Daily Devotions

The Ninth Day of August

The Vigil of St. Laurence, martyr.

At Florence (in Italy), Blessed John of Salerno, confessor, of our Order. He received the religious habit from the holy Patriarch Dominic and emulated his virtues. Sent to propagate our Order in Etruria, he labored greatly for the faith at Florence, especially by his preaching against the heretical Patarines. A semi-duplex feast.

At Rome, St. Romanus, soldier and martyr. Moved by the confession of faith of St. Laurence, he begged to be baptized by him, and was forthwith seized, beaten with clubs, and at last beheaded.

In Tuscany, the birthday of the holy martyrs Secundian, Marcellian, and Verian. In the time of Decius, by order of Promotus the proconsul, they were first scourged, then stretched on the rack, and torn with iron hooks. Then fire was applied to their sides. They merited the triumphal palm of martyrdom by being beheaded.

At Verona, the holy martyrs Firmus and Rusticus. At the time of the Emperor Maximian, under the judge Anolinus, they refused to sacrifice to idols and remained firm in confessing Christ. After they had endured many other tortures, they were beaten with clubs and beheaded.

In Africa, the commemoration of many holy martyrs. In the persecution of Valerian they were cast into the fire, and with Numidicus encouraging them obtained the palm of martyrdom. But Numidicus himself, although he was cast into the pyre with the others and then overwhelmed with stones, was dug out by his daughter who found he was still alive. He recovered, and afterward by reason of his virtues merited to be chosen for the office of the priesthood in the Church of Carthage by St. Cyprian.

At Constantinople, the holy martyrs Julian, Mardan, and eight others. Because they had set up an image of the Saviour at the Bronze Gate (of the city), all of them underwent many tortures by command of the Emperor Leo and then were slain by the sword.

At Châlons-sur-Marne in Gaul, St. Domitian, bishop and confessor.

The deaths of the venerable brothers Hervé de Nédellec of Brittainy, 14th master general of the Order; and John Clérée of Gaul, 37th master general of the Order.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at August 9, 2003 08:10 AM