The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
MAY
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 31 The First Day of May
The birthday of the holy Apostles Philip and James. Philip, after he had converted almost all Scythia to the Christian faith, was crucified and stoned at Hierapolis, a city in Asia, so that he went to his eternal rest by a glorious death. James, (also called "the brother of the Lord"), was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. He was cast headlong from a pinnacle of the temple, and his legs were broken by the fall. He died when his brains were scattered by a blow from a fuller's club. He was buried not far from the temple. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, St. Pius V, of the Order of Preachers, pope and confessor. He restored ecclesiastical discipline, eradicated heresies, and applied himself strenuously and successfully to combating the enemies of Christ. He governed the Catholic Church in holiness of life and legislation. His feast is celebrated on May 5.
In Egypt, St. Jeremias, prophet. Stoned by the people, he died at Taphnas, where he was buried. St. Epiphanius relates that the faithful were wont to make their supplications at his tomb, and that by dust taken from it the bites of serpents were healed.
In the region of Vivicrs in Gaul, Blessed Andeolus, subdeacon. St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, sent him from the East to Gaul, together with others, to preach the Word of God. Here, he was beaten with thorny clubs under the Emperor Severus. He at last completed his martyrdom when his head was split crosswise into four parts with a wooden sword.
At Huesca in Spain, the martyrs SS. Orcntius and Patience.
In the village of Columna, in the province of Orleans in Gaul, the suffering of St. Sigismund, King of Burgundy. He died by being drowned in a well and after his death was renowned for his miracles. His sacred body was finally recovered from the well and taken to the monastery of St. Maurice in the Diocese of Sion, and there honorably enshrined.
At Auxerre, St. Amator, bishop and confessor.
At Auch in Gaul, St. Orientius, bishop.
At Llanclwy in England, St. Asaph, bishop, in whose memory the episcopal city was later named St. Asaph's.
At Forli (in Italy), St. Peregrinus, of the Order of the Servants of Mary.
At Bergamo, St. Grata, widow.
The Second Day of May
At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Athanasius, bishop of that city, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. Although famous for his sanctity and learning, almost the whole world conspired to persecute him. Notwithstanding, he courageously fought in defence of the Catholic Church against emperors, governors, and numerous Arian bishops, from the reign of Constantine down to that of Valens. He steadfastly endured persecutions and was forced to be a wanderer on the face of the earth where no place remained where he might live in safety. At long last, he was restored to his see, whence, after many afflictions and numerous trials of patience, he departed for heaven in the forty-sixth year of his priesthood, at the time when Valentinian and Valens were Emperors. A duplex feast.
At Florence, St. Antoninus, bishop and confessor, of the Order of Preachers, famed for holiness and learning. His feast is celebrated May 10.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Neopolus, Germanus, and Celestine. They suffered many tortures and then were cast into prison, where they died in the Lord.
On the same day, St. Vindemialis, bishop and martyr. Together with the holy Bishops Eugene and Longinus, he strove against the Arians by his teaching and miracles. After he had undergone many tortures, he was beheaded by command of King Hunneric.
At Seville in Spain, St. Felix, deacon and martyr.
At Attalia in Pamphylia, the holy martyrs Exuperius, his wife Zoë, and their sons Cyriacus and Theodulus. At the time of the Emperor Hadrian, they were slaves of a man named Paganus. Because of their fearless profession of the Christian faith, their master commanded them to be flogged and severely tortured in other ways. Then they were thrown into a raging furnace, thus surrendering their souls to God. +
The Third Day of May
At Jerusalem, the Finding of the most Holy Cross of the Lord, in the reign of the Emperor Constantine. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, on the Via Nomentana, the suffering of the holy martyrs Alexander I, pope, Eventius and Theodulus, priests. At the time of the Emperor Hadrian and the judge Aurelian, Alexander suffered chains, imprisonment, the rack, torture by iron hooks, and then fire. Finally he was pierced with many sharp points in all his limbs, and slain. Eventius and Theodulus, after long imprisonment, were tortured by fire, and at last beheaded. A memory.
At Narni (in Italy), St. Juvenal, bishop and confessor.
At Mt. Senario in Etruria, SS. Sosthenes and (Hugo) Uguccio, confessors, two of the seven founders of the Order of Servants of Mary. Having been forewarned from Heaven, they passed out of this life at the same day and hour while reciting the Angelic Salutation. Their feast, togethcr with that of their companions, is kept on February 12.
At Constantinople, the holy martyrs SS. Alexander, soldier, and Antonina, virgin. In the persecution of Maximian, she was condemned to a house of ill fame by Festus, the governor, but she was secretly delivered by Alexander, who changed garments with her and remained there in her place. She was afterward put to the torture with him, and both were cast into the flames together, with their hands cut off. In this way they were crowned, after ending gloriously the contest.
In the Thebaid, the holy martyrs Timothy and Maura, his wife. After they had suffered many torments, the prefect Arian ordered them to be crucified. They hung there alive for nine days, encouraging each other in the faith; thus they completed their martyrdom.
At Aphrodisia in Caria, the holy martyrs Diodorus and Rhodopian, who were stoned to death by their fellow-citizcns in Diocletian's persecution.
The Fourth Day of May
At Ostia, St. Monica, the mother of St. Augustine, whose excellent life, her son has left recorded in the ninth book of his Confessions. A duplex least.
At the copper mines near Phfinon in Palestine, the birthday of Blessed Silvanus of Gaza, bishop. In the persecution of Diocletian, by command of Galerius Maximian, he was crowned with martyrdom, together with many of his clergy.
At Jerusalem, St. Cyriacus, bishop who, when he visited the holy places, was there slain by Julian the Apostate.
At Camerino (in Italy), St. Porphyrius, priest and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Decius and the governorship of Antiochus, he converted many to the faith, among whom was Venandus; for this reason he was beheaded.
Likewise in the mines of Phûnon, thirty-nine holy martyrs, who were condemned to the mines. After being burnt with hot irons and suffering other torments, they were beheaded together.
At Lorch in Austria, St. Florian, martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, and at the command of the governor Aquilinus, he was cast into the river Enns with a stone tied to his neck.
