St Theophilus, bishop of Antioch, confessor, 190. St Nicholas, confessor, archbishop of Myra, 342. Saints Dionysia, Dativa, Aemilianus, Boniface, Leontin, Tertius, and Majoricus, martyrs, 484. St Peter Paschal, bishop and martyr, 1300.   Born. - Baldassarre Castiglione, diplomatist and man of letters, 1478, Casatico, near Mantua; Sir David Baird, hero of Seringapatam, 1757, Newbyth, Scotland. … Continue reading 6th of December – St Nicholas’ Day →

St Crispina, martyr, 304. St Sabas, abbot, 532. St Nicetus, bishop of Triers, confessor, about 566.   Died. - Francis II. of France, husband of [Mary,] Queen of Scots, 1560; Johann Wolfgang Theophilus Mozart, celebrated composer, 1792, Vienna; Carlo Giovanni Maria Denina, historical writer, 1813, Paris; Leopold Frederick, Count Stolberg, poet and miscellaneous writer, 1819, … Continue reading 5th of December →

St Clement of Alexandria, father of the church, beginning of 3d century. St Barbara, virgin and martyr, about 306. St Maruthas, bishop and confessor, 5th century. St Peter Chrysologus, archbishop of Ravenna, confessor, 450. St Siran or Sigirannus, abbot in Berry, confessor, 655. St Anno, archbishop of Cologne, confessor, 1075.   Born. - Thomas Carlyle, … Continue reading 4th of December →

St Lucius, king and confessor, end of second century. St Francis Xavier, Apostle of the Indies, confessor, 1552.   Born. - Luigi Pulci, Italian poet, 1431, Florence; John Gruter, eminent scholar and critic, 1560, Antwerp. Died. - Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma, distinguished commander, 1592; Giovanni Belzoni, explorer of Egyptian antiquities, 1823, Gato, in Guinea; … Continue reading 3rd of December →

St Bibiana, virgin and martyr, 363.   Born. - Francis Xavier Quadrio, learned Jesuit, and historical writer, 1695, Valtellina. Died. - Hernan Cortes, conqueror of Mexico, 1547, near Seville; Margaret of Navarre, grandmother of Henri IV., 1549; St Francis Xavier, Catholic missionary, 1552, China; Gerard Mercator (Kaufmann), geographer, 1594, Doesburg; Philip, Duke of Orleans, Regent … Continue reading 2nd of December →

St Eligius or Eloy, bishop of Noyon, confessor, 659.    Born. - Princess Anna Comnena, historian, 1083, Constantinople; John Keill, mathematician and natural philosopher, 1671, Edinburgh. Died. - Pope Leo X., 1521; Sir James Ware, antiquary, 1666, Dublin; Alexander I., Emperor of Russia, 1825, Taganrog.   THE YOUNG ROSCIUS. Precocity of genius or of ability, … Continue reading 1st of December →

And after him came next the chill December; Yet he through merry feasting which he made, And great bonfires, did not the cold remember; His Saviour’s birth his mind so much did glad. Upon a shaggy-bearded goat he rode, The same wherewith Dan Jove on tender yeares, They say, was nourisht by th’ Idæan mayd; … Continue reading December →