English Church Union Kalendar. SHORT NOTES UPON THE LESSER HOLY DAYS OF THE ENGLISH CHURCH: (For which no Special Office is appointed.) JANUARY. 8. St. Lucian, Priest and Martyr, circa A.D. 290.-St. Lucian was of noble Roman blood, and was sent, together with St. Quintin, St. Crispin (October 25th), and St. Denys (October 9th), about the year A.D. 245, by St. Fabian, Bishop of Rome and Martyr (January 20th), to preach the Gospel in Gaul. He sealed his mission with his blood at Beauvais, about A.D. 290. An ancient Frankish Kalendar gives him the rank of Bishop, and he is honoured in that quality at Beauvais. 13. St. Hilary, Bishop, Confessor, and Doctor of the Church (A.D. 368), was born at Poitiers, of a noble family. He was brought up in idolatry, but soon renounced polytheism, and step by step became convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith, of which he was ultimately so dauntless a champion as to be designated by St. Jerome as "the Trumpet of the Latins against the Arians." St. Augustine, moreover (who often urges the authority of St. Hilary against the Pelagians), styles him "the illustrious Doctor of the Church." After St. Hilary's conversion to Christianity, his conspicuous merits occasioned his being chosen Bishop of his native city while still a layman; and he was accordingly consecrated to that office, apparently per saltum, about A.D. 350. St. Hilary soon became renowned as a preacher; but, owing to his opposition to the Arians, he was condemned and deposed, about A.D. 355, at the heretical Synod of Béziers, immediately after which he was banished to Phrygia by Constantius, the Arian Emperor. After four years of exile, St. Hilary was allowed to return to his see, where at length he ended his days in peace, January 13th, A.D. 368. This noble Confessor was the author of several historical and polemical works; and among other hymns which are attributed to him is the beautiful one beginning "Pange lingua gloriosi The churches of Wallasey (Cheshire), Spridlington (Lincolnshire), and B the village and church of St. Hilary, Cornwall, are named in his honour. St. Hilary is usually represented in works of art with three books; sometimes he appears treading on serpents, and accompanied by the text, Numb. xxi. 7. Both those emblems allude to his opposition to Arianism-the books signifying the treatises he wrote against it, and the serpents the heresies which he combatted. In some ancient martyrologies the anniversary of this saint is marked on November 1st. 18. St. Prisca, Virgin and Martyr, c. A.D. 270.—This blessed Martyr was a noble Roman Virgin, who, at the early age of thirteen, was brought before the tribunal of justice on the accusation of being a Christian. On her refusal to sacrifice to the idols she was thrown into the amphitheatre among the lions; but it is recorded that, instead of injuring her, they knelt at her feet. She was then beheaded, and her remains were guarded by an eagle until they were buried. These events took place, according to the general opinion, under Claudius II., about A.D. 270. An ancient church in Rome, on the Aventine Hill, under the invocation of St. Prisca, gives a title to a Cardinal, and forms one of the Stations on the third day of the Ceremonies of Holy Week. This Saint is always represented as a young girl, holding in her hand a sword or a palm, with a lion couched at her feet, and an eagle perched or hovering near her. 66 20. St. Fabian, Bishop of Rome and Martyr, A.D. 250.-St. Fabian, .who is described by St. Cyprian as an incomparable man," succeeded St. Anterus as Bishop of Rome, in consequence, as it is said, of a dove settling on him while the people and clergy were electing a successor to the pontifical chair, although at that time he was a layman, and a stranger to all present. This legend may, however, have been an allegorical mode of expressing the fact that St. Fabian's election was directed by a special inspiration of the Holy Ghost. A similar story is told in connection with St. Gregory the Great, Pope Gregory VII., St. Basil, and St. Enurchus. St. Fabian received the crown of martyrdom in the Decian persecution, A.D. 250. His festival is kept by the Greek Church on August 5th. In the Roman Kalendar St. Sebastian is also commemorated on this day. The Church of Woodbastwick, Norfolk, is dedicated in the joint names of SS. Fabian and Sebastian. St. Fabian is represented with the triple regnum, or papal tiara, sometimes standing and holding a book and a palm-branch, sometimes kneeling at a block with a sword in his hand, and a dove near him, or perched upon his head. 21. St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, c. 304.—St. Agnes, says St. Jerome, suffered martyrdom so young, and with such fortitude, that the tongues and pens of all nations are employed to celebrate her praise. The Church of St. Peran, Cornwall, and one in London, are named after her (the latter jointly with St. Anne). The village of Papworth St. Agnes, in Cambridgeshire, is named in her honour, but the church now is dedicated in honour of St. John the Baptist. St. Agnes is almost always represented with a lamb (Agnus), either by her side, in her hand, or on a book. There is an evident connection between this symbol and her name (in Greek Ayvas--chaste), which is expressive of that purity of which she is an especial model and patroness. As a Martyr, St. Agnes frequently bears a palm and a sword, more rarely a book: the sword is sometimes transfixed through her throat. She generally has long flowing hair; occasionally a funeral pile is near her, or she is kneeling at one. St. Agnes is commemorated by name in the Liturgy of the Church of Rome. 22. St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr, A.D. 304.-This Saint was born at Saragossa, in Arragon (a city which Prudentius calls "the Mother of Martyrs"), and suffered for the truth, when quite a young man and still a Deacon, while Datian was Governor in Spain. He was tortured with a gridiron, full of sharp spikes until he expired. His remains are said to have been guarded from desecration by ravens. In accordance with these facts, St. Vincent is depicted, in the vestments of a Deacon of the Latin Church, with a gridiron full of spikes, and a raven near him. The churches of Newnham (Herts), Littlebourne (Kent), Caythorpe (Lincolnshire), and Ashington (Somerset), are dedicated in his honour. The Greeks keep his feast on November 11th. FEBRUARY. 3. St. Blasius, Bishop and Martyr, c. A.D. 316.—St. Blasius, Blase, Blayse, or Blaise, was Bishop of Sebaste, in Armenia, and suffered martyrdom in the persecution of Licinius, by command of Agricolaus, Governor of Cappadocia. He was beheaded after having been tortured with an iron comb such as were used by woolcombers, whose patron he in consequence became. Three churches are named after him in England-Milton, in Berks; St. Blazey, in Cornwall; and Haccombe, in Devon. Boxgrove, in Sussex, is dedicated in honour of St Mary and St. Blasius conjointly. This Saint is usually represented in a Bishop's full eucharistic vestments. His peculiar emblem is an iron wool-comb; sometimes he also holds a lighted taper, or it is borne before him by a chorister. Occasionally he appears surrounded by wild beasts, with the text Job v. 23, or birds are bringing him food. The Feast of St. Blasius is kept by the Greeks on February 11th. 5. St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr, A.D. 251.-The cities of Catania and Palermo, in Sicily, dispute the honour of having been the birth-place of this Virgin Martyr. She was of noble family, and received her crown at Catania, during the Decian persecution, in the year 251, by order of Quintianus, Governor of the province, because she would neither yield to his proposals, nor abjure the Christian faith. Three churches are dedicated in her name in England-namely, Easby and Gilling, in Yorkshire; and Brightwell, in Berks. St. Agatha generally appears holding a clasped book in her left hand, and a palm in the other: occasionally the place of this latter emblem is supplied by a pair of pincers, having a nipple between the teeth, in allusion to the horrible tortures endured by this Martyr. Sometimes both her breasts are cut off in a dish, or a sword is passed through them. The name of St. Agatha occurs in the Canon of the Roman Liturgy. 14. St. Valentine, Bishop and Martyr, A.D. 270.--This Saint assisted B 2 |
