RULE/MARTYROLOGY THREAD

[OmniaInstaurareInChristo]

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for May 10:

CHAPTER II
What kind of man the Abbot ought to be

An Abbot who is worthy to rule over the monastery ought always to remember what he is called, and correspond to his name of superior by his deeds. For he is believed to hold the place of Christ in the monastery, since he is called by His name, as the Apostle saith: "Ye have received the spirit of the adoption of children, in which we cry Abba, Father." And, therefore, the Abbot ought not (God forbid) to teach, or ordain, or command anything contrary to the law of the Lord; but let his bidding and his doctrine be infused into the minds of his disciples like the leaven of divine justice.


Martyrology-May 11th
Roman Martyrology-May 11th- on this date in various years-

At Rome, on the Salarian Way, the birthday of blessed Anthimus, priest, who, after having distinguished himself by his virtues and preaching, was cast into the Tiber during the persecution of Diocletian. He was rescued by an angel and restored to his oratory. Afterwards he was beheaded, and went victoriously to heaven.

In the same place, St. Evelius, martyr, who belonged to the household of Nero. By witnessing the martyrdom of St. Torpes, he also believed in Christ, and for him was beheaded.

Also at Rome, on the Salarian Way, the holy martyrs Maximus, Bassus, and Fabius, who were put to death during the reign of Diocletian.

At Osimo in Piceno, the holy martyrs Sisinius, a deacon, Diocletius and Florentius, disciples of the priest St. Anthimus, whose martyrdom was completed under Diocletian by their being stoned.

At Camerino, the holy martyrs Anastasius and his companions who were killed in the persecution of Decius, under the governor Antiochus.

At Varennes in France, St. Gangulphus, martyr.

At Vienne in France, St. Mamertus, bishop, who, to avert an impending calamity, instituted in that city the three days' Litanies immediately before the Ascension of our Lord. This rite was afterwards received and approved by the universal Church.

At Souvigny in France, the death of St. Maieul, abbot of Cluny, whose life was distinguished for merits and sanctity.

At Naples in Campania, St. Francis of Jerome, priest of the Society of Jesus, and confessor. He was born in the town of Grottaglia, in the diocese of Taranto. Having been a man of great patience and zeal for the salvation of souls, he was canonized by Pope Gregory XVI.

At San Severino in Piceno, St. Illuminatus, confessor.

At Cagliari in Sardinia, St. Ignatius of Laconi, confessor, of the Minor Order of Capuchins, distinguished for his humility, charity and miracles. He was accorded the honour of canonization by Pope Pius XII.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.

[OmniaInstaurareInChristo]

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for May 11:

CHAPTER II
What kind of man the Abbot ought to be (cont.)

Let the Abbot be ever mindful that at the dreadful judgment of God an account will have to be given both of his own teaching and of the obedience of his disciples. And let him know that to the fault of the shepherd shall be imputed any lack of profit which the father of the household may find in his sheep. Only then shall he be acquitted, if he shall have bestowed all pastoral diligence on his unquiet and disobedient flock, and employed all his care to amend their corrupt manner of life: then shall he be absolved in the judgment of the Lord, and may say to the Lord with the Prophet: "I have not hidden Thy justice in my heart, I have declared Thy truth and Thy salvation, but they contemned and despised me." And then at length the punishment of death shall be inflicted on the disobedient sheep.

Martyrology-May 12th
Roman Martyrology-May 12th- on this date in various years-

At Rome, on the Ardeatine Way, the holy martyrs Nereus and Achilleus, brothers, who underwent a long exile for Christ in the island of Pontia with Flavia Domitilla, whose chamberlains they were. Afterwards they endured a most severe scourging. Finally, as the judge, Minutius Rufus, endeavoured by using the rack and fire to force them to offer sacrifices, they said that having been baptized by the blessed apostle Peter, they could by no means sacrifice to idols. They were beheaded, and their revered remains, with those of Flavia Domitilla, were, by order of Pope Clement VIII, solemnly transferred the day before this, from the sacristy of St. Adrian to the church in which they had been kept in the first place, and which was now repaired. He also ordered today's observance of the feast of St. Domitilla, the virgin, whose martyrdom was mentioned on the 7th of May.

