The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

St. Glastian, Bishop and Confessor in Scotland... 289
29.
St. Francis of Sales, Bishop and Confessor....... 289
St. Sulpicius Severus............................ 303
On the Writings of that Saint.................... 305
St. Gildas the Wise, or Badonicus, Abbot,
Native of England ............................ 306
St. Gildas the Albanian, or the Scot, Confessor.. 310
30.
St. Bathildes, Queen of France................... 310
St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr................... 312
St. Aldegondes, Virgin and Abbess................ 313
St. Barsimæus, Bishop and Martyr................. 313
31.
St. Peter Nolasco, Confessor..................... 314
St. Serapion, Martyr in England.................. 317
St. Cyrus and St. John, Martyrs.................. 317
St. Marcella, Widow.............................. 318
St. Maidoc, or Maodhog, Bishop of Ferns in
Ireland........................................ 318
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JANUARY I.
THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD[1]
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CIRCUMCISION was a sacrament of the Old Law, and the first legal
observance required by Almighty God of that people, which he had chosen
preferably to all the nations of the earth to be the depositary of his
revealed truths.--These were the descendants of Abraham, whom he had
enjoined it, under the strictest penalties,[2] several hundred years
before the giving of the law to Moses on Mount Sinai; and this on two
several accounts: First, as a distinguishing mark between them and the
rest of mankind. Secondly, as a seal to a covenant between God and that
patriarch: whereby it was stipulated on God's part to bless Abraham and
his posterity; while on their part it implied a holy engagement to be
his people, by a strict conformity to his laws. It was, therefore, a
sacrament of initiation in the service of God, and a promise and
engagement to believe and act as he had revealed and directed.
Circumcision is also looked upon by St. Austin, and by several eminent