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About one hundred and seventy years before the birth of the Savior, Judea was subjugated by the pagan Seleucid Empire under King Antiochus, who violently attempted to suppress the religion of the Israelites. Among those arrested for resisting were seven brothers and their mother, remembered as the Holy Maccabees. The pagans attempted to force the family to eat pork, whipping and scourging them, but the faithful Jews refused. When the eldest spoke out in defiance, he was horribly tortured and finally roasted to death. Each of the brothers in turn suffered similar fates, zealously defying the king, while mother and sons all encouraged each other to remain steadfast. The king urged the mother to tell her youngest son to save his own life, but she simply told him not to leave her and his brothers without his company after death, and the enraged king ordered that the defiant boy suffer even crueler torments than the others. Finally, the fearless mother met her end. The relics of these martyrs rest in the Roman church of St. Peter in Chains. The Jews would eventually overthrow their persecutors and cleanse the Temple, regaining their independence for a few more decades before the Romans eventually took over the region.
AT ROME, on Mount Esquiline, the dedication of the church of St. Peter in Chains.
At Antioch, the martyrdom of the seven holy brothers, the Machabees, and their mother, who suffered under king Antiochus Epiphanes. Their relics were transferred to Rome, and placed in the church of St. Peter, just mentioned.
At Rome, the holy virgins Faith, Hope and Charity, who won the crown of martyrdom under the emperor Adrian.
Also, at Rome, on the Latin road, the holy martyrs Bonus, a priest, Faustus and Maurus, with nine others, mentioned in the Acts of pope St. Stephen.
At Philadelphia, in Arabia, the holy martyrs Cyril, Aquila, Peter, Domitian, Rufus, and Menander, crowned on the same day.
At Pergen, in Pamphylia, the holy martyrs Leontius, Attius, Alexander, and six husbandmen, who were beheaded in the persecution of Diocletian, under the governor Flavian.
At Gerona, in Spain, the birthday of the holy martyr Felix. After enduring various torments, by order of Dacian, he was cut with knives until he gave his undaunted soul to Christ.
At Vercelli, St. Eusebius, bishop and martyr, who for the confession of the Catholic faith, was banished to Scythopolis and thence to Cappadocia by the emperor Constantius. Afterwards returning to his church, he suffered martyrdom in the persecution of the Arians. His feast is kept on the 16th of December.
In the diocese of Paris, St. Justin, martyr.
At Vienne, St. Verus, bishop.
At Winchester, in England, St. Ethelwold, bishop.
In the territory of Liswin, St. Nemesius, confessor.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.