S. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL. S. ALEXANDER, _M.B. of Jerusalem_, A.D. 250. SS. TEN THOUSAND MARTYRS, _at Nicomedia, 4th cent._ SS. TROPHIMUS AND EUCARPUS, _MM. at Nicomedia, circ._ A.D. 300. SS. NARCISSUS, _B.M._, AND FELIX, _D.M. at Gerona, beginning of 4th cent._ S. CYRIL, _Patr. of Jerusalem_, A.D. 389. S. FRIGIDIAN OR FINNIAN, _B. of Lucca_, A.D. 589. S. TETRICUS, _B. of Langres_, A.D. 572. S. EDWARD, _K.M. in England_, A.D. 978. S. ANSELM, _B. of Lucca_, A.D. 1086. S. GABRIEL, ARCHANGEL. On this day is commemorated Gabriel the Archangel, who was sent to announce to the Blessed Mary that she was to become the Mother of God. He is commemorated in the Roman Martyrology, and in those of the Camaldoli, the Trinitarians, the Franciscans, the Carmelites, the Augustinians, the Discalceate Carmelites, and the Servites. S. ALEXANDER, M. B. OF JERUSALEM. (A.D. 250.) [Usuardus, Ado, Notker, some editions of the Martyrology of Bede; Roman Martyrology. By the Greeks on December 12th. In the Breviary of the Knights of S. John of Jerusalem, this festival is observed with nine lections. His life is gathered from the ecclesiastical Hist. of Eusebius.] Alexander, a Cappadocian bishop, having come to Jerusalem to venerate the holy places, was elected by revelation of God to take the see of Jerusalem in place of Narcissus, who, on account of his extreme old age, was unable to execute the functions of his office. In the persecution of Decius, when Alexander was advanced in years, with white hair, he was conducted to Cæsarea, where he was imprisoned, and died in his dungeon. S. NARCISSUS, M. B. OF GERONA. (BEGINNING OF 4TH CENT.) [Roman Martyrology. Authority:--The "Conversio" of S. Afra, which existed in the ninth century, but of no historical value.] Narcissus, bishop of Gerona, being driven from his see in the persecution of Diocletian, wandered homeless as far as Augsburg, where finding that the Christians were mightily oppressed, and well nigh exterminated, he and his deacon Felix, not knowing whither to take refuge, received the hospitality offered them by a courtesan named Afra.[62] And they not knowing who and what manner of woman she was that invited them into her house, went in nothing doubting. Then Afra marvelled what manner of men these were, who ate little, and spent their time in prayer. And before they departed, she believed and was baptized, with all her house. Now when nine months had elapsed, Narcissus and his deacon, finding the violence of persecution had abated, returned into Spain, and recommenced their work of converting the heathen. The success of Narcissus so exasperated them that they waylaid him and assassinated him. When king Philip of France took Gerona, his soldiers pillaged the shrine of S. Narcissus, whereupon a swarm of hornets issued from it and stung them. Consequently in art he is represented with hornets issuing from his tomb. Relics at Gerona.