The Martyrology of the Sacred Order of Friars Preachers
NOVEMBER
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 November
The Festival of All Saints. Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon temple "in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and in honor of the holy martyrs," and he decreed that every year this feast should be fittingly and generally observed throughout Rome. A somewhat similar feast was already observed in various ways in other dioceses; hence Gregory IV decreed that the feast, now extended to include all saints, should be forever solemnly celebrated in the Universal Church on the first day of November. A totum duplex feast of the first class with a solemn octave.
In Persia, the holy martyrs John, bishop, and James, priest, under King Sapor.
At Terracina in Campania, the birthday of St. Caesarius, deacon. He was harshly treated in prison for many days; afterward, with St. Julian, priest, he was placed in a sack and cast into the sea.
In the town of Dijon, the priest St. Benignus. He was sent into Gaul by St. Polycarp to preach the Gospel. Later, in the reign of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, he was repeatedly subjected to the most inhuman tortures by the judge Terence. Finally, it was ordered that his neck be beaten with an iron bar and his body pierced with a spear.
At Damascus, the suffering of SS. Caesarius, Dacius, and five others.
On the same day, the servant-girl St. Mary. In the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, she was accused of professing the Christian religion. Accordingly, she was severely whipped, stretched on the rack, and mangled with iron hooks. In this manner, she completed her martyrdom.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, SS. Cyrenia and Juliana, martyrs, in the time of the Emperor Maximian.
In Auvergne in Gaul, St. Austremonius, who was the first bishop of that region.
At Paris, the death of St. Marccllus, bishop.
At Bayeaux in Gaul, St. Vigor, bishop, in the time of Childebert, King of the Franks.
At Angers in Gaul, the death of St. Licinius, bishop, a holy old man. At Tivoli, St. Severinus, monk. At Larchant in north central Gaul, St. Mathurin, confessor.
The Second Day of November
The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed. A feast of nine lessons.
(If November 2 falls on a Sunday, the announcement concerning the Faithful Departed is not read today. It is read in the first place on the following day.)
At Pettau in Upper Pannonia, the birthday of St. Victorinus, bishop of that city. After publishing many of his writings, as St. Jerome informs us, he was crowned with martyrdom in the persecution of Diocletian.
At Trieste, the suffering of blessed Justus, who suffered martyrdom in the same persecution under the governor Manatius.
At Sebaste in Armenia, the martyrs, SS. Carterius, Styriacus, Tobias, Eudoxius, Agapius, and their companions, in the time of the Emperor Licinius.
In Persia, the holy martyrs Acindynus, Pegasus, Aphthonius, Elpidiphorus, and Anempodistus, with many companions.
In Africa, the birthday of the holy martyrs Publius, Victor, Hermes, and Papias.
At Tarsus in Cilicia, St. Eustochium, Virgin and martyr. In the reign of Julian the Apostate, she underwent horrible tortures and died while engaged in prayer.
At Laodicea in Syria, St. Theodotus, bishop. He was adorned not only with eloquence, but also with deeds and virtues.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. George, bishop.
In the monastery at Saint-Maurice in Gaul, St. Ambrose, abbot.
At Cyrus in Syria, St. Marcian, confessor.
The Third Day of November
At Sant'Arcangelo near Rimini (Italy), Blessed Simon (Ballachi), confessor, of the Order of Preachers. Although he came of a distinguished family, he chose to become a lay-brother. By his humility and self-denial he set a marvellous example even to his extreme old age. A semi-duplex feast.
At Milan, the birthday of St. Charles Borromeo, cardinal, Bishop of Milan, and confessor. Pope Paul V numbered him among the saints because of his outstanding holiness and miracles. His feast, however, is celebrated on November 4.
On the same day, the birthday of St. Quartus, a disciple of the Apostles.
At Viterbo, the holy martyrs Valentine, priest, and Hilary, deacon. Ia the persecution of Maximian, because they confessed Christ, they were weighted down with a rock and cast into the Tiber. However, they were miraculously rescued by an angel. Eventually, they received the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, the holy martyrs Germanus, Theophilus, Caesarius, and Vitalis. They courageously underwent martyrdom in the persecution of Decius.
At Saragossa in Spain, the countless holy martyrs who so admirably laid down their lives for Christ, in the time of Dacian, governor of Spain.
In England, St. Winifred, virgin and martyr.
In the monastery of Clairvaux in Gaul, the death of St. Malachy, Bishop of Connor in Ireland. He was enriched with many virtues and his life was written by Abbot St. Bernard.
On the same day, St. Hubert, Bishop of Tongres.
At Vienne in Gaul, St. Domnus, bishop and confessor.
Also, the death of St. Pirmin, Bishop of Meaux.
At Urgel in Spain, St. Hermengaud, bishop.
At Rome, St. Sylvia, mother of Pope St. Gregory.
The Fourth Day of November
St. Charles Borromeo, cardinal, Bishop of Milan, and confessor, who went to Heaven on November 3. A duplex feast.
At Bologna, SS. Vitalis and Agricola, martyrs. Vitalis had been the slave of Agricola but was afterward his companion and associate in martyrdom. The executioners used every kind of torture against Vitalis, so that there was no part of his body left unwounded. Notwithstanding, Vitalis endured them with firmness to the very end and, while in prayer, gave up his soul to God. They slew Agricola by nailing him to a cross with numerous spikes. St. Ambrose was present at the transferral of their bodies and he relates how he gathered up the nails of the martyr, his triumphal blood, and the wood of the cross, and buried them under the sacred altars. A memory.
In the monastery of Cerfroid near Meaux, the birthday of St. Felix of Valois, founder of the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the redernption of captives. By a decree of Pope Innocent XI, his feast is observed on November 20.
