Today the Church remembers St. Castulus of Rome, Martyr.
Ora pro nobis.
Castulus was a Roman citizen of high rank, eventually being appointed the Chamberlain of Emperor Diocletian. After becoming a convert to the Christian religion, and knowing the peril it placed himself and his family in, he began to shelter Christians in his own home and even arranged for religious services to be held discreetly inside the imperial palace.
With his friend Tiburtius, he converted many men and woman to Christianity and brought them to Pope Caius to be baptized. He was eventually betrayed by an apostate named Torquatus and taken before Fabian, prefect of the city.
He was found guilty of sedition and of practicing an illegal religion, abandoning the worship of the state and the emperor which was required of every citizen. Castulus was tortured and executed by being buried alive in a sand pit on the Via Labicana in 286 AD. According to tradition, his wife St. Irene subsequently buried the body of the martyred Sebastian. She was later martyred herself, around 288 AD.
Almighty God, who gave to your servant Castulus boldness to confess the Name of our Savior Jesus Christ before the rulers of this world, and courage to die for this faith: Grant that we may always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us, and to suffer gladly for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.
Amen.
