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Marcellus was a Christian centurion in the Roman army. In the year of Our Lord 298, he and his legion were serving in what is now Tangier, Morocco. The birthday of the Emperor Maximian was being celebrated throughout the empire, with many solemn sacrifices offered to the pagan gods. Marcellus, who would normally lead his men in these sacrifices, instead cast down his equipment and symbols of rank and publicly proclaimed himself a Christian. He was imprisoned until the festivities ended, and then taken before the judge. Marcellus confessed to disobeying the emperor and continued to proclaim his Christian faith. He was then sent before a strict military official for punishment. Marcellus reaffirmed his actions, and the Roman official sentenced him to death. The court secretary, Cassian, was so angered by the sentence that he refused to record it, and strongly denounced the injustice. He was imprisoned and eventually martyred himself, and is mentioned on December 3rd. Marcellus was taken out and beheaded, and his relics were eventually brought to León in Spain. He is thus patron of that city and province, as well as of conscientious objectors.
IN Africa, the birthday [into heaven] of two hundred and twenty holy martyrs.
At Tangier, in Morocco, St. Marcellus, a centurion, who endured martyrdom by being beheaded under the vice-prefect Agricolaus.
At Alexandria, in the reign of Decius, thirteen holy martyrs, who suffered with Saints Julian, Eunus and Macarius.
In the same place, St. Eutropia, martyr, who visited the martyrs, and was so cruelly tortured with them that she breathed her last.
At Cagliari, in Sardinia, St. Saturninus, martyr, who was beheaded under the governor Barbarus, during the persecution of Diocletian.
At Apamea, in Phrygia, St. Maximus, martyr, under the same Diocletian.
At Leon, in Spain, the holy martyrs Claudius, Lupercus, and Victorius, sons of the centurion St. Marcellus, who were condemned to decapitation, in the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, under the governor Diogenian.
At AEgea, in Cilicia, the martyrdom of the Saints Zenobius, bishop, and Zenobia, his sister, under the emperor Diocletian and the governor Lysias.
At Altino, St. Theonestus, bishop and martyr, who was killed by the Arians.
At Paris, St. Lucanus, martyr.
At Antioch, St. Serapion, a bishop very celebrated for his learning.
At Capua, St. Germanus, bishop and confessor, a man of great sanctity, whose soul, at the hour of death, was seen by St. Benedict taken to heaven by angels.
At Potenza, in Basilicata, St. Gerard, bishop.
At Palma, in the island of Majorca, St. Alphonsus Rodriguez, a lay brother of the Society of Jesus, whom Leo XII beatified and Leo XIII. canonized on account of his remarkable humility and constant love of mortification.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.