The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 The First Day of April
The Commemoration of the Imprinting Of the Stigmata of St. Catherine of Siena, virgin of the order of Preachers. A duplex feast.
At Rome, the suffering of St. Theodora, the sister of the illustrious martyr Hermes. In the time of the Emperor Hadrian, and at the command of the judge Aurelius, she suffered martyrdom, and was buried near her brother on the Via Salaria, not far from the city.
On the same day, St. Venantius, bishop and martyr.
In Egypt, the holy martyrs Victor and Stephen.
In Armenia, the holy martyrs Quinctian and Irenaeus.
At Constantinople, St. Macarius, confessor, who under the Emperor Leo died in exile for defending (the veneration of) holy images.
At Ard-Patrick in Munster, a province of Ireland, St. Celsus, bishop, who preceded Blessed Malachy in the bishopric.
At Grenoble in Gaul, St. Hugh, bishop. He passed his life in solitude for many years, and departed to the Lord, illustrious for the glory of miracles.
At Amiens in Gaul, St. Valéry, abbot, whose sepulchre is noted for frequent miracles.
The Second Day of April
At Tours in Gaul, St. Francis of Paola, confessor, founder of the Order of Minims. Renowned for virtues and miracles, he was inscribed among the number of the saints by Pope Leo X. A duplex feast.
At Caesarea in Palestine, the birthday of St. Apphian, who was martyred ahead of his brother Aedesius, during the persecution of Galerius Maximian. He censured the governor Urban for sacrificing to idols. For this, he was savagely mangled. Then his feet were wrapped in cloths dipped in oil and set on fire. Having undergone the most excruciating sufferings, he was finally flung into the sea. Thus, passing through fire and water, he was brought to a place of (eternal) rest.
In the same place and in the same persecution, the suffering of St. Theodosia, a virgin from Tyre. She publicly greeted the holy confessors as they were standing before the tribunal and begged them to remember her when they had reached the Lord. She was seized by the soldiers and taken to the governor Urban. By his orders, her flesh was torn off her breast and sides to the bone. At last, she was hurled into the sea.
At Langres in Gaul, St. Urban, bishop.
At Como, St. Abundius, bishop and confessor.
At Capua, St. Victor, bishop, noted for his learning and holiness.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Nicetius, bishop of that city, renowned for his life and miracles.
In Palestine, the death of St. Mary of Egypt, who was called the Sinner.
The Third Day of April
At Rome, the birthday of blessed Sixtus I, pope and martyr. He ruled the Church with the greatest distinction in the reign of the Emperor Hadrian. Then, in the reign of Antoninus Pius, he willingly suffered a temporal death that he might gain Christ.
At Taormina in Sicily, St. Pancras, bishop. He sealed with his blood the Gospel of Christ which St. Peter the Apostle had sent him there to preach.
At Tomis in Scythia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Evagrius and Benignus.
At Tyre in Phoenicia, St. Vulpian, martyr. In the persecution of Maximian Galerius, he was sewn up in a sack containing a serpent and a dog, and cast into the sea.
At Thessalonica, the suffering of the holy virgins Agape and Chionia, at the time of the Emperor Diocletian. Under the same Emperor, their sister the holy virgin Irene was later to be put to death. Upon Agape and Chionia refusing to deny Christ, they were first starved in prison and afterward cast into the fire. Although the flames did not injure them, they gave up their souls to God as they were praying to Him.
In the monastery of Medicion in Bithynia, the death of St. Nicetas, abbot. On account of his veneration of holy images, he suffered greatly under Leo the Armenian. Finally, the confessor died in peace near Constantinople.
In England, St. Richard, Bishop of Chichester, remarkable for holiness and the renown of his miracles.
At Marmoutiers, near Meaux, St. Burgundofara, abbess and virgin. She is also called St. Fara.
The Fourth Day of April
At Seville in Spain, St. Isidore, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church, a man remarkable for sanctity and learning. He enlightened Spain by his zeal for the Catholic faith and his observance of ecclesiastical discipline. A duplex feast.
At Milan, the death of St. Ambrose, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. In addition to his gifts of learning and miracles was the zeal by which he converted to the Catholic faith nearly all Italy at the time of the Arian heresy. His feast is celebrated on December 7, the day on which he was consecrated Bishop of Milan.
At Thessalonica, the holy martyrs Agathopodes, deacon, and Theodulus, lector. Under the Emperor Maximian and the governor Faustinus, they confessed the Christian faith; (for this reason) stones were tied to their necks, and they were cast into the sea.
At Constantinople, St. Plato, monk, who fought with dauntless spirit for many years against the heretical destroyers of holy images.
In Palestine, St. Zosimus, the hermit who buried St. Mary of Egypt.
At Palermo, St Benedict of San Fradello, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor. He was called the Black, on account of the color of his skin. He died famous for his virtues and miracles, and was enrolled among the saints by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VII.
The Fifth Day of April
At Vannes in Brittany, St. Vincent Ferrer, confessor, of the Order of Preachers. He was an apostle powerful in deed and in word who converted many thousands of unbelievers to Christ. Although he preached in his own native tongue to people who spoke different languages, yet, because of his celebrated and extraordinary gift of tongues, he was clearly understood by everybody. Outstanding for his virginity and for his gift of prophecy, he went to heaven to receive the crown for his many great virtues. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
In Africa, the suffering of the holy martyrs who, in the persecution of Genseric, the Arian king, were slain in church on Easter Day. Among them was a lector who, while he was singing the Alleluia in the pulpit, was pierced through the throat by an arrow.
