Old Stuff

The Twenty-eighth Day of August

At Hippo in Africa, the birthday of St. Augustine, bishop, confessor, and eminent Doctor of the Church. He was converted to the Catholic faith and baptized through the zeal of Bishop St. Ambrose. He became a most stalwart defender of the faith against the Manichees and other heretics. After enduring many other labors for the Church of God, he passed to his reward in Heaven. Because (of the invasion) of the barbarians, his relics were taken from his own city first to Sardinia, and afterward by Luitprand, King of the Lombards, to Pavia, and honorably buried there. A totum duplex feast of the second class.

At Rome, the birthday of St. Hermes, an illustrious man. As may be read in the Acts of Blessed Pope Alexander, he was first delivered over to be kept in prison. Then, with many others, he was put to the sword, ending his martyrdom under the judge Aurelian.

At Venosa in Apulia, the suffering of SS. Septiminus, Januarius, and Felix. In the reign of the Emperor Maximian, the judge Valerian ordered these sons of SS. Boniface and Thecla to be beheaded. Their festival, however, is observed with that of the others of the twelve holy brethren on September 1.

At Brioude in Auvergne, the suffering of St. Julian, martyr, who was a companion of the tribune Blessed Ferreolus. He served Christ in secret while leading the life of a soldier; in the persecution of Diocletian he was seized by soldiers and put to a barbarous death by having his throat cut.

At Constance in Germany, St. Pelagius, martyr, who, being beheaded, received the crown of martyrdom under the Emperor Numerian and the judge Evilasius.

At Salerno, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Caius, and Anthes, who were beheaded under the Emperor Diocletian and the proconsul Leontius.

At Constantinople, St. Alexander, bishop, a glorious old man.[1] It was by the power of his prayer that the body of Arius, who had been condemned by the judgment of God, burst in the middle and his entrails gushed forth.

At Saintes in Gaul, St. Vivian, bishop and confessor.

Likewise, St. Moses, an Ethiopian. From being a notorious robber, he became a famous hermit, converted many others, and brought them with him to his monastery.

The death of the venerable brother Albert de Chiavari of Genoa, 10th master general of the Order.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnotes:
[1] When he became bishop of Constantinople (in 313 or 317), he was seventy-three years old. With astonishing vigor he fought the enemies of the Church to the day of his death--twenty-three years later.

Posted by billw at August 28, 2002 06:37 AM | TrackBack