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On February 17, 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:

Seven Founders of the Order of Servites (Italian, wealthy city councilors, six priests and one brother, founded the Servants of Mary [Servites], died between c. 1261 and 1310 [canonized 1887])
[The names of the founders, who were all from Florence:]
--- St. Alexis Falconieri [Alessio]
--- St. Benedict dell'Antella [Benedetto]
--- St. John Buonagiunta [Giovanni]
--- St. Ricovero dei Lippi-Ugoccioni
--- St. Buonfiglio Monaldi
--- St. Gerard Sostegni [Gherardino]
--- St. Bartholomew degli Amidei [Bartolomeo]

St. Benedict of Cagliari [Benedetto] (Italian, Benedictine monk, bishop of Dolia on Sardinia, c. 1112)
St. Constabilis of Lucania (Italian, Benedictine abbot, died at about age 64 in 1124 [canonized 1893])
Sts. Donatus, Secundian, Romulus, and 86 companions, of Porto Gruaro (Italian, martyred in 304)
St. Evermod of Ratzeburg (German, Norbertine abbot, bishop, died at about age 78 in 1178)
St. Faustinus and 44 companions, of Rome (Italian, early martyrs)
St. Finan of Iona (Irish, monk, missionary, bishop in England, d. 661)
St. Fintan of Clonenagh (Irish, hermit, abbot, d. 603)
St. Fortchern of Trim (Irish, bishop, hermit, 6th century)
St. Francis Regis Clet of Grenoble [François-Régis] (French, Vincentian missionary priest for 30 years, tortured and martyred by strangling in China at age 72 in 1820 [beatified 1900, canonized 2000])
Bl. Frowin of Bellevaux (French, Cistercian abbot, d. 1165)
St. Guevrock of Loc-Kirec (British, abbot, 6th century)
St. Habet-Deus of Luna (Italian, bishop, martyred c. 500)
St. Loman of Trim (British, bishop in Ireland, c. 450)
Bl. Luke Belludi of Padua [Luca] (Italian, Franciscan friar, died at about age 85 c. 1285 [beatified 1927])
St. Polychronius of Babylon (Mesopotamian [from part of what is now Iraq], bishop, martyred in 250?)
St. Silvin of Auchy (French, Benedictine monk, missionary bishop for 40 years, c. 717)
Sts. Theodulus of Caesarea and Julian of Cappadocia (from Palestine and Asia Minor [Turkish], old man and catechumen, martyred [crucified, burned] in 308)
Bl. William Richardson (Welsh, priest, martyred [drawn, hanged, and quartered] in England under Elizabeth I in 1603 [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), February 17, 2005

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 17, 2005.