St. Linus, the immediate successor of St. Peter, ruled the Church for about twelve years. In the year 79 he suffered martyrdom, and was buried alongside the Prince of the Apostles. His name is in the Canon of the Mass.

St. Maurice was an officer of the Theban legion, a body of about 6000 men. These soldiers were Christians and loyal to their emperor and to God. They refused to sacrifice to the heathen gods and were put to the sword, in 286, by Maximian, the colleague of Diocletian, unresistingly giving their lives for the Faith.

(Source: The New Roman Missal, Rev. F. X. Lasance)

 

St. Thomas of Villanova, Archbishop of Valencia, Spain, was a Religious of the Order of St. Augustine. He was distinguished by his perfect humility and his charity to the poor, whom he gave all he possessed. When he died the very bed on which he lay no longer belonged to him. He had given it a few days before to a poor man, who in his turn allowed him to keep it for a short time that it would still be of use to him. He died September 8, 1555.

(Source: The New Roman Missal, Rev. F. X. Lasance)