CONTENTS.

Approbation 10

Notice 11

VICTORIES OF THE MARTYRS.

Introduction. — Useful reflections by which we may derive great fruit from the reading of the combats and the victories of the martyrs. I. Virtues practised by the holy martyrs in the combats that they had to sustain against their persecutors, 23. II. The advantages of devout meditation on the virtues that the martyrs practised during their sufferings, 34. Prayer to the holy martyrs to obtain their protection, 40. III. The various tortures to which the martyrs were subjected, 41.

Preface 45

PART I.

MARTYRS OF THE FIRST AGES.

I. St. Ignatius, bishop of Antioch 49

II. SS. Julitta, and Quiricus, her son 54

III. St. Vincent, deacon 57

IV. SS. Agricola and Vitalis of Bologna 62

V. St. Vitalis of Ravenna 64

VI. St. Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna 66

VII. SS. Theodora, virgin, and Didymus 70

VIII. SS. Philip, bishop of Heraclea, and his two companions, Severus and Hermes 74

IX. St. James, surnamed Intercisus 80

X. St. Afra, penitent 82

XI. St. Sabinus, bishop of Spoleto, and his companions. 87

XII. St. Euplius, deacon 90

XIII. St. Theodotus, vintner 92

XIV. SS. Trypho and Respicius 97

XV. SS. Romanus, deacon, and Barillas, the infant martyr, 100

XVI. St. Crispina 106

XVII. SS. Dionysia, Majoricus, her son, and other holy martyrs or confessors in the persecution raised in Africa by the Vandals. 108

XVIII. SS. Phileas, bishop of Thmuis, and Philoromus, tribune 112

XIX. St. Dionysia, virgin, with SS. Andrew and Paul of Lampsacus 116

XX. St. Febronia, virgin 118

XXI. St. Arcadius 121

XXII. St. Justin, philosopher 123

XXIII. St. Agatha, virgin 131

XXIV. SS. John Chrysostom, archbishop of Constantinople; Tygrius, priest; and Eutropius, lector 134

XXV. St. Pionius, priest 141

XXVI. St. Adalbert, bishop of Prague 145

XXVII. SS. James, deacon ; Marianus, lector; and companions 148

XXVIII. St. Lucy, virgin 152

XXIX. SS. Theodorus and Nicholas, abbots of Studius 156

XXX. SS. Eulalia and Julia, virgins 160

XXXI. St. Pollio, lector 163

XXXII. SS. Apian and AEdesius, brothers 164

XXXIII. St. Gordius, centurion 167

XXXIV. SS. Chrysogonus, priest, and Anastasia, widow 169

XXXV. SS. Fructuosus, bishop of Tarragona, and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius 175

XXXVI. St. Irenaeus, bishop of Sirmium 178

XXXVII. SS. Cecilia, virgin ; Valerian, her husband ; Tiburtius, her brother-in-law; and Maximus, officer 182

XXXVIII. St. Agnes, virgin 189

XXXIX. SS. Simeon, archbishop of Seleucia; Usthazades and and Pusikius; and their companions 193

XL. SS. Lucius, Montanus, Flavian, and their companions, disciples of St. Cyprian 197

XLI. SS. Epipodius and Alexander of Lyons 200

XLII. St. Leo of Patara. 204

XLIII. St. Basil of Ancyra, priest 207

XLIV. SS. Pothinus, bishop of Lyons ; Sanctus, deacon ; Alexander, physician; Veitius Epagathus, Maturus, Attalus of Pergamus, Biblis, Blandina, and their companions 213

XLV. St. Alban, first martyr of Great Britain 217

XLVI. St. Peter of Lampsacus 219

XLVII. St. Cyril, child 219

XLVIII. SS. Potamiena, virgin; Marcella, her mother; and Basilides, soldier 221

XLIX. SS. Nicander and Marcian, soldiers 223

L. St. Gallican, a Roman general, with SS. John and Paul, officers 226

LI. St. Theodore of Amasea, called the young soldier. 229

LII. SS. Perpetua and Felicitas of Carthage, with SS. Revocatus, Saturninus, Secundulus, and Saturus 232

LIII. SS. George, deacon ; Aurelius, Natalia, Felix, Liliosa of Corduba 236

LIV. SS. Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus, martyred in Cilicia 240

LV. St. Quirinus, bishop of Siscia 247

LVI. St. Blase, bishop of Sebaste 250

LVII. SS. Anastasia, virgin, and Cyril of Rome 254

LVIII. SS. Victor, officer; Alexander, Felicianus, Longinus, soldiers, of Marseilles 257

LIX. SS. Peter, Dorotheus, and Gorgonius, chamberlains. 261

LX. SS. Timothy, lector, and Maura, his wife 263

LXI. SS. Sixtus II., Pope ; Laurence, deacon ; Romanus, soldier 265

LXII. St. Sebastian, officer; and the two brothers, Marcus and Marcellianus 270

LXIII. SS. Cyriacus, Largus, and Smaragdus 272

LXIV. SS. Mammas ; Theodotus, his father ; Rufina, his mother; and Amya 275

LXV. SS. Januarius, bishop of Benevento ; Sosius, Proculus, Festus, deacons ; Didier, lector ; Eutychius, Acutius 280

LXVI. SS. Faith, virgin, Caprais, Primus, and Felician 288

LXVII. St. Genesius, comedian 291

LXVIII. St. Hippolytus, priest 293

LXIX. St. Symphorian 296

LXX. SS. Bonosius and Maximilian, officers 298

LXXI. SS. Liberatus, abbot; Boniface, deacon; Servus, Rusticus, subdeacons; Rogatus, Septimus, and Maximus, religious, 301

LXXII. SS. Seraphia, virgin, and Sabina, widow 303

LXXIII. SS. Cyprian, magician, and Justina, virgin 306

LXXIV. SS. Hermolaus, priest; and Pantaleon, physician. 308

LXXV. St. Felix, bishop of Abbir, and other holy martyrs and confessors of the Vandalic persecution 311

PART II.

