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Roman Martyrology, Complete, December
Semen est sanguis Christianorum
(The blood of Christians is the seed of the Church) Tertullian, Apologeticum,
50
ROMAN MARTYROLOGY
December 1st
This Day, the First Day of December
The prophet Nahum, who was buried in
Begabar.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Diodorus, priest,
and Marian, deacon, with many others, who by the command of
the emperor Numerian, were made partakers of the glory of martyrdom.
In the same city, the martyrdom of the saints
Lucius, Rogatus, Cassian, and Candida.
The same day, St. Ansanus, martyr, who
confessed Christ at Rome, and was cast into prison, in the time of
the emperor Diocletian. Being afterwards conducted to Siena, in
Tuscany, he there ended the course of his martyrdom by decapitation.
At Amelia, in Umbria, St. Olympias, ex-consul,
who was converted to the faith by blessed Firmina, and being
tortured on the rack, consummated his martyrdom
under Diocletian.
At Arbele, in Persia, St. Ananias, martyr.
At Narni, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr,
who after performing many good works, was beheaded by order of
Totila, king of the Goths.
At Casale, St. Evasius, bishop and martyr.
At Milan, St. Castritian, bishop,
who was eminent for virtues and the practice of pious and religious
deeds in very troublous times for the Church.
At Brescia, St. Ursicinus, bishop.
At Noyon, St. Eligius, bishop, whose
life is rendered illustrious by a considerable number of miracles.
At Verdun, St. Agericus, bishop.
The same day, St. Natalia, wife of the blessed
martyr Adrian, under the emperor Diocletian. For a long time
she served the holy martyrs detained in prison at Nicomedia, and
when their combats were at an end, she repaired to Constantinople,
where she went peacefully to her repose in the Lord.
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
December 2nd
This Day, the Second Day of December
At Rome, the martyrdom of the saintly virgin
Bibiana, under the sacrilegious emperor Julian. For the sake
of our Lord, she was scourged with leaded whips until she expired.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Eusebius,
priest, Marcellus, deacon, Hippolytus, Maximus, Adria, Paulina,
Neon, Mary, Martana, and Aurelia, who consummated their
martyrdom in the persecution of Valerian, under the judge Secundian.
Also, at Rome, St. Pontian, martyr,
with four others.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs
Severus, Securus, Januarius, and Victorinus, who were there
crowned with martyrdom.
At Aquileia, St. Chromatius, bishop and
confessor.
At Imola, St. Peter Chrysologus, bishop
of Ravenna, celebrated for his learning and sanctity. His feast is
celebrated on the 4th of this month.
At Verona, St. Lupus, bishop and confessor.
At Edessa, St. Nonnus, bishop, by whose
prayers the penitent Pelagia was converted to Christ.
At Troas, in Phrygia, St. Silvanus,
renowned for miracles.
At Brescia, St. Evasius, bishop.
In Sancian, a Chinese island, St. Francis
Xavier, of the Society of Jesus, renowned for the conversions
he made among the Gentiles, and for supernatural gifts and miracles.
Pius X selected and appointed this holy man to be the
Heavenly Patron of the Society for the
Propagation of the Faith and its work. His festival, however,
is kept on the 3d of this month by order of AlexanderVII.
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
December 3rd
This Day, the Third Day of December
St. Francis Xavier, confessor, of the Society
of Jesus, who died on the 2d of this month.
In Judea, the holy prophet Sophonias.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Claudius, tribune,
and Hilaria, his wife, with Jason and Maurus, their sons, and
seventy soldiers. By the command of the emperor Numerian,
Claudius was fastened to a large stone and precipitated into the
river ; the soldiers and the sons of Claudius were condemned to
capital punishment. But blessed Hilaria, after having buried the
bodies of her sons,
and whilst praying at their tomb, was arrested by the Pagans, and
shortly after departed for Heaven.
At Tangier, in Morocco, St. Cassian, martyr.
After having been a recorder for a long time, at length, through the
inspiration of Heaven, he deemed it an execrable thing to contribute
to the massacre of the Christians, and therefore abondoned his
office, and making profession of Christianity, deserved to obtain
the triumph of martyrdom.
Also, in Africa, the holy martyrs Claudius,
Crispinus, Magina, John, and Stephen.
In Hungary, St. Agricola, martyr.
At Nicomedia, the Saints Ambicus, Victor and
Julius.
At Milan, St. Mirocles, bishop and confessor,
sometimes mentioned by St. Ambrose.
In England, St. Birinus, first bishop
of Dorchester.
At Coire, in Switzerland, St. Lucius, King of
the Britons, who was the first of those kings who received
the faith of Christ, in the time of Pope Eleutherius.
At Siena, in Tuscany, St. Galganus, hermit.
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
December 4th
This Day, the Fourth Day of December
St. Peter Chyrsologus, bishop, confessor, and
Doctor of the Church, who is mentioned on the 2nd of this
month.
At Nicomedia, the passion of St. Barbara,
virgin and martyr, in the persecution of Maximinus.
After a series of sufferings, a long imprisonment, burning with
torches and the cutting off of her breasts, she terminated her
martyrdom by the sword.
At Constantinople, the Saints Theophanes and
his companions.
In Pontus, blessed Meletius, bishop and
confessor, who joined to an eminent gift of knowledge the
more distinguished glory of fortitude and integrity of life.
At Bologna, St. Felix, bishop, who
previously had been deacon of the Church of Milan, under St.
Ambrose.
In England, St. Osmund, bishop and confessor.
At Cologne, St. Annan, bishop.
In Mesopotamia, St. Maruthas, bishop,
who restored the churches of God that had been ruined in Persia by
the persecution of King Isdegerdes. Being renowned for many
miracles, he merited to be honored even by his enemies.
At Parma, St. Bernard, Cardinal and bishop
of that city. He belonged to the Congregation of Vallumbrosa, of the
Order of St. Benedict.
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
December 5th
This Day, the Fifth Day of December
At Mutala, in Cappadocia, St. Sabas, abbot,
who was renowned in Palestine for admirable examples of sanctity. He
labored courageously in defending the Catholic faith against those
who attacked the holy Council of Chalcedon.
At Thebesta, in Africa, during the time of Diocletian and Maximian,
St. Chrispina, a woman of the highest nobility,
who refused to sacrifice to idols, and was beheaded by order of the
proconsul Anolinus. Her praises are often celebrated by St.
Augustine.
At Thagura, in Africa, the holy martyrs
Julius, Potamia, Crispinus, Felix, Gratus, and seven others.
At Nicaea, near the river Var, St. Bassus,
bishop. In the persecution of Decius and Valerian, he was
tortured by the governor Perennius for the faith of Christ, burned
with hot plates of metal, beaten with rods and whips garnished with
pieces of iron, and thrown into the fire. Having come out of it
unhurt, he was transfixed with two spikes, and thus terminated an
illustrious martyrdom.
At Pavia, St. Dalmatius, bishop and martyr,
who suffered in the persecution of Maximian.
At Pelino, in Abruzzo, St. Pelinus, bishop
of Brindisi. Under Julian the Apostate, because by his prayers he
caused a temple of Mars to fall to the ground, he was most severely
scourged by the idolatrous priests, and being pierced with
eighty-five wounds, merited the crown of martyrdom.
Also, St. Anastasius, martyr, who,
thirsting for martyrdom, voluntarily offered himself to the
persecutors.
At Treves, St. Nicetius, bishop, a man
of great sanctity.
At Polybotum, in Asia, St. John, bishop,
surnamed Wonder-worker.
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
December 6th
This Day, the Sixth Day of December
At Myra, the metropolis of Lycia, the birthday of
St. Nicholas, bishop and confessor, of
whom it is related, among other miracles, that, while at a great
distance from the emperor Constantine, he appeared to him in a
vision and moved him to mercy so as to deter him from putting to
death some persons who had implored his assistance.
In Africa, in the persecution of the Vandals, and under the Arian
king Hunneric, the saintly women Dionysia,
Dativa, Leontia, a religious man named Tertius, Aemilian, a
physician, and Boniface, with three others, who were
subjected to numberless most painful torments for the Catholic
faith, and thus merited to rank among the confessors of Christ.
In the same country, St. Majoricus, son of St.
Dionysia, who, being quite young and
dreading the torments, was strengthened by the looks and words of
his mother, and becoming stronger than the rest, expired in
torments. His mother took him in her arms, and having buried him in
her own house, was wont to pray assiduously at his sepulcher.
The same day St. Polychronius, priest,
who, in the time of the emperor Constantius, was attacked by the
Arians and put to death while at the altar saying Mass.
At Granada, in Spain, the passion of blessed
Peter Paschasius, martyr, of the Order of Mercedarians, and
bishop of Jaen, whose festival is celebrated on the 23d of October,
by order of Pope Clement X.
At Rome, St. Asella, virgin, who,
according to the words of St. Jerome, being blessed from her
mother's womb, lived to old age in fasting and prayer.
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
December 7th
This Day, the Seventh Day of December
At Milan, the consecration of St. Ambrose,
Bishop and Doctor of the Church, who has ennobled the
universal Church by his holiness and teaching.
At Alexandria, the birthday of blessed Agatho,
soldier. In the persecution of Decius, as he was preventing
some people from insulting the bodies of the martyrs, a sudden
outcry was raised against him by all the populace, and being brought
before the judge and persisting in the confession of Christ, he was
condemned to capital punishment as a reward for his humanity.
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Polycarp and
Theodore.
At Tuburbum, in Africa, during the persecution of the Vandals, under
the Arian King Hunneric, St. Servus, martyr,
who, being for a very long time beaten with rods, lifted up on high
with pulleys and suddenly dropped on flint-stones with his whole
weight, and rubbed over with sharp stones, obtained the palm of
martyrdom.
At Teano, in Campania, St. Urban, bishop and
confessor.
At Saintes, in France, St. Martin, abbot,
at whose tomb God works frequent miracles.
In the diocese of Meaux, St. Fara, 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
December 8th
This Day, the Eighth Day of December
The Immaculate Conception of the glorious
and ever Virgin Mary, Mother of God. On this day Pius IX
solemnly declared her to have been preserved by a special privilege
of God free from the stain of original sin.
At Rome, blessed Eutychian, Pope, who
with his own hands buried in various places three hundred and
forty-two martyrs. Under the emperor Numerian he became their
companion, being crowned with martyrdom
and buried in the cemetery of Callistus.
