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Today, 19 October, is the feast of ... Ptolomeus, Lucius and another person, martyrs (161): Ptolomaeus was turned in to the authorities by the husband of someone he was initiating into the faith; he was tried and condemned, at which time two others stood up and declared he should not be killed; they also were summarily condemned, and all three were martyred. Varus, martyr, and Cleopatra, widow (fourth century?): After the death of Varus, Cleopatra took his bones to a church she founded; that night her son died, and she reviled Varus, whom before she had honoured so greatly. In her sleep, she saw Varus and her son, with Varus promising that he was taking care of her son, and that all would be well; she awoke, and lived the rest of her life in penitence. Ethbin (sixth century): As a child, was entrusted to the care of St Samson, and then St Winwaloe in Brittany; under the latter, and then as an adult in Ireland, he performed many miracles (but his name does not appear in Irish calendars). Aquilinus, bishop of Evreux (695): After years of living in courts and camps, he met his wife, and the two devoted their lives to serving God and the poor; but, when St Aeternus died, Aquilinus was considered the best candidate for the vacant episcopate, which he accepted only when having thought of arranging for a hermitage to be built next to the cathedral. Frideswide, virgin (735): Patron of Oxford; probably founded a monastery in the area, which was refounded by Augustinian canons regular in the twelfth century. Thomas of Biville, confessor (1257): After extensive travelling and studies, became a priest in native Normandy and northern France. His relics were so beloved that local people saved them from the ravages of the Revolution. ***************************** Carolyn Muessig [log in to unmask] %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%