I recently became fascinated by saints.� Obviously, Presbyterians don't acknowledge saints, so this whole aspect of Catholicism is that much more intriguing to me.

I also find it fascinating because I don't really understand it.� I agree that we can learn a lot by studying stories of great Christians, just as a golfer would learn something by learning more about great golfers.� I don't understand patron saints.� True, some patrons saints have an obvious connection to their patronage (St. Francis of Assisi to naturalists or Henry of Finland to Finland, for example).� But there's others I don't understand, and that makes them that much more interesting.� There's also patron saints for some very bizarre patronages.

Poor Fiacre.� He's always associated with rather unpleasant things, but I have no idea why.�

I also read about St. Perpetua.� She was a martyred as a cathecumanate, by the Romans and sacrificed in an arena.� Her brother died at the age of seven of facial gangrene, which must be one of the worst things to die of.� He became so deformed that he was denied care by his loved ones.� Perpetua and Felicity were stripped in the arena and made to fend off a rabid heifer (!).� They died by having there throats cut (by a Roman, not by the heifer).

