Old Stuff

The Twenty-fifth Day of August

At Carthage, St. Louis IX, King of France and confessor, illustrious for holiness of life and glorious miracles. His bones were later taken to Paris. A duplex feast.

At Rome, the birthday of St. Joseph Calasanctius, priest and confessor, noteworthy for his holy life and miracles. He founded the Order of Poor Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of the Christian Schools. His festival is observed on August 27.

Also at Rome, the holy martyrs Eusbius, Pontian, Vincent, and Peregrinus. Under the Emperor Commodus, they were first placed on the rack and stretched with ropes. Then they were beaten with clubs and their sides burnt with fire. Since they faithfully continued to the end to praise Christ, they were beaten with leaden-tipped whips until they died.

Also at Rome, the birthday of Blessed Nemesius, deacon, and the virgin Lucilla, his daughter. They were beheaded by command of the Emperor Valerian because they could not be turned from the faith of Christ. Their bodies were buried by Pope St. Stephen, and later interred in a more fitting tomb by St. Sixtus II on the Appian Way, on October 31. Gregory V removed them to the deaconry of Santa Maria Novella, together with SS. Symphronius, Olympius the tribune, Exuperia his wife, and his son Theodolus. The last three were converted by the help of Symphronius, baptized by the same Pope Stephen, and crowned with martyrdom. The bodies of these saints were found there in the pontificate of Gregory XIII, and more honorably laid to rest under the altar of the said church on December 8.

Likewise at Rome, St. Genesius, martyr. At first he had been an actor while he was still a gentile. He was mocking the Christian mysteries in the theatre in the presence of the Emperor Diocletian when, suddenly, inspired by God, he was converted to the faith and baptized. Forthwith by the Emperor's command he was cruelly beaten with clubs, then stretched upon the rack, tortured by the long-continued tearing of his flesh with hooks, and lastly burned with torches. But he continued in the faith of Christ, saying: "There is no King but Christ, and though I be slain a thousand times for Him, yet you cannot take Him from my life or from my heart." Finally, he merited the palm of martyrdom by being beheaded.

At Arles in Gaul, another blessed Genesius. By profession he was a notary. He refused to transcribe the impious edicts whereby the Christians were ordered to be punished and, casting away his books, publicly proclaimed himself a Christian. He was arrested and beheaded, and received the glory of martyrdom, being baptized in his own blood.

In Syria, St. Julian, martyr.

At Tarragona in Spain, St. Maginus, martyr.

At Talco in Spain, St. Geruntius, bishop, who preached the Gospel in that province in the time of the Apostles, and after many labors died in prison.

At Constantinople, St. Mennas, bishop.

At Utrecht, St. Gregory, bishop.

At Monte Falisco in Etruria, St. Thomas, Bishop of the Church of Hereford in England, and confessor.

At Naples in Campania, St. Patricia, virgin.

V. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at August 25, 2002 09:38 AM | TrackBack