fide et gratia February 2016 | Page 14

February Saints

20-FebSt. Amata

Death: 1250, Poor Clare and niece of St. Clare of Assisi. Amata was miraculously cured of an illness by St. Clare. She entered a Poor Clare monastery as a result.

21-FebSt. Avitus II of Clermont

Death: 691, Bishop and defender of the Church. He was appointed bishop of Clermont, France, in 676.

22-FebSt. Aristion

Death: 1st century, Martyr and disciple, one of the original seventy-two sent out into the world. Aristion preached on Cyprus and is listed as a martyr in Salamis.

23-FebSt. Alexander Akimetes

Death: 403, Hermit and founder of religious houses. He was born in Asia Minor and studied in Constantinople. There he became a convert to Christianity and began a life of retreat and prayer. He founded a monastery in Mesopotamia and another one in Constantinople, and founded a monastery in Gomon.

24-FebSt. Adela

Death: 1137, Benefactor and English princess. In 1080 she married Stephen of Blois. She was famed for endowing churches and monastic institutions.

25-FebSt. Ananias II

Death: 1st century, Missionary, martyr, and patron of St. Paul. Finding Saul blind, Ananias cured him and baptized him. After seeing Paul start his missionary work, Ananias went to Eleutheropolis, where he was martyred for the faith.

26-FebSt. Alexander

Death: 434, Martyr of Arumentum and a companion of Verulus, Secundius, and others.