• St. Clare of Assisi (1253). Founder or Foundress, Virgin. (Current) Foundress of the Poor Clares
• St. Philomena (304). Martyr, Virgin. (Historical) “The Wonder Worker”
• Sts. Tiburtius & Susanna (295). (Traditional)

GRESTIUS CHROMATIUS was vicar to the prefect of Rome, and had condemned several martyrs in the reign of Carinus; and in the first years of Diocletian, St. Tranquillinus, being brought before him, assured him that, having been afflicted with the gout, he had recovered a perfect state of health by being baptized. Chromatius was troubled with the same distemper, and being convinced by this miracle of the truth of the Gospel, sent for a priest, and, receiving the sacrament of baptism, was freed from that corporal infirmity. Chromatius’s son, Tiburtius, was ordained subdeacon, and was soon after betrayed to the persecutors, condemned to many torments, and at length beheaded on the Lavican Road, three miles from Rome, where a church was afterward built. His father, Chromatius, retiring into the country, lived there concealed, in the fervent practice of all Christian virtues.

ST. SUSANNA was nobly born in Rome, and is said to have been niece to Pope Caius. Having made a vow of virginity, she refused to marry, on which account she was impeached as a Christian, and suffered with heroic constancy a cruel martyrdom. St. Susanna suffered towards the beginning of Diocletian’s reign, about the year 295.

REFLECTION: Sufferings were to the martyrs the most distinguishing mercy, extraordinary graces, and sources of the greatest crowns and glory. All afflictions which God sends are in like manner the greatest mercies and blessings; they are the most precious talents to be improved by us to the increasing of our love and affection to God, and the exercise of the most heroic virtues of self-denial, patience, humility, resignation, and penance.

WORD OF THE DAY

HUMANAE PERSONAE DIGNITATEM. Document published by the Vatican Secretariat for Unbelievers. Its purpose is to give general principles and particular norms for Catholics who engage in private or public dialogue with unbelievers, e.g., Communist Marxists. Among the specific norms the most practical one affects public dialogues, which may be either unofficial or official, as organized by ecclesiastical authorities. Regarding the latter, "it is only rarely that conditions exist in which such dialogue can take place between Christians and unbelievers." Unofficial discussions require, above all, that the Catholic representatives "be expert in doctrine, have moral integrity, and be good speakers" (August 28, 1968).

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)