Saints of 20 December

St Thomas

The vigil of St. Thomas, apostle.

Ss. Liberatus and Bajulus

At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and Bajulus.

Ss. Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus

At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers, who, standing near the tribunals, and seeing a Christian trembling under the torture and almost on the point of apostatizing, endeavored to encourage him by their looks and by signs, and when for this reason the whole people raised an outcry against them, they rushed forward, and declared themselves Christians. By their victory, Christ, who had given to them such fortitude, triumphed most gloriously.

St Julius of Gelduba

At Gelduba, St. Julius, martyr.

Ss. Eugene and Macarius

In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and Macarius, priests. For reproving Julian the Apostate for his impiety, they received a most severe scourging, were banished to a vast desert, and finally were put to the sword.

St Philogonius of Antioch

At Antioch, the birthday of St. Philogonius, bishop, who was called by the will of God from the practice of law to the government of that church. With the saintly bishop Alexander and other auxiliaries, he engaged the first combat for the Catholic faith against Arius, and, being renowned for merits, rested in the Lord. His festival was commemorated by St. John Chrysostom with an excellent panegyric.

St Dominic of Brescia

At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor.

St Dominic de Sylos

In Spain, the departure from this world of St. Dominic de Sylos, abbot, of the Order of St. Benedict, most renowned for the miracles he wrought for the deliverance of captives.