Patroness of Marolles, in the diocese of Cambray. Relics at Marolles. [Illustration: Decoration] FOOTNOTES: [17] The custom of blessing bread and distributing it amongst the faithful, prevails still in the French Church, as may be seen at any festival in a church of importance. The blessed bread is not to be confounded with the Holy Eucharist. It is taken about the church in baskets, and is a sort of sweet-cake. This is a relic of the ancient Love Feasts or Agapae. January 4. Octave of the Holy Innocents. S. TITUS, _B. and Ap. of Crete, circ_. A.D. 105. SS. AQUILINUS, GEMINUS, EUGENIUS, AND OTHERS, _Martyrs in Africa_. S. DAFROSA, _W. C., at Rome_, A.D. 361. S. RUMON, _B. C., at Tavistock, in Devonshire_. S. GREGORY, _B. of Langres, in France, circ_. A.D. 541. S. PHARAILDIS, _V., in Brabant, about_ A.D. 745. S. RIGOBERT, _B. of Rheims_, A.D. 749. S. LIBENTIUS, _Abp. of Bremen_, A.D. 1013. B. ANGELA, _of Foligni, in Umbria_, A.D. 1309. S. TITUS, B. (ABOUT 105.) [S. Titus is commemorated on this day in the Roman, and all the Latin Martyrologies. But the Greeks observe the feast of S. Titus on August 25th. Much of his history can be gathered from the first and second epistles of S. Paul to the Corinthians, and from his epistle to S. Titus; also from the Greek Menologium, and his life, written by Zenas, the lawyer, in the Menaea; and that by Peter de Natalibus, compiled from Greek sources.] Saint Titus was born of Gentile parents, being descended from the ancient royal family of Crete.[18] He was a favourite companion of S. Paul, who calls him his son in Christ. His virtue gained him the particular esteem of this Apostle; for we find him employed as secretary and interpreter by S. Paul; and the Apostle styles him his brother.[19] On one occasion, when much depressed, he was consoled by the presence of Titus: "God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus;"[20] and he testified, on another occasion, that he found no rest in his spirit, because at Troas he had not met Titus.[21] In the year 51, Titus accompanied S. Paul to the Council that was held at Jerusalem, on the subject of the Mosaic rites. Though the Apostle had consented to the circumcision of Timothy, in order to render his ministry more acceptable among the Jews, he would not allow the same in the case of Titus, apprehensive of giving thereby a sanction to the faction which held to the necessity of combining the rites of the Law with the Sacraments of the Gospel.