30. St. Bathildes, Queen of France................... 310 St. Martina, Virgin and Martyr................... 312 St. Aldegondes, Virgin and Abbess................ 313 St. Barsimaeus, 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 {059} JANUARY I. THE CIRCUMCISION OF OUR LORD[1] 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 modern divines,[3] to have been the expedient, in the male posterity of Abraham, for removing the guilt of original sin, which in those who did not belong to the covenant of Abraham, nor fall under this law was remitted by other means, probably by some external act of faith.