[Roman Martyrology on October 15th, that being, as Baronius conjectures, the commemoration of a translation of the relics, as it is certain that S. Bruno died on Feb. 14th. Authority:—His life by his kinsman Ditmar, bishop of Merseburg, in his Chronicles, lib. 6; and mention by Marianus Scotus, and other chroniclers of Germany.]
The Sclavonic races in Prussia were some of the last to receive Christianity in Germany. S. Adalbert, bishop of Prague, had gone amongst the Lithuanians and Prussians, bearing the gospel, and, in 997, had fallen a victim to his zeal. Probably obeying the call of S. Adalbert, Bruno, a monk of Magdeburg, a man of good education, and kinsman to Ditmar, bishop of Merseburg, went on the mission to these heathen. Boleslas, king of Poland, sent, urging his coming, and, after having visited Merseburg, where he received episcopal ordination, Bruno, with many companions, entered on his apostolic mission. But the Pagans refused to hear the word of salvation, and, falling on the little band, hacked off Bruno's hands and feet, and put to death with him eighteen men who accompanied him.
[42] See January 5th.
February 15.
- SS. Faustinus, P., and Jovita, D., MM. at Brescia, a.d. 120.
- SS. Crato, his Wife and Servants, MM. at Rome, circ. a.d. 273.
- S. Agape, V. M. at Teramo, in Umbria, circ. a.d. 273.
- S. Eusebius, H. in Syria, after a.d. 400.
- S. Georgia, V. at Clermont.
- S. Severus, P. in Valeria, circ. a.d. 530.
- S. Quinidius, B. of Vaison in Vaucluse, circ. a.d. 578.
- S. Berach, B. Ab. in Ireland, circ. a.d. 615.
- S. Faustus, Monk, O. S. B.; circ. a.d. 607.
- S. Walfrid, Ab. of Monte Virido, circ. a.d. 765.
- S. Sigfried, B., Ap. of Sweden, circ. a.d. 1045.
SS. FAUSTINUS, P., AND JOVITA, D., MM.
(A.D. 120.)
[Roman Martyrology, and those of Bede, Usuardus, and others; but Usuardus, misled by the name, makes Jovita a virgin martyr. Three different versions of their Acts are published by Bollandus. None of these are the original.]
