Old Stuff

The Second Day of January

The Octave of St. Stephen, the Protomartyr. A memory.

In the town of Socino, in the Diocese of Cremona (Italy), Blessed Stephana Quinzani, virgin, of the Order of Preachers, who on January 2 went to her heavenly Spouse. A semi-duplex feast.

At Rome, the commemoration of many holy martyrs. They refused to obey the edict of Diocletian by which they were commanded to surrender their sacred books. They chose rather to give their bodies to the executioners than holy things to dogs.

At Antioch, the suffering of Blessed Isidore, bishop.

At Tomis in Pontus, the three holy brothers, Argeus, Narcissus and the youth Marcellinus. The young man was drafted as a recruit at the time of the Emperor Licinius. When he refused to perform military service,[1] he was flogged almost to death, and kept for a long time in prison. At last he was thrown into the sea, and so completed his martyrdom. His brothers were slain by the sword.

At Milan, St. Martinian, bishop.

At Nitria in Egypt, blessed Isidore, bishop and confessor.

On the same day, St. Siridion, bishop.

In the Thebaid, St. Macarius of Alexandria, priest and abbot.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnotes:
[1] Certain passages in the works of several early Christian writers gave some converts the impression that military service and the teachings of Christ were incompatible. The error was not widespread.

Posted by billw at January 2, 2003 05:23 AM