [drawn, hanged, and quartered] under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1987])
St. Hermes of Rome (Italian, martyred c. 120)
Bl. Hugh More of Grantham (English, layman, martyred by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])
Bl. James Claxton of York (English, priest, martyred [drawn, hanged, and quartered] under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])
St. Julian of Auvergne (from Gaul [France], army officer, early martyr [beheaded])
St. Moses (Israelite born in Egypt, Old Testament patriarch, 14th century BC?)
St. Moses the Black (Ethiopian, slave in Egypt, priest, murdered at about age 75 in 405)
St. Pelagius (Pannonian [Hungarian], young child, martyred in 283)
Bl. Robert Morton of Yorkshire (English, priest, martyred by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])
St. Rumwald of Northumbria (British, prince, d. 650)
Bl. Teresa Bracco of Santa Giulia (Italian, farmer’s daughter, martyred at age 20 [choked, shot, and stomped to death] in a reprisal against partisans by a German soldier in 1944 [beatified 1998])
Bl. Thomas Felton of Bermondsey (English, seminarian with Minim Friars, martyred at age 20 by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])
Bl. Thomas Holford of Aston [also called Thomas Acton] (English, schoolteacher, priest, martyred by hanging in 1588 [beatified 1929])
St. Vivian of Saintes (French, bishop, d. 460)
Bl. William Dean of Linton (English, converted minister, priest, martyred by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])
Bl. William Guntei of Raglan (Welsh, priest, martyred by hanging under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929])

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), August 28, 2004

Answers

[I believe that Fr. Benedict Groeschel, an expert on St. Augustine, mentioned that the saint wrote five million Latin words (7.5 million in English translation) that have survived to our time. Here are a few of those words, which demonstrate several things, including part of the Church's ancient teaching on the Communion of Saints -- our prayers for the poor souls in Purgatory and intercessory prayer by the martyrs in heaven for us.]

"There is an ecclesiastical discipline, as the faithful know, when the names of the martyrs are read aloud in that place at the altar of God, where prayer is not offered for them. Prayer, however, is offered for the dead who are remembered. For it is wrong to pray for a martyr, to whose prayers we ought ourselves be commended."

[The following was provided by forum members on the old thread for this day of the year.]

"Domine Iesu, Noverim Me (Lord Jesus, Let Me Know Myself)"
(a prayer of St. Augustine)

Lord Jesus, let me know myself and know Thee,
And desire nothing save only Thee.
Let me hate myself and love Thee.
Let me do everything for the sake of Thee.
Let me humble myself and exalt Thee.
Let me think of nothing except Thee.
Let me die to myself and live in Thee.
Let me accept whatever happens as from Thee.
Let me banish self and follow Thee,
And ever desire to follow Thee.
Let me fly from myself and take refuge in Thee,
That I may deserve to be defended by Thee.
Let me fear for myself, let me fear Thee,
And let me be among those who are chosen by Thee.
Let me distrust myself and put my trust in Thee.
Let me be willing to obey for the sake of Thee.
Let me cling to nothing save only to Thee,
And let me be poor because of Thee.
Look upon me, that I may love Thee.
Call me that I may see Thee,
And for ever enjoy Thee.
Amen.

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), August 28, 2004.