St. Marcellus I, January 16
Pope in 308 and 309, Marcellus reorganized the Church of Rome after Diocletian’s persecution. His insistence on penance for Christians who had lapsed caused riots, and the emperor Maxentius sent him into exile, where he died. He is buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla.
January 16 has no celebration on the General Roman Calendar, so this page follows the Roman Martyrology, which remembers Saint Marcellus I, pope and martyr on this date.
Other saints on January 16
- St. Berard and companions, Franciscan martyrs in Morocco (1220)
- St. Honoratus of Arles, bishop (429)
Name days on January 16
In countries that keep name days, January 16 is the day for people named Marcellus and Marcel. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Marcellus | January 16 |
| Marcel | January 16 |
January 16 on the calendar
January 16 is the 16th day of the year, with 349 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday |
| 2027 | Saturday |
| 2028 | Sunday |
| 2029 | Tuesday |
| 2030 | Wednesday |
Keeping January 16
January 16 falls in winter. Since the general calendar has no celebration that day, the Mass is usually that of the weekday of the season, and the saint may be remembered in local calendars or in personal prayer. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Marcellus and Marcel, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around January 16
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| January 13 | St. Hilary of Poitiers |
| January 14 | St. Felix of Nola |
| January 15 | St. Paul the First Hermit |
| January 17 | St. Anthony the Abbot |
| January 18 | St. Margaret of Hungary |
| January 19 | St. Wulfstan |
The day before, January 15, is the day of St. Paul the First Hermit. The day after, January 17, belongs to St. Anthony the Abbot. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.