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Roman Martyrology, Complete, February
Semen est sanguis Christianorum
(The blood of Christians is the seed of the Church) Tertullian, Apologeticum,
50
ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 1st
This Day, the First Day of February
The birthday of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr,
who governed the church of Antioch, the third after the Apostle St.
Peter. Being condemned to the beasts in the persecution of Trajan, he
was by that emperor sent to Rome in chains, where in the presence of
the Senate he was subjected to the most frightful torments, and delivered
to the lions, which lacerated him with their teeth, and made of him
a sacrifice to Christ.
At Smyrna, St. Pionius, priest and martyr.
After writing in defense of the Catholic faith, after suffering imprisonment
in a loathsome dungeon, where by his exhortations he encouraged even
to martyrdom many of his brethren, after enduring excruciating pains
from being pierced with nails and laid on a hot fire, he ended his life
happily for Christ. With him suffered
fifteen others.
At Ravenna, the holy bishop Severus,
whose great virtues deserved that he should be raised to the episcopate
by the sign of a
dove.
At Trois-Chateaux, in France, St. Paul, bishop,
whose life was eminent for virtues, and whose death was made precious
by miracles.
The same day, St. Ephrem, deacon of
the church of Edessa, in the time of the emperor Valens. After suffering
many trials for the faith of Christ and gaining great renown for holiness
and learning, he went to rest in the Lord.
In Ireland, St. Bridget, virgin. One
day, at her touch, the wood of an altar immediately sprouted into life,
in testimony of her
virginity.
At Castel-Florentino, in Tuscany, the blessed
virgin Verdiana, a recluse of the Order of Vallumbrosa.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 2nd
This Day, the Second Day of February
The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
called by the Greeks Hypapante (meeting) of the Lord.
At Rome, on the Salarian road, the passion of
St. Apronian, a notary. Whilst he was yet a Gentile, and
was leading St. Sisinius out of prison, to present him before the governor
Laodicius, he heard a voice from Heaven saying, "Come ye, the
blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the
beginning of the world." At once he believed, was baptized, and after
confessing our Lord, received sentence of death.
Also, at Rome, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felician,
Firmus and Candidus.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, St. Cornelius, a centurion,
whom the blessed Apostle Peter baptized, and raised to the episcopal
dignity in that city.
At Orleans, the holy bishop Flosculus.
At Canterbury, in England, the birthday of St.
Lawrence, bishop, who succeeded St. Augustine in the government
of that church, and converted the king himself to the faith.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 3rd
This Day, the Third Day of February
At Sebaste, in Armenia, in the time of the governor Agricolaus, the
passion of St. Blasius, bishop and martyr,
who after working many miracles, was scourged a long time, and suspended
on a tree where he was lacerated with iron combs. He was then imprisoned
in a dark dungeon, thrown into a lake from which he came out safe, and
finally, by order of the same judge, he and two
boys were beheaded. Before him, seven women
who were gathering the drops of his blood during his torture, were recognized
as Christians, and after undergoing severe torments, were put to death
by the sword.
In Africa, St. Celerinus, deacon, who was
kept nineteen days in prison loaded with fetters, and confessed Christ
gloriously in the midst of afflictions. By overcoming the enemy with
invincible constancy, he showed to others the road to victory.
Also, the holy martyrs, Laurentinus, and Ignatius,
his uncles, and Celerina, his grandmother, who had been previously
crowned with martyrdom. They are highly praised in an epistle of St.
Cyprian.
In the same country, the holy martyrs Felix, Symphronius,
Hippolytus and their companions.
In the town of Gap, the holy bishops Tigides
and Remedius.
At Lyons, the Saints Lupicinus and Felix, also
bishops.
The same day, St. Anscharius, bishop of
Bremen, who converted the Swedes and the Danes to the faith of Christ.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 4th
This Day, the Fourth Day of February
At Florence, St. Andrew Corsini, bishop
of Fiesoli, whose birthday is the 6th of January.
At Rome, St. Eutychius, who endured a glorious
martyrdom, and was buried in the cemetery of Callistus. Pope St. Damasus
wrote an epitaph in verse for his tomb.
At Fossombrone, the holy martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus,
Gelasius, Magnus and Donatus.
