- 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!
Anastasius was a Roman by birth, who had already earned a reputation for piety and intelligence when elected as the successor to Pope St. Siricius, in the year of Our Lord 399. His most significant act was to condemn the theologian Origen and his writings, judging them dangerous to the true faith. Anastasius was also responsible for making mandatory the practice of priests proclaim the Holy Gospels while standing. He was close with many other saints of the time, and St. Jerome particularly wrote well of him. Anastasius died after a short reign of just over two years.
Nemesius was a third-century native of Egypt, who was arrested on a false accusation of robbery. Though he easily proved himself innocent, he was then accused of being a Christian, which he readily admitted. Like Christ, he was sentenced to death alongside criminals, and was tortured far more severely than the guilty parties. Nemesius ended his martyrdom by being burned alive amongst the actual robbers.
AT Alexandria, in Egypt, blessed Nemesius, martyr, who was first denounced before the judge as a robber, but on being freed from that charge, was soon after, in the persecution of Decius, accused before the judge Emilian of being a Christian. By him he was twice subjected to the torture, and condemned to be burned alive with robbers, thus bearing a resemblance to our Saviour, who was crucified with thieves.
At Nicaea, the Saints Darius, Zosimus, Paul, and Secundus, martyrs.
At Nicomedia, the holy martyrs Cyriacus, Paulillus, Secundus, Anastasius, Sindimius, and their companions.
In Mauritania (Barbary), St. Timothy, deacon, who, after enduring a painful imprisonment for the faith of Christ, was cast into the fire, where he consummated his martyrdom.
At Gaza, in Palestine, the martyrdom of the Saints Meuris and Thea.
At Avignon, blessed Urban V, who deserved well of the Church by restoring the Apostolic See to Rome, by bringing about a reunion of the Latins and the Greeks, and by suppressing heretics. Pius IX approved and confirmed the veneration which had long been paid to him.
At Auxerre, St. Gregory, bishop and confessor.
At Orleans, St. Adjutus, an abbot renowned for the spirit of prophecy.
At Rome, St. Fausta, mother of St. Anastasia, distinguished for noble birth and piety.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
