Old Stuff

The First Day of September

In the province of Narbonne, St. Giles, abbot and confessor. The town which later grew up in this place where he built his monastery and where he died was named after him.[1] A feast of three lessons.

At Sentianum in Apulia, the suffering of St. Donatus and of another St. Felix,[2] who were the sons of SS. Boniface and Thecla. On this day, in the reign of the Emperor Maximian, they were sentenced by the judge Valerian to be beheaded, they already having undergone various tortures. Also on this day is observed the feast of the rest of the twelve holy brothers, whose birthdays are each noted in their proper places. The bodies of the twelve brothers were later transferred to Benevento and honorably enshrined there.

In Palestine, SS. Josue and Gideon.

At Jerusalem, Blessed Anna the Prophetess, whose holiness the Gospel declares.[3]

At Capua on the Via Aquaria, St. Priscus, martyr, who was one of the first disciples of Christ.

At Todi in Umbria, St. Terentian, bishop and martyr. In the reign of the Emperor Hadrian, at the command of the proconsul Lactian, he was tortured by the rack and by scorpions. Finally, after his tongue had been cut out, he was condemned to death and so ended his martyrdom.

At Heraclea in Thrace, St. Ammon, deacon, and forty holy virgins whom he had instructed in the faith. At the time of the tyrant Licinius, he took them with him to the glory of martyrdom.

In Spain, the holy martyrs Vincent and Lactus.

In Populonia in Tuscany, St. Regulus, martyr. He came from Africa and gained martyrdom at Populonia at the time of Totila.

At Capua, St. Priscus, bishop. In the persecution by the Vandals he was one of these priests who were persecuted in various ways because of their Catholic faith. Put aboard an old ship, they made their way from Africa to the shores of Campania. Here they separated and went to different cities where they were placed in charged of various churches and so wonderfully spread the Christian faith. The companions of St. Priscus were Castrensis, whose birthday is recalled on February 11, Tammarus, Rosius, Heraclius, Secundinus, Adjutor, Mark, Augustus, Elpidius, Canion, and Vindonius.

At Sens, Blessed Lupus, bishop and confessor. It is said of him that one day, while he stood at the altar in the presence of his clergy, a jewel fell from heaven into his sacred chalice.

At Rheims in Gaul, St. Sixtus, who was the first bishop of that city.

At Le Mans in Gaul, St. Victorius, bishop.

At Aquino, St. Constantius, bishop, famed for the gift of prophecy and for his many virtues.

At Zurzach, in the territory of Constance, Germany,[4] St. Verena, virgin.

The death of the venerable brother Bererigarius of Landorra, 13th master general of the Order.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnotes:

[1] Saint-Gilles-du-Gard, near Arles.

[2] The phrase "another Felix" refers to the entry on August 28: "At Venosa in Apulia, the suffering of SS. Septiminus, Januarius, and Felix . . . sons of SS. Boniface and Thecla." However, hagiographers question whether Donatus and Felix were the sons of Boniface and Thecla.

[3] Luke, 2:36-38.

[4] Zurzach is now inside the northern border of Switzerland.