
Roman
Martyrology, Complete, February
Semen est sanguis Christianorum
(The blood of Christians is the seed of the Church) Tertullian, Apologeticum, 50
(The Notation P2V
preceding a name indicates that the Saint or Martyr was added after
1900
and prior to 1962 and the purging of Saints by Pope Paul VI
following the Second Vatican Council)
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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.
|
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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Deposit of Faith entrusted to the Holy See in Rome
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opera tua ... quia modicum habes virtutem, et servasti verbum
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know your works ... that you have but little power, and yet you
have kept My word, and have not denied My Name.”
(Apocalypse 3.8)
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