On the same day, the birthday of SS. Philologus and Patrobas, disciples of the Apostle St. Paul.
At Autun, St. Proculus, bishop and martyr.
At Myra in Lycia, the holy martyrs Nicander, bishop, and Hermes, priest, under the governor Libanius.
In the district of Vexin in Gaul, St. Clarus, priest and martyr.
At Ephesus, St. Porphyrius, martyr, under the Emperor Aurelian.
At Rodez in Gaul, Blessed Amantius, bishop, whose life was outstanding for his splendid sanctity and miracles.
At Rome, the birthday of St. Pierius, a priest of Alexandria. Deeply versed in the Holy Scriptures, and most pure in his life, he stripped himself of all his goods that he might devote himself to Christian philosophy. In the time of the Emperors Carus and Diocletian, when Theonas governed the Church of Alexandria, he taught with great distinction and published various treatises. After the persecution, he spent the remainder of his life at Rome where he died a peaceful death.
In Bithynia, St. Joannicius, abbot.
At Stuhlweissenburg in Hungary, the death of Blessed Emeric, confessor, son of St. Stephen, King of Hungary.
At Treves, St. Modesta, virgin. +
The Fifth Day of November
At Lima in South America, Blessed Martin de Porres, a tertiary of the Order of Preachers. Having pronounced his solemn vows to God, he united integrity of life so perfectly with the most severe penances, that both before and after death he merited to become famous for his miracles. A duplex feast.
St. Zachary, priest and prophet. He was the father of St. John the Baptist, Precursor of the Lord.
Also, St. Elizabeth, the mother of the aforesaid holy Precursor.
At Terracina in Campania, the birthday of the holy martyrs Felix, priest, and Eusebius, monk. Eusebius buried the holy martyrs Julian and Caesarius, and he converted many persons to the faith of Christ, while St. Felix baptized them. As they could not be intimidated, they were imprisoned, and on their refusal to offer sacrifice were beheaded that very night.
At Emesa in Phoenicia, the holy martyrs Galatio and Epistemis, his wife. In the persecution of Diocletian, they were flogged; in addition, their hands, feet, and tongues were amputated. They finally completed their martyrdom by being beheaded.
Also, the holy martyrs Domninus, Theotimus, Philotheus, Silvanus, and their associates, in the reign of the Emperor Maximinus.
At Milan, St. Magnus, bishop and confessor.
At Brescia, St. Dominator, bishop.
At Treves, St. Fibitius, at first an abbot, and later Bishop of Treves.
At Orleans in Gaul, St. Lactus, priest and confessor.
The Sixth Day of November
In the kingdom of Tonkin (Indo-China), the Blessed martyrs Jerome Hermosilla and Valentine Berrio-Ochoa, both bishops; Peter Almato, Francis Gil de Federich, Matthew Alphonse Leziniana, Hyacinth Castañeda, Vincent Liem, priests and missionaries of the Order of Preachers; also Joseph Khang, a catechist of the Third Order of our Father St. Dominic. Although these martyrs died at different times, they were all united by the same strength of soul, and confirmed the faith they preached by the shedding of their blood. A duplex feast.
At Barcelona in Spain, St. Severus, bishop and martyr. For confessing the Catholic faith, a spike was driven into his skull and he thus won his crown of martyrdom.
At Tunis in Africa, the birthday of St. Felix, martyr. He confessed the faith of Christ and was removed for torture, but the next day he was found dead in his prison. So declared St. Augustine, when explaining a certain psalm to his flock on the feast day of St. Felix.
At Theopolis, now called Antioch, (1) ten holy martyrs, who are said to have suffered at the hands of the Saracens.
In Phrygia, St. Atticus, martyr.
At Berg in Flanders, the death of St. Winoc, abbot. He was famed for his virtues and miracles, and he ministered for a long time to the brethren subject to him.
At Fondi in Latium, St. Felix, monk.
At Limoges in Aquitaine, St. Leonard, confessor. He was a disciple of Bishop St. Remigius. Though of noble birth, he chose a solitary life, and was enriched with holiness and miracles. His goodness manifested itself especially in liberating captives.
The Seventh Day of November
At Turin (in Italy), Blessed Peter of Ruffia, (martyr) of our Order. Appointed Inquisitor in Turin, he did not cease to shine by his great virtues, and especially by his zeal in defense of Catholic truth. Finally, on the day consecrated to the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day most auspicious for himself, he was slain by heretics, and so merited to enter the temple of Heaven. A semi-duplex feast.
At Padua, the death of St. Prosdocimus, who was the first bishop of that city. He was ordained bishop by St. Peter the Apostle, and sent to that city to preach the Word of God. He died a holy death at Padua, adorned with many virtues and miracles.
At Perugia, St. Herculanus, bishop and martyr.
At Schwelm in Germany, the suffering of St. Engelbert, Bishop of Cologne. He was on his way from Cologne to Essen to consecrate a church, when he was attacked on the road by assassins and stain by numerous wounds. Thus, he suffered martyrdom for defense of the liberty of the Church and the authority of the Church of Rome.
On the same day, St. Amaranthus, martyr. He underwent loyally the test of his faith. At Albi in Gaul, his body lies buried, but he lives in eternal glory.
At Melitina in Armenia, the suffering of SS. Hieron, Nicander, Hesychius, and thirty others, who were crowned in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Lysias.
At Amphipolis in Macedonia, the holy martyrs Auctus, Taurion, and Thessalonica.
At Ancyra in Galatia, the suffering of SS. Melasippus, Anthony, and Carina, under Julian the Apostate.
At Alexandria, Blessed Achilles, bishop, who was distinguished for his learning, faith, conduct, and purity of life.
