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On October 1, 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. Therese of the Child Jesus and of the Holy Face Martin of Alençon [also called "The Little Flower" and "St. Therese of Lisieux"] (French, Carmelite nun, autobiographer, follower of "The Little Way," Doctor of the Church, died at age 24 on September 30 in 1897 [beatified 1923, canonized 1925])

Sts. Aizan and Sazan (Abyssinian [Ethiopian], chieftains, martyred c. 400)
St. Albaud of Toul (French, bishop, c. 520)
Bl. Anthony Rewera of Samborzec [Antoni] (Polish, diocesan priest, founder of Congregation of the Sons of the Seraphic St. Francis, martyred by Nazis at Dachau [Germany] at age 73 in 1942 [beatified 1999])
St. Aretas and 504 companions (early martyrs in Rome)
St. Bavo of Brabant (Belgian, nobleman, widower, monk, died at about age 65 in 654)
Bl. Caspar Fisogiro (Japanese, member of Confraternity of the Holy Rosary, martyred at Nagasaki in 1617 [beatified 1867])
Bl. Christopher Buxton of Tideswell, Bl. Ralph Crockett of Barton-on-the-Hill, Bl. Edward James of Breaston, Bl. John Robinson of Ferrensby, Bl. Robert Wilcox of Chester, and Bl. Robert Widmerpool of Nottingham (English, five priests and a layman, martyred [drawn, hanged, quartered] under Elizabeth I in 1588 [beatified 1929]) [Buxton was about 26 years of age. Crockett had been a schoolteacher. Robinson was a widower. Wilcox was about 30. Widmerpool, about 28, was a tutor for the nobility.]
St. Dodo of Lobbes (Belgian, Benedictine abbot in France, d. 750)
St. Fidharleus of Rathin (Irish, abbot, d. 762)
Sts. Julia, Maxima, and Verissimus, of Lisbon (Portuguese, sisters and brother, martyrs, 4th century)
Bl. Louis Mary Monti of Bovisio [Luigi Maria] (Italian, layman, co-founded Congregation of the Sons of the Immaculate Conception, died at age 75 in 1900 [beatified 2003])
St. Melorius of Cornwall (English, prince, murdered as a child before 1100)
Bl. Nicholas of Forca-Palena [Niccola] (Italian, founded Hermits of St. Jerome, died at about age 100 in 1449 [beatified 1771])
St. Piaton of Tournai (Italian, missionary in France and Belgium, martyred in 286)
Sts. Priscus, Crescens, and Evagrius, of Tomi (early martyrs)
St. Remigius of Laon (French, nobleman, bishop of Rheims for 74 years [from age 22], "Apostle of the Franks," died at about age 96 in 533)
St. Romanos the Melodist (Syrian, Jewish convert, deacon, writer of a thousand hymns, died at about age 66 c. 556)
St. Virila of Leyre (French, Benedictine abbot, miracle worker, d. 1000)

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), October 01, 2004

Answers

[from the writings of St. Therese, the "Little Flower":]

--- You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them.
--- Kneeling before the tabernacle, I can think of only one thing to say to our Lord: "My God, you know that I love You." And I feel that my prayer does not weary Jesus; knowing my weakness, He is satisfied with my good will.
--- Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity.
--- Our Lord does not come down from Heaven every day to lie in a golden ciborium. He comes to find another heaven which is infinitely dearer to him - the heaven of our souls, created in His Image, the living temples of the Adorable Trinity.
--- Above all it's the Gospels that occupy my mind when I'm at prayer; my poor soul has so many needs, and yet this is the one thing needful. I'm always finding fresh lights there, hidden and enthralling meanings.
--- I have not the courage to force myself to seek beautiful prayers in books; not knowing which to choose I act as children do who cannot read; I say quite simply to the good God what I want to tell Him, and He always understands me.

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), October 01, 2004.