In the same place, on the Aurelian Way, the holy martyr Pancras who at fourteen years of age endured martyrdom by being beheaded under Diocletian.

At Salamis in Cyprus, St. Epiphanius, a bishop of great erudition, with a profound knowledge of the Holy Scriptures. He is to be admired for the sanctity of his life, his zeal for the Catholic faith, his charity to the poor, and the gift of miracles.

At Constantinople, St. Germanus, a bishop distinguished by his virtues and learning, who faithfully opposed Leo the Isaurian for publishing an edict against sacred images.

At Treves, St. Modoaldus, bishop.

At Rome, St. Denis, uncle of the martyr St. Pancras.

At Agirone in Sicily, St. Philip, a priest who was sent to that island by the Roman Pontiff, and converted to Christ a great portion of it. His sanctity is particularly manifested by the deliverance of persons possessed.

In the city of Calzada in Spain, St. Dominic, confessor.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.

[OmniaInstaurareInChristo]

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for May 12:

CHAPTER II
What kind of man the Abbot ought to be (cont.)

Therefore, when anyone receiveth the name of Abbot, he ought to govern his disciples by a two-fold teaching: that is, he should shew forth all goodness and holiness by his deeds rather than his words: declaring to the intelligent among his disciples the commandments of the Lord by words: but to the hard-hearted and the simple minded setting forth the divine precepts by the example of his deeds. And let him shew by his own actions that those things ought not to be done which he has taught his disciples to be against the law of God; lest, while preaching to others, he should himself become a castaway, and God should say to him in his sin: "Why dost thou declare My justice, and take My covenant in thy mouth? Thou hast hated discipline, and hast cast My words behind thee." And again: "Thou who sawest the mote in thy brother's eye, didst thou not see the beam in thine own?"

Martyrology-May 13th
Roman Martyrology-May 13th- on this date in various years-

St. Robert Bellarmine, of the Society of Jesus, cardinal and one time bishop of Capua, confessor and doctor of the Church, whose birthday is kept on the 17th of September.

At Rome, in the time of Emperor Phocas, the dedication of the church of St. Mary of the Martyrs, formerly a temple of all the gods, called the Pantheon, which was purified and dedicated by the blessed Pope Bonface IV to the honour of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, and of all the martyrs. The solemn anniversary of this dedication was later ordered to be kept by Pope Gregory IV as the Feast of All Saints on the 1st of November.

At Constantinople, under Emperor Diocletian and the proconsul Laudicius, the blessed Mucius, priest and martyr, who endured many tribulations and torments for the confession of Christ at Amphipolis, and then being taken to Byzantium, suffered death.

At Alexandria, the commemoration of many holy martyrs, who were put to death for the Catholic faith by the Arians in the church of St. Theonas.

At Heraclea in Thrace, St. Glyceria, a Roman martyr who suffered many severe torments under Emperor Antonius and the governor Sabinus. By the help of God having escaped them all unharmed, she was finally thrown to the wild beasts, and when the first one had bitten her body, she rendered her soul to God.

At Utrecht, St. Servatius, bishop of Tongres, whose grave, as a public sign of his merit, was free from snow during winter (although everything around was covered with it), until the inhabitants built a church over it.

In Palestine, St. John the Silent, who resigned the see of Colonia in Armenia and retired to the monastery of St. Sabbas until his saintly death.

At La Puye in the diocese of Poitiers, St. André-Hubert Fournet, confessor and one time parish priest, and founder with St. Elizabeth-Lucie Bichier des Ages of the Institute of the Daughters of the Holy Cross. He was placed on the roll of the saints by Pope Pius XI.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.

[OmniaInstaurareInChristo]

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for May 13:

CHAPTER II
What kind of man the Abbot ought to be (cont.)

Let him make no distinction of persons in the monastery. Let not one be loved more than another, unless he be found to excel in good works or in obedience. Let not one of noble birth be put before him that was formerly a slave, unless some other reasonable cause exist for it. But if upon just consideration it should so seem good to the Abbot, let him arrange as he please concerning the place of any one whomsoever; but, otherwise, let them keep their own places; because, whether bond or free, we are all one in Christ, and bear an equal rank in the service of one Lord, "For with God there is no respecting of persons." Only for one reason are we preferred in His sight, if we be found to surpass others in good works and in humility. Let the Abbot, then, shew equal love to all, and let the same discipline be imposed upon all according to their deserts.


