The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
SEPTEMBER
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 The First Day of September
In the province of Narbonne, St. Giles, abbot and confessor. The town which later grew up in this place where he built his monastery and where he died was named after him. (1) A feast of three lessons.
At Sentianum in Apulia, the suffering of St. Donatus and of another St. Felix, (2) who were the sons of SS. Boniface and Thecla. On this day, in the reign of the Emperor Maximian, they were sentenced by the judge Valerian to be beheaded, they already having undergone various tortures. Also on this day is observed the feast of the rest of the twelve holy brothers, whose birthdays are each noted in their proper places. The bodies of the twelve brothers were later transferred to Benevento and honorably enshrined there.
In Palestine, SS. Josue and Gideon.
At Jerusalem, Blessed Anna the Prophetess, whose holiness the Gospel, declares. (3)
At Capua on the Via Aquaria, St. Priscus, martyr, who was one of the first disciples of Christ.
At Todi in Umbria, St. Terentian, bishop and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, at the command of the proconsul Lactian, he was tortured by the rack and by scorpions. Finally, after his tongue had been cut out, he was condemned to death and so ended his martyrdom.
At Heraclea in Thrace, St. Ammon, deacon, and forty holy virgins whom he had instructed in the faith. At the time of the tyrant Licinius, he took them with him to the glory of martyrdom.
In Spain, the holy martyrs Vincent and Lactus.
In Populonia in Tuscany, St. Regulus, martyr. He came from Africa and gained martyrdom at Populonia at the time of Totila.
At Capua, St. Priscus, bishop. In the persecution by the Vandals he was one of these priests who were persecuted in various ways because of their Catholic faith. Put aboard an old ship, they made their way from Africa to the shores of Campania. Here they separated and went to different cities where they were placed in charged of various churches and so wonderfully spread the Christian faith. The companions of St. Priscus were Castrensis, whose birthday is recalled on February 11, Tammarus, Rosius, Heraclius, Secundinus, Adjutor, Mark, Augustus, Elpidius, Canion, and Vindonius.
At Sens, Blessed Lupus, bishop and confessor. It is said of him that one day, while he stood at the altar in the presence of his clergy, a jewel fell from heaven into his sacred chalice.
At Rheims in Gaul, St. Sixtus, who was the first bishop of that city.
At Le Mans in Gaul, St. Victorius, bishop.
At Aquino, St. Constantius, bishop, famed for the gift of prophecy and for his many virtues.
At Zurzach, in the territory of Constance, Germany, (4) St. Verena, virgin. +
The Second Day of September
St. Stephen, King of Hungary and confessor, who died in the Lord on August 15. A simplex feast.
At Rome, St. Maxima, martyr. Together with St. Ansanus, she confessed Christ in the persecution of Diocletian, and was beaten to death with clubs.
At Pamicrs in Gaul, St. Antoninus, martyr, whose relics are preserved with great veneration in a church in Palencia in Spain.
Also the holy martyrs Diomede, Julian, Philip, Eutychian, Hcsychius, Leonides, Philadelphus, Menalippus, and Pantagapa. Some of these completcd their martyrdom by fire, some by water, others by the sword or by the cross.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Zeno and his sons Concordius and Theodore.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Elpidius, bishop and confessor.
At Piccno (Italy), another St. Elpidius, abbot. A town which bears his name glories in the possession of his body. (5)
On Mount Soracte, St. Nonnosus, abbot, who moved a huge rock by his prayer and was famed for other miracles.
On the same day, the commemoration of the holy martyrs Evodius, Hermogenes, and Callista, brothers and sister, who underwent martyrdom at Syracuse, Sicily. They are also commemorated on April 25.
At Lyons in Gaul, the transferal of the relics of St. Justus, bishop and confessor, and of St. Viator who was his servant. Their birthdays occur respectively on October 14 and October 21.
The Third Day of September
At Bergamo (in Italy), Blessed Guala, confessor, of the Order of Preachers and Bishop of Brescia. After many exhausting labors for the good of the Church and of the state, he peacefully died in the Lord. A semi-duplex feast.
At Corinth, the birthday of St. Phoebe. The Apostle St. Paul mentions her in his Epistle to the Romans. (6)
At Capua, the holy martyrs Aristacus, bishop, and a boy Antoninus.
On the same day, the birthday of the holy martyrs Aigulph, Abbot of Lerins, and his companion monks. After their tongues and eyes had been cut out, they were beheaded by the sword.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Zeno and Chariton. One was cast into a vessel of molten lead and the other was thrown into the fire.
At Cordoba in Spain, St. Sandal, martyr.
At Aquileia, the holy virgins and martyrs Euphemia, Dorothy, Thecla, and Erasma. After enduring many tortures, they were put to the sword at the time of the Emperor Nero and the governor Sebastus. They were buried by St. Hermagoras.
At Nicomedia, the suffering of St. Basilissa, virgin and martyr. During the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, under the governor Alexander, St. Basilissa, although only nine years old, overcame by the power of God the flogging, the fire, and the wild beasts. By so doing, she converted the governor to the faith of Christ. Finally, while she was being led outside the city (for execution), she died while engaged in prayer.
At Toul in Gaul, St. Mansuetus, bishop and confessor.
At Milan, the death of St. Auxanus, bishop.
On the same day, St. Simon Stylites the Younger.
At Rome, the transferal of (the relics of) St. Scrapia, virgin and martyr, who suffered on July 29.
Likewise at Rome, the raising to the Sovereign Pontificate of the incomparable St. Gregory the Great. Constrained to assume that burden, from a loftier throne he shed upon the world even stronger rays of sanctity.
The Fourth Day of September
The Octave of St. Augustine, bishop. A memory.
In Piedmont (Italy), Blessed Catherine Racconigi, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Dominic. She was illustrious by reason of her extraordinary charity and abundance of divine gifts. A semi-duplex feast.
On Mount Nebo in the land of Moab, St. Moses, lawgiver and Prophet.
At Naples in Campania, the birthday of St. Candida, who was the first to meet St. Peter when he came to that city. She was baptized by him and afterwards died a holy death.
At Treves, St. Marcellus, bishop and martyr.
At Ancyra in Galatia, the birthday of the three holy children Rufinus, Silvanus, and Vitalicus, martyrs.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Magnus, Castus, and Maximus.
