The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Principal Saints Part 5

St. t.i.tus, Disciple of St. Paul, Bishop.......... 86 St. Gregory, Bishop of Langres................... 88 St. Rigobert, or Robert, Bishop.................. 88 St. Rumon, Bishop in England..................... 88

5.

St. Simon Stylites, Confessor.................... 89 St. Telesphorus, Pope and Martyr ................ 93 St. Syncletica, Virgin .......................... 93

6.

The Epiphany of our Lord......................... 95 St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor............... 100 St. Nilammon, Hermit............................. 100 St. Peter, Abbot in England...................... 100

7.

St. Lucian, Priest and Martyr.................... 101 St. Cedd, Bishop of London....................... 103 St. Kentigerna, Widow, of Ireland................ 105 St. Aldric, Bishop of Mans, Confessor............ 105 St. Thillo, Recluse.............................. 106 St. Canut........................................ 107

8.

St. Apollinaris, the Apologist, Bishop........... 108 St. Severinus, Abbot, and Apostle of Noric.u.m, or Austria .................................... 110 St. Lucian, Apostle of Beauvais, in France, Martyr......................................... 112 St. Pega, Virgin, of England..................... 112 St. Vulsin, Bishop in England.................... 112 St. Gudula, Virgin, Patroness of Brussels........ 113 St. Nathalan, Bishop of Aberdeen, Confessor...... 113

9.

St. Peter of Sebaste, Bishop and Confessor....... 114 St. Julian and St. Basilissa, Martyrs............ 114 St. Marciana, Virgin and Martyr.................. 116 St. Brithwald, Archbishop of Canterbury.......... 117 St. Felan, or Foelan, Abbot in Ireland .......... 117 St. Adrian, Abbot at Canterbury.................. 118 St. Vaneng, Confessor............................ 118 St. William, Confessor, Archbishop of Bourges.... 120 St. Agatho, Pope................................. 122 St. Marcian, Priest.............................. 123

11.

St. Theodosius the Cen.o.biarch, Abbot............. 124 St. Hyginus, Pope and Martyr..................... 127 St. Egwin, Bishop in England, Confessor.......... 128 St. Salvius, or Sauve, Bishop of Amiens.......... 128

12.

St. Arcadius, Martyr............................. 129 St. Benedict Bishop, Abbot....................... 131 St. Tygrius and St. Eutropius, Martyrs........... 133 St. Aelred, Abbot in England..................... 133

13.

St. Veronica, Virgin, of Milan................... 135 St. Kentigern, Bishop of Glasco, Confessor....... 137 The Octave of the Epiphany....................... 139

14.

St. Hilary, Bishop............................... 140 St. Felix, Priest and Confessor.................. 147 St. Isaias, St. Sabbas, &c. Martyrs of Sinai..... 149 St. Barbasceminus, &c. Martyrs .................. 150

15.

St. Paul, the First Hermit....................... 151 St. Maurus, Abbot................................ 154 St. Main, Abbot, Native of England............... 155 St. John Calybite, Recluse....................... 155 St. Isidore of Alexandria, Priest and Hospitaller 156 St. Isidore of Scete, Priest and Hermit.......... 157 St. Bonitus, Bishop of Auvergne, Confessor....... 157 St. Ita, or Mida, Virgin of Ireland, Abbess...... 158

16.

St. Marcellus, Pope and Martyr................... 158 St. Macarius the Elder, of Egypt................. 159 St. Honoratus, Archbishop of Arles, Abbot........ 162 St. Fursey, Abbot In Ireland..................... 163 SS. Five Friars, Minors, Martyrs................. 164 St. Henry, Hermit................................ 164

17.

St. Antony, Abbot, Patriarch of Monks............ 165 SS. Speusippus, Eleusippus, and Meleusippus, Martyrs........................................ 172

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St. Sulpicius the Pious, Archbishop of Bourges... 173 St. Sulpicius de Debonnaire, Archbishop of Bourges..................................... 173 St. Milgithe, Virgin, of England................. 174 St. Nennius, or Nennidhius, Abbot In Ireland..... 174

18.

