The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
FEBRUARY
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The First Day of February
St. Ignatius, Bishop of Antioch and martyr, who gloriously suffered martyrdom on December20. A duplex feast.At Smyrna, St. Pionius, priest and martyr, who wrote books defending the Christian faith. After enduring a foul prison, where by his exhortations he strengthened many of the brethren to suffer martyrdom, he was subjected to many tortures. Pierced with nails and placed upon a flaming pyre, he obtained for the sake of Christ a glorious end. With him there were martyred fifteen others.
At Ravenna, St. Severus, bishop who, on account of his excellent merit, indicated by a dove, was chosen (bishop).
At the city of Trou in Gaul, St. Paul, bishop, whose life was renowned for his virtues, and whose precious death was approved by miracles.
At Kildare in Ireland, St. Bridget, virgin. In proof of her virginity she touched the wood of an altar, and forthwith it became green.
At Castel-Fiorentino in Tuscany, blessed Veridiana, virgin and recluse, of the Order of Vallombrosa.
The Second Day of February
The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which is called by the Greeks the Hypapante of the Lord. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Caesarea in Palestine, St. Cornelius, the centurion whom St. Peter the Apostle baptized and raised to episcopal honor in that city.
At Rome, on the Via Salaria, the suffering of St. Apronianus, a notary.
While he was still a heathen, he was leading St. Sisinius from prison to bring him before Laodicius the prefect, when he heard a voice from heaven: "Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world." He believed and was baptized, and afterward was condemned to death for confessing the Lord.
Also at Rome, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felician, Firmus, and Candidus.
At Orleans in Gaul, St. Flosculus, bishop.
At Canterbury in England, the birthday of St. Laurence, bishop who, after St. Augustine, governed that Church and converted the king himself to the faith.
At Prato in Tuscany, St. Catherine de Ricci, virgin of Florence, of the Order of Preachers. She was noted for her store of heavenly gifts. The Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Benedict XIV, inscribed her name on the roll of holy virgins. Her feast is celebrated February 13.
The Third Day of February
At Sebaste in Armenia, the suffering of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr. He performed numerous miracles. Under the governor Agricolaus, he was scourged for a long time; then, suspended from a rack, his flesh torn with iron combs, after which he was thrown into a prison totally devoid of light. Although he was cast into a lake, he emerged from it unhurt. Finally, at the command of the same judge, he was beheaded with two boys. However, before his death, seven women who had collected the drops of blood that flowed during his tortures, were arrested and for their Christian faith were slain by the sword after cruel tortures. A feast of three lessons.
In Africa, St. Celerinus, deacon, who was kept in a prison for nineteen days, and was a glorious confessor of Christ despite stocks, chains, and other afflictions. While he conquered his adversary by unconquerable firmness in his own trial, he showed others the way to be victorious.
In the same place, three holy martyrs, relatives of the same deacon St. Celerinus; namely, his two uncles Laurence and Ignatius, and his aunt Celerina. All three were crowned with martyrdom ahead of him. A letter of St. Cyprian is extant, setting forth the glorious praises of them all.
Likewise in Africa, the holy martyrs Felix, Symphronius, Hippolytus, and their companions.
In the town of Gap in Gaul, SS. Tigides and Remedius, bishops.
At Lyons in Gaul, SS. Lupicinus and Felix, likewise bishops.
At Bremen, St. Anschar, Bishop of Hamburg, then (Archbishop) of (both) Hamburg and Bremen. He converted the Swedes and Danes to the faith of Christ, and was appointed Apostolic Legate of all the North by Pope Gregory IV.
The Fourth Day of February
St. Andrew Corsini, confessor, of the Carmelite Order, and Bishop of Fiesole, of whom mention is made on January 6. A duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Eutychius, martyr, who completed an illustrious martyrdom and was buried in the cemetery of Callistus. Pope St. Damasus adorned his sepulchre with verses.
At Thmuis in Egypt, the suffering of blessed Philaeas, bishop of that city, and Philoromus, tribune of the soldiers. In the persecution of Diocletian, they could not be persuaded by their friends and kinsfolk to save themselves, but both offered up their lives and merited the rewards of victory from the Lord. With them, an innumerable multitude of the faithful from the same city who followed the example of their pastor and were crowned with martydrom.
At Fossombrone (in Italy), the holy martyrs Aquilinus, Geminus, Gelasius, Magnus, and Donatus.
At Troyes in Gaul, St. Aventinus, priest and confessor.
At Pelusium in Egypt, St. Isidore, priest and monk. He was noted for learning and doctrine.
At Sempringham in England, St. Gilbert, priest and confessor, who was the founder of a religious Order at Sempringham.
In the city of Amatrice in the Diocese of Rieti, the death of St. Joseph of Leonissa, a Capuchin priest. For his preaching of the faith, he was cruelly treated by the Mohammedans. Famous for his apostolic labors and for his miracles, he was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Benedict XIV.
