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Alban was a prominent citizen of Roman Britain, a native of what is now the city of St Albans, in Hertfordshire. He was a pagan, but hospitable and virtuous. When persecutions began under the emperor Diocletian, Alban gave shelter to a Catholic cleric, usually identified as St. Amphibalus. Within a few days, Alban was converted and baptized. When his house was searched, Alban insisted on disguising himself in the cleric’s clothes, leaving Amphibalus to escape and convert many more souls before his own martyrdom. Alban refused to apostatize, even under torture, and was condemned to death. On the way to the hill where Alban would die, a river’s waters miraculously parted before the saint, and his executioner, known as Heraclius, was immediately converted. When they arrived at the appointed place, a spring burst forth where Alban knelt. A new executioner beheaded him, and was immediately struck blind. Heraclius followed Alban to heaven, baptized in blood. Many were converted by the witness of England’s first martyr, including the Roman judge. The same day, in the year of Our Lord 1535, the great English bishop St. John Fisher met his own martyrdom.
AT Nola, in Campania, the birthday of blessed Paulinus, bishop and confessor, who, although a most noble and wealthy man, made himself poor and humble for Christ; and what is still more admirable, became a slave to liberate a widow’s son, who had been carried to Africa by the Vandals, when they devastated Campania. He was celebrated, not only for his learning and exceptional holiness of life, but also for his power over the demons. His great merit has been extolled by Saints Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine and Gregory, in their writings. His body, at first transferred to Benevento, and thence to Rome, was restored to Nola by order of Pius X.
At Rome, blessed Innocent V, pope, who labored with mildness and prudence to maintain liberty for the Church and harmony among Christians. The veneration paid to him, pope Leo XIII approved and confirmed.
On Mount Ararat, the martyrdom of ten thousand holy martyrs, who were crucified.
At Verulam, in England, in the time of Diocletian, St. Alban, martyr, who gave himself up to save a cleric whom he had harbored. After being scourged and subjected to bitter torments, he was sentenced to capital punishment. With him suffered also one of the soldiers that led him to execution, who was converted to Christ on the way, and merited to be baptized, in his own blood.
At Samaria, fourteen hundred and eighty holy martyrs, under Chosroes, king of Persia.
At Rome, the translation of St. Flavius Clemens, ex-consul and martyr, who was put to death for the faith of Christ by the emperor Domitian. His body was found in the basilica of pope St. Clement, and buried there with great pomp.
The same day, St. Nicaeas, bishop of the town of Romatia, celebrated for his learning and holy life.
At Naples, in Campania, St. John, bishop, who was called to the kingdom of heaven by blessed Paulinus, bishop of Nola.
In the monastery of Cluny, St. Consortia, virgin.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.