Roman Martyrology – 24 August
The Apostle St. Bartholomew, who preached the Gospel of Christ in India. He passed thence into the Greater Armenia, where, after converting many to the faith, he was flayed alive by the barbarians, and beheaded by order of king Astyages, and thus he terminated his martyrdom. His sacred body was first carried to the island of Lipara, then to Benevento, and finally to Rome in the island of the Tiber, where it is venerated by the pious faithful.
At Carthage, three hundred holy martyrs, in the time of Valerian and Gallienus. Among other torments inflicted on them, a pit filled with burning lime was prepared by order of the governor, who, live coals with incense being brought to him, said to the confessors: “Choose one of these two things; to offer incense to Jupiter on these coals, or to cast yourselves into the lime.” Armed with faith, and confessing Christ to be the Son of God, they quickly precipitated themselves into the pit, and amidst the vapors of the lime were reduced to dust. From this circumstance this blessed troop obtained the appellation of White Mass.
At Nepi, St. Ptolemy, bishop, disciple of the blessed Apostle Peter. Being sent by him to preach the Gospel in Tuscany, he died a glorious martyr of Christ in the city of Nepi.
In the same place, St. Eomanus, bishop of that city, who was the disciple of St. Ptolemy, and his companion in martyrdom.
At Ostia, St. Aurea, virgin and martyr, who was plunged into the sea with a stone tied to her neck. Her body, being cast on the shore, was buried by blessed Nonnus.
In Isauria, St. Tatio, martyr, who received the crown of martyrdom by being beheaded in the persecution of Domitian, under the governor Urbanus.
The same day, St. Eutychius, disciple of the blessed Evangelist John. He preached the Gospel in many countries, was subjected to imprisonment, to stripes and fire, and finally he rested in peace.
Also, St. George Limniota, monk. Because he reprehended the impious emperor Leo for breaking holy images and burning the relics of the saints, he had his hands cut off and his head burned by order of the tyrant, and went to our Lord to receive the recompense of a martyr.
At Rouen, St. Owen, bishop and confessor.
At Nevers, St. Patrick, abbot.
Roman Martyrology – 25 August
At Paris, St. Louis, confessor, King of France, illustrious by the holiness of his life and the fame of his miracles.
At Rome, in the time of the emperor Commodus, the holy martyrs Eusebius, Pontian, Vincent, and Peregrinus, who were first racked, distended by ropes, then beaten with rods and burned on their sides. As they continued faithfully to praise Christ, they were scourged with leaded whips until they expired.
Also, at Rome, St. Genesius, martyr, who embraced the profession of actor while he was yet a Pagan. One day he was deriding the Christian mysteries in the theatre in the presence of the emperor Diocletian; but by the inspiration of God he was suddenly converted to the faith and baptized. By the command of the emperor, he was forthwith most cruelly beaten with rods, then racked, and a long time lacerated with iron hooks, and burned with fire-brands. As he remained firm in the faith of Christ, and said: “There is no king besides Christ. Should you kill me a thousand times, you shall not be able to take Him from my lips or my heart,” he was beheaded, and thus merited the palm of martyrdom.
At Italica, in Spain, St. Gerontius, a bishop, who preached the Gospel in that country in Apostolic times, and after many labors died in prison.
At Aries, in France, another blessed Genesius, who, filling the office of notary, and refusing to record the impious edicts by which Christians were commanded to be punished, threw away his tablets publicly, and declared himself a Christian. He was seized and beheaded, and thus attained to the glory of martyrdom through baptism in his blood.
In Syria, St. Julian, martyr.
At Tarragona, St. Maginus, martyr.
At Constantinople, St. Mennas, bishop.
At Utrecht, St. Gregory, bishop.
At Naples, St. Patricia, virgin.
Roman Martyrology – 26 August
At Rome, St. Zephirinus, Pope and martyr.
