Testimonials - Saint Raphael, a Patron of Healing, Invoked for Happy News!

http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ 's Saint Raphael, a Patron of Healing, a Saint Invoked for "Happy News!"

NOTE: Totally True Story!

SaintsforSinners Saint Raphael, featured twice, left, has "The Power."

The actual Testimonial has been scanned and also appears at left, along with some beautifully elaborate decoration.

A lady in New Jersey, Michele Logan, had been ordering medals and in one of her packages, I decided to include a "FLOOD MEDAL," one of the saint medals dug up out of the muck of my home office that got flooded from floor to ceiling. For some reason I could not let the bulldozer obliterate my Saints medals, so, I spent a day digging for them and "recovered" them. There are photos of my day in the muck on the site. I am happy I dug them up and have kept them.

I grabbed a medal from the bucket of flood medals, enclosed it in a bag, and noted it was Saint Raphael, who is known as the patron of healing and the saint invoked for happy news. I wrote on the bag and sent it off to New Jeresy

I did not know that Michele was a Registered Nurse. I did not know she had come down to New Orleans to volunteer after the flood. It turned out that the rusty, ruined, saint Raphael medal, a flood medal, meant more to her than the nicely painted one she received from SaintsforSinners. She wrote to say how much she appreciated getting the medal and that she found it to be very significant, since I had so many Saint medals to choose from (thousands). Michele took it as a "sign" and that was great. Receving heart-felt notes from strangers is probably the gas that has kept SaintsforSinners running, through the many obstacles, over the years. I don't go to our Testimonials pages very often, because, to be honest, I can't seem to prevent myself from getting too emotional, but itis clear that many, many people have been helped by our hand-painted saint medallions (and, it turns out, the "flood medals" too).

Yesterday, I sent out a bunch of e mails to people who have visited the web site and who I sort of "knew," even though we have never actually met, face-to-face. The responses were nice. I got an order from a guy who I went to school with but never had the chance to get to know, and that was fun for me somehow. I guess I took it as a sign he was saying "Hello" and "I wish we had gotten to know each other" or "How are you doing?" or some other pleasantry. It is quite possible I read too much into things these days!

This morning I went to check my e mails and was pleased to see another order had come in and that some folks had responded to my e mail. One lady was from New Orleans and she had a "Rush Order" of sorts. She was going out of town on Monday and really needed, coincidentally (?), a Saint Raphael medal to take to someone. So, we made special plans to meet up early tomorrow, Saturday morning, for her to get the Saint Raphael medal package. When you run your own business, which SaintsforSinners is, after all, you work pretty much every day. To quote the performer Bruce Hornsby, "That's Just the Way It Is. Somethings Never Change." ( I'm not complaining! )

After making the plans to get Saint Raphael to the lady, I then went back to check on my e mails and found the 2nd note from Michele Logan, part of the illustration above, a note about the power of her Saint Raphael medal, along with a lovely story of her friend who is living well with cancer, and whom she has given the medal to, who wears it "right next to her Tiffany bracelet." Michele wrote about how she started to understand the SaintsforSinners concept, which was, initially, that folks would "wear the medal and then share it with someone you love." The Basic Rule being this: If someone comments that they like your medal, you ought to pass it on. All of the Saint Raphael issues coming in one-after-the-other, the cynic in me says "coincidence." Thankfully the bigger part of me says, "Not!"

It's nice to be re-affirmed every now and then. Michele's notes let me know that it is not me, Rob, running this SaintsforSinners Show, it is, and I will quote Michele, "I have to believe a higher power with a plan." Funny how another friend, named Michele, has been saying the same thing to me for a very long time.

Thank you, Michele Logan. You made my day! rob clemenz @ SaintsforSinners

Guardian Angel Weighs In On Morbidity, Mortality, Obesity on Lifetime Television Show Drop Dead Diva

The Guardian Angel, featured left, will have a starring role on the Lifetime Television Show, "Drop Dead Diva," it was reported today. The program will air at either at 8:00 or 9:00 on Sunday nights, depending on where you live.

