Old Stuff

The Thirtieth Day of January

At Pisa, in Etruria, Blessed Maria Mancini (widow, who joined the order of Preachers). From childhood, she was devoted to works of piety. Later, when married, she showed the utmost commiseration toward the sick, and finally she entered the religious life where she pursued the path to perfection. A semi-duplex feast.

St. Martina, virgin and martyr, whose birthday is commemorated on January 1. A memory.

At Edessa in Syria, St. Barsimaeus, bishop. After converting many Gentiles to the faith and sending them to their crowns before him, in the reign of Trajan he followed them with the palm of martyrdom.

At Antioch, the suffering of Blessed Hippolytus, priest. For a while he was deceived by the schism of Novatus, but enlightened by grace he returned to the unity of the faith, and in behalf of it completed an illustrious martyrdom. Asked by his people which Church was the true one, he anathematized the doctrine of Novatus, declaring that he would keep the same faith as the See of Peter held. So saying, he presented his throat to the executioner.

In Africa, the suffering of the holy martyrs Felician, Philappian, and one hundred and twenty-four others.

Also Blessed Alexander, who was arrested in the persecution of Decius. He gave up his spirit amid the tortures of the executioners, glorious for his venerable age and his repeated confession (of faith).

At Edessa in Syria, St. Barses, bishop, famous for the power of healing. The Arian Emperor Valens exiled him because of his Catholic faith. His place of exile having been changed three times, each time for a distant region, Barses died of exhaustion.

At Jerusalem, the birthday of St. Mathias, bishop, of whom are told deeds wondrous and full of faith. In the reign of Hadrian, he suffered much for Christ, but at length died in peace.

At Pavia, St. Armentarius, bishop and confessor.

In Maubeuge, in a monastery of Hainault (Belgium), St. Aldegund, virgin, in the time of King Dagobert.

At Viterbo, the virgin St. Hyacintha Mariscotti, nun of the Third Order of St. Francis. She was noted for (her virtues of) penance and charity. Pope Pius VII numbered her among the saints.

At Milan, St. Savina, a most religious woman, who died in the Lord while praying at the tombs of the martyrs SS. Nabor and Felix.

Near Paris, St. Bathildis, queen, famed for the glory of her miracles and her sanctity.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at January 30, 2003 08:04 AM