St. Peter's Chair at Rome........................ 175 St. Paul and Thirty-six Companions in Egypt, Martyrs........................................ 176 St. Prisca, Virgin and Martyr.................... 176 St. Deicolus, Abbot, Native of Ireland .......... 177 St. Ulfrid, or Wolfred, Bishop and Martyr........ 177

19.

St. Maris, St. Martha, St. Audifax, and St Abachum, Martyrs............................... 178 St. Canutus, King of Denmark, Martyr............. 179 St. Henry, Archbishop of Upsal, Martyr........... 180 St. Wulstan, Bishop of Worcester, Confessor...... 181 St. Blaithmaic, Native of Ireland, Abbot of Hij in Scotland....................................... 182 St. Lomer, or Laudomarus, Abbot.................. 182

20.

St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr...................... 183 St. Sebastian, Martyr............................ 183 St. Euthymius, Abbot............................. 185 St. Fechin, Abbot in Ireland..................... 187

21.

St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr..................... 188 St. Fructuosus, Bishop of Tarragon, and his Companions, Martyrs............................ 190 St. Vimin, or Vivian, Bishop and Confessor, in Scotland....................................... 192 St. Publius, Bishop and Martyr................... 192 St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Pavia.................. 192

22.

St. Vincent, Martyr.............................. 193 St. Anastasius, Martyr........................... 196

23.

St. Raymund of Pennafort, Confessor.............. 200 St. John the Almoner, Confessor, Patriarch of Alexandria..................................... 203 St. Emerentia, Virgin and Martyr................. 206 St. Clement of Ancyra, Bishop and Martyr......... 207 St. Agathangelus, Martyr......................... 207 St. Ildelfonsus, Archbishop...................... 207 St. Eusebius, Abbot.............................. 208

24.

St. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr................... 208 St. Babylas, Bishop of Antioch, Martyr .......... 211 St. Sura.n.u.s, Abbot in Umbria..................... 213 St. Macedonius, Anch.o.r.et In Syria................ 213 On the life and Writings of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus.......................................... 213

25.

The Conversion of St. Paul....................... 216 St. Juventius and St. Maximinus, Martyrs......... 219 On the Life and Writings of Julian the Apostate.. 219 St. Projectus, Bishop of Clermont, Martyr........ 220 St. Poppo, Abbot of Stavello..................... 221 St. Apollo, Abbot in Thebais..................... 222 St. Publius, Abbot near Zeugma, upon the Euphrates...................................... 222

26.

St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr........... 223 St. Paula, Widow................................. 229 St. Conon, Bishop of the Isle of Man............. 232

27.

St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople.................................. 233 On the Writings of that Father................... 252 St. Julian, First Bishop of Mans, Confessor...... 275 St. Marius, Abbot................................ 275

28.

Commemoration of St. Agnes....................... 276 St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria............... 276 On the Writings of that Father................... 279 St. Thyrsus, St. Leucius, and St. Callinicus, Martyrs........................................ 283 St. John of Reomay, Abbot........................ 283 B. Margaret, Princess of Hungary, Virgin......... 284 St. Paulinus, Patriarch of Aquileia, Confessor... 284 B. Charlemagne, Emperor.......................... 287 St. Glastian, Bishop and Confessor in Scotland... 289

29.

St. Francis of Sales, Bishop and Confessor....... 289 St. Sulpicius Severus............................ 303 On the Writings of that Saint.................... 305 St. Gildas the Wise, or Badonicus, Abbot, Native of England ............................ 306 St. Gildas the Albanian, or the Scot, Confessor.. 310

30.

St. Bathildes, Queen of France................... 310 St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr................... 312 St. Aldegondes, Virgin and Abbess................ 313 St. Barsimaeus, Bishop and Martyr................. 313

31.

St. Peter Nolasco, Confessor..................... 314 St. Serapion, Martyr in England.................. 317 St. Cyrus and St. John, Martyrs.................. 317 St. Marcella, Widow.............................. 318 St. Maidoc, or Maodhog, Bishop of Ferns in Ireland........................................ 318

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JANUARY I.

