Today's Saint (June 22): Alban - Protomartyr of England
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Saint Alban was born in the third century in England, and was martytred around 304. According to the English Christian historian the Venerable Bede, Alban was a pagan soldier who offered refuge to a priest named Amphibalus during a persecution.The priest ended up converting him, and when the persecuting soldiers arrived at his home, Alban dressed in the priest's clothes, thereby assuming his identity in order to protect him.
He was subsequently taken prisoner, thereby allowing the priest to flee. When compelled to offer sacrifice to the pagan gods, Alban refused and was martyred as a consequence.
"He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it." (Matthew 10:39, from the day's gospel reading, page F 6, The People's Anglican Missal.)
Alban's Mass Propers
Catholic Encyclopedia Articlewww.episcopalnet.org