At Chalons in Gaul, St. Marcellus, martyr, at the time of the Emperor Antoninus. The saint was invited by the governor Priscus to an idolatrous banquet and, abhorring such sinful meats, boldly rebuked all who were present for worshipping idols. For this reason, the governor with unheard-of cruelty had him buried in the ground up to his waist. He remained so buried for three days, during which he persevered in giving praise to God; he then surrendered his undefiled soul to his God. A memory.
On the same day but under the Emperor Hadrian, St. Thamel, who had formerly been a priest of the pagan idols; with him suffered his companions.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Theodore, Oceanus, Ammian, and Julian. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, after their feet had been cut off, the martyrs completed their trial by being cast into the fire.
At Rome, St. Boniface I, pope and confessor.
At Rimini, St. Marinis, deacon.
At Palermo, the birthday of St. Rosalie, a virgin of Palermo. She came of the royal blood of Charlemagne, but for the love of Christ she fled from the court and kingdom of her father and led a supernatural life alone on the mountains and in caves.
At Viterbo, during the pontificate of Alexander IV, the transferal of the body of St. Rose, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Francis. +
The Fifth Day of September
St. Laurence Giustiniani, the first Patriarch of Venice and confessor, who on this day unwillingly ascended the pontifical throne. He died in the Lord on January 8.
In the suburbs of Rome, Blessed Victorinus, bishop and martyr. Noted for his holiness and miracles, he was elected Bishop of Amiterno by the unanimous choice of the people. Later, under Nerva Trajan, he was banished with other servants of God to Contigliano. Here, the judge Aurelian ordered him to be suspended with his head downward over fctid sulphur springs. For the sake of the Lord, Victorinus endured this torture for three days and then left this world in triumph, with a glorious crown. The Christians recovered his body and gave it honorable burial at Amiterno, in the land of the Vestinians.
At Constantinople, the holy martyrs Urban, Theodore, Mencdemus, and their seventy-seven companions of ecclesiastical rank. Because of their Catholic faith, they were placed by the Emperor Valens on board a ship and ordered to be burned at sea.
At Portus Romanus, the birthday of St. Herculancus, soldier, who was scourged and beheaded in the reign of the Emperor Gallus because of his Christian faith.
At Capua, the holy martyrs Quinctius, Arcontius, and Donatus.
On the same day, St. Romulus, who was an official of the court of Trajan. The saint denounced the cruelty of the Emperor toward the Christians; for this, he was beaten with rods and then beheaded.
At Mebtine in Armenia, the suffering of the holy soldiers Eudoxius, Zeno, Macarius, and eleven hundred and four of their fellow-soldiers. They flung aside their military insignia in Diocletian's persecution and were slain for confessing Christ.
In the district of Therouanne, at the monastery of Sithiu, in Gaul, St. Bertinus, abbot.
At Toledo in Spain, St. Obdulia, virgin. + An Anniversary.
The Sixth Day of September
In the town of Bosquet, in the Diocese of Valence in southern Gaul Blessed Bertrand of Garriga, confessor, of the Order of Preachers He was distinguished by the remarkable way in which he reflected in his own life the virtues of St. Dominic. After his death, he became renowned for his miracles. A semi-duplex feast.
In Palestine, St. Zachary the Prophet. When he was an old man, he returned from Chaldea to his native land and, dying there, was buried near the Prophet Aggaeus.
In the Hellespont, St. Onesiphorus, a disciple of the Apostles, whom St. Paul mentions in his Epistle to Timothy. (7) At the command of Hadrian the proconsul, Onesiphorus, together with St. Porphyrius, was severely scourged and then dragged by wild horses until he died.
In Africa, the holy Bishops Donatian, Praesidius, Mansuetus, Germanus, and Fusculus. For defending Catholic doctrine during the Vandal persecution, they were mercilessly beaten with clubs at the command of the Arian king, Hunneric. Then driven into exile (in the desert), they all perished. Among them was a bishop named Lactus, a zealous and learned man, who, after enduring for a long time the filth of a dungeon, was burned alive.
At Alexandria, the suffering of the holy martyrs Faustus, priest, Macarius, and ten others, who, in the time of the Emperor Decius and the governor Valerius, fulfilled their martyrdom for the name of Christ by being beheaded.
In Cappadocia, the holy martyrs Cottidus, deacon, Eugene, and their companions.
At Verona, St. Petronius, bishop and confessor.
At Rome, St. Eleutherius, abbot. This servant of God, as Pope St. Gregory relates, was instrumental by his prayers and tears in raising a dead man to life.
The Seventh Day of September
At Troyes in Gaul, St. Nemorius, deacon, and his companions, martyrs, whom Attila, King of the Huns, put to death.
In Nicomedia, the birthday of Blessed John, martyr. When he saw displayed in the forum the cruel edicts against the Christians, he was fired with zeal for the faith, and pulling down the edicts, tore them up with his own hands. When this was reported to the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian who were residing in that city, they commanded that every variety of torture should be infficted on him. This noble man endured them with such readiness of demeanor and spirit that they did not appear to disturb him.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Eupsychius, martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, he was accused of being a Christian and was cast into prison, but after a short time was set free. Without delay, he sold his inheritance and distributed part of it to the poor; the rest he gave to those who had accused him, as if they were his benefactors. Arrested for a second time, he firmly refused to sacrifice to the idols, and he was mercilessly tortured by the judge Sapritius. He finished his martyrdom when he was pierced through with a sword.
At Pompeiopolis in Cilicia, St. Sozen, martyr. During the reign of the, Emperor Maximian, he was thrown into the fire and so died.
At Aquileia, St. Anastasius, martyr.
At Alesia in the territory of Autun, St. Regina, virgin and martyr. At the time of the proconsul Olybrius, she endured tortures by imprisonment, the rack, and flaming torches. At last, sentenced to death, she went to her heavenly Spouse.
At Orleans in Gaul, the death of St. Evortius, bishop. He was at first a subdeacon of the Roman Church; later, he was divinely designated by means of a dove as bishop of Orleans.
In Gaul, St. Augustalis, bishop and confessor.
At Capua, St. Pamphilius, bishop.
In the neighborhood of Paris, St. Cloud, priest and confessor.
The Eighth Day of September
The Nativity of the Most Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, Mother of God.
A totum duplex feast of the second class.
St. Hadrian, martyr, whose birthday is remembered on March 4; his festival however, is observed today, because on this day his sacred body was transferred to Rome.
At Valencia in Spain, the birthday of St. Thomas of Villanova, bishop and confessor, of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. He was noted for his ardent charity toward the poor. Pope Alexander VII inscribed him among the saints. His feast is observed on the twenty-second day of this month.