THE CIRc.u.mCISION OF OUR LORD[1]

CIRc.u.mCISION was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal observance required by Almighty G.o.d of that people, which he had chosen preferably to all the nations of the earth to be the depositary of his revealed truths.--These were the descendants of Abraham, whom he had enjoined it, under the strictest penalties,[2] several hundred years before the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai; and this on two several accounts: First, as a distinguis.h.i.+ng mark between them and the rest of mankind. Secondly, as a seal to a covenant between G.o.d and that patriarch: whereby it was stipulated on G.o.d's part to bless Abraham and his posterity; while on their part it implied a holy engagement to be his people, by a strict conformity to his laws. It was, therefore, a sacrament of initiation in the service of G.o.d, and a promise and engagement to believe and act as he had revealed and directed.

Circ.u.mcision is also looked upon by St. Austin, and by several eminent modern divines,[3] to have been the expedient, in the male posterity of Abraham, for removing the guilt of original sin, which in those who did not belong to the covenant of Abraham, nor fall under this law was remitted by other means, probably by some external act of faith.

This law of circ.u.mcision continued in force till the death of Christ: hence our Saviour being born under the law, it _became him_, who came to teach mankind obedience to the laws of G.o.d; to _fulfil all justice_, and to submit to it. Therefore, he was _made under the law_, that is, was circ.u.mcised, that he might redeem them that were under the law, by freeing them from the servitude of it; and that those, who were in the condition of servants before, might be set at liberty, and _receive the adoption of sons_ in baptism; which by Christ's inst.i.tution, succeeded to circ.u.mcision. On the {060} day he was circ.u.mcised he received the name of JESUS, the same which had been appointed him by the angel before he was conceived.[4] The reason of his being called JESUS is mentioned in the gospel:[5] _For he shall save his people from their sins_. This he effected by the greatest sufferings and humiliations; _having humbled himself_, as St. Paul says,[6] not only unto death, but even _to the death of the cross; for which cause G.o.d hath exalted him, and hath given him a name which is above all names; that at the name of JESUS every knee should bow_: agreeably to what Christ says of himself,[7] _All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth_.[8]

Christ being not only innocent, but incapable of sin, could stand in no need of circ.u.mcision, as an expedient then in use for the remission of sin. He was pleased, however, to subject himself to this humbling and painful rite of the Mosaic dispensation for several reasons: as, First, to put an end in an honorable manner to a divine, but temporary, inst.i.tution, by taking it upon his own person. Secondly, to prove the reality of his human body; which, however evident from this and so many other actions and sufferings of his life, was denied by several ancient heretics. Thirdly, to prove himself not only the son of man, but of that man in particular of whose seed the Messiah was promised to come: thus precluding any future objection that might be raised by the Jews against his divine mission in quality of Messiah, under the pretence of his being an alien; and hereby qualifying himself for free conversation with them for their own spiritual advantage: setting us all a pattern of undergoing voluntarily several hards.h.i.+ps and restraints, which, though not necessary on our own account, may be of great use to promote the good of others. Christ not being like other Jewish children, who could not know or fear the pain of circ.u.mcision, when they were going to suffer the operation, was perfectly sensible of it beforehand, and with calmness and intrepidity offered himself willingly to suffer the knife, and shed the first-fruits of his sacred blood in this painful manner.

Under the smart this divine infant shed tears, but not as other children; for by them, with the most tender love and compa.s.sion, he bewailed chiefly our spiritual miseries, and at the same time presented with joy his blood as the price of our redemption to his Father.

Fourthly, by thus humbling himself under this painful operation, he would give us an early pledge and earnest of his love for us, of his compa.s.sion for our miseries, and of his utter detestation of sin. The charity and zeal which glowed in his divine breast, impatient, as it were, of delay, delighted themselves in these first-fruits of humiliation and suffering for our sakes, till they could fully satiate their thirst by that superabundance of both, in his pa.s.sion and death.