Sacred Calendar

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - May 1

The birthday of the blessed apostles Philip and James. Philip, after having converted nearly all Scythia to the faith of Christ, went to Hierapolis, in Asia, where he was fastened to a cross, overwhelmed with stones, and thus terminated his life gloriously. James, who is also called the brother of our Lord, was the first bishop of Jerusalem. Being hurled down from a pinnacle of the temple, he had his legs broken, and being then struck on the head with a dyer's staff, he expired, and was buried near the temple. — In Egypt, St. Jeremias, prophet, wTho was stoned to death by the people at. Taphnas, where he was interred. St. Epiphanius relates that the faithful were wont to pray at his grave, and to take away from it dust to heal those who were stung by serpents. — In France, in the province of Vivarais, blessed Andeol, subdeacon, who was sent from the East into Gaul with others by St. Polycarp to preach the word of God. Under the emperor Severus he was scourged with thorny sticks, and having his head split with a wooden sword into four parts, in the shape of a cross, terminated his martyrdom. — At Huesca, in Spain, the holy martyrs Orentius and Patience. — At Sion, in Switzerland, St. Sigismund, king of the Burgundians, who was drowned in a well, and afterwards became renowned for miracles. — At Auxerre, St. Amator, bishop and confessor. — At Auch, St. Orientius, bishop. — In England, the Saints Asaph, bishop, and Walburge, virgin. — At Bergamo, St. Grata, widow. — At Forli, St. Peregrinus, of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary.