Caius

ON SAINT CAIUS,

Roman Pontiff and Martyr.

In the Year 296.

Caius, Roman Pontiff, Martyr (Saint)

By G. H.

FROM MSS.

CHAPTER I.

Ancient eulogies. Deeds concerning Sts. Sebastian, Tiburtius, and other Martyrs.

[1] The time of Saint Caius in the Roman Pontificate is most aptly explained in the Catalogue of the Roman Pontiffs, extended down to Saint Liberius Pope, the predecessor of Saint Damasus, or to about the year 360; which Catalogue was sent by Saint Damasus to Saint Jerome, From the Catalogue of the Pontiffs, a eulogy of Saint Caius. at his pressing entreaty, as we indicate more fully elsewhere. In this, then, the following is read: "Caius, twelve years, four months, seven * days. He was in the times of Carus and Carinus, from the 16th day before the Kalends of January in the consulship of Carus II and Carinus, until the 10th day before the Kalends of May, in the consulship of Diocletian VI and Constantius." Thus there. The predecessor of Saint Caius was Eutychianus, whose eulogy for clearer explanation we add, and it reads thus: "Eutychianus, eight years, and of Eutychianus his predecessor: eleven months, three days. He was in the times of Aurelian, from the consulship of Aurelian III and Marcellinus, until the 7th day before the Ides of December, in the consulship of Carus II and Carinus." He sat therefore from the year of Christ 275 until the year 283, the time of his See from the year 283, in which he died on December 7, or on the following day, for on both days he is reported in the ancient Martyrologies: and when the See had been vacant for eight or nine days (for in this the authors vary), Saint Caius was substituted on December 16, to 296. and after he had sat for 12 years, 4 months, 7 days, he died in the year of Christ 296. Hence first Eusebius (to whom the times of the Roman Pontiffs were not sufficiently well known) must be corrected, who in book 7 of Ecclesiastical History chapter 32 writes thus: "At that time when Felix had governed the Roman Church for five years, Eutychianus succeeded in his place. Who, having scarcely passed ten months in the episcopate, left his See to Caius, who lived in our age. This one, after presiding over the Church for about fifteen years, had as his successor Marcellinus, in whose times also the persecution fell." Thus there. On Saint Marcellinus we treat on April 26. The same Eusebius in the Chronicle, when he had indicated the consuls Probus Augustus and Victorinus, which is the year of Christ 282, adds this: "Of the Church of the Romans the episcopate was received 26th by Eutychianus, 8 months. After whom 27th Gaianus 15 years." Which Saint Jerome published in Latin thus: "Eutychianus received the 26th episcopate of the Roman Church, 8 months; after whom the 27th, Caius (otherwise Gaianus), 15 years." Eusebius is followed by Georgius Syncellus in the Chronography, and Nicephorus in book 6 of Ecclesiastical History chapter 34. But in things that pertain to the Roman Church, greater trust is to be placed in its own equally ancient children, than in outsiders.

[2] The other Catalogue, composed in the sixth century of Christ, and transcribed by us from the MS. codex of Queen Christina of Sweden, another from the later Catalogue, when it had said that Eutychianus his predecessor died on the 8th day before the Kalends of August, adds: "Caius, a Dalmatian by nationality, from the family of the Emperor Diocletian, from the father Caius, sat 11 years, 4 months, 12 days. He was in the times of Carus and Carinus, from the 15th day before the Kalends of January from the consulship of Carus II… He fled the persecution of Diocletian. Dwelling in the crypts, he rested as a Confessor. He held four ordinations in the month of December: 16 Priests, 7 Deacons, 5 Bishops in various places. He was buried in the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way on the 10th day before the Kalends of May: the episcopate was vacant for 11 days." But in the Liber Pontificalis this is explained thus: "He, fleeing the persecution of Diocletian, dwelling in the crypts, rested as a Confessor, crowned with martyrdom after eight years." These things there, which accord more with the later Catalogues usually ascribed to Anastasius, in which is the following: "Caius, a Dalmatian by nationality, and to Anastasius, from the family of Diocletian, from the father Caius, sat 11 years, 4 months, 9 days. He was in the times of Carinus, from the 14th day before the Kalends of January, from the consulship of Carus II and Carinus, until the 10th day before the Kalends of May, in the consulship of Diocletian IV and Constantius II. He established all the orders, so that they should be ascended in the Church as follows. If anyone should deserve to be made a Bishop, let him be Doorkeeper, Lector, Exorcist, Acolyte, Subdeacon, Deacon, Priest, and then be ordained Bishop. He divided the regions among the Deacons. He, fleeing the persecution of Diocletian, dwelling in the crypts, is crowned with martyrdom after eight years. He held four ordinations in the month of December: 27 Priests, 8 * Deacons, 5 Bishops in various places; who after 11 years together with his brother Gabinius, on account of the daughter of the Priest Gabinius, by name Susanna, is crowned with martyrdom: who also was buried in the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way on the 9th day before the Kalends of May; and the episcopate was vacant for 11 days." These same things are found in the MSS. Gesta of the Pontiffs and in the ancient Roman Breviaries, also those written by hand. Luitprand, Abbo of Fleury, Platina, and others follow: but we substitute twelve years from the earlier Catalogue in place of eleven, with Onuphrius, Baronius, and other more recent writers.

