Daily Martyrology for October 17

About 105, in Rome, St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch. He was arrested and sent to Rome to be executed. On the way, he was welcomed by members of various churches and wrote seven surviving letters. One letter to the church of Rome asked Christians there not to interfere with his impending martyrdom. In his other letters, addressed to churches in Asia Minor, he urged unity with the bishop and in the Eucharist and stressed the reality of Christ’s humanity and divinity. He told the Ephesians, “You are all bearers of God, bearers of his temple, bearers of Christ, and so you are adorned with no other ornament than the counsels of Jesus Christ.”

In 409, in the Egyptian Desert, St. John Kolobos (“The Dwarf”). He was formed in monastic life at Skete under the Abba Ammoes, and when the latter became feeble, John cared for him for twelve years. Later John moved to Nitria and formed a community of disciples. John taught that a monk should stay in his cell, keep God ever before his mind, and discipline his feelings and inclinations.

In 1794, at Valenciennes, eleven Ursuline sisters, who were guillotined for operating a Catholic school.

In the same year, at Laval, nineteen priests and religious, who were among hundreds executed in that region for their faith.

Previous Day   |   Next Day   |   Pick a Day...

Our daily martyrology was written by Fr. Hugh Feiss, OSB. Copyright © 2008 by the Monastery of the Ascension, Jerome, ID 83338.