In Friesland, the death of St. Willibrord, Bishop of Utrecht. He was ordained bishop by Blessed Pope Sergius, and preached the Gospel in Friesland and Denmark.
At Metz in Gaul, St. Rufus, bishop and confessor.
At Strasbourg, St. Florentius, bishop. +
The Eighth Day of November
The Octave of All Saints. A solemn octave.
At Rome, on the Via Lavicana, at the third milestone from the city, the suffering of the holy martyrs Claudius, Nicostratus, Symphorian, Castorius, and Simplicius. They were first cast into prison, and then severely flogged with scorpions. Since they could not be turned away from the faith of Christ, by the command of Diocletian, they were thrown headlong into the river.
At the same place, on the Via Lavicana, the birthday of the Four Holy Crowned Brothers, Severus, Severian, Carpophorus, and Victorinus. Under the same Emperor, they were flogged to death with blows from leaden-tipped scourges. Since their names could not then be learned (they were divinely revealed years later), it was decreed that their anniversary should be kept along with the five martyrs mentioned above, under the name of the Four Holy Crowned Ones. This has continued to be done in the Church even after their names were revealed. A memory.
Also at Rome, Pope St. Deusdedit, who had such great merit that he healed a leper of his disease by a kiss.
At Blexcn on the river Weser, in Germany, St. Willehad, who was the first Bishop of Bremen. He, together with St. Boniface, whose disciple he was, Spread the Gospel in Friesland and Saxony.
At Soissons in Gaul, St. Godefrid, Bishop of Amiens, a man of great sanctity.
At Verdun in Gaul, St. Maurus, bishop and confessor.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Clarus, priest, whose epitaph was written by St. Paulinus.
The Ninth Day of November
In Rome at the Lateran, the Dedication of the Basilica of the Most Holy Saviour, which is the mother and the head of all the churches of Rome and of the world. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Amasea in Pontus, the birthday of St. Theodore, soldier. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, he was severely beaten and thrown into prison, for confessing the Christian faith. There the Lord appeared to him and encouraged him to be steadfast and brave, and his spirits were raised. Finally, he was stretched on the rack and torn with iron hooks until his insides were visible; he was then placed in a raging fire to be burned to death. St. Gregory of Nyssa celebrated his name in a famous panegyric. A memory.
At Tyana, in Cappadocia, the suffering of St. Orestes, under the Emperor Diocletian.
At Thessalonica, St. Alexander, martyr, in the reign of the Emperor Maximian.
At Bourges in Aquitaine, St. Ursinus, confessor. He was ordained by the successors of the Apostles and was appointed the first Bishop of Bourges.
At Naples in Campania, St. Agrippinus, bishop, famed for his miracles.
At Constantinople, the holy virgins Eustolia, a Roman maiden, and Sopatra, the daughter of the Emperor Mauritius.
At Beirut in Syria, the commemoration of the image of the Saviour which, being nailed to a cross by some Jews, poured forth blood so abundantly that the Churches of the East and West both received an ample share of it. (2)
The Tenth Day of November
At Naples in Campania, the birthday of St. Andrew Avellino, Clerk Regular and confessor. He was renowned for holiness and zeal in promoting the salvation of his neighbors. Noted for his miracles, he was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Clement XI.
On the same day, the birthday of the holy martyrs Tryphon and Respicius, and Nympha, virgin.
At Rome, the birthday of Pope St. Leo I, confessor and Doctor of the Church, who, by reason of his outstanding qualities, is surnamed theGreat. During his pontificate, the Council of Chalcedon was held at which, through his legatcs, he condemned Eutyches; afterward, he confirmed the decrees of this Council by the weight of his authority. By the
many laws he passed and by his numerous writings, he deserved well of the Holy Church of God and of the entire flock of the Lord as their good shepherd. His feast, however, is observed on April 11.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, the holy women Tryphenna and Tryphosa.
By the preaching of St. Paul and the example of St. Thecla, these women made the greatest progress in Christian training.
At Antioch, SS. Demetrius, bishop, Anianus, deacon, Eustosius, and twenty other martyrs.
At Agde in Gaul, the holy martyrs Tiberius, Modestus, and Florence. In the reign of Diocletian, they were subjected to various tortures and so gained martyrdom.
At Ravenna, St. Probus, bishop, noted for miracles.
At Orleans in Gaul, St. Monitor, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Justus, bishop. Pope St. Gregory sent him together with Augustine, Mellitus, and others, to England to preach the Gospel. There, renowned for his sanctity, he died in the Lord.
In the town of Melun in Gaul, St. Leo, confessor.
On the island of Patmos, St. Theoctiste, virgin. + An anniversary.
The Eleventh Day of November
At Tours in Gaul, the birthday of Blessed Martin, bishop and confessor. His life was so resplendent with miracles that he merited to raise three dead men to life. A totum duplex feast.
At Cotyacus in Phrygia, the celebrated suffering of St. Menas. He was an Egyptian soldier who, in the persecution of Diocletian, cast away his military insignia and withdrew to the desert to wage an interior war for his heavenly King. Presenting himself before a public gathering, he loudly announced that he was a Christian. He was first subjected to severe tortures. Finally, as he was kneeling in prayer and giving thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, he was put to the sword. After his death, he became famous for miracles. A memory.
At Ravenna, the holy martyrs Valentine, Felician, and Victorinus, who were crowned in the persecution of Diocletian.
In Mesopotamia, St. Athenodorus, martyr. He was tortured with fire and tried by other punishments. Finally, he was condemned to capital punishment. When the executioner fell to the ground and no one dared to strike him with the sword, the martyr, while engrossed in prayer, went to his rest in the Lord.
At Lyons in Gaul, St. Veranus, bishop, whose life was noteworthy for his faith and the merits of his virtue.
At Constantinople, St. Theodore, Abbot of Studium.(3) He fought zealously for the Catholic faith against the Iconoclasts and became famous throughout the Universal Church.
In the monastery of Grottaferrata on the site of Tusculanum, the Abbot St. Bartholomew, a companion of St. Nilus, whose life he wrote.
In the province of Samnium (Central Italy), Blessed Mennas, anchorite. Pope St. Gregory has commemorated his virtues and miracles.
The Twelfth Day of November
The Feast of All the Saints of our Order. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
St. Martin I, pope and martyr, whose birthday is commemorated on September 16.
At Vitebsk in Poland, the suffering of St. Josaphat, of the Order of St. Basil a Polish archbishop and martyr. He was cruelly slain by the schismatics in their hatred of Catholic unity and truth. He was numbered among the martyrs by Pope Pius IX. His feast, however, is kept on November 14.
At Alcalá in Spain, the birthday of St. Didacus, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor, who was noted for his humility. He was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Sixtus V; his feast is celebrated on November 13.
In Asia, the suffering of the holy Bishops Aurelius and Publius.
At Eachen in Belgium, St. Livinus, bishop and martyr. He had convcrted many persons to the Christian faith when he was slain by the heathens. His body was later transferred to Ghent.
At Gnesen in Poland, the holy hermits and martyrs Benedict, John, Matthew, Isaac, and Christian. They were engaged in prayer when they were savagely attacked by robbers and put to the sword.
At Sergines near Sens, St. Paternus, monk and martyr. He met some robbers in the nearby forest and when he tried to persuade them to correct their lives, they put him to death.
At Avignon, St. Rufus, who was the first bishop of that city.
At Cologne, the death of St. Cunibert, bishop.
At Tarazona in Aragon, Blessed Emilian, priest. He was remarkable for his many miracles. St. Braulio, Bishop of Saragossa, wrote his admirable life.
At Constantinople, St. Nilus, abbot. In the reign of Theodosius the Younger, he had been prefect of that city and then became a monk. He was distinguished for his learning and holiness.
The Thirteenth Day of November
The Patronage of St. Thomas Aquinas over Catholic Schools. A totum duplex feast of the first class.
St. Didacus, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor, whose birthday is observed on November 12.
At Ravenna, the birthday of the holy martyrs, Valentine, Solutor, and Victor, who suffered in the reign of the Emperor Diocletian.
At Aix in the province of Narbonne, Blessed Mitrius, a most famous martyr.
At Caesarea in Palestine, the suffering of St. Antoninus, Zebina, Germanus, and Ennatha, virgin. At the time of Galerius Maximus, Ennatha was scourged and then burned alive; the others were beheaded because they had fearlessly and loudly accused the governor Firmilian of idolatry in offering sacrifice to the gods.
In Africa, the holy Spanish martyrs Arcadius, Paschasius, Probus, and Eutychian. In the Vandal persecution, they refused positively to join the Arian heresy. They were first proscribed by the Arian king Genseric, and then exiled. They were treated with atrocious cruelty and finally put to death in various ways. At that time, too, was seen the constancy of Paulillus, the little brother of SS. Paschasius and Eutychian. Since all efforts failed to turn him away from the Catholic faith, he was subjected to a long clubbing and then condemned to the vilest slavery.
At Rome, Pope St. Nicholas I, preeminent for his apostolic vigor.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Britius, bishop, who was a disciple of Blessed Bishop Martin. His memory is recalled on November 14.
At Toledo in Spain, St. Eugene, bishop.
In Auvergne in Gaul, St. Quinctian, bishop.
At Cremona in Insubria, St. Homobonus, confessor. He was renowned for miracles and was canonized by Pope Innocent III.
The Fourteenth Day.of November
At Caccamo in Sicily, Blessed John Liccio, confessor, of the Order of Preachers He was notable for his eloquence in speaking of divine things, for charity toward his neighbor, for the propagation of the Rosary, for striving after regular observance, and for other virtues. At the age of one hundred and eleven, he quietly rested in the Lord. A semi-duplex feast.
St. Josaphat, of the Order of St. Basil, a Polish archbishop and martyr, whose birthday is remembered on November 12.
At Gangra in Paphlagonia, St. Hypatius, bishop. While on the way home from the great Nicene Council, he was stoned by Novatian heretics and thus died a martyr.
At Heraclea in Thrace, the birthday of the holy martyrs Clementinus, Theodotus, and Philomenus.
At Alexandria, St. Serapion, martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Decius, the executioners inflicted on him the most cruel sufferings. After they had broken the joints of all his limbs, they flung him off the roof of his house, and so he became a glorious martyr of Christ.
At Troyes in Gaul, St. Venerandus, martyr, under the, Emperor Aurelian.
In Gaul, St. Veneranda, virgin. She received the crown of martyrdom under the Emperor Antoninus and the governor Asclcpiades.
At Emesa in Phoenicia, the suffering of many holy women. They were most brutally tortured and slain for the Christian faith under the cruel Arab chief Mady.
At Bologna, St. Jucundus, bishop and confessor.
At Eu in Gaul, St. Laurence, Bishop of Dublin.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Britius, bishop, who, on November 13, died in the Lord. A memory.
At Algiers in Africa, Blessed Scrapion. He was the first one of the Order of our Lady of Ransom to merit obtaining the palm of martyrdom.
Because he redeemed the faithful from captivity and preached the Christian faith, he was crucified and then cut to pieces limb from limb.
The Fifteenth Day of November
At Cologne, St. Albert surnamed the Great, at One time Bishop of Ratisbon, and confessor, of the Order of Preachers. Radiant by the holiness of his life, by his zeal for the salvation of souls, and by his surpassing doctrine, he enlightened the Church. Pope Pius XI declared him to be a Doctor of the Universal Church (and Pius XII constituted him patron before God of students of the natural sciences). (4) A totum duplex feast of the first class.