On the same day, St. Zeno, martyr. He was covered with pitch and cast into a fire. While in the midst of the flames, he was pierced with a spear, thus completing his martyrdom.
On the island of Lesbos, the suffering of five holy virgins, who were killed by the sword.
At Thessalonica, St. Irene, virgin, who hid the sacred books despite Diocletian's edict. After enduring imprisonment, she was pierced with an arrow and burned to death by order of the governor, Dulcetius. Her sisters, Agape and Chionia, had previously been put to death by the same governor.
The Sixth Day of April
At Milan, the suffering of St. Peter, martyr, of the Order of Preachers, who was slain by the heretics on account of his Catholic faith. His feast is celebrated on April 29.
At Welehrad, in Moravia, the birthday of St. Methodius, bishop and confessor. With his brother, St. Cyril, also a bishop, whose birthday falls on February 14, he converted many of the Slav races and their kings to the faith of Christ. Their festival is, however, observed on July 7.
In Macedonia, SS. Timothy and Diogenes, martyrs.
In Persia, one hundred and twenty holy martyrs.
In Ascalon in Palestine, the suffering of SS. Platonides and two other martyrs.
At Carthage, St. Marcellinus, martyr, who was slain by the heretics for his defense of the Catholic faith.
In Denmark, St. William, abbot, famous for his life and miracles.
The Seventh Day of April
At Rouen, the birthday of St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest and confessor. He excelled in the teaching of the young, particularly of those that were poor, and deserved well of religion and of civil society. He founded the Society of the Brothers of the Christian schools. His festival, however, is observed on May 15.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs, Epiphanius the bishop, Donatus, Rufinus, and thirteen others.
At Alexandria, St. Peleusius, priest and martyr.
At Sinopc in Pontus, two hundred holy martyrs.
In Cilicia, St. Calliopus, martyr. Under the governor Maximian, he endured many tortures. He was finally crucified with his head downward, and received the noble crown of martyrdom.
At Nicomedia, St. Cyriacus and ten other martyrs.
At Verona, St. Saturninus, bishop and confessor.
At Rome, St. Hegesippus, who lived shortly after apostolic times. He came to Rome to visit Pope Anicetus and remained there until the reign of Eleutherius. He composed a history of the Church from the Passion of the Lord to his own time in simple language, so as to express by his narrative the character of those whose life he imitated.
In Syria, St. Aphraates, hermit, who by the power of his miracles de. fended the Catholic faith against the Arians in the reign of Valens.
The Eighth Day of April
The commemoration of SS. Herodion, Asyncritus, and Phlegon, whom St. Paul the apostle mentions in his Epistle to the Romans.(1)
At Alexandria, St. Ardesius, martyr, brother of St. Apphian. At the time of the Emperor Maximian Galerius, the saint publicly rebuked a wicked judge because he delivered to procurers virgins consecrated to God. For this, he was seized by the soldiers, subjected to the most atrocious tortures and then drowned in the sea for the sake of Christ our Lord.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Januarius, Maxima, and Macaria.
At Carthage, St. Concessa, martyr.
At Corinth, blessed Dionysius, bishop. By the learning and unction with which he explained the Word of God, he instructed not only the people of his own city and province, but also, by his letters, the bishops of other provinces and cities. His veneration for the Roman Pontiffs was such that he was wont to read their letters publicly in the church on Sundays. He flourished in the times of Marcus Antoninus Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Perpetuus, bishop, a man of admirable holiness.
At Ferentino in the Hernican mountains, St. Redemptus, bishop, whom Pope St. Gregory mentions.
At Como, St. Amantius, bishop and confessor.
The Ninth Day of April
At Bricherasio, near the Alps, the birthday of Blessed Anthony Pavoni of Savigliano, of our Order. After a life spent in a holy and useful fight for the Catholic faith, he was slain by heretics on the first Sunday after Easter and thus was happily joined to the white-robed band of martyrs. A semi-duplex feast.
In Judea, St. Mary Cleophas, whom St. John the Evangelist calls the "sister" of Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and relates that she stood beside her beneath the cross of Jesus.(2)
At Antioch, St. Prochorus, who was one of the first seven deacons. (3) Noted for his faith and miracles, he was crowned with martyrdom.
At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Demetrius, Concessus, Hilary, and their companions.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Eupsychius, martyr, who obtained martyrdom under Julian the Apostate for having helped to destroy the Temple of Fortuna.
In Africa, the holy martyrs of Massylita, on whose birthday St. Augustine delivered a discourse (concerning them).
At Sirmium, the suffering of seven holy virgins and martyrs, who together purchased eternal life, at the price of their blood.
At Amida in Mesopotamia, St. Acatius, bishop. He melted down and sold the sacred vessels of the church in order to redeem captives.
At Rouen, St. Hugh, bishop and confessor.
In the city of Die in Gaul, St. Marcellus, bishop, famed for miracles.
