Lucian of Beauvais

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS LUCIAN THE BISHOP, MAXIMIAN THE PRIEST, AND JULIAN THE DEACON, AT BEAUVAIS IN BELGIC GAUL.

Lucian, Bishop and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Julian, Deacon and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Maximian, Priest and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.)

From various sources.

Section I. The celebrated memory of St. Lucian and his companions in the sacred calendars.

[1] The Bellovaci, ^a people of Belgic Gaul situated between the rivers Somme, Oise, and Seine and the English Channel, were instructed in the Christian religion by St. Lucian; St. Lucian, Apostle of the Bellovaci. whom some assert to have been ^a priest, though they themselves maintain he was ^a bishop, and that this was handed down from their forefathers. Because there is some controversy among authors concerning his era, as we shall discuss in section 2, it seemed good here to give the words of the martyrologies that celebrate him, which may perhaps shed some light. From these it will be clear that the other of his companions, Maximian, is variously called Messian, Massian, or Maxian. Antonius Loiselius attests that at Beauvais he is commonly called Messian, and that in the martyrology of that church Messian is the form written.

[2] Bede: "At Beauvais, the holy martyrs Lucian and Messian." The manuscript of Centula, bearing the name of Bede, and the manuscript of the Church of St. Mary at Utrecht: "In the city of Beauvais, the holy martyrs Lucian, Maximian, His and his companions' names in the sacred tables, January 8. (Utrecht: Massian) and Julian." The manuscript of the Church of St. Lambert at Liege, likewise under Bede's name: "At Beauvais, the saints Lucian the Priest, Maximian, and Julian, Martyrs." Usuard: "At Beauvais, the holy martyrs Lucian the Priest, Maximian, and Julian: of whom Maximian and Julian were first punished by the sword by the persecutors. Then the blessed Lucian, after excessive slaughter, since he did not fear to confess the name of Christ with ^a living voice, himself received the same sentence as the former." Bellinus of Padua has the same, and the Roman Martyrology, except that in the latter after "Then the blessed Lucian" is added: "who had come into Gaul with St. Dionysius."

[3] Ado: "At Beauvais, the saints Lucian and Messian." Notker: "At Melloacia (read: Beauvais), St. Lucian, companion of the blessed Dionysius. Likewise Messian." Certain more recent manuscripts marked with the name of Usuard call St. Lucian ^a disciple of the blessed Peter; others say he came from Antioch to Rome with St. Peter, as Andreas Saussaius writes in the Gallican Martyrology, where he composes ^a lengthy eulogy of him. Manuscripts from the monasteries of Laetium and St. Martin of Tournai: "In the city of Beauvais, the birthday of St. Lucian, Bishop and Martyr, who, having set out from the city of Rome and arriving at the city of Beauvais in Gaul, shining with the word of preaching and signs of miracles, there won ^a great people for the Lord. The officers of the Emperor Julian, seeking him out, bound his hands, beat him, and beheaded him. His lifeless body, as is reported, raised itself and, grasping its own severed holy head in its hand, carried it with steady step to the place which the holy man had chosen for his burial." The Tournai manuscript adds: "Written in the account of his deeds." Franciscus Maurolycus: "At Beauvais, the saints Lucian the Priest and disciple of the blessed Peter; and also Maximian and Julian, youths converted and baptized by him: of whom the first was ^a bishop, the second ^a priest, the third ^a deacon; and the first, following the constancy of the others, was himself slain by the persecutors after them, in the time of Pope Clement." Galesinius: "At Beauvais, the holy martyrs Lucian the Bishop, Maximian the Priest, and Julian: whom he instructed in the precepts of the Christian religion and baptized. Now Lucian was ^a disciple of Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, sent into Gaul by Clement I, the Pontiff, and made Bishop of the city of Beauvais; he turned many thousands of people from the worship of idols to faith in Christ the Lord. He was ^a man of admirable patience and the utmost abstinence; he lived on herbs alone and water to drink; during Lent he took food twice ^a week, sustained by the power of the heavenly bread. When by decree of the Emperor Domitian the Prefect Julian was carrying out ^a most terrible persecution against the Christians, by his order those two were first beheaded; then this one, in the greatest constancy of defending the faith, was vehemently tortured and subjected to the same penalty of beheading." Constantinus Ghinius, the manuscript Florarium, and others also make mention of these holy martyrs.

