Roman Martyrology

The reading

September 15

The Octave of the Nativity and the Feast of the Seven Dolors of the Blessed Virgin Mary. — At Rome, on the Nomentan road, the birthday of blessed Nicomedes, priest and martyr. As he said to those who would compel him to sacrifice: "I sacrifice only to the Omnipotent God who reigns in heaven," he was for a long time scourged with leaded whips, and thus went to our Lord. — In the diocese of Chalons, St. Valerian, martyr, who was suspended on high by the governor Priscus, and tortured with iron hooks. Remaining immovable in the confession of Christ, and continuing joyfully to praise Him, he was struck with the sword by order of the same magistrate. — At Marcianopolis, in Thrace, St. Melitina, a martyr, in the time of the emperor Antoninus and the governor Antiochus. She was twice led to the temples of the Gentiles, and as the idols fell to the ground each time, she was hanged and torn, and finally decapitated. — At Adrianople, the holy martyrs Maximus, Theodore, and Asclepiodotus, who were crowned under the emperor Maximian. — Also, St. Porphyrius, a comedian, who, in the presence of Julian the Apostate, being baptized in jest, and suddenly converted by the power of God, declared himself a Christian. Forthwith, by order of the emperor, he was struck with an axe, and thus crowned with martyrdom. — The same day, St. Nicetas, a Goth, who was burned alive for the Catholic faith, by order of king Athanaric. — At Cordova, the holy martyrs Emilas, deacon, and Jeremias, who ended their martyrdom in the persecution of the Arabs by being beheaded, after a long detention in prison. — At Toul, in France, St. Aper, bishop. — Also, St. Leobinus, bishop of Chartres. — At Lyons, St. Albinus, bishop. — The same day, the decease of St. Aichard, abbot. — In France, St. Eutropia, widow.

Source: The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, John Murphy Company; local raw text lines 9704-9753.