Old Stuff

The Nineteenth Day of January

St. Margaret, virgin (of the Order of Preachers), who on January 18 went to her heavenly Spouse. A totum duplex feast of the second class.

At Rome, on the Via Cornelia, the holy martyrs Marius, Martha his wife, and their sons Audifax and Abachum. They were Persians of noble birth, who came to Rome on a pilgrimage in the time of the Emperor Claudius. After they had endured scourging, the rack, fire, iron hooks, and the cutting off of their hands, Martha was drowned at (a place called) Ninfa; the others were beheaded, and their bodies cremated.

Also St. Canute, king and martyr.

At Smyrna, the birthday of St. Germanicus, martyr. At the time of Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius, St. Germanicus cast aside by the mighty grace of God all bodily fears, although he was yet in the flower of his youth. Having been condemned to death by the judge, he deliberately provoked the wild beast let loose on him. Ground by the teeth of the beast, he merited to be united with the true Bread, the Lord Jesus Christ, by dying for His sake.

In Africa, the holy martyrs Paul, Gerontius, Januarius, Satuminus, Successus, Julius, Catus, Pia, and Germana.

At Spoleto, the suffering of St. Pontian, martyr, in the time of the Emperor Antoninus. For his confession of Christ, Fabian the judge ordered him to be beaten severely with rods, and to walk barefoot on live coals. Then he was tortured on the rack and hung from iron hooks; after this, he was cast into prison, where he merited to be consoled by the visit of an angel. Afterward, he was exposed to the lions, had molten lead poured over him, and was at last put to the sword.

At Lodi in Lombardy, St. Bassian, bishop and confessor, who, together with St. Ambrose, fought strenuously against the heretics.

At Worcester in England, St. Wulstan, bishop and confessor. He was outstanding for his merits and his miracles, and was numbered among the saints by Innocent III.

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

R. Thanks be to God.

Posted by billw at January 19, 2003 04:29 AM