At Bremen, the commemoration of St. Rembert. He was a disciple of St. Anschar and, after the death of his master, was elected on this day Bishop of Hamburg and Bremen in his stead. + An Anniversary.
The Fifth Day of February
At Catania in Sicily, the birthday of St. Agatha, virgin and martyr. At the time of the Emperor Decius, under the judge Quinctian, she endured buffets, imprisonment, the rack, the disjointing of her limbs, mutilation, and torture by being rolled upon sherds and live coals. At last she died in prison while praying to God. A duplex feast.
At Nagasaki in Japan, the suffering of twenty-six martyrs. Three priests, one cleric, and two lay-brothers, were members of the Order of Friars Minor. One cleric belonged to the Society of Jesus. The seventeen others were tertiaries of the Third Order of St. Francis, All of them were crucified for the Catholic faith. They were pierced by spears, and died praising God and preaching the Catholic faith. They were canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Pius IX.
In Pontus, the commemoration of many holy martyrs. In the persccution of Maximian, some were covered with molten lead while others were tortured by having sharp splinters thrust under their nails; they suffered many horrible tortures which were inflicted on them again and again. By their remarkable suffering, they merited palms and crowns from the Lord.
At Alexandria, St. Isidore, soldier and martyr. In the persecution of Decius, this soldier, because of his faith in Christ, was beheaded by order of Numerian, general of the army.
At Vienne, Blessed Avitus, bishop and confessor. By his faith, labors, and wonderful teaching, Gaul was preserved from the infection of the Arian heresy.
At Sabion in the Tyrol, St. Ingenuinus, bishop, whose life was renowned for his miracles. His sacred body was afterwards transferred to Brixen, and is there honorably preserved.
At Brixen, St. Albuinus, bishop, who transferred the episcopal see from Sabion to that city, and there, famous because of his miracles, died in the Lord.
The Sixth Day of February
St. Titus, Bishop of Crete and confessor, whose birthday occurs on January 4.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Dorothy, virgin and martyr. Under Sapricius, the governor of that province, she was first tortured by being stretched upon a rack, then she was whipped for a long time with palm-stems; at last she was punished by capital sentence. Because of her confession of faith, one Theophilus, a student, was converted to the faith of Christ; soon he too was cruelly tortured upon the rack, and at last put to the sword.
At Emesa in Phoenicia, St. Silvanus, bishop. After he had ruled that Church for forty years, he was cast to the beasts in the reign of the Emperor Maximian, together with two others. They were torn to pieces, limb from limb, and so received the palm of martyrdom.
On the same day the holy martyrs Saturninus, Theophilus, and Revocata.
In Auvergne in Gaul, St. Antholian, martyr.
At Arras in Gaul, St. Vedast, bishop of that city. His life and death were glorified by many miracles. A memory.
At Elnon in Gaul, St. Amand, Bishop of Macstricht. During his life and after death, he was renowned for his miracles; the town, in which he built the monastery and died, was later named after him. A memory.
At Bologna, St. Guarinus, Cardinal Bishop of Palestrina, remarkable for holiness of life.
The Seventh Day of February
St. Romuald, abbot, father of the Camaldolese monks. His birthday is commemorated on June 19, but his festival is observed on this day when his body was removed (to the town of Fabriano). A duplex feast.
At Augusta, now called London, in England, the birthday of Blessed Augulus, bishop. He fulfilled the course of his life by martyrdom, and merited to obtain everlasting rewards.
In Phrygia, St. Adaucus, martyr. He came of a noble Italian family, and was honored by the emperors with dignities of almost every rank. At length, while performing the office of quaestor, he was found worthy of a martyr's crown for his defence of the faith.
In the same place, many holy martyrs, citizens of one city, whose leader was this same Adaucus. Since they were all Christians and remained constant in the confession of the faith, they were burned alive by the Emperor Galerius Maximian.
At Heraclea. in Pontus, St. Theodore, an army general. After he had undergone many torments in the reign of Licinius, he was beheaded, and entered Heaven as a victor.
In Egypt, St. Moses, a venerable bishop. At first he led a solitary life in the desert; then at the request of Mauvia, Sultana of the Saracens, he was made a bishop and converted that ferocious people in great part to the faith. Glorious for his merits, he died in peace.
At Lucca in Tuscany, the death of St. Richard, King of England. He was the father of St. Willebald, Bishop of Eichstadt, and of St. Walburga, virgin.
At Bologna, St. Juliana, widow.
The Eighth Day of February
St. John of Matha, priest and confessor, founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the redemption of captives. On December 17 he died in the Lord. A duplex feast.
At Somascha in the district of Bergamo, St. Jerome Emiliani, confessor, who was the founder of the Congregation of Somascha. He was celebrated both during life and after death for his many miracles, and was inscribed in the calendar of the Saints by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Clement XIII. However, his feast day is observed on July 20.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Paul, Lucius, and Cyriacus.
