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EPHESUS, Turkey (CNS) — Catholics, Orthodox and Muslims began making pilgrimages to the House of the Virgin Mary near Ephesus only after a bedridden, almost illiterate German nun had a vision of the house’s location.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — Universities have long offered courses in comparative religions, but the demand for classes specifically on Islam has increased in recent years.

WASHINGTON (CNS) — With an estimated 1.2 billion followers, Islam is the second largest religion in the world. Islamic organizations say there are an estimated 6 million to 7 million Muslims in the United States; of those, 85 percent are U.S.-born.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (CNS) — Mike Callicrate is a straight-talking plainsman with a blunt, hard message: Your food is killing you, and your food system is killing your community and nation.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton was born into a wealthy, Episcopalian family on Aug. 28, 1774, in New York City. At age 19, she married William Magee Seton and had five children. After her husband died, Elizabeth was a poor widow. She converted to Catholicism in 1805. She started a school for girls in Baltimore at the request of the archbishop; this is often referred to as the beginning of parochial schools in the U.S. She founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809. She died Jan. 4, 1821, in Emmitsburg, Md. She is patron saint of the Apostleship of the Sea, widows and also the death of children and parents.

St. Agatho, born in Sicily, spent his early life as a married businessman. However, he found his calling and became a monk in Palermo, Sicily. Agatho became pope June 27, 678. He resolved the first dispute in which English bishops appealed to Rome. He also reunited Constantinople and Rome. St. Agatho died in Rome in 681.

St. Theodosius the Cenobiarch was born in Cappadocia (present-day Turkey) in 423. He left home so that he could follow God. According to legend, he worked with St. Longinus in Jerusalem and led a church in the Bethlehem area. The hermit gathered followers and built a monastery. He also built a hospital and a hospice. He opposed the Eutychianism and Monophysitism heresies. St. Theodosius, who died in 529, is patron saint of file makers.

St. Arcadius of Mauretania was a wealthy man who hid his Christianity. During one of the persecutions in his area, he lived the life of a prayerful hermit to stay out of danger. In order to capture Arcadius, leaders captured one of his relatives circa 302. They would only release the relative if Arcadius made a pagan sacrifice. When Arcadius refused, he was mutilated and died. He preached throughout the mutilation. He is a martyr.

St. Felix of Nola was born in Italy in the third century. He sold his property and belongings to give money to the poor. After being ordained by St. Maximus of Nola, he was arrested and beaten because of his faith. One legend says that Felix was released by an angel so that he could help Maximus, who was sick. Felix, who died circa 255, is patron saint against eye trouble and lies.