27 APRIL – FERIA

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

In Nicomedia, during the persecution of Diocletian, the birthday of St. Anthimus, bishop and martyr, who obtained the glory of martyrdom for the faith by decapitation. Nearly all his numerous flock followed him. The judge ordered some to be beheaded, some to be buried alive, and others to be put in boats and sunk in the sea.

At Tarsus in Cilicia, the Saints Castor and Stephen, martyrs.

At Rome, the demise of the blessed Pope Anastatius, a man most rich in his poverty and filled with apostolic zeal whom Rome, says St. Jerome, did not deserve to possess long, lest the capital of the world should be devastated under such a bishop, for shortly after his death Rome was taken and sacked by the Goths.

At Bologna, St. Tertullian, bishop and confessor.

At Brescia, the bishop St. Theophilus.

At Constantinople, the abbot St. John who combated vigorously for the worship of holy images under Leo the Isaurian.

At Tarragona, the blessed Peter Armengaudius, of the Order of Blessed Mary of Mercy for the Redemption of Captives, who endured many tribulations in Africa in ransoming the faithful, and finally closed his career peacefully in the convent of St. Mary of the Meadows.

At Lucca in Italy, blessed Zita, a virgin renowned for virtues and miracles, whose festival is celebrated on this day conformably to the decree of Pope St. Leo X.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.

1 APRIL – FERIA OF LENT

On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:

At Rome, the passion of St. Theodora, sister of the illustrious martyr Hermes, who underwent martyrdom in the time of the emperor Hadrian under the judge Aurelian, and was buried by the side of her brother, on the Via Salaria, a short distance from the city.

The same day, St. Venantius, bishop and martyr.

In Egypt, the holy martyrs Victor and Stephen.

In Armenia, the holy martyrs Quinctian and Irenaeus.

At Constantinople, under the emperor Leo, St. Macarius, confessor, who ended his life in exile for the defence of the honour paid to sacred images.

At Grenoble, the bishop St. Hugh, who spent many years of his life in solitude and departed for heaven with a reputation for miracles.

At Amiens, the abbot St. Valery, whose tomb is made illustrious by frequent miracles.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.

Thanks be to God.