At Alexandria, in the time of Decius, St.
Macarius, martyr, whose constancy in professing the faith
increased with the efforts made by the judge to persuade him to deny
Christ. He was finally condemned to be burned alive.
At Treves, St. Eucharius, disciple of the blessed Apostle Peter, and
first bishop of that city. In Cyprus,
the holy bishop Sophronius, who was a devoted protector of
orphans and widows, and a friend to the poor and the oppressed.
In the monastery of Luxeuil, St. Romaricus,
abbot, who left the highest station at the court of king
Theodobert, renounced the world, and surpassed others in the
observance of monastic discipline.
At Constantinople, St. Patapius, solitary,
renowned for virtues and miracles.
At Verona, the ordination of St. Zeno, 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
December 9th
This Day, the Ninth Day of December
At Gray, in Burgundy, St. Peter Fourier,
Canon Regular of Our Saviour, and founder of the Canonesses Regular
of Our Lady for the education of girls. Because of his brilliant
virtues and miracles Leo XIII placed him in the catalogue of Saints.
At Toledo, in Spain, the birthday of the holy
virgin Leocadia, a martyr, in the persecution of the emperor
Diocletian. By Dacian, prefect of Spain, she was condemned to a
cruel imprisonment, where she was pining away, when, hearing of the
barbarous tortures of blessed Eulalia and the other martyrs, she
knelt down to pray, and yielded up her undefiled spirit to Christ.
At Carthage, St. Restitutus, bishop and martyr,
on whose feast St. Augustine delivered a discourse to the people in
which he set forth his praises. Also, in Africa, the holy martyrs
Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus and twenty others.
At Limoges, in France, St. Valeria, virgin and
martyr.
At Verona, during the persecution of Diocletian,
St. Proculus, bishop, who was buffeted,
scourged with rods and driven out of the city. Being at length
restored to his church, he rested in peace.
At Pavia, St. Syrus, first bishop of
that city, who was renowned for miracles and virtues worthy of an
apostle.
At Apamea, in Syria, blessed Julian, bishop,
who was distinguished for holiness in the time of Severus.
At Perigueux, in France, the holy abbot
Cyprian, a man of great sanctity.
At Nazianzus, St. Gorgonia, sister of blessed Gregory the
Theologian, who has related her 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
December 10th
This Day, the Tenth Day of December
At Rome, Pope St. Melchiades, who,
having suffered much in the persecution of Maximian, rested in the
Lord when peace was given to the Church.
The same day, Saints Carpophorus, priest, and
Abundius,deacon, who became martyrs
in the persecution of Diocletian. They were first most cruelly
beaten with rods, then imprisoned and denied food and drink; being
racked a second time and again thrown into prison, they were finally
beheaded.
At Merida, in Spain, in the time of Maximian,
the martyrdom of the holy virgin Eulalia, who, at
twelve years of age, suffered many
torments for the confession of Christ, by order of the governor
Dacian. Finally she was stretched on the rack, torn with iron hooks,
had her sides burned with flaming torches, and fire being forced
down her throat, she expired.
Again, in the same city, St. Julia, virgin and
martyr, the companion of blessed Eulalia, who would not be
separated from her when the latter went to suffer.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Mennas,
Hermogenes and Eugraphus, who suffered under Galerius
Maximian.
At Lentini, in Sicily, the holy martyrs
Mercury and his companions, soldiers, who were beheaded under
the governor Tertyllus, in the time of the emperor Licinius.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, St. Gemellus, martyr,
who, after severe torments, consummated his martyrdom by being
crucified, under Julian the Apostate.
At Vienne, St. Sindulphus, bishop and
confessor.
At Brescia, St. Deusdedit, bishop.
At Loretto, in the March of Ancona, the
Translation of the holy house of Mary, Mother of God, in which the
Word was made flesh.
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
December 11th
This Day, the Eleventh Day of December
At Rome, St. Damasus, Pope and confessor,
who condemned the heresiarch Apollinaris, and restored to his See
Peter, bishop of Alexandria, who had been driven from it. He also
discovered the bodies of many holy martyrs, and wrote verses in
their honor.
Also, at Rome, St. Thrason, who was
arrested by order of Maximian for devoting his wealth to the support
of the Christians who labored in the baths and at other public
works, or were confined in prison. He was crowned with martyrdom
with two others, Pontian and Praetextatus.
At Amiens, the holy martyrs Victoricus and
Fuscian, under the same emperor. By order of the governor
Rictiovarus, they had iron pins driven into their ears and nostrils,
heated nails into their temples, and arrows into their whole bodies.
Being beheaded with St. Gentian, their host, they went to our Lord.
In Persia, St. Barsabas, martyr.
In Spain, St. Eutychius, martyr.
At Piacenza, St. Sabinus, a
bishop renowned for miracles.
At Constantinople, St. Daniel the Stylite.
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
December 12th
This Day, the Twelfth Day of December
At Rome, the holy martyr Synesius, who
was ordained lector in the time of the blessed Pope Xystus. Having
converted many to Christ, he was accused before the emperor
Aurelian, and being put to the sword, received the crown of
martyrdom.
