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On March 14, 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:

Bl. Ambrose Fernandes of Sisto [Ambrosio] (Portuguese, Jesuit brother, martyred [died in prison] in Japan at age 68 in 1620 [beatified 1867])
Bl. Arnold of Padua [Arnaldo] (Italian, Benedictine abbot, persecuted by a tyrant, martyred [died in prison] at about age 70 in 1254)
St. Boniface Curitan of Rome (Italian, bishop of Ross in Scotland, c. 630)
St. Diaconus of Marsi (Italian, deacon, martyred by heretics in 6th century)
Bl. Dominic Jorjes of Aguilar de Sousa [Domingos] (Portuguese, soldier, martyred by burning in Japan in 1619 [beatified 1867])
St. Eutychius and companions, of Carrhes (Mesopotamian [from what is now Iraq], martyred by Moslems in 741)
Bl. James Cusmano of Palermo [Giacomo] (Italian, priest, founder of the Congregation of the Missionary Servants of the Poor, founder of Sister Servants of the Poor, died one day short of age 54 in 1888 [beatified 1983])

[Continued below]

-- J. F. Gecik ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 14, 2005

Answers

[Continued from above]

Bl. James Capocci of Viterbo [Giacomo] ["Doctor Speculativus"] (Italian, Augustinian friar, teacher of theology, bishop of Benevento, bishop of Naples, died at about age 53 c. 1308 [beatified 1911])
St. Leo (bishop, early martyr)
St. Leobinus of Chartres (French, peasant field worker, monk, bishop, miracle-worker, d. 558)
Holy Martyrs of Valeria (Italian, two monks, martyred by hanging in 6th century)
St. Matilda of Engern [Mechtilde] (German, duchess of Saxony, queen, widow, foundress of abbeys, died at about age 73 in 968)
St. Paulina of Zell (German, widow, Benedictine nun, d. 1107)
Sts. Peter and Aphrodisius (North African, martyred by Arian heretics in 5th century)
Holy Martyrs of Rome (forty-seven baptized by Pope St. Peter, martyred the same day c. 67)
St. Talmach of Lough Erc (Irish, founder of monastery, 7th 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

-- ("jfgecik@hotmail.com), March 14, 2005.