What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

Today is the feast of Sts. Saturninus and companions who died in North Africa in 304.

By happy chance on my long Sunday afternoon walk yesterday I visited the Basilica of Sts. John and Paul.  There I happened to take a shot of the altar of a St. Saturninus therein.  Saturninus was a common name in the ancient world. 

The photo to the right is not the same Saturninus as today’s feast.  The Saturninus whose relics are in part held in the Basilica on the Coelian are of a martyr of the same year (+304 together with Sisinius) when Diocletian was really busy killing Christians. 

So, it isn’t the same Saturninus, but who cares?  It is interesting to look at these martyrs anyway and honor their memory.

Here is the entry in the Martyrologium Romanum for St. Saturninus (+304) and all those who died with him.  Time presses me, so I will leave it to one of you to render into your perfect English version.

Today’s

Oxford English Dictionary Online Word of the Day is