In the same city, during the persecution of Valerian, the holy martyrs Irenaeus and Abundius, who were thrown into a sewer from which they had taken the body of blessed Concordia. Their bodies were drawn out by the priest Justin, and buried in a crypt near St. Lawrence.
At Vintimigilia, a city of Liguria, St. Secundus, martyr, a distinguished man and officer in the Theban Legion.
At Bergamo, in Lombardy, St. Alexander, martyr, who was one of the same legion, and endured martyrdom by being beheaded for the constant confession of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Among the Marcians, the Saints Simplicius, and his sons Constantius and Victorian, who were first tortured in different manners, and then being struck with the axe, obtained the crown of martyrdom, in the time of the emperor Antoninus.
At Nicomedia, the martyrdom of St. Adrian, son of the emperor Probus. For reproaching Licinius on account of the persecution raised against Christians, he was put to death by his order. His body was buried at Argyopolis by his uncle Domitius, bishop of Byzantium.
In Spain, St. Victor, martyr, who merited the crown of martyrs by being slain by the Moors for the faith of Christ.
At Capua, St. Rufinus, bishop and confessor.
At Pistoja, St. Felix, priest and confessor.
At Lima, in Peru, St. Rose of St. Mary, virgin, of the third Order of St. Dominic. Her feast is celebrated on the 30th of this month.
Roman Martyrology – 27 August
At Rome, the demise of St. Joseph, confessor, illustrious by the innocence of his life and miracles, who, to instruct youth in piety and letters, founded the Order of the Poor Clerks Regular of the pious Schools of the Mother of God.
At Capua, in Campania, the birthday of St. Rufus, bishop and martyr, a patrician, who was baptized with all his family by blessed Apollinaris, disciple of St. Peter.
In the same place, the holy martyrs Rufus and Carpophorus, who suffered under Diocletian and Maximian.
At Tomis, in Pontus, the holy martyrs Marcellinus, tribune, and Mannea, his wife, and his sons John, Serapion, and Peter.
At Lentini, in Sicily, St. Euthalia, virgin. Because she was a Christian she was put to the sword by her brother Sermilian, and went to her spouse.
The same day, the martyrdom of St. Anthusa the Younger, who was made a martyr by being cast into a well for the faith of Christ.
At Bergamo, St. Narnus, who was baptized by blessed Barnabas, and consecrated by him first bishop of that city.
At Aries, the holy bishop Caesarius, a man of great sanctity and piety.
At Autun, St. Syagrius, bishop and confessor.
At Pavia, St. John, bishop.
At Lerida, in Spain, St. Licerius, bishop.
In Thebais, St. Poemon, anchoret.
At San Severino, in the March of Ancona, St. Margaret, widow.
Roman Martyrology – 28 August
At Rome, the birthday of St. Hermes, an illustrious man, who, as we read in the Acts of the blessed Pope Alexander, was first confined in prison, and afterwards ended his martyrdom by the sword, under the judge Aurelian.
At Brioude, in Auvergne, St. Julian, martyr, during the persecution of Diocletian. Being the companion of the blessed tribune Ferreol, and secretly serving Christ under a military garb, he was arrested by the soldiers, and killed in a barbarous manner by having his throat cut.
At Coutances, in France, St. Pelagius, martyr, who received the crown of martyrdom under the emperor Numerian and the judge Evilasius.
At Salerno, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Caius, and Anthes, beheaded under the emperor Diocletian and the proconsul Leontius.
At Constantinople, the holy bishop Alexander, an aged and celebrated man, through whose efficacious prayers Arius, by the judgment of God, burst asunder and exposed his intestines.
At Saintes, St. Vivian, bishop and confessor.
Also, St. Moses, an Aethiopian, who gave up a life of robbery and became a renowned anchoret. He converted many robbers, and led them to a monastery.
Roman Martyrology – 29 August
The beheading of St. John the Baptist, who was put to death by Herod about the feast of Easter. However, the solemn commemoration takes place today, when his venerable head was found for the second time. It was afterwards solemnly carried to Rome, where it is kept in a church, near Campo Marzio, and honored by the people with the greatest devotion.
