Martyrs (d. 304)
Their story
+ According to an ancient account, Donation and Rogation were brothers who were martyred around the year 304.
+ The younger of the two, Donation, was a Christian charged with professing his faith and preventing others from worshipping the gods. After making a bold confession, he was imprisoned.
+ The elder brother, Rogation, who was himself a believer desiring baptism, soon joined him in prison. The brothers spent a night together in prayer before being brought before the prefect who condemned them to be tortured and beheaded. Saint Rogation received the “baptism by blood.”
+ The feast of these two martyrs is included in many early lists of saints, and they are especially honored in Brittany where they known as “Les Enfants Nantais.”
For prayer and reflection
“See how rich is the Saints’ reward from God; they died for Christ and will live for ever.”—Communion antiphon from the common of martyrs.
Spiritual bonus
On this day we also remember Saint Joanna “the Myrrh-bearer.” Mentioned by name in the Gospel of Luke, she was described as the wife of Chusa, a steward of King Herod Antipas, and as having supported Jesus’ mission from her own resources (see 8:3). Saint Luke also records that she was one of the women to discover the empty tomb on that first Easter.
Prayer
Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saints Donation and Rogation the grace of suffering for Christ, come, in your divine mercy, we pray, to the help of our own weakness, that, as your Saints did not hesitate to die for your sake, we, too, may live bravely in confessing you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(from The Roman Missal: Common of Martyrs—For Several Martyrs)
Saint profiles prepared by Brother Silas Henderson, S.D.S.
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