[3] In the Acts of Saint Sebastian (which we gave on January 20, judging them to have been written or polished by Saint Ambrose) many illustrious things concerning Saint Caius the Pontiff and his flight indicated above are held, which, excerpted from there, we repeat here, and they are these in chapters 18 and 19:

Saint Caius Pope, "There was a Pope of the City of Rome, by name Caius, a man of great prudence and great virtue, under the reign of Carinus, Diocletian, and Maximian… Therefore, when Carinus had been killed at the city of Mainz, in the consulship of Maximian and Aquilinus, such a persecution was made, that no one might buy or sell anything, except he who had offered incense to the little statues set in the place to which he had come for the purpose of buying. Around the islands, in the persecution of Diocletian around the streets, and at the nymphaea also were placed enforcers, who would not give opportunity of buying, nor grant the faculty of drawing water itself, except to those who had sacrificed to the idols. Then, having taken counsel of Saint Caius the Bishop, Together with the Christians he hides with Chromatius, Chromatius, an illustrious man, received all the Christians into his house, and so cherished them all, that not a single one succumbed to the necessity of sacrificing. But because such a force of persecution arose, that the very opinion of his Christianity could not be hidden, Chromatius obtained by sacred rescript that for the sake of healing he might stay on the Campanian shore, where he was lord of a broad estate, and gave the opportunity to every Christian willing to go with him, to escape the rage of the persecutor. Then a contention arose between Saint Polycarp and Sebastian, he settles the pious contention between Sts. Polycarp and Sebastian: which of these two should remain in the City, and which should go with Chromatius, who had received so great a Christian people. To them altercating the venerable Pope Caius said: 'While you both seek the crown of suffering, you leave desolate the people acquired for the Lord. Therefore it seems to me, brother Polycarp, that since you both hold the right path of the priesthood, and are filled with the knowledge of God, you should go with him for the strengthening of the minds of the believers, he persuades many to depart for the Campanian shore: and the building up of the doubting souls.' And he, having heard these things, submitted, and bore the gentle command of the Pope with equanimity. And so came the Lord's day, on which Caius the Bishop, performing the things of God within the house of Chromatius, addressed all with this voice: 'Our Lord Jesus Christ, foreseeing human frailty, established for those who believe in him two steps, that is, of confession and of martyrdom, so that those who despair of being able to bear the weight of martyrdom may hold the grace of confession; and giving their flank to the warriors, may bear solicitude for the soldiers of Christ, who are going to fight for his name. Let those therefore go, who wish, together with our sons Chromatius and Tiburtius, and let those who wish remain with me in this city. Not

for the spaces of the earth shall not divide us, whom the love of Christ joins; for the faith and zeal of Saint Tiburtius he weeps for joy: nor will our eyes feel your absence, because we behold you with the gaze of the inner man.' As Pope Caius was saying these and similar things, Tiburtius, a most noble man, cried out, saying: 'I beseech you, Father and Bishop of Bishops, do not allow me to turn my back on persecutors. For it is most pleasant and desirable to me, if I could a thousand times be killed for the true God; if only I may find that dignity of life which no successor may snatch from me, on which no times may impose an end.' Then Saint Caius, rejoicing at his faith, poured forth tears, praying that all who remained might be made victors in the contest, receiving the triumph of martyrdom.