At Mons in Hainaut, Blessed Waldetrudis (widow), wondrous for sanctity of life and miracles.
At Rome, the transferal of the body of St. Monica, mother of the Bishop Blessed Augustine. Under Pope Martin V, it was brought from Ostia and honorably laid to rest in the church of the same Blessed Augustine.
The Tenth Day of April
At Tunis in Africa, Blessed Anthony Neyrot, of our Order. He fell away from the faith, but a short time after he gloriously affirmed that faith with his blood. His body was transferred to Rivoli. A semi-duplex feast.
At Babylon, the holy Prophet Ezechiel. He was slain by a judge of the people of Israel because he rebuked him for the worship of idols. He was buried in the sepulchre of Sern and Arphaxad, ancestors of Abraham, at which place many people were wont to gather for prayer.
At Rome, the birthday of many holy martyrs, whom Pope St. Alexander baptized while he was kept in prison. Aurelian the prefect ordered them all to be put on board an old ship, taken out into the deep sea, and there to be drowned with stones tied to their necks.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Apollonius, priest, and five others, who were drowned in the sea during Maximian's persecution. In Africa, the holy martyrs Terence, Africanus, Pompey, and their companions. They were beaten with rods, stretched on the rack, and tortured with other punishments, under the Emperor Decius and the prefect Fortunian. At last they completed their martyrdom by being beheaded.
At Ghent in Flanders, St. Macarius, Bishop of Antioch, renowned for virtues and miracles.
At Valladolid in Spain, St. Michael de Sanctis, confessor, of the Order of Discalced Trinitarians for the Redemption of Captives. He was remarkable for innocence of life, admirable penitence, and love of God. The Supreme Pontiff Pius IX inscribed his name in the roll of the saints.
The Eleventh Day of April
At Rome, St. Leo I, surnamed the Great. He was pope, confessor, a Doctor of the Church. His birthday is recalled on November 10. A duplex feast.
At Pergamum in Asia, St. Antipas, "the faithful witness," of whom St. John in the Apocalypse makes mention.(4) Under the Emperor Domitian he was shut in a red-hot brazen bull, and thus suffered martyrdom.
At Salona in Dalmatia, the holy martyrs Bishop Domnio and eight soldiers.
At Gortyna in Crete, St. Philip, bishop, famous for his life and doctrine. He ruled the church entrusted to him in the reigns of Marcus Antoninus
Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, and preserved it from the rage of the heathens and the intrigues of heretics.
At Nicomedia, St. Eustorgius, priest.
At Spoleto, St. Isaac, monk and confessor, whose virtues are commemorated by Pope St. Gregory.
At Gaza in Palestine, St. Barsanuphius, hermit, at the time of the Emperor Justinian.
The Twelfth Day of April
At Verona, the suffering of St. Zeno, bishop. He governed that diocese with wondrous constancy amid the storms of persecution, and was crowned with martyrdom in the time of Gallienus.
In Cappadocia, St. Sabas the Goth. Under the Emperor Valens, when King Athanaric of the Goths was persecuting the Christians, Sabas was severely tortured and then cast into a river. It was at the same time, as St. Augustine relates, that many orthodox Goths were adorned with the crown of martyrdom.
At Braga in Portugal, St. Victor, martyr. While still a catechumen, he refused to worship an idol and confessed Christ Jesus with great firmness. After enduring many torments, he was beheaded, thus meriting to be baptized in his own blood.
At Fermo in Piceno (Italy), St. Vissia, virgin and martyr.
At Rome, on the Via Aurelia, the birthday of Pope St. Julius I, who labored greatly for the Catholic faith against the Arians, and after many illustrious deeds rested in peace, famed for his sanctity.
At Gap in Gaul, St. Constantine, bishop and confessor.
At Pavia, St. Damian, bishop. +
The Thirteenth Day of April
In the town of Metola, of the diocese of Tiphernum, Blessed Margaret, virgin.(5) Although she was born blind, she was illuminated by God to a marvellous degree, and at His inspiration she became a member of the Third Order of our holy Father Dominic. A semi-duplex feast.
At Seville in Spain, St. Hermengild, martyr. He was the son of Leovigild, the Arian King of the Visigoths (in Spain). He was imprisoned for his profession of the Catholic faith. When he refused to receive Holy Communion from an Arian Bishop on Easterday, by the command of his treacherous father his head was split in two with an axe. As a king and martyr he entered a heavenly kingdom in exchange for an earthly one.
At Rome, in the persecution of Marcus Antoninus Verus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, St. Justin, philosopher and martyr. He addressed to the aforesaid emperors his second Apologia in defence of our religion. He was strenuously spreading the faith by his disputations, when he was denounced as being a Christian at the instigation of Crescens the Cynic, whose manner of living and evil practices he had condemned. As a reward of his faithful preaching, he received the crown of martyrdom. His feast is observed on April 14.
At Pergamos in Asia, in the same persecution, the birthday of the holy martyrs Carpus, Bishop of Thyatira, Papylus, deacon, his sister Agathonica, a most holy woman, Agathodorus their servant, and many otherL After various torments, they were crowned with martyrdom for their joyful confessions (of faith).
At Dorostis in Lower Mysia, the suffering of SS. Maximus, Quinctilian, and Dadas, in the persecution of Diocletian.
