John B. Manos

Twin doctors, trained in Syria, heal everyone and charge no one. Loved for their charity, they are too famous to hide when Diocletian’s persecution begins.

A pagan nobleman hires the city’s magician to break a Christian virgin. Prayer outranks the spells. Both suitor and sorcerer convert; both saints keep the same feast.

Firmin leaves Navarre with the Gospel, plants a church at Amiens, and takes the martyr’s crown there—Decius or Diocletian, the date is cloudy, the blood is not. Lochan of Connaught founds a school at Lough Eirc; the crowd turns a desert into Cork, built on stakes in the marsh. They called him Barr the White.

Mercedarians collect alms—and sometimes offer their own freedom—to buy captives back. The feast thanks the Virgin who told them not to be afraid.

Thecla hears Paul at Iconium, forgets her beauty and her betrothed, and follows the Apostle. Theatre, lions, and fire all fail before her Spouse calls her home.

Six thousand Thebans march into Gaul loyal to emperor and God, then refuse the order to kill Christians. Decimated twice, they still will not lift a sword.

Jesus walks by the customs booth, says “Follow Me,” and Matthew leaves the ledger on the table. The Pharisees hate the guest list at the feast that follows.

Trajan restores his command and his honors, then demands incense to the gods. Lions only frolic. The family goes to God together rather than bow.

Diocletian takes his head; the Church keeps the blood. Brought near the martyr’s relics, the vials melt and flow as if a living man were in them.