The Guardian Angel will be in the body of a young boy named Fred, played by the actor Ben Feldman. He will be a pivotal character in the show, which will try to reinforce the age old theme about how at the end of the day, kindness, love, generosity, and virtue far outweigh good looks, lots of money, and/or a perfectly fit, gorgeous body.

Since the role of Fred is a bit of a stretch for the Guardian, two Saintly Coaches from SaintsforSinners will be guiding him in his performance, Saint Rosalie and Saint Lucy. Saint Rosalie, who is a saint invoked against vanity, was born with great grace and beauty that soon became a curse. She was able to see shallowness in horrible ways and her exquisite beauty only led her to become estranged from society (kind of like Michael Jackson was but in a different way). Rosalie opted to go and hide her pretty face from the world. She went to live in a dark cave, never to be tormented by people who only wanted to be around her because she was "da Bomb." Rosalie is able to give the Guardian keen insight.

Saint Lucy will help give the Guardian better vision. Lucy is a Saint invoked for better vision or eyesight. When she gouges her own eyes out and carries them around on a plate, the Guardian gets to learn that "beauty is only skin deep." Lucy said, "My eyes without my head are less than attractive."

At http://www.newyorktimes.com/ , the writer Alessandra Stanley, is plugging "Drop Dead Diva" as "a light-hearted romantic comedy" that is grounded in reality. Although this tale has been told before and in myriad ways, there always remain people who need a dose of "reality" every now and then.

Italian Immigrant Gisella Civale Goes Back to Roots with Family Recipe

www.DolceNonnas.com 's

Delicious Marinated Vegetables Praised by

www.SaintsforSinners.com 's

Saint Rosa of Lima and Saint Phocas the Gardener.

There may not be an official patron saint of vegetables or even vegetarians, but those of us at SaintsforSinners think that Gisella Civale's mother, Maria DiGiorgio, may one day be fit for the job. Raising 7 children with humble grit and determination, she may be considered as a patron Saint of Traditions and Family as well.

We're holding off on contacting the Papacy though, because 97 year-old Maria DiGiorgio's is among the living in Beechurst, New York, and thus not yet quite qualified for Sainthood.

We spoke with Maria's daughter, Gisella Civale, today and she told us about the delicious, delectable vegetable dishes her mother and her family has made for decades, both in New York, and abroad, in the Region of Campagna, Italy.

The recipes were so good, Gisella said she decided, at age 59, to try and prepare them and offer the healthy foods to the world.

She has succeeded with her plan. Her jars of Dolce Nonna tangy eggplant, sweet-tart peppers and tender green beans are available on the Web and in numerous stores, with more placement to undoubtedly come. They're also very prominently featured today in the http://www.nytimes.com/ "FOOD STUFF" section, written by Florence Fabricant (ASIDE: How is that for an awesome name, "Florence Fabricant"?!)

In 1958, Gisella came to America with her parents from Italy, and she says she is "carrying a tradition" and offering "thanks to her Heritage and her family, including her Mom's side, the DiGiorgio's, and her husband's the Civale's." Her daughter, Wendy Civale, is also very active in the Dolce Nonna family enterprise.

In these difficult financial times, Gisella noted that "the tough get going' and find ways to "stretch the dollar." One jar of her marinated vegetables can offer a complete, healthy, inexpensive meal for a family in many ways, and by creating a delicious salad or adding pasta.

SaintsforSinners 's Saint Rose of Lima and Saint Phocas the Gardener are "down with her plan."

Phocas said that Gisella's simple, kind-hearted way reminded him of his childhood in the 3rd Century, when he would grow extra crops to feed the people.

Sadly, Phocas wound up digging his own grave, in the end, by feeding the very soldiers sent to behead him, which they did in 303. "It was not very nice, how those soldiers treated me," Phocas said, but "Dolce Nonna's pursuit of doing good work, providing healthy sustenance in times of need, by using vegetables grown from the ground, and nurturing crops of food like I did back-in-day, only serves to remind me that, with all its sham and drudgery, it is still a beautiful world."

Miniature Pinscher Cherry Ann Hershberger Declared Worthy of First Class Seats on Flights

www.SaintsforSinners.com has learned that the Miniature Pinscher "Cherry Ann" Hershberger, will be approved for flying in First or Business Class when seats are available.

