Sacred Calendar

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - December 14

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Heron, Arsenius, Isidore and Dioscorus, a boy. In the persecution of Decius, the first three were subjected to all the refinements of cruelty by the judge, who, seeing them displaying the same constancy, ordered that they should be cast into the fire. But Dioscorus, after repeated scourgings, was set free through the intervention of Providence for the consolation of the faithful. — At Antioch, the birthday of the holy martyrs Drusus, Zosimus and Theodore. — The same day, the martyrdom of the Saints Justus and Abundius, who were cast into ~the flames in the time of the emperor Numerian and the governor Olybrius; but having escaped uninjured, they were struck with the sword. — At Eheims, the holy bishop Nicasius, his sister, the virgin Eutropia, and their companions, martyrs, who were put to death by barbarians hostile to the Church. — In the island of Cyprus, the birthday of blessed Spiridion, bishop. He was one of those confessors who were condemned to labor in the mines, after the plucking out of their right eye and the severing of the sinews of the left knee. This prelate was renowned for the gift of prophecy and glorious miracles, and in the council of Nicrca he confounded a heathen philosopher who insulted the Christian religion and brought him to the faith. — At Bergamo, St. Viator, bishop and confessor. — At Pavia, St. Pompey, bishop. — At Naples, in Campania, St. Agnellus, abbot. Illustrious by the gift of miracles, he was often seen with the standard of the 'cross delivering the city besieged by enemies. — At Ubeda, in Spain, St. John of the Cross, confessor, companion of St. Theresa in reforming the Carmelites. His feast is kept on the 24th of November. — At Milan, St. Matronian, hermit.