At Ravenna, St. Ursus, bishop and confessor.
The Fourteenth Day of April
At Túy in Spain, Blessed Peter Gonzales, called St. Telmo, confessor, of the Order of Preachers. A semi-duplex feast.
St. Justin, philosopher and martyr, whose commemoration is noted on April 13.
At Rome, on the Appian Way, the birthday of the holy martyrs Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, in the reign of the Emperor Aurelian and the prefect Almachius. Tibertius and Valerian had been converted to Christ by the exhortations of St. Cecilia and baptized by Pope St. Urban. Later, because of their confession of faith, they were beaten with clubs and then beheaded. Maximus, chamberlain of the prefect, moved by their constancy and encouraged by the vision of an angel, believed in Christ. He was flogged with whips tipped with lead until he expired. A memory.
At Teramo, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr.
On the same day, St. Ardalion, an actor. He was mocking in the theatre the sacred rites of the Christians, when, being suddenly converted, he approved them not only by words, but by the testimony of his blood.
At Teramo, St. Domnina, virgin and martyr, crowned with her virgin companions.
At Alexandria, St. Thomais, martyr. She was struck by the sword and cut asunder from head to foot by her father-in-law, because she refused to consent to his evil desires.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Lambert, bishop and confessor.
At Alexandria, St. Fronto, abbot, whose life was renowned for holiness and miracles.
At Rome, St. Abundius, sacristan of the church of St. Peter.
The Fifteenth Day of April
At Rome, SS. Basilissa and Anastasia. These noble women were disciples of the Apostles, and they remained constant in the confession of the faith. Under the Emperor Nero their tongues were removed and their feet cut off; they finally obtained the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Maro, Eutyches, and Victorinus.
They were first exiled with BIcssed Flavia Domitilla to the island of Pontia for confessing Christ, but afterward they were set at liberty under the Emperor Nerva. When they had converted many to the faith, they were ordered by the judge Valerian, during the persecution of Trajan, to be put to death in different ways.
In Persia, the holy martyrs Maximus and Olympias. In the reign of the Emperor Decius, they were beaten with rods and whips tipped with lead. Finally, they were struck over the head with clubs until they died.
At Ferentino in the Hernican mountains, St. Eutychius, martyr.
At Myra in Lycia, St. Crescens, who completed his martyrdom by fire.
In Thrace, the holy martyrs Theodore and Pausilippus, who suffered under the Emperor Hadrian.
The Sixteenth Day of April
At Corinth, the birthday of the holy martyrs Callistus and Charisius, with seven others who, after enduring many tortures, were all drowned in the sea.
At Saragossa in Spain, the birthday of eighteen holy martyrs: Optatus, Lupercus, Succcssus, Martial, Urban, Julia, Quinctilian, Publius, Fronto, Felix, Cecilian, Eventius, Primitivus, Apodemius, and four others all said to have been called Saturninus. All were tortured and slain together under Dacian, governor of Spain. Prudentius has set forth in verse their illustrious martyrdom.
In the same city, SS. Caius and Crementius. For a second time they confessed their faith in Christ and as they persevered in that confession, they drank the chalice of martyrdom.
In the same place, St. Lambert, martyr.
Also at Saragossa, St. Encratis, virgin and martyr. Her body was mangled; she was then mutilated, and her liver torn out. As she still survived, she was cast into prison until her body, covered with wounds, rotted away.
At Palentia, St. Turibius, Bishop of Astorga. By the help of Pope St. Leo, he drove the Priscillian heresy entirely from Spain. Renowned for his miracles, he died in peace.
At Braga in Portugal, St. Fructuosus, bishop.
At Scicy, in the district of Coutances in Gaul, the death of St. Paternus, Bishop of Avranches and confessor.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Benedict Joseph Labre, confessor. He was famous for his contempt of himself and for his praise of extreme voluntary poverty.
At Valenciennes in Gaul, St. Drogo, confessor.
At Siena in Tuscany, Blessed Joachim, of the Order of Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The Seventeenth Day of April
At Pisa in Italy, Blessed Clara Gambacorta, (widow), of the Order of Preachers. She was foundress of the Monastery of St. Dominic in the same city. The Sovereign Pontiff, Pius VIII, confirmed her immemorable cultus. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Anicetus, pope and martyr, who received the palm of martyrdom in the persecution of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Lucius Verus.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy martyrs Elias, priest, and the monks Paul and Isidore. They were slain in the Arab persecution because of their profession of the Christian faith.
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Peter, deacon, and Hermogenes, who was Peter's servant.
In Africa, the birthday of Blessed Mappalicus, martyr who, as St. Cyprian tells in his Epistle to Martyrs and Confessors, was crowned with martyrdom, together with many others.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Fortunatus and Marcian.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Pantagathus, bishop.
At Tortona (in Italy), St. Innocent, bishop and confessor.
At Citeaux in Gaul, St. Stephen, abbot. He was the first to dwell in the wilderness of Citeaux, and he gladly received St. Bernard and his companions when they came to him.
In the monastery of Chaise-Dieu in the Diocese of Clermont in Gaul, St. Robert, confessor, builder and first Abbot of that monastery.