Cherry's image is, for security reasons, secreted in a shadow and located to the right.

Cherry's Human is known as Sally Hershberger, a famous Stylist, who travels throughout the world, working diligently to help folks look their best.

Her web site is found at http://www.sallyhershberger.com/ and it provides fascinating glimpses into the world of fashion. We will have to contact our friends, Jill Spitznass, and Miguel Sirgrado, the Style Editors for Portland Monthly and People EN ESPANOL, and the folks at OK!, three of the magazines who have placed our imported Italian hand-painted saint medallions on the Style Pages of their magazines, and let them know about Sally Hershberger's web site (and her wonderfully rascally dog, Cherry).

The Official Announcement came from Our Lady of Loreto, one of the well-known images of the Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Loreto is known as the patron saint of Aviators and is invoked for safe flights.

Our Lady said that she consulted with the patron saint of animals and "birders," Saint Francis of Assisi, (featured 3 times, far right) and the patron of dogs, Saint Rocco, (also featured) who is invoked against dog bites and rabies.

Both Francis and Rocco agreed that "having Cherry Ann sit in her own seat in Business or First Class, does not harm anyone."

Even Saint Gertrude of Nevilles, the patron of cats and cat lovers, approved of letting Cherry sit in her own seat, "it's purrfectly fine, as long as she pays for it," Gertrude hissed.

Some may think letting a dog like Cherry Ann have a Business Class seat upgrade is indulgent, but Joan Raymond, writing today in the New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/ and Cherry's Human noted today that "[a]pparently Cherry wanted an upgrade.

Perhaps it is time for the airlines to follow the lead of our bank, Fidelity Homestead Savings Bank, and begin offering "Milk Bones" to its patrons like Cherry Ann, and the dogs who will undoubtedly follow along in her footsteps.

Saint Martin de Porres, Our Patron of Barack, Planning Martha's Vineyard Vacation

President Barack Obama & Saint Martin de Porres (featured, hand-painted on a http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ medallion, at right) Plan Vacations in Martha's Vineyard.

http://www.nytimes.com/ and "White House Memo" writer Jeff Zeleny reported today that President Barack Obama and his family will be vacationing on Martha's Vineyard in August, 2009,

Coincidentally. or perhaps not, SaintsforSinners' Saint Martin de Porres will also be vacationing on the Vineyard this August.

Martin, the Vatican's Patron Saint of "Person's of Mixed Race," said "I hope to run into Barack to discuss the similarities in our backgrounds, and to offer my complete support, encouragement, and prayers for success during his years in the White House."

de Porres, whose one nickname is "Marty," is a famously well-known Miracle Worker, who often became radiant while praying, and who was "bilocational," (able to be in two different places at one time) and could fly, long before the Wright Brothers invented the airplane. SaintsforSinners, in obvious homage to the President, has been giving Marty another patronage, as the "Patron of Barack" and "Racial Harmony."

http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ Saint Martin de Porres medallions are not yet sold on Martha's Vineyard, but the founder of the company believes they could make "quite a splash" and "sell well" in August, should a retailer offer the hand-painted medal packages in their store, while Marty and the President are in town. Wholesale orders can be made by calling Rob Clemenz @ 504.239.3143, or by contacting him through the SaintsforSinners web site.

Saint Bernardino of Siena Practices Crisis Management

SaintsforSinners Display Boxes Face Giant Scandal on BravoTV's NYC Prep!

The www.SaintsforSinners.com Display Boxes, the trays that store the hand-painted Saint Medallions, (and featured in our careful drawing at left) are embroiled in a giant controversy, it has been reported.

The boxes are going to be appearing in a future episode of the BravoTV Show, "NYC Prep," a show that seems universally maligned by New York City Preparatory School Administrators and Prep School Kids' Parents!

Saint Bernardine of Siena, the saint who handles "damage control" and "crisis management" for SaintsforSinners, has come over from, you guessed it, Siena, Italy, to help squelch the bad publicity about the new show and the SaintsforSinners boxes.

"I'll handle the scandal," Bernie promised. "It's not the Display Boxes that are being criticized, it's the content of the show, and those are two entirely different matters."

