4 October
AT Assisi, in Umbria, the birthday of St. Francis, confessor, founder of the Order of Minorites, whose life, filled with holy deeds and miracles, was written by St. Bonaventure.—At Corinth, the birthday of the Saints Crispus and Caius, who are mentioned by the apostle St. Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians,—In Egypt, the holy martyrs Mark and Marcian, brothers, and an almost countless multitude of both sexes and of all ages, who merited the blessed crown of martyrdom, some after being scourged, and others when they had suffered horrible torment, after being delivered to the flames. Some were precipitated into the sea ; some others were beheaded; many were starved to death; others were fastened to gibbets; while others were suspended by the feet with their heads downward.—At Damascus, St. Peter, bishop and martyr, who, being accused before the king of the Agarenians of teaching the faith of Christ, had his tongue, hands, and feet cut off, and being fastened to a cross, ended his martyrdom.—At Alexandria, the holy priests and deacons Caius, Faustus, Eusebius, Chaeremon, Lucius, and their companions. Some of them were martyred in the persecution of Valerian; others, for serving the martyrs, received the reward of martyrs.—At Athens, St. Hierotheus, disciple of the blessed apostle Paul.—At Bologna, St. Petronius, bishop and confessor, celebrated for learning, miracles and sanctity.—At Paris, St. Aurea, virgin.
And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors and holy virgins.
Thanks be to God.