Originally The Roman Martyrology was a written catalogue of those saints who shed their blood for Christ during the early centuries of pagan persecution Local churches celebrated each martyr s birthday into heaven assigning the day of their final victory over the world as their feastday in the liturgical calendar When she triumphantly arose from the catacombs the Church gradually introduced other great saints who were not slain for their faith into the Martyrology as she combined the recorded Acta of both east and west These three hundred pages contain the names of thousands of our most valiant Catholic heroes and heroines along with a very brief biographical sketch commemorating either their martyrdom or their most enduring accomplishments As an official book of the Roman liturgy the Martyrology is read during the canonical office of Prime and at the evening meal in the refectories of most monastaries and convents in order that the religious might avail themselves of the