At Alexandria, in the time of Decius, the holy
martyrs Epimachus and Alexander, who were kept in chains a
long time, and subjected to various torments; but as they persevered
in the faith, they were finally consumed by fire.
In the same place, the holy women Ammonaria,
virgin, Mercuria, Dionysia, and another Ammonaria. The first
named, after having triumphed over unheard-of torments, in the same
persecution of Decius, ended her blessed life by the sword. As to
the three others, the judge being ashamed to be overcome by women,
and fearing that by resorting to tortures, he would be vanquished by
their constancy, he ordered them to be beheaded immediately.
The same day, the holy martyrs Hermogenes,
Donatus, and twenty-two others.
At Treves, the holy martyrs Maxentius,
Constantius, Crescentius, Justinus, and their companions, who
suffered in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor
Rictiovarus.
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
December 13th
This Day, the Thirteenth Day of December
At Syracuse, in Sicily, the birthday of St.
Lucy, virgin and martyr, in the persecution of Diocletian. By
the order of the ex-consul Paschasius, she was delivered
to profligates, that her chastity might be insulted; but when they
attempted to lead her away, they could not succeed, either with
ropes or with many yoke of oxen. Then pouring hot pitch, rosin, and
boiling oil over her body without injuring her, they finally plunged
a sword into her throat, and thus completed her martyrdom.
In Armenia, the martyrdom of the holy martyrs
Eustratius, Auxentius, Eugene, Mardarius, and Orestes, in the
persecution of Diocletian. Eustratius was first
subjected alone to barbarous torments under Lysias. Then he was
conducted to Sebaste, where he was tortured together with Orestes
under the governor Agricolaus, and being cast into a furnace,
yielded up his soul; but Orestes being laid on a bed of red-hot
iron, rendered his sould to God. The others were made to endure most
grievous torments among the Arabraci, under the governor Lysias, and
consummated their martyrdom in different manners. Their relics were
afterwards carried to Rome, and placed with due
honors in the Church of St. Apollinaris.
Near Sardinia, in the island of Solta, the
martyrdom of St. Antiochus, under the emperor Adrian.
At Cambrai, in France, St. Aubertus, bishop
and confessor.
In Ponthieu, St. Judocus, confessor.
In Alsace, St. Othilia, abbess.
At Moulins, in France, the birthday of St.
Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, foundress of the nuns of the
Visitation of St. Mary, distinguished by the nobility of her birth,
by the holiness she constantly manifested in four different states
of life, and by the gift of miracles. She was placed among the
saints by Clement XIII. Her sacred body was conveyed to Annecy, in
Savoy, and interred with great pomp in the first church of her
Order. By the command of Clement XIV., her festival is kept by the
whole Church on the 21st of August.
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
December 14th
This Day, the Fourteenth Day of December
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Heron,
Arsenius, Isidore and Dioscorus, a boy. In the persecution of
Decius, the first three were subjected to all the refinements of
cruelty by the judge, who, seeing them displaying the same
constancy, ordered that they should be cast into the fire. But
Dioscorus, after repeated scourgings, was set free through the
intervention of Providence for the consolation of the faithful.
At Antioch, the birthday of the holy martyrs
Drusus, Zosimus and Theodore.
The same day, the martyrdom of the Saints
Justus and Abundius, who were cast into the flames in the
time of the emperor Numerian and the governor Olybrius; but having
escaped uninjured, they were struck with the sword.
At Rheims, the holy bishop Nicasius, his
sister, the virgin Eutropia, and their companions, martyrs,
who were put to death by barbarians hostile to the Church.
In the island of Cyprus, the birthday of
blessed Spiridion, bishop. He was one of those confessors who
were condemned to labor in the mines, after the plucking out of
their right eye and the severing of the sinews of the left knee.
This prelatewas renowned for the gift of prophecy and glorious
miracles, and in the Council of Nicaea he confounded a heathen
philosopher who insulted the Christian religion and
brought him to the faith.
At Bergamo, St. Viator, bishop and confessor.
At Pavia, St. Pompey, bishop.
At Naples, in Campania, St. Agnellus, abbot.
Illustrious by the gift of miracles, he was often seen with the
standard of the cross delivering the city besieged by enemies.
At Ubeda, in Spain, St. John of the Cross,
confessor, companion of St. Theresa in reforming the
Carmelites. His feast is kept on the 24th of November.
At Milan, St. Matronian, hermit.
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
December 15th
This Day, the Fifteenth Day of December
The Octave of the Immaculate Conception of the
Blessed Virgin Mary.
The same day, the consecration of St.
Eusebius, bishop of Vercelli, whose birthday is commemorated
on the 1st of August. His feast is kept on the 16th of this month,
by order of Pope Benedict XIII.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Irenaeus, Anthony,
Theodore, Saturninus, Victor and seventeen others, who
suffered for Christ in the persecution of Valerian.
In Africa, the martyrdom of the Saints
Faustinus, Lucius, Candidus, Caelian, Mark, Januarius and Fortunatus.
In the same country, the holy bishop Valerian,
who, being upwards of eighty years old, in the persecution of
the Vandals, under the Arian King Genseric, was asked to deliver the
vessels of the church, and as he constantly refused, an order was
issued to drive
him all alone out of the city, and all were forbidden to allow him
to stay either in their houses or on their land. For a long time he
remained lying on the public road,
in the open air, and thus, in the confession and defense of the
Catholic verity, closed his blessed life.
