June 1^st

This Day, the First Day of June

Memorial of Saint Justin, martyr, who, a philosopher, followed wholly the true wisdom recognized in the truth of Christ, and affirmed it by his conduct, taught what he affirmed, defended it by writings, and fulfilled it with death at Rome under the emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus. For when he had presented an Apology on behalf of the Christian religion to the emperor and had been handed over before the prefect Rusticus, he professed himself to be a Christian and was condemned to death by beheading.

2.  In the same place, the Saints Chariton and Charites, Evelpistus and Hierax, Peonus and Liberianus, martyrs, who, disciples of the same Justin, together with him received the glorious crown.

3.  At Alexandria in Egypt, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, soldiers, and Theophilus, an old man, who, standing by the tribunals, when a certain Christian, placed under torture, was faltering and almost inclined to deny, attempted to strengthen him by look, eye, and gesture. And when, for this reason, a cry of the whole crowd rose up against them, rushing into the midst they declared that they were Christians; through whose victory Christ, who had given to His own that steadfastness of soul, triumphed most gloriously.

4.  Likewise at Lycopolis in Egypt, the holy martyrs Ischyrion, a military commander, and five other soldiers, who, by order of the prefect Arrianus under the emperor Decius, were slain by various kinds of death for the faith of Christ.

5.  At Bologna in Emilia, Saint Proculus, martyr, who for Christian truth was pierced with nails from wooden beams.

6.  At Montefalco in Umbria, Saint Fortunatus, priest, who, as is reported, poor himself, aided the poor by constant labor and gave his life for his brethren.

7.  On the island of Lérins in Provence, Saint Caprasius, hermit, who withdrew there with Saint Honoratus and began the monastic life.

8.  At Clermont in Aquitaine, Saint Florus, from whom the monastery raised over his tomb took its name, as well as the city and episcopal see.

9.  In Brittany, Saint Ronan, bishop, who crossed over from Ireland and led an eremitical life in the woods.

10.  In the region of Leicester in England, Saint Wistan, martyr, who, of the royal lineage of the Mercians, because he opposed the incestuous marriage of his mother the regent, was killed by the sword of a tyrant.

11.  At Trier in Rhenish Lorraine, Saint Simeon, who, born of a Greek father at Syracuse, after living an eremitical life at Bethlehem and Mount Sinai and journeying far, at length died enclosed in a tower of the Black Gate of the city.

12.  In the monastery of Onia in the territory of Burgos in the region of Castile in Spain, Saint Eneco, abbot, a man of peace, whom even Jews and Moors wept over when he died.

13.  At Alba Pompeia in the Subalpine region, blessed Theobald, who, moved by love of poverty, gave all his money to a widow and, becoming a porter, bore the burdens of others with humility.

14.  At Urbino in Picenum of Italy, blessed John Pelingotto, of the Third Order of Saint Francis, who, a merchant, enriched others more than himself and left his cell only to aid the poor and sick.

15.  At London in England, blessed John Storey, martyr, who, a lawyer and most faithful to the Roman Pontiff, after imprisonment and exile was condemned to death because of the Catholic faith and passed to eternal joys at Tyburn by the torments of hanging.

16.  At Omura in Japan, the blessed martyrs Alphonsus Navarrete, of the Order of Preachers, Ferdinand of Saint Joseph de Ayala, of the Order of Hermits of Saint Augustine, priests, and Leo Tanaka, religious of the Society of Jesus, who, in hatred of the Christian faith, by edict of the supreme ruler Hidetada, were beheaded together.

17.  On a prison ship anchored off the port of Rochefort in France, blessed John Baptist Vernoy de Montjournal, priest and martyr, who, a canon of Moulins, was condemned during the troubles in France to imprisonment aboard ship because of his priesthood, and died worn out by disease.

18.  In the city of Hung Yen in Tonkin, Saint Joseph Tue, martyr, who, a young farmer, having refused to trample upon the cross, was imprisoned and tortured many times, and finally under the emperor Tu Duc was beheaded.

19.  At Piacenza in Italy, blessed John Baptist Scalabrini, bishop, who gave many kinds of service to this Church, was outstanding in his care for priests, farmers, and workers, but above all devoted special attention to migrants to the American states, for whom he founded the Pious Societies of the Sacred Heart.

20.  At Messina in Sicily of Italy, Saint Hannibal Mary Di Francia, priest, who founded the Congregations of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus and the Daughters of Divine Zeal, to pray the Lord to send holy priests to His Church, and expended great care on orphans, extending the merciful hands of God to the poor.