Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints
- Holy Innocents, martyrs
- Antony of Lerins
- Gaspar del Bufalo
The Holy Innocents (first century A.D.) were put to death by King Herod in an effort to destroy the One who was to be born King of the Jews out of fear for his own throne (Matthew 2:16-18). They are venerated as martyrs who died not because of Christ, but instead of Christ, Learn more
St. Gaspar del Bufalo (1786-1837 A.D.) was the founder of the Society of the Precious Blood in 1815 A.D., an order of priests and brothers dedicated to parish ministry, parish missions and other forms of missionary work. They promote devotion to the Precious Blood as a sign of Christ's redemptive love for all humanity. (Pope Pius IX was an early member of the congregation.) St. Gaspar del Bufalo was canonized in 1954 A.D.
December 28 - Saints in the Byzantine Calendar
- 20,000 Martyrs in Nicomedia
- St. Domna, Martyr
The 20,000 Martyrs of Nicomedia refers to victims of persecution of Christians in Nicomedia, Bithynia (modern Izmit, Turkey) by the Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian in the early 4th century A.D.
According to various martyrologies, the persecution included the burning of a church that held numerous Christians on Christmas Day.
The story of their martyrdom began after the Emperor Maximian returned from battle and won against the Ethiopians in 304 A.D. To thank their gods after the victory Maximian acquired, everyone was ordered to sacrifice to idols. The Christians were in the church celebrating Christmas. When the Christians refused to sacrifice to idols, the Emperor Maximian and his soldiers entered the Church and told the Christians that they could escape punishment if they renounce Christ. Since the Christians refused to do so, Maximian ordered the soldiers to kill the priest Glycerius by burning him to death, including all the Christians in the church. Learn more from Wikipedia.org