Old Stuff

The Twenty-ninth Day of January

Note: this martyrology is based on the pre-1969 calendar.

St. Francis of Sales, Bishop of Geneva, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. He is the special patron of all Catholic writers, who explain, promote, or defend Christian Doctrine by publishing journals or other writings in the vernacular. He departed to heaven on December 28, but his feast is observed on this day, the date of the transferal of his body (to Savoy). A duplex feast.

At Treves, the death of blessed Valerius, bishop, a disciple of St. Peter the Apostle.

At Rome, on the Via Nomentana, the holy martyrs Papias and Maurus, soldiers, in the time of the Emperor Diocletian. At their first confession of Christ, Laodicius, the prefect of the city, ordered their mouths to be pounded with stones. After this, they were cast into prison and beaten with clubs; then they were flogged with lead-tipped scourges until they died.

At Perugia, St. Constantine, bishop and martyr. Together with his companions, he received the crown of martyrdom for his defence of the faith under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

At Milan, St. Aquilinus, priest, whose throat was pierced with a sword by the Arians, thus receiving the crown of martyrdom.

At Edessa in Syria, the holy martyrs Sarbellius and his sister Barbea, who were baptized by Bishop Blessed Barsimaeus. They were crowned with martyrdom under Lysias the governor in the persecution of Trajan.

Near Troyes (in Gaul), St. Sabinian, martyr, who was beheaded for the faith of Christ at the command of Aurelian the Emperor.

At Bourges in Aquitaine, St. Sulpicius Severus, bishop, remarkable for his learning and virtues.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at January 29, 2003 04:41 AM