Staff Writer
Besides the Holy Family, there have been some holy families throughout Church history. Here is a sampling of saints who are related (culled from Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Catholic History):
* St. Andrew and St. Peter were brothers. Both were fisherman from Galilee. Andrew, the first of the Apostles, brought forward his brother Simon (renamed Peter by Jesus).
* St. James the Greater was the brother of St. John. Both were Apostles. In Mark 10:35-45, the two ask if they can sit next to Jesus, one on the left and one on the right, when He sits on his throne. Their request earns them a rebuke from Christ.
* St. Jude is more than an Apostle and patron saint of hopeless causes; he is also the brother of St. James the Less.
* St. Leander and St. Isidore of Seville shared more than just a family link. Each served as bishop of Seville during the seventh century.
* St. Botulph and St. Adulf were seventh-century English saints.
* St. Monica was mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. They lived during the fourth century.
* St. Scholastica was the sister of St. Benedict of Nursia. They lived during the end of the fifth and early sixth centuries.
* Saints Cyril and Methodius were two brothers who brought Christianity to the Slavic lands. They lived during the ninth century.
* St. Chad and St. Cedd were seventh-century English saints.
* St. Marcellina, a fourth-century saint, was the only sister of St. Ambrose.
* St. Macrina, also known as Macrina the Younger to distinguish her from her grandmother, St. Macrina the Elder, was also the sister of Ss. Basil the Great, Gregory of Nyssa and Peter of Sebastea. The family lived during the fourth century.
* St. Bruno the Great, a tenth-century saint, was also known as Bruno of Cologne, archbishop of Cologne, and a prominent figure in the Holy Roman Empire. Bruno was the youngest son of St. Matilda.
* Ss. Cosmas and Damian were twin brothers born in Arabia around 303. As doctors, they practiced medicine and their faith by not accepting payment for their services. They were martyred by the Emperor Diocletian.