At Alexandria, SS. Ammon, Theophilus, Neoterius, and twenty-two other martyrs.
At Antioch, SS. Timothy and Faustus, martyrs.
At Gaza in Palestine, the holy martyrs Eusebius, Nestabus, and Zeno, brothers. At the time of Julian the Apostate, a pagan mob rushed upon them and killed them by tearing them to pieces.
At the same place and under the same Julian, St. Nestor, martyr. He died after having been savagely tortured by the same group of enraged pagans.
At Rome, St. Sergius I, pope and confessor.
At Freising (in Germany), St. Corbinian, the first bishop of that city. He was ordained by Pope St. Gregory II and sent there to preach the Gospel. After his words had brought abundant fruit in Gaul and Germany, he died a peaceful death, noted for his virtues and miracles.
At Cartagena in South America, St. Peter Claver, priest and confessor of the Society of Jesus. For more than forty years, he devoted himself to a life of remarkable self-denial and extraordinary charity for the Negroes who had been enslaved. With his own hand he baptized almost three hundred thousand of them. The Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, added him to the list of saints and later declared him to be the heavenly patron of the missions to the Negro races.
The Ninth Day of September
At Nicomedia, the suffering of the holy martyrs Dorotheus and Gorgonius. They had received the greatest honors from the Emperor Diocletian, but when in his presence they denounced the persecution he was inflicting on the Christians, they were first condemned to be hung up and their entire bodies torn with lashes; after the skin had been torn from their bodies, vinegar and salt were poured on them and they were roasted on a gridiron. Finally, they were put to death by being strangled with a noose. Some time later, the body of Blessed Gorgonius was taken to Rome and buried on the Via Latina; from here, it was removed to the Basilica of St. Peter. A feast of three lessons.
In the Sabine mountains, at the thirtieth milestone from Rome, the holy martyrs Hyacinth, Alexander, and Tiburdus.
At Sebaste in Armenia, St. Sevcrian. Though he was a soldier of the Emperor Licinius, he frequently visited the forty martyrs while they were in prison. Because of this, by orders of the governor Lysias, he was hung up with a large rock fastened to his feet; then he was flogged. He was torn by the whips to such an extent that he died during the torture.
On the same day, the suffering of St. Strato, who underwent martyrdom for Christ by being tied to two trees and torn asunder.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Rufinus and Rufinian, brothers.
In the country of Therouanne in Gaul, St. Omer, bishop.
In the monastery of Clonmacnois in Ireland, St. Kiernan, priest and abbot. +
The Tenth Day of September
In Japan, Blessed Alphonsus Navarette, and two hundred and four companions, (martyrs). More than half of that number belonged to the Order of Preachers. From 1617 until 1632, they strove energetically for the faith and merited to be crowned with a glorious Martyrdom. A duplex feast.
At Tolentino in Ascoli Piccno (Italy), St. Nicholas, confessor of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine. A memory.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy Bishops Nemesian, Felix, Lucius, another Felix, Litteus, Polyanus, Victor, Jader, Dativus, and others. In the furious persecution under Valerian and Gailienus, at their first firm confession of Christ, they were severely beaten with clubs. Then, loaded with chains, they were sent to the mines, where they finished their splendid contest in behalf of the faith.
At Liege in Belgium, St. Theodard, bishop and martyr. He laid down his life for his sheep and after death he became renowned for miracles.
At Chalcedon, the holy martyrs Sosthenes and Victor. In the persecution of Diocletian, under Priscus proconsul of Asia, these martyrs were chained and exposed to wild beasts. Surviving this ordeal, they were condemned to be burned alive. They saluted one another with a holy kiss and, kneeling in prayer, gave up their souls to God.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Apellius, Luke, and Clement.
In Bithynia, the holy virgins Menodora, Metrodora, and Nyniphadora, sisters. At the time of the Emperor Maximian and the governor Fronto they were crowned with martyrdom, attaining the glory by their fearless confession of faith.
At Compostella, St. Peter, bishop, who was adorned with many virtues and noted for miracles.
At Albi in Gaul, St. Salvius, bishop and confessor.
At Novara (in Italy), St. Agapius, bishop.
At Constantinople, the Empress St. Pulcheria, virgin, who was, famed for her religion and piety.
At Naples in Campania, St. Candida the Younger, noted for her miracles.
The Eleventh Day of September
At Rome, on the old Via Salaria, in the cemetery of Basilla, the birthday of the holy martyrs Protus and Hyacinth, brothers. They were eunuchs who belonged to St. Eugenia. During the reign of the Emperor Gallienus, they were arrested on the charge of being Christians and ordered to offer sacrifice. Upon their refusal, they first were beaten inhumanly and then beheaded. A feast of three lessons.
At Leon in Spain, St. Vincent, abbot and martyr.
At Laodicea in Syria, the suffering of SS. Diodorus, Diomede, and Didymus.
In Egypt, St. Paphnutius, bishop. At the time of the Emperor Gallienus, he was one of those confessors who, after having the right eye dug out (with a dagger) and the tendons of the left knee severed, was condemned to work in the mines. Later, (freed) under Constantine the Great, he strenuously defended the Catholic faith against the Arians. At last, enriched by many crowns, he went to his eternal rest.
At Lyons in Gaul, the death of St. Patiens, bishop.
At Vercelli, St. Aemilian, bishop.
At Alexandria, St. Theodora, (penitent). Through recklessness, she fell into sin; then, repenting of her deed, she persevered incognito in the religious life in wonderful self-denial and long-suffering until her death.
The Twelfth Day of September
The feast of the Most Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Sovereign Pontiff, Innocent XI, commanded this feast to be celebrated because of the brilliant victory obtained over the Turks at Vienna in Austria by the help of the Blessed Virgin. A totum duplex feast.
In Bithynia, St. Autonomus, bishop and martyr. He went there from Italy to avoid the persecution of Diocletian. After he had converted a great many people to the faith, one day while he was celebrating Mass, he was slain at the altar by enraged pagans, and thus became a sacrifice of Christ.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, St. Curonotus, bishop. He was beheaded at the time of the governor Perennius, thus receiving the palm of martyrdom.
At Alexandria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Hieronides, Leontius, Serapion, Silesius, Valerian, and Strato. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, they were drowned in the sea for confessing the name of Christ.
At Meri in Phrygia, the holy martyrs Macedonius, Theodulus, and Tatian. At the time of Julian the Apostate, they underwent various torments at the hands of the governor Almachius, and then were placed on red-hot gridirons. Still rejoicing, they completed their martyrdom.
