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On January 16, 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. Berard of Carbio, Peter, Otto, Accursius, and Adjutus ["First Franciscan Martyrs"] (Italian, Franciscan, three priests and two brothers, missionaries sent by St. Francis to evangelize Spain/Portugal/North Africa, tortured and martyred by Moslems in Morocco in 1220 [canonized 1481])
[About the First Franciscan Martyrs ...
They were scourged until their ribs were visible.
Then they had boiled oil and vinegar poured into the wounds.
Then their bodies were rolled on sharp stones and pottery fragments.
Then their heads were split in two by a sword.
Their relics were ransomed and are now in the Monastery of the Holy Cross in Coimbra, Portugal.]
Bl. Conrad of Mondsee (German, Benedictine abbot, martyred at about age 45 in Austria in 1145)
St. Dunchaid O'Braoin of Clonmacnoise (Irish, hermit, abbot, d. 988)
St. Ferreolus of Grenoble (French, bishop, martyred c. 670 [beatified 1907])
St. Fulgentius of Ecija (Spanish, bishop, brother of three saints, c. 633)
St. Fursey of Lagny (Irish, Benedictine abbot in France, visionary, died at about age 81 c. 648 [incorruptible])
Sts. Fusca and Maura of Ravenna (Italian, young girl and her nurse, martyred in 250)
Bl. Gonzalo Pereira of Amarante [Gonçalo] (Portuguese, Dominican priest, hermit, died at about age 71 in 1259 [beatified 1560])
St. Henry of Cocket Island [Henrik] (Danish, Benedictine hermit, died on an English island in 1127)
St. Honoratus of Trier (French, abbot, archbishop of Arles, d. 429)
St. Honoratus of Fondi (Italian, Benedictine abbot, 6th century)
St. James of Tarentaise ["Apostle of Savoy"] (French, monk, missionary, bishop, c. 429)
Bl. Jane of Bagno [Giovanna] (Italian, Camaldolese nun, d. 1105 [beatified 1823])
Bl. Joan Mary Condesa Lluch of Valencia [Juana María] (Spanish, founded Congregation of the Handmaids of Mary Immaculate, died at age 53 in 1916 [beatified 2003])
Bl. Joseph Tovini of Cividate Camuno [Giuseppe] (Italian, married man, father of ten, local politician, Franciscan tertiary, died at about age 66 in 1897 [beatified 1998])
Bl. Joseph Vaz of Benaulim ["Apostle of Sri Lanka"] (Asian Indian, priest, missionary to Ceylon [now called Sri Lanka], died at age 59 in 1711 [beatified 1995])
St. Liberata of Pavia (Italian, nun, 5th century)
Pope St. Marcellus I of Rome (Italian, elected to papacy in 308, reigned until death in 309)
St. Melas of Rhinocolura (Egyptian, bishop, tortured by Arian heretics, c. 385)
St. Priscilla of Rome (Italian, widow, provided lodgings to Pope St. Peter, 1st century)
St. Tatian of Opitergium (Italian, bishop, d. 650)
St. Triverius of Neustria (French, hermit, c. 550)
St. Valerius of Sorrento (Italian, hermit, bishop, c. 453)

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), December 27, 2004

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), January 16, 2005.