At Cologne, St. Paulinus, martyr.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, St. Pelagia, virgin and martyr. She was roasted to death in a red-hot brazen bull and thus gained martyrdom.
At Nicomedia, the birthday of St. Antonia, martyr. She was tortured with various sufferings to an exceptional degree; among them, she was suspended (from a beam) by one arm for three days. She was kept in prison for two years, and finally, under the governor Priscillian, was burned to death for her profession of faith.
At Milan, St. Venerius, bishop, whose virtues St. John Chrysostom recorded in an epistle written to him.
In the district of Perigueux, St. Sacerdos, Bishop of Limoges.
At Hildesheim in Saxony, St. Godehard, bishop and confessor, who was ranked among the saints by Innocent II.
At Auxerre, St. Curcodomus, deacon.
The Fifth Day of May
At Rome, St. Pius V, pope and confessor, of the Order of Preachem He zealously reformed the morals of the clergy and the laity, everywhere suppressed heresies, and by his prayers obtained from God a naval victory for the Christians at Lepanto. He fulfilled every duty of a good pastor and died May 1. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, St. Silvanus, martyr.
Also at Rome, St. Crescentiana, martyr.
At Leocata, in Sicily, St. Angelus, priest and martyr, of the Order of Carmelites, who was slain by heretics for his defence of the Catholic faith.
At Alexandria, St. Euthymius, deacon, who died while imprisoned for the faith of Christ.
At Auxerre, the suffering of St. Jovinian, lector.
At Thessalonica, the birthday of the holy martyrs Irenacus, Peregrinus, and Irene. They were burned to death, thus receiving the palm of martyrdom.
At Jerusalem, St. Maximus, bishop. Caesar Maximian Galerius condemned him to the metal mines after one of his eyes was dug out (with a dagger) and one leg lamed by a red-hot iron. Later, he was allowed to leave there a free man. While he was ruling his church at Jerusalem, he died in peace, renowned as a glorious confessor.
At Edessa in Syria, St. Eulogius, bishop and confessor.
At Arles in Gaul, St. Hilary, bishop, remarkable for his learning and holiness.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Nicetus, bishop, a man venerable for his sanctity.
At Bologna, St. Theodore, bishop, renowned for his merits.
At Milan, St. Geruntius, bishop.
On the same day, St. Sacerdos, Bishop of Sagunto (in Spain).
The Sixth Day of May
At Rome, the Apostle and Evangelist St. John, before the Latin Gate., By order of Domitian, he was brought in chains from Ephesus to Rome, and by decree of the Senate was cast into a cauldron of boiling oil before the Latin Gate. He came forth from it more healthy and more vigorous than when he had entered it. A totum duplex feast.
At Damascus, the birthday of St. John Damascene, priest, confessor and Doctor of the Church. He was celebrated for his learning and holiness. By means of his writings and preaching, he powerfully defended the veneration of the holy images against Leo the Isaurian. Because of the calumnies of the Emperor, the Saracen calif ordered the saint's right hand to be cut off. When St. Damascene commended himself to the Blessed Virgin Mary, whose images he had defended, his hand was instantly restored to him, entire and sound. His festival is observed on March27,
At Cyrene in Libya, St. Lucius, bishop. St. Luke mentions him in the Acts of the Apostles. (1)
At Antioch, St. Evodius. St. Ignatius, writing to the people of Antioch, says that Evodius was ordained the first Bishop of Antioch by the Apostle St. Peter and ended his life there by a glorious martyrdom.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Heliodorus, Venustus, and seventy-five others.
In Cyprus, St. Theodotus, Bishop of Cyrinia. In the reign of the Emperor Licinius, he suffered many grievous trials; but when peace had been restored to the Church, he gave up his soul to God.
At Carrhae in Mesopotamia, St. Protogenes, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Eadbert, Bishop of Lindisfarne, famous for his learning and holiness.
At Rome, St. Benedicta, virgin.
At Salerno, the transferal of the body of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist. His holy body had been borne from Ethiopia into various lands, and at last was taken to Salerno where it was buried with great honor in the church dedicated to his name. +
The Seventh Day of May*
* In the Third Order, the reading for today begins: The octave of St. Catherine of Siena, of the Order of Preachers. A solemn octave.
St. Stanislaus, Bishop of Cracow and martyr, who suffered martyrdom on May 8. A duplex feast.
At Terracina in Campania, the birthday of Blessed Flavia Domitilla, virgin and martyr. She was the daughter of St. Plautilla, the sister of St. Flavius Clemens, consul, and was given the holy veil by St. Clement. In the persecution of Domitian, she was exiled to the island of Pontia with many others for confessing Christ, and there she endured prolonged suffering. At last she was brought back to Terracina, where, by her teaching and miracles, she converted many to the faith of Christ. At the command of the judge, the room in which she lived with her two maids, Euphrosina and Theodora, was set on fire, and thus she completed the course of a resplendent martyrdom. Her feast is kept, together with that of the holy martyrs Nereus, Achilleus, and Pancras, on May 12.
On the same day, St. Juvenal, martyr.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Flavius, Augustus, and Augustine, brothers.
In the same place, St. Quadratus, martyr, who, in the persecution of the Emperor Decius, was again and again called upon to undergo torments, and at last gained martyrdom by being beheaded.
At York in England, St. John, bishop, renowned for his life and miracles.
At Pavia, St. Peter, bishop.
At Rome, the transferal of the body of St. Stephen, the Proto-martyr. It was brought to that city from Constantinople under Pope Pelagius I, and placed in the tomb of St. Laurence the Martyr in the field of Veranus, where it is honored with great reverence by the faithful.
The Eighth Day of May
On Monte Gargano, the Appearance of St. Michael the Archangel. A totum duplex feast.
At Cracow in Poland, the birthday of St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, who was slain by the wicked King Boleslaus. His festival, however, is observed on May 7.
At Milan, the birthday of St. Victor, martyr. He was by nationality a Moor, but was a Christian from his early years. While he was a soldier in the imperial camp, he was required by Maximian to sacrifice to the idols, but remained steadfast in the faith. For that reason, he was first severely beaten with clubs, but through the protection of God he received no injury; molten lead was then poured over him, and again he suffered no harm; at last, he completed a glorious martyrdom by being beheaded.