In Lesser Armenia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Dionysius, Emilian, and Sebastian.
At Constantinople, the birthday of the holy martyrs, monks of the monastery of Dirn. They were savagely slaughtered for their defence of the Catholic faith while carrying letters of Pope St. Felix against Acacius.
In Persia, commemoration of the holy martyrs who were slain, because of their Christian faith, by various kinds of torment under Cabades, King of the Persians.
At Alexandria, the suffering of St. Cointha, martyr, in the reign of the Emperor Decius. The pagans seized her and led her to their idols to compel her to worship, but she refused with horror. Then they fastened her ankles with chains and dragged her thus bound through the city streets until, by that inhuman torture, they had torn her body to pieces.
At Pavia, St. Juventius, bishop, who labored zealously for the Gospel.
At Milan, the death of St. Honoratus, bishop and confessor.
At Verdun in Gaul, St. Paul, bishop, noted for the power of working miracles.
At Muret in the district of Limoges, the birthday of St. Stephen, abbot, founder of the Order of Grandmont. He was renowned for his virtues and miracles.
In the monastery of Vallombrosa, Blessed Peter, Cardinal Bishop of Albano. He was a member of the Congregation of Vallombrosa (of the Order of St. Benedict), and was surnamed Igneus, because he passed through fire unharmed.
The Ninth Day of February
St. Cyril, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church, of whom mention is made on January 28. A duplex feast.
At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Apollonia, virgin and martyr. During the reign of Decius, the executioners first knocked out her teeth, then they built and kindled a pyre, and threatened to burn her alive unless she would utter impious words with them. But she, deliberating with herself for a short space, suddenly tore herself from their wicked hands, and of her own accord leaped into the fire they had prepared, being kindled within bv the greater fire of the Holy Spirit. As a result, the very authors of this cruelty were themselves terrified, since a woman was found more ready to meet death than were her persecutors to inflict it.(1)
At Rome, the suffering of the holy martyrs Alexander and thirty-eight others crowned (with him).
In the village of Lamelum in Africa, the holy martyrs Primus and Donatus, deacons. They were slain by the Donatists while they guarded the altar in a church.
At Soli in Cyprus, the holy martyrs Ammonius and Alexander.
At Antioch, St. Nicephorus, martyr, who was beheaded, thus receiving the crown of martyrdom under the Emperor Valerian.
In the monastery of Fontanelle, in Gaul, St. Ansbert, Bishop of Rouen.
At Canossa in Apulia, St. Sabinus, bishop and confessor. As Pope St. Gregory narrates, Sabinus was gifted with the spirit of prophecy and the power of miracles. Although he was blind, he instantly knew by divine enlightenment that a drink offered him by a bribed servant was poisoned. Declaring that God would punish the man who had corrupted his servant, he made the sign of the cross and confidently drank the poison from which he received no harm. +
The Tenth Day of February
At Monte Cassino, St. Scholastica, virgin, the sister of St. Benedict the abbot. He beheld her soul in the form of a dove leaving her body and entering heaven. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Zoticus, Irenaeus, Hyacinth, and Amantius.
In the same place, on the Via Lavicana, ten holy martyrs (all of them) soldiers.
Likewise at Rome, on the Appian Way, St. Soteris, virgin and martyr,
As St. Ambrose relates, she was of noble birth, and for the sake of Christ she held in little esteem the consulships and prefectures of her kinsfolk. Being ordered to sacrifice, she refused, and was severely struck with blows for a long time. When she had endured other kinds of torture, she was put to the sword, and so passed joyfully to her Bridegroom.
In Campania, St. Silvanus, bishop and confessor.
At Malavalle, near Siena, St. William, hermit.
In the territory of Rheims, St. Austreberta, virgin, famed for miracles.
The Eleventh Day of February
At Lourdes, in France, the Apparition of the Blessed and Immaculate Virgin Mary. A totum duplex feast.
At Adrianople in Thrace, the holy martyrs Bishop Lucius and companions. In the reign of Constantius, the Bishop steadfastly suffered many things at the hands of the Arians and finished his martyrdom in chains. His companions, who were the more noble of the citizens, refused to receive the Arians who had already been condemned by the Council of Sardice; for this reason, they were sentenced to death by (the Arian) Count Philagrius.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs the priest Saturninus, Dativus, Felix, Ampehus, and their companions. In the persecution of Diocletian, when they had assembled according to their custom to celebrate the Lord's Supper, they were seized by the soldiers, and suffered death under the Proconsul Anolinus.
In Numidia, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were arrested in the same persecution. As they refused to give up the Holy Scriptures in accordance with the Emperor's edict, they were tortured by most severe punishments and finally put to death.
At Rome, Pope St. Gregory II, who boldly withstood the impiety of Leo the Isaurian, and who sent St. Boniface to preach the Gospel in Germany.
Likewise, Pope St. Paschal I, who removed the bodies of many holy martyrs from their tombs and buried them with honor in various churches of the city.
