This day is dedicated to the Christians who were martyred under the Emperor Nero. In the year 64, a great fire broke out in Rome and when suspicion fell on Nero himself, he accused the Christians of having set the fire. The historian Tacitus wrote that while no one believed this, nevertheless, countless Christians were seized, mocked and put to death in various and unspeakable ways. Their martyrdom preceded that of Saints Peter and Paul, and to this day they are honoured in the Piazza of the Protomartyrs in Vatican City.

©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.