At Constantinople, St. Agathus, centurion. He was denounced as Christian by Firmus, the tribune, in the persecution of Diocletian anc Maximian. He was most cruelly tortured by Bibianus the judge a Perinthos; then at Byzantium he was condemned to death by Flaccinus the proconsul. His body was afterward impelled miraculously to the shore of Squillace in Calabria, and is there preserved in honor.
At Rome, Pope St. Boniface IV, who dedicated the Pantheon in honor of our Lady and the martyrs.
Likewise at Rome, St. Benedict II, pope and confessor.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Dionysius, bishop and confessor.
At Auxerre, St. Helladius, bishop.
In the monastery of Bonnevaux, in the district of Besanpn, St. Peter a Cistercian monk, who later became Bishop of Tarantaise in Savoy.
At Roermond in Gelderland, St. Wiro, a bishop from Scotland.
The Ninth Day of May
At Nazianzus in Cappadocia, the birthday of St. Gregory, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. He is called the Theologian by reason of his extraordinary knowledge of divine things. He fulfilled his office a bishop of that city by restoring the Catholic religion which had become weakened, and by repressing heresies and the enemies of the Church. A duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Hermas, whom the Apostle Paul mentions in the Epistle to the Romans. (2) He made a worthy sacrifice of himself; being made a acceptable offering to God, and renowned for his virtues, he gained the heavenly kingdom.
At Cagli on the Via Flaminia, the suffering of St. Gerontius, Bishop of Cervia.
In Persia, three hundred and ten holy martyrs.
In Egypt, St. Pachomius, abbot. He built many monasteries in that land and wrote a rule for monks, which he had learned from the dictation of an angel.
In the village of Vendôme in Gaul, the death of St. Beatus, confessor.
At Bologna, Blessed Nicholas Albergati, a Carthusian monk, bishop of that city and cardinal of the Holy Roman Church. He was renowned for his holiness and for his negotiations as Apostolic Legate. His body was buried at Florence in the Carthusian monastery.
At Constantinople, the transferal from Achaia of the bodies of the Apostle St. Andrew and the Evangelist St. Luke; and of Timothy, the disciple of the Apostle St. Paul, from Ephesus. The body of St. Andrew was long afterward taken to Amalfi, and is honored there by the pious concourse of the faithful. From his tomb there issues continually a liquid that heals the sick.
At Rome, the transferal of the body of St. Jerome, priest, confessor, and Doctor of the Church, from Bethlehem of Judea to the Basilica of St. Mary Major's at-the-Crib.
Also, at Bari in Apulia, the transferal of the body of St. Nicholas, bishop and confessor, from Myra, a city of Lycia.
The Tenth Day of May
At Florence, St. Antoninus, archbishop of the same city and a member of the Order of Preachers. On account of the excellence of his doctrine and his holiness, he was compelled to become bishop, although he was unwilling. He was illustrious for his mercy and his piety. He likewise excelled to a remarkable degree in sacerdotal zeal. He was so celebrated for his prudence and good counsel, that he was justly called "Antoninus the Counsellor." Famous for his virtues and his miracles, he departed for Heaven in the seventieth year of his life, on May 2. He lies buried in the Church of San Marco where he is held in high veneration by the people. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, on the Via Latina, the birthday of the holy martyrs Gordian and Epimachus. In the time of Julian the Apostate, Gordian was long beaten with whips loaded with lead for confessing Christ's name, and at last beheaded. He was buried at night by the Christians on the same road in a crypt to which the relics of Blessed Epimachus the Martyr had been transferred a short while before from Alexandria, where he had suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith on December 12. A memory.
In the land of Hus, holy Job the Prophet, a man of admirable patience.
At Rome, Blessed Calepodius, priest and martyr. The Emperor Alexander caused him to be slain with the sword, and his body to be dragged through the city and cast into the Tiber. After it had been recovered, Pope Callistus buried it. Palmatius the consul was also beheaded with his wife and children, and forty-two others of his household, of both sexes; likewise the senator Simplicius with his wife and sixty-eight of his household; and also Felix with Blanda, his wife. Their heads were hung at various gates of the city as a warning to the Christians.
Likewise at Rome, on the Via Latina at Centurn Aulae, the birthday of the holy martyrs Quartus and Quinctius, whose bodies were taken to Capua.
At Leutini in Sicily, the holy martyrs Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus.
At Smyrna, St. Dioscorides, martyr.
At Taranto, St. Cataldus, bishop, renowned for miracles.
At Madrid, St. Isidore the Ploughman. He is famous for his miracles, and Gregory XV inscribed him in the number of the saints, together with SS. Ignatius, Francis Xavier, Teresa, and Philip Neri.
At Milan, the finding of the bodies of the holy martyrs Nazarius and Celsus. St. Ambrose, the bishop, found the body of St. Nazarius still sprinkled with fresh blood, and bore it to the Basilica of the Apostles, together with the body of Blessed Celsus, a youth whom he had reared. During the persecution of Nero, Anolinus had commanded both to be slain by the sword on July 28, on which day the celebration of their martyrdom is observed.
The Eleventh Day of May
At Cremona, Blessed Albert of Valle d'Ogna near Bergamo, a tertiary of our Order, who was renowned for his miracles. He died on May 7. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Via Salaria, the birthday of Blessed Anthimus, priest. After marvels of virtue and preaching, he was thrown into the Tiber in Diocletian's persecution, rescued by an angel, and restored to his own oratory. Then he was beheaded and passed as a victor to heaven.
In the same city, St. Evellius, martyr, of the household of Nero. Witnessing the martyrdom of St. Torpes, he also believed in Christ; for this reason he also was beheaded.
Likewise at Rome, the holy martyrs Maximus, Bassus, and Fabius, who were slain on the Via Salaria, under Diocletian.
At Osimo in Piceno, the holy martyrs Sisinius, deacon, Diocletius and Florentius, disciples of the priest St. Anthimus. They fulfilled their martyrdom by being stoned to death in the reign of Diocletian.
At Camerino, the holy martyrs Anastasius and his companions. They were slain in the persecution of Decius under the governor Antiochus.