[4] Also January 4 and 7. Petrus Louetus, in Book 2, chapter 3 of the Antiquities of Beauvais, writes that in certain martyrologies his memory is found on January 7 (on which day he reports he was crowned with martyrdom). On January 4, Rabanus and the manuscript of St. Maximin at Trier have the following: "On the same day, the Passion of Lucian the Priest and Martyr, who was sent from Rome to preach the word of God in Gaul, and was martyred under Julian Caesar, slain by the sword in those regions; through whose preaching many were converted to the faith; at whose tomb many miracles are displayed and very many healings occur." Notker has nearly the same for that day.

[5] Likewise September 15 and October 16. On September 15 and October 16, some translation of St. Lucian and his companions appears to have taken place, which was also recorded in the martyrologies. For on the former day the manuscript of the monastery of St. Martin at Tournai has: "At Beauvais, the translation of the body of St. Lucian." On the latter day, the manuscript martyrology of Centula: "In the city of Beauvais, the saints Lucian, Maxian, and Julian, Martyrs." Several manuscript calendars in our possession have the same. Also the Paris edition of Usuard from 1536: "On the same day, the holy martyrs Lucian, Maximian, and Julian. The virgin Maxima also suffered with them." But this about Maxima seems to have been added through the carelessness of the typographer, since she, in Africa, having endured many torments under Geiseric together with Saturianus and Martinianus, finally rested in ^a peaceful end in ^a convent of virgins, as we shall relate on that day.

Section II. On the era of St. Lucian.

[6] He was ^a companion of St. Dionysius, Apostle of Paris. Lucian was ^a companion of St. Dionysius, the Apostle of Paris. That Dionysius was the Areopagite, if not established by the certain authority of an ancient writer, has at least been accepted by the constant tradition of the Gallic churches. It is not our intention to overturn this: we shall examine the reasons on which it rests on October 9. There are certainly learned men who assert that the Dionysius who was the Apostle of Paris was entirely different from the Areopagite, following St. Gregory of Tours, who in Book 1 of the History of the Franks, chapter 28, writes thus: "In the time of this man (Pope Sixtus), seven men, ordained as bishops, were sent to preach in Gaul, as the account of the passion of the holy martyr Saturninus relates. For it says: 'Under the consuls Decius and Gratus, as is retained in faithful memory, the city of Toulouse first began to have the most blessed Saturninus as its priest.' These therefore were sent: Gratian as bishop to Tours, Trophimus as bishop to Arles, Paul as bishop to Narbonne, Saturninus as bishop to Toulouse, Dionysius as bishop to Paris, Stremonius as bishop to Clermont, and Martial was appointed as bishop to Limoges." We shall give this history of St. Saturninus on November 29, in which those words "as is retained in faithful memory" show it to be very ancient.

[7] Whether he was the Areopagite. Antonius Loiselius, in his Commentary on Beauvais, chapter 3, no. 2, says that the ancient Gallic and English legends favor this opinion of Gregory of Tours, and he himself discusses much about this question, leaning toward the view that denies the Areopagite preached at Paris. Joannes Savaro, ^a most learned man, in his Origins of Clermont professes to hold the same opinion, and in his notes on Gregory promises to confirm it with solid arguments — whether those notes have been published, we do not know. Our Petrus Halloix attempts to undermine the authority of Gregory and of Sulpicius Severus who writes nearly the same thing, and amasses many arguments by which he tries to prove that Paris was converted by the Areopagite; but it would perhaps not be difficult to refute most of them. For the hymn of Fortunatus that he cites, one might perhaps suspect was composed after the era of Louis the Pious, as also the second life of St. Genevieve, which we gave on January 3, in chapter 4, no. 14 of which St. Dionysius is said to have been sent into Gaul by Pope Clement. For the life which is said to have been written eighteen years after his death — whether it still exists is not certain, as we said in our preface there, no. 2.

