Daily Devotions

The Twenty-fourth Day of January

At Forli in Emilia (Italy), Blessed Marcolino, confessor of the Order of Preachers. A semi-duplex feast.

At Ephesus, St. Timothy, the disciple of St. Paul the Apostle, by whom he was ordained Bishop of Ephesus. After he had undergone many labors for Christ, he rebuked some pagans who were sacrificing to Diana. He was stoned by them, and shortly after he died in the Lord. A memory.

At Antioch, St. Babilas, bishop. In the persecution of Decius, after he had often glorified God by his sufferings and torments, he reached the end of his admirable life while bound in chains. He commanded that his body should be buried with the chains. It is said that there suffered with him also three youths, Urban, Prilidian, and Epolonius, whom he had instructed in the faith of Christ.

At Foligno in Umbria, St. Felician. He was ordained bishop of that city by Pope Victor I. After a life of many labors, he was crowned in his extreme old age with martyrdom, in the time of Decius.

At Neocaesarea in Mauretania, the holy martyrs Mardonius, Musonius, Eugene, and Metellus; all were delivered to the flames, and their relics were scattered in a river.

Also the holy martyrs Thyrsus and Projectus.

At Cingoli in Piceno, St. Exuperantius, confessor. He was bishop of that city, and was renowned for his miracles.

At Bologna, St. Zamas, first bishop of that city. He was consecrated by St. Dionysius, the Roman Pontiff, and he spread to a remarkable degree the Christian faith in that place. Also Blessed Suranus, abbot, who flourished in holiness at the time of the Lombards.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at January 24, 2004 01:10 AM