The Martyr-Saints of Rome

James, John, Thomas, James, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Simon and Jude; Linus, Cletus, Clement, Sixtus, Cornelius, Cyprian, Lawrence, Chrysogonus, John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian; Ignatius, Alexander, Marcellinus, Peter, Felicity, Perpetua, Agatha, Lucy, Agnes, Cecilia, Anastasia. We remember these name and honor them every time the priest prays the Roman Canon, also known as the Eucharistic Prayer I.

Who were these people? They are the "top of the iceberg," so-to-speak, the few names handed down to us from the many Christians who were martyred in Rome during three centuries of persecution. We remember them particularly today.

(Thank you, Teófilo @ Vivificat).