In the diocese of Orleans, St. Maximinus,
confessor.
In Georgia, beyond the Euxine sea, St.
Christiana, who, though a slave, was so gifted with the power
of working miracles that she converted the inhabitants of that
country to the faith of Christ, in the time of Constantine.
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
December 16th
This Day, the Sixteenth Day of December
St. Eusebius, bishop of Vercelli
and martyr, mentioned on the 1st of
August, and also on the 15th of this month.
The young men, Ananias, Azarias and Misael, whose bodies were buried
in a cavern at Babylon.
At Ravenna, the holy martyrs Valentine,
military officer, Concordius, his son, Navalis, and Agricola,
who suffered for Christ in the persecution of Maximian.
At Mola-di-Gaeta, in Campania, St. Albina,
virgin and martyr, under the emperor Decius.
In Africa, many holy virgins, who
reached a happy termination of their martyrdom in the persecution of
the Vandals, under the Arian King Hunneric, by having heavy weights
tied to them, and burning plates of metal applied to their bodies.
At Vienne, blessed Ado, bishop and confessor.
At Aberdeen, in Scotland, St. Beanus, bishop.
At Gaza, in Palestine, St. Irenian, 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
December 17th
This Day, the Seventeenth Day of December
At Eleutheropolis, in Palestine, the holy
martyrs Florian, Calanicus and their fifty-eight companions,
who were massacred by the Saracens for the faith of Christ, in
the time of the emperor Heraclius.
At Marseilles, in France, blessed Lazarus,
bishop, who was raised from the dead by our Lord, as we read
in the Gospel.
At Rome, St. John de Matha, founder of
the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives.
His festival is observed on the 8th of February, according to the
decree of Innocent XI.
In the monastery of Fulda, the holy abbot
Sturmius, abbot and apostle of Saxony, who was ranked among
the saints by Innocent II, in the second Council of Lateran.
At Bigarden, near Brussels, St. Vivina, virgin,
whose eminent sanctity is attested by frequent miracles.
At Constantinople, St. Olympiades, widow.
At Andenne, at the Seven Churches, St. Begga,
widow, sister of St. Gertrude.
The same day, the translation of St. Ignatius,
bishop and martyr, who, the third after the blessed Apostle
Peter, governed the Church of Antioch. His body was conveyed from
Rome, where he had suffered under Trajan, to Antioch, and deposited
in the church
cemetery beyond the gate of Daphnis. St. John Chrysostom, on that
solemn occasion, delivered a discourse to his people. But afterwards
his relics were carried back to Rome, and placed with the highest
reverence in the Church of St. Clement, together
with the body of that blessed Pope and martyr.
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
December 18th
This Day, the Eighteenth Day of December
At Philippi, in Macedonia, the birthday of the
holy martyrs Rufus and Zosimus, who were of the number of the
disciples, by whom the primitive Church was founded among the Jews
and the Greeks. Their happy martyrdom is mentioned by St. Polycarp,
in his
epistle to the Philippians.
At Laodicea, in Syria, the martyrdom of the
Saints Theotimus and Basilian.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctus,
Simplicius, and others, who suffered in the persecution of
Decius and Valerian.
In the same country, St. Moysetes, martyr.
Also, in Africa, the holy martyrs Victurus,
Victor, Victorinus, Adjutor, Quartus, and thirty others.
At Mopsuestia, in Cilicia, St. Auxentius,
bishop, who, while he was a soldier under Licinius, preferred
to surrender his military insignia rather than to offer grapes to
Bacchus. Having been made bishop, he was renowned for merit, and
rested in peace.
At Tours, St. Gratian, consecrated
first bishop of that city by Pope St.
Fabrian. Celebrated for many miracles, he calmly went to his repose
in the Lord.
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
December 19th
This Day, the Nineteenth Day of December
At Alexandria, in Egypt, blessed Nemesius,
martyr, who was first denounced before the judge as a robber,
but on being freed from that charge, was soon after, in the
persecution of Decius, accused before the judge Emilian of being a
Christian. By him he was twice subjected to the torture, and
condemned to be burned alive with robbers, thus bearing a
resemblance to our Saviour, who was crucified with thieves.
At Nicaea, the Saints Darius, Zosimus, Paul,
and Secundus, martyrs.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Cyriacus,
Paulillus, Secundus, Anastasius, Sindimius, and their companions.
In Mauritania (Barbary), St. Timothy, deacon,
who, after enduring a painful imprisonment for the faith of Christ,
was cast into the fire, where he consummated his martyrdom.
At Gaza, in Palestine, the martyrdom of the
Saints Meuris and Thea.
At Avignon, blessed Urban V, who
deserved well of the Church by restoring the
Apostolic See to Rome, by bringing about a reunion of the
Latins and the Greeks, and by suppressing heretics. Pius IX.
approved and confirmed the veneration which had long been paid to
him.
At Auxerre, St. Gregory, bishop and confessor.
At Orleans, St. Adjutus, an abbot
renowned for the spirit of prophecy.
At Rome, St. Fausta, mother of St.
Anastasia, distinguished for noble birth and piety.
