- 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!
In the five thousand one hundred and ninety-ninth year from the creation of the world, when in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth; in the two thousand nine hundred and fifty-seventh year from the flood; in the two thousand and fifteenth year from the birth of Abraham; in the one thousand five hundred and tenth year from the going forth of the people of Israel out of Egypt under Moses; in the one thousand and thirty-second year from the anointing of David as King; in the sixty-fifth week according to the prophecy of Daniel; in the one hundred and ninety-fourth Olympiad; in the seven hundred and fifty-second year from the foundation of the city of Rome; in the forty-second year of the reign of the Emperor Octavian Augustus; in the sixth age of the world, while the whole earth was at peace: Jesus Christ, Himself Eternal God and Son of the Eternal Father, being pleased to hallow the world by His most gracious coming, having been conceived of the Holy Ghost, and when nine months were passed after His Conception, was born of the Virgin Mary at Bethlehem of Juda, being made Man. The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, ACCORDING TO THE FLESH.
The same day, the birthday [into heaven] of St. Anastasia, who, in the time of Diocletian, first suffered a severe and harsh imprisonment on the part of her husband Publius, in which, however, she was much consoled and encouraged by the confessor of Christ, Chrysogonus. Afterwards she was thrown into prison again by order of Florus, prefect of Illyria; and finally, having her hands and feet stretched out, she was tied to stakes, with a fire kindled about her, in the midst of which she ended her martyrdom in the island of Palmarola, whither she had been conveyed with two hundred men and seventy women, who have made martyrdom a glorious thing by the various kinds of death they so courageously endured.
At Rome, in the cemetery of Apronian, St. Eugenia, virgin. In the time of the emperor Gallienus, after working many miracles and gathering to Christ troops of sacred virgins, and after long combats under Nicetius, prefect of the city, she was finally put to the sword.
At Nicomedia, many thousand martyrs, who had assembled for divine service on our Lord’s nativity, when the emperor Diocletian, ordering the doors of the church to be closed, and fire to be kindled here and there, as also a vessel with incense to be put before the entrance, and a man to cry out that those who wished to escape from the conflagration should come out and burn incense to Jupiter, all with one voice answered that they preferred to die for Christ. They were consumed in the fire, and thus merited to be born in heaven on the day on which Christ vouchsafed to be born on earth for the salvation of the world.
At Barcelona, in Spain, the birthday [into heaven] of St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, and founder of the Order of Mercedarians, renowned for virtue and miracles. His feast is celebrated on the 31st of January, by order of Alexander VII.
℣. And elsewhere many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.
℟. Thanks be to God.
