Séptimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna. The Twenty-Sixth Day of December. The Night of the Moon. 

Hierosólymis natális sancti Stéphani Protomártyris, qui a Judæis, non longe post Ascensiónem Dómini, lapidátus est.
At Jerusalem, the birthday of St. Stephen, the first martyr, who was stoned to death by the Jews shortly after the Ascension of our Lord.

Romæ sancti Maríni, ex órdine Senatório viri, qui, sub Numeriáno Imperatóre et Marciáno Præfécto, Christiánæ religiónis causa comprehénsus, equúleo et úngulis servíli more punítus, in sartáginem deínde conjéctus, sed, igne in rorem convérso, liberátus, objéctus quoque feris et ab illis nullátenus læsus; tandem, ad aram íterum ductus, et, cum idóla oratióne ejus corruíssent, percússus gládio, martyrii triúmphum adéptus est.
At Rome, St. Marinus, a man of senatorial rank.  In the time of Emperor Numerian and the prefect Marcian, he was arrested for the Christian religion, racked and torn with iron claws like a slave, then thrown into a boiling cauldron; but being delivered because the fire became like a dew, he was exposed to the beasts without being injured by them, and finally being led to the altar, the idols of which toppled over at his prayer, he was struck with the sword, and thus obtained the triumph of martyrs.

Ibídem, via Appia, deposítio sancti Dionysii Papæ, qui, multis pro Ecclésia impénsis labóribus, fídei documéntis clarus effúlsit.
Likewise at Rome, on the Appian Way, the death of Pope St. Dionysius, who sustained many labours for the Church, and was renowned for his doctrinal writings.

Item Romæ sancti Zósimi, Papæ et Confessóris.
In the same city, St. Zosimus, pope and confessor.

In Mesopotámia sancti Archelái Epíscopi, doctrína et sanctitáte célebris.
In Mesopotamia, St. Archelaus, bishop, famous for learning and holiness.
Majúmæ, in Palæstína, sancti Zenónis Epíscopi.
At Majuma, in Palestine, St. Zeno, bishop.

Romæ sancti Theodóri, qui Mansionárius Ecclésiæ sancti Petri fuit, cujus et méminit beátus Gregórius Papa.
At Rome, St. Theodore, sacristan of the church of St. Peter, who is mentioned by blessed Pope Gregory.

Et álibi aliórum plurimórum sanctórum Mártyrum et Confessórum, atque sanctárum Vírginum.
R.  Deo grátias.
And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R.  Thanks be to God.

December XXVI.
		St. Stephen, the First Martyr
		St. Dionysius, Pope and Confessor
		St. Jarlath, First Bishop of Tuam in Ireland, Confessor

FOR NEWS OF CONTEMPORARY MARTYRS…

Open Doors – The world’s largest outreach to persecuted Christians in the most high-risk places.

Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East – providing humanitarian relief in Iraq through St George’s Church and Clinic.

Voice of the Persecuted – Informing the world of Christian persecution, one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet, today.