At Varennes in Gaul, St. Gangulphus, martyr.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Mamertus, bishop. To avert an imminent slaughter, he instituted in the city Solemn Litanies for three days before the Lord's Ascension. This rite the Universal Church afterward approved by adopting it.
At Souvigny in Gaul, the death of St. Majolus, Abbot of Cluny, whose life was remarkable for holy merits.
At Naples in Campania, St. Francis of Jerome, confessor and priest, of the Society of Jesus. He was born in the town of Grottaglie in the Diocese of Taranto. He showed a wonderful charity and patience in looking after the salvation of souls, and Pope Gregory XVI inscribed him in the list of the saints.
At San Severino in Piccno, St. Illuminatus, confessor.
The Twelfth Day of May
In the Dominican monastery of Aveiro, the birthday of the virgin, Blessed Joan, Infanta of Portugal, daughter of King Alphonse V. Pope Innocent XII took counsel with the Cardinals of the Sacred Congregation of Rites and, because of Blessed Joan's singular merits, granted permission to all Portugal and the whole Dominican Order to celebrate her feast. The office for it was to be taken from the Common of a Virgin not a Martyr. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Via Ardeatina, the holy martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, brothers; together with Domitilla, whose slaves they were. They first endured a long exile on the island of Pontia because of their faith. Later, they were subjected to a most brutal flogging. Then, when the ex-consul Minutius Rufus was trying by the use of the rack and of fire, to force them to sacrifice to the gods, the brothers answered that they had been baptized by the Apostle St. Peter himself and that under no condition would they offer sacrifice. Whereupon they were beheaded. By the command of Pope Clement VIII their sacred relics, together with those of Flavia Domitilla, were on the eve of this day solemnly transferred from the deaconry (3) of St. Hadrian to the old church which bears their name and which was now restored. It was here that they had formerly been buried. The Pope also ordered that the feast of Domitilla the virgin, whose martyrdom was mentioned on May 7, should be observed on this day. A memory.
Likewise at Rome, on the Via Aurelia, St. Pancras, martyr. When he was fourteen years old he was martyred under Diocletian by being beheaded. A memory.
At Salamina in Cyprus, St. Epiphanius, bishop. He excelled in many branches of learning and the knowledge of sacred letters, and stood forth remarkable for holiness of life, zeal for the Catholic faith, generosity towards the poor, and the power of working miracles.
At Constantinople, St. Germanus, bishop, famous for virtue and learning. He opposed Lco the Isaurian with great firmness when an edict was published against the veneration of holy images.
At Treves, St. Modoald, bishop.
At Rome, St. Dionysius, uncle of the martyr St. Pancras.
At Agirone in Sicily, St. Philip, priest. He was sent to that island by the Roman Pontiff, and converted a great part thereof to Christ. His holiness was chiefly manifested in freeing those possessed with devils.
In the city of Calzada, in Spain, St. Dominic, confessor.
The Thirteenth Day of May
At Bologna, a commemoration of the precious death of Blessed Imelda, virgin, of the Order of Preachers After receiving the sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist, which she most ardently desired, she could not sustain the most intense fire of love. Her journey in life ended, she happily entered heaven to reign as a victim of love. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the dedication of the church of St. Mary of the Martyrs. In the reign of the Emperor Phocas, Pope St. Boniface IV purified the Pantheon, the ancient temple of all the gods, and consecrated it in honor of our Lady and all the holy martyrs. But later, the Sovereign Pontiff, Gregory IV, decreed that the annual solemnity, now extended to honor all saints, should be observed by the Universal Church on November 1.
At Constantinople, Blessed Mucius, priest and martyr. At the time of the Emperor Diocletian and the proconsul Laudicius, he was subjected to many penalties and tortures because of his faith. He was first tortured at Amphipolis in Macedonia; then he was taken to Constantinople where he was beheaded.
At Alexandria, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were slain by the Arians in the church at Theonas on account of their Catholic faith.
At Heraclea in Thrace, St. Glyceria, a Roman martyr. She suffered many grievous torments from the hands of the governor Sabinus in the reign of the Emperor Antoninus; but she escaped unharmed from them all by the help of God. At length she was cast to the wild beasts; when one of them had bitten her, she gave up her soul to God.
At Utrecht, St. Servatius, Bishop of the Church of Tongres. His merits were made plain to all men by the fact that, in winter, when snow covered all the earth round about, it never fell upon his tomb, until by the zeal of the citizens a basilica was built thereon. His feast is observed May 22.
In Palestine, St. John the Silent. He resigned the see of Colonia in Armenia, retired to the laura (4) of St. Sabbas, and finally departed this life by a holy death.
The Fourteenth Day of May
At Santarem in Portugal, the death of Blessed Giles of Vouzella of our Order. He was reowned for his penance and for the power of working miracles. semi-duplex feast.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, the birthday of St. Boniface, martyr, who suffered under Diocletian and Maximian. His body was afterward removed to Rome and buried on the Via Latina.
In Gaul, St. Pontus, martyr. His earnest teaching converted to the faith of Christ two Caesars: Philip and his son of the same name. Later, during the reign of the Caesars Valerian and Gallienus, Pontus received the crown of martyrdom.
In Syria, the holy martyrs Victor and Corona, under the Emperor Antoninus. Victor was subjected to various terrible torments by the judge Sebastian. Corona, the wife of a soldier, began to declare him blessed for his constancy in martyrdom, and she saw two crowns descend from heaven, one sent for Victor and one for herself. When she had testified to this publicly, she herself was put to death by being torn apart between two trees; Victor, however, was beheaded.
In Sardinia, the holy martyrs Justa, Justina, and Henedina.
At Ferentino in Tuscany, St. Bonifacc, bishop. As Pope St. Gregory relates, he was known from childhood for holiness and the gift of miracles.
The Fifteenth Day of May
St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest and confessor, who founded the Brothers of the Christian Schools and who died on April 7. A duplex feast.
In Spain, SS. Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Caecilius, Hesychius, and Euphrasius. They were ordained bishops at Rome by the holy Apostles and sent to preach the Word of God in Spain. They evangelized various cities and brought the faith of Christ to innumerable multitudes. They were martyred in different places in that country: Torquatus at Guadix, Ctesiphon at Verga, Secundus at Avila, Indaletius at Urci, Caecilius at Granada, Hesychius at Gibraltar, Euphrasius at Andujar.
