- December 3, 2023
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
2024 Spring On-Air Appeal – May 6-10 – Call 1-877-711-8500!
Germanus was born in the early seventh century, the son of a wealthy senator from Trier, in what is now Germany. He grew up in the care of the local bishop, and when he came of age, Germanus gave away all his possessions and left to study under the hermit St. Arnulf of Metz. Here he was soon joined by his younger brother Numerian. Eventually Germanus and his brother entered a nearby monastery co-founded by St. Arnulf’s friend, St. Romaric. The two brothers then transferred to another monastery under the authority of St. Walbert, yet another nobleman who had given up his riches for the contemplative life. St. Walbert appointed Germanus the abbot of a new monastery in Switzerland, founded by the first Duke of Alsace. One of the Duke’s successors was far less charitably-minded, however, and wantonly oppressed both the monks and the laity. Germanus and his monks accepted their own persecution with humility, but were outspoken in their defense of the poor, and after a seemingly successful intervention with the oppressor, Germanus and his companion monk Randoald were waylaid on the road and murdered by angry and rapacious soldiers. The two have been venerated as martyrs in the region ever since.
IN Sicily, in the reign of Diocletian, the birthday of seventy-nine holy martyrs, who deserved by various torments to receive an immortal crown for the confession of their faith.
At Adrumetum, in Africa, during the persecution of the Vandals, the holy martyrs Verulus, Secundinus, Syricius, Felix, Servulus, Saturninus, Fortunatus, and sixteen others, who were crowned with martyrdom for the confession of the Catholic faith.
At Scythopolis, in Palestine, St. Severian, bishop and martyr.
At Damascus, St. Peter Mavimenus, who was killed by some Arabs who visited him in his sickness, because he said to them: “Whoever does not embrace the Christian and Catholic faith is lost, like your false prophet Mahomet.”
At Ravenna, St. Maximian, bishop and confessor.
At Metz, St. Felix, bishop.
At Brescia, St. Paterius, bishop.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