[4] He remains in the City with twelve others. There remained with the venerable Pope Caius these: Marcellinus and Mark, together also with their father the most noble Tranquillinus, likewise blessed Sebastian, and the most beautiful youth but also more beautiful in mind, Saint Tiburtius, and Nicostratus from the Primiscrinium, with his brother Castorius and with his wife, by name Zoe; likewise Claudius, with Victorinus his brother and with his son Symphorianus, who had been freed from the disease of dropsy. These alone, all the rest departing with Chromatius, remained with Caius the Bishop. Mark and Marcellinus he sanctified with the honor of the diaconate; Tranquillinus their father he made a Priest; Saint Sebastian, who for the advancement of many lay hidden under the guise of military service, he appointed Defender of the Church; and the rest he made Subdeacons. But because no safe place could be found for maintaining a hiding-place… all these were staying with the holy Pope Caius at the house of Castulus the Zetarius in the very upper parts of the palace, and day and night occupied with groans and tears and fasts and prayers, He persists with them in pious works, they entreated the Lord that they might be held worthy through the endurance of his confession to be joined in the number of the holy Martyrs. There ascended to them secretly religious men and religious women, and obtained for themselves diverse graces of healing from the Saints. For, strengthened by the firmness of true faith, and in the working of miracles, and established on the foundation of virtues, the grace of healings followed them. For the eyes of the blind were illuminated by their prayers, and the sick were healed, and from possessed bodies demons were driven out. He baptizes a youth, lifeless from a fall, healed by Saint Tiburtius. Thus Saint Tiburtius healed a youth, lifeless from a fall, and converted him and his parents. Then, taking their hands, he separated them from the crowds, and showed them the power of the name of Christ. And seeing their spirit firmly fixed in the fear of the Lord, he led them to Pope Caius, and said: 'Venerable Pope and Prelate of the divine law, behold those whom through me Christ has gained today, in whom my faith, like a tender new sapling, has first burst forth into fruit.' Then Saint Caius the Bishop baptized them, that is, the youth with his parents, giving thanks to God.

[5] So far the Acts of Saint Sebastian, in which the martyrdom of this and other saints is then described without mention of Saint Caius. The year of the persecution is indicated as 286, in the consulship of Maximus and Aquilinus indicated above, so that it seems that in that year or in the beginning of the following all those whose memory stands in the Roman Martyrology were killed. likewise others converted by Saint Castulus. The rest is explained in the Acts of Saint Sebastian. One of the twelve Martyrs was Saint Castulus, who is venerated on March 26, from whose Acts of martyrdom, there published from an ancient codex, we transcribe the following: "Boldly and steadfastly the same principal Martyr of Christ, Castulus, preaching the Lord and Savior, drew many whom the devil, deceiving by his fraud, had swallowed up and held devoted and bound to the worship of idols, away from his venomous mouth, and led them to the true light of Christianity. Whom blessed Castulus, secretly bringing into his own house, presenting them to blessed Pope Caius, who there with the other Saints was hidden, offered, saying: 'Behold, venerable Father, receive those whom the Lord and our Redeemer has gained through me, your insignificant servant.' And the venerable Pope, receiving them with great joy, immediately taking their names one by one, baptizing them all, joined them to the number of the Saints." Saint Polycarp the Priest had departed with other Christians to the Campanian shore, who before had baptized very many, as may be read in his Life on February 23.

* al. six, * al. nine * al. to Murgum * al. Maximus

CHAPTER II.

Deeds concerning Saint Susanna his niece and other Martyrs.

[6] They hide in the crypts: Meanwhile, by the great providence of God, from the house of Saint Castulus and the upper part of the palace, while this persecution was raging, Saint Caius was led away by other Christians, and thus fled the persecution of Diocletian, and dwelling in the crypts rested as a Confessor, as we indicated above from the earlier Catalogue of the Pontiffs. But what he did in that retreat, for the most part lies hidden, because we have not found his glorious deeds set forth by anyone, and we must gather them from the Acts of other Saints. Among these may be counted the ancient Acts of Saint Susanna, Virgin and Martyr, niece of Saint Caius the Pontiff through his brother Gabinius, himself also a Martyr. The principal part of these Acts from three old MSS. and Mombritius was published by us on February 18, on the feast of Saints Maximus, Count of the Private Estate, Claudius his brother, Praepedigna his wife, and their sons Alexander and Cutias: from which we extract these things pertaining to Saint Caius.