[8] Lucian's companion St. Quintinus: In the life of St. Quintinus the Martyr, which we shall give on October 31, the following is found: "In this time, therefore, the most blessed Quintinus and the most holy Lucian, setting out from Rome, came to Gaul under the Lord's guidance. It is also reported, and the accounts of their contests attest, that with them came Sts. Crispinus and Crispinianus, Ruffinus, Valerius, Marcellus, Eugenius, Victorianus, Fuscianus, Piato, and Regulus together," etc. In all manuscripts, Lucian is joined with Quintinus, and the latter is said to have suffered under Diocletian and Maximian. When he came to Gaul. Baronius in his notes on the Martyrology therefore posits two Lucians. Louetus holds that Quintinus, Crispinus, Crispinianus, and Piato were also sent into Gaul by St. Clement: he proves this from the life of Sts. Sixtus and Sinicius, who are said to have been disciples of St. Peter and the first apostles of the Remois, among whom, when they saw they were making little progress, they betook themselves to Soissons, and there were kindly received by those whom Sts. Crispinus and Crispinianus had instructed in the mysteries of our religion. But the life of Sts. Sixtus and Sinicius, which we shall give on September 1 from two manuscripts, states that they were sent from Rome into Gaul in the time of Diocletian, after Crispinus and Crispinianus had already been killed. The Roman Martyrology indeed makes Sixtus ^a disciple of St. Peter, but killed under Nero; and thus he could not have come to the city of Soissons after the death of those who had only arrived there under the Emperor Domitian, as Louetus maintains.

[9] That Crispinus and Crispinianus were killed under Diocletian and Maximian is attested not only by the Roman Martyrology, When Sts. Crispinus and Crispinianus lived. but their published and handwritten Acts proclaim it, in which mention is made of Lucian (or Lucius), Quintinus, Ruffinus, Valerius, and Eugenius, and all are said to have been born at Rome of illustrious parentage. We shall give these on October 25. Concerning St. Piato, or Piaton, the more settled opinion of our writers is, as we shall say on October 1, that he underwent martyrdom under Maximian; and so Molanus, our Buzelinus, and Miraeus in the Belgian calendars and Chronicle report. St. Paschasius Radbertus, in the life of Sts. Valerius and Ruffinus, writes that they came with Quintinus, Crispinus, and Crispinianus from the city of Rome, but not with Dionysius. We shall treat of the others individually in their proper places. Concerning Dionysius and Lucian, we establish this one thing for now: the matter is not clear. In the meantime, because it is expedient, until we find something more certain, we shall follow the tradition of the Gallic churches.

Section III. The life of St. Lucian: testimonies of others.

[10] Antonius Loiselius, in his Commentary on Beauvais, chapter 3, writes that in the monastery of St. Lucian the accepted opinion is that the deeds of him and his companions were recorded by Odo I, The life of St. Lucian was written by Bishop Odo. Bishop of Beauvais. Odo held office in the times of Charles the Bald, having been appointed from the abbacy of Corbie, as is clear from the letter of Pope Nicholas to Trasulfus, Abbot of Corbie, and other documents in volume 3 of the Councils of Gaul. We obtained ^a threefold history of St. Lucian: the first was transmitted to us from ^a manuscript of the monastery of St. Lucian near Beauvais by the distinguished Petrus Louetus. The same text existed in ^a manuscript of the monastery of St. Maximin at Trier, but mostly expanded; I see that the same Louetus had ^a similar copy when he was writing his Commentary on the Affairs of Beauvais. We preferred, however, to give the former, because it is more probable that it is the genuine text written by Odo: first, because it comes from the codex of that monastery where the tradition thrives; second, because Loiselius cites the same words found in this text from the life whose author he considers to be Odo. Several other versions. The second was furnished to us by ^a manuscript of the monastery of St. Mary de Ripatorio, lent to us by our Petrus Franciscus Chiffletius, which agrees with one found in the papers of Nicolaus Belfortius. We believe it was written by ^a certain monk, ^a learned man. The third, shorter version, exists in Boninus Mombritius, the Combats of the Martyrs, Vincent of Beauvais Book 10, chapters 25 and 26, and St. Antoninus, Part 1, Title 6, chapter 26, section 1. Louetus cites yet another, and as I conjecture more polished, version in Book 2, chapter 1, from ^a manuscript codex of St. Michael of Beauvais, from which he reports that when Julius Vindex rebelled against the Romans in the time of Nero, the fortress of Beauvais was constructed. Papirius Massonus cites the former life from ^a manuscript of the monastery of St. Victor near Paris and ^a Beauvais manuscript, in his book on the Rivers of Gaul, and attests that another Greek version also exists.

