Primus and Felician were two elderly Roman
brothers from Nomentum (modern Mentana). For confessing their
Christian faith and refusing to sacrifice to the gods of Rome, they
were exposed to lions in the amphitheatre, but as they failed to
attack them, they were subjected to many tortures under governor
Promotus of Nomentum, and finally they were beheaded. This happened
in 304 AD during the persecution under Diocletian and Maximian. They
were buried in at the fourteenth milestone from Rome on the Via
Nomentana. In 648 Pope Theodore had their relics translated to the
Church of San Stefano Rotondo on the Coelian Hill.
Dom Prosper Gueranger:
Roses and lilies are exquisitely alternated in the wreath woven by centuries for the Bride of the Son of God. Though the world be heedless of the fact, it is none the less true that everything here below has but one object, namely to bedeck the Church with the attractive charms of Heaven, to adjust her jewelled robes formed of the virtues of her Saints, that she may be fitted to take her seat beside her Divine Spouse, in the highest heavens, for all eternity (Apocalypse xix. 7-8; Psalms xliv. 10). The sacred Cycle in its yearly course presents an image of those ceaseless labours by which the Holy Ghost continues to form, up to the day of the eternal Nuptials, that varied robe of Holy Church, by diversifying the merits of God’s servants, her members here below. Today, we have two martyrs be-crimsoned with their own blood, setting off the dazzling whiteness of Norbert’s spotless works, or of William’s innocence. And tomorrow we may contemplate with delighted gaze the softer light beamed on our Earth by Margaret, Scotland’s Pearl.
Primus and Felician, wealthy Romans, had already attained maturity of age when our Lord made His voice heard inviting them to forsake their vain idols. Brothers according to the flesh, they now became more really so by fidelity to the same call of grace. Together they proved themselves intrepid helpers of the Confessors of Christ amid the atrocious persecution which raged against the Church during the latter half of the third century. In the same combat were they to fall side by side, exchanging this frail life here below for that to which at one birth they were to enter forever in Heaven. They furthermore were honoured by having their precious relics placed in the celebrated Sanctuary consecrated to Saint Stephen, the Proto-Martyr, on Monte Coelio, and there form its richest treasure.
O YOU brave veterans of the Lord’s battles, teach us what energy we must bring to the service of God, whatever be our age. Less favoured than we are, you came late in life to the knowledge of the Gospel and of those inestimable treasures promised to the Christian. But in holy Baptism your youth was renewed as that of the eagle (Psalms cii. 5), and for thirty years the Holy Ghost continued to produce rich fruits in you. When in extreme old age the hour of final victory at last sounded, your courage was equal to that of the most vigorous warriors. You were nerved up to such heroism and sustained in it through prayer constantly kept alive within you by the words of the Psalms, as your Acts attest. Revive, then among us, faith in the word of God: His promises will make us despise, as you did, this present life. Lead our piety back to those true sources which strengthen the soul — the knowledge and daily use of those sacred formulae, which bind our Earth unfailingly to Heaven from which they were brought down to us.
Also
on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At
Agen in France, St. Vincent, deacon and martyr.
At
Antioch, St. Pelagia, virgin and martyr, whose eulogy has been made
by St. Ambrose and St. John Chrysostom.
At
Syracuse, the bishop St. Maximian who was frequently mentioned by
Pope St. Gregory.
At
Andria in Terra-di-Bari, St. Richard, first bishop of that city, who
is renowned for miracles.
In
Scotland, St. Columba, priest and confessor.
At
Edessa in Syria, St. Julian, a monk, whose memorable deeds were
related by the deacon St. Ephrem.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs,
confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.