In Cathedra S. Petri Apostoli Antiochiæ

The Twenty-third of February

Saint Peter Damian, of the Camaldolese Order, Cardinal and Bishop of Ostia, Confessor and Doctor of the Church, who flew to heaven on the preceding day.
At Smyrna, the birth of Saint Polycarp, who, a disciple of the blessed Apostle John, and ordained by him as Bishop of the same city, was the foremost man of all Asia. Afterwards, under Marcus Antoninus and Lucius Aurelius Commodus, the Proconsul presiding and the whole people in the theater crying out against him, he was handed over to the fire; and, not harmed at all by the fire, he received the crown of martyrdom, pierced with a sword. With him also twelve others, who had come from Philadelphia, in the same city of Smyrna, completed their martyrdom. However, the feast of Polycarp is celebrated on the twenty-sixth of January.
At Sirmium, blessed Sirenus, Monk and Martyr, who, by command of the Emperor Maximian, was arrested, and when he confessed himself a Christian, was beheaded.
In the same place, the birth of seventy-two holy Martyrs, who, completing their contest of martyrdom in the aforesaid city, received everlasting kingdoms.
In the city of Astorga, in Spain, Saint Martha, Virgin and Martyr, who, under the Emperor Decius and the proconsul Paternus, was cruelly tortured for the faith of Christ and finally slain with a sword.
At Constantinople, Saint Lazarus, Monk, who, for painting sacred Images, was for this reason tortured with dreadful punishments by order of the Iconoclast Emperor Theophilus, and his hands were burned with red-hot iron; but, healed by the power of God, he restored by painting the sacred Images that had been defaced, and at last rested in peace.
At Brescia, Saint Felix, Bishop.
At Rome, Saint Polycarp, Priest, who, together with blessed Sebastian, converted very many to the faith of Christ, and encouraged them by exhortation to the glory of martyrdom.
At Seville, in Spain, Saint Florentius, Confessor.
At Todi, in Umbria, Saint Romana, Virgin, who, baptized by Pope Saint Sylvester, lived a heavenly life in caves and caverns, and was renowned for the glory of miracles.
In England, Saint Milburga, Virgin, daughter of the King of Mercia.

In a leap year, the Sixth day before the Kalends of March is announced twice, and on the same Moon, that is, on the 24th and 25th. On the first day, that is the 24th, in this manner: the Sixth day before the Kalends of March. The Moon..., whatever it was. Then: A commemoration of very many holy Martyrs and Confessors, and of holy Virgins. On the second day, that is the 25th: the Sixth day before the Kalends of March. The Moon... In Judea..., and the rest, as in the following Reading.