Catholic Fire

Marcellinus and Peter are two Roman martyrs who suffered under the Diocletian persecution, about the year 303; the first was a priest, the second an exorcist. Their names are mentioned in the Canon of the Mass (Eucharistic Prayer I). They were beheaded in a grove, but their bodies were were moved and buried in the cemetery Ad duas Lsuros on the Via Labicana. Once peace had been restored, the Church built a basilica over their tombs. Pope St. Damasus reported that he heard the story of these two martyrs from their executioner converted to Christianity after their deaths. According to a legendary account of their martyrdom, the two saw their imprisonment as just one more opportunity to evangelize and managed to convert their jailer and his family. ~ Via Catholic Culture.

Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs Today in Catholic History: 553 The Second Council of Constantinople closed. 1536 Pope Paul III (1468–1549; pope 1534–1549) called for a general council at Mantua, Italy. 1537 Pope Paul III said that the Indians of the Americas may not be enslaved, but under pressure from the colonists he soon withdrew the bull Sublimis Dei . 1979 Pope John Paul II (1920–2005) made a return trip to his home country of Poland, the first visit of a pope to a Communist country. History Highlight of the Day: 1953 Queen Elizabeth II is crowned. Birthdays: 1731 Martha Washington, first First Lady of the U.S 1840 Thomas Hardy, writer/poet ("The Return of the Native") 1944 Marvin Hamlisch, composer ("The Way We Were", "Through the Eyes of Love", "Nobody Does It Better") 1948 Jerry Mathers, actor (Beaver from "Leave It to Beaver") 1960 Kyle Petty, NASCAR drive...