Saints of 5 December

St Sabas, abbot (Mutala)

At Mutala, in Cappadocia, St. Sabas, abbot, who amples of sanctity. He labored courageously in defending the Catholic faith against those who attacked the holy council of Chalcedon.

St Crispina of Theveste

At Thebesta, in Africa, during the time of Diocletian and Maximian, St. Chrispina, a woman of the highest nobility, who refused to sacrifice to idols, and was beheaded by order of the proconsul Anolinus. Her praises are often celebrated by St. Augustine.

Ss. Julius, Potamia, Crispinus, Felix, Gratus

At Thagura, in Africa, the holy martyrs Julius, Potamia, Crispinus, Felix, Gratus, and seven others.

St Bassus of Nicaea

At Nicaea, near the river Var, St. Bassus, bishop. In the persecution of Deems and Valerian, he was tortured by the governor Perennius for the faith of Christ, burned with hot plates of metal, beaten with rods and whips garnished with pieces of iron, and thrown into the fire. Having come out of it unhurt, he was transfixed with two spikes, and thus terminated an illustrious martyrdom.

St Dalmatius of Pavia

At Pavia, St. Dalmatius, bishop and martyr,. who suffered in the persecution of Maximian.

St Pelinus of Pelino

At Pelino, in Abruzzo, St. Pelinus, bishop of Brindisi. Under Julian the Apostate, because by his prayers he caused a temple of Mars to fall to the ground, he was most severely scourged by the idolatrous priests, and being pierced with eighty-five wounds, merited the crown of martyrdom.

St Anastasius, martyr

Also, St. Anastasius, martyr, who, thirsting for martyrdom, voluntarily offered himself to the persecutors.

St Nicetius of Trier

At Treves, St. Nicetius, bishop, a man of great sanctity.

St John of Polybotum

At Polybotum, in Asia, St. John, bishop, surnamed Wonder-worker.