At Ravenna, St. Calocerus, bishop and confessor.
At Milan, St. Lazarus, bishop.
At Capua, St. Castrensis, bishop.
In the town of Landon in Gaul, St. Severinus, abbot of the monastery of St. Maurice d'Agaune. By his prayers, the Christian king Clovis was freed from a long-standing sickness.
In Egypt, St. Jonas, monk, renowned for his virtues.
At Vienne in France, the transferal of the body of St. Desiderius, bishop and martyr, from the neighborhood of Lyons where he had died on May 23.
The Twelfth Day of February
The seven holy founders of the Order of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary, confessors, whose deaths are noted on their respective days. As in life one single spirit of true brotherhood drew them together, so after death an undivided veneration of the people followed them. The Sovereign Pontiff, Leo XIII inscribed them together in the roll of the saints. A duplex feast.
In Africa, St. Damian, soldier and martyr.
At Carthage, the holy martyrs Modestus and Julian.
At Alexandria, the holy children Modestus and Ammonius, both martyrs.
At Barcelona in Spain, St. Eulalia, virgin. In the time of the emperor Diocletian, she suffered the rack, iron hooks, and the flames. At last, she was crucified and so received the glorious crown of martyrdom.
At Constantinople, St. Meletius, Bishop of Antioch. He repeatedly suffered exile for the Catholic faith, and at last at Constantinople went to the Lord. SS. John Chrysostom and Gregory of Nyssa celebrated his virtues with highest praise.
Also at Constantinople, St. Anthony, bishop, in the time of the Emperor Leo VI.
At Verona, St. Gaudentius, bishop and confessor.
The Thirteenth Day of February
At Prato in Etruria, St. Catherine de'Ricci of Florence, virgin, of the Order of Preachers. She was remarkable for the abundance of her divine gifts, and was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV. She died rich in virtues and merit on February 2, but her feast is celebrated today. A toturn duplex feast of the second class.
At Antioch, the birthday of St. Agabus, Prophet, whom Saint Luke mentions in the Acts of the Apostles.(2)
At Todi in Umbria, St. Benignus, priest and martyr. At the time of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, he refused to cease spreading the Christian faith by word and example. He was therefore arrested by the pagans, suffered various tortures, and finally enriched his priestly office with the honor of martyrdom.
At Melitina in Armenia, St. Polyeuctus, martyr, who suffered much in the persecution of Decius, and obtained a martyr's crown.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Julian, martyr.
At Ravenna, SS. Fusca, virgin, and Maura, her nurse. In the time of the Emperor Decius, they suffered greatly under the governor Quinctian, and at last gained martyrdom, being pierced with the sword.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Stephen, bishop and confessor.
At Rieti, the abbot St. Stephen, a man of marvellous patience. At his death, as Pope St. Gregory relates, the holy angels who were present were seen by the by-standers.
The Fourteenth Day of February
At Perugia, Blessed Nicholas Palea of Giovinazzo, confessor, of our Order, and founder of the monasteries at Perugia and Trani. He was received into the Order by our holy Father Dominic, who selected him to be his companion in preaching the Word of God. He shone to a wonderful degree by the exercise of every virtue. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Via Flaminia, the birthday of St. Valentine, priest and martyr. After many wondrous works of healing and teaching, he was beaten with clubs and beheaded in the reign of Claudius Caesar. A memory.
Also at Rome, the death of St. Cyril, bishop and confessor. Together with his brother Methodius, also a bishop, whose birthday falls on April 6, Cyril brought many people and the riders of Moravia to the faith of Christ. Their feast is observed on July 7.
Also at Rome, the holy martyrs Vitalis, Felicula, and Zeno.
At Teramo, St. Valentine, bishop and martyr. After prolonged scourging, he was handed over to a guard; since he could not be made to yield, he was brought out of his prison in the dead of night, and beheaded at the command of Placidus, prefect of the city.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Cyrion, priest, Bassian, lector, Agatho, exorcist, and Moses. All were burned to death and thus passed to heaven.
At Teramo, SS. Proculus, Ephebus, and Apollonius, martyrs. They were keeping watch over the body of St. Valentine when, by the command of Leontius, the consular officer, they were seized and put to the sword.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Bassus, Anthony, and Protolicus, who were drowned in the sea.
Also at Alexandria, SS. Dionysius and Ammonius, who were beheaded.
At Naples in Campania, St. Nostrianus, bishop, who became famous for his defence of the Catholic faith against heretical attacks.
At Ravenna, St. Eleuchadius, bishop and confessor.
In Bithynia, St. Auxentius, abbot.
At Sorrento, St. Antoninus, abbot. When the monastery of Monte Cassino was laid waste by the Lombards, he departed to a solitary place near Sorrento, and there, renowned for miracles, died in the Lord. His body is glorified daily by many wonders, especially in the freeing of those possessed by demons.