At Thmuis, in Egypt, in the persecution of Diocletian,
the passion of blessed Philseas, bishop
of that city, and of Philoromus, military tribune,
who rejected the exhortations of their relations and friends to save
themselves, offered themselves to death, and so merited immortal palms
from God. With them was crowned with martyrdom
a numberless multitude of the faithful of the same place, who
followed the example of their pastor.
The same day, St. Rembert, bishop of Bremen.
At Troyes, St. Aventin, confessor.
At Pelusium, in Egypt, St. Isidore, a monk
renowned for merit and learning.
The same day, St. Gilbert, confessor, In
the town of Amatrice, in the diocese of Rieti, the decease of
St. Joseph of Leonissa, of the Order of
Friars Minor Capuchins, who suffered many afflictions from the Muslims.
As he was celebrated for his apostolic labors and miracles, he was placed
on the list of holy confessors by the Sovereign Pontiff Benedict XIV.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 5th
This Day, the Fifth Day of February
At Catania, in Sicily, in the time of the emperor Decius and the judge
Quinctian, the birthday of St. Agatha, virgin
and martyr. After being buffeted, imprisoned, tortured, racked,
dragged over pieces of earthenware and burning coals, and having
her breasts cut off, she consummated her sacrifice in prison while engaged
in prayer.
In Pontus, during the persecution of Maximian, the commemoration of
many holy martyrs, some of whom had molten
lead poured over them, others had sharp-pointed reeds thrust under their
nails, and were oftentimes horribly tormented in many other ways. Thus,
by their glorious passion, they deserved at the hands of God palms of
victory and unfading crowns.
At Alexandria, during the persecution of Decius,
St. Isidore, martyr, who was beheaded for
the faith of Christ by Numerian, general of the army.
In the kingdom of Japan, the passion of twenty-six
martyrs, who, by being crucified for the Catholic faith,
and pierced with lances, gloriously died in praising God and preaching
that same faith. Pius IX canonized them in 1862.
At Vienne, blessed Avitus, bishop and confessor,
whose faith, labors and admirable learning protected France against
the ravages of the Arian heresy.
At Brixen, the holy bishpos Genuinus and Albinus,
whose lives were illustrious for miracles.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 6th
This Day, the Sixth Day of February
Festival of St. Titus, bishop and confessor.
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the birthday of St.
Dorothy, virgin and martyr, who was stretched on the rack, then
a long time scourged with boughs of the palm-tree, and finally condemned
to capital punishment, under Sapricius, governor of that province. Her
noble confession of Christ converted a lawyer
named Theophilus, who was also tortured in a barbarous manner,
and finally put to death by the sword.
The same day, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Theophilus,
and Revocata.
At Emesa, in Phrenicia, in the time of the emperor Maximian,
St. Silvanus, bishop, who, after having
governed that church forty years, was delivered to the beasts
with two other Christians, and having his
limbs all mangled, received the palm of martyrdom.
At Clermont, in Auvergne, St. Antholian, martyr.
The same day, the holy bishops Vedastus and Amandus,
who were illustrious by many miracles, both in life and death. The former
governed the church of Arras, the latter that of Maestricht.
At Bologna, St. Guarinus, bishop of Palestrina
and Cardinal, renowned for holiness of life.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 7th
This Day, the Seventh Day of February
The holy abbot Romuald, founder of the
monks of Camaldoli, whose birthday is the 19th of June.
At London, in England, the birthday of the blessed
bishop Augulus, who terminated his career by martyrdom, and deserved
to receive an eternal recompense.
In Phrygia, St. Adaucus, martyr, an Italian
of noble birth, who was honored by the emperors with almost every dignity.
Whilst he was still discharging the office of quaestor, he was judged
worthy of the crown of martyrdom for his defense of the faith.
Also, many holy martyrs, inhabitants of
the same city, whose leader was Adaucus, just named. As they were all
Christians, and persisted in the confession of the faith, they were
burned to death by the emperor Galerius Maximian.
At Heracles, in the reign of Licinius, St. Theodore,
a military officer, who was beheaded, after undergoing many torments,
and went victoriously to Heaven.
In Egypt, St. Moses, a venerable bishop,
who first led a solitary life in the desert, and being afterwards made
bishop, at the request of Mauvia, queen of the Saracens, converted to
the faith the greater part of that barbarous people, and, rich in merits,
passed peacefully to his reward.
