Old Stuff

The Twentieth Day of December

The Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle.

In Spain, the death of St. Dominic of Silos of the Order of St. Benedict, greatly celebrated for his miracles in liberating captives. A duplex feast.

At Rome, the birthday of St. Zephyrinus, pope and martyr, whose feast is observed on August 26.

In the same city, the suffering of St. Ignatius, bishop and martyr. He was the third (bishop) after the Apostle St. Peter to govern the Church of Antioch, and in the persecution of Trajan, was condemned to the beasts. He was sent in chains to Rome. There, in the very presence of the Senate, he was first subjected to the most inhuman tortures and then thrown to the beasts. Being ground by their teeth, he became a host for Christ.[1] His feast is observed on February 1.

At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and Baiulus.

In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and Macarius, priests. For rebuking the impiety of Julian the Apostate, they were most savagely wounded, and, taken to an immense desert, were put to the sword.

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingenes, and Theophilus, soldiers. While on duty at a court of justice, they saw a certain Christian waver during his torture; when he was almost at the point of forsaking his faith, they attempted by their expressions, gestures, and nods to strengthen him. Whereupon, an uproar from the crowd rose against them. The soldiers pushed forward and declared that they too were Christians. By their victory, Christ, Who had given them firmness of character, was gloriously triumphant.

At Gelduba in Germany, St. Julius, martyr.

At Antioch, the birthday of St. Philogonius, bishop. By the will of God, he was called from the legal profession to govern the Church of Antioch. Together with the Bishop Alexander and his associates, he first began the battle for the Catholic faith against Arius. Celebrated for his merits, he died a peaceful death. On his annual feast day, St. John Chrysostom extolled him in a famous panegyric.

At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor.

The death of the venerable brother Augustine Recuperati, 43rd master general of the Order.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Footnote:

[1] The allusion is to the saint's famous epistle: "I am God's grain and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found the pure bread of Christ."

Posted by billw at December 20, 2002 04:31 AM