Dom Prosper Gueranger:
At Rome, St. Flavian, martyr, who suffered under Diocletian.
At Apollonia, the holy martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus who were made to undergo various torments in the time of the emperor Decius. Thyrsus and Callinicus consummated their martyrdom by being beheaded. Leucius, being called by a heavenly voice, yielded his soul to God.
In Thebais, the holy martyrs Leonides and his companions, who obtained the palm of martyrdom in the time of Diocletian.
At Alexandria, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who, while they were at Mass in the church on this day, were put to death in various manners by the followers of Syrian, an Arian general.
Also St. Cyril, bishop of the same city, a most celebrated defender of the Catholic faith who rested in peace with a great reputation for learning and sanctity.
At Saragossa, St. Valerius, bishop.
At Cuenca in Spain, the birthday of St. Julian, bishop, who went to his God with the reputation of working miracles after bestowing the goods of the Church on the poor, and, like the Apostles, supporting himself by the work of his hands.
In the monastery of Rheims, the demise of a holy priest named John, a man of God.
In Palestine, St. James, a hermit, who hid himself a long time in a sepulchre to do penance for a fault he had committed, and being celebrated for miracles, departed for Heaven.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
Five days after the martyrdom of the Virgin Emerentiana, the parents of the glorious Saint Agnes visited the tomb of their child during the night, there to weep and pray. It was the eighth day since her martyrdom. While they were thinking upon the cruel death which, though it had enriched their child with a Martyr’s palm, had deprived them of her society — Agnes suddenly appeared to them: she was encircled with a bright light and wore a crown on her head, and was surrounded by a choir of virgins of dazzling beauty. On her right hand there stood a beautiful white lamb, the emblem of the Divine Spouse of Agnes. Turning towards her parents, she said to them: “Weep not over my death: for I am now in Heaven together with these virgins, living with Him whom I loved on Earth with my whole soul.” It is to commemorate this glorious apparition that the holy Church has instituted this Feast which is called Saint Agnes’ Second Feast (Sancte Agnetis secundo.) Let us pray to this fervent spouse of the Divine Lamb that she intercede for as with Him, and present us to Him in this life until it be given to us to possess Him face-to-face in Heaven.Also on this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Rome, St. Flavian, martyr, who suffered under Diocletian.
At Apollonia, the holy martyrs Thyrsus, Leucius and Callinicus who were made to undergo various torments in the time of the emperor Decius. Thyrsus and Callinicus consummated their martyrdom by being beheaded. Leucius, being called by a heavenly voice, yielded his soul to God.
In Thebais, the holy martyrs Leonides and his companions, who obtained the palm of martyrdom in the time of Diocletian.
At Alexandria, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who, while they were at Mass in the church on this day, were put to death in various manners by the followers of Syrian, an Arian general.
Also St. Cyril, bishop of the same city, a most celebrated defender of the Catholic faith who rested in peace with a great reputation for learning and sanctity.
At Saragossa, St. Valerius, bishop.
At Cuenca in Spain, the birthday of St. Julian, bishop, who went to his God with the reputation of working miracles after bestowing the goods of the Church on the poor, and, like the Apostles, supporting himself by the work of his hands.
In the monastery of Rheims, the demise of a holy priest named John, a man of God.
In Palestine, St. James, a hermit, who hid himself a long time in a sepulchre to do penance for a fault he had committed, and being celebrated for miracles, departed for Heaven.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