At Lucca, in Tuscany, the demise of St. Richard,
king of England.
At Bologna, St. Juliana, widow.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 8th
This Day, the Eighth Day of February
St. John of Matha, confessor, founder of
the Order of the Most Holy Trinity, for the redemption of captives,
who reposed in the Lord on the 17th of December.
Also, St. Jerome Aemiliani, confessor,
founder of the Congregation of Somascha, who slept in the Lord on the
8th of this month. He was numbered among the Saints by Clement XIII.,
his feast being assigned to the 20th of July.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Paul, Lucius, and Cyriacus.
In the Lesser Armenia, the birthday of the holy
martyrs Denis, Emilian and Sebastian.
At Alexandria, under the emperor Decius, the martyr
St. Cointha, whom the Pagans seized, led to the idols and urged
to adore them. As she refused with horror, they put her feet in chains,
and dragged her through the streets of the city, mangling her body in
a barbarous manner.
At Constantinople, the birthday of the holy martyrs,
monks of the monastery of Dius, who, bringing the letter of
Pope
St. Felix against Acacius, were barbarously killed for their defense
of the Catholic faith.
In Persia, in the time of king Cabades, the commemoration of the
holy martyrs, who were put to death by
various kinds of torments on account of their faith in Christ.
At Pavia, the bishop St. Juventius, who
strenuously labored in preaching the Gospel.
At Milan, the demise of St. Honoratus, bishop
and confessor.
At Verdun, in France, St. Paul, a bishop
renowned for miracles.
At Muret, near Limoges, the birthday of the abbot
St. Stephen, founder of the Order of Grandmont, celebrated for
his virtues and miracles.
In the monastery of Vallumbrosa, blessed Peter,
cardinal and bishop of Albano, of the Congregation of Vallumbrosa,
of the Order of St. Benedict, surnamed Igneus, because he passed through
fire uninjured.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 9th
This Day, the Ninth Day of February
At Alexandria, St. Cyril, bishop and Doctor of the Church. He is mentioned on the 28th of January.
In the same city, in the reign of Decius, the birthday of
St. Apollonia, virgin, who had all her
teeth plucked out by the persecutors; then having constructed and lighted
a pyre, they threatened to burn her alive, unless she repeated certain
impious words after them. Deliberating awhile with herself, she suddenly
slipped from their grasp, and feeling an inspiration of the Holy Ghost,
rushed voluntarily into the fire which they had prepared. The very authors
of her death were struck with terror at the sight of a woman who was
more willing to die than they to condemn her.
At Rome, the passion of the holy martyrs Alexander,
and thirty-eight others crowned with him.
At Solum, in Cyprus, the holy martyrs Ammonius
and Alexander.
At Antioch, under the emperor Valerian, St. Nicephorus,
martyr, who was beheaded and thus received the crown of martyrdom.
In Africa, in a village called Lemelis, the holy
martyrs Primus and Donatus, deacons, who were killed by the Donatists
for defending an altar in the church.
In the monastery of St. Vandrille, St. Ansbert,
bishop of Rouen.
At Canossa, in Apulia, of St. Sabinus, bishop
and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 10th
This Day, the Tenth Day of February
On Mount Cassino, St. Scholastica, a virgin,
whose soul her brother, St. Benedict, the abbot, saw leaving her body
in the form of a dove, and ascending to Heaven.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Zoticus, Irenaeus, Hyacinthus,
and Amantius.
In the same place, on the Lavican road, ten holy
soldiers, martyrs.
Also at Rome, on the Appian way, St. Soteres,
virgin and martyr, who was descended of a noble race, as St.
Ambrose testifies, but for the love of Christ set at naught the consular
and other dignities of her family. On her refusal to sacrifice to the
gods, she was for a long time cruelly buffeted. After she had overcome
various other torments, she was struck with the sword, and joyfully
went to her Heavenly spouse.
In Campania, St. Silvanus, bishop and confessor.
At Maleval, in the diocese of Siena, St. William,
a hermit.
In the diocese of Roueu, St. Austreberta, a virgin
renowned for miracles.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 11th
This Day, the Eleventh Day of February
At Lourdes, in France, the apparition of the Blessed
Virgin Mary Immaculate.
