Jmj

On September 7, 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. Alcmund and Tilbert of Hexham (British, Benedictine monks, bishops, d. 781 and 789)
St. Anastasius of Aquileia (Italian, fuller, martyred by drowining in 304)
St. Augustalis of Arles (French, bishop, c. 450)
St. Carissima of Albi (French, nun, 5th century)
St. Cloud of Nogent (French, prince of Orleans, priest, founder of monastery, died at about age 38 in 560)
St. Diuma (Irish, bishop in England, 7th century)
Bl. Eugenia Picco of Crescenzago (Italian, superior general of Congregation of the Little Daughters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, died at age 53 in 1921 [beatified 2001])
St. Eupsychius of Caesarea (Cappadocian [from part of what is now Turkey], martyred c. 130)
Bl. Eustace of Flay (French, Cistercian abbot, papal legate to England, d. 1211)
St. Evortius of Rome (Italian, bishop of Orléans in France, 4th century?)
St. Faciolus of Poitiers (French, Benedictine monk, c. 950)
St. Gratus of Aosta (Italian, bishop, c. 470)
St. Grimonia of Laon (Irish, laywoman in France, martyred in defense of her virginity, 4th century)
St. Hiduard of Dickelvenne (Belgian, Benedictine monk, missionary bishop, c. 750)
Bl. John Duckett of Underwinder and Bl. Ralph Corby of Maynooth [also known as Corbington] (English, diocesan priest and Jesuit priest, martyred [drawn, hanged, and quartered] under Charles I at about ages 41 and 46 in 1644 [beatified 1929])
Bl. John Maki and Bl. Louis Maki (Japanese, laymen, martyred by burning at Nagasaki in 1627 [beatified 1867])
St. John of Lodi Vecchio [Giovanni] (Italian, Benedictine hermit, bishop of Gubbio, d. 1106)
St. John of Nicomedia (Turkish, martyr by burning in 303)
St. Madalberta of Maubeuge (Belgian, Benedictine abbess, d. 706)
St. Memorius and five companions, of Troyes (French, deacon and others, martyred [beheaded] by Attila the Hun in 451)
St. Pamphilus (Greek, bishop of Capua in Italy, c. 400)
St. Regina of Autun (French, virgin, martyred in 3rd century)
St. Sozon of Cilicia [name before conversion: Tarasius] (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], shepherd boy, martyred by burning c. 304)
Bl. Stephen de Châtillon of Lyons [Etienne] (French, Carthusian prior, bishop of Die, died at about age 53 in 1208 [beatified 1907])
Bl. Thomas Tsugi of Sonogi (Japanese, Jesuit priest, martyred by burning at Nagasaki at about age 57 in 1627 [beatified 1867])

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), September 07, 2004

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 07, 2004.

Hi JF,

Any idea if Keefer is a saint? I am picking this name for my little one this coming October..

Thanks.

- Anthony

-- Anthony Yong (anthony.yong@gtech.com), September 08, 2004.

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Hello, Anthony.

I ran a scan of all my daily lists and could not find any reference to a saint or blessed named Keefer (or Kiefer or Keith). As I suspected, a Google search reveals that these are not really "given" or "Christian" names, but rather surnames that people have started using as first names.

I recommend against giving a Catholic child the name Keefer/Kiefer, especially if it is intended to honor a certain actor (who may not deserve such an honor). Although Canon Law no longer requires that a Catholic child be given the name of a saint or blessed, that practice is very much encouraged, so that the child may have a role model and a heavenly patron interceding for him. Anthony, you have a great patron saint (whose name I adopted at the time of my Confirmation). If you feel that you must name your child Keefer, then, please, at least give him a middle name that is the name of a great saint.

God bless you.
John

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 08, 2004.

Hi John,

Thanks for the kind reply and advice. Kiefer is the famous actor and that name is of German origin - means barrel maker. Keefer is of Celtic origin. We like the name because of the sound and its meaning - handsome and noble. We already chosen Michael (the Archangel) as his middle name as we too thought that its always good to have a great saint to watch over him. :) And I could not agree with you more.. Anthony is a great and kind patron.

God bless you.

- Anthony

-- Anthony Yong (anthony.yong@gtech.com), September 08, 2004.

Anthony,
Congratulations (in advance) on the coming of your little one.
JFG

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), September 09, 2004.