THE MARTYRS OF JAPAN

Notice 315

I. Miraculous cross found near Arima. Persecution in the Kingdom of Bungo. Joram Macama. Courage of the Christians 316

II. Persecution by the Emperor Taicosama. Great zeal of the Christians. Twenty-six martyrs crucified at Nangasaki 319

III. Persecution in the Kingdom of Fingo. John Minami ; Magdalen, his wife, and Louis, their adopted son; with Simon Taquenda; Jane, his mother; and Agnes, his wife 329

IV. Persecution in the Kingdom of Saxuma and d'Amanguchi. James Sacoiama, Melchior Bugendono, Damian, the blind man. Leon Xiquemon 336

V. New persecution in Fingo. Joachim Girozaiemo, Michael Faciemon and his son Thomas, John Tingoro and his son Peter 341

VI. Persecution in the Kingdom of Firando. Caspar Nixiguenca; Ursula, his wife; and John, their son. 343

VII. Death of the King of Arima and persecution raised by his son. Thomas Onda and his family. Francis and Matthew, young princes. Eight martyrs burnt alive. The tyrant punished 345

VIII. General persecution ordered by the Emperor Daifusama. Firmness of the Christians of Meaco 355

IX. Persecution in the Kingdoms of Aqui and Bungo. Benedict, a converted bonze. Two families that were put to the test. Michael; Lin, his brother; and Maxentia, his wife 356

X. Joachim and Thomas of Facata. Adam of the Island of Xiqui. Paul of the Kingdom of Jamaxiro 361

XI. Persecution at Nangasaki and at Omura. Brother Leonard Guimura and his companions. Lin Toiemon. 363

XII. In the Kingdom of Bungo, James Faito, Balthasar and his son James 366

XIII. Fifty-two martyrs burnt alive at Meaco 368

XIV. Ignatius Xiquiemon, martyred at Fucimo. Conversion of a bonze who had led a bad life. Matthias, of the Kingdom of Arima 371

XV. Simon Bocusai and his companions, in Bungo. John Ciu and Joseph Ito, at Nangasaki. Leo Nonda, in Fingo 374

XVI. Persecution in the Kingdom of Oxu. A father reclaimed by the example of his child. Joachim and Ann of Mizusama 376

XVII. Great execution at Nangasaki. Justa, her daughter Mary, and her daughter-in-law Agatha. Paul Gazaiemon. Constancy of a child 379

XVIII. Many victims of the persecution at Jedo. Mary Jagesa and her companions. Massacre of children. 383

XIX. Francis Sintaro and Matthias Squiraiemon at Firoxima. John Cuffroi in the Kingdom of Zio 384

XX. In the island of Nancaia, Isabella, mother of Damian, and his family; Mary, widow of John Sucamota, and his four sons 387

XXI. In the Kingdom of Firando, Michael Fiemon and his family 389

XXII. Five religious burnt alive at Omura. Leo Misaqui and his three sons, at Bungo 391

XXIII. Caius and James Coici, burnt at Omura 393

XXIV. Organtin Tanxu, and Lucy, his wife, burnt at Funai. 395

XXV. Monica Oiva, killed by her relatives at Cubota. Thirty-two martyrs burnt alive 396

XXVI. Peter Cabioie and Susanna, John Naisen and Monica, young Louis, and their companions, executed at Nangasaki 398

XXVII. Frightful persecution in the Kingdom of Arima. Joachim Minesuiedai, Caspar Nagaiosan, Louis Xinsaburo, John Tempei, Bartholomew Sanuiemon, Simon Keisaiemon, Paul Uchibori, Leonard Massudadeuzo, and their companions 401

XXVIII. Persecution in the principality of Jonezava. Louis Yemondono and his family, Paul Xiquibu, Anthony Anazava, and their companions 413

XXIX. Persecution pushed to the last degree of violence at Nangasaki. Isabella and Simeon. Father Anthony Iscida 419

XXX. James Cufioie; Mary, his mother; Leo Tasuque, his father-in-law; and his family 423

XXXI. Extreme cruelties exercised in the Kingdom of Arima. Thomas Quichibioie and his companions. Remarkable punishment of the tyrant 426

XXXII. Last efforts of the missionaries. Father Sebastian Vieyra. End of the mission 428

Conclusion 433

Hymns 435

On the tomb of Alexander the Great, 435. Eternal Maxims, 436. Paraphrase on the words of St. Aloysius, 438. Affections to Jesus and to Mary, 439. Lines sung during the missions 440

Canxoncine Spirituali. 443

Sopra la Sepoltura d' Alessandro il Grande, 443. Sopra le Massime Eteme, 443. Cansoncina di San Luigi Gonzaga, 445. Affettiverso Gesu Sacramentato 446

Appendix: Japan and the Holy See 447

Table of the Holy Martyrs according to the order in which they are given in the calendar 467

Chronological Table for Part I 471

Alphabetical Index 475