JULY 10TH, SEVEN HOLY BROTHERS AND SS. RUFINA & SECUNDA, VIRGINS, MARTYRS

Month in honor of the Most Precious Blood of OLJC.

From the Roman Breviary —

In the persecution at Rome under Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, there were seven brethren, sons of the holy woman Felicity, whom the Prefect Publius first essayed to cajole by kindness, and then to shake by fear, to deny Christ and worship the gods but, by their own bravery and the exhortation of their mother, they remained firm in their confession, and were all put to death in diverse ways. Januarius was lashed to death with whips loaded with lead Felix and Philip were beaten to death with cudgels Silvanus was thrown over a precipice Alexander, Vitalis, and Martial were beheaded. Their mother gained the same palm of martyrdom four months afterwards. The seven Brethren gave up their souls to God upon the 10th day of July. The virgin sisters, Rufina and Secunda, were Romans. Their parents had betrothed them to Armentarius and Verinus, but they both consecrated their virginity by vow to Christ, and refused marriage. They were arrested in the reign of the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus. The Praefect Junius failed to change their minds either by promises or threats, and then ordered Rufina to be scourged. While the lashing was going on, Secunda said to the Judge Why dost thou judge my sister to honour and me to dishonour Be pleased to whip us both together, for we both together declare that Christ is God. The Judge was angered at these words, and ordered them both to a dark and stinking dungeon but it was presently filled with a bright light and a sweet savour. They were then shut up in a hot flue of a bath, but they came forth from it unharmed. Stones were next tied to their necks and they were cast into the river Tiber, but an Angel delivered them therefrom. In the end they were beheaded on the Aurelian Way, at the tenth mile-stone from the city. The Lady Plautilla buried their bodies upon her own farm, but they were afterwards brought into the city, and laid in the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Saviour, hard by the Baptistery.