The Patroness of Television, Saint Clare of Assisi, is also monitoring the show and said "the people who are against the airing of the show really need to chill."

Sandy Bass, an arguably ditzy editor with "The Private School Insider" was asked about the show and she quipped (like a San Fernando Valley teenager from yesteryear), "Horrified is totally the word." (Emphasis Added).

The show airs on Tuesday nights and SaintsforSinners publicist, Saint Bernardine of Siena, said "We will be standing behind the show, and our display boxes at the famous Selima Optiques in New York City, despite all the negativity presented in the recent article by Julie Bosman in the New York Times."

Saint Genesius, the patron of actors and comedians chimed in that "The Show Must Go On. Long Live BravoTV & NYC Prep. Bring it on!"

Celebrating Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton & Independence

Free to Act as One Pleases!"

Today is Independence Day! Independence means being "free to act as one pleases," according to the Oxford English Dictionary. This means the president, if he so chooses, can "bow" and be polite to another country's leader. This means that the First Lady can go to England and cosy up to the Queen, put her arm around her, and have a friendly chat.

Independence means women can vote. Independence means there shall not be schools that are segregated. Independence means a person born as a female can change their gender. Independence means a minority of people can do what they want, regardless of the opinions of people with differing views.

At http://www.saintsforsinners.com/, our First Lady of Independence is a Doctor of the Church, the late, great, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton. Things hardly ever "went right" for Elizabeth but that never slowed her down. Her husband was murdered, her babies died, she was discarded by her family, but she kept on keeping on.

Elizabeth Ann Seton's story is free and available on our web site.

Celebrate our differences today. Do as you please! Live and let live. There's no reason "why we can't all just get along." And, in conclusion, as a First Generation American, with my father, Heinz Hellmut Clemenz, born and raised in the tiny province of Sylt, Germany and with my Grandfather, Robert Byrnes, a man who defied Prohibition and ran a "Speak Easy" in the Boroughs of New York City, I say "Thank you America, for letting these men live their lives, and later, letting me be me. God Bless America!"

P.S. - The Deviled Eggs were a huge hit. I never realized how hard it is to peel an egg ("ayyyg")! Thank you, Melisa Clark and the New York Times

"Devil in Details," Saint Brigid of Ireland, Declares!

http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ 's Saint Brigid of Ireland, the patron Saint of Chicken Farmers, has one thing to say at the start of this July 4th Weekend, ""Deviled Eggs Taste Good!"

Americans from throughout the world will be celebrating the Independence of the great "Melting Pot" known as America, on Saturday, July 4th. Picnics will be held in parks, backyards, and city stoops, among other places.

If you're looking for something yummy to bring to the party (pronounced "pawty" if you're a yat from Louisiana) consider making some deviled eggs, a low cost, delectable Comfort Food.

New York Times columnist Melissa Clark has a great recipe that SaintsforSinners is copying for a 4th of July Pawty in New Orleans today. Melissa recommends starting with 12 large eggs (done), placing them in a pot of water (done), bringing them to a full boil (in progress), and then after they are cooked, allowing the "eggs to stand for at least 15 minutes." (This will be the tricky part since the eggs have not been born and can't even crawl, let alone "stand.")

Saint Lawrence, the patron of chefs, advised us that "stand," in this instance means "let alone" so we will follow his instruction since it's very easy and we are even doing it right this second! Then we go back to Melissa's recipe (featured in "A Good Appetite" in the New York Times) and use a fat (not slender or skinny) garlic glove, kosher salt (is there really a distinction between salts, Geez Louise!), mayonnaise ("Helmann's REAL Mayonnaise" the only kind, thankyouverymuch and don't get me started on that jar of white glue called "Blue Plate"), tomato paste (things that make you go hmmmm), wine vinegar (now we're talking!), freshly ground black pepper (love doing the screw thing so that's going to be fun), and "hot smoked paprika, more to taste" and "for garnish" (you gotta love the duality).

