2 February
THE Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, called by the Greeks Hypapante (meeting) of the Lord.—At Rome, on the Salarian road, the passion of St. Apronian, a notary. Whilst he was yet a Gentile, and was leading St. Sisinius out of prison, to present him before the governor Laodicius, he heard a voice from heaven saying, “Come ye, the blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world.” At once he believed, was baptized, and after confessing our Lord, received sentence of death.—Also, at Rome, the holy martyrs Fortunatus, Felician, Firmus and Candidus. —At Caesarea, in Palestine, St. Cornelius, a centurion, whom the blessed apostle Peter baptized, and raised to the episcopal dignity in that city.—At Orleans, the holy bishop Flosculus.—At Canterbury, in England, the birthday of St. Lawrence, bishop, who succeeded St. Augustine in the government of that church, and converted the king himself to the faith.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.