Saints of 16 April

Ss. Callistus, Charisius and companions (Corinth)

At Corinth, the birthday of the holy martyrs Callistus and Charisius, with seven others, who were cast into the sea.

The Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa

At Saragossa, in Spain, the birthday of eighteen holy martyrs, Optatus, Lupercus, Successus, Martial, Urbanus, Julia, Quinctilian, Pubilus, Fronto, Felix, Caecilian, Eventius, Primitivus, Apodemius, and four others, who, it is said, bore the name of Saturninus. Under Dacian, governor of Spain, they were all together subjected to torments and slain. The glory of their martyrdom has been celebrated in verse by Prudentius.

St Encratis

In the same place, St. Encratis, a virgin and martyr who had her body lacerated, her breasts cut off, and her liver plucked out. As she survived these torments, she was confined in a prison until her ulcerated flesh putrefied.

Ss. Caius and Crementius

In the same city, the Saints Caius and Crementius, who twice confessed the faith of Christ, and persevering in it, drank of the chalice of martyrdom.

St Lambert, martyr

Again in the same place, the martyr St. Lambert.

St Turibius of Palencia

At Palencia, St. Turibius, bishop of Astorga, who with the aid of pope St. Leo, drove the heresy of Priscillian entirely out of Spain, and went to rest in the Lord with a great renown for miracles.

St Fructuosus of Braga

At Braga, in Portugal, the bishop St. Fructuosus.

St Paternus, bishop

The same day, St. Paternus, bishop of Avrauches.

St Drogo of Belgium

In Belgium, near Valenciennes, St. Drogo, confessor.

St Joachim of Siena

At Siena, in Tuscany, blessed Joachim, of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

St Benedict Joseph Labre

At Rome, the birthday of St. Benedict Joseph Labre, confessor, who was renowned for his contempt of self and his great voluntary poverty.

St Bernadette Soubirous

At Nevers, St Marie-Bernarde (Bernadette) Soubirous, virgin, to whom the Immaculate Virgin appeared at Lourdes. Canonised 1933.