You mix all this stuff together somehow and then voila, 12 ayyygs become 24 which will "yield," according to Melissa Clark, servings for 12. Her math seems a bit fuzzy, but we will report back tomorrow about whether this recipe works, and then also offer a "High Five" to Miss Venus Williams, the 2009 Wimbledon Champion, according to our sources from above and http://www.saintsforsinners.com/.

Saint Francis of Assisi Endorses Birchwood Cutlery from Mxyplyzyk.com

BREAKING NEWS! Say "YES" to Wood!

Saint Francis Urges Use of Birchwood Cutlery for July 4th Weekend, thanks to Marianne Rohrlich from the New York Times.

www.SaintsforSinners.com received a telepathy from Saint Francis of Assisi (pictured and quoted, far left) earlier today and he asked us to "Say Yes to Wood!"Initially, we had no idea what he was talking about. He finally got his point across and said "Plastic is Spastic and not biodegradable!"

Frank then said that everyone should consider patronizing www.Mxyplyzyk.com, a company he heard about through Currents writer Marianne Rohlich, the columnist for the New York Times. Francis said that "it is just plain silly to use plastic forks and knives and spoons at picnics, especially since you can get nice birch wood utensils for a great price, while helping the environment. Mother Earth and Sister Sun would really appreciate it if you would help the environment."

The utensils from MXYPLYZYK are compostable and priced nice.

So, we are doing our due diligence and reminding everyone to say "YES" to wood and order some nice utensils from www.MXYPLYZYK.com, a company in New York City with a store at 125 Greenwich Avenue (13th Street), Telephone 1 800.243.9810

Each package includes a knife, fork, spoon, and napkin and six come in a pack!

"Billboard Charts a Sham," declare Saints Cecilia and Saint Matthew, Questioning Veracity in Minimizing Michael Jackson's Record Sales Tenacity

"Billboard Charting Shameful," declare Saints Cecilia and Matthew

"Michael Jackson deserves the # 1 Spot over Vegetables, Black Eyed Peas

The Patron Saint of Accountants, Saint Matthew, has joined with the Patroness of Music Lovers, Saint Cecilia, from http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ decrying "Faulty Billboard Magazine Addition and Categorizing." Both Saint Cecilia and Saint Matthew are pictured above, as hand-painted saint medals enjoying a game of "Where's Waldo."

Today, The New York Times, in an article by Ben Sisaro reported that Michael Jackson's Records, "Number Ones," "The Essential Michael Jackson" and "Thriller," all sold over 100,00 records each, according to Nielson Soundscan. The total number of records sold was over 420,000.

Yet, in what Saint Matthew said is "pitifully ludicrous ridiculosity," some Black Eyed Peas are listed as having the number one record for the week, for their record, appropriately titled "The E.N.D." Matthew added "The Peas only sold 88,000 records and as the first Certified Public Accountant ever awarded the title, I can tell you with some certainty, that 100,000 is more than 88,000."

The Director of Charts for Billboard, Silvio Pietroluongo, even acknowledged that the "level of dominance by Michael Jackson on the top .... is unlike anything we've ever seen." Replied Saint Cecilia, "Sheesh, then give him the Number Ones he deserves," and all the other Saints pictured above agreed.

Reports of David Faustino's Suicide Grossly Exaggerated on www.Crackle.com "StarVing" Webisodes!

Former "Married With Children" star David Faustino and Corin Nemec, the once forgotten star of "Parker Lewis Can't Lose," have been busy filming short episodic pieces, or "webisodes," of a little ditty called "StarVing" on www.Crackle.com the New York Times reported today in a great article by the writer Jon Caramanica.

Filled with sophomoric cliches, crude humor, and lots of nudity, the program is sure to be a hit, says www.SaintsforSinners.com representative, Saint Genesius, the patron of actors, comedians and of course, lawyers. Saint Genesius then lamented,"neither of those kids are wearing my hand-painted SaintsforSinners medallion and that's just wrong!"