St. Gertrude, virgin, of the Order of St. Benedict, who was called by her heavenly Spouse to eternal happiness on November 17.
On the same day, the birthday of St. Eugene, Bishop of Toledo and martyr. He was a disciple of Blessed Dionysius the Areopagite. Having finished the course of martyrdom near Paris, he received from the Lord the crown of his blessed suffering. His body was afterward transferred to Toledo in Spain.
At Nola in Campania, Blessed Felix, bishop and martyr. From the age of fifteen, he was remarkable for his miracles. Under the prefect Marcianus, he completed, together with thirty companions, the course of martyrdom.
At Edessa in Mesopotamia, the suffering of St. Abibus, deacon. He was mangled with hooks under the Emperor Licinius and the governor Lysanias, and was then burned alive.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Gurias and Samonas, under the Emperor Diocletian and the governor Antoninus.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Secundus, Fidentianus, and Varicus.
At Archingcay, in the territory of Saintes, the birthday of St. Malo, Bishop of Aleth in Gaul. Born in England, he was famous for his miracle from his earliest years.
At Verona, St. Luperius, bishop and confessor.
At Klosterneuburg near Vienna, in Austria, St. Leopold, margrave of the same province of Austria. He was canonized by Pope Innocent VIII.
The Sixteenth Day of November
At Ferrara (in Italy), Blessed Lucy of Narni, virgin, of the Order of our Father St Dominic. Her incorrupted body is held in the greatest reverence at Ferrara. A semi-duplex feast.
At Edinburgh in Scotland, the birthday of St. Margaret, widow, Queen of the Scots. She was conspicuous for her love of the poor and her voluntary poverty. Her feast is kept on June 10.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Rufinus, Mark, Valerius, and their companions.
On the same day, the holy martyrs Elpidius, Marcellus, Eustochius, and their associates. Elpidius, who was of senatorial rank, confessed the faith with great firmness before Julian the Apostate. He, with his companions, was first tied to wild horses and dragged by them; then he was cast into the fire and thus completed a glorious martyrdom.
At Lyons in Gaul, the birthday of St. Eucherius, bishop and confessor. He was a man of admirable faith and learning. Although he enjoyed the most noble senatorial rank, he exchanged it for the religious life and the religious habit. He had himself walled up in a cave where for a long period of time he served Christ by prayer and fasting. Then, because of a revelation made by an angel (to the faithful), he was solemnly made Bishop of Lyons.
At Padua, St. Fidentius, bishop.
At Canterbury in England, St. Edmund, archbishop and confessor. He was driven into exile for defending the rights of his church, and he died a most holy death at Provins, a town near Sens. He was inscribed in the canon of saints by Pope Innocent IV.
On the same day, the death of St. Othmar, abbot.
The Seventeenth Day of November
At Neocaesarea in Pontus, the birthday of St. Gregory, bishop and confessor. He was celebrated for his learning and sanctity. Because of the signs and miracles he performed with great glory to the Church, he is called the Wonderworker. A simplex feast.
At Helfa in Saxony, the birthday of St. Gertrude, virgin, of the Order of St. Benedict, who was noted for the gift of revelations. Her feast is celebrated on November 15.
In Palestine, the holy martyrs Alpheus and Zachaeus. In the first year of Diocletian's persecution, they received capital punishment after having undergone many tortures.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy martyrs Acislus and Victoria, brother and sister. In the same persecution, they were most savagely tortured by order of Dion the governor, and merited crowns from the Lord for their remarkable suffering.
At Alexandria, St. Dionysius, bishop. A man of the greatest learning, he was renowned for his many confessions of the faith. He was extraordinary in the diversity of the sufferings and tortures he endured. However, he lived to an advanced age and died a peaceful death.
At Orleans in Gaul, St. Aignan, bishop. His death was precious in the sight of the Lord, as many miracles showed.
In Britain, St. Hugh, bishop. He was called from the state of a Carthusian monk to govern the Church of Lincoln. He was renowned for numerous miracles and died a holy death.
At Tours in Gaul, St. Gregory, bishop.
At Florence, St. Eugene, confessor. He was the deacon of St. Zenobius, bishop of that city.
The Eighteenth Day of November
At Rome, the Dedication of the Basilicas of the Apostles St. Peter and St. Paul. The Basilica of St. Peter was solemnly consecrated on this day by the Sovereign Pontiff Urban VIII, after it had been rebuilt on a larger scale. The Basilica of St. Paul had been entirely destroyed by an unfortunate fire; it was rebuilt in a more imposing manner and was consecrated with solemn ritual by Pius IX on December 10; its annual commemoration was transferred to this day. A totum duplex feast.
At Antioch, the birthday of St. Romanus, martyr. During the reign of the Emperor Galerius, when the prefect Asclepiades attacked the Church and tried to destroy it completely, St. Romanus encouraged the other Christians to resist him. After he had endured terrible tortures, his tongue was cut out, but even without it, he spoke the praises of God. Then he was strangled with a noose in prison and so was crowned by a famous martyrdom. Ahead of him there suffered a young boy named Barula. He was asked by the governor whether it were better to worship one God or many gods; the boy replied that one must believe in the one God whom the Christians worship. For this answer, he was flogged and then ordered to be beheaded.
Also at Antioch, St. Hesychius, martyr. He was a soldier, and when he heard the order that anyone who would not offer sacrifice should lay aside his military insignia, he immediately did so. For this action, a huge rock was fastened to his right hand and he was flung into the river.
On the same day, SS. Oriculus and his companions, who suffered for the Catholic faith in the Vandal persecution.
