28 April
ST. PAUL of the Cross, a man remarkable for innocence of life and for the spirit of penance, and Founder of the Congregation of the Cross and Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ. Consumed with a burning love for Christ crucified, illustrious by his heavenly gifts and the working of miracles, and blessed with a perfect and finished virtue, he went to his repose in the Lord.—At Ravenna, the birthday of St. Vitalis, martyr, father of the saints Gervasius and Protasius. When he had taken up and reverently buried the body of blessed Ursicinus, he was arrested by the ex-consul Paulinus, and after being racked, and thrown into a deep pit, was overwhelmed with earth and stones, and by this kind of martyrdom went to Christ.—At Milan, the martyr St. Valeria, who was the wife of St. Vitalis.—At Atino, St. Mark, who being made biship by the blessed apostle Peter, was the first to preach the Gospel to the inhabitants of that region, and received the crown of martyrdom in the persecution of Domitian, under the governor Maximus.—At Alexandria, the martyrdom of the virgin St. Theodora. For refusing to sacrifice to idols, she was led to a place of debauch; but, a Christian, named Didymus, through the admirable providence of God, delivered her by quickly exchanging garments with her. He was afterwards decapitated, and crowned with her in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Eustratius.—The same day, the saints Aphrodisius, Caralippus, Agapius, and Eusebius, martyrs.—In Pannonia, St. Pollio, martyr, under the emperor Diocletian.—At Prusa, in Bithynia, the holy martyrs Patritius, bishop, Acatius, Menander, and Polyenus.—At Tarrazona, in Spain, St. Prudentius, bishop and martyr.—At Pelino, in Abruzzo, St. Pamphilus, bishop of Valva, illustrious by his charity towards the poor, and the gift of miracles. His body was buried at Solmona.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.