Nemec, Faustino's sidekick on the StarVing episodes is yet another former child star who has successfuly invigorated his thespian career with this new acting gig on the world wide web. The same can be said for Faustino, with both also being credited as the Executive Producers of the show segments, available for free at http://www.crackle.com/. "It's silly but it's clever in a childish way," Saint Genesius added

We were only able to sit through a few of the shows, but we predict this StarVing program will be a hit with people like Hamptonians Brendon Henry and Paul Fallo, two jokesters-at-large in Hampton Bays, New York, the town they poetically nicknamed "Harlem Bays" and the home of the popular rock/punk/rap musical group "Haunted Hacienda." New Orleans actor, film-maker, and brand new University of New Orleans graduate Brooks "Heyena" Webb, is rumored to have a part in one of the future shows, according to a local source who goes by the moniker, "Dusty." Whether Webb will quit his part time job with SaintsforSinners to work full-time with Faustino and Nemec in Hollywood remains "a mystery," according to Dusty.

Move It On Over, Boudin, Melanie Oudin Also Declared Thoroughly Good!

http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ has announced that Saints Cosoms & Damien, the patron Saints of Twins, are taking a bus to London, England, to cheer on their fellow twin, Melanie Oudin, a Marietta, Georgia, teen who is in her first Wimbledon Tennis Quarter Finals.

Melanie's twin, Katherine Oudin, is reportedly also going to be watching her twin sister play in her next match against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska. The USA versus Poland Match will be played on Monday, June 29, 2009.

Oudin, whose name rhymes with the delicious Cajun food, "boudin," is also of French ancestry, and says her favorite tennis player is the Belgium born Justine Henin, a girl who is not tall but who has proven that you "don't have to be tall to win."

Saints Cosmos & Damien saw Melanie Oudin give an interview with USTA Tennis Legend Mary Jo Fernandez, and Oudin said her last match was unreal, with her opponent taking a very lengthy and controversial break. But Melanie Oudin said she was never "like, oh my gosh, maybe she might retire or whatever." Melanie simply stayed poised throughout the match and says she will stay focused and keep "loving it" and the TV announcers suggested she "keep winning and keep smiling."

SaintsforSinners predicts that Melanie Oudin will become known as the future of womens' tennis in the USA. Move it on over, Venus & Serena Williams.

Let's Give You Some Folks to Crow About: Tony Fitzpatirck & Kevin J. McGowan

Birds of a Feather Flocking Together

Though they don't really flock together, or even know one another, but the renown Chicago artisan Tony Fitzpatrick and Cornell University Ornithologist Kevin J. McGowan have much in common. Both of these dudes are obviously Irishmen and they both make their living from their obsession with birds! And both have a particular (some might say peculiar) affinity for crows or starlings.

Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of birders, (featured at left with Saint Clare and chatting with some of his lovie-dovies) noted that Fitzpatrick has painted thousands of bird portraits throughout his career and likewise, McGowan has observed and studied thousands of birds, beginning at childhood.

McGowan, being a behavioral ecologist, tries to get into the bird brains of crows, better known to Saint Francis, (perhaps the original "birder") as Corvus brachyrhynchos.

McGowan says the American Crow is a very "cooperative breeder." They tend to stick around and help raise their siblings children and stuff like that. Of course, if a member of the bird family gets separated he or she will "make do with something else" and "hang out with another species" (of birds, of course, and certainly not felines). McGowan cooed and wooed his bird knowledge to C. Claiborne Ray, a writer who has published in the New York Times.

Whether these two gentlemen have seen Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds," or Matthew Modine, in "Birdy," or listen to "A Flock of Seagulls" or "The Counting Crows" remain unanswered questions. But now that the inquiries are out and about on the world wide web, perhaps one of these gentlemen will someday make a comment and answer on this www.SaintsforSinners.com blog subsidiary. If anyone wants to encourage Kevin McGowan to post a reply, his e mail address is KJMZ@Cornell.edu.

Saints Elicit True Confession: Scientists Declared Gossipmongers

Famous Scientist "OUTS" Himself & Others,

Declares Scientists "Gossips!"

The famous Pulitzer Prize winning Scientist, Bert Holldobler, made an astounding public confession to the patron saints of Confessors, Edward the Confessor & Jean Marie Baptiste Vianney (widely known as the "Cure D'Ars" and pictured above in a hand-painted http://www.saintsforsinners.com/ medal) and admitted that "Scientists Gossip A Lot!"

