Feast of St Lawrence (August 10)



Fra Angelico 1447-50

From the martyrology:

"At Rome, on the Tiburtine Way, the birthday of the blessed archdeacon Lawrence, martyred during the persecution of Valerian. After much suffering from imprisonment, from scourging with whips set with iron or lead, from hot metal plates, he at last completed his martyrdom by being slowly consumed on an iron instrument made in the form of a gridiron. His body was buried by blessed Hippolytus and the priest Justin in the cemetery of Cyriaca, in the Agro Verano."

SS Sixtus II, Felicissimus and Agapitus, memorial (August 7)

From the martyrology (for August 6):


"At Rome, on the Appian Way, in the cemetery of Callistus, the birthday of blessed Sixtus II, pope and martyr, who received the crown of martyrdom in the persecution of Valerian by being put to the sword. Also, the holy martyrs Felicissimus and Agapitus, deacons of blessed Sixtus; Januarius, Magnus, Vincent, and Stephen, subdeacons, all of whom were beheaded with him and buried in the cemetery of Praetextatus. With them suffered also blessed Quartus, as is related by St. Cyprian."

Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord (August 6)

Raphael

From the martyrology:

"On Mount Tabor, the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ."

St Dominic (August 4)

From the martyrology:

"St. Dominic, confessor, founder of the Order of Friars Preachers, who on the sixth day of this month rested in peace."

You can read more about the saint here.

Also today:
 
"In the village of Ars, in the diocese of Belley, France, the birthday of St. John Baptist-Mary Vianney, priest and confessor, renowned for his devotion as a parish priest.  Pope Pius XI placed him in the number of the saints, ordered that his feast should be observed on the 9th day of this month, and appointed him as the heavenly patron of all parish priests."
 
And

"At Rome, St. Perpetua, who was baptized by the blessed apostle Peter. She converted to the faith her son Nazarius and her husband Africanus, buried the remains of many holy martyrs, and finally went to our Lord endowed with an abundance of merit."

SS Lydia and Aspren (August 3)

From the martyrology:

"At Philippi in Macedonia, St. Lydia, a dealer in purple, who was the first to believe in the Gospel when the apostle St. Paul preached in that city, as is related by St. Luke in the Acts of the Apostles..."

"At Naples in Campania, St. Aspren, bishop, who was cured of a sickness by the apostle St. Peter, and after being baptized, was made bishop of that city..."

"Among the Indians, bordering on Persia, the martyrdom of holy monks and other Christians who were put to death after suffering diverse torments, during the persecution of the Church of God by King Abenner."

St Alphonsus Mary de Liguori (August 2)

From the martyrology:

"At Nocera dei Pagani in Campani...St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori, founder of the Congregation of our most Holy Redeemer, bishop of Santa Agata dei Goti, and confessor. Noted for his zeal for souls, his writings, and his example, Pope Gregory XVI added him to the canon of saints, and Pius IX declared him to be a doctor of the Universal Church. Pius XII established him as heavenly patron of all moral theologians and of those who hear Confession...founder of the Congregation of our most Holy Redeemer, bishop of Santa Agata dei Goti..."

You can read more about the saint here.

The Holy Maccabees (August 1)

Stattler, 1842

From the martyrology:

"At Antioch, the martyrdom of the seven brothers, the holy Machabees, martyrs, and their mother, who suffered under King Antiochus Epiphanes. Their relics were transferred to Rome, and placed in the church or St. Peter in Chains."

Today is also the anniversary of the dedication of that Church.