At Pavia, St. Juventius, bishop, of whom mention is made on February 8. St. Hermagores, a disciple of St. Mark the Evangelist, sent Juventius to Pavia along with the St. Syrus mentioned on December 9. Both these (missionaries) preached the Gospel of Christ at Pavia and distinguished themselves by their miracles and their great virtues. By their admirable deeds, they brought the faith even to the neighboring cities. Thus, with an honor befitting their pontifical dignity, their lives came to a glorious close.
At Lyons in Gaul, the death of St. Sacerdos, bishop. At Verona, St. Silvinus, bishop. At Anderlecht near Brussels in Brabant, St. Guy, confessor. +
The Thirteenth Day of September
At Alexandria, the birthday of Blessed Philip, the father of the virgin St. Eugenia. He resigned the office of prefect of Egypt and received the grace of Baptism. His successor, the prefect Terence, had Philip's throat cut with a sword while he was occupied in prayer.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Macrobius and Julian, who suffered under Licinius.
On the same day, St. Ligorius, martyr. He lived in the desert and was slain by the heathens for the faith of Christ.
At Alexandria, St. Eulogius, bishop, celebrated for his learning and holiness.
At Angers in Gaul, St. Maurilius, bishop, who was famed for innumerable miracles.
At Sens, St. Amatus, bishop and confessor.
In the monastery of Remiremont in Gaul, St. Amatus, priest and abbot, He was illustrious for the virtue of self-denial and the grace of miracles.
On the same day, St. Venerius, confessor, a man of admirable holiness, who lived the life of a hermit on the island of Palmaria.
The Fourteenth Day of September
The Exaltation of the Holy Cross, at the time when the Emperor Heraclius brought it back from Persia to Jerusalem after he had defeated King Chosroes. A totum duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Appian Way, the Blessed Cornelius, pope and martyr. In the persecution of Decius, he was first exiled; then he was beaten with leaden-tipped whips. He was beheaded with twenty-one other persons of both sexes. Also, Caerealis, soldier, with his wife Sallustia, whom the said Cornelius had instructed in the faith; both husband and wife were beheaded on the same day.
In Africa, the suffering of St. Cypian, Bishop of Carthage, a man most renowned for holiness and learning. During the reign of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, he suffered from a harsh exile and then completed his martyrdom by being beheaded on the seashore, at the sixth milestone from Carthage. The memory of these two saints, Cornelius and Cyprian, is kept on September 16.
At Comanq in Pontus, the birthday of St. John, Bishop of Constantinople, confessor and Doctor of the Church. He was surnamed Chrysostom by reason of the golden stream of his eloquence. He was driven into exile by the machinations of his enemies, but was recalled by a decree of the Sovereign Pontiff, St. Innocent I. However, he suffered on the journey so much ill-treatment from the soldiers of his escort that he died. His feast is observed on January 27, the day on which his holy body was transferred to Constantinople by Theodosius the Younger. Pope Pius X declared and appointed this most glorious preacher of the divine Word to be the heavenly patron of all preachers of sacred truth.
At Treves, St. Maternus, bishop, a disciple of the Apostle St. Peter. He converted the inhabitants of Tongres, Cologne, Treves, and of other adjacent regions, to the faith of Christ.
At Rome, St. Crescentius, a boy, who was the son of St. Euthymius. In the persecution of Diocletian, under the judge Turpilius, he was put to death by the sword on the Via Salaria.
In Africa, the suffering of the holy martyrs Crescentian, Victor, Rosula, and Generalis.
The Fifteenth Day of September
The Octave of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. A memory.
The feast of the Seven Dolours of the same Most Blessed Virgin Mary. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome on the Via Nomentana, the birthday of St. Nicomedes, priest and martyr. Upon his reply to those who sought to make him offer sacrifice: "I offer no sacrifice except to the Almighty God who reigns in Heaven," he was flogged with leaden-tipped whips until he expired. A memory.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy martyrs Emilias, deacon, and Jeremias. During the persecution by the Arabs, they suffered a long imprisonment for the sake of Christ and completed their martyrdom by being beheaded.
In the country of Chalons, the holy martyr Valerian. The governor Priscus ordered him to be hung up and severely mangled by iron claws. When he saw that Valerian could not be shaken in his confession of Christ, but continued to praise the Lord with a joyful heart, he commanded him to be slain by the sword.
At Adrianople in Thrace, the holy martyrs Maximus, Theodore, and Asclepiodotus, who were crowned in the time of the Emperor Maximian.
Likewise, St. Porphyrus, a comedian. In the presence of the Emperor Julian the Apostate, he was being baptized in mockery. Suddenly, through the grace of God, he declared himself to be a Christian. At the command of the Emperor, he was beheaded, thus gaining his crown of martyrdom.
On the same day, St. Nicetas the Goth, whom King Athanaric ordered to be burned alive because of his Catholic faith.
At Marcianopolis in Thrace, St. Melitina, martyr. In the time of the Emperor Antoninus and the governor Antiochus, she was taken again and again to the temple; but every time the idols toppled over in her presence. She was therefore hung up and her body mangled. At last, her head was struck off.
At Toul in Gaul, St. Aper, bishop.
Also, St. Leobinus, Bishop of Chartres.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Albinus, bishop.
On the same day, the death of St. Aichard, abbot.
In Gaul, St. Eutropia, widow.
At Genoa, St. Catherine, widow, famous for her contempt of the world and her love of God. +
The Sixteenth Day of September
The holy martyrs Pope Cornelius, and Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage, whose memory is recalled on September 14. A simplex feast.
At Chalcedon, the birthday of St. Euphemia, virgin and martyr. At the time of the Emperor Diocletian and the proconsul Priscus, she endured for the sake of Christ various tortures: imprisonment, blows, the punishmcnt of the wheel, fire, the weight of heavy stones, wild beasts, floggings, sharp saws, and red-hot metal. When she was again brought back to the arena to be cast to the wild beasts, she prayed that (this time) God would take her soul to Him. Then, while most of the beasts licked her feet, one animal killed her. Thus she surrendered her unspotted soul to God. A memory.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Lucy, a noble matron, and Geminianus. In the reign of Diocletian the Emperor, their bodies were afflicted and twisted by the most urunerciful tortures. Finally, they were beheaded, after their praiseworthy victory of testimony for the faith.
