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CALENDAR of the SAINTS
05 February A.D. 2006
Saint Alacrinus of Casamari Saint Apollinaris Syncletica Saint Cera of Kilkeary Saint Charles of Mount Argus Saint Convoyon of Redon Saint Dorotheus the Younger Saint Gaudentius of Gnesen Saint Genoveva Torres Morales Saint Gerlac of Valkenburg Saint John Nepomucene Neumann Saint Kiara Saint Lomer Saint Marcelina Darowska Saint Maria Repetto Saint Martyrs of Egypt
There were many martyrs who suffered in the persecutions of Diocletian in the Thebaid region c. 303. Though we know these innumerable atrocities occured, we do not know the names of the saints. For this reason we are required to honor them as a group. Saint Paula Saint Simeon Stylites Saint Syncletica Saint Talida of Antinoë 
Pope Saint Telesphorus
Pope Saint Telesphorus was a Greek, probably from Calabria, who was pope from c. 125-c. 136. Saint Telesphorus was the seventh Roman bishop in succession from the Apostles, and, according to the testimony of Saint Irenæus (Adv. hæreses, III, iii, 3), suffered a glorious martyrdom.
Pope Saint Telesphorus was a Greek who had been an anchorite. He ruled the Church in the time of Emperor Antoninus Pius. To Pope Saint Telesphorus are attributed some church practices which endure down to this day. According to the "Liber Pontificalis" Pope Saint Telesphorus ordered a fast for seven weeks before Easter. That the Lenten fast goes back even before the time of Telesphorus, Saint Irenaeus gives testimony. But the length of the fast varied considerably in those early days. It is probable enough that Pope Saint Telesphorus did make some regulation as to the length of the Lenten fast. A custom much loved even today is also attributed to Pope Saint Telesphorus. He is said to have ordered that although Mass was not celebrated before the hour of tierce (i.e., 9 to 12 o'clock in the morning) at Christmas time Mass should be celebrated at night. This is the first mention of the beloved midnight Mass. However, scholars doubt whether this decree actually does go back to the time of Pope Saint Telesphorus. Pope Saint Telesphorus is said also to have decreed that the Gloria in excelsis should be sung at the Christmas Mass and only at the Christmas Mass. This magnificent hymn of praise is not said at all Masses even today. As late as the eleventh century, though the Pope could say it oftener, priests were not allowed to say it except at Easter. Pope Saint Telesphorus was buried near St. Peter in the Vatican. His feast is kept on January 5 in the Roman liturgy and February 22 in the Greek.
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