At Faustina in Sardinia, St. Simplicius, bishop and martyr. He gained martyrdom by being pierced with a spear, at the time of the Emperor Diocletian, and the governor Barbarus.
At Evora in Portugal, St. Mancius, martyr.
On the island of Chios, the birthday of Blessed Isidore, martyr. In his basilica, there is a well into which he is said to have been hurled. Oftentimes the sick who drink some of the water of this well are healed.
At Lampsacus in the Hellespont, the suffering of SS. Peter, Andrew, Paul, and Dionysia.
In Auvergne in Gaul, the holy martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus, and their companions.
At Gheel in Brabant, St. Dympna, virgin and martyr, daughter of a king of Ireland. She was beheaded at the command of her father because she refused to give up her faith and her virginity.
The Sixteenth Day of May
At Prague in Bohemia, St. John Nepomucen, a canon of the metropolitan church. Urged in vain to break the seal of the confessional, he merited the palm of martyrdom by being thrown into the River Moldau. A duplex feast.
At Gubblo, St. Ubald, bishop and confessor, noted for miracles.
At Auxerre, the suffering of St. Peregrinus, the first bishop of that city. In company with other clerics, he was sent by Pope Sixtus II into Gaul, where he fulfilled his duty of preaching the Gospel. For this, he was condemned to death and thus gained a glorious martyrdom.
In Persia, the holy martyrs Adus, bishop, seven priests, nine deacons, and seven virgins. They were subjected to various kinds of tortures under King Yezdegerd, and so fulfilled a glorious martyrdom.
In Isauria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Aquilinus and Victorian.
At Uzala in Africa, the holy martyrs Felix and Gennadius.
In Palestine, the suffering of the holy monks in the laura of St. Sabbal who were put to death by the Saracens.
At Amiens in Gaul, St. Honoratus, bishop.
At LeMans in Gaul, St. Domnolus, bishop.
At Mirandola in Emilia, St. Possidius, Bishop of Calama in Numidia, a disciple of St. Augustine, and his biographer.
In the monastery of Enachduin in Ireland, the passing of St. Brendan, Abbot of Clonfort.
At Treves in Gaul, St. Fidolus, confessor.
At Fréjus in Gaul, St. Maxima, virgin, who died peacefully, renowned for many virtues. +
The Seventeenth Day of May
At Aix in Provence, Blessed Andrew Abellon, confessor, of the Order of Preachers Outstanding for his preaching of the divine Word and for his zeal in restoring regular observance, he became more famous by the miracles performed through his intercession after death. A semi-duplex feast.
At Villareal in Spain, St. Paschal, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor. He was a man of wondrous innocence and penitence, whom Leo XIII declared celestial patron of all Eucharistic Congresses and societies of the Most Holy Eucharist.
At Noyon in Gaul, the holy martyrs Heradius, Paul, and Aquilinus with two others.
At Chalcedon, the holy martyrs Solochan and his fellow-soldiers under the Emperor Maximian.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Adrion, Victor, and Basilla.
On the same day, St. Restituta, virgin and martyr. In the reign of Valerian, she was tortured in various ways by Proculus the judge in Africa; then she was placed in a boat filled with pitch and tow, so that she might be burned alive at sea. When fire was lighted, the flames turned against her persecutors, and she gave up her spirit in prayer to God. The boat with her body, by the will of God, was borne to Ischia, an island near Naples in Campania, where it was received by the Christians with great reverence. Afterward Constantine the Great erected a basilica at Naples in her honor.
The Eighteenth Day of May
At Camerino (Italy) St. Venantius, martyr. He was only fifteen years old, at the time of the Emperor Decius and the governor Antiochus, when, with ten companions, he completed the course of a glorious contest by being beheaded. A duplex feast.
At Ravenna, the birthday of St. John I, pope and martyr. He was lured there by Theodoric, the Arian King of Italy, and because of his orthodox faith was cast into prison where he was ill-treated until his death. His festival is, however, observed on May 27, on which day his blessed body was taken to Rome and buried in the Basilica of St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles.
At Spoleto, St. Felix, bishop, who gained the palm of martyrdom under the Emperor Maximian.
At Heraclea in Egypt, St. Potarnion, bishop, who was a confessor under Maximian Galerius. Afterward, he was crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Constantius and the Arian governor Philagrius. The holy Fathers of the Church, Athanasius and Epiphanius, have sung the praises of this blessed man.
In Egypt, St. Dioscorus, lector. The governor inflicted many different tortures on him, such as pulling out his nails and burning his sides with torches. But they who were torturing him fell down, terrified by shining of a light from heaven. At last, burned with red-hot metal plates, he completed his martyrdom.
At Ancyra in Galatia, St. Theodotus, martyr, and seven holy virgins, SS. Thecussa his aunt, Alexandra, Claudia, Faina, Euphrasia, Matrona, and Julitta. They were first sent to a place of infamy by the governor, but by God's power were preserved. Stones were then fastened to their necks, and they were cast into a marsh. Their relics were gathered up by Theodotus and honorably buried, whereupon he himself was arrested by the governor and grievously mangled. At last, being put to the sword, he obtained the crown of martyrdom.
At Upsala in Sweden, St. Eric, king and martyr.
At Rome, St. Felix, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin,, famous for his evangelical simplicity and charity. Clement XI, the Sovereign Pontiff, inscribed him in the roll of the saints.
The Nineteenth Day of May
The birthday of St. Peter di Morrone, confessor. After being a hermit, he was created Supreme Pontiff and named Celestine V. He abdicated the papacy and led a religious life in solitude. Famous for virtues and miracles, he passed to the Lord. A duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Pudentiana, virgin. She underwent innumerable trials. After caring reverently for the burial of many destitute martyrs, and distributing all her goods to the poor, she at length passed from earth to heaven. A memory.
In the same city, St. Pudens, senator, father of the aforesaid St. Pudentiana and of St. Praxedes, virgin. He was adorned for Christ in baptism by the Apostles, and he guarded his robe of innocence without stain until (he received) the crown of life.