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
December 20th
This Day, the Twentieth Day of December
The vigil of St. Thomas, Apostle.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and
Bajulus.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno,
Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers, who, standing near
the tribunals, and seeing a Christian trembling under the torture
and almost on the point of apostatizing, endeavored to encourage him
by their looks and by signs, and when for this reason the whole
people raised an outcry against them, they rushed forward, and
declared themselves Christians. By their victory, Christ, who had
given to them such fortitude, triumphed most gloriously.
At Gelduba, St. Julius, martyr.
In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and
Macarius, priests. For reproving Julian the Apostate for his
impiety, they received a most severe scourging, were banished to a
vast desert, and finally were put to the sword.
At Antioch, the birthday of St. Philogonius,
bishop, who was called by the will of God from the practice
of law to the government of that church. With the saintly bishop
Alexander and other auxiliaries, he engaged the first combat for the
Catholic faith against Arius, and, being renowned for merits, rested
in the Lord. His festival wascommemorated by St. John Chrysostom
with an excellent panegyric.
At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor.
In Spain, the departure from this world of St.
Dominic de Sylos, abbot, of the Orderof St. Benedict, most
renowned for the miracles he wrought for the deliverance of
captives.
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
December 21st
This Day, the Twenty-First Day of December
At Calamina, the birthday of the blessed
Apostle Thomas, who preached the Gospel to the Parthians, the
Medes, the Persians and Hyrcanians. Having finally penetrated into
India, and instructed those nations in the Christian religion, he
died transpierced with lances by order of the king. His remains were
first taken to the city of Edessa and then to Ortona.
In Tuscany, the holy martyrs John and Festus.
In Lycia, St. Themistocles, martyr, who
under the emperor Decius, offered himself in the place of St.
Dioscorus, who was sought after to be killed, and being racked,
dragged about and beaten with rods, obtained the crown of martyrdom.
At Nicomedia, during the persecution of Diocletian,
St. Glycerins, a priest, who was
subjected to many torments, and finally completed his
martyrdom by being cast into the
flames.
At Antioch, St. Anastasius, bishop and martyr,
who was cruelly murdered by the Jews during the reign of Phocas.
At Treves, St. Severin, 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
December 22nd
This Day, the Twenty-Second Day of December
At Rome, between the two bay-trees on
the Lavican road, the birthday of thirty holy
martyrs, who were all on one day crowned with martyrdom, in
the persecution of Diocletian.
In the same city, St. Flavian, ex-prefect,
who, under Julian the Apostate, was condemned to be branded for
Christ, and banished to Aquae Taurinae, where he gave up his soul to
God in prayer.
At Ostia, the holy martyrs Demetrius,
Honoratus and Florus.
At Alexandria, the holy martyr Ischyrion.
Because he despised all the cruelties they made him suffer to force
him to sacrifice to idols, they transpierced his bowels with a
sharp-pointed stake, and thus put him to death.
In Egypt, the Saint Chaeremon, bishop
of Nilopolis, and many other martyrs.
Some of them fled whilst the persecution of Decius was raging, and
wandering in different directions through deserts, were killed by
wild beasts; others perished by famine, cold and sickness; others
again were murdered by barbarians and robbers, and thus all were
crowned with a glorious martyrdom.
At Nicomedia, St. Zeno, soldier, who
derided Diocletian for sacrificing to Ceres, wherefore he had his
jawbones fractured, his teeth plucked out and his head struck off.
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
December 23rd
This Day, the Twenty-Third Day of December
At Rome, the holy virgin Victoria, a martyr,
in the persecution of the emperor Decius. She had been promised in
marriage to a pagan named Eugene, but because she refused to marry
him and to offer sacrifice to idols, and because by working many
miracles, she
brought many virgins to the service of God, she was, at the request
of her betrothed, stabbed in the heart with a sword by the
executioner.
At Nicomedia, the birthday of
twenty holy martyrs, whom the
persecution of Diocletian made martyrs for the faith of Christ,
after subjecting them to the most painful torments.
In the same place, the Saints Migdonius and
Mardonius; one of whom was burned alive in
the same persecution, and the other died in a pit into which he had
been thrown. A deacon of St. Anthimus, bishop
of Nicomedia, suffered at the same time. He was arrested by
the Gentiles when carrying letters to the martyrs, and being
overwhelmed with stones, went to our Lord.
In Crete, the holy martyrs Theodulus,
Saturninus, Euporus, Gelasius, Eunician, Zeticus, Cleomenes,
Agathopus, Gelasius, and Evaristus, who were beheaded, after
suffering cruel torments, in the persecution of Decius.
At Rome, blessed Servulus, of whom St.
Gregory writes, that a paralytic from
his early years to the end of his life, he remained lying in a porch
near St. Clement's
Church, and being invited by the chant of angels, he went to enjoy
the glory of Paradise. At his tomb, frequent miracles are wrought by
Almighty God.
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
December 24th
This Day, the Twenty-Fourth Day of December
The vigil of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus
Christ.
At Antioch, during the persecution of Decius, the birthday of
forty holy virgins, who suffered
martyrdom by various kinds of torments.
At Spoleto, the holy priest Gregory. In
the time of the emperors Diocletian and Maximian, he was first
beaten with rough clubs, and then after being exposed on the
gridiron and imprisoned, was struck on the knees with iron carding
instruments, burned on the sides with firebrands, and finally
beheaded.
