Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs, St. Victor I, Pope and Martyr and St. Innocent I, Pope
July 28, 2029
Today’s feast commemorates together several saints, who lived at different times and in different countries. Saints Nazarius and Celsus were first century martyrs, whose bodies were found by St. Ambrose in 395. The town of St. Nazaire in France is named after Nazarius. St. Victory I was pope from 189 to 198; he regulated the date for the celebration of Easter throughout the Church in accordance with the Roman tradition. St. Innocent I (401-417), a contemporary of St. Augustine and St. Jerome, was one of the greatest early popes. “Keep the faith of Innocent, who holds the Apostolic See; receive no other doctrine, however wise and attractive it may seem,” said St. Jerome. Innocent was one of the great champions of the primacy of the Holy See.