Quintodécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna. The Eighteenth Day of December. The Night of the Moon.
Philíppis, in Macedónia, natális sanctórum Mártyrum Rufi et Zósimi, qui ex illórum número discipulórum fuérunt, per quos primitíva Ecclésia in Judæis et Græcis fundáta est; de quorum étiam felíci agóne scribit sanctus Polycárpus in epístola ad Philippénses. At Philippi in Macedonia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Rufus and Zosimus, who were of the number of disciples by whom the primitive church was founded among the Jews and the Greeks. Their happy martyrdom is mentioned by St. Polycarp in his Epistle to the Philippians. Laodicéæ, in Syria, pássio sanctórum Theotími et Basiliáni. At Laodicea in Syria, the martyrdom of the Saints Theotimus and Basilian. In Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Quincti, Simplícii et aliórum; qui sub Décii et Valeriáni persecutióne passi sunt. In Africa, the holy martyrs Quinctus, Simplicius, and others who suffered in the persecution of Decius and Valerian. Ibídem sancti Moysétis Mártyris. In the same country, St. Moses, martyr. Item in Africa sanctórum Mártyrum Victúri, Victóris, Victoríni, Adjutóris, Quarti et aliórum trigínta. Also in Africa, the holy martyrs Victurus, Victor, Victorinus, Adjutor, Quartus, and thirty others. Mopsuéstiæ, in Cilícia, sancti Auxéntii Epíscopi, qui, olim sub Licínio miles, pótius elégit cíngulum exúere quam uvas Baccho offérre; factúsque Epíscopus, præclárus méritis quiévit in pace. At Mopsuestia in Cilicia, St. Auxentius, bishop, who, being at first a soldier under Licinius, preferred to surrender his military insignia rather than offer grapes to Bacchus. Having been made a bishop, he was renowned for his merit, and died in peace. Turónis, in Gállia, sancti Gratiáni Epíscopi, qui, a sancto Fabiáno Papa primus ejúsdem civitátis Epíscopus ordinátus est, et multis clarus miráculis obdormívit in Dómino. At Tours in France, St. Gratian, appointed first bishop of that city by Pope St. Fabian. Celebrated for many miracles, he calmly went to his repose in the Lord.
Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum. And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Deo grátias. R. Thanks be to God.
Butler’s Lives of the Saints:
SS. Rufus and Zozimus, Martyrs
St. Gatian, First Bishop of Tours, Confessor
St. Winebald, Abbot and Confessor
ORCCE Ordo: Feria IV Quattuor Temporum in Adventu ~ Feria major
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