[7] "Gabinius the Priest of the city of Rome, full brother of Caius, Bishop of the city of Rome, he is of the family of the Emperor Diocletian, frequently conferred with his brother Caius: who, born of noble progeny, was most famously known, because he was of the family of Diocletian Augustus: for Caius also was so published… Claudius, sent by Diocletian, said to Gabinius: 'Holy brother, are you not the son of Maximinus, whose also is Caius, your Bishop, brother of the most famous Senator and Consul, our paternal uncle, and cousin of our Lords the Augusti?… Diocletian Augustus has commanded that your daughter, to be given in union with his son, be joined to Maximian Augustus.' Then Gabinius, coming to his daughter Susanna, said to her: 'I desire you to be led to our holy Father and brother, your uncle, Caius the Bishop, so that what the Holy Spirit has conferred in you may not be emptied.' At the same time he asked Saint Caius the Bishop to come to him, and first narrated to him all that had been done, and entering the house they said to the girl with tears: 'Diocletian Augustus has sent to us Claudius our cousin, summoned by Saint Gabinius his brother, who coming to us, declared that he seeks you, his dearest daughter, in marriage for his son Maximian.' Susanna answered her father and said: 'Where is your wisdom excluded, that you do not know that I am a Christian, as also are you, teachers?…' Gabinius the Priest answered: 'Therefore, daughter, be steadfast in the faith which you hold.' Caius the Bishop answered and said: 'And may we also deserve to offer the fruit of an oblation to the Lord Jesus Christ from your steadfastness: he strengthens Saint Susanna in faith and chastity. for I know his piety is toward all men, and that the Lord Jesus Christ is merciful.' Susanna answered Caius the Bishop, her uncle, and her father Gabinius the Priest, and said to them: 'My lords, I know, because from your mouth I have been instructed that I should always take care to preserve chastity, and show purity to the Lord Jesus Christ.'… Caius the Bishop said: 'Therefore, if you have already been handed over to God, keep his commandments, because thus he deigned to declare to us his servants through the Gospel teaching: "When you shall stand before Princes and Governors, do not premeditate how you shall answer, because it shall be given to you in that hour what you shall say: for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit, who speaks for you."' Matt. 10:19 Susanna answered with tears and said: 'So I hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, that by your prayers I may be made a temple of God.'"

[8] "After three days Claudius came and said: 'Your holiness has known for what joy I have come to you.' Caius the Bishop answered and said to him: 'If there are other causes, yet for the common genealogy and family of our connection, He receives Saint Claudius: we deserve to be presented to the kinship.' Claudius said: 'Let your sanctity then know, that our Lord Diocletian Augustus desires to embrace the friendship and affection of your kinship.'… Then the girl Susanna was summoned into the sight of Claudius and Gabinius the Priest and Caius the Bishop. Then Claudius, seeing Susanna, with tears wished to embrace and kiss her. Susanna answered. and not permitted a kiss by Susanna, 'Do not defile my mouth, because my Lord Jesus Christ knows that the mouth of your handmaid has never been touched by man:… It is not so much that I refuse your kiss, but I will refuse it, because your mouth is polluted by sacrifices to idols… Do penance and be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.' Claudius said to Caius the Bishop: 'Therefore purify me, if the clean man who believes in Christ is better than those gods which I have worshipped and to which I have offered sacrifices, he instructs him: to whom even our Princes are humbled.' Caius the Bishop answering said to Claudius: 'Brother Claudius, hear me. It is good what I admonish you: this is what you came to do. The Lord wishes to redeem you through the petition of the girl, that our family may be saved: because the Lord himself deigned to say in the Gospel: "Come to me all you that labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you." Matt. 11:28 No burden of sins is worse than that a man, whom the Lord God has made, should be defiled with idols: he exhorts him to detest idolatry for whom he deigned to descend to earth, and to be born through the Virgin, and to be humbled and to die for man; whom the same Lord by rising again deigned to lift up from hell, who was held by the bonds of sinners, that is, those serving idols; and that, raised up, he might be led to the boundary of the heavens.' But Claudius, receiving with joy, said to Caius the Bishop: 'Most reverend man, I will do all things which you preach to us: only let the petition of Diocletian Augustus not be delayed.' Caius the Bishop said: 'You, brother, first make our petition, and all things will be granted to you, praying well… and that penance should be done, Use my counsel and be faithful to God, and do penance, and do penance for the blood of the Saints which you have shed; and receive baptism, and all things will be supplied to you: because our Lord has so deigned to admonish us, saying: "When you stand before Governors and Kings, I shall give you a mouth and wisdom, which all

