August 1
The commemoration of the passion of the seven holy martyr brothers, who in Antioch in Syria under Antiochus Epiphanes the king, because they served the Law with invincible faith, were cruelly handed over to death with their mother, who indeed suffered with each of her sons but was crowned in all of them, as is narrated in the second book of Maccabees. Also commemorated is Saint Eleazar, one of the foremost of the scribes, a man advanced in age, who in the same persecution refused to eat forbidden meat for love of life and completed a glorious death in preference to a despicable life, voluntarily going to his suffering and leaving a tremendous example of virtue.
***
May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
V. Precious in the sight of the Lord
R. Is the death of his holy ones.
V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen
[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]
