Saints of 31 January

St Peter Nolasco, confessor (Barcelona)

At Barcelona, in Spain, St. Peter Nolasco, confessor, who slept in the Lord on the 25th of December.

Ss. Cyrus and John

At Rome, on the road to Ostia, the holy martyrs Cyrus and John, who were beheaded after suffering many torments for the name of Christ.

St Metran of Alexandria

At Alexandria, in the time of the emperor Decius, the birthday of St. Metran, martyr, who, because he refused to utter blasphemous words at the bidding of the Pagans, was scourged until he was covered with bruises, and pierced through the face and eyes with sharp-pointed reeds. He was then driven out of the city, overwhelmed with stones and killed.

Ss. Saturninus, Thyrsus and Victor

In the same place, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Thyrsus and Victor.

Ss. Tharsicius, Zoticus, Cyriacus

In the same city, the holy martyrs Tharsicius, Zoticus, Cyriacus, and their companions.

St Triphenes of Cyzicus

At Cyzicum, in Hellespont, St. Triphenes, martyr, who overcame various torments, but was finally killed by a bull, and thus merited the palm of martyrdom.

St Geminian of Modena

At Modena, St. Geminian, bishop, made illustrious by his miracles.

St Julius, priest

In the province of Milan, St. Julius, priest and confessor, in the reign of the emperor Theodosius.

St Marcella of Rome

At Borne, St. Marcella, a widow, whose meritorious deeds are related by St. Jerome.

Bl. Louisa Albertoni

In the same place, blessed Louisa Albert onia, a Roman widow, of the Third Order of St. Francis, distinguished for her virtues.

St Mark

The same day, the translation of the evangelist St. Mark, when his sacred body was brought from the city of Alexandria, in Egypt, then occupied by barbarians, to Venice, and with the greatest honors placed in the large church dedicated to his name.

St John Bosco

At Turin, St John Bosco, priest, father and teacher of the young, founder of the Salesian Society. Canonised 1934.