Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints
- All Saints
- Caesarius and Julian, martyrs
- Benignus of Dijon, martyr
- Austremonious or Stremoine, bishop
- Mary, virgin and martyr
- Maturinus or Mathurin;
- Marcellus of Paris, bishop
- Vigor, bishop
- Cadfan, abbot
Solemnity of All Saints: Originating in the 4th c. Eastern feast of all Martyrs, and attested to by St. Ephrem (died 373 A.D.), Pope Gregory IV established this commemoration for all the Saints of the Roman Church in 835 A.D. Originally celebrated on Easter Friday, it came to be held in Rome on 13 May; later, in the 9th c. A.D., it was transferred to 1 Nov., the date of its celebration in Ireland where it countered the Celtic pagan feast of the Druids.
St. Mary (4th century A.D.) was a slave of a Roman official named Tertullus. During the persecution of Christians by Diocletian, she refused to give up her Christian faith. Tertullus wanted to protect her but he was obliged to deliver her to the prefect. She was tortured with such cruelty that the spectators demanded the prefect for her release. The prefect released her and gave her to the custody of a soldier who helped her to escape. St. Mary died a natural death but is venerated as a martyr for the torture she endured.
St. Vigor (d. ca. 537 A.D.) was born at Artois in France and was educated under St. Vedast. He ran away to escape his father's opposition to his desire to become a priest. He eventually was ordained, engaged in missionary work, and in 513 A.D., became bishop of Bayeux. He founded a monastery at nearby St. Vigeur le Grand.