The Fifteenth Day of February
The feast of Blessed Jordan (of Saxony). On account of the probity of his life and teaching, he was considered by our holy Father Dominic as being worthy to govern the Order. Placed in authority, his zeal for the salvation of souls greatly augmented the Order in a short time. Having been shipwrecked and drowned, he entered heaven as a victor rich in merit. A duplex feast.
At Brescia, the birthday of the holy brothers Faustinus and Jovita, martyrs. At the time of the Emperor Hadrian, they underwent many glorious trials for the faith of Christ and received the victorious crown of martyrdom.
At Rome, St. Craton, martyr. He was baptized by the Bishop St. Valentine, together with his wife and his whole household, and not long after martyred with them.
At Teramo, the birthday of the holy martyrs Saturninus, Castulus, Magnus, and Lucius.
In the same place, St. Agape, virgin and martyr.
At Vaison in Gaul, St. Quinidius, bishop, whose death, as frequent miracles testify, was precious in the sight of the Lord.
At Capua, St. Decorosus, bishop and confessor.
In the province of Valeria, St. Severus, priest, of whom St. Gregory writes that by the shedding of his tears he recalled a dead man to life.
At Antioch, St. Joseph, deacon.
In Auvergne in Gaul, St. Georgia, virgin.
The Sixteenth Day of February
At Catania, in Sicily, Blessed Bernard, confessor, of the Order of Preachers. He was bom of the patrician family of Scammacca. God made him wonderful by the contemplation of divine things, and by the glory of his virtue. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, blessed Onesimus, regarding whom St. Paul wrote to Philemon.(3) The apostle ordained him Bishop of Ephesus to succeed St. Timothy, and entrusted him with the office of preaching. Onesimus, however, was taken in chains to Rome where he was stoned to death for the Christian faith. He was first buried there but later his body was transferred to Ephesus where he had been ordained bishop.
In Egypt, St. Julian, martyr, with five thousand others.
At Caesarea in Palestine, the holy Egyptian martyrs Elias, Jeremias, Isaias, Samuel and Daniel. They voluntarily ministered to the Christians condemned to the mines in Cilicia. On their return, they were arrested and most cruelly tortured by the governor Firmilian, in the reign of the Emperor Galerius Maximian. At length they were put to the sword. And after these, St. Porphyrius, servant of the martyr Pamphilus, and St. Seleucus the Cappadocian, triumphed in repeated trials. Being once more tortured, they obtained the crown of martyrdom, the one by fire, and the other by the sword.
At Nicomedia, St. Juliana, virgin and martyr. At the time of the Emperor Maximian, she was first grievously scourged by her father Africanus. Then she was tortured in various ways by the prefect Evilasius, whom she refused to marry. Next, she was cast into prison, where, in the presence of others, she fought with the devil. Finally, overcoming flames of fire and a boiling cauldron, she completed her martyrdom by being beheaded. Her body was later on transferred to Cumae in Campania.
At Brescia, St. Faustinus, bishop and confessor.
The Seventeenth Day of February
At Paris, Blessed Reginald, confessor. He was dean of the Church of St. Aignan in Orleans. While at Rome, he received from the hands of our holy Father Dominic, the Dominican habit which the glorious Virgin Mary had shown him a short time before when he was dangerously ill. A semi-duplex feast.
At Florence, the birthday of St. Alexius Falconieri, confessor, one of the seven founders of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the 110th year of his life, he died in blessedness, comforted by the presence of Christ Jesus and of the angels. His feast, with that of his companions, is kept on February 12.
At Rome, the suffering of St. Faustinus, whom forty-four others followed to the crown.
In Persia, the birthday of Blessed Polychronius, Bishop of Babylon. In the persecution of Decius, his face was beaten with rocks. He died with hands extended and his eyes raised to heaven.
At Concordia near Venice, the holy martyrs Donatus, Secundian, and Romulus, with eighty-six others, sharers in the same crown (of victory).
At Caesarea in Palestine, St. Theodulus, an old man, who was of the household of Firmilian the governor. Roused by the example of the martyrs, he confessed firmly Christ, was nailed to a cross, and by his noble triumph merited the martyr's palm (of glory).
Likewise St. Julian the Cappadocian. He was denounced as a Christian because he had kissed the remains of the martyrs. Being taken before the governor, he was ordered to be burned to death over a slow fire.
In the district of Terouanne in Gaul, St. Silvinus, Bishop of Toulouse.
In the monastery of Cluaincdhech in Ireland, St. Fintan, priest and abbot.
The Eighteenth Day of February
At Jerusalem, the birthday of St. Simeon, bishop and martyr. He is said to have been the son of Cleophas, and a kinsman of the Saviour according to the flesh. He was ordained Bishop of Jerusalem to succeed James, the cousin of our Lord. In the persecution of Trajan, he was subjected to many tortures, and gained martyrdom. All who were present, and even the judge himself, marvelled that a man one hundred and twenty years old should bear the torment of the cross so bravely and with such firmness.
