Old Stuff

The Seventh Day of March

In the monastery of Fossa Nuova, near Terracina, St. Thomas Aquinas of the Order of Preachers, confessor and Doctor of the Church. He was most illustrious for nobility of birth, holiness of life, and knowledge of theology. He preserved until death the grace of virginity. On account of the extraordinary superiority of his learning, he rightly gained the tide of "Angelic Doctor." His writings, remarkable for the solidity of doctrine and approved by our Lord Himself, marvellously illuminate as dazzling lights the Catholic Church and every school of the orthodox world. Leo XIII declared him to be the celestial patron of all Catholic schools. A totum duplex feast of the first class.

At Carthage, the birthday of the holy martyrs Perpetua and Felicitas. Felicitas, who was with child, was granted a respite, in accordance with the law, until she was delivered. St. Augustine observes that when she was in labor she had sorrow, but when she was thrown to wild beasts she was glad. Together with Perpetua and Felicitas, during the reign of Severus, there suffered Revocatus, Saturninus, and Secundulus. Secundulus died in prison but all the others were killed by the wild beasts. The feast of Perpetua and Felicitas is kept March 6.

At Casearea in Palestine, the suffering of St. Eubulus. He was a companion of St. Hadrian. Two days after the latter's death, he was mangled by the lions and killed by the sword. He was the last one to receive the crown of martyrdom in that city.

At Nicomedia, St. Theophilus, bishop who, because of his veneration of holy images, was driven into exile where he died.

At Pelusiurn in Egypt, St. Paul, bishop and confessor. He too died in exile and for the same reason as St. Theophilus.

At Brescia (in Italy), St. Gaudiosus, bishop and confessor.

In the Thebaid, St. Paul, called the Simple.[1]

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnotes: [1] He was so called because of his childlike disposition and his humility.

Posted by billw at March 7, 2003 04:53 AM