10th July, The Seven Brothers, Martyrs: and SS Rufina and Secunda, Virgins and Martyrs

The Seven Brothers Martyrs; and SS. Rufina and Secunda, Virgins, Martyrs

The Church, celebrating to-day the triumph of the seven sons of saint Felicitas, who were martyred under their mother's eyes, praises this courageous woman (Epistle), who, by exhorting them to die, "was herself victorious in all of them".

She extended her maternity to the souls of her children by making them accomplish the will of God (Gospel, Communion, see November 23). They died in A.D. 150 under the Emperor Antoninus.

A century later Rufina and Secunda, sisters by birth, became doubly so by mixing their blood at the same execution, rather than lose the virginity they had consecrated to Jesus, their Spouse. They were martyred at Rome under the Emperors Valerian and Gallienus, in 257.

Laudate, pueri, Dominum, laudate nomen Domini: qui habitare facit sterilem in domo, matrem filiorum laetantem.  * Sit nomen Domini benedictum: ex hoc nunc, et usque in saeculum.
Praise the Lord, ye children, praise ye the name of the Lord; who maketh the barren woman to dwell in a house, the joyful mother of children.* Blessed be the name of the Lord, from henceforth now and forever.
(Psalm 112:1,9,2 from the Introit of Mass)


Praesta, quaesumus, omnipotens Deus: ut, qui gloriosos Martyres fortes in sua confessione cognovimus, pios apud te in nostra intercessione sentiamus.
Grant, we beseech Thee, O almighty God, that we, who acknowledge the boldness of  thy glorious martyrs in confessing Thy name, may experience likewise their loving  intercession for us. (Collect)

From the Catholic Encyclopaedia on St Felicitas and her sons: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06028a.htm

Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felicitas_of_Rome#Association_with_the_seven_martyrs_venerated_on_10_July

SS Rufina and Secunda: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13221a.htm