St. Gelasius I, Pope (Feast day - November 21) Gelasius was born in Rome, in the fifth century, the son of an African named Valerius. Later, ordained a priest, he was elected Pope on March 1st, 492. Gelasius had a reputation for learning, justice, holiness, and charity. However, he was burdened with difficulties caused by a conflict with Euphemius, the Patriarch of Constantinople, over the Acacian heresy. He also protested the encroachments by Constantinople on Alexandria and Antioch. Gelasius was influential in setting aside Roman pagan festivals. Moreover, in opposition to the Manichaeans, he ordered reception of the Eucharist under both species. Gelasius is known to have composed liturgical Prefaces and Orations for Sacramentaries, which may be part of the Leonine Sacramentary. However, he had nothing to do with the Gelasian Sacramentary or the Gelasian Decree (listing the Canonical books of the Bible) - which have been erroneously attributed to him. He died at Rome on November 21, 496.
Comments
Their is no listing among your Saints of Bl Peter To Rot. He was beatified in Papua new Guinea on the same trip of John Paul II as was Bl Mary MacKillop in Sydney.
The Christmas 2009 edition of Australian Catholics, www.australiancatholics.com.au, mentions him as follows: "Blessed Peter To Rot (1912-1945), a layman and catechist from our close neighbour Papua New Guinea, is also on the road to sainthood. He stood up to the Japanese occupiers during World War II, was arrested for his stance and executed at the age of 33. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on 17 January 1995."
The Papua New Guinea Church could no doubt supply you with more detail.
I would be most appreciative if you could include him in your list.
Saints are something of a rarity in this part of the globe. I live about 2,000 Klms south of where Peter lived, so I regard him as a local. I lived, in my early teens, through that war, and my home town was very much part of the action, in the New Guinea campaign. We were very much aware of the suffering of the Papuans who were most helpful to our troops. We fondly regarded them as our 'Fuzzy-wuzzy Angels' (and still do) because of their tenderness and care of our wounded.
Thank you in anticipation.
John
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