At Mainz, St. Maximus, bishop. In the time of Constantine, he underwent many sufferings at the hands of the Arians. He died a confessor.
At Tours in Gaul, the passing of Blessed Odo, Abbot of Cluny.
At Antioch, St. Thomas, monk. In an annual solemnity, the people of Antioch were accustomed to reverence him for having ended a plague by his prayers.
At Lucca in Tuscany, the transferal of the relics of St. Frigidianus, bishop and confessor. +
The Nineteenth Day of November
In the town of Marburg in Germany, the death of St. Elizabeth, widow, daughter of King Andrew of Hungary, and (a member) of the Third Order of St. Francis. She was sedulously devoted to works of piety and went to the Lord, renowned for her miracles. A duplex feast.
St. Pontian, pope and martyr, whose birthday occurs on October 30.
At Samaria in Palestine, St. Abdias, Prophet.
At Rome on the Appian Way, the birthday of St. Maximus, priest and martyr. He suffered in the persecution of Valerian and was buried at St. Sixtus.
In the city of Ecija in Spain, Blessed Crispin, bishop, who obtained the glory of martyrdom by being beheaded.
On the same day, St. Faustus, a deacon of Alexandria. In the persecution of Valerian, he was first sent into exile with St. Dionysius. Later, in his old age, he suffered martyrdom, being slain by the sword.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, St. Barlaam, martyr. Although he was an ignorant countryman, yet, strengthened by the wisdom of Christ, he conquered the tyrant, and by his unshaken faith he rose superior to the fire. St. Basil the Great delivered a famous panegyric to the people on his birthday.
At Vienne in Gaul, the holy martyrs Severinus, Exuperius, and Felicianus, whose bodies, after the course of many years, were found by their own revelation. Their bodies were reverently removed by the clergy and people of that city and given an honorable burial by the bishop.
In Isauria, the suffering of SS. Azas and his one hundred and fifty fellow soldiers, under the Emperor Diocletian and the tribune Aquilinus.
The Twentieth Day of November
St. Felix of Valois, priest and confessor. He founded the Order of the Most Holy Trinity for the Redemption of Captives. He died in the Lord on November 4. A duplex feast.
In Persia, the martyrdom of SS. Nersas, bishop, and his companions.
At Messina in Sicily, the holy martyrs Ampelus and Caius.
At Turin, SS. Octavius, Solutor, and Adventor, martyred soldiers of the Theban Legion. At the time of the Emperor Maximian, they fought wonderfully (for the faith) and were crowned with martyrdom.
At Caesaria in Palestine, St. Agapius, martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Galerius Maximian, he was condemned to the beasts. As he was not injured by them, he was flung into the sea with stones attached to his feet.
At Silistria in Rumania, St. Dasius, martyr. He was put to death by the governor Bassus, because he would not take part in the shameless rites of the Saturnalia.
At Nicaca in Bithynia, the holy martyrs Eustace, Thcspesius, and Anatolius, in the persecution of Maximinus.
At Heraclea in Thrace, the holy martyrs Bassus, Dionysius, Agapitus, and forty others.
In England, St. Edmund, king and martyr.
At Constantinople, St. Gregory Decapolites, who suffered much because of his veneration of the holy images.
At Milan, St. Benignus, bishop. During a great incursion of barbarians, he governed the Church committed to his care with great firmness and piety.
At Chalons in Gaul, St. Silvester, bishop. In the forty-second year of his priesthood, rich in days and virtues, he died in the Lord.
At Verona, St. Simplicius, bishop and confessor.
At Hildesheim in Saxony, St. Bernard, bishop and confessor. He was canonized by Pope Celestine III.
The Twenty-first Day of November
At Jerusalem, the Presentation in the Temple of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. A totum duplex feast.
On the same day, the birthday of Blessed Rufus, whom St. Paul the Apostle mentions in his Epistle to the Romans. (5)
At Rome, the suffering of SS. Celsus and Clement.
At Rheims in Gaul, St. Albert, Bishop of Liege and martyr, who was killed for defending the liberty of the Church.
Near Ostia, the holy martyrs Demetrius and Honorius.
In Spain, the holy martyrs Honorius, Eutychius, and Stephen.
In Pamphylia, St. Heliodorus, martyr, in the persecution of Aurelian, under the governor Aetius. After his execution, his executioners themselves were converted to the faith and were drowned in the sea.
At Rome, Pope St. Gelasius I, famed for his learning and holiness.
At Verona, St. Maurus, bishop and confessor.
In the monastery of Bobbio, the death of St. Columban, abbot. He founded many monasteries and was the spiritual father of a very great number of monks. Eminent for his many virtues, he died peacefully at a good old age.
The Twenty-second Day of November
St. Cecilia, virgin and martyr. Purpled with her own blood, she de parted to her heavenly Spouse, on September 16. A duplex feast.
At Colossae in Phrygia, SS. Philemon and Apphias, disciples of St Paul. In the reign of the Emperor Nero, on the feast of Diana, the heathens burst into the (Christian) church and seized Philemon and Apphias, while the rest of the congregation fled. By orders of the governor Artocles, they were flogged; after which, they were buried up to their waists in a pit and then stoned to death.
At Rome, St. Maurus, martyr. He came from Africa to visit the tomb of the Apostles, and suffered martyrdom under Celerinus, governor of Rome in the reign of the Emperor Numerian.
At Antioch in Pisidia, the suffering of SS. Mark and Stephen, in the days of the Emperor Diocletian.
At Autun, St. Pragmatius, bishop and confessor.
The Twenty-third Day of November
The birthday of St. Clement I, pope and martyr. He was the third pope after St. Peter the Apostle. In the persecution of Trajan, he was exiled to the Chersonese; there, an anchor was fastened to his neck and he was cast into the sea and so was crowned with martyrdom. During the time of the Sovereign Pontiff, Hadrian II, his body was taken to Rome by two brothers, SS. Cyril and Methodius, and buried with honor in the church which had been built and named after him. A duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Felicitas martyr, the mother of seven martyred sons. At the command of the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, she was beheaded for Christ after her sons had been martyred.
At Cyzicus in the Hellespont, St. Sisinius, martyr. In the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian, he was put to the sword after he had endured many tortures.
At Merida in Spain, St. Lucretia, virgin and martyr, who gained martyrdom in the same persecution under the governor Dacian.
At Iconium in Lycaonia, St. Amphilochius, bishop. He was the companion of SS. Basil and Gregory of Nyssa in the desert and their colleague in the episcopate. After suffering many trials for the Catholic faith, he died a peaceful death, famed for holiness and learning.
At Agrigento (in Sicily), the death of St. Gregory, bishop.
In the town of Hasbain in Belgium, St. Trond, priest and confessor. Both the monastery he erected there on his own land, and the town which shortly after arose, were later named after him. (6)
The Twenty-fourth Day of November
St. John of the Cross, priest, confessor, and Doctor of the Church. He was the associate of St. Teresa in the reform of Carmel. His birthday is mentioned on December 14. A duplex feast.
On the same day, the birthday of St. Chrysogonus, martyr. For his unwavering confession of Christ, he endured for a prolonged period chains and imprisonment. By orders of Diocletian, he was brought to Aquileia, there beheaded, and his body thrown into the sea, thus completing his martyrdom. A memory.
At Rome, St. Crescentian, martyr. He is mentioned in the martyrdom of Blessed Pope Marcellus.
At Corinth, St. Alexander, martyr. Under Julian the Apostate and the governor Sallust, he fought for the faith of Christ, even unto death.
At Perugia, St. Felicissimus, martyr.
At Ameria in Umbria, St. Firmina, virgin and martyr. In the persecution of Diocletian, she was tortured in various ways. At last, she was hung up and burned with flaming torches until she gave up her spotless soul to God.
At Cordoba in Spain, the holy virgins and martyrs Flora and Mary, who, in the Arab persecution, after long imprisonment were put to the sword.
At Milan, St. Protasius, bishop. At the Council of Sardica and in the presence of the Emperor Constans, he defended the cause of Athanasius. He died in the Lord, after he had performed many labors both for the Church committed to him and for religion.
In the province of Auvergne, St. Portianus, abbot. He was celebrated for his miracles in the reign of King Theodoric. He has given his name both to the monastery of which he had charge, and to the town which afterward was built in that place. (7)
In the district of Blaye in Gaul, St. Romanus, priest. The praise of his holiness is declared by the glory of his miracles.
The Twenty-fifth Day of November
At Alexandria, St. Catherine, virgin and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, she was cast into prison for confessing the Christian faith. Then she was flogged for a long time with scorpions, and finally completed her martytdom by being beheaded. Her body was miraculously carried by angels to Mount Sinai, and is there piously venerated by huge gatherings of Christians. A totum duplex feast.
At Rome, St. Moses, priest and martyr. While he was detained in prison together with other Christians, he was often encouraged by letters from St. Cyprian. With undiminished courage, he resisted not only the pagans but also the schismatics and Novatian heretics. Eventually, as Pope St. Cornelius testifies, he was crowned with a famous and admirable martyrdom in the persecution of Decius.
At Antioch, St. Erasmus, martyr.
At Caesarea in Cappadocia, the suffering of St. Mercurius, soldier. By the protection of his guardian angel, he conquered barbarians and overcame the cruelty of Decius. Enriched with the trophies of many tortures, he passed into heaven, crowned with martyrdom.
In Emilia, a province of Italy, St. Jucunda, virgin.
The Twenty-sixth Day of November
At Mantua, Blessed James Benefatti, bishop and confessor, of the Order of Preachers. On account of his having perfectly fulfilled the duties of a good shepherd, he earned for himself the name "Father of the Poor," as well as the love of his flock. A semi-duplex feast.
At Fabriano in Piceno, Blessed Silvester, abbot, founder of the Congregation of Silvestrine Monks.
At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Peter, bishop of that city and martyr. He was adorned with every kind of virtue. He was beheaded by command of Galerius Maximian.
Also at Alexandria, there suffered in the same persecution the holy martyrs Faustus, priest, Didius, and Ammonius; also Phileas, Hesychius, Pachomius and Theodore, Egyptian bishops, with six hundred and sixty-six others. All gained heaven by the sword of persecution.
At the village called Fratta (8) near Rovigo, St. Bellinus, Bishop of Padua and martyr. He was an excellent defender of the rights of the Church. He was cruelly attacked by assasins who, having inflicted many wounds on him, killed him.
At Nicomedia, St. Marcellus, priest. In the reign of Constantius, he was flung headlong from a cliff by the Arians and thus died a martyr.
At Rome, St. Siricius, pope and confessor. Eminent for his learning, piety, and zeal for religion, he condemned various heretics, and restored ecclesiastical discipline by his most salutary decrees.
At Autun, St. Amator, bishop.
At Constance in Germany, St. Conrad, bishop.
At Rome, St. Leonard of Port Maurice, priest, of the Order of Friars Minor, and confessor. He was noteworthy for his zeal for souls and his missionary journeys throughout Italy. He was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pius IX.
In the district of Rheims, the birthday of St. Basolus, confessor.
At Adrianople in Paphlagonia, St. Stylian, hermit, noted for miracles.
In Armenia, St. Nicon, monk.
The Twenty-seventh Day of November
At Antioch, the holy martyrs Basileus, bishop, Auxilius, and Saturninus.
