The Sixth Day of Christmas: Not No Saints

Happy sixth day of Christmas! Today is the first day of the Christmas Octave that is not otherwise also a solemnity, feast, or memorial.

That does not mean, however, that there aren’t other saints we could celebrate today in some form.

Today might be a good time to talk about the Roman Martyrology. This is one of those liturgical books that you don’t really hear much about – probably because the most recent edition of 2005 has never been translated from Latin into English.

In fact, no version of this book has been translated even quasi-officially into English since 1963 as far as I can determine.

And that’s a shame, because it provides an extensive (but not exhaustive) list of the saints recognized by the Church. It’s organized day by day throughout the year, so that saints whose memorials are otherwise not on the calendar may be celebrated or commemorated.

Now when I say it’s not been translated, I must give one caveat: the Third Edition of the Roman Missal does provide a single entry from the Martyrology in Appendix 1. You may have heard it at the Christmas Vigil Mass: the announcement of the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

So when will the rest of the Roman Martyrology be translated? Who knows?

Right now, the ICEL translators are working on the revised translation of the Liturgy of the Hours. This was originally slated for approval in 2022 and promulgated a year or so later. We’ll see.

Here is the entry for today in an older form of the Martyrology:

The Thirtieth Day of December

At Rome, the birthday of St. Felix I, pope and martyr. He governed the Church at the time of the Emperor Aurelius. His feast is celebrated on May 30.

At Spoleto, the birthday of the holy martyrs Sabinus, Bishop of Assisi, Exuperantius and Marcellus, deacons, and Venustian the governor, with his wife and children. They were martyred in the reign of the Emperor Maximian. Marcellus and Exuperantius were first stretched on the rack and grievously beaten with clubs. Next they were torn with iron claws and their sides roasted by fire until they gained their martyrdom. Shortly after, Venustian was killed by the sword, together with his wife and children. St. Sabinus had his hands cut off and was confined in prison for a long time; then he was flogged to death. Although the martyrdom of these saints took place at different times, they are all remembered on one day.

At Alexandria, Ss. Mansuetus, Severus, Appian, Donatus, Honorius, and their fellow martyrs.

At Thessalonica, St. Anysia, martyr.

At the same place, St. Anysius, bishop of that city.

At Milan, St. Eugene, bishop and confessor.

At Ravenna, St. Liberius, bishop.

At Aquila, among the Vestinian people, St. Rainer, bishop.

V. And elsewhere, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

R. Thanks be to God.

Holy saints of God, pray for us!