In Africa, during the persecution of Diocletian, the birthday of
the holy martyrs Saturninus, a priest, Dativus,
Felix, Ampelius, and their companions. They had, as was their
custom, assembled for Mass, when they were seized by the soldiers and
put to death, under the proconsul Anolinus.
In Numidia, in the same persecution, the commemoration of
many holy martyrs, who, refusing after
their apprehension to deliver the holy Scriptures, conformably to the
imperial edict, were given over to most painful torments and slain.
At Adrianople, the holy martyrs Lucius, bishop,
and his companions. Lucius suffered much from the Arians under
Constantius, and terminated his martyrdom in prison. The others, who
were among the principal citizens, refusing to communicate with the
Arians, just then anathematized in the Council of Sardica, were condemned
to capital punishment by Count Philagrius.
At Lyons, St. Desiderius, bishop of Vienne,
and martyr.
At Ravenna, St. Calocerus, bishop and confessor.
At Milan, St. Lazarus, bishop.
At Capua, St. Castrensis, bishop.
At Chateau-Landon, St. Severin, abbot of
the monastery of Agaunum, by whose prayers the Christian king Clovis
was delivered from a long sickness.
In Egypt, St. Jonas, a monk, eminent for
virtues.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 12th
This Day, the Twelfth Day of February
In Tuscany, on Mount Senario, the seven Holy Founders
of the Order of Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary. After a
most austere kind of life, they died a death precious in the Lord, with
a reputation for merits and prodigies. As one spirit of true fraternal
love united them in life, and as the people joined them together in
the same veneration after death, Leo. XIII placed them together in the
catalogue of the Saints.
At Barcelona, in Spain, in the time of the emperor Diocletian,
St. Eulalia, virgin, who, being racked,
torn with iron hooks, cast into the fire, and crucified, received the
glorious crown of martyrdom.
In Africa, St. Damian, soldier and martyr.
At Carthage, the holy martyrs Modestus and Julian.
At Benevento, St. Modestus, deacon and martyr.
At Alexandria, the holy children Modestus and
Ammonius.
At Antioch, St. Meletius, a bishop, who
often suffered exile for the Catholic faith, and finally died at Constantinople
and went to his reward. His virtues have been highly extolled by St.
John Chrysostom and St. Gregory of Nyssa.
At Constantinople, St. Anthony, a bishop
in the time of the emperor Leo VI.
At Verona, St. Gaudentius, bishop and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 13th
This Day, the Thirteenth Day of February
At Antioch, the holy prophet Agabus, of
whom mention is made by St. Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles.
At Ravenna, in the time of the emperor Decius, and the governor Quinctian,
the Saints Fusca, virgin, and her nurse, Maura,
who endured many afflictions, were transpierced with a sword, and thus
ended their martyrdom.
At Meletine, in Armenia, in the persecution of the same Decius,
St. Polyeuctus, martyr, who, after many
sufferings, obtained the crown of martyrdom.
At Lyons, St. Julian, martyr.
At Todi, St. Benignus, martyr.
At Rome, Pope St. Gregory II., who strenuously
opposed the impiety of Leo the Isaurian, and sent St. Boniface to preach
the Gospel in Germany.
At Angers, the demise of the holy bishop Lucinius,
a man venerable for his sanctity.
At Lyons, St. Stephen, bishop and confessor.
At Rieti, the abbot St. Stephen, a man
of wonderful patience, at whose death, as is related by the blessed
Pope Gregory, the holy angels were present and visible to all.
At Prato, in Tuscany, St. Catharine de Ricci,
a Florentine virgin, of the Order of St.
Dominic, replenished with Heavenly gifts, whom Pope Benedict
XIV inscribed on the catalogue of holy virgins. She died rich in virtues
and merits on the 2nd of this month, but her festival is celebrated on
this day.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 14th
This Day, the Fourteenth Day of February
At Rome, on the Flaminian road, in the time of the emperor Claudius,
the birthday of blessed Valentine, priest and
martyr, who after having cured and instructed many persons, was
beaten with clubs and beheaded.
Also, at Rome, the holy martyrs Vitalis, Felicula,
and Zeno.
At Teramo, St. Valentine, bishop and martyr,
who was scourged, committed to prison, and as he remained unshaken in
his faith, was taken out of his dungeon in the dead of night and beheaded
by order of Placidus, prefect of the city.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Proculus,
Ephebus and Apollonius, who, whilst watching by the body of St.