your adversaries cannot withstand." Luke 21:15 Claudius said: 'And when I have received baptism, shall all the crimes of my heart be blotted out?' Caius answered and said: 'All the crimes shall be washed away, only do you believe faithfully.' At that same hour Susanna, casting herself at the feet of Caius the Bishop, said to him: 'Lord, through Christ I conjure you, delay not to baptize him, but redeem him.' Caius the Bishop says to her: 'Let us make inquiry, whether he hastens to believe with his whole heart.' Him, by the hope of remission of sins ready for all things, Claudius said: 'In your promise I believe, if all my sins are forgiven me.' Caius the Bishop said: 'In the name of Jesus Christ and of Almighty God, all your sins are forgiven.' On the same day he cast himself on the ground before the feet of Caius the Bishop, and throwing himself down and sprinkling the dust of the earth on his head, thus he spoke saying: 'Lord God, eternal light, forgive me all things that I have done against your saints, because I did it not knowing: and the idols to which I wretched, empty, and void, offered sacrifice, I reject. Fill me with your grace, he makes him a catechumen: that all my children, and my wife, may know that you save all who hope in you.' Then he made him a catechumen, and gave him the medicine, and dismissed him."

[9] "But Claudius, coming to his house, related everything to his wife. Then his wife Praepedigna came to the house of Gabinius the Priest, and entered alone to Caius the Bishop. When Caius the Bishop saw her, he gave thanks to God. She cast herself at the feet of blessed Caius the Bishop, and held his feet, and kissed them with tears, saying: 'Save your servant, and me, and my children.' Hearing this, Susanna, coming out of the chamber, embraces Praepedigna with joy. as also his wife and children. Following by night, Claudius himself with his two sons came to the house of Gabinius the Priest, and cast himself at his feet, saying: 'By the Lord Jesus Christ I conjure you, delay not to baptize me together with my wife and my children.' Then he made his wife and his sons Alexander and Cutias catechumens, and baptized Claudius… At the same hour blessed Caius the Bishop anointed him with chrism, he confirms the baptized, and baptized his wife Praepedigna and his sons Alexander and Cutias, whom however Gabinius the Priest received from baptism. Then he offered sacrifice for them in the same house, and gives them the Sacred Eucharist: and consecrated the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, and milk, and honey, and the font, and shared with all the mystery of the Lord…"

[10] "Claudius and his brother by name Maximus, Count of the Private Estate, came to the Arches of the Salarian Gate next to the palace of Sallust, summoned by the hope of martyrdom he runs in, where Gabinius the Priest was staying… And while they wept long for joy, it was announced to Saint Caius the Bishop that the dwelling of his church, which he himself had made, was next to the palace of Sallust: because he was staying there. And quickly coming to Gabinius the Priest, he hoped that they had come to him for the palm of martyrdom, and therefore hurried and came. Who indeed entered with such awe, that at his entrance all fell on the pavement. To whom blessed Caius said: 'Be steadfast in spirit in the name of the Lord.' At the same hour he gave a prayer saying: he prays: 'Let us pray. Lord God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who for the salvation and eternal life of all sent our Lord Jesus Christ, to draw us out of the darkness of the world; grant to these your servants constancy of faith, for you reign forever and ever.' And all answered with one mind, 'Amen.' And sitting, they listened to words from Caius the Bishop. But Susanna never wished to sit with them, but standing she prayed. Then Caius the Bishop said: 'I give thanks to my God, brother Maximus, that you have deigned to visit us… This girl has already received Christ as her spouse from God the Father Almighty.' Maximus answered and said: he addresses Saint Maximus: 'Whatever is given by God is eternal.' Caius the Bishop said: 'Therefore receive also eternal life… We admonish you to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God, the eternal Son of God. For this sublimity which we see is known to be temporal: but that which we preach is eternal, innocent, held fast, and lovable:… You know, brother, all things which we have forsaken, which we have told you, how much we have entrusted to you, and we have hoped for nothing except our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we live and glory…' Then he appointed a fast for Maximus, and commanded that he should walk to his house. He exhorts him to receive the faith, Maximus coming to his own house, was held with such desire of love for Caius the Bishop and Gabinius the Priest, that, preferring death, he confessed the Lord…"

