Page 58 - Saints of the Month: February

Saints of the Month: February

under Claudius II. He was apprehended, and
sent by the emperor to the prefect of Rome,
who, on finding all his promises to make him
renounce his faith ineffectual, commanded
him to be beaten with clubs, and afterward
to be beheaded, which was executed on the
14th of February, about the year 270. Pope
Julius I, is said to have built a church near
Ponte Mole to his memory, which for a long
time gave name to the gate now called Porta
del Popolo, formerly Porta Valentini. The
greater part of his relics are now in the
Church of St. Praxedes. To abolish the
heathens’ lewd superstitious custom of boys
‘ drawing the names of girls, in honor of
their goddess Februata Juno, on the 15th of
this month, several zealous pastors
substituted the names of Saints in billets
given on this day.

Reflection.—In the cause of justice and
truth, prudence should not be held in
account; otherwise prudence is mere human
respect. St. Paul says: “The wisdom of the
flesh is death.”

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