Martyrology-May 14th
Roman Martyrology-May 14th- on this date in various years-

At Tarsus in Cilicia, the birthday of the holy martyr Boniface, who suffered under Diocletian and Maximian. His body was subsequently taken to Rome and buried on the Via Latina.

In France, St. Pontius, martyr. Having by his preaching and his zeal converted to the faith of Christ the two Caesars Philippi, he obtained the palm of martyrdom under the emperors Valerian and Gallienus.

In Syria, the holy martyrs Victor and Corona, under Emperor Antoninus. Victor was subjected to diverse and horrible torments by the judge Sebastian. Just then, as Corona, the the wife of a certain soldier, proclaimed him blessed for his constancy in his sufferings, she saw two crowns falling from heaven, one for Victor, the other for herself. She related this to all present, and was torn to pieces between two trees, while Victor was beheaded.

In Sardinia, the holy martyrs Justa, Justina, and Henedina.

At Ferentino in Tuscany, Bishop St. Boniface, who was renowned for sanctity and miracles from his childhood as is told by the blessed Pope Gregory.

In the town of Betharram in the diocese of Bayonne, St. Michael Garricoits, confessor, and founder of the Congregation of the Priests of the Sacred Heart, renowned for his apostolic fervour. Pope Pius XII added him to the roll of saints.

At Nizza Monferrato in Italy, St. Mary Dominica Mazzarello, co-founder of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, and renowned for her humility, prudence and charity. She was added to the book of Virgins by Pope Pius XII.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.

[OmniaInstaurareInChristo]

The reading appointed from the Rule of St. Benedict for May 14:

CHAPTER II
What kind of man the Abbot ought to be (cont.)

For the Abbot in his doctrine ought always to observe the bidding of the Apostle, wherein he says: "Reprove, entreat, rebuke"; mingling, as occasions may require, gentleness with severity; shewing now the rigour of a master, now the loving affection of a father, so as sternly to rebuke the undisciplined and restless, and to exhort the obedient, mild, and patient to advance in virtue. And such as are negligent and haughty we charge him to reprove and correct. Let him not shut his eyes to the faults of offenders; but as soon as they appear, let him strive with all his might to root them out, remembering the fate of Heli, the priest of Silo. Those of good disposition and understanding let him, for the first or second time, correct only with words; but such as are froward and hard of heart, and proud, or disobedient, let him chastise with bodily stripes at the very first offence, knowing that it is written: "The fool is not corrected with words." And again "Strike thy son with the rod, and thou shalt deliver his soul from death."


Martyrology-May 15th
Roman Martyrology-May 15th- on this date in various years-

St. John Baptist de la Salle, priest and confessor, who founded the Society of Brothers of the Christian Schools. He went to rest in the Lord on the 7th of April.

In Spain, the Saints Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Cecilius, Hesychius, and Euphrasius, who were consecrated bishops at Rome by the holy apostles, and sent to Spain to preach the word of God. When they had evangelized various cities, and brought innumerable multitudes under the yoke of Christ, they rested in peace in different places in that country: Torquatus at Cadiz, Ctesiphon at Vierco, Secundus at Avila, Indaletius at Portilla, Cecilius at Elvira, Hesychius at Gibraltar, and Euphrasius at Anduxar.

At Fausina in Sardinia, in the time of Diocletian and the governor Barbarus, Bishop St. Simplicius, who was pierced with a lance and thus gained martyrdom.

At Evora in Portugal, St. Mancius, martyr.

In the island of Chio, the birthday of blessed Isidore, martyr, in whose church is a well into which he is said to have been thrown. By drinking of the water of this well, the sick are frequently cured.

At Lampascum in the Hellespont, the martyrdom of the Saints Peter, Andrew, Paul, and Dionysia.

In the Auvergne in France, the holy martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus, and their companions.

At Gheel in Brabant, St. Dympna, virgin and martyr, daughter of the king of Ireland. By order of her father, she was beheaded for the faith of Christ and the preservation of her virginity.

And elsewhere in divers places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
R. Thanks be to God.