At Ostia, the holy martyrs Maximus and Claudius, brothers, and Praepedigna, the wife of Claudius, with their two sons Alexander and Cutias. Though they were of most noble birth, they were arrested and exiled at Diocletian's command. Afterward they offered themselves to God as a sweet sacrifice of martyrdom, being burned to death. Their relics were cast into the river, but were found by the Christians and buried near the same city.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Lucius, Silvanus, Rutulus, Classicus, Secundinus, Fructulus, and Maximus.
At Constantinople, St. Flavian, bishop. He fought for the Catholic faith at Ephesus, and was attacked with kicks and blows by the faction of the impious Dioscorus. He was driven into exile where after three days he died.
At Toledo in Spain, St. Helladius, bishop and confessor; St. Ildefonsus, Bishop of Toledo, greatly praised him.
The Nineteenth Day of February
At Cordoba in Spain, Blessed Alvarus, confessor, of the Order of Preachers, and founder of the monastery of Scala Caeli (near Cordoba). A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Gabinus, priest and martyr, and brother of Pope St. Caius. Kept chained in prison for a long time, by his precious death he gained the joys of heaven.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Publius, Julian, Marcellus, and others.
In Palestine, the commemoration of the holy monks and other martyrs, who were killed with the utmost cruelty for the faith of Christ by the Saracens under their general Almondhar.
At Naples in Campania, St. Quodvultdeus, Bishop of Carthage. Together with his clergy, he was placed in leaky boats without oars or sails by the Arian King Genseric; but contrary to expectations, he reached Naples, and died there in exile as a confessor.
At Jerusalem, St. Zambdas, bishop.
At Soli in Cyprus, St. Auxibius, bishop.
At Benevento (Italy), St. Barbatus, bishop, who was famed for holiness, and who converted the Lombards and their leader to Christ.
At Milan, St. Mansuetus, bishop and confessor. +
The Twentieth Day of February
At Tyre, in Phoenicia, the commemoration of many blessed martyrs whose number is known only to God. In the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, they were slaughtered by Veturius, a military officer. They were killed in turn by numerous varieties of torture. Their bodies were torn by scourges, and then they were thrown to different kinds of wild beasts. When by the power of God the beasts did not harm them, they gained their martyrdom by a barbarous use of fire and sword. The Bishops Tyrannio, Silvanus, Peleus, and Nilus, and the priest Zenobius, encouraged the glorious multitude to victory, and they too by a happy test obtained the palm of martyrdom, together with them.
At Constantinople, St. Eleutherius, bishop and martyr.
In Persia, the birthday of St. Sadoth, bishop, and one hundred twenty-eight others. On refusing to adore the sun, they obtained glorious crowns by their cruel death under Sapor, the Persian King.
On the island of Cyprus, the holy martyrs Potamius and Nemesius.
At Catania in Sicily, St. Leo, bishop, who was resplendent with virtues and miracles.
On the same day, St. Eucherius, Bishop of Orleans, who, the more he was harassed by calumny and envy, the more famous he became for his miracles.
At Tournai in Gaul, St. Eleutherius, bishop and confessor.
The Twenty-first Day of February
At Scythopolis in Palestine, St. Severian, bishop and martyr, who was slain by the Monophysitcs because he so energetically opposed them.
In Sicily, the birthday of seventy-nine martyrs, at the time of Diocletian.
Undergoing different kinds of torments they obtained the crown by their profession of faith.
At Adrumetum in Africa, the holy martyrs Verulus, Secundinus, Syricius, Felix, Servulus, Saturninus, Fortunatus, and sixteen others. In the persecution by the Vandals, they were crowned with martyrdom for their confession of the Catholic faith.
At Damascus, St. Peter Mavimenus. To some Arabs who approached him when he was ill, he declared: "Everyone who does not belong to the Catholic Christian faith is lost, even as your false prophet Mohammed," whereupon the Arabs killed him.
At Metz in Gaul, St. Felix, bishop.
At Brescia (in Italy), St. Paterius, bishop. +
The Twenty-second Day of February
At Antioch, the Chair of St. Peter the Apostle. It was at Antioch that the disciples (of Christ) were first called Christians. A totum duplex feast.
At Faenza in Emilia (Italy), the birthday of St. Peter Damian, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, and confessor, of the Camaldolese Order. He was celebrated for his learning and holiness, and Pope Leo XII declared him a Doctor of the Universal Church. His feast is observed February 23.
At Salamis in Cyprus, St. Aristio. Papias (the next to be mentioned) states that he was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ.
At Hieropolis in Phrygia, St. Papias, bishop of that city. He was disciple of St. John the Elder; moreover, he was also a companion of St. Polycarp.
In Arabia, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were inhumanly slaughtered under the Emperor Galerius Maximian.
