Undécimo Kaléndas Januárii. Luna. The Twenty-Second Day of December. The Night of the Moon.
Romæ, via Lavicána, inter duas Lauros, natális sanctórum trigínta Mártyrum, qui omnes una die, in persecutióne Diocletiáni, martyrio coronáti sunt. At Rome, on the Lavican Way, between the two laurels, the birthday of thirty holy martyrs who were all crowned with martyrdom on the one day in the persecution of Diocletian.
Item Romæ sancti Flaviáni Expræfécti, viri beátæ Mártyris Dafrósæ atque patris beatárum Vírginum et Mártyrum Bibiánæ ac Demétriæ; qui, sub Juliáno Apóstata, pro Christo inscriptióne damnátus, et ad Aquas Taurínas, in Etrúria, in exsílium missus, illic in oratióne spíritum Deo réddidit. In the same city, St. Flavian, an ex-prefect, the husband of the blessed martyr Dafrosa, and the father of the holy virgin martyrs, Bibiana and Demetria. He was condemned under Julian the Apostate to be branded for Christ, and was exiled to Aquæ Taurinæ, where he gave up his soul to God in prayer.
In Ægypto sanctórum Chærémonis, Epíscopi Nilópolis, et aliórum plurimórum Mártyrum. Horum álii, sæviénte Décii persecutióne, fuga dispérsi, in solitúdinis errántes, a béstiis interémpti sunt; álii fame, frígore ac languóre consúmpti; álii a bárbaris et latrónibus necáti; atque ita omnes, divérso mortis génere, eádem martyrii glória coronáti sunt. In Egypt, St. Chaeremon, bishop of Nilopolis, and many other martyrs. While the persecution of Decius was raging, some of them were dispersed in flight, and wandering through deserts were killed by wild beasts; others perished by famine, cold, and sickness; others again were murdered by barbarians and robbers, and thus all were crowned with a glorious martyrdom.
Apud Ostia Tiberína sanctórum Mártyrum Demétrii, Honoráti et Flori. At Ostia, the holy martyrs Demetrius, Honoratus, and Florus.
Alexandríæ sancti Ischyriónis Mártyris, qui, cum ad sacrificándum convíciis et injúriis cogerétur atque contémneret, ídeo, præacúta sude per média víscera transverberátus, neci tráditur. At Alexandria, St. Ischyrion, martyr. Because he despised all the injuries he was made to suffer in attempts to force him to sacrifice to idols, his bowels were pierced with a sharp stake, bringing his death.
Nicomedíæ sancti Zenónis mílitis, qui, cum Diocletiánum Céreri immolántem derisísset, proptérea, maxíllis confráctis dentibúsque excússis, cápite truncátus est. At Nicomedia, St. Zeno, a soldier who mocked Diocletian for sacrificing to Ceres, wherefore his jawbones were broken, his teeth knocked out, and his head struck off.
Chicágiæ sanctæ Francíscæ Xavériæ Cabríni, Vírginis, Institúti Missionariárum a Sacratíssimo Corde Jesu Fundatrícis, exímia caritáte, invícta ánimi fortitúdine et humilitáte insígnis, quam Pius Papa Duodécimus, Sanctárum catálogo adscrípsit, et ómnium emigrántium cæléstem apud Deum Patrónam constítuit. At Chicago, St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin, foundress of the Congregation of Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, distinguished for charity, humility, and invincible fortitude. Pope Pius XII added her to the catalogue of saints, and named her as the heavenly patroness of all emigrants.
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:
St. Ischyrion, Martyr
SS. Cyril and Methodius, Confessors
ORCCE Ordo: Dominica IV Adventus ~ Semiduplex 2nd class
Nota Bene: GWOZA CHRISTIANS PUBLISH OPEN LETTER DEMANDING ANSWERS AND REVEAL HORRORS COMMITTED AGAINST THEM Gwoza Christians in Northern Nigeria published an open letter in three Nigerian national newspapers demanding answers for severe crimes committed against them. They also hope to inform the global…
COLOMBIAN GUERRILLA GROUP BANS WORSHIP SERVICES, THREATENS PASTORS An estimated 150 churches closed since July. COCHABAMBA, Bolivia, December 18, 2013 (Morning Star News) – Christians in southern Colombia are living in constant danger…
Video: Dutch politician Geert Wilders named politician of the year by the people Examiner.com 19 December 2013 On Monday, Dutch news outlet the Volkskrant reported that Dutch politician Geert Wilders was named the 2013 politician of the year. The Dutch news program, ‘EenVandaag’, asked its viewers to vote for who they believed was the Netherlands best politician. There were approximately 35,000 viewers who cast a ballot, Wilders received 16% of those votes.
Video: December 10th: The Day of Genuine Human Rights Gates of Vienna 19 December 2013 By Baron Bodissey Hatune Dogan is a Turkish-German Orthodox Christian nun. In the video below, recorded on December 10th in Vienna, Sister Hatune gives a shocking description of the situation for Christians in Syria, Iraq and Turkey.
Prince Charles warns Christianity disappearing in Middle East birthplace Ecumenical News 19 December 2013 By Peter Kenny The heir to the British throne, Prince Charles has warned that the decline of Christians in the Middle East is a major blow to peace as they often act as bridge-builders…