Likewise in Rome, on the Appian Way, the birthday of SS. Calocerus and Parthenius, eunuchs. The former was chamberlain to the wife of the Emperor Decius, and the other chief officer of another office. They refused to offer sacrifice to idols and were tortured in various cruel ways. At last, after their necks had been broken with a red-hot bar, they gave up their souls to God.
At Nicomedia, St. Philoterus, martyr, son of the proconsul Pacian. He suffered much under the Emperor Diocletian, and received the crown of martyrdom.
In the same city, six holy virgins and martyrs, of whom the most famous was Cyriaca. She boldly rebuked the wickedness of Maximian. (She was grievously beaten and mangled, and at last was burned to death, ,thus gaining martyrdom.
At Canterbury in England, St. Dustan, bishop.
At Lovannec in Brittany, St. Ivo, priest and confessor who, for the love of Christ, defended the cause of the orphan, the widow, and the poor.
The Twentieth Day of May
At Perugia, Blessed Colomba of Rieti virgin, of the Order of our Father St. Dominic. She was renowned for her purity, patience, and abstinence. A semi-duplex feast.
At Aquila, among the Vestinians, (5) St. Bernadine of Siena, priest and confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor, who enlightened Italy by word and example.
At Rome, St. Plautilla, the wife of a consul. She was the sister of the consul Flavius Clemens and the mother of the holy virgin Flavia Domitilla, both of whom were holy martyrs. She was baptized by the Apostle St. Peter and died a peaceful death, being noted for her virtues.
Likewise at Rome on the Via Salaria, the birthday of St. Basilla, virgin. She was of royal birth and had been betrothed to a noble of high rank., When she refused to marry, he denounced her as being a Christian. Gallienus Augustus decreed that she should either accept her betrothed or die by the sword. Upon hearing this, she replied that she had espoused herself to the King of Kings. She was pierced with a sword.
At Nîmes in Gaul, St. Baudelius, martyr. Having been seized by the pagans, he refused to offer sacrifice. He remained unmoved in the faith of Christ despite scourging and tortures, and so received by his precious death the crown of martyrdom.
At Edessa, near Aegea, in Cilicia, the holy martyrs Thalalaeus, Asterius, Alexander, and their companions, who suffered under the Emperor Numerian.
In the Thebaid, St. Aquila, martyr, who was torn with iron combs for (his belief in) Christ.
At Bourges in Aquitaine, St. Austregisilus, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Anastasius, bishop.
At Pavia, St. Theodore, bishop.
The Twenty-first Day of May
St. Valens, bishop, who was slain with three children.
At Alexandria, the commemoration of the holy martyrs Secundus, priest, and others. In the reign of the Emperor Constantius, the Arian Bishop George ordered them to be killed in a most savage way on the holy day of Pentecost.
In Morocco, the birthday of the holy martyrs Timothy, Polius, and Eutychius, deacons. They spread abroad the Word of God in that region, and merited to be crowned together.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Polycuctus, Victorius, and Donatus.
At Cordoba in Spain, St. Secundinus, martyr.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Synesius and Thcopompus.
At Caesarea Philippi, the birthday of the holy martyrs Nicostrarus and Antiochus, tribunes, with other soldiers.
At Alexandria, the commemoration of the holy bishops and priests who were sent into exile by the Arians, and merited to be joined to the holy confessors.
At Nice near the Var river, St. Hospitius, confessor, remarkable for the virtue of abstinence and the spirit of prophecy.
The Twenty-second Day of May
(At Utrecht), St. Servatius, Bishop of the Church of Tongres, whose birthday was May 13. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Faustinus, Timothy, and Venustus.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Castus and Emilius. They completed their martyrdom by the torture of fire. St. Cyprian wrote that, although these men had yielded when first tortured, yet in the second contest the Lord made them victorious so that they became stronger than the flames to which they had first yielded.
At Comana in Pontus, St. Basiliscus, martyr. Under the Emperor Maximian and the governor Agrippa, he was shod with iron shoes which were fastened to his feet by red-hot nails. He also suffered many other tortures, and was at last beheaded and cast into a river, thereby obtaining the glory of martyrdom.
In Corsica, St. Julia, virgin, who was crowned by the punishment of the cross.
In Spain, St. Quiteria, virgin and martyr.
At Ravenna, St. Marcian, bishop and confessor.
At Pistoia in Tuscany, Blessed Attho, of the Order of Vallombrosa.
In the district of Auxerre, Blessed Romanus, abbot, who provided food for St. Benedict in the cave. Going forth thence into Gaul, he built a monastery, and having placed many followers in the path of sanctity, died in the Lord.
At Aquino, St. Fulk, confessor.
At Auxerre, St. Helen, virgin.
At Cascia in Umbria, St. Rita, widow and nun of the Order of the Hermits of St. Augustine. After worldly espousals, she loved Christ alone, the eternal Spouse.
The Twenty-third Day of May
At Langres in Gaul, the suffering of St. Desiderius, bishop. Seeing his people harried by an army of the Vandals, he went to their king to make supplication on behalf of his flock. The king ordered his throat to be cut at once and the bishop cheerfully presented his neck to the executioner that he might die for the sheep entrusted to his care. Thus with the stroke of a sword he went to Heaven. There suffered with him many of his flock, all of whom were buried in the same city.
In Spain, the holy martyrs Epitacius, bishop, and Basileus.
In the district of Lyons, St. Desidcrius, Bishop of Vienne, who was stoned to death by command of King Theoderic, and so crowned with martyrdom.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctian, Lucius, and Julian, who suffered in the Vandal persecution and merited eternal crowns.
In Cappadocia, the commemoration of the holy martyrs who were slain in the persecution of Maximian Galerius. They were killed by having their legs broken. Others at the same time in Mesopotamia were hung up by their feet, head downward, stifled with smoke, and burned by a slow fire, thus fulfilling their martyrdom. At Synnada in Phrygia, St. Michael, bishop. On the same day, St. Mercurialis, bishop.
At Naples in Campania, St. Euphebius, bishop.
At Rome, St. John Baptist de Rossi, priest and confessor, wondrous patience and for his charity in preaching the Gospel to the poor.
At Norcia, the holy monks Eutychius and Florentius, who are mentioned by Pope St. Gregory.