At Alexandria, St. Abilius, bishop. He was the second bishop of that city succeeding St. Mark, and he discharged his office with eminent piety.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Paschasius, bishop, famous for learning and holiness of life.
At Ravenna, St. Maximian, bishop and confessor.
At Cortona in Tuscany, St. Margaret, of the Third Order of St. Francis. She unceasingly wiped away the stains of her previous life by admirable penance and abundant tears. Her body has remained miraculously incorrupt and it gives forth a sweet odor; it is credited with many miracles, and at Cortona is held in high honor.
The Twenty-third Day of February
(In Leap Year the announcement The Vigil of St. Matthias the Apostle is omitted, for it is transferred to the following day, namely the 24th .)
The Vigil of St. Matthias the apostle.
St. Peter Damian, a Carnaldolese monk, Cardinal Bishop of Ostia, confessor, and Doctor of the Church, who departed this life on February 22. A duplex feast.
At Smyrna, the birthday of St. Polycarp, a disciple of Blessed John the Apostle, by whom he was ordained bishop of that city and made primate of all Asia. At the time of Marcus Antonius; and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, when the proconsul and all the people assembled in the amphitheatre cried out against Polycarp, he was delivered to the flames. Since they in no way hurt him, he received the crown of martyrdom by the sword. Twelve others, who had come with him from Philadelphia, were also martyred in the same city of Smyrna. The feast of St. Polycarp is celebrated on January 26.
At Sirmium, Blessed Sirenus, monk and martyr. He was arrested by order of the Emperor Maximian and, when he declared himself to be a Christian, was beheaded.
Also at Sirmium, the birthday of seventy-two holy martyrs, who suffered martyrdom in the aforesaid city and received everlasting life.
In the city of Astorga in Spain, St. Martha, virgin and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Dccius, under the proconsul Paternus, she was cruelly tortured for the faith of Christ and finally slain by the sword.
At Constantinople, St. Lazarus, monk. By command of the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus, he was severely tortured because he painted sacred pictures. His hand was burnt with a red-hot iron, but he was miraculously healed, and repainted the holy pictures that had been destroyed. He ended his life in peace.
At Brescia, St. Felix, bishop.
At Rome, St. Polycarp, priest, who in company with St. Sebastian convcrted many to the faith of Christ, and by his exhortation led them to the glory of martyrdom.
At Seville in Spain, St. Florentius, confessor.
At Todi in Umbria, St. Romana, virgin. She was baptized by Pope St. Silvester, led a life of holiness in grottos and caves, and was renowned for the glory of her miracles.
In England, St. Milburga, virgin, the daughter of a King of Mercia. +
In Leap Year on February 24 is read only the following:
The Vigil of St. Matthias the Apostle.
Likewise the commemoration of many holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.
The Twenty-fourth Day of February
(In Leap Year the twenty-fifth Day of February)
In Judaea, the birthday of St. Matthias the Apostle. After the Lord's Ascension, he was chosen by lot by the Apostles to fill the place of Judas the traitor. He suffered martyrdom for preaching the Gospel. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, St. Primitiva, martyr.
At Rouen, the suffering of St. Practextatus, bishop and martyr.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Sergius, martyr. The inspiring Acts (of his life and death) are still extant.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Montanus, Lucius, Julian, Victorious, Flavian, and their companions. They were disciples of St. Cyprian, and suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Valerian.
At Treves, St. Modestus, bishop and confessor.
At Stilo in Calabria, St. John, called Theristus,(4) noted for holiness and his love of monastic life.
In England, St. Ethelbert, King of Kent, whom St. Augustine, Bishop of England, converted to the faith of Christ.
At Jerusalem, the first finding of the head of St. John the Baptist, the Precursor of the Lord.
The Twenty-fifth Day of February
(In Leap Year the Twenty-sixth Day of February)
At Ascoli-Piceno (in Italy), Blessed Constantius of Fabriano (confessor), of the Order of Preachers. He was greatly distinguished by the austerity of his life united with the gift of prayer. His body is piously preserved at Ascoli and his head at Fabriano. . A semi-duplex feast.
In Egypt, the birthday of the holy martyrs Victorinus, Victor, Nicephorus, Claudian, Dioscorus, Serapion, and Papias, in the reign of the Emperor Numerian. The first two, after firmly enduring extreme tortures, were beheaded for professing the faith. Nicephorus was cut to pieces, limb from limb, after enduring red-hot gridirons and fire. Claudian and Dioscorus were burned to death, while Serapion and Papias were slain with the sword.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Donatus, Justus, Herena, and their com panions.
At Constantinople, St. Tharasius, bishop, distinguished for learning and piety. There is still extant a letter of Pope Hadrian I to him, defending (the veneration of) the holy images.
At Nazianzum in Cappadocia, St. Caesarius, who was the son of Blessed Nonna and the brother of St. Gregory the Theologian and St. Gorgonia. St. Gregory declares that he saw Caesarius among the multitude of the blessed (in Heaven).