[11] Petrus de Nataliis has ^a brief life of St. Lucian in Book 2, chapter 55. Renatus Benedictus has ^a fuller Gallic version. Authors who write about him. Metaphrastes, in his life of St. Dionysius, mentions Lucian with these words: "He sent ^a certain one of those who were with him — the illustrious Lucian, I mean, who was also adorned with the dignity of the priesthood (for many who embraced virtue followed him, since like, as they say, delights in like) — to the island-city of Beauvais, to preach the faith." He should have written: "to the city of the district of Beauvais." Methodius, in his life of the same Dionysius: "After St. Saturninus was sent to the regions of Aquitaine, he himself came to Paris with St. Lucian, St. Rusticus, and St. Eleutherius. And the holy Lucian, adorned with the honor of the priesthood, was sent to the city of the Bellovaci, so that he might preach the gospel of truth to the unbelieving peoples." Petrus Venerabilis counts St. Lucian among the other Apostles of Gaul in his treatise against the Petrobrusians.

[12] The head of St. Lucian and one arm are preserved in the monastery of St. Lucian, at the very suburbs of the city of Beauvais; His relics: the rest of the body is in the cathedral church, enclosed in ^a reliquary fashioned by the skill of St. Eligius, as St. Audoenus testifies in his life, Book 1, chapter 32. Moreover, Loiselius reports that this monastery was built or restored by King Chilperic. The bishops of Beauvais, upon entering into possession of their episcopate, are required to spend the night in this monastery; Loiselius explains in the same chapter by what rite they are then received by the citizens and the clergy.

[13] St. Eligius also enclosed the relics of Sts. Maximian and Julian in an elegant reliquary he had crafted, of his companions. as St. Audoenus testifies in the same place. Since the relics of St. Maximian had been placed in ^a rather unbecoming tomb at the site of his martyrdom, St. Lucian appeared to St. Eberulphus, Abbot of St. Fuscian near Amiens (of whom we shall speak on July 25), and warned him to search for the sacred remains of the martyr at the very place of the killing and to repose them with his own relics. Eberulphus gave himself to prayer with his brothers, and then went to the Mons Millium, The relics of St. Maximian found. dug the earth, and found the martyr's tomb, from which ^a certain divine sweetness of fragrance exhaled and filled the entire place. He transferred the sacred relics thence to where he had been commanded, and placed them with the treasures of St. Lucian; at which time many and various ailments were cured by heavenly power, and other prodigies were produced. These things took place in the times of Chilperic, who had his seat of government at Soissons from the year 562 to 584, and are narrated by Louetus in Book 2, chapter 19. There exists ^a Priory under the name of St. Maximian (or Messian), half ^a mile distant from the Abbey of St. Lucian, and that is believed to be the place where they were slain, according to Loiselius.

LIFE

BY BISHOP ODO

From ancient manuscripts.

Lucian, Bishop and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Julian, Deacon and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Maximian, Priest and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.)

BHL Number: 5009

By Bishop Odo, from manuscripts.

CHAPTER I.

St. Lucian is sent to Gaul.