The birthday of St. Martin I, pope and martyr. He summoned a council at Rome and condemned the heretics Sergius, Paul, and Pyrrhus. By order of the heretical Emperor Constantius, he was taken prisoner by trickery and brought to Constantinople. He was exiled to the Chersonese, where, adorned with many virtues, he died exhausted by his labors for the Catholic faith. He was famed for his many miracles. Iater, his body was taken back to Rome and buried in the church of SS. Silvestcr and Martin. His feast is celebrated on November 12.
Also at Rome, the birthday of St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr. She converted her husband and his brother Tiburdus to the faith of Christ and later encouraged them to be martyrs. After their martydom, Almachius the prefect of the city had her arrested and, after she had endured amazing suffering and passed through fire unscathed, was slain by the sword. This occurred in the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander. Her feast is observed on November22.
At Heraclea in Thrace, St. Sebastiana, martyr. She had been converted to the faith of Christ by the Apostle St. Paul. At the time of the Emperor Domitian and the governor Sergius, her faith was tested in many ways; finally, she was killed by the sword.
At Rome on the Via Flaminia, the holy martyrs Abundius, priest, and the deacon Abundantius. The Emperor Diocletian ordered them to be slain with the sword, at the tenth milestone from the city. With them died Marcian, an illustrious man, and his son John; both had been raised from the dead by Abundius and Abundantius.
At Cordoba in Spain, SS. Rogellus and Servideus, martyrs. Their hands and feet were cut off, and they were beheaded.
At Whithorn in Scotland, St. Ninian, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Edith, the virgin daughter of the English King Edgar. She was dedicated to God in a monastery from her earliest years; hence it may be said that she did not forsake the world but rather that she never knew the world.
At Monte Cassino, the Blessed Pope Victor III. As the successor of Pope St. Gregory VII, he shed fresh lustre on the Apostolic See, and by the help of God gained a famous victory over the Saracens. The Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, ratified and confirmed the cult accorded him from time immemorial.
The Seventeenth Day of September
On Mount Alvernia in Etruria, the commemoration of the Imprinting of the Sacred Stigmata, which God by a wonderful grace made in the hands, feet, and side of St. Francis, the founder of the Order of Friars Minor. A duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Via Tiburtina, the birthday of St. Justin, priest and martyr. He was famous for his glorious confession during the persecution of Valerian and Gallienus. He buried the bodies of Pope St. Sixtus II, Laurence, Hippolytus, and many other saints. Finally, he himself was martyred under Claudius.
Also at Rome, the holy martyrs Narcissus and Crescentio.
At Liege in Belgium, Blessed Lambert, Bishop of Maastricht. In his zeal for religion, he rebuked the royal family. Without just cause, he was slain by evil men and so entered the court of the heavenly kingdom as a victor forever. A memory.
At Saragossa in Spain, St. Peter de Arbues, the first inquisitor of the faith in the kingdom of Aragon. Some relapsed Jews brutally killed him because of the Catholic faith which he had zealously protected by virtue of his office. Pope Pius IX added him to the list of martyr saints.
In Britain, the holy martyrs Socrates and Stephen.
At Noyon in Gaul, the holy martyrs Valerian, Marinus, and Gordian.
At Autun, St. Flocellus, a boy. At the time of the Emperor Antoninus and the governor Valerian, he endured many tortures. Finally, torn to pieces by wild beasts, he gained the crown of martyrdom.
At Cordoba in Spain, St. Colomba, virgin and martyr.
In Phrygia, St. Ariadne, martyr, in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian.
On the same day, St. Agathoclia, (martyr). She was the servant-girl of a certain pagan woman, who for a long period subjected the girl to blows and other sufferings to make her deny Christ. Finally, she handed her over to a magistrate. Although the girl was savagely mangled she persevered in her confession of the faith; then her tongue was cut out and she was flung into the flames.
At Milan, the death of St. Satyrus, confessor, whose outstanding merits have been commemorated by his brother, St. Ambrose.
At Bingen in the diocese of Mainz, St. Hildegard, virgin.
At Rome, St. Theodora, matron, who zealously ministered to the holy martyrs in the persecution of Diocletian. +
The Eighteenth Day of September
At Lima in South America, the Spaniard Blessed John Massias. Rejecting all worldly things, he became a lay-brother in the Order of Preachers. He was distinguished by the marvellous humility, patience, and integrity of his life, and he became famous for his miracles. A duplex feast.
At Osimo in Piceno, St. Joseph of Cupertino, confessor. He was a priest of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual. Pope Clement XIII enrolled him among the number of the saints.
At Chalcis in Greece, the birthday of St. Methodius (martyr). He was first Bishop of Olympus in Lycia and later Bishop of Tyre in Phoenicia. He was most renowned for the eloquence of his preaching and for his, learning. He was crowned with martyrdom, as St. Jerome states, at the very end of the last persecution.
In the country of Vienne (Gaul), St. Ferrcolus, martyr, who had the rank of tribune. He was arrested at the instance of the wicked governor Crispin. First, he was mercilessly beaten; then, weighed down with the heavy load of many chains, he was thrust into a prison devoid of light. Through a miracle, the chains fell off and the prison gate opened. Ferreolus escaped but he was captured again by his pursuers. He gained the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded.
Also, the holy martyrs, Sophia and Irene.
At Milan, St. Eustorgius I, bishop of that city. He was made famous by the testimony of St. Ambrose (in his behalf).
At Gortyna in Crete, St. Eumenius, bishop and confessor.
The Nineteenth Day of September
At Pozzuoli in Campania (Italy), the holy martyrs Januarius, Bishop of the city of Benevento, Festus his deacon; Desiderius, lector, Sosius, a deacon of the church of Miseno, Proculus, a deacon of Pozzuoli, Eutychius, and Acutius. All these were chained, imprisoned, and then beheaded, in the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. The body of St. Januarius was taken to Naples and honorably buried in the church. Here, the blood of the blessed martyr is still kept in a glass vessel, and when placed near his head is seen to liquefy and bubble up as if just shed. A duplex feast.
In Palestine, in the persecution of Diocletian, the holy martyrs Peleus, Nilus, and Elias, Bishops of Egypt. These, along with many others of the clergy, were burned to death for Christ.
At Nocera, the birthday of the holy martyrs Felix and Constantia, who suffered under Nero.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Trophimus, Sabbatius, and Dorymedon, in the reign of the Emperor Probus. By command of the governor Atticus at Antioch, Sabbatius was flogged so long that he died, but Trophimus was sent to the governor Perennius at Synnada. There, after many tortures, he gained martyrdom by being beheaded. With him was beheaded the senator, Dorymedon.