Holldobler offered his scandalous and scintillating bit of information about national and worldwide Scientists to www.SaintsforSinners.com after having fully outing himself, exclaiming "I gossip like a Scientist!" to the writer Claudia Dreifus. The New York Times first reported about Holldobler's confession in their June 16, 2009 issue of Science Times. Holldobler specifically identified the Scientist Edward O. Wilson as a Scientist he gossiped with while at Harvard University. (Note: SaintsforSinners' calls to Harvard have yet to be returned.)

Reactions about the gossip mongering of Scientists was mixed. Saint Matt Talbot, the Recovery saint, lauded Holldobler's admission, saying "The first step toward healing is acknowledging there's been a problem."

It should come as no surprise that Scientist Bert Holldobler, a professor at Arizona State University and professor emeritus at the University of Wurzburg, in Germany, is "one of the world's great ant experts." Edward O. Wilson also knows a lot about ants. Saint Teresa of Avila, our patroness of truthfulness and sincerity, blithely stated, "It should come as no surprise those two know a lot about ants, since ants, like Scientists, are very good at spreading the dirt around."

Saint Vincent de Paul, Abby & Eli Manning Help Saints Margaret & Philomena with Birthing Babies!

Saint Vincent de Paul ( featured, bottom left ), Saint Margaret ( featured, center ) and Saint Philomena ( featured top-left hand corner ), together with Abby and Eli Manning, are teaming with the Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Center, among others, to help "connect Science and Compassion" when bringing new babies into the world, it was announced today, in the New York Times.

Abby and Eli Manning are probably most well-known as graduates of the prestigious "Old Miss," located in, you guessed it, the State of Mississippi.

We asked Saints Vincent de Paul, Margaret, and Philomena, how Abby and Eli Manning became involved with the hospital and charity and Vincent replied that the couple have "always been involved in philanthropic endeavors in efforts to help others." Margaret and Philomena chimed in that Eli Manning was "some guy who liked sports in New York City" and "Abby has always been maternalistic."

Saint Sebastian, patron of athletes, pulled us aside and noted that Eli Manning is a professional football player, Super Bowl Champion, and the winner of USA Today's Weekend Magazine's "Most Caring Athlete," to which Saint Margaret and Saint Philomena said "Whatever!"

The Baby Ball Fund Raiser will be held at The Ciprian, 55 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. (Telephone 212.699.4099) on June 18th, with NBC Televisions NFL Analyst Bob Costa serving as Master of Ceremonies.

The Eli & Abby Manning Birth Center at Saint Vincent's Hospital, will aid its longstanding reputation as a hallmark "Midwifery College," and help create a superior environment for Obstetrics and Natural Child Birthing.

Becoming further interested in the topic of Natural Child Birthing SaintsforSinners contacted a young woman in New Orleans, Katie Anderson, who said her child Samuel Lennon Anderson, was "born naturally, with no anesthesia, no pain medicine, no drugs at all." Katie said that giving birth to Sam naturally was "the most important, most life-affirming, womanhood affirming" event of her life. Anderson continued, adding "Natural Child Birth is important. Obstetrics can be invasive and pharmaceutically driven and tech-heavy." It is better for a pregnant woman to simply "listen to her body. Listen to her baby. I want to have another baby just so I can experience natural childbirth again," she added.

Katie Anderson praised Eli and Abby Manning for becoming involved in the field of Natural Child Birthing. 'We went about the birthing with the help of an experienced midwife or "Doula," Rebecca Hageman, who served as our birthing coach." Rebecca Hageman has been assisting women with Natural Child Birth for decades and in New Orleans and other places, including Guatemala.

We asked Katie Anderson if she had anything to add and she said she was happy that Abby & Eli Manning were part of the Natural Childbirth Movement. She said that people interested in the topic and other prospective parents can learn more about Natural Child Birth by watching the Documentary "The Business of Being Born." Katie, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Margaret and Saint Philomena, as well as Katie's infant son Samuel, all congratulate the Mannings for creating The Eli & Abby Manning Birthing Center" and helping pregnant woman realize the viable, rewarding, "life-affirming" experience known as Natural Child Birth.