On this day according to the ROMAN MARTYROLOGY:
At Rome, St. Rufus, who, with all his family, was made a martyr by Diocletian.
At Corinth, the birthday of St. Sosthenes, a disciple of the blessed Apostle St. Paul, who is mentioned by that Apostle in his Epistle to the Corinthians. He was chief of the synagogue when converted to Christ, and, as a glorious beginning, consecrated the first fruits of his faith by being scourged in the presence of the proconsul Gallio.
In Africa, under the Arian king Genseric in the persecution of the Vandals, the holy martyrs Papinian and Mansuetus, bishops, who, for the Catholic faith, were burned in every part of their bodies with hot plates of iron, and thus ended their glorious combat.
At this time also, other holy bishops. Valerian, Urban, Crescens, Eustachius, Cresconius, Crescentian, Felix, Hortulanus and Florentian, terminated the course of their lives in exile.
At Constantinople, in the time of Constantine Copronymus, the holy martyrs Stephen the Younger, Basil, Peter, Andrew and their companions, numbering three hundred and thirty-nine monks, who were subjected to various torments for the worship of holy images, and confirmed the Catholic truth with the shedding of their blood.
At Rome, blessed Pope Gregory III, who departed for heaven with a reputation for sanctity and miracles.
At Naples, the departure from this world of St. James de La Marca, confessor, of the Order of Friars Minor, celebrated for the austerity of his life, his apostolic manner of preaching, and his many legations undertaken for the success of the affairs of Christianity. His name was added to the Calendar of the Saints by Pope Benedict XIII.
And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors and virgins.
Thanks be to God.