At Sebaste in Armenia, the holy martyrs Hirenarchus, Acacius, priest, and seven women. Hirenarchus was moved by the constancy of these women and was converted to Christ. Under the Emperor Diocletian and the governor Maximus, Hirenarchus together with Acacius was slain with an axe.
At the river Cea in Galicia, SS. Facundus and Primitivus, who suffered under the governor Atticus.
In Persia, St. James, a famous martyr surnamed "Dismembered." In the days of Theodosius the Younger, he denied Christ to secure the favor of King Isdegerd; whereupon, his mother and wife avoided his company. Repenting of his deed, James approached King Vararanes, the son and successor of Isdegerd, and confessed that he was a Christian. Hence, the angry monarch sentenced him to this death: his limbs were to be cut off one by one and finally he was to be beheaded. At that time and in the same place, innumerable other martyrs were slain.
At Aquileia, St. Valerian, bishop.
At Riez in Gaul, St. Maximus, bishop and confessor. He was endowed with every grace and virtue from his earliest years. He was at first the superior of the monastery at Lerins, and later Bishop of the Diocese of Riez. He was renowned for his signs and miracles.
At Salzburg in Germany, St. Virgil, Bishop and Apostle of Caranthia. He was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff Gregory IX.
In India, near the Persian border, SS. Barlaam and Josaphat, whose wondrous deeds are narrated by St. John Damascene.
At Paris, the death of St. Severinus, monk and hermit.
The Twenty-eighth Day of November
At Corinth, the birthday of St. Sosthenes, a disciple of the Apostle St. Paul, whom the same Apostle mentions in his Epistle to the Corinthians. (9) He had been a ruler of the synagogue but was converted to Christ. Cruelly flogged before the governor Gallio, he thus hallowed the firstfruits of his faith by an admirable beginning.
At Rome, St. Rufus. Diocletian made him and his whole family martyrs of Christ.
In Africa, the holy martyrs Papinian and Mansuetus, bishops. At the time of the Vandal persecution by the Arian King Genseric, these bishops defended the Catholic faith. For so doing, their bodies were seared with red-hot iron plates until they had completed their glorious contest. At the same time, other holy Bishops Valerian, Urban, Crescens, Eustace, Cresconius, Crescentian, Felix, Hortulanus, and Florentian, all were condemned to exile where they finished their earthly days.
At Constantinople, the holy martyrs Stephen the Younger, Basil, Peter, Andrew, and three hundred and thirty-nine fellow-monks. Under Constantine Copronymus, they were tortured in various ways because of their veneration of the holy images. They confirmed Catholic truth by shedding their blood.
At Naples in Campania, the death of St. James of Piceno, priest, of the Order of Friars Minor, and confessor. He was famed for the austerity of his life, apostolic preaching, and the many diplomatic missions he performed for the Church. He was canonized by the Sovereign Pontiff, Pope Benedict XIII.
The Twenty-ninth Day of November
The Vigil of St. Andrew the Apostle.
At Rome on the Via Salaria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Saturninus, an old man, and Sisinius, deacon, under the Emperor Maximian; After they had been imprisoned for a long time, the prefect of the city ordered them to be raised upon the rack and stretched; then they were flogged with thongs, clubs, and scorpions. After fire had been applied to them, they were taken down from the rack and beheaded. A memory.
At Toulouse, St. Saturninus, bishop. In the reign of Decius, he was taken by the pagans to the capitol of that city and flung down the steps of the highest stairway. His skull was crushed, his brains dashed out, and his entire body mangled. Thus, he offered his worthy soul to Christ.
Also the suffering of SS. Paramon and three hundred and seventy-five companions under the Emperor Decius and the governor Aquilinus.
At Ancyra in Galatia, St. Philomenus, martyr. In the persecution of the Emperor Aurelian, under the governor Felix, he was tried by fire. Then his hands, feet, and lastly his head were pierced by spikes and he completed his martyrdom.
At Veroli in the Hernican mountains, the holy martyrs Blaise and Demetrius.
At Todi in Umbria, St. Illuminata, virgin.
The Thirtieth Day of November
At Patras in Achaia, the birthday of St. Andrew the Apostle. He preached the sacred Gospel of Christ in Thrace and Scythia, and was arrested by Aegeas the proconsul. After imprisonment, he was barbarously scourged and finally hung on a cross; he lived for two days, during which he did not cease to teach the people. He asked God not to permit him to be taken down from the cross, and he was then surrounded with a great light from heaven. When the light finally disappeared, he gave up his soul. A totum duplex feast of the second class.
At Rome, the suffering of SS. Castulus and Euprepes.
At Constantinople, St. Maura, virgin and martyr.
Also, St. Justina, virgin and martyr.
At Rome, St. Constantius, confessor. He fought bravely against the Pelagians and from that faction suffered many injuries, which made him a fellow of the holy confessors.
Near Saintes in Gaul, St. Trojan, bishop. He was a man of great holiness. He made it clear, by the many miracles he worked, that he lives in Heaven even though his body was buried on earth.
In Palestine, Blessed Zosimus, confessor. He was renowned for holiness and miracles, in the days of the Emperor Justin.
NOTES
1. When Justinian rebuilt Antioch (middle of 6th cent.), he named it Theopolis. The name, however, did not last.
2. Needless to say, this story is regarded as a fable by many historians.
3. Studium was the name of a famous monastery at Constantinople; it was built in the year 463 by the Roman consul Studius.
4. The clause "and Pius XII, etc." is taken from the 1952 Supplement of the Roman Martyrology.
5. Romans, 16:13.
6. Saint-Trond or Sint-Truiden, near Hasselt.
7. Saint-Pourçain-sur-Sioule, near Vichy.
8. Fratta Polesine.
9. 1 Cor., 1:1.
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