THE LIFE OF ST. CONCORDIUS, PRIEST AND MARTYR.
About the year of Christ 175.
PrefaceConcordius, Priest and Martyr at Spoleto in Umbria (St.)
The memory of St. Concordius in the Martyrologies. The memory of this holy Martyr exists in all the Martyrologies of the Latins: the Roman, those of Bede, Usuard, Ado, Hrabanus, Notker, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinius, and others. His body is said to be preserved in the Monastery of St. Peter at Besalu in the diocese of Gerona: His body is at Besalu in Spain. his feast is celebrated there on January 2, as Anthony Vincent Domenec testifies in his history of the Saints of Catalonia, and Philip Ferrarius in his general catalogue of Saints at January 2. The feast of his Translation is celebrated on July 4. His Translation on July 4. Concerning the relics of St. Concordius (whether of this one, or as I rather think, of another), we treat below when discussing the finding of St. Martina.
The source for his Life. The Life of St. Concordius is given by Boninus Mombritius, Vincent of Beauvais book 10, chapter 108, the printed Acts of the Martyrs, and Surius, though with slightly altered phrasing. I have chiefly used the ancient manuscript codices of the Imperial Monastery of St. Maximin at Trier and of St. Mary de Ripatorio. Mention of him is made in the Life of St. Pontian on January 19 and of St. Constantius, Bishop of Perugia, on January 29. Peter de Natalibus, book 2, chapter 30, and Ferrarius in his catalogue of the Saints of Italy also treat of him.
LIFE.
Concordius, Priest and Martyr at Spoleto in Umbria (St.) BHL Number: 1906
[1] The persecution of Marcus Aurelius. In the times of the Emperor Antoninus, a most severe persecution arose in the city of Rome; so that no one who had not sacrificed to the gods was easily granted permission to buy or sell. The father and upbringing of St. Concordius. At that time there was in the city of Rome a certain man named Concordius, born of a noble family, whose father * Gordianus was called, a priest of the most holy life from the title of Pastor. He therefore, having a son Concordius, whom he instructed in all the doctrine of Holy Scripture, had him made Subdeacon by the holy Bishop Pius of the city of Rome. St. Concordius becomes a Subdeacon. This Blessed Concordius, with his father, devoted himself to nothing else but fasts and prayers day and night, and attending to alms for the poor; and they asked the Lord that they might escape the fury of the persecutors.
[2] He goes to St. Eutyches and dwells with him. Then Blessed Concordius said to his father: My lord, if you will, let me go to St. Eutyches and dwell with him for a few days, until the fury of the enemy Emperor Antoninus ceases. His father says to him: Son, let us rather stay here, so that we may be crowned. Blessed Concordius said to him: I will go if you command; for I shall be crowned wherever Christ commands me to be crowned. Then his father sent him away: and he went to St. Eutyches; who was then staying on his small estate, on the Via Salaria, near the city of * Tribulum. Blessed Eutyches, receiving him with great joy, began to give thanks to God. And they dwelt together in the same place, devoting themselves to prayers and fasts. He heals many with him. And many afflicted with various diseases came to them: and they, praying, healed them in the name of Jesus Christ.
[3] He is summoned before the Governor Torquatus. Then Torquatus, Count of Tuscany, who then dwelt in the city of Spoleto, hearing their fame, sent and summoned St. Concordius to himself, and said to him: What is your name? And he answered: I am a Christian. Asked his name, he responds that he is a Christian. The Count says to him: I ask about your name, not about your Christ. St. Concordius answered: I have already told you; I am a Christian, and I confess Christ.
[4] The Count said: Sacrifice to the immortal gods and be our friend: and I will regard you as a father, and I will recommend to my lord the Emperor Antoninus that he make you a priest of the gods. St. Concordius answered: Would that you might become a partaker of your gods. The Count says to him: Listen to me and sacrifice to the immortal gods. St. Concordius answered: Rather you listen to me and sacrifice to the Lord Jesus Christ, so that you may escape torments. For if you do not, you and your gods will have punishment in eternal fire. [He is beaten with rods. Visited by SS. Eutyches and Anthymus. He is permitted to go with St. Anthymus.] Then the Count ordered him to be beaten with rods and locked up in public custody.
[5] Then Blessed Eutyches came to him by night, with St. Anthymus the Bishop; and because Anthymus was a friend of the Count, he asked the Count Torquatus to grant him to himself for a few days. And he entrusted him to Blessed Anthymus, and they dwelt together for many days. At an opportune time he consecrated him a Priest, and they began to devote themselves to prayers. He is consecrated a Priest.
[6] After some time, however, the Count sent and took him; and says to him: What have you decided about your safety? St. Concordius answered: He is recalled to prison: My safety is Christ, to whom I daily sacrifice a sacrifice of praise. For you and your gods will burn in hell. Then he ordered him to be hung on the rack. But he with a joyful face said: He is hung on the rack. Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. The Count says to him: Sacrifice to great Jupiter. Blessed Concordius answered: I do not sacrifice to a deaf and mute stone; for I have my Lord Jesus Christ, whom my soul serves.
[7] He is locked in prison, to be killed by starvation. Then the enraged Count had him shut in the lowest part of the prison, and had iron placed on his neck and hands: and he commanded that no one should enter to him, wishing him to perish of hunger. There Blessed Concordius began to give thanks to almighty God and to say: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of good will" (Luke 2:14). An Angel appears to him. And behold, at midnight an Angel of the Lord appeared to him, saying: Do not fear, but act manfully, for I am with you.
[8] Executioners are sent to him at midnight. After three days the Count commanded two of his officers to go to him at midnight, saying: Either let him sacrifice, or let him be punished by beheading. And the officers, coming to him with a small statue of Jupiter, said: Have you heard what the Count has ordered? The holy Martyr answered: You know. They said: Either sacrifice to Jupiter, or you will receive the capital sentence. Then Blessed Concordius, giving thanks, said: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. He spits on the statue of Jupiter. And he spat in the face of Jupiter. Then one of the officers, drawing his sword, cut off his head: He is beheaded. and thus in the confession of the Lord he gave up his spirit.
[9] He is buried near Spoleto. Then two clerics and certain religious men came and took his body and placed it not far from the city of Spoleto, where many waters flow. The feast of the holy Martyr Concordius is celebrated on the Kalends of January. At the place where the blessed Martyr lies buried, the blind are illumined, Miracles at his tomb. the sick are healed, and demons are expelled, through the prayers of Blessed Concordius the Martyr, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Notes* alt. Concordianus.
* alt. Tribulae.
* alt. "you will burn."