The Eighteenth Day of April
At Mount Senario in Etruria, St. Amideo, confessor, one of the seven founders of the Servants of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He was famous for his burning love towards God. His feast, together with that of his companions, is kept on February 12.
At Rome, Blessed Apollonius, a senator. At the time of the Emperor Commodus and the prefect Perennius, he was revealed by one of his Slaves as being a Christian. Being commanded to give an account of his faith, he composed an admirable treatise which he read in the Senate; notwithstanding, by order of the Senate, he was beheaded for Christ.
At Messina in Sicily, the birthday of the holy martyrs Eleutherius, Bishop of Illyria, and Anthia his mother. He was famed for holiness of life and the power of miracles. Under the Emperor Hadrian, he endured a red-hot iron bed, a gridiron, and a pan filled with boiling oil, pitch, and resin. Then he was cast to the lions, but he was in no wise harmed by them. Finally, his throat was cut. His mother underwent the same death.
At Cordoba in Spain, St. Perfectus, priest and martyr, who was put to the sword by the Moors for disputing against the Mohammedan religion.
At Messina in Sicily, St. Corebus, a prefect, who was converted to the faith by St. Eleutherius. He was slain with the sword.
At Brescia, St. Calocerus, martyr, who was converted to Christ by SS. Faustinus and Jovita. He fulfilled the glorious contest of his confession of faith under the Emperor Hadrian.
At Milan, St. Galdinus, cardinal bishop of that city, who, after completing a sermon against heretics, rendered up his spirit to God.
The Nineteenth Day of April
At Corinth, the birthday of St. Timon, one of the seven first deacons (of Jerusalem).(6) He first took up his abode as a teacher at Berea; spreading the word of the Lord from there, he came to Corinth. There, he is said to have been cast into the flames by the Jews and Greeks, but was in no wise hurt. He at last completed his martyrdom by crucifixion.
At Canterbury in England, St. Elphege, bishop and martyr.
At Melitine in Armenia, the holy martyrs Hermogenes, Caius, Expeditus, Aristonicus, Rufus, and Galata, who were all crowned on the same day.
At Collioure in the Spanish (Archdiocese of) Tarragona,(7) the suffering of St. Vincent, martyr.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Socrates and Dionysius, who were pierced with lances.
At Jerusalem, St. Paphnutius, martyr.
At Rome, Pope St. Leo IX, noted for his virtues and miracles.
At Antioch in Pisidia, St. George, bishop, who for his veneration of holy images died in exile.
In the monastery of Lobbes in Belgium, St. Ursmar, bishop.
At Florence, St. Crescentius, confessor, who was a disciple of Bishop St. Zenobius.
The Twentieth Day of April
At Montepulciano, St. Agnes, virgin, of the Order of our holy Father Dominic. She was illustrious for her great virtues and her miracles. She merited to be adorned with divine gifts by Christ her Spouse. St. Catherine of Siena learned in a vision that she and Agnes would share equal glory in Heaven. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Sulpicius and Cervilian, who were converted to the Christian faith by the discourses and miracles of the virgin St. Domitilla. In the persecution of Trajan, they refused to sacrifice to idols, and both were beheaded by Anian, prefect of the city.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Victor, Zoticus, Zeno, Acindynus, Caesareus, Severian, Chrysophorus, Theonas, and Antoninus. In the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, they were converted to Christ by the suffering and miracles of St. George. Because of their fearless confession of the faith, they were tortured in various ways and so fulfilled their martyrdom.
At Tomis in Scythia, St. Theotimus, bishop, who was revered even by barbarous infidels for his remarkable sanctity and miracles.
At Embrun in Gaul, St. Marcellinus, who was the first bishop of that city. He came from Africa at divine command, together with his holy comrades, Vincent and Domninus. He converted to the Christian faith most of the people of the Maritime Alps by his preaching, and by miracles for which he is noted even to the present day.
At Auxerre, St. Marcian, priest.
At Constantinople, St. Theodore, confessor, surnamed Trichinas from the rough habit of sackcloth he wore. He was noteworthy for many miracles, especially against demons. From his body there issues forth an unguent which gives health to the sick.
The Twenty-first Day of April
At Canterbury in England, St. Anselm, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church, remarkable for holiness and learning. A duplex feast.
In Persia, the birthday of St. Simeon, Bishop of Seleucia and Ctesiphon. He was arrested by order of Sapor, King of Persia, loaded with chains and brought before wicked tribunals. As he refused to adore the sun but freely and unfalteringly bore testimony to Jesus Christ, he was first starved for a long time in prison together with a hundred others; some of these were bishops, others priests, and others clerics of various orders. He recalled to repentance Usthazanes, the King's tutor, who had fallen away from the faith, but who now bravely underwent martyrdom. On the following day, which was the anniversary of the Lord's Passion, all the others were beheaded in the presence of Simeon, who earnestly encouraged every one of them. At last, he himself was beheaded. There also suffered with him men of renown, Abdechalas and Ananias, who were his priests. Pusicius, the overseer of the King's workmen, because he had encouraged Ananias when he was wavering, underwent a cruel death: his neck was perforated and through the opening his tongue was plucked out. After him, his daughter, who was a consecrated virgin, was subjected to many cruel tortures and finally beheaded with a sword.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs, Arator, priest, Fortunatus, Felix, Silvius, and Vitalis; all died in prison.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Apollo, Isacius, and Codratus. In the reign of the Emperor Diocletian, Codratus was slain by blows on the head. Not many days later, the two others died from starvation in prison and they also merited the crown of martyrdom.
