Séptimo Kaléndas Mártii. Luna.

Séptimo Kaléndas Mártii. Luna. The Twenty-Third Day of February. The Night of the Moon.

Vigília sancti Matthíæ Apóstoli. The Vigil of St. Matthias the Apostle. Sancti Petri Damiáni, ex Ordine Camaldulénsi, Cardinális et Epíscopi Ostiénsis, Confessóris et Ecclésiæ Doctóris, qui evolávit in cælum prídie hujus diéi. St. Peter Damian, a Camaldolese monk, cardinal bishop of Ostia, confessor and doctor of the Church, who died on the 22nd of February. Smyrnæ natális sancti Polycárpi, qui, beáti Joánnis Apóstoli discípulus, et ab eo ejúsdem civitátis Epíscopus ordinátus, totíus Asiæ Princeps fuit. Póstea, sub Marco Antoníno et Lúcio Aurélio Cómmodo, sedénte Procónsule et univérso pópulo in theátro advérsus eum personánte, igni tráditus est; et, cum ab igne mínime læderétur, martyrii corónam, gládio confóssus, accépit. Cum illo étiam álii duódecim, qui ex Philadelphía vénerant, in eádem Smyrnénsi urbe, martyrio consummáti sunt. Ipsíus tamen Polycárpi festum séptimo Kaléndas Februárii celebrátur. At Smyrna, the birthday of St. Polycarp, a disciple of St. John the Apostle, by whom he was consecrated bishop of that city, and appointed primate of all Asia. Under Marcus Antonius and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, when the proconsul and all those assembled in the amphitheatre cried out against him, he was delivered to the fire, but since it did not harm him, he received the crown of martyrdom by the sword. With him, twelve others who came from Philadelphia met their death by martyrdom in the same city. The feast of St. Polycarp is kept on the 26th of January. Apud Sírmium beáti Siréni, Mónachi et Mártyris, qui, jubénte Maximiáno Imperatóre, reténtus est, et, cum se Christiánum esse confiterétur, cápite obtruncátus. At Sirmio, blessed Sirenus, monk and martyr. He was arrested by order of Emperor Maximian and beheaded for confessing that he was a Christian. Ibídem natális sanctórum septuagínta duórum Mártyrum, qui, martyrii certámen in præfáta urbe consummántes, mansúra percepérunt regna. In the same place, the birthday of seventy-two holy martyrs, who suffered martyrdom in the same city and who took possession of the everlasting kingdom. In civitáte Asturicénsi, in Hispánia, sanctæ Marthæ, Vírginis et Mártyris, quæ, sub Décio Imperatóre et Patérno Procónsule, dire ob Christi fidem est cruciáta et gládio tandem occísa. In the city of Astorga in Spain, St. Martha, virgin and martyr, under Emperor Decius and the proconsul Paternus. She was cruelly tortured for the faith of Christ and was finally slain by the sword. Constantinópoli sancti Lázari Mónachi, qui, cum sacras Imágines píngeret, idcírco, Imperatóris Iconoclástæ Theóphili jussu, diris suppliciis excruciátur, et ei manus candénti ferro combúritur; sed, Dei virtúte sanátus, abrásas Imágines sanctas pingéndo restítuit, ac demum in pace quiévit. At Constantinople, St. Lazarus, monk. The Iconoclast emperor Theophilus commanded him to be tortured with severe punishments because he had painted some sacred pictures. His hand was burned with a hot iron, but it was healed by the power of God, after which he repainted the holy pictures that had been destroyed. He ended his life in peace. Bríxiæ sancti Felícis Epíscopi. At Brescia, St. Felix, bishop. Romæ sancti Polycárpi Presbyteri, qui, cum beáto Sebastiáno, plúrimos ad Christi fidem convértit, atque ad martyrii glóriam exhortándo perdúxit. At Rome, St. Polycarp, priest, who with blessed Sebastian converted many to the faith of Christ, and by his exhortation led them to the glory of martyrdom. Híspali, in Hispánia, sancti Floréntii Confessóris. At Seville in Spain, St. Florentius, confessor. Tudérti, in Umbria, sanctæ Románæ Vírginis, quæ, a sancto Silvéstro Papa baptizáta, in antris et spelúncis cæléstem vitam duxit, et miraculórum glória cláruit. At Todi in Umbria, St. Romana, virgin, who was baptized by Pope St. Sylvester, led a life of holiness in dens and caves, and wrought glorious miracles. In Anglia sanctæ Milbúrgis Vírginis, fíliæ Regis Merciórum. In England, St. Milburga, virgin, the daughter of the king of Mercia.

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:

February XXIII.
		St Serenus, a Gardener, Martyr
		St. Milburge, Virgin in England
		B. Dositheus, Monk
		B. Peter Damian, Cardinal, Bishop of Ostia
		St. Boisil, Prior of Mailross, or Melross, Confessor