Valentine, were arrested and put to the sword by the command of the
ex-consul Leontius.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Bassus, Anthony,
and Protolicus, who were cast into the sea.
Also, the holy martyrs Cyrion, priest, Bassian,
lector, Agatho, exorcist, and Moses, who perished in the flames
and took their flight to Heaven.
In the same city, the Saints Denis and Ammonius,
who were beheaded.
At Ravenna, St. Eleuchadius, bishop and confessor.
In Bithynia, the abbot St. Auxentius.
At Sorrento, St. Anthony, abbot, who, when
the monastery of Monte Cassino was devastated by the Lombards, withdrew
into a solitude of the neighborhood, where, celebrated for holiness,
he passed calmly to his repose in God. His body is daily glorified by
many miracles, and particularly by the deliverance of possessed persons.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 15th
This Day, the Fifteenth Day of February
At Brescia, in the time of the emperor Adrian, the birthday of
the holy martyrs Faustinus and Jovita,
who received the triumphant crown of martyrdom after many glorious combats
for the faith of Christ.
At Rome, St. Craton, martyr. A short time
after being baptized with his wife and all his household by the holy
bishop Valentine, he was put to death with them.
At Teramo, St. Agape, virgin and martyr.
Also, the birthday of the holy martyrs Saturninus,
Castulus, Magnus, and Lucius.
At Vaison, in France, St. Quinidius, bishop,
whose death was precious in the sight of God, as is shown by frequent
miracles.
At Capua, St. Decorosus, bishop and confessor.
In the province of Valeria, St. Severus, a priest,
of whom St. Gregory says, that by his tears he recalled a dead man to
life.
At Antioch, St. Joseph, deacon.
At Clermont, in Auvergne, St. Georgia, virgin.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 16th
This Day, the Sixteenth Day of February
The birthday of blessed Onesimus, concerning
whom the Apostle St. Paul wrote to Philemon. He made him bishop of Ephesus
after St. Timothy, and committed to him the office of preaching. Being
led a prisoner to Rome, and stoned to death for the faith of Christ,
he was buried in that city; but his body was afterwards carried to the
place where he had been bishop.
At Cumae, in Campania, the Translation of St.
Juliana, virgin and martyr. Under the emperor Maximian, she was
first severely scourged by her own father, Africanus, then made to suffer
many torments by the prefect, Evilasius, whom she had refused to marry.
Later being thrown into prison, she encountered the evil spirit in a
visible manner. Finally, as a fiery furnace and a caldron of boiling
oil could do her no injury, she terminated her martyrdom by decapitation.
In Egypt, St. Julian, martyr, with five thousand
other Christians.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, the holy martyrs Elias,
Jeremias, Isaias, Samuel, and Daniel, Egyptians, who of their
own accord served the confessors of Christ condemned to labor in the
mines of Cilicia, but were arrested on their return, and after being
cruelly tortured by the governor Firmilian, under the emperor Galerius
Maximian, were put to the sword.
After them, St. Porphyry, servant of the
martyr Pamphilus, and St. Seleucus, a Cappadocian,
who had been victorious in several combats, being again exposed to torments,
won the crown of martyrdom, the one by fire, the other by the sword.
At Arezzo, in Tuscany, blessed Gregory X,
a native of Piacenza, who was elected Sovereign Pontiff while he was
archdeacon of Liege. He held the second Council of Lyons, received the
Greeks into the unity of the Church, appeased discords among Christians,
made generous efforts for the recovery of the Holy Land, and governed
the Church in the most holy manner.
At Brescia, St. Faustinus, bishop and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 17th
This Day, the Seventeenth Day of February
At Rome, the passion of St. Faustinus,
whom forty-four others followed to receive
the crown of martyrdom.
In Persia, during the persecution of Decius, the birthday of
blessed Polychronius, bishop of Babylon,
who, being struck in the mouth with stones, stretched out his hands,
lifted up his eyes to Heaven, and expired.
At Concordia, the holy martyrs Donatus, Secundian,
and Romulus, with eighty-six others, partakers of the same crown.
At Caesarea, in Palestine, St. Theodulus, an aged
man, in the service of the governor Firmilian. Moved by the example
of the martyrs, he confessed Christ with constancy, was fastened to
a cross, and thus by a noble victory merited the palm of martyrdom.
