ST. ANTERUS, POPE, ST. JOSEPH MARY TOMASI,, ST. TELESPHORE, POPE, ST. GENEVIÈVE, VIRGIN, Jan 3

ST. ANTERUS, POPE

Of Greek origins, Anterus was Pope for only 40 days. He was martyred in 236 under Emperor Maximinus the Thracian for collecting the Acts of the martyrs in the archives of the Church of Rome, so that they would not be dispersed. He was the first Pope to be buried in the catacombs of St. Callixtus.  Jan 3

ST. JOSEPH MARY TOMASI, THEATINE PRIEST, CARDINAL

Born in Licata, in 1649, of the noble Sicilian family of Lampedusa, he renounced his title in favor of his brother and became a Theatine religious. Precursor of the liturgical reform, he was named cardinal by Pope Clement XI in 1712. Pope St. John Paul II proclaimed him a Saint in 1986.  Jan 3

ST. TELESPHORE, POPE AD MARTYR

Telesphore was an anchorite in Egypt and Palestine. He reigned from 125 to 136. He established the Midnight Mass at Christmas with the song of Gloria in excelsis Deo, the celebration of Easter on Sunday, and fixed the Lenten fast. He also worked to counter Gnostic heresy, and died a martyr.  Jan 3

ST. GENEVIÈVE, VIRGIN