[1] To narrate the victories and deeds of the precious martyrs, dearest brothers, Christ conquers in the martyrs and is honored by their praises. is nothing other than to speak the praises of Christ and to proclaim the triumph of his power in his martyrs to the glory of his name: because in all things he himself was the victor, who says to his own: "Be of good courage, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33 Therefore in all things the most benign Jesus himself conquered, who alone fought first for all. And therefore the holy martyrs are honored in glory closer to Christ above all others, insofar as they were imitators of him in his passion. For they themselves supplied what was lacking in the sufferings of Christ; and therefore it is rightly said that Christ suffered in all these, because they were his members. Whence in them he is again rightly proclaimed victor, because he conquered through them as many times as ^a martyr fell victorious in suffering for Christ. It is fitting, therefore, that we praise glorious men, by whose teaching the glorious Church of Christ shines far and wide throughout the world, and who themselves rest blessedly beneath the altar of God, clothed in white robes, purpled with their own blood, and washed white in the blood of Christ.

[2] From their company came the most blessed Lucian, illustrious and glorious martyr: whom, from the very washing of the baptismal font, divine grace so suffused that from the outcome of the event an indication was given that he would be great among the people by the merit of his holiness. For he was called Lucius by his parents according to the flesh, St. Lucian, as ^a child baptized, was formerly called Lucius. tracing not only his carnal origin but also his name from the great consul Lucius. But at length, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, after the manner of the holy Fathers, his name was changed for the better; so that he who had been called Lucius by his parents might afterwards be called Lucian by God through an augmented name of grace: so that from this it might become evident that, born in ^a new light and himself made light in the Lord, he was first to preach that same light in which he had been reborn in Christ, together with other holy men, among the nations. It is clear, therefore, that he was Roman by birth, of noble lineage; He was ^a Roman, ^a disciple of St. Peter. but he was made nobler in spirit, because through the adoption of grace he was found to be the son of the eternal King. If it is asked by whose teaching he was instructed and by whose mastery he was educated, he was truly ^a disciple of the Apostle Peter, grounded in his faith and imbued with heavenly disciplines — as the sequence of events, the time, and the order sufficiently attest. Having been reborn in Christ, ^a perfect soldier of Christ stationed at Rome, he conducted himself as though in ^a military camp, so that when he would eventually go forth to the nations he might be regarded as ^a vigorous warrior and ^a most valiant champion of the faith.

[3] When he was nurtured in the teaching of God into perfect manhood, it came to pass that the illustrious martyr Dionysius came to Rome under Christ's guidance, St. Dionysius comes to Rome: where after the death of the Apostles he found the blessed Clement already governing the summit of the Apostolic See. By him the same St. Dionysius, also called Macarius, was most graciously received and treated with fitting and most venerable honor, both for the merit of his holiness and for the long familiarity of their lives already established in Christ. Whence he remained with the same supreme pontiff for no small span of time, that they might refresh each other with mutual visits, nourish each other with divine conversation, and in turn strengthen each other with examples of their virtues. Among many discussions of the holy Scriptures, the blessed Clement, inspired by the divine Spirit, said to him: "Do you see, my dearest brother Dionysius, how great is the harvest among the nations of the Lord's sowing, and how few are the workers in the word of divine preaching? He is sent by St. Clement into Gaul. Since, therefore, you are sufficiently instructed in all the teachings of the Catholic faith, imbued with all Christian piety, and strengthened by virtues, go, I ask, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to the western regions as ^a good soldier, and wage the battles of the Lord your God against the most savage enemies."

[4] When these things had been thus decreed and the most blessed Dionysius had already given his assent to depart, St. Clement began to seek companions for him and vigorous helpers in the word, as well as men worthy in life and holiness, and distinguished and numerous ministers of the divine office. St. Lucian is joined to him. Among these the same pontiff also chose this man most proven in holiness, Lucian, as ^a companion, and ordained him bishop, because he had been thoroughly instructed in the faith under the teaching of the Apostle Peter, so that the individual offices of ecclesiastical discipline would not be lacking among such proven men. Because he had been ^a more senior disciple of Christ and Peter, he associated him with St. Dionysius in such ^a way that he would be his interpreter and, as it were, ^a venerable father and excellent master to the others in the teaching and piety of holiness. When these arrangements had been made, among the many instructions of Christ's teaching and admonitions of piety, at last he addressed them thus, saying: "Go, dearest ones, most brave and vigorous warriors of Christ; and as the Lord was with our holy fathers the Apostles and with their co-workers, so may he be with you in all the works of the divine word. For you," he said, "will win ^a very great and innumerable people for the Lord from among the nations, and bring them into the promised land." And so, after many sacraments of faith had been entrusted to each and disclosed to all together, giving peace to all, he thus dismissed them and commanded that holy brotherhood to depart in peace.