In the monastery of Heidenheim, in the Diocese of Eichstadt in Germany, St. Walburga, virgin. She was the daughter of St. Richard, King of England, and sister of St. Willebald, Bishop of Eichstadt.
The Twenty-sixth Day of February
(In Leap Year the Twenty-seventh Day of February)
At Perga in Pamphylia, the birthday of Blessed Nestor, bishop. Unremitting in his prayer day and night that the flock of Christ might protected, he was seized in the persecution of Decius. Confessing the name of the Lord with wonderful zeal and readiness, he was most cruelly, tortured on the rack by order of Pollio the governor. At last, when he firmly declared that he would always remain loyal to Christ, he was crucified and thus passed as victor to Heaven.
In the same place, the suffering of SS. Papias, Diodorus, Conon, and Claudian; they preceded St. Nestor in martyrdom.
Likewise the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felix, and twenty-seven others.
At Alexandria, St. Alexander, a glorious old man. (5) He was one of the successors of Blessed Peter as bishop of that see. It was he who cast out of the Church the priest Arius when he had become tainted with heresy and convicted by divine truth. He afterwards was one of the three hundred and eighteen Fathers who condemned Arius in the Council of Nicaca.
At Bologna, St. Faustinian' bishop. By his preaching of the Word of God, he strengthened and increased the Church when it was being persecuted in the reign of Diocletian.
At Gaza in Palestine, St. Porphyrius, bishop who, in the time of the Emperor Arcadius, overthrew the idol Marna and its temple. After enduring many sufferings, he died a peaceful death in the Lord.
At Florence, St. Andrew, bishop and confessor.
In the province of Champagne in Gaul, St. Victor, confessor, whose eulogy was written by St. Bernard. +
The Twenty-seventh Day of February
(In Leap Year the Twenty-eighth Day of February)
At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs, Alexander, Abundius, Antigonus, and Fortunatus.
At Alexandria, the suffering of St. Julian, martyr. Though so crippled with gout that he could neither walk nor stand, he was brought to the judge, together with two servants of his who bore him in his chair. One of these denied the faith, but the other, named Eunus, persevered with his master in confessing Christ. They were placed upon camels, led about the whole city, and cut to ribbons with scourges. Finally, in the presence of a great throng they were burned to death.
In the same place, St. Besas, soldier. He had rebuked the people who insulted the aforesaid martyrs. Brought before the judge, he unwaveringly confessed the faith and was beheaded.
At Seville in Spain, the birthday of St. Leander, bishop of that city, brother of the Bishop St. Isidore, and of St. Florentina, virgin. By his preaching and zeal the Visigothic people, with the help of their King Recared, were converted from the Arian heresy to the Catholic faith.
At Constantinople, the holy confessors Basil and Procopius, who fought strenuously in the time of the Emperor Leo in behalf of the veneration of holy images.
At Lyons in Gaul, the subdeacon St. Baldomer, a man devoted to God. His tomb is noted for frequent miracles.
At Isola in the Abruzzi, St. Gabriel of the Seven Dolours, confessor and cleric of the Congregation of the Cross and Passion of our Lord. He Was renowned for his great merits in his short life, and for his miracles after his death. Pope Benedict XV inscribed him in the canon of the saints.
The Twenty-eighth Day of February
(In Leap Year the Twenty-ninth Day of February)
At Florence, Blessed Villana (de'Botti), widow, who joined the Order of St. Dominic. She became noted for her love of the Crucified Saviour, for her admirable patience, self-denial, contempt of worldly things, and for other virtues. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Macarius, Rufinus, Justus, and Theophilus.
At Alexandria, the Suffering of SS. Caerealis, Pupulus, Caius, and Serapion.
Likewise the Commemoration of the holy priests, deacons, and many others in the time of the Emperor Valerian. A most deadly pestilence was raging, but they willingly met their death while ministering to the sick. The religious faith of pious persons has honored them as martyrs.
At Rome, St. Hilary, pope and confessor.
In the territory of Lyons in the Jura Mountains, the death of St. Romanus, abbot. He first led an eremitical life there, and afterward, being renowned for many miracles and virtues, was the spiritual father of many monks.
At Pavia, the transferal of the body of St. Augustine, bishop, confessor and Doctor of the Church. Through the care of Luitprand, King of the Lombards, it was removed from the island of Sardinia (to Pavia).
NOTES 1. Self-destruction is not permissible unless God unmistakably demands it St Pollonia (and certain other martyrs) evidently acted under divine inspiration St. Thomas, Summa Theol., IIa-IIae, Q. 64, art 5, ad 4.
2. Acts, 11:28, 21:10.
3. Philemon, 5:10.
4. "Theristus"-- mower. He received this name because he helped some mowers to finish miraculously a large field in a short time.
5. When he became bishop of Constantinople (in 313 Or 317), he was seventy-three years old. With astonishing vigor he fought the enemies of the Church to the day of his death -- twenty-three years later.
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