The Twenty-fourth Day of May
At Bologna, the transferral of the body of our Father St. Dominic. At the time of Pope Gregory IX his sacred body was transferred to a worthier place. In addition to the other miracles which occurred, his body gave forth an aroma of such great fragrance that all who were present were filled with a wonderful joy. Thus did God beautifully indicate how pleasing to Him was the excelling sanctity of His apostle. A totum duplex feast.
At Antioch, the birthday of St. Manahen, foster-brother of Herod the, Tetrach.(6) Under the influence of the New Testament, he became a "doctor and a prophet." He lies buried in that city.
Likewise Blessed Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, whom, Luke the evangelist mentions. (7)
At Portus Romanus, the birthday of St. Vincent, martyr.
At Nantes in Brittany, the blessed martyrs Donatian and Rogatian, brothers. At the time of the Emperor Diocletian, they were cast into prison for their constancy in the faith. They were stretched on the rack and mangled; then they were pierced by a lance. Finally their heads were cut off.
In Istria, the holy martyrs Zoellus, Servilius, Felix, Silvanus, and Diocles.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Melctius, an army general, and his two hundred and fifty-two companions, who suffered martyrdom by various kinds of deaths.
Likewise, the holy martyrs Susanna, Marciana, and Palladia, wives of the aforesaid soldiers. They were slain together with their children.
At Milan, St. Robustian, martyr.
At Brescia, St. Afra, martyr, who suffered under the Emperor Hadrian.
In the monastery of Lerins in Gaul, St. Vincent, priest, remarkable for learning and holiness.
In Morocco in Africa, the suffering of Blessed John of Prado, priest and martyr, of the Order of Friars Minor. For preaching the Gospel, he was punished by chains, imprisonment, scourging, and many other tortures which he bore bravely for Christ. He completed his martyrdom by fire.
The Twenty-fifth Day of May
At Rome, on the Via Nomentana, the birthday of Blessed Urban I, pope and martyr. By his exhortation and teaching many persons, including Tiburtius and Valerian, received the faith of Christ and suffered martyrdom. He himself suffered much for God's Church in the persecution of Alexander Severus, and at length was crowned with martyrdom by being beheaded. Three lessons.
At Salerno, the death of Blessed Gregory VII, pope and confessor, the upholder and valiant defender of the liberty of the Church.
At Jarrow in England, the birthday of St. Bede the Venerable, priest, confessor and Doctor of the Church. He was celebrated for his holiness and learning. His festival is observed on May 27.
At Florence, the birthday of St. Mary Magdalen de'Pazzi, virgin of the Carmelite Order, who was noted for her holy life. Her festival is observed on May 29.
At Silistria in Bulgaria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Pasicrates, Valention and two others who were crowned with them.
At Milan, St. Dionysius, bishop. He was exiled to Cappadocia by the Arian Emperor Constantius on account of his Catholic faith. There, more a martyr than a confessor, he gave up his soul to God . His holy body was sent by Bishop Aurelius to St. Ambrose, bishop of Milan, in which pious work St. Basil the Great is also said to have had a share.
At Florence, the birthday of St. Zenobius, bishop of that city, who is well known because of his holy life and miracles.
In Britain, St. Aldhelm Bishop of Sherborne.
In the territory of Troyes, St. Leo, confessor.
At Veroli in the Hernican mountains, the transferal of the body of St. Mary, the mother of James. Her holy body is honored by many miracles.
At Assisi in Umbria, the transferal of the body of St. Francis, confessor, at the time of the pontificate of Pope Gregory IX. +
The Twenty-sixth Day of May
At Rome, St. Philip Neri, priest and confessor, founder of the Congregation of the Oratory. He is famous for his virginity, his gifts of prophecy, and miracles. A duplex feast.
Likewise at Rome, St. Eleutherius, pope and martyr. He brought many Roman nobles to the faith of Christ, and sent SS. Damian and Fugatius to Britian where they baptized King Lucius, together with his wife and almost all his people.
At Canterbury in England, St. Augustine, bishop and confessor. He was sent there with others by Pope St. Gregory, and preached Christ's Holy Gospel to the English folk. He died there, glorious for virtues and miracles. His feast is kept on May 28.
At Athens, the birthday of Blessed Quadratus, a disciple of the Apostles. In the persecution of Hadrian, by his faith and zeal, he gathered together the (faithful of his) Church who had been scattered in great terror. In the defence of the Christian religion, he offered to the Emperor a most useful book, one worthy of the teaching of the Apostles.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Simitrius, priest, and twenty companions, who suffered in the reign of Antoninus Pius.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Zacharias, bishop and martyr, who suffered under Trajan.
In Africa, St. Quadratus, martyr, on whose anniversary St. Augustine delivered a panegyric.
At Todi in Umbria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Felicissimus, Herachus, and Paulinus.
In the district of Auxerre, the suffering of St. Priscus, martyr. He was beheaded together with a great number of fellow Christians.
The Twenty-seventh Day of May
St. Bede the Venerable, priest, confessor and Doctor of the Church, who departed to heaven on May 25. A duplex feast.
St. John I, pope and martyr. His birthday is mentioned on May 18, but his festival is observed today on account of the transferal of his sacred body.
At Silistria in Bulgaria, the suffering of Blessed Julius. He was a veteran and a soldier of note in the reign of the Emperor Alexander, yet he was arrested and brought before the governor Maximus. In his presence, Julius anathematized the idols and confessed the name of Christ with the utmost firmness; for this, he was put to death.
In the district of Arras, St. Ranulphus, martyr.
At Sora, St. Restituta, virgin and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Aurelius and under the proconsul Agathius, she was tried for the faith. She overcame the onslaughts of demons, the entreaties of parents, and savage tortures. Finally she was beheaded together with other Christians, thus obtaining the crown of martyrdom.
At Grange in Gaul, St. Eutropius, bishop, illustrious for his virtues and miracles.
At Wiirzburg in Germany, St. Bruno, bishop and confessor.
The Twenty-eighth Day of May
At Florence, Blessed Mary-Bartholomew Bagnesi, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Dominic. Tried daily by various sufferings, she merited to be conformed to her Crucified Spouse. A semi-duplex feast.
St. Augustine, Bishop of Canterbury and confessor, whose birthday is mentioned on May 26.