[11] "After the fifth day, coming cleansed, he cast himself at the feet of Caius the Bishop, saying: 'I adjure you, my Lord, to the one seeking baptism he prescribes a fast: by him through whom you have enlightened our brother Claudius, delay not to enlighten me, because I have felt the compunction of our Lord Jesus Christ in my heart, whom you preach, from the day in which you deigned to give me the word of edification.' Caius the Bishop says to him: 'Therefore incline your heart to the invocation of our Lord Jesus Christ.' Maximus answered and said: 'I, wretched and unhappy, beseech your sanctity, to save my soul, and to draw me out of the depth of the darkness of idols, and deign to lead me to the true light.' Caius the Bishop said: 'Hear me, brother, if you believe with all your heart and renounce the pomps of the angel of Satan.' Maximus answered: 'I have renounced once for all, because I wish to live by your example.' Then Gabinius the Priest catechized him, and revealed all the sacraments to him. and confers on him the Christian Sacraments. And Saint Caius the Bishop did according to the custom as is usual, and baptized him: and taking him up from the basin, anointed him with the sacrament of Chrism, and offered an oblation for him to the Lord, and all participated, and all from the same day began to dwell together with joy and hymns."

[12] "But Maximus, every night, was selling his property through a certain friend of his, Thraso, a most Christian man of senatorial rank, He had once baptized Saint Thraso: who openly sat in public, having in his heart with reverence the Christian religion: whom many years before Caius the Bishop had baptized: who more adorned by collecting the deeds of the holy Martyrs, he is accused before Diocletian of having made Maximus a Christian: and distributed everything during the night hours to the poor Christians, going around through the streets and prisons and guard-houses… After fifteen days Arsicius, deputy of the Count of the Private Estate, said to Diocletian Augustus, as though for glory… 'Maximus, transacting, sells off his property; for he is known to have been made a Christian by Caius and Gabinius'… Then Diocletian Augustus commanded Julius, a cruel pagan, that he should direct the soldiers and seize them all, and only Caius the Bishop they should not seize… he commanded Claudius, Praepedigna, Alexander and Cutias and Maximus to be burned in a fire and cast into the current. But Gabinius the Priest and Susanna he caused to be bound in custody chains… But Susanna, coming with two women into her own house, entered… Then Diocletian Augustus commanded that there within her own house, next to the house of Caius the Bishop, she should be punished with the sword: [after the slaying of Saint Susanna he twice celebrates the sacraments in her house:] who, being struck within her own house, gave up her spirit… From the same day blessed Caius the Bishop began to enter into the same house, where she had been struck by the sword, and to offer sacrifice to the Lord his God for the commemoration of blessed Susanna to the people, because the house of blessed Gabinius the Priest adjoined the house of blessed Caius the Bishop. From the same time there was already this sign for Christians: a Station was assigned in the two houses, which is so to this day. But this was done at Rome in the sixth region, next to the street of Mamurius, before the forum of Sallust."

[13] So far the excerpts from the Acts of Saint Susanna and other Martyrs, nearly all of which we gave on February 18 with their explanation. The author, with the exception of the last lines, we judge to have been contemporary and an eyewitness, perhaps that Thraso himself, who by collecting the deeds of the Martyrs adorned them, and afterwards, becoming a Martyr himself, is venerated on December 11. In these Acts it is said that Serena, the wife of Diocletian, secretly a Christian, collected the body of Saint Susanna the Martyr by night, and wiped the blood with her own veil, and placed it in a silver case in her palace. Was Saint Serena also baptized by him? Whether she was instructed and baptized by Saint Caius, which seems to harmonize with the time and her nobility, will be inquired into on her natal day, August 16.

CHAPTER III.

The sacred cult of Saint Caius. Relics.

