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Gervasius and Protasius, by Philippe de Champaigne

"The Victories of the Saints: To be ready to confront death rather than renounce one's faith, is to achieve a great victory over one's self; but this victory gained by the saints is not their final triumph, for their power does not perish with their death, it then really commences. SS. Gervaise and Protase, who were brothers, suffered martyrdom together at Milan during the persecution of Domitian. The mighty events subsequently occurring, caused their memory to slumber. St. Ambrose, archbishop of Milan, finding himself exposed to the persecution of the empress Justina, who sought to drive him from his see, so as to be able to allow Arianism to get the upper hand in his diocese, had a revelation indicating the spot where the bodies of the martyrs lay buried. He had them exhumed, and caused them to be exposed to the veneration of the faithful; the concourse of reverent votaries was immense, and so many and such striking miracles were manifested that it became impossible for the Arians to deny either the existence of the miracles, or to give a wrong interpretation thereto. They no longer ventured to raise further opposition to the Holy Archbishop, or attempt anything in favor of their own doctrine. Thus did these holy martyrs obtain a fresh triumph.

Moral reflection: "The Lord is my helper, I will not fear what man shall do to me. Remember the prelates who have spoken the word of God, whose faith follow, considering the end." (Heb. 13. 7) Pictorial half hours with the saints. By  Abbe Auguste François Lecanu

St. Juliana Falconieri

"This saint in her infancy seemed almost to anticipate the use of reason by her early piety; and the first words she learned to pronounce were the sacred names of Jesus and Mary. Fervent prayer and mortification chiefly took up her attention, at an age which usually seems incapable of any thing serious. Such was her angelical purity, that she never durst look any man in the face: and so great was her horror of sin, that the very name of it made her almost swoon away. In her sixteenth year, she bid adieu to the world, and consecrated her virginity to God, receiving the religious veil from the hands of St. Philip Beniti. She entered an order instituted for the service of the sick, and other offices of charity. The reputation of her prudence and sanctity drawing to her many devout ladies, who desired to follow the same institute, she was obliged to accept the charge of prioress. Though she was the spiritual mother of the rest, she made it her delight to serve every one. She often spent whole days in prayer, and frequently received great heavenly favours. She seized every opportunity of performing offices of charity, especially of reconciling enemies, reclaiming sinners, and serving the sick. She practiced incredible austerities. In her old age she bore various painful distempers with inexpressible joy and cheerfulness. In her last sickness, she was much afflicted at not being able to receive the Blessed Sacrament on account of her stomach not being able to retain any food. The sacred host, however, was brought into her cell, and there suddenly disappeared out of the hands of the priest. After her death, the figure of the sacred host was found imprinted on the left side of her breast; by which it was judged that our Blessed Saviour had miraculously satisfied her holy desire. She died in 1340, at the age of seventy.

Pray for her spirit of charity and self-denial. If you are eagerly bent on your own ways and will, indulge your inclinations, gratify your passions, love niceness and softness, study your palate and appetite, your faith may be right, but your practice is not. This is not the spirit of the Gospel, but of corruption; and must be reformed." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother