Saints of 2 August

St Alphonsus

IT Nocera-de-Pagani, St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, bishop of St. Agatha of the Goths, and founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, distinguished by his zeal for the salvation of souls, by his writings, his preaching, and his example. He was inscribed on the calendar of the saints by pope Gregory XVI., in the year 1839, the fifty-second after his happy death, and was declared Doctor of the Universal Church by Pius IX., according to a decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.

St Stephen I, pope and martyr (Rome)

At Rome, in the cemetery of Callistus, the birthday of St. Stephen, pope and martyr. In the persecution of Valerian, the soldiers suddenly entered whilst he was saying Mass, but he remained before the altar and concluded the sacred mysteries with intrepidity, and was beheaded on his throne.

St Theodota of Nyssa

At Nicssa, in Bithynia, the martyrdom of St. Theodota with her three sons. The eldest, named Evodius, confessing Christ with confidence, was first beaten with rods, by order of Nicetius, ex-consul of Bithynia, and then the mother, with all her sons, was consumed by fire.

St Rutilius of Africa

In Africa, St. Rutilius, martyr. He had frequently secured safety from the perils of persecution by flight, and sometimes even by means of money, but at last, being unexpectedly apprehended, he was led to the governor, and subjected to many tortures. Afterwards he was cast into the fire, and thus merited the glorious crown of martyrdom.

St Maximus of Padua

At Padua, St. Maximus, bishop of that city, who ended his blessed life in peace, with a reputation for miracles.

St Peter Julian Eymard

In France, St Peter Julian Eymard, priest, apostle of the Eucharist, founder of the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament. Canonised 1962.