9 December
AT Gray, in Burgundy, St. Peter Fourier, Canon Regular of Our Saviour, and founder of the Canonesses Regular of Our Lady for the education of girls. Because of his brilliant virtues and miracles Leo XIII. placed him in the catalogue of Saints. —At Toledo, in Spain, the birthday of the holy virgin Leocadia, a martyr, in the persecution of the emperor Diocletian. By Dacian, prefect of Spain, she was condemned to a cruel imprisonment, where she was pining away, when, hearing of the barbarous tortures of blessed Eulalia and the other martyrs, she knelt down to pray, and yielded up her undefiled spirit to Christ.—At Carthage, St. Restitutus, bishop and martyr, on whose feast St. Augustine delivered a discourse to the people in which he set forth his praises.—Also, in Africa, the holy martyrs Peter, Successus, Bassian, Primitivus and twenty others. —At Limoges, in France, St. Valeria, virgin and martyr.—At Verona, during the persecution of Diocletian, St. Proculus, bishop, who was buffeted, scourged with rods and driven out of the city. Being at length restored to his church, he rested in peace. —At Pavia, St. Syrus, first bishop of that city, who was renowned for miracles and virtues worthy of an apostle.—At Apamea, in Syria, blessed Julian, bishop, who was distinguished for holiness in the time of Severus.—At Perigueux, in France, the holy abbot Cyprian, a man of great sanctity.—At Nazianzus, St. Gorgonia, sister of blessed Gregory the Theologian, who has related her virtues and miracles.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.