At Eleutheropolis in Palestine, St. Susanna, virgin and martyr. She was the daughter of Arthemius) a pagan priest, and of Martha, a Jewish woman. After the death of her parents, she was converted to the Christian faith. For this reason, she was tortured in various ways and cast into prison by the prefect Alexander. There she died while engaged in prayer.
At Cordoba in Spain, St. Pomposa, virgin and martyr. In the Arab persecution, because of her fearless confession of Christ, she was beheaded and so obtained the palm of martyrdom.
At Canterbury, St. Theodore, bishop. He was sent into England by Pope Vitalian, and was distinguished for his learning and holiness.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Eustochius, bishop, a man of great virtue. In the country of Langres, St. Sequanus, priest and confessor. At Barcelona in Spain, blessed Mary of Cervellione, virgin, of the Order of our Lady of Ransom for the redemption of captives. By reason of her prompt help to them that invoke her, she is commonly called Mary of Help.
The Twentieth Day of September
The Vigil of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.
At Cordoba in Spain, Blessed Francis Possadas (of the Order of Preachers). He was distinguished to an extraordinary degree by his apostolic preaching, his hearing of confessions, the austerity and innocence of his life. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the suffering of the holy martyrs Eustace, Theopistis his wife, and their two sons Agapitus and Theopistus. They were condemned to the beasts at the time of the Emperor Hadrian, but miraculously were not hurt by them. They were then enclosed in a red-hot brazen bull and so completed their martyrdom.
At Cyzicus in Propontis, the birthday of the holy martyrs Fausta, virgin, and Evilasius, in the reign of the Emperor Maximian. Evilasius was then a priest in the service of idols; he had Fausta's head shaved so that he might shame her. Then she was hung up and tortured. But when he wished to have her cut in two, the executioners were not able to harm her. Astounded by this, Evilasius became a Christian; then he too was severely tortured by order of the Emperor. Fausta had her head bored through and her whole body transfixed with spikes; she was then placed on a red-hot metal pan. At last, summoned by a voice from heaven, Fausta with Evilasius passed from earth to heaven.
In Phrygia, the holy martyrs Dionysius and Privatus.
Likewise, St. Priscus, martyr, who was repeatedly stabbed with daggers and then beheaded.
At Perga in Pamphyfia, SS. Theodore, Philippa his mother, and their fellow-martyrs, in the reign of the Emperor Antoninus.
At Carthage, St. Candida, virgin and martyr. In the persecution of Diocletian, she gained martyrdom when her entire body had been ripped to shreds by blows.
At Milan, St. Clicerius, bishop and confessor.
At Rome, the removal of the body of St. Agapitus I, pope and confessor, from the city of Constantinople where he had died on April 22.
The Twenty-first Day of September
In Ethiopia, the birthday of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, who suffered martyrdom while preaching in that country. In the reign of the Emperor Zeno, the Gospel written by St. Matthew in the Hebrew tongue was found by his own revelation, together with the body of St. Barnabas, the Apostle. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
In the land of Saar, St. Jonas the Prophet, who was buried in Goth.
In Ethiopia, St. Iphigenia, virgin. She was baptized and consecrated to God by the Apostle St. Matthew. She ended her days in holiness.
At Rome, St. Pamphilus, martyr.
On the same day, on the Via Claudia, at the twentieth milestone from Rome, the suffering of St. Alexander, bishop. In the time of the Emperor Antoninus, he overcame for Christ chains, clubs, the rack, burning torches, tearing with hooks, beasts, and the flames of furnaces. At last, he was put to the sword and thus gained a glorious life. Pope St. Damasus later removed the body into the city on November 26.
In Cyprus, St. Isacius, bishop and martyr.
In Phoenicia, St. Eusebius, martyr. Of his own accord, he presented himself to the prefect and declared he was a Christian. He was subjected to numerous torments and then beheaded.
In Cyprus, St. Meletius, bishop and confessor. +
The Twenty-second Day of September
At Sitten in Gaul, at Saint-Maurice, the holy Theban martyrs Maurice, Exuperius, Candidus, Victor, Innocent, and Vitalis, with their companions of the same Legion. In the reign of Maximian, they were slain for Christ, thus enlightening the world by their martyrdom. A feast of three lessons.
St. Thomas of Villanova, confessor, of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, (Arch)bishop of Valencia. His birthday is remembered on September 8.
At Rome, the suffering of the holy virgins and martyrs Digna and Emerita, in the reign of Valerian and Gallienus. Their relics are preserved in the church of St. Marcellus.
At Ratisbon in Bavaria, St. Emmeram, bishop and martyr, who patiendy suffered a most cruel death for Christ that he might set others free.
At Arpajon (in Gaul), St. Jonas, priest and martyr, who went to Gaul with St. Dionysius. By command of the prefect Julian, he was flogged and then gained martyrdom by being put to the sword.
At Antinopolis in Egypt, St. Irais, a virgin of Alexandria and her companion martyrs. They were on their way to draw water from a fountain when they saw a ship laden with (prisoners, all) confessors of Christ. Casting aside her water-jar, she joined them and was taken with them into the city. She was the first of all to be beheaded, but only after she had undergone many tortures. Then the rest, priests, deacons, and virgins, were put to the same kind of death.
At Rome, Pope St. Felix IV, who labored much for the Catholic faith. At the city of Meaux, Blessed Sanctinus, bishop. He was a disciple of St. Dionysius the Areopagite, by whom he was consecrated bishop of that city and he was the first to preach the Gospel there.
In the country of Coutance in Gaul, St. Lauto, bishop.
On Mount Glonne near the Loire river in Gaul, St. Florentius, priest. At Levroux in the territory of Bourges, St. Silvanus, confessor.
At Laon in Gaul, St. Salaberga, abbess. +
The Twenty-third Day of September
At Pesaro (in Italy), Blessed Mark of Modena, a confessor of our Order. He was remarkable for the sanctity of his life. Fired by zeal for the salvation of souls, he travelled over nearly all of Italy, preaching the Word of God and converting many to a Christian manner of life. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Linus, pope and martyr. After the Apostle St. Peter, he was the first to govern the Roman Church. He gained the crown of martyrdom and was buried in the Vatican near the same Apostle.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, St. Thecla, virgin and martyr. She was converted to the faith by St. Paul. In the persecution of the Emperor Nero, she conquered the fire and the wild beasts in her confession of Christ. After numerous trials which she overcame for the instruction of many, she (escaped and) came to Seleucia; it was here that she died a peaceful death. The holy Fathers of the Church highly extolled her.
In Spain, the holy women Xantippe and Polyxena, who were disciples of the Apostles.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Anthony.
At Ancona, St. Constantius, sacristan of the church, who was remarkable for the gift of miracles.
In Campania, the commemoration of blessed Sosius, a deacon of Miseno. The holy Bishop Januarius saw a flame rise from the head of Sosius as he was reading the Gospel, and he prophesied that the deacon would soon be a martyr. Not many days after, Sosius, then about thirty years old, was martyred by being beheaded, together with St. Januarius.
At Scicy in the territory of Coutances in Gaul, the commemoration of St. Paternus, confessor and Bishop of Avranches. His birthday is mentioncd on April 16.
The Twenty-fourth Day of September
The feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Ransom, called under this name the foundress of the Order for the redemption of captives. The apparition of the same Blessed Virgin occurred on August 10. A totum duplex feast.
At Brescia, the death of St. Anathalon, bishop. He was a disciple of the Apostle St. Barnabas, and succeeded him as Bishop of the Church of Milan.
In Hungary, St. Gerard, Bishop of Csanad and martyr. He is called the Apostle of Hungary. By birth, he was a patrician of Venice. While on a journey from Csanad to Szekesfehervav, he was attacked by pagans near the Danube, stoned and then pierced with a lance. Thus, he was the first who adorned his (adopted) fatherland by a noble martyrdom.
At Autun, the birthday of the holy martyrs Androchius, priest, Thyrsus, deacon, and Felix. They were sent by St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, from the East to preach the Gospel in Gaul. There, they were scourged most severely; then, with their hands (twisted) behind them, they were hung up (by the wrists) all day long. Next, they were cast into the fire, but since they were not burned their necks were broken by heavy iron bars, and thus they were most gloriously crowned.
In Egypt, the suffering of SS. Paphnutius and his fellow-martyrs. He was dwelling in the wilderness when he learned that many Christians were being kept in chains. Aroused by the spirit of God, he offered himself of his own will to the perfect and freely confessed the Christian religion. He was first bound with iron chains and then tortured for a long time on the rack. Then, together with many others, he was sent to Diocletian, by whose command he was nailed to a palm tree. The rest of the Christians were slain by the sword.
At Chalcedon, forty-nine holy martyrs. In the reign of Diocletian, after the execution of St. Euphemia, they were condemned to the beasts. As they were miraculously delivered from them, they were at last slain by the sword, and thus passed to heaven.
At Auvergne in Gaul, the death of St. Rusticus, bishop and confessor.
At Flay in the territory of Beauvais, St. Getmar, abbot.
At San Severino in Piceno, the death of St. Pacificus, priest and confessor of the Order of Friars Minor of St. Francis of Reformed Observance. Illustrious for his wonderful patience and love of solitude, he was placed in the canon of the saints by Pope Gregory XVI. +
The Twenty-fifth Day of September
The commemoration of our Father St. Dominic at Suriano. A totum duplex feast.
In the village of Emmaus, the birthday of Blessed Cleophas, who was a disciple of Christ. For confessing Christ, he is said to have been slain by the Jews in the same house in which he had made supper for the Lord. He was honorably buried there.
At Amiens in Gaul, Blessed Firminus, bishop. In the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Rictiovarus, he underwent various tortures and gained martyrdom by being beheaded.
On the same day, on the Via Claudia, St. Herculanus, soldier and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Antoninus, he was converted to. Christ by the miracles which took place at the martyrdom of the Bishop St. Alexander. After he had suffered many tortures, he was put to death by the sword.
At Damascus, the holy martyrs Paul, Tatta his wife, and their sons Sabinian, Maximus, Rufus, and Eugene. They were accused of being Christians, and, tortured by floggings and other punishments, they gave up their souls to God.
In Asia, the suffering of SS. Bardomian, Eucarpus, and twenty-six other martyrs.
At Lyons in Gaul, the death of St. Lupus, a bishop who had formerly been a hermit.
At Auxerre, St. Anacharius, bishop and confessor.
At Blois in Gaul, St. Solemnius, Bishop of Chartres, famous for his miracles.
On the same day, St. Principius, who was Bishop of Soissons, and brother of Bishop Blessed Remigius.
At Anagni, the holy virgins Aurelia and Neomisia.
The Twenty-sixth Day of September
At Gerona (in Spain), Blessed Dalmatius Moner, confessor, of the Order of our Father St. Dominic. He was noteworthy for his severe. austerity of life and his admirable abstinence from food and drink. On account of his intimacy with the angels he was commonly referred to as "the brother who converses with the angels." A semi-duplex feast.
At Nicomedia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Cyprian and the virgin Justina. At the time of the Emperor Diocletian and the governor Eutholomius, she endured many sufferings for Christ. She converted to the faith the magician Cyprian who had endeavored to bewitch her by his magical arts. Later, she was martyred with him. Their bodies were flung to the beasts, but at night some Christian sailors removed the bodies and took them to Rome. Afterward, they were removed to the Constantine Basilica where they are buried near the baptistry.
At Rome, St. Callistratus, martyr, and forty-nine other soldiers. They were converted to Christ in the persecution of Diocletian, when Calistratus was sewn in a sack and cast into the sea but miraculously emerged unhurt. The forty-nine were martyred with him.
At Bologna, St. Eusebius, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Vigilius, bishop.
In the territory of Tusculum, Blessed Nilus, abbot, founder of the monastery of Grottaferrata, a man of great sanctity.
At Tifernum in Umbria, St. Amantius, priest, noted for the gift of miracles.
At Albanum, St. Senator.
The Twenty-seventh Day of September
At Aegeae (in Cilicia), the birthday of the holy martyrs and brothers Cosmas and Damian. In the persecution of Diocletian, after they had passed through many tortures, chains, imprisonment, the sea, fire, the cross, stoning, and arrows, but were miraculously unhurt, they were finally beheaded. It is said that their three brothers, Anthimus, Leontius, and Euprepius, were also martyred with them. A simplex feast.
At Paris, the birthday of St. Vincent de Paul, priest and confessor. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Mission, and of the Sisters of Charity. He was an apostolic man and a father to the poor. The Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII, appointed this saint as the heavenly patron before God of all charitable societies throughout the world which in any way were derived from him. His feast is observed on July 19.
