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St. Polycarp, having discharged the duty of a good shepherd, was apprehended in his old age by the heathens, and condemned to the fire: in which, in the midst of the amphitheatre, crowded with an insulting multitude, he offered himself a grateful sacrifice to God. But the flames forming an arch, encircled his body, which appeared bright through the fire, sending forth a most fragrant odour. The infidels, exasperated at this miracle, ordered a spearman to pierce him through; and such a quantity of blood issued from his side, as to quench the fire.

Pray for all those who are exposed to difficulties, and any ways suffer, on account of their faith. Be not angry at the reproaches of insulting adversaries. Have compassion on their blindness, and bear with them; for such patience has the promise of a crown. Offer yourself to suffer whatever Almighty God shall ordain for you. Be ashamed to sink under ordinary troubles: these are but the trials of your fidelity. They are to make you sensible of your own weakness, and of your necessary dependance on God. And as for extraordinary ones, if you cannot find remedy, offer yourself to them, as to the fire which is to consummate the sacrifice, which you have made of yourself to Almighty God." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

Martyrdom of Saint Timothy. Pictorial Lives of the Saints: With Reflections for Every Day of the Year edited by John Dawson Gilmary Shea

"He was the beloved disciple and companion of St. Paul. His father was a Gentile, but his mother a Jewess. St. Augustine extols his zeal and disinterestedness in immediately forsaking his country, his house, and parents, to follow this apostle, and share in his poverty and sufferings. St. Paul regarded him not only as his disciple and most dear son, but as his brother and the companion of his labours. He calls him a man of God; and tells the Philippians that he found no one so truly united to him in heart and sentiments.

St. Timothy was ordained bishop by a prophecy, and a particular order of the Holy Ghost; and is always named the first bishop of Ephesus. Pray for all the bishops of Christ's Church; that as they receive their charge by succession from the apostles, they may faithfully acquit themselves in every part with the spirit of the apostles.

St. Timothy endeavoured with great zeal to withdraw the people from their abominable idolatry in offering sacrifices to Diana. But their obstinate blindness rendered his endeavours fruitless; and they rewarded his charity by stoning him to death. Pray to be delivered from all obstinacy and blindness: for these make the grossest errors appear as reasonable as truth; and nothing but the light of heaven, joined with an humble spirit, can prevent or remedy this evil. Pray therefore for both; that you may never unhappily mistake the charity of those who would be your best friends. If you cannot bear those who put you in mind of your faults, remember that these evils are at the root. It is something of the spirit of the Ephesians, and not a Christian spirit. Pray for a better. And if you feel resentment at such charity, consider it well, and you will see it to be akin to those stones which were thrown at St. Timothy. It is for fear of these that few have courage enough to run the hazard of them." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

     "REFLECTION.-St. Paul, in writing to Timothy, a faithful and well-tried servant of God, and a bishop now getting on in years, addresses him as a child, and seems most anxious about his perseverance in faith and piety. The letters abound in minute personal instructions for this end. It is therefore remarkable what great stress the apostle lays on the avoiding of idle talk, and on the application to holy reading. These are his chief topics. Over and over again he exhorts his son Timothy to "avoid tattlers and busy bodies; to give no heed to novelties; to shun profane and vain babblings; but to hold the form of sound words; to be an example in word and conversation; to attend to reading, to exhortation, and to doctrine." Pictorial Lives of the Saints: With Reflections for Every Day of the Year edited by John Dawson Gilmary Shea

"The Church reads without ceasing the counsels which the Apostle gave to you and to all pastors through you for the election and the conduct of the clergy: pray that the Church may be blessed with Bishops, Priests and Deacons endowed with all those qualifications which he requires from the dispensers of the mysteries of God. Lastly, we beseech you, who ascended to Heaven decked with the aureola of martyrdom, encourage us who are also soldiers of Christ that we may throw aside our cowardice and win that kingdom, where our Emmanuel welcomes and crowns His elect for all eternity." Dom Gueranger, The liturgical Year

"He made so rapid progress in his studies, that at the age of twenty he taught philosophy. He was a perfect model to the clergy, by his innocence, zeal, devotion, and boundless liberalities to the poor. He took the habit of the Dominicans, eight months after the death of their holy founder. To the exercises of his solitude, he joined the functions of an apostolical life, by labouring without intermission in preaching, instructing, hearing confessions with wonderful fruit, and converting heretics, Jews, and Moors. Except on Sundays, he never took more than one small refection in the day. Amidst honours and applause, he was ever little in his own eyes.

