DECEMBER 14, 2025 – ST. NICASIUS, ARCHBISHOP, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS.
- St. John of the Cross (1591). Doctor of the Church, Priest. (Current)
- St. Venantius Fortunatus (605). Bishop. (Historical)
- Sts. Nicasius (Bishop) and Eutropia (449). (Historical)
IN the fifth century an army of barbarians from Germany ravaging part of Gaul, plundered the city of Rheims. Nicasius, the holy bishop, had foretold this calamity to his flock. When he saw the enemy at the gates and in the streets, forgetting himself, and solicitous only for his spiritual children, he went from door to door encouraging all to patience and constancy, and awaking in every breast the most heroic sentiments of piety and religion. In endeavoring to save the lives of his flock, he exposed himself to the swords of the infidels, who, after a thousand insults and indignities, cut off his head. Florens, his deacon, and Jocond, his lector, were massacred by his side. His sister Eutropia, a virtuous virgin, fearing she might be reserved for a fate worse than death, boldly cried out to the infidels, that it was her unalterable resolution rather to sacrifice her life than her faith or her integrity and virtue. Upon which they despatched her with their cutlasses.
REFLECTION: Bear patiently and sweetly bodily sufferings, and prepare for the day of trial by the courageous endurance of the daily crosses incident to your state.
WORD OF THE DAY
AUREOLA. The special reward in heaven for three classes of persons who struggled and won victories on earth in their service of God. The aureola is given to virgins for their victory over the flesh (Revelation 14:4); to martyrs for their victory over the world (Matthew 5:11-12); and to faithful teachers of the truth for their victory over the devil, the father of lies (Daniel 12:3; Matthew 5:19). The essential feature of the aureola is the distinctive enjoyment for having conquered the enemies of human salvation. (Etym. Latin aureola, corona, a golden wreath or halo; from aurum, gold.)
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!)
Advent & The Great Truths
Advent: Short Meditations and The Great Truths Day 18 (Dec. 14) The Uncertainty of His Coming & Venial Sin (Advent Meditation)
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