August 11th, besides the Feast of St. Philomena in some places, is the Feast of Ss. Tiburtius and Susanna on the Universal Calendar.
St. Tiburtius was the son of the prefect of Rome, who was a convert to the Faith. Shortly after being ordained a subdeacon, the young man was betrayed to his persecutors by an apostate. Like St. Lawrence whose feast we celebrated yesterday, Tiburtius was tortured by fire. He was then beheaded, about A.D. 288. and gained the crown of martyrdom.
On the same day, a noble Christian virgin by the name of Susanna suffered a similar death. Because of her vow of virginity she had refused to marry the son of Emperor Diocletian, so she was beheaded in her own home by that ruler's orders.
Ss. Tiburtius and Susanna, martyrs for Christ, pray for us!
A Prayer to the Holy Martyrs to obtain their Protection by St. Alphonsus de Liguori:
O ye blessed Princes of the heavenly kingdom! ye who sacrificed to the Almighty God the honors, the riches, and possessions of this life, and have received in return the unfading glory and never-ending joys of heaven! ye who are secure in the everlasting possession of the brilliant crown of glory which your sufferings have obtained! Look with compassionate regards upon our wretched state in this valley of tears, where we groan in the uncertainty of what may be our eternal destiny. And form that divine Savior, for Whom you suffered so many torments, and Who now repays you with so unspeakable glory, obtain for us that we may love Him with all our heart, and receive in return the grace of perfect resignation under the trials of this life, fortitude under the temptations of the enemy, and perseverance to the end. May your powerful intercession obtain for us that we may one day in your blessed company sing the praises of the Eternal, and even as you now do, face to face, enjoy the beatitude of His vision! Amen
Collect:
Almighty and merciful God, it is through Your grace that the faithful are able to serve You fittingly and laudably. Grant that we may hurry, without faltering, toward the rewards You have promised to us. Through our Lord . . .
Prayer Source: 1962 Roman Catholic Daily Missal
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