"The former was a deacon of Spain, who for preaching the Gospel in the time of Dioclesian, was apprehended. St. Augustine assures us that he suffered torments far beyond what any man could have endured, unless supported by a supernatural strength; and that he preserved such peace and tranquillity in his words, countenance, and gestures, in the midst of them, as quite astonished his very persecutors, and visibly appeared as something divine. He continued faithful under the trial of scourges, racks, and fire, and variety of other torments; and at length a soft bed was prepared for him, on which he was no sooner laid than he expired.

Pray for this spirit of patience under all trials. There is no living in this world, but under some kind of persecution.

Relations, neighbours, your own indiscretion and passions may be to you a Dioclesian. If you have not a trial of your faith, you have at least of your fidelity to your God; and if you could but hold out with the charity and patience of the martyrs, you need not doubt of meeting with the crown of martyrs. Pray therefore that you may be just and faithful in little occasions. These present themselves often, and so often are you tried. If you sincerely honour the constancy of a martyr on the rack, be ashamed of your ordinary weakness, and beg pardon for it.

St. Anastasius was a Persian monk, who after cruel torments, was put to death with seventy other Christians, who were all ordered to be strangled. Pray for the empire of Persia, that God would please to bring it to the knowledge of his truths. Pray for all under any affliction whatever. Be careful never to sink under your own trials, nor consent to the least secret murmuring. Pray for all who are in their agony, or near death, that God would comfort and support them with his divine grace." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

St. Agnes by Cesare Dandini

"She was a Roman virgin, who, at the age of thirteen, having chosen Christ for her spouse, continued faithful to him, amidst all the solicitations and attempts made against her. Flatterers could not move her, nor threats, nor torments terrify her. She had given her heart to Christ; and was resolved that nothing of this world should take it from him. Her constancy was first tried by the fire, from which, like pure gold, she came out without hurt. Afterwards, by the sword of the executioner, she gave up her soul, a holy victim into the hands of her heavenly spouse. Pray for this spirit of the love of God, that you may sincerely give your heart to him, and be ever faithful in what you do. Be ashamed to be outdone by a virgin of thirteen years; and that not having half the trials which she had, you are so often overcome. You pretend to love God: and yet upon every little difficulty, or the flattery of creatures, you surrender yourself, and become a prey, either to impatience, sensuality, or self-love. Humble yourself at the sight of your infirmity and inconstancy: lay a better foundation, and beg for the strength of this saint.

Lament the unhappy education of both sexes, in these tender years; who are trained up to an early knowledge of the follies and vanities of this world; but little acquainted with the practice of a Christian life. Instead of humility, they are instructed in pride: instead of meekness, they are taught to be imperious: instead of forsaking the world, they are taught to admire it: instead of self-denial, they are bred up in the practice of indulging themselves. Thus, instead of loving God, and being prepared to sacrifice all to him, they fall a sacrifice to vanity and self-love. Pray, therefore, for all parents, that their care and love for their children may be substantial; that nature may not be their rule, but the gospel; and that, if they have faith, they may give proof of it in this point." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

St Fabian and St. Sebastian

"ST. FABIAN was bishop of Rome, and succeeded St. Anterus in the year 236. Eusebius relates that he was elected in consequence of a miraculous sign of a dove appearing over his head. He governed the Church sixteen years, and died a glorious martyr in the persecution of Decius, in the year 250. St. Cyprian calls him an incomparable man; and says that the glory of his death had answered the purity and holiness of his life. Pray for the present bishop of that holy see, that in piety and zeal for his flock, he may imitate his holy predecessors. Pray for yourself, that in all afflictions you may suffer with the meekness, submission, and patience of the martyrs.

St. Sebastian was chief commander under Dioclesian. For encouraging and assisting the persecuted Christians, he was, by order of the emperor, bound to a tree, shot with arrows, and left for dead. Irene, a pious widow, going to bury him, found him still alive, and took him to her lodgings; where by care, he recovered of his wounds, but refused to fly. He even reproached the emperor for his unjust cruelties to the Christians. This freedom of speech greatly astonished the emperor, especially from a person whom he supposed to have been dead. But recovering from his surprise, he gave orders for St. Sebastian to be beaten with cudgels, which finished his glorious martyrdom.