At Tripoli, the holy martyrs Lucian, Metrobius,
Paulus, Zenobius, Theotimus, and Drusus.
At Nicomedia, during the persecution of Diocletian,
St. Euthymius, martyr, who sent many
before him to martyrdom, and being pierced with a sword, followed
them to share their crown.
At Bordeaux, St. Delphinus, a bishop,
who was renowned for holiness, in the time of Theodosius.
In Poland, St. John Cantius, secular priest
and confessor, celebrated for his learning, his zeal in
propagating the faith, and for his virtues and miracles. His feast
is kept on the 20th of October.
At Rome, the birthday of the holy virgin
Tharsilla, aunt of Pope St. Gregory, who writes of her that
at the hour of her death she saw Jesus coming to her.
At Treves, St. Irmina, virgin, daughter
of king Dagobert.
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
December 25th
CHRISTMAS
This Day, the Twenty-Fifth Day of December
In the year, from the creation of the
world, when in the beginning God created Heaven and Earth, five,
thousand, one hundred and ninety-nine; from the flood, two thousand,
nine hundred and fifty-seven; from the birth of Abraham, two
thousand and fifteen; from Moses and the coming of the
Israelites out of Egypt, one thousand, five hundred and ten; from
the anointing of King David, one thousand and thirty-two; in the
sixty-fifth week, according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one
hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the year seven hundred and
fifty-two from the founding of
the city of Rome; in the forty-second year of the empire of Octavian
Augustus, when the whole earth was at peace, in the sixth age of the
world, Jesus Christ, eternal God, and Son of the eternal Father,
desirous to sanctify the world by His most merciful coming, having
been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and nine months having elapsed
since his conception, is born in Bethlehem of Juda, having become
man of the Virgin Mary.
THE NATIVITY OF
OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH
The same day, the birthday of St. Anastasia,
who, in the time of Diocletian, first suffered a severe and harsh
imprisonment on the part of her husband Publius, in which, however,
she was much consoled and encouraged by the confessor of Christ,
Chrysogonus. Afterwards she was thrown into- prison again by order
of Florus, prefect of Illyria; and finally, having her hands and
feet stretched out, she was tied to stakes, with a fire kindled
about her, in the midst of which she ended her martyrdom in the
island of Palmarola, whither she had been conveyed
with two hundred men and
seventy women, who have made martyrdom a glorious thing by
the various kinds of death they so courageously endured.
At Rome, in the cemetery of Apronian, St.
Eugenia, virgin. In the time of the emperor Gallienus, after
working many miracles and gathering to Christ troops of sacred
virgins, and after long combats under Nicetius, prefect of the city,
she was finally put to the sword.
At Nicomedia, many thousand martyrs,
who had assembled for divine service on our Lord's Nativity, when
the emperor Diocletian, ordering the doors of the Church to be
closed, and fire to be kindled here and there, as also a
vessel with incense to be put before the entrance, and a man to cry
out that those who wished to escape from the conflagration should
come out and burn incense to Jupiter, all with
one voice answered
that they preferred to die for Christ. They were consumed in
the fire, and thus merited to be born in Heaven on the day on which
Christ vouchsafed to be born on Earth for the salvation of the
world.
At Barcelona, in Spain, the birthday of St.
Peter Nolasco, confessor, and founder of the Order of
Mercedarians, renowned for virtue and miracles. His feast is
celebrated on the 31st of January, by order of Alexander VII.
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
December 26th
This Day, the Twenty-Sixth Day of December
At Jerusalem, the birthday of St.
Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned to death by the
Jews shortly after the Ascension of our Lord.
At Rome, St. Marinus, senator. In the
time of the emperor Numerian and the prefect Marcian, he was
arrested for the Christian religion, racked and torn with iron hooks
like a slave, then thrown into a burning pan; but being delivered
because the fire became like dew, he was exposed to the beasts
without being injured by them, and finally being led again to the
altar, the idols of which toppled over at his prayer, he was struck
with the sword, and thus obtained the triumph of martyrs.
Also, at Rome, on the Appian road, the decease of
Pope St. Denis, who sustained many
labors for the Church, and was renowned for his doctrinal writings.
In the same city, St. Zosirmus, Pope and
confessor.
In Mesopotamia, St. Archelaus, a
bishop celebrated for learning and
sanctity.
At Majuma, St. Zeno, bishop.
At Rome, St. Theodore, sacristan of St.
Peter's Church, who is mentioned by the blessed Pope Gregory.
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
December 27th
This Day, the Twenty-Seventh Day of December
At Ephesus, the birthday of St. John, Apostle
and Evangelist, who, after writing his Gospel, and after
enduring exile and writing the divine Apocalypse, lived till the
time of the emperor Trajan, and founded and governed the churches of
all Asia. Worn out with age, he died in the sixty-eighth year after
the passion of our Lord, and was buried near Ephesus.
At Alexandria, St. Maximus, bishop, who
became a renowned and distinguished confessor
of the faith.
At Constantinople, the holy confessors
Theodore and Theophanes, brothers, who were brought up from
their childhood in the monastery of St. Sabbas. Afterwards,
combating bravely for the worship of holy images against Leo the
Armenian, they were scourged by
his command and banished. After his death, they again firmly opposed
the emperor Theophilus, who was imbued with the same impiety, and
were scourged a second time and driven into exile, where Theodore
expired in prison. Theophanes, after peace had at
length been restored to the Church, was made bishop of Nicaea and
rested in the Lord.
In the same city, St. Niceras, virgin,
who was renowned for sanctity, in the time of the emperor Arcadius.
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
December 28th
This Day, the Twenty-Eighth Day of December
In Bethlehem, of Juda, the birthday of the
Holy Innocents, who were massacred for Christ by King
Herod.
At Ancyra, in Galatia, the holy martyrs
Eutychius, priest, and Domitian, deacon.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs
Castor, Victor and Rogatian.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Indes, eunuch,
Domna, Agapes and Theophila, virgins, and their companions,
who, after long combats, attained to the crown of martyrdom by
various kinds of death during the persecution of Diocletian.
At Neocaesarea, in Pontus, St. Troadius,
martyr, in the persecution of Decius. During his combat St.
Gregory Thaumaturgus appeared to him in spirit, and encouraged him
to undergo martyrdom.
At Arabissus, in Lower Armenia, St. Caesarius,
a martyr who suffered under Galerius Maximian.
At Lyons, in France, the birthday of St.
Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva, ranked among the saints
by Alexander VII, because of his most ardent zeal for the conversion
of heretics. His festival, by order of the same Pontiff, is kept on
the 29th of January, when his sacred body was translated from Lyons
to Annecy. Pius IX confirmed a decree of the Sacred Congregation of
Rites, declaring him Doctor of the universal Church.
At Rome, St. Domnion, priest.
In Egypt, St. Theodore, monk, disciple
of St. Pachomius.
In the monastery of Lerins, St. Anthony,
a monk 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
December 29th
This Day, the Twenty-Ninth Day of December
At Canterbury, in England, the birthday of St.
Thomas, bishop and martyr, who, for the defense of justice
and ecclesiastical immunities, was struck with the sword in his own
basilica by a faction of impious men, and thus went to Christ.
At Jerusalem, holy David, king and prophet.
At Aries, the birthday of St. Trophimus,
mentioned by St. Paul in his Epistle to Timothy. Being consecrated
bishop by that Apostle, he was the first sent to preach theGospel of
Christ in that city. From his preaching as from a fountain,
according to the expression of Pope St. Zosimus, all Gaul received
the waters of salvation.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Callistus, Felix and
Boniface.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Dominic, Victor,
Primian, Lybosus, Saturninus, Crescentius, Secundus and Honoratus.
At Vienne, in France, St. Crescens,
disciple of the blessed Apostle Paul, and first
bishop of that city.
At Constantinople, St. Marcellus, abbot.
In Normandy, St. Ebrulphus, abbot and
confessor, in the time of king Childebert.
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
December 30th
This Day, the Thirtieth Day of December
AT Spoleto, the birthday of the holy martyrs
Sabinus, bishop, Exuperantius and Marcellus, deacons; also of
Venustian, governor, with his wife and sons, under the
emperor Maximian. Marcellus and Exuperantius were first racked, then
severely beatenwith rods; afterwards being mangled with iron hooks,
and burned in the sides, they terminated their martyrdom. Not long
after, Venustian was put to the sword with his wife and sons. St.
Sabinus, after having his hands cut off, and being a long
timeconfined in prison, was scourged to death. The martyrdom of
these saints is commemorated on the same day, although it occurred
at different times.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Mansuetus,
Severus, Appian, Donatus, Honorius, and their companions.
At Thessalonica, St. Anysia, martyr.
In the same place, St. Anysius, bishop
of that city.
At Milan, St. Eugene, bishop and confessor.
At Ravenna, St. Liberius, bishop.
At Aquila, in Abruzzo, St. Rainerius, 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
December 31st
This Day, the Thirty-First Day of December
At Rome, the birthday of Pope St. Silvester,
who baptized the emperor Constantine the Great, and confirmed the
Council of Nicaea. After performing many other holy deeds, he
rested in peace.
Also, at Rome, on the Salarian road, in the cemetery of Priscilla,
the holy martyrs Donata, Paulina, Rustica,
Nominanda, Serotina, Hilaria and their companions.
At Sens, the blessed Sabinian, bishop, and
Potentian, who being sent thither by the Roman Pontiff to
preach, illustrated that metropolitan church by their confession and
martyrdom.
In the same place, St. Columba, virgin and
martyr, who after having triumphed over fire, was beheaded,
in the persecution of the emperor Aurelian.
At Retiers, St. Hermes, exorcist.
At Catania, in Sicily, the martyrdom of the
Saints Stephen, Pontian, Attains, Fabian, Cornelius, Sextus, Flos,
Quinctian, Minervinus and Simplician.
The same day, St. Zoticus, Roman priest,
who went to Constantinople, and took upon himself the care of
orphans.
At Ravenna, St. Parbatian, priest and
confessor.
The same day, St. Melania the Younger,
who withdrew from Rome with her husband Pinian, and went to
Jerusalem, where both embraced the religious life, she among the
women consecrated to God, and he among the monks, and ended their
career in peace.
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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