At Antioch, St. Anastasius of Sinai, bishop. +
The Twenty-second Day of April
At Piedmont (Italy), the birthday of the Dominican Blessed Bartholomew of Cervere, who was born at Savigliano. He was famous for his learning and by his reputation for holiness. He labored extremely hard to eradicate heresy from the Northern Italian provinces. Finally, he was killed by the heretics and so entered the heavenly kingdom a glorious martyr. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, on the Appian Way, the birthday of St. Soter, pope and martyr.
Also at Rome, St. Caius, pope and martyr, who was crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Smyrna, SS. Apelles and Lucius, from among the first disciples of Christ.
On the same day, many holy martyrs throughout all Persia. The year after the death of Simeon and on the anniversary of Good Friday, King Sapor ordered them to be slain because of their belief in Christ. In this conflict for the faith there suffered the eunuch Azades, who was much beloved by the King; Milles, bishop, famed for his holiness and the gift of miracles; Acepsimes, bishop, with his priest James; Aithalas and Joseph, priests; Azadas and Abdiesus, deacons, and many other clerics. The Bishops Mareas and Bicor likewise suffered, together with twenty other bishops, about two hundred and fifty clerics, many monks, and many consecrated virgins, among whom was a sister of Bishop St. Simeon, named Tarbula, and her servant; these two were bound to stakes and then put to an atrocious death by being sawed in two.
Likewise in Persia, SS. Parmenius, Helimenes, and Chrysotelus, priests, Luke and Mucius, deacons, whose triumph of martyrdom is noted in the Acts of SS. Abdon and Sennen.
At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Leonides, martyr, who suffered under Severus.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Epipodius, who was arrested in the persecution of Antoninus Verus together with his colleague Alexander. After cruel torments his martyrdom was completed by his being beheaded.
At Constantinople, Pope St. Agapitus I, whose holiness is mentioned by St. Gregory the Great; his body was later removed to Rome, where it lies buried in the Vatican.
At Sens, St. Leo, bishop and confessor.
At Anastasiopolis in Galatia, St. Theodore, bishop, renowned for miracles.
The Twenty-third Day of April
The birthday of St. George, martyr, whose illustrious martyrdom the Church of God holds in reverence among the crowns of the martyrs. A simplex feast.
At the village Tenkitten on the Vistula Lagoon, in Prussia, the birthday of St. Adalbert, Bishop of Prague and martyr, who preached the Gospel to the Hungarians and Poles.
At Valence in Gaul, the suffering of the holy martyrs Felix, priest, Fortunatus and Achilleus, deacons. They were sent by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyons, to preach the Word of God. They had converted the greater part of Valence to the faith of Christ, when they were thrown into prison by Cornelius, an army officer. There they were scourged for a
long time and their legs were broken. They were bound to revolving wheels and while being stretched on the rack were forced to inhale smoke; at last they gained their crown by the sword.
At Milan, St. Marolus, bishop and confessor.
At Toul in Gaul, St. Gerard, bishop of that city.
The Twenty-fourth Day of April
The Commemoration of the most holy Crown of Thorns of our Lord. A totum duplex feast.
At Seewis in Switzerland, St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr. He was a Capuchin friar who was sent there to preach the Catholic faith, and, being slain by the heretics, obtained the crown of martyrdom. The Sovereign Pontiff, Benedict XIV, numbered him among the holy martyrs. At Rome, St. Sabas, an army officer, who was accused of visiting the Christians in prison. He freely admitted to the judge that he was a follower of Christ. He was burnt with torches and cast into a cauldron of boiling pitch, but he emerged unharmed, and by this miracle converted seventy souls to Christ. All these converts, remaining constant in the profession of the faith, were slain by the sword. Sabas was drowned in the river, thus completing his martyrdom.
At Lyons in Gaul, the birthday of St. Alexander, martyr. In the persecution of Antoninus Verus, after being kept in prison, he was flogged with such cruelty by the executioners that the flesh over his ribs was ripped away, his bowls were lacerated, and the insides of his body became visible. He was then crucified, but having become utterly exhausted, gave up his blessed spirit. There suffered with him also thirty-four others, whose memory is kept on other days.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Eusebius, Neon, Leontine, Longinus, and four others, who, after intense sufferings, were slain by the sword in the persecution of Diocletian.
In England, the death of Bishop St. Mellitus. He was sent into England by St. Gregory, and converted to the faith the East Saxons and their king.
At Elvira in Spain, St. Gregory, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Honorius, bishop.
On Iona, an island of Scotland, St. Egbert, priest and monk, a man of admirable humility and chastity.
At Rheims in Gaul, the holy virgins Bova and Doda.
At Milan, the Conversion of St. Augustine, bishop, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. The Bishop St. Ambrose instructed him in the Catholic faith and baptized him on this very day.
The Twenty-fifth Day of April
At Rome, the Greater Litanies at St. Peter's.
At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Mark the Evangelist. He was the disciple and interpreter of St. Peter the Apostle. At the request of the brethren at Rome, he wrote a Gospel which he took with him to Egypt. At Alexandria he was the first to preach Christ and to found there a Church. Later on he was arrested for the faith, bound with cords, and grievously tortured by being dragged over rocks. After this he was kept in prison, and there he was strengthened first by a visit of an angel and later by an apparition of our Lord. He was called to the kingdom of Heaven in the eighth year of the reign of Nero. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
Likewise, at Alexandria, the Bishop St. Anianus, a disciple of St. Mark and his successor in the bishopric. He died peacefully in the Lord, renowned for his virtues.
At Antioch, St. Stephen, bishop and martyr; he suffered much at the hands of the heretics who opposed the Council of Chalccdon. He was cast into the river Orontes in the reign of the Emperor Zeno.
At Syracuse in Sicily, the holy martyrs Evodius, Hermogenes, and Callista.
At Lobbes in Belgium, the birthday of St. Ermin, bishop and confessor.
At Antioch, the holy deacons Philo and Agathopodes. St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr, praises them in his letters.
The Twenty-sixth Day of April
At Besion in the kingdom of Aragon, Blessed Dominic and Gregory, of our Order. While journeying during their missionary labors they were overtaken by a severe tempest; they took refuge under a rock which fell and buried them beneath it. The natives found the bodies in a miraculous way and began venerating them as saints. A semi-duplex feast.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Cletus, pope and martyr. He succeeded the Apostle Peter as head of the Church, and was crowned with martyrdom in Domitian's persecution.
(Likewise at Rome,) St. Marcellinus, pope and martyr; his birthday is kept on October 25.
At Amasea in Pontus, St. Basilcus, bishop and martyr. He gained an illustrious martyrdom under the Emperor Licinius. His body was thrown into the sea and, on being found by Elpidiphorus, through the direction of an angel, was honorably buried.
At Braga in Portugal, the martyr St. Peter, who was the first bishop of that city.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Clarence, bishop and confessor.
At Verona, St. Lucidius, bishop.
In the monastery of Centola in Gaul, St. Richarius, priest and confessor.
At Troyes in Gaul, St. Exuperantia, virgin.
The Twenty-seventh Day of April
At Cattaro, in Montenegro, Blessed Osanna, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Dominic. She was outstanding by reason of her virtues and was
endowed with the gift of prophecy. A semi-duplex feast.
At Nicomedia, the birthday of St. Anthimus, bishop and martyr, who obtained in the persecution of Diocletian a glorious martyrdom by being beheaded for confessing Christ. Almost the whole multitude of his flock followed him, some of whom the judge commanded to be beheaded by the sword, others to be burned alive, others to be placed on ships and drowned in the sea.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, SS. Castor and Stephen, martyrs.
At Bologna, St. Tertullian, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Thcophilus, bishop.
In Egypt, St. Theodore, abbot, who was a disciple of St. Pachomius.
At Constantinople, St. John, abbot, who strove valiantly in defense of the veneration of holy images under Leo the Isaurian.
At Tarragona in Spain, Blessed Peter Armengol, of the Order of Blessed Mary of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives. (8) He suffered much for the ransoming of the faithful in Africa, and at last died a holy death in the convent of Saint Mary of the Meadows.
In Lucca in Tuscany, Blessed Zita, virgin, noteworthy for the fame of her virtues and miracles.
The Twenty-eighth Day of April
At the town of St. lAurent-sur,%vrcs, in the Diocese of Lu~on, St. Louis-Marie Grignon de Montfort, confessor, of the Third Order of Penance of St. Dominic. He was the founder of both the Congregation of the Missionary Priests of Mary, and of the Sisters of Divine Wisdom. Illustrious for his virtues and miracles, Leo XM added his name to the roll of the Blessed. A duplex feast.
St. Paul of the Cross, priest and confessor, founder of the Congregation of the Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. He died in the Lord on October 18. A memory.
At Ravenna, the birthday of St. Vitalis, martyr, the husband of St. Valeria, and father of SS. Gervase and Protase. He buried with due honor the body of Blessed Ursicinus which he had found. He was arrested by Paulinus the governor, who subjected him to the rack, and afterward commanded that he be cast into a deep pit and covered with earth and stones; by such a martyrdom he passed to Christ. A memory.
At Atino in Campania, St. Mark, who was ordained bishop by the Blessed Apostle Peter, and first preached the Gospel to the Equicoli. He received the crown of martyrdom in Domitian's persecution, under the governor Maximus.
At Prusa in Bithynia, the holy martyrs Patrick, bishop, Acatius, Menander, and Polyaenus.
On the same day, SS. Aphrodisius, Caralippus, Agapius, and Euscbius, martyrs.
In Hungary, St. Pollio, martyr, under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Milan, St. Valeria, martyr, wife of St. Vitalis, and the mother of SS. Gervase and Protase.
At Alexandria, the suffering of St. Theodora, virgin. When she refused to sacrifice to the idols, she was consigned to a house of ill-fame; but through the admirable care of God, one of the Christians named Didymus changed clothing with her and thus saved her. Later, during the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Eustratius, Didymus was beheaded with Theodora and together they received their crown.