Pray for the spirit of charity so eminent in this saint; that according to your circumstances, you may be ever ready to counsel, comfort and relieve those who are in distress. It is the most effectual means of drawing down the divine assistance for your own help: for your charity to others opens God's hands to you. Pray for all soldiers, that they may be better prepared for death than too generally they are: and pray for their commanders, that they may keep up Christian, as well as military discipline." The Catholic Year by Fr. John Gother

"He was remarkable from his childhood for his temperance, "close attendance on church duties, and punctual obedience to his parents. Having heard these words read in the Gospel: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and come, follow me; he understood them as spoken to himself, sold all that he had, and distributed it to the poor. Pray for a like obedience to all the commands of Christ, and that as often as you read the Scripture, it may be with the like fruit to your soul. Pray for poverty of spirit; that your affections being taken off from the things of this world, you may ever be in readiness to forsake all. If you find your heart too eagerly set on anything here, have you not reason to judge yourself unsafe? If forsaking creatures be the way of perfection, must not seeking and loving them be very dangerous ?

St. Antony retired from his father's house into a desert, where he lived in the exercise of prayer, rigorous fasting, and the constant practice of all virtues, to the age of a hundred and five years. He separated himself as much as possible from all creatures, that his heart might not be withdrawn from God. Pray for this spirit. Your obligation of seeking and loving God is as great as his; but your difficulty in doing it is so much greater than his, as you are more engaged with creatures than he was. If the life of hermits who had quitted the world, was so mortified, are not greater watchfulness and self-denial necessary for you, who are in much greater danger than they were?

In that retirement, St. Anthony was assaulted with much greater temptations than before. But he went on with courage, not fearing what the devil could do. Pray for constancy like his. Be not dejected by the most violent temptations: the devil may terrify, but he cannot hurt you, unless you are willing. If God is pleased thus to exercise you, submit with patience and humility, ever placing your confidence in his assistance. Peaceable devotion is more to your inclination; but a life of greater exercise is also one of greater merit, and if you overcome, will gain you a greater crown." Source:  The Catholic Year; Or Daily Lessons on the Feasts of the Church, Rev. Fr. John Gother, 1861.

"He was bishop of Rome. Pray for the present Bishop of that Holy See; that God would please to assist him with His heavenly grace, answerable to the greatness of his charge. Pray for all other bishops and pastors of Christ's Church.

St. Marcellus, by enforcing the canons of holy penance, drew upon himself the contradictions and persecutions of many tepid and refractory Christians; and for his severity against a certain apostate, he was banished by the tyrant Maxentius. He died in 310, having sat one year, seven months, and twenty days; and is styled a martyr. Pray for a spirit like his, that you may be ready to embrace all kinds of humiliations. God may be served in all lawful states: be but faithful, and God will be so too. If your lot and manner of life be contemptible to the world, patience and humility will make it honorable in the sight of God. Grieve not therefore, nor be uneasy at your condition, whatever it be. The laborious Christian is much better than the idle one. He that eats by the sweat of his brow, is in a much safer way, than he that lives at ease. If your difficult circumstances will not allow you the time you desire to pray; remember that patience, and humble suffering and laboring, are all praying. God regards not the form, but a sincere heart. Pray what you can; and never doubt but your desires will be heard.

God makes every thing serve for the sanctification of His servants. He wonderfully ordains and directs all human events to their spiritual advancement, both in prosperity and adversity. In their persecutions and trials, especially, we shall discover, at the last day, the tenderness of His infinite love, the depth of His unsearchable wisdom, and the extent of His omnipotent power. In all His appointments, adore these His attributes, earnestly imploring His grace, that according to the designs of His mercy, you may make every thing, especially all afflictions, serve for your exercise and improvement in virtue, and progress in perfection." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother

Guercino  (1591–1666): St. Paul the Hermit Fed by the Raven

"To escape the persecution of Decius and Valerian, he went into the desert at the age of fifteen. Pray for the light of heaven, that you may seriously consider the persecution you are under. Ill company is a persecution; evil habits are a persecution; pride, vanity, the love of yourself and the world, are a persecution; all your violent passions and perverse inclinations are a persecution. Compare these with your ordinary weakness; and see whether you have not reason to think yourself in danger. Why not then resolve to withdraw, for your own security? There is no need of finding a desert, the world may be a solitude to you, if you are but resolute enough to separate yourself from the unnecessary dangers of it. These you too often create to yourself, in favor of your sensuality, pride and self-love. Pray for grace truly to discern, and then to overcome them.