At Byblus in Phocnicia, St. Mark, bishop. St. Luke calls him John (surnamed Mark). (8) He was the son of the St. Mary whose memory is recalled on June 29.
At Milan, St. Caius, bishop. He was a disciple of the Apostle St. Barnabas. After suffering' much in the persecution of Ncro, he finally died a peaceful death.
At Rome, St. Epicharis, the wife of a senator. In the persecution of Diocletian, she was beaten with leaden-tipped whips and then put to the sword.
At Todi in Umbria, the holy martyrs Fidentius and Terence, who died under the same Diocletian.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy martyrs Adulf and John, brothers, who were martyred for Christ in the Arab persecution. Their sister, the virgin St. Aurea, was inspired by their example to return to the faith. Later, she suffered martyrdom most bravely on July 19.
At Pseudon in Gaul, St. Florentinus, martyr. After his tongue had been torn out, he was slain by the sword together with St. Hilary.
At Ravenna, St. Aderitus, bishop and confessor.
At Paris, St. Elzear, Count (of Ariano).
In Hainault, St. Hiltrude, virgin. +
The Twenty-eighth Day of September
At Pistoia in Etruria, Blessed Laurence of Ripafratta, a confessor of our Order. Having "decided in his heart to rise ever higher"' (in perfection), he soon shone with every religious virtue. St. Antoninus praised him highly, for he had had him as a novice-master and so knew well his holiness. A semi-duplex feast.
At Stara Boleslav in Bohemia, St. Wenceslas, martyr, Duke of Bohemia. Famed for his holiness and miracles, he was slain by the treachery of his brother and thus achieved the palm of martyrdom.
At Rome, St. Privatus, martyr. He had been afflicted with ulcers but was healed by Pope St. Callistus. Afterward, in the reign of Emperor Alexander, he was beaten to death with leaden-tipped whips.
Also at Rome, St. Stacteus, martyr.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Martial, Laurence, and twenty others.
At Antioch in Pisidia, the shepherd St. Mark, martyr. Likewise, the commemoration of SS. Alphius, Alexander, and Zosimus, his brothers; also SS. Nicon, Neon, Heliodorus, and thirty soldiers. At the miracles of St. Mark they believed in Christ and were crowned with martyrdom in various ways and places.
On the same day, the suffering of St. Maximus, under the Emperor Decius.
At Toulouse, St. Exuperius, bishop and confessor. St. Jerome in a memorable passage told how this holy man was as sparing of his own needs as he was generous to those of others.
At Genoa, St. Salomon, bishop and confemr.
At Brescia, St. Silvinus, bishop.
In Bethlehem of Juda, St. Eustochium, virgin. With her mother St. Paula, she went from Rome to Palestine. There at Bethlehem, in company with other consecrated virgins, she was brought up in the ways of the spiritual life. She went to the Lord rich in unusual merits.
At Schornsheim near Mainz, St. Lioba, virgin, noted for her miracles.
The Twenty-ninth Day of September
On Mount Gargano (in Italy), the venerated memory of St. Michael the Archangel. Here, a church was consecrated in his name, built indeed on a humble plan but marked by heavenly power. A totum duplex feast of the first class.
At Auxerre, St. Fraternus, bishop and martyr.
In Thrace, the birthday of the holy martyrs Eutychius, Plautus, and Heracles.
In Persia, the holy martyrs Dadas, a kinsman of King Sapor, Casdoa his wife, and Gabdelas his son. They were stripped of their honors, mangled by various tortures and, after a long imprisonment, slain by the sword.
In Armenia, the holy virgins Ripsimis and her companion martyrs, under King Tiridates.
In Persia, St. Gudelia, martyr. In the reign of King Sapor, she converted many persons to Christ. Upon her refusal to adore the sun and fire she was subjected to many tortures; then the skin was torn from her head and she was nailed to a tree; thus she merited to gain her triumph.
At Pontecorvo near Aquino, St. Grimoald, priest and confessor.
In Palestine, St. Quiriacus, hermit.
The Thirtieth Day of September
In Bethlehem of Juda, the death of St. Jerome, priest, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. He eagerly studied all branches of learning and lived after the manner of monks of strict observance. With the sword of his doctrine, he destroyed many monsters of heresy. Finally, when he had lived to an extreme old age, he died peacefully, and was buried near the crib of our Lord (in Bethlehem). Later, his body was removed to Rome and buried in the Basilica of St. Mary Major. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Francis Borgia, priest and confessor. He was general of the Society of Jesus, and is memorable for his mortification, gift of prayer, renunciation of the world, and refusal of ecclesiastical dignities. His feast is kept on October 10.
At Lisieux in France, St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus, a member of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. She became most renowned by reason of the innocence of her fife and her simplicity. The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius XI, canonized her and declared her to be the special patron of all missions. He also decreed that her feast should be observed on October 3.
Also at Rome, St. Leopardus, martyr, a member of the household of Julian the Apostate. He was beheaded and his body later removed to Aix.
At Solothurn in Gaul, the suffering of the holy martyrs Victor and Ursus, of the glorious Theban Legion. In the reign of Maximian, they were first punished with inhuman tortures but were delivered when a light from heaven shone upon them and their executioner fell to the ground. Afterward, they were cast into the fire, but they suffered no harm. Finally, they were killed by the sword.
At Piacenza, St. Antoninus, martyr, of the same Legion.
On the same day, St. Gregory, Bishop of Greater Armenia. He suffered much under Diocletian but finally, in the reign of the Emperor Constantine the Great, died a peaceful death.
At Canterbury in England, St. Honorius, bishop and confessor.
At Rome, St. Sophia, widow, mother of the holy virgins Faith, Hope and Charity.
NOTES 1. Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, near Arles.
2. The phrase "another Felix" refers to the entry on August 28: "At Venosa in Apulia, the suffering of SS. Septiminus, Januarius, and Felix . . . sons of SS. Boniface and Thecla." However, hagiographcrs question whether Donatus and Felix were the sons of Boniface and Thecla.
3. Luke, 2:36-38.
4. Zurzach is now inside the northern border of Switzerland.
5. Sant' Elpideo a Mare.
6. Romans, 16:1-2.
7. 2 Timothy, 1:16, 4:19.
8. Acts, 12:12: "And considering, he (Peter) came to the house of Mary the mother of John, who was surnamed Mark." See also Acts, 15:37.
9. Psalm 83:6.
| BACK | INDEX | NEXT |