At Tarazona in Spain, St. Prudentius, bishop and confessor.
At Corfinium among the Pelignians, St. Pamphilus, Bishop of Valva.(9) He was noted for charity towards the poor, and the grace of miracles. His body is buried at Sulmona.
The Twenty-ninth Day of April
At Milan, St. Peter Martyr, of the Order of Preachers. To the very end of his life he preserved the dazzling jewel of virginity. With great energy he fought against the heretics by his preaching and teaching. When he was fatally stabbed by the heretics and lay dying on the ground, he wrote with his own blood the Catholic doctrine he had so staunchly defended in life. He died April 6. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Catherine of Siena, virgin, of the Third Order of St. Dominic. She was renowned for her life and miracles, and the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius II, included her name among those of the holy virgins. Her festival, however, is kept on April 30.
At Paphos on Cyprus, St. Tychicus, a disciple of the Apostle St. Paul. The same Apostle, in his Epistles, calls him: "Dearest brother and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord." (10)
At Pisa in Tuscany, St. Torpes, martyr. He was a man of high standing in the household of Nero, and one of those whom the Apostle St. Paul mentioned when he wrote from Rome to the Philippians: "All the saints salute you, but especially they who are of Caesar's household."(11) Afterward, at the command of Satellicus, Torpes was beaten, savagely, scourged and delivered to the beasts to devour. As he was uninjured by them, his martyrdom was ended by his being beheaded.
At Cirta in Numidia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Agapius and Secundinus, both bishops. They had been exiles at Cirta for a long time when the persecution of Valerian began, a persecution in which the rage of the heathens sorely tested the faith of Christians. Agapius and Secundinus were transformed from exemplary priests to glorious martyrs. In their company, there also suffered a soldier named Aemilian, two consecrated virgins, Tertulla and Antonia, and a certain woman with her twin children.
On the island of Corcyra, seven repentant thieves who were converted to Christ by St. Jason and obtained by martyrdom life everlasting.
At Naples in Campania, St. Severus, bishop. One of his remarkable deeds was to raise a dead man from the grave for a short time so that he might convict of falsehood the lying creditor of a widow and her children.
At Brescia, St. Paulinus, bishop and confessor.
In the monastery of Cluny in Gaul, St. Hugh, abbot.
In the monastery of Molesmes in Gaul, St. Robert, who was the first Abbot of Citeaux.
The Thirtieth Day of April
At Rome, St. Catherine of Siena, virgin, of the Order of our Father St. Dominic. While hardly more than an infant, she consecrated her virginity to Christ and preserved it unsullied until death. She was famed for her innumerable halos of virtue, and excelled in a remarkable innocence of life. Strengthened by Christ her Spouse in frequent sweet conversations, she merited to become a sharer in His sufferings and wounds. Lastly, she was distinguished by the gift of prophecy, by miracles, and by doctrine. Having frequently conquered and triumphed over Satan, she ascended to heaven to the happy embraces of her Spouse on April 29. She was buried in the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva, and Pius II inscribed her in the number of the holy virgins. A totum duplex feast of the first class.
At Saintes in Gaul, Blessed Eutropius, bishop and martyr. St. Clement consecrated him bishop, and sent him into Gaul. There he long performed the office of a preacher; finally, because of his testimony for Christ, his skull was crushed and he died a victor.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy martyrs Amator, priest, Peter, monk, and Louis.
At Novara, the martyrs St. Laurence, priest, and some children whom he had received to educate.
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Aphrodisius, priest, and thirty others.
At Lambesa in Numidia, the holy martyrs Marian, lector, and James, deacon. The first, in his confession of Christ, had overcome the trials of the persecution of Decius. He was again taken with his renowned companion, and both were wonderfully confirmed by divine revelations after cruel and exquisite torments. At last, with many other Christians, they were martyred by the sword.
At Ephesus, St. Maximus, martyr, who was crowned in the persecution of Decius.
At Fermo in Piceno (Italy), St. Sophia, virgin and martyr.
At Evora in Epirus, St. Donatus, bishop, who shone with remarkable holiness in the time of the Emperor Theodosius.
At Naples in Campania, St. Pomponius, bishop.
At London in England, St. Erconwald, bishop, who was noted for many miracles.
NOTES 1. Romans, 16:11 and 14.
2. John, 19:25.
3. Acts, 6:5.
4. St. John calls him "my faithful witness, who was slain among you." (Apoc.,12:13).
5. This entry contains a number of errors. i) There is no town of Metola in this part of Italy. Metola was an isolated castle in the Apennines. 2) Margaret did not die there but at Città di Castello (Tiphernum). 3) In Margaret's time, Metola was not part of the Diocese of Tiphernum.
The entry should read: In the town and Diocese of Città di Castello ...6. Acts, 6:5.
7. Actually, Collioure is on the French side of the Pyrenees; but long ago, the Diocese of Perpignan (to which it belongs) was a suffragan of Tarragona; hence the rather confusing reference in the Martyrology.
8. This religious Order is more commonly called the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (or of Ransom).
9. The Pelignians were an ancient Sabine tribe. Their chief town, Corfinium, no longer exists; near its ruins is the city of Valva.
10. Ephesians, 6:21; Colossians, 4:7.
11. Philippians, 4:22.
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