Saints of 19 October

St Peter of Alcantara

At Arenas, in Spain, St. Peter of Alcantara, confessor, of the Order of Minorites, who was cononized by Clement IX. on account of his admirable penance and many miracles.

Ss. Ptolemy and Lucius

At Rome, the birthday of the holy martyrs Ptolemy and Lucius, under Marcus Antoninus. The former, as we learn from the martyr Justin, having converted an immodest woman to the faith of Christ, and taught her to practise chastity, was accused by a profligate man before the prefect Urbicius, and condemned to languish a long time in a filthy dungeon. At length, as he declared by a public confession that Christ was his master, he was led to execution. Lucius disapproving the sentence of Urbicius, and avowing freely that he was a Christian, received the same sentence. To them was added a third, who was condemned to suffer a like punishment.

Ss. Beronicus, Pelagia and companions (Antioch)

At Antioch, the holy martyrs Beronicus, the virgin Pelagia and forty-nine others.

St Varus of Egypt

In Egypt, St. Varus, soldier, under the emperor Maximinus. He used to visit and comfort seven saintly monks detained in prison, when one of them happening to die, he wished to take his place, and having suffered with them cruel afflictions, he obtained the palm of martyrdom.

St Aquilinus of Évreux

At Evreux, St. Aquilinus, bishop and confessor.

St Veranus, bishop

In the diocese of Orleans, the departure from this world of St. Veranus, bishop.

St Eusterius of Salerno

At Salerno, St. Eusterius, bishop.

St Ethbin of Ireland

In Ireland, St. Ethbin, abbot.

St Frideswide, virgin (Oxford)

At Oxford, in England, St. Frideswide, virgin.

Ss. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues and Companions

In North America, the holy martyrs John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, priests of the Society of Jesus, and their six companions. Canonised 1930.