In the same place, St. Julian, a Cappadocian,
who, because he had kissed the relics of the martyrs, was denounced
as a Christian, and led to the governor, who had him consumed with a
slow fire.
In the territory of Terouanne, St. Silvinus, bishop
of Toulouse.
In Ireland, St. Fintan, priest and confessor.
At Florence, blessed Alexius Falconieri, confessor,
one of the seven Founders of the Order of the Servites of the blessed
Virgin Mary, who, in the one hundred and tenth year of his age, terminated
his blessed career in the consoling presence of Jesus Christ and the
angels.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 18th
This Day, the Eighteenth Day of February
At Jerusalem, the birthday of St. Simeon, bishop
and martyr, who is said to have been the son of Cleophas, and
a relative of the Saviour according to the flesh. He was consecrated
bishop of Jerusalem after St. James, the brother of our Lord, and in
the persecution of Trajan, after having endured many torments, he consummated
his martyrdom. All who were present, even the judge himself, were astonished
that a man one hundred and twenty years of age could bear the torment
of crucifixion with such
fortitude and constancy.
At Ostia, the holy martyrs Maximus and his brother
Claudius, and Praepedigna, the wife of Claudius, with her two sons Alexander
and Cutias, all of an illustrious family. By the order of Diocletian,
they were apprehended and sent into exile. Afterwards being burned alive,
they offered to God the sweet- smelling sacrifice of martyrdom. Their
remains were cast into the river, but the Christians found them and
buried them near that city.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Lucius, Sylvanus,
Rutulus, Classicus, Secundinus, Fructulus, and Maximus.
At Constantinople, the holy bishop Flavian,
who for having defended the Catholic faith at Ephesus, was buffeted
and kicked by the partisans of the impious Dioscorus, and being banished,
ended his life within three days.
At Toledo, St. Helladius, bishop and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 19th
This Day, the Nineteenth Day of February
At Rome, the birthday of St. Gabinus, priest and
martyr, brother of the blessed Pope Caius. Being loaded with
chains and kept a long time in prison by Diocletian, he obtained the
joys of Heaven by a precious death.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Publius, Julian, Marcellus,
and others.
In Palestine, the commemoration of the holy monks
and other martyrs, who were barbarously massacred for the faith
of Christ by the Saracens, under their leader Almondhar.
At Jerusalem, St. Zambdas, bishop.
At Soli, St. Auxibius, bishop.
At Benevento, St. Barbatus, a bishop illustrious
for sanctity, who converted the Lombards and their chief to the faith
of Christ.
At Milan, St. Mansuetus, bishop and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 20th
This Day, the Twentieth Day of February
At Tyre, in Phoenicia, the commemoration of many
blessed martyrs, whose number is known to God alone. Under the
emperor Diocletian, they were put to death after a long and varied series
of torments by the military commander Veturius. They were first lacerated
with whips, and then delivered to several kinds of beasts. But, through
the interposition of Providence, remaining unhurt, they consummated
their martyrdom by the torment of fire and by the sword. This glorious
multitude were incited to victory by
the bishops Tyrannic, Silvanus, Peleus, and Nilus,
and the priest Zenobius, who, together
with them, won the palm of martyrdom by a successful combat.
In the island of Cyprus, the holy martyrs Pothamius
and Nemesius.
At Constantinople, St. Eleutherius, bishop and
martyr.
In Persia, in the time of king Sapor, the birthday of
St. Sadoth, bishop, and one hundred and twenty-eight
others, who refused to adore the sun, and by a cruel death purchased
for themselves bright crowns.
At Catania, in Sicily, St. Leo, bishop,
illustrious for virtues and miracles.
The same day, St. Eucherius, bishop of
Orleans, whose miracles increased in proportion to the slanders of the
envious.
At Tournai, in Belgium, St. Eleutherius, bishop
and confessor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 21st
This Day, the Twenty-First Day of February
In Sicily, in the reign of Diocletian, the birthday of
seventy-nine holy martyrs, who deserved
by various torments to receive an immortal crown for the confession
of their faith.
At Adrumetum, in Africa, during the persecution of the Vandals,
the holy martyrs Verulus, Secundinus, Syricius,
Felix, Servulus, Saturninus, Fortunatus, and sixteen others,
who were crowned with martyrdom for the confession of the Catholic faith.
