Roman Martyrology
The daily memory of martyrs, confessors, virgins, bishops, doctors, and holy witnesses.
Martyrology source
1916 Baltimore edition
The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company.
This is selectable text generated from the local source of record. It is not a feast, rank, color, or fasting determination.
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March 17
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March 17
In Ireland, the birthday of St. Patrick, bishop and confessor, who was the first to preach Christ in that country, and became illustrious by great miracles and virtues. — At Jerusalem, St. Joseph of Arimathea, noble senator and disciple of our Lord, who took his body down from the cross, and buried it in his own new sepulchre. — At Rome, the Saints Alexander and Theodore, martyrs. — At Alexandria, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who being seized by the worshippers of Serapis, and refusing constantly to adore that idol, were cruelly murdered, in the reign of the emperor Theodosius, who afterwards issued orders that the temple of Serapis should be destroyed. — At Constantinople, St. Paul, martyr, who was burned alive under Constantine Copronymus, for defending the worship of holy images. — At Chalons, in France, St. Agricola, bishop. — At Mvelle, in Brabant, St. Gertrude, a virgin of noble birth. Because she despised the world, and during her whole life practised all kinds of good works, she deserved to have Christ for her spouse in heaven.
Source: The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, John Murphy Company; local raw text lines 2949-2978.