Saint of the Day – 25 December – Saint Eugenia (Died c258) Virgin Martyr of Rome. Born in Rome and died there by being martyred. Also known as – Eugenia of Alexandria.

The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Rome, in the Cemetery of Apronian, St Eugenia, virgin. In the time of the Emperor Gallienus, after working many miracles and gathering to Christ, troops of sacred virgins and after long combats under Nicetius, Prefect of the City, she was finally put to the sword.”

Eugenia was the daughter of the Roman nobleman Philip, who, by order of the Emperor Commodus, was appointed as the Prefect of Alexandria in Egypt, a post he accepted and travelled to that City with his entire family.

In Alexandria, Eugenia refused marriage to Aquilius, the Consul’s son and, aided by the eunuchs Saints Protus and Hyacinthus, her guardians, she secretly entered a Monastery, then an all-male Monastery, dressed as a man.

Her family believed her missing and grieved her possible death. In the Monastery, disguised and under the name of Eugenius, she distinguished herself by exceptional virtues, for which the Monks elected her their Abbot.

A noble matron, Melanthia, attracted by Eugenia’s reputation for sanctity, wanted to meet the Abbot but fell in love with her, unaware that she was a woman.

Rejected, Melanthia, filled with hatred, denounced the Abbot for immoral advances. A trial began during which Eugenia’s true identity was revealed, to the great joy of the family, who immediately converted to Christianity.
Her father, Philip, distinguished himself for helping the poor, to the point that the Alexandrians appointed him as the Bishop of the City. The new Prefect had him killed because he was a Christian.

The rest of the family then returned to Rome, where Eugenia’s mother, Claudia, established a shelter for widows and Eugenia assisted her and by her great virtue and piety attraced many disciples. Among them, a certain Bassilla, a relative of the Emperor Gallienus, was entrusted to the Saints Protus and Hyacinthus for a Christian education. Bassilla then, disiring to consecrate her virginity to the Lord rejected marriage. But her betrothed, Pompeius, took reveng by denouncing everyone to the Emperor, who had Bassilla, Protus and Hyacinthus killed and then, on 25 December, Eugenia too. Her mother, Claudia followed shortly thereafter.

Eugenia is certainly a Roman Martyr and her Tomb is near that of Protus Hycianth and Bassilla. A Basilica was built over her Tomb and she is depicted in mosaics in Ravenna, Naples and in Greece.

Today, her Relics rest in the Roman Church of the Holy Apostles. Her name is of Greek origin and means ‘well-born.‘

The Nativity of Our Lord, Christmas Day! Naturally a Holy Day of Obligation.
Celebration of the Anniversary of the Birth of Our Lord. In the earliest days of the Church there was no such Feast, the Saviour’s Birth was commemorated with the Epiphany by the Greek and other Eastern Churches. First mention of the Feast, then kept on 20 May, was made by St Clement of Alexandria in c200. In c300, the Latin Church began to observe 25 December, although there is no certainty that Our Lord was born on that day.
Today, Priests have the privilege of saying three Masses, at midnight, daybreak and morning. This was originally reserved to the Holy Father alone – beginning about the 4th Century he celebrated a midnight Mass in the St Saviour’s Lateran Basilica (in which the Manger of Bethlehem is preserved), a second in the Church of Saint Anastasia, whose Feast comes on 25 December and a third at the St Peter’s Vatican Basilica.
Many peculiar customs of the day are the outcome of the pagan celebrations of the January calendar. The Christmas tree, of which the first known mention was made in 1605 at Strasbourg, was introduced into France and England in 1840.
The Feast is a Holy Day of Obligation, preceded by the preparatory season of Advent and by a special Vigil – should it fall on a Friday it abrogates the law of abstinence. Of course, Christmas attracts an Octave, when this wonderful Mystery and Miracle is celebrated for eight days. How glorious and grateful we are, Deo Gratias!
https://anastpaul.com/2019/12/25/the-solemnity-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-25-december-2/
AND:
https://anastpaul.com/2018/12/25/the-solemnity-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-25-december/
AND:
https://anastpaul.wordpress.com/2017/12/25/25-december-the-solemnity-of-the-birth-of-our-lord-jesus-christ-2/

St Adalsindis of Hamay
St Alburga of Wilton

St Anastasia (Died 304) Widow, Martyr of Sirmium (modern Serbia). She is one of seven women who, along with Blessed Virgin Mary, are commemorated by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass.
Her Life and Death:
https://anastpaul.com/2024/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-saint-anastasia-of-sirmium-died-304-widow-martyr/

Bl Artale
St Basilée of the Via Latina

Blessed Bentivoglio de Bonis OFM (1188-1232) Confessor, Priest and Friar of the Friars’ Minor of St Francis, Noted preachers, Miracle worker and visionary. One of Saint Francis of Assisi’s earliest disciples and one of first Franciscans.
His Holy Life:
https://anastpaul.com/2022/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-bentivoglio-de-bonis-ofm-1188-1232-confessor-priest/

Bl Diego de Aro
St Eugenia (Died c258) Virgin Martyr of Rome

St Fulk (c1155-1231) Bishop of Toulouse, France, a fierce and untiring Defender of the Faith against heresies, Musician, Composer and Lyricist, Poet, Born in c1155 at Genoa, Italy and died in 1231 in Toulouse of natural causes.
A Talented and Zealous Shepherd:
https://anastpaul.com/2023/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-saint-fulk-of-toulouse-c1155-1231-bishop/

Blessed Jacopone da Todi OFM (1230-1306) Priest and Friar of the Order of the Friars Minor, Author of the “Stabat Mater,” Confessor, Hymnist, Poet, Musician, Mystic, Lawyer. He is the Author of the famous Latin Hymn, The Stabat Mater among others.
Wonderfully talented Blessed Jacopone:
https://anastpaul.com/2020/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-jacopone-da-todi-ofm-1230-1306/

St Jovin of the Via Latina
Bl Matthew of Albano
Bl Michael Nakashima Saburoemon
Bl Nera

Blessed Peter the Venerable (c1092–1156) The Eighth Abbot of Cluny, Reformer, Scholar and Writer, Poet. He was Beatified in 1862 by Pope Pius IX.
About Blessed Peter:
https://anastpaul.com/2021/12/25/saint-of-the-day-25-december-blessed-peter-the-venerable-c%e2%80%891092-1156/

St Romulus of Berry