At Scythopolis, in Palestine, St. Severian, bishop
and martyr.
At Damascus, St. Peter Mavimenus, who was
killed by some Arabs who visited him in his sickness, because he said
to them: "Whoever does not embrace the Christian and Catholic faith
is lost, like your false prophet Mahomet."
At Ravenna, St. Maximian, bishop and confessor.
At Metz, St. Felix, bishop.
At Brescia, St. Paterius, bishop.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 22nd
This Day, the Twenty-Second Day of February
The Chair of St. Peter at Antioch,
where the disciples were first called Christians.
At Hierapolis, in Phrygia, blessed Papias,
bishop of that city, who had been, with St. Polycarp, a disciple of
St. John in his old age.
At Salamis, in Cyprus, St. Aristion, who
the same Papias says was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ.
In Arabia, the commemoration of many holy martyrs
who were barbarously put to death under the emperor Galerius Maximian.
At Alexandria, St. Abilius, bishop, who
was the second pastor of that city after St. Mark, and administered
his charge with eminent piety.
At Vienna, St. Paschasius, bishop, celebrated
for his learning and holy life.
At Cortona, in Tuscany, St. Margaret, of the Third
Order of St. Francis, whose body miraculously remained incorrupt
for more than four centuries, giving forth a sweet odor, and producing
frequent miracles. It is honored in that place with great devotion.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 23rd
This Day, the Twenty-Third Day of February
(In leap-year, the Vigil of St. Matthias is not announced today,
because it is transferred to the 24th)
The vigil of the Apostle St. Matthias.
At Faenza, St. Peter Damian, Cardinal bishop
of Ostia, and Doctor of the Church, celebrated
for learning and sanctity.
At Sirmium, St. Sirenus, monk and martyr.
By order of the emperor Maximian, he was arrested and beheaded, for
confessing that he was a Christian.
In the same place, the birthday of seventy-two
holy martyrs, who ended the combat of martyrdom in that city,
and took possession of the everlasting kingdom.
At Rome, St. Polycarp, priest, who with
blessed Sebastian converted many to the faith of Christ, and by his
exhortations led them to the glory of martyrdom.
In the city of Astorga, St. Martha, virgin and
martyr, under the emperor Decius, and the proconsul Paternus.
At Constantinople, St. Lazarus, a monk
whom the Iconoclast emperor Theophilus ordered to be put to the torture
for having painted holy images. His hand was burned with a hot iron,
but being healed by the power of God, he painted anew the holy pictures
that had been defaced, and finally rested in peace.
At Berscia, St. Felix, bishop.
At Seville, in Spain, St. Florentius, confessor.
At Todi, St. Romana, virgin, who was baptized
by Pope St. Sylvester. She led a Heavenly life in caves and dens, and
wrought glorious miracles.
In England, St. Milburga, virgin, daughter
of the king of Mercia.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
(In leap-year, the 24th of February is announced in this manner:
"The twenty-fourth day of February. The vigil of the Apostle St. Matthias.
Also, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, confessors and virgins."
On the 25th, read: (The twenty-fifth day of February," and then: "In
Judea, etc." as marked for the 24th.)
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 24th
This Day, the Twenty-Fourth Day of February
In Judea, the birthday of the Apostle St. Matthias,
who was chosen by lot by the Apostles after the Ascension of our Lord
in the place of the traitor Judas, and suffered martyrdom for preaching
the Gospel.
At Rome, St. Primitiva, martyr.
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, St. Sergius, martyr,
of whose life a beautiful account still exists.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Montanus, Lucius,
Julian, Victoricus, Flavian, and their companions. They were
disciples of St. Cyprian, and suffered martyrdom under the emperor Valerian.
At Rouen, the passion of St. Praetextatus, bishop
and martyr.
At Treves, St. Modestus, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Ethelbert, king of Kent,
converted to the faith of Christ by St. Augustine, bishop of the English.
At Jerusalem, the first finding of the head of
our Lord's Precursor.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 25th
This Day, the Twenty-Fifth Day of February
In Egypt, in the time of the emperor Maximian, the birthday of
the holy martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus,
Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, under the emperor
Numerian. The first two, having borne with constancy torments of refined
cruelty for the confession of the faith, were beheaded. Nicephorus,
after having been laid on a heated gridiron and on the fire, was hacked
into small pieces. Claudian and Dioscorus were burned alive; Serapion
and Papias were killed with the sword.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Donatus, Justus, Herena,
and their companions.
