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On February 22, we members of the Catholic Church family celebrate the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle.
We also honor, in a special way, the following friends of God -- saints whose souls are now in heaven:

St. Abilius of Alexandria (Egyptian, patriarch [bishop], c. 98)
Bl. Angel Portasole of Perugia [Angelo] (Italian, Dominican friar, bishop of Iglesias, d. 1334)
Holy Martyrs of Arabia (Arabian/Jordanian, early martyrs)
St. Aristion of Salamis (Israelite, one of the 72 disciples of Jesus, missionary to Cyprus, martyred in 1st century)
St. Athanasius of Nicomedia (Constantinopolitan [Turkish], abbot, c. 818)
St. Baradates (Syrian, desert hermit, c. 460)
St. Elwin of Cornwall (British, 6th century)
Bl. John the Saxon of Athelingay (French, Benedictine monk, abbot in England, martyred in 895)
St. Margaret of Cortona [Margherita] ["Magdalen of the 13th Century"] (Italian, unwed mother, repentant fornicatress, Franciscan tertiary, mystic, died at about age 49 in 1297 [canonized 1728])
Bl. Mary of Jesus d'Hooghvorst of Wegemont [baptized Emilie, nee d'Oultremont] (Belgian, widow, founded Institute of St. Mary Reparatrix, died at about age 60 in 1878 [beatified 1997])
St. Maximianus of Pola (Italian, bishop of Ravenna, died at about age 56 in 556)
St. Papias of Hierapolis (from Asia Minor [now called Turkey], bishop, c. 120)
St. Paschasius of Vienne (French, bishop, c. 312)
St. Raynerius of Beaulieu [Rainier] (French, Benedictine monk, c. 967)
Bl. Stephen Vincent Frelichowski of Chelmza [Stefan Wincenty] (Polish, priest, arrested by Nazi GeStaPo, kept in five concentration camps [last Dachau], martyred [typhus] at age 32 in 1945 [beatified 1999])
Sts. Thalassius and Limnaeus (Syrian, hermits, 5th century)

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 22, 2005

Answers

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), February 22, 2005.