Saints of the Day – 22 August – St Timothy and Companions – they were + St Hippolytus of Porto and + St Symphorian of Autun. The three died at different times in different places but all on the same date, that is, 22 August – Martyrs.
The Roman Martyrology reads of these three today:
St Timothy – “At Rome, on the Ostian road, the birthday of the holy Martyr, Timothy. After he had been arrested by Tarquinius, Prefect of the City and kept for a long time in prison, as he refused to sacrifice to the idols, he was scourged three times, subjected to the most severe torments and finally beheaded.”
St Hippolytus – “At Porto, St Hippolytus, Bishop, most renowned for learning. Having gloriously confessed the Faith, in the time of the Emperor Alexander, he was bound hand and foot, precipitated into a deep ditch filled with water and thus received the Palm of Martyrdom. His body was buried by the Christians at that place.”
St Symphorian – “At Autun, St Symphorian, a Martyr in the time of the Emperor, Aurelian. Refusing to offer sacrifices to the idols, he was first scourged then confined in prison and finally ended his Martyrdom by being beheaded.”
The Martyrdom of Saint Symphorian, by Jean-Auguste-Dominique IngresTimothy (Timotheus), Hippolytus of Rome and Symphorian (Symphorianus, Symphorien), are three Martyrs who, although they were unrelated and were Martyred in different places and at different times, shared a common Feast day in the General Roman Calendar from at least the 1568 Tridentine calendar to the Mysterii Paschali (i.e. Paul VI – Vatican II).
Timothy of Antioch came to Rome in 310 and was Martyred in 311. He was cruelly beaten and quicklime was sprinkled over his torn flesh. At last he was beheaded.
On the same date at Ostia, Hippolytus, Bishop of Porto, was thrown into a hole filled with water and received the Crown of Martyrdom about 225.
Again on the same day, about 180, under the reign of Aurelian, Symphorian, who was still a young man, was beheaded at Autun. While he went to execution his mother said to him: “My son, my son, remember eternal life; look up to Heaven and see the One Who reigns there; life is not taken from thee, it is exchanged for a better one.”
Collect:
Deny us not, Thy aid, O merciful Lord but listening to the prayers of Thy blessed Martyrs Timothy, Hippolytus and Symphorian, stretch forth over us, the Right Hand of Thy merciful forgiveness. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son our Lord, Who lives and reigns with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen (Collect).
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