Old Stuff

The Twenty-third Day of January

At Barcelona in Spain, St. Raymond of Peñafort, confessor and third master-general of the Order of Preachers. He was celebrated for his doctrine, holiness, and the glory of his miracles. He founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, and it was at his advice that James, King of Aragon, instituted in his domains the sacred Office of the Inquisition. When about to return to Barcelona from the island of Majorca, he crossed the sea miraculously carried by his cloak spread on the water, and entered his monastery although the gates remained closed. He is said to have raised forty persons from the dead. He was almost one hundred years old when, on the feast of the Epiphany, he went to heavenly glory. From his sepulchre there comes, as an unceasing miracle, a fine dust which is never exhausted and by means of which various ailments are cured. He was canonized by Clement VIII. A totum duplex feast of the second class.

At Rome, St. Emerentiana, virgin and martyr. While she was yet a catechumen, she was stoned to death by the pagans while she was praying at the tomb of her foster-sister, St. Agnes. A memory.

At Philippi in Macedonia, St. Parmenas, who was one of the first seven deacons (of the Church of Jerusalem)[1]. Surrendering himself to the grace of God, he perfectly fulfilled the office of preaching entrusted to him by his brethren, and under Trajan he obtained the glory of martyrdom.

At Ancyra in Galatia, St. Clement, bishop, who was tortured a number of times, and at the last completed his martyrdom under Diocletian.

In the same place and on the same day, St. Agathangelus, who suffered under the governor Lucius.

At Caesarea in Morocco, the holy martyrs Severian and Aquila, his wife, who were burned alive.

At Antinoe, a city of Egypt, St. Asclas, martyr. After many torments, he was thrown into a river, and thus rendered up his precious soul to God.

At Alexandria, St. John the Almsgiver, bishop of that city, most celebrated for his mercy toward the poor.

At Toledo in Spain, St. Ildefonsus, bishop. Because of the singular purity of his life and of the defence he made against heretics who denied the virginity of the Mother of God, he was by that same Blessed Mother clothed with a pure white garment, and at last, famed for his holiness was called to heaven.

In the province of Valeria (Italy), Blessed Martyrius, monk, whom Pope St. Gregory mentions.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnotes: [1] See Acts, 6:5.

Posted by billw at January 23, 2003 06:40 AM