In Sardinia, the holy martyrs Emilius, Felix, Priam, and Lucian, who fought for Christ and were gloriously crowned.
At Chartres in Gaul, St. Caraunus, martyr who, under the Emperor Dornitian, received martyrdom by beheading.
Likewise, the suffering of SS. Crescens, Dioscorides, Paul, and Helladius.
At Thecua in Palestine, the holy martyred monks, who were slain by the Saracens in the time of the younger Theodosius. The inhabitants of the place gathered together their holy relics, and preserved them with great reverence.
At Corinth, St. Heliconis, martyr, in the time of the Emperor Gordian. When Perenius was governor, she was first subjected to numerous torturcs. Then, under his successor Justin, she was again tortured, but was set free by angels. Next, she was mutilated, exposed to wild beasts, and even tried by fire. Finally, she completed her martyrdom by being beheaded.
At Paris, St. Germanus, bishop and confessor. How great was his sanctity, how numerous his merits, and die miracles by which his fame was enhanced, all this was committed to writing by Fortunatus, the bishop.
At Milan, St. Senator, bishop, famed for his virtues and learning.
At Urgel in Spain, St. Justus, bishop.
At Florence, St. Podius, bishop and confessor.
At Novara, St. Bernard of Mentone, confessor. He built a famous monastery and hospice in the Alps on Mons Jovis. (8)
The Twenty-ninth Day of May
At Avignonet in Gaul, Blessed William (of the Order of Preachers) and his companions. Zealously carrying out the duties of inquisitors in the diocese of Toulouse, they were treacherously seized by Albigensian heretics and put to the sword. By their glorious death they gained heaven. A semi-duplex feast.
St. Mary Magdalen deTazzi, virgin, of the Carmelite Order, whose birthday is mentioned on May 25.
At Rome, on the Via Aurelia, the birthday of St. Restitutus, martyr.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, the suffering of SS. Conon and his twelve-year-old son. In the reign of the Emperor Aurelian, they were placed on a red-hot gridiron over burning coals on which oil had been poured. They suffered this torture with the utmost constancy. Then they were stretched on the rack and endured burning with fire. Finally, they died after their hands had been broken with a wooden mallet.
In the neighborhood of Trent, the birthday of the holy martyrs Sisinius, Martyrius, and Alexander. Paulinus, in his life of St. Ambrose, states that they were persecuted by the heathens in the district of Anaunia during the reign of the emperor Honorius, and obtained the crown of martyrdom.
At Camcrino, the suffering of one thousand five hundred and twentyfive holy martyrs.
At Caesarea Philippi, the holy martyrs Theodosia, who was the mother of the martyr St. Procopius, and twelve other noble matrons. They were beheaded in the persecution of Diocletian.
At Treves, blessed Maximinus, bishop and confessor. To his honor, he protected the bishop St. Athanasius, when the latter was in exile during the Arian persecution.
At Verona, St. Maximus, bishop.
At Arcano in Latium (Italy), St. Eleutherius, confessor.
The Thirtieth Day of May
At Pistoia, Blessed Andrew Franchi, of the Order of Preachers, bishop and confessor. Aflame with apostolic zeal, he gained innumerable souls for Christ. He died in the love of Christ in the year 1401. A semi-duplex feast.
St. Felix I, pope and martyr, whose birthday is commemorated on December 30.
At Terres in Sardinia, the holy martyrs Gabinus and Crispulus.
At Antioch, SS. Sycus and Palatine, who suffered many tortures for Christ.
At Ravenna, St. Exuperantius, bishop and confessor.
At Pavia (in Italy), St. Anastasius, bishop.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, SS. Basil and Emmelia his wife, the parents of SS. Basil the Great, the Bishops Gregory of Nyssa, and Peter of Sebaste, and St. Macrina, virgin. These holy spouses were exiled in the time of Galerius Maximian and dwelt in the deserts of Pontus. They died after the persecution, leaving their children heirs of their virtues.
At Seville in Spain, St. Ferdinand III, King of Castile and Leon. On account of the excellence of his virtues, he was called "The Saint." He was renowned for his zeal in propagating the faith. After overcoming the Moors, he left his earthly kingdom and entered an eternal one.
At Rouen, the virgin St. Joan of Arc, called the Maid of Orleans. After fighting bravely for her fatherland, she was at length delivered into the power of her enemies, condemned by a wicked judge and burned at the stake. Benedict XV, the Supreme Pontiff, inscribed her on the roll of the saints.
The Thirty-first Day of May
The Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mediatrix of all Graces. A totum duplex feast.
St. Angela Merid, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Francis. She was the Foundress of the Nuns of St. Ursula, and was called by her heavenly Spouse to receive an incorruptible crown on January 27. A memory.
At Rome, the virgin St. Petronilla, a spiritual daughter of the apostle St. Peter. She refused to wed Flaccus, a nobleman. Accepting three days' delay for deliberation, she spent them in fasting and prayer, and on the third day, after receiving the Sacrament of Christ, gave up the ghost. A memory.
At Aquileia, the holy martyrs Cantius, Cantian, and Cantianilla, brothers and sister. They came from the famous race of the Anicii. Together with Protus their instructor, they were beheaded under Diocletian and Maximian for their constancy in the faith of Christ.
At Torres in Sardinia, St. Crescentian, martyr.
At Comana in Pontus, St. Hermias, soldier. Under the Emperor Antoninus, he was delivered by the help of God from numberless savage tortures. He converted the executioner to Christ and made him a partaker of the same crown of martyrdom, which he himself first received, being beheaded by the sword.
At Verona, St. Lupicinus, bishop.
At Rome, St. Paschasius, deacon and confessor, whom Pope St. Gregory mentions.
NOTES 2. Romans, 16:14.
3. The deaconry (diaconia) originally was the place where food and alms were distributed to the poor by one of the seven deacons of Rome. Each diaconia consisted of a hall and a chapel.
4. A laura was a monastery where the monks lived in separate huts or cells around the church.
5. The Vestinians were an ancient branch of the Sabines, who settled on the highlands of Rieti.
6. Acts, 13:2.
7. Luke, 8:3.
8. Mons Jovis is now called after the saint -- Mount St. Bernard.
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