18 August
AT Palestrina, the birthday of the holy martyr Agapitus. Although only fifteen years of age, as he was fervent in the love of Christ, he was arrested by order of the emperor Aurelian, and scourged a long time. Afterwards, under the prefect Antiochus, he endured more severe torments, and being delivered to the lions by the emperor’s order without receiving any injury, he was finally struck with the sword, and thus merited his crown. —At Rome, during the persecution of Diocletian, the blessed John and Crispus, priests, who charitably buried the bodies of many. saints, and afterwards becoming partakers of their merits, they deserved the joys of eternal life.—In the same city, the holy martyrs Hermas, Serapion, and Polyaenus. Being dragged through narrow, stony, and craggy places, they yielded up their souls to God.—In Dalmatia, the holy martyrs Florus and Laurus, stonecutters, who, after the martyrdom of Proculus and Maximus, their employers, were subjected to many torments under the governor Licion, and plunged into a deep well.—At Myra, in Lycia, the holy martyrs Leo and Juliana.—At Metz, in France, St. Firmin, bishop and confessor.—At Rome, on the Lavican road, St. Helena, mother of the pious emperor Constantine the Great, who was the first to set the example to other princes of protecting and extending the Church.—At Monte-Falo, in Umbria, blessed Clare, virgin, nun of the Order of Augustinians, in whom the mysteries of our Lord’s passion were renewed, and are venerated with the greatest devotion. Pope Leo XIII. solemnly added her to the list of holy virgins.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.