blius, Abbot near Zeugma, upon the
Euphrates...................................... 222

26.
St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr........... 223
St. Paula, Widow................................. 229
St. Conon, Bishop of the Isle of Man............. 232

27.
St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of
Constantinople.................................. 233
On the Writings of that Father................... 252
St. Julian, First Bishop of Mans, Confessor...... 275
St. Marius, Abbot................................ 275

28.
Commemoration of St. Agnes....................... 276
St. Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria............... 276
On the Writings of that Father................... 279
St. Thyrsus, St. Leucius, and St. Callinicus,
Martyrs........................................ 283
St. John of Reomay, Abbot........................ 283
B. Margaret, Princess of Hungary, Virgin......... 284
St. Paulinus, Patriarch of Aquileia, Confessor... 284
B. Charlemagne, Emperor.......................... 287
St. Glastian, Bishop and Confessor in Scotland... 289

29.

St. Francis of Sales, Bishop and Confessor....... 289
St. Sulpicius Severus............................ 303
On the Writings of that Saint.................... 305
St. Gildas the Wise, or Badonicus, Abbot,
Native of England ............................ 306
St. Gildas the Albanian, or the Scot, Confessor.. 310

30.
St. Bathildes, Queen of France................... 310
St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr................... 312
St. Aldegondes, Virgin and Abbess................ 313
St. Barsimaeus, Bishop and Martyr................. 313

31.
St. Peter Nolasco, Confessor..................... 314
St. Serapion, Martyr in England.................. 317
St. Cyrus and St. John, Martyrs.................. 317
St. Marcella, Widow.............................. 318
St. Maidoc, or Maodhog, Bishop of Ferns in
Ireland........................................ 318

{059}

JANUARY I.

THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD[1]

CIRCUMCISION was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal
observance required by Almighty God of that people, which he had chosen
preferably to all the nations of the earth to be the depositary of his
revealed truths.--These were the descendants of Abraham, whom he had
enjoined it, under the strictest penalties,[2] several hundred years
before the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai; and this on two
several accounts: First, as a distinguishing mark between th