At Rome, on Mount Aventine, the birthday of St. Sabina, martyr. Under the emperor Adrian, she was struck with the sword, and thus obtained the palm of martyrdom.
Also, at Rome, St. Candida, virgin and martyr, whose body was transferred to the church of St. Praxedes.
At Antioch, in Syria, the birthday of the holy martyrs Nicaeas and Paul.
At Constantinople, the holy martyrs Hypatius, an Asiatic bishop, and Andrew, a priest, who for the worship of holy images, under Leo the Isaurian, after having their beards besmirched with pitch and set on fire, and the skin of their heads torn off, were beheaded.
At Perugia, St. Euthymius, a Roman, who fled from the persecution of Diocletian with his wife and his son Crescentius, and there rested in the Lord.
At Metz, St. Adelphus, bishop and confessor.
At Paris the demise of St. Merry, priest.
In England, St. Sebbi, king.
At Smyrna, the birthday of St. Basilla.
In the vicinity of Troyes, St. Sabina, a virgin, celebrated for virtues and miracles.
Roman Martyrology – 30 August
The feast of St. Rose of St. Mary, virgin, whose birthday is the 26th of this month.
At Rome, on the Ostian road, the martyrdom of the blessed priest Felix, under the emperors Diocletian and Maximian. After being racked he was sentenced to death, and as they led him to execution, he met a man who spontaneously declared himself a Christian, and was forthwith beheaded with him. The Christians not knowing his name, called him Adauctus, because he was added to St. Felix and shared his crown.
Also, at Rome, St. Gaudentia, virgin and martyr, with three others.
In the same city, St. Pammachius, a priest distinguished for learning and holiness.
At Colonia Suffetulana, in Africa, sixty blessed martyrs, who were murdered by the furious Gentiles.
At Adrumetum, also in Africa, the Saints Boniface and Thecla, who were the parents of twelve blessed sons, martyrs.
At Thessalonica, St. Fantinus, confessor, who suffered much from the Saracens, and was driven from his monastery, in which he had lived in great abstinence. After having brought many to the way of salvation, he rested at last at an advanced age.
In the diocese of Meaux, St. Fiacre, confessor.
At Trevi, St. Peter, confessor, who was distinguished for many virtues and miracles. He is honored in that place, whence he departed for Heaven.
At Bologna, St. Bononius, abbot.
Roman Martyrology – 31 August
At Cardona, in Spain, St. Raymond Nonnatus, Cardinal and confessor, of the Order of Mercedarians, renowned for holiness of life and miracles.
At Treves, the birthday of St. Paulimis, a bishop, who was exiled for the Catholic faith by the Arian emperor Constantius, in the time of the Arian persecution. By having to change the place of his exile, which was beyond the limits of Christendom, he became wearied unto death, and finally, dying in Phrygia, received a crown from the Lord for his blessed martyrdom.
Also, the holy martyrs Robustian and Mark.
At Transaquae, among the Marsi, near lake Celano, the birthday of the holy martyrs Cresidius, priest, and his companions, who were crowned with martyrdom in the persecution of Maximinus.
At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the Saints Theodotus, Rufina, and Ammia. The first two were the parents of the martyr St. Mamas, who was born in prison, and whom Ammia brought up.
At Athens, St. Aristides, most celebrated for his faith and wisdom, who presented to the emperor Adrian a treatise on the Christian religion, containing the exposition of our doctrine. In the presence of the emperor, he also delivered a discourse in which he clearly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the only God.
At Auxerre, St. Optatus, bishop and confessor.
In England, St. Aidan, bishop of Lindisfarne. When St. Cuthbert, then a shepherd, saw his soul going up to Heaven, he left his sheep and became a monk.
At Nusco, St. Amatus, bishop.
On Mount Senario, near Florence, blessed Bonajuncta, confessor, one of the seven founders of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord whilst discoursing to his brethren on the Passion of our Saviour.