At Rome, the birthday of Pope St. Felix III,
great-grandfather of St. Gregory the Great, who relates of him that
he appeared to St. Tharsilla, his niece, and called her to the kingdom
of Heaven.
At Constantinople, St. Tharasius, bishop,
a man of great erudition and piety, to whom is addressed an epistle
of Pope Adrian I, in defense of holy images.
At Nazianzus, St. Caesarius, whom his brother
blessed Gregory the Theologian, says he saw among the hosts of the Blessed.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 26th
This Day, the Twenty-Sixth Day of February
At Pergen, in Pamphylia, during the persecution of Decius, the birthday
of the blessed bishop Nestor,who, praying
night and day for the preservation of the flock of Christ, was put under
arrest. As he confessed the name of the Lord with great joy and freedom,
he was most cruelly tortured on the rack, by order of the governor Pollio,
and still courageously proclaiming that he would ever remain faithful
to Christ, he was suspended on a cross; and thus triumphantly went to
Heaven.
In the same place, the passion of Saints Papias,
Diodorus, Conon, and Claudian, who preceded St. Nestor to martyrdom.
Also, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felix, and
twenty-seven others.
At Alexandria, the bishop St. Alexander,
an aged man held in great honor, who succeeded blessed Peter as bishop
of that city. He expelled from the Church Arius, one of his priests,
tainted with heretical impiety, and convicted by divine truth, and subsequently
was one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers who condemned him
in the Council of Nicaea.
At Bologna, the bishop St. Faustinian,
whose preaching strengthened and multiplied the faithful of that Church,
which had been much afflicted during the persecution of Diocletian.
At Gaza, in Palestine, in the time of the emperor Arcadius,
St. Porphyry, bishop, who overthrew the
idol Marnas and its temple, and after many sufferings, went to rest
in the Lord.
At Florence, St. Andrew, bishop and confessor.
In the territory of Arcis, St. Victor, confessor,
whose eulogy was written by St. Bernard.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 27th
This Day, the Twenty-Seventh Day of February
At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Alexander,
Abundius, Antigonus, and Fortunatus.
At Alexandria, the passion of St. Julian, martyr.
Although he was so afflicted with the gout that he could neither walk,
nor stand, he was taken before the judge with two servants, who carried
him in a chair. One of these denied his faith, but the other, named
Eunus, persevered with Julian in confessing
Christ. Both were set on camels, led through the whole city, scourged,
and burned alive in the presence of the people.
In the same city, St. Besas, a soldier,
who was denounced to the judge, because he had reproved those who insulted
the martyrs just mentioned. As he continued to proclaim his attachment
to the faith, he was beheaded.
At Seville, in Spain, the birthday of St. Leander,
bishop of that city, by whose preaching and labors, with the
assistance of King Recared, the nation of the Visigoths was converted
from the Arian impiety to the Catholic faith.
At Constantinople, in the time of the emperor Leo,
the holy confessors Basil and Procopius,
who fought courageously for the worship of holy images.
At Lyons, St. Baldomer, a man of God, whose
tomb is made illustrious by frequent miracles.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
FEBRUARY 28th
This Day, the Twenty-Eighth Day of February
At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Macarius,
Rufinus, Justus, and Theophilus.
At Alexandria, the passion of the Saints Caerealis,
Pupulus, Caius, and Serapion.
In the same city, in the reign of the emperor Valerian, the commemoration
of the holy priests, deacons, and other Christians
in great number, who encountered death most willingly by nursing the
victims of a most deadly pestilence then raging. They have been
generally revered as martyrs by the pious faithful.
In the territory of Lyons, on Mount Jura, the demise of
St. Romanus, abbot, who was the first to
lead the eremitical life there. His reputation for virtues and miracles
brought under his guidance numerous monks.
At Pavia, the translation, from the island of
Sardinia, of the body of St. Augustine, bishop, by Luitprand,
king of the Lombards.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors, and holy virgins.
Omnes sancti Mártyres,
oráte pro nobis. ("All ye Holy Martyrs, pray for us", from the
Litaniae Sanctorum, the Litany of the Saints)
Response: Thanks be to God.
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Roman Martyrology by Month
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