[14] On Saint Gabinius the Priest, brother of Saint Caius, later a Martyr, we treated with the Roman Martyrology on February 19. He is venerated April 22, Meanwhile the martyrdom of both is joined in the genuine Martyrology of Bede on this April 22: "At Rome, the deposition of Saint Caius the Pope, who, when he had ruled the Church twelve years, four months, twelve days, was crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Diocletian together with Gabinius his brother," slain evidently in the same persecution of Diocletian, but on the 11th day before the Kalends of March, as is added in Notker: who Notker, along with Usuard, Ado, and others, has nearly the same eulogy. But both they and he erroneously attribute only eleven years with Anastasius the Librarian to the pontificate of Caius; which we have proved above to have been twelve. The deposition of the same Saint Caius is recalled in the ancient Martyrology of Saint Jerome, and elsewhere in others. April 21, On the previous day, or April 21, Saint Caius is named by Wandelbert and in some MSS. But with Saint Gabinius his brother he is reported on February 19 in the MS. Martyrology of Saint Martin of Trier. On February 20 in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome: February 19 and 20 again the following is read: "At Rome on the Appian Way, in the cemetery of Saint Callistus, the deposition of Gaius the Bishop": whom also on the said day Rabanus and Notker with various MSS. have, and perhaps this is the replacing of the body in a better or more suitable place. Finally, the MS. Martyrology of Dijon, in the additions to the Martyrology of Bede before Volume I of March, May 23. recalls the memory of the same on May 23 in these words: "Of Saint Caius the Pope and of two hundred and fifty others at Rome." But about these we were able to find nothing.

[15] The Acts of Saint Caius, Pope and Martyr, explained with notes by Cesare Becilli of Urbino, Priest of the Congregation of the City, The body of Saint Caius found in the year 1622 were printed at Rome in the year 1628, from the press of the Reverend Apostolic Chamber; in which that author relates that the sacred body of Saint Caius, in the said cemetery of Saint Callistus, in the year

of Christ 1622 on April 21, was discovered; and the name was inscribed on the tomb in this way: "CAIO," with two PP, on a brick stone set in the face of the sepulchre that had been altered, with the palm and the customary sign among the faithful of Christ engraved, with a leaden plate joining the stones of the sepulchre. Found with the body of Saint Caius were his ring, and among the bones certain bronze coins of Diocletian. Paul Aringhi, in book 3 of Roma Subterranea chapter 11, adds: "In recent years by Urban VIII the very ancient church of the same Saint Caius has been restored in exactly the same place, the church restored in 1631. where the house of the same was said once to have stood in the times of Diocletian, not far from the church of blessed Susanna the Virgin: and there the body of the most holy Pontiff and Martyr has been placed for safekeeping with religious worship, with this title inscribed: 'Urban VIII Supreme Pontiff, the house in the City of Saint Caius, Pope and Martyr, consecrated and erected into a church, and renowned for its sacred station, fallen through age, restored from the foundations; and, with the relics of the same Saint Caius brought in, restored the title and station, in the year of Salvation 1631, the ninth of his pontificate.'"

[16] The same things are touched upon in few words in the Roman Breviary revised by the said Urban's authority, and the Church is said to be adorned with relics: for the Becilli already cited says that the body of Saint Caius, with other relics, was given by Gregory XV to Alphonso Gonzaga, Archbishop of Rhodes, The body carried to Novellara. and that he himself had seen the document of donation made on July 31 of the year 1622 by Johannes Ferrinus, Notary of the Apostolic Chamber, and that the body was carried to Novellara in Cisalpine Gaul; but that the brick stone in which the name of Caius the Pope was inscribed is preserved with Jacobus Crescentius, Abbot of Saint Equitius near Norcia; and that two of the bronze coins of Diocletian, which were found in the tomb together with the body of Saint Caius, are kept with his own people in the Congregation of the Oratory, with some particles of relics. relics elsewhere, Would that someone would take care to send us from Novellara the history and documents of the Translation indicated by Becilli, that they may at least be inserted into a supplement to this work. Some Relics of Saint Caius are also said to be at Bologna, at Bamberg, in the Bavarian monastery of Andechs, and elsewhere. But we do not rashly believe these to be of Saint Caius the Roman Pope; because very many Martyrs were named Caius, some of whom also suffered at Rome and Bologna. Tamayo Salazar numbers Saints Gabinius and Caius among the Saints of Spain, as though they were born of the mother Serena, daughter of the Emperor Philip, of Spanish origin. On which matter we treated on February 19 in the Life of Saint Gabinius. Georgius Cardosus in the Hagiologium Lusitanum asserts that his feast is celebrated with annual solemnity in the monastery of Saint Clare of Pinhel na Beira: the body of another Caius, a Martyr, in Portugal. that there is preserved his body, given by Pope Paul V to a noble Lusitanian man, by name Hector da Sella Falcao, and thence deposited in the said convent. Which we think must be understood of some Caius the Martyr.