CHAPTER II.

He preaches in Italy and comes to Arles.

[5] Setting out together and preaching the word of God first throughout all Italy, before they had approached the Ticino, in ^a certain place not far from the city called Parma, St. Lucian preaches near Parma: it seemed good to the most blessed Lucian that he should evangelize the people in that place with the word of God and call them back from the vain superstition and worship of idols, on account of what is sung in the psalm: "Going, they went and wept, casting their seeds" Psalm 125:6 — and that he might distribute among the people what he had received, like ^a faithful steward. But the people of that place, being still pagans and excessively entangled in the worship of idols, not tolerating injuries to their gods nor willing to have the divine word preached to them, immediately seized the most holy Lucian he is thrown into prison: and, having heaped insults upon him, placed him in public custody, which is pointed out to this day to all who pass through that place. As he entered it, he sang with great joy, saying: "Lead me, O Lord, in your way, and I will walk in your truth." And also: "Perfect my steps in your paths, that my footsteps may not be moved."

[6] And so the holy man conducted himself in this custody as though under the shadow of God's wings, and wholly placed in the hope of Christ's protection, he prayed to the Lord, saying: "Lead forth, O Lord, my soul from prison, to confess your name; for the just await me: that through me, O Christ, Savior of the world, those from the nations who are predestined to life may be justified in you." While the blessed and holy-hearted man was singing such and similar things to the Lord, his petition immediately penetrated the heavens, lest he remain on the way without his companions, since he desired to go with them to suffering and to reach those to whom he had been sent. For this distinguished athlete of Christ did not shrink from accepting the loss of life for Christ; but devoutly he asked that he might first produce the fruit promised him by the Lord, and then at last arrive with his companions at the palm of martyrdom and the reward of life with an abundant harvest. And so divine power was immediately present to aid him. There were already certain Christians there, he is freed by Christians. whom divine power touched: knowing what had happened to the holy man, they came to him in prison by night, and by whatever means they could, for the love of Christ, released him from the dungeon and allowed him to go free together with his holy fellow soldiers.

[7] But that holy company, with prosperous success, came from there to Ticinum, the royal city of Italy. Resting there ^a little while, He preaches among the Insubres. they did not cease from divine praises, nor did they fail to preach the word of God wherever they could, so that you might see the fulfillment of the prophecy: "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach peace, who preach good things." Romans 10:15; Isaiah 52:7 Running here and there, they acted boldly, trusting in God's aid. They went rejoicing, mindful of what is read in the Acts of the Apostles, since they themselves had already been made partakers of the sufferings of Christ and deemed worthy to suffer insults for his name. Acts 5:41 Going together, no one can say how many thousands of people were converted to Christ at that time; and they preached, evangelizing the word of salvation to all. Divine power accompanied them, so that those who beheld them — like citizens of heaven and lambs among wolves, gleaming with signs and miracles — saw them bearing and illuminating the souls of God's elect.

[8] And so at length, leaving Italy, having set forth on ^a prosperous course with favorable winds, they arrived by ship He arrives at Arles. where the Holy Spirit guided them by ^a direct route, and they joyfully put in at the port of the city of Arles. Disembarking from the ship, they were received with hospitality by the inhabitants of that city, who showed them no small kindness. While they were assembled there together, after the manner of the holy Apostles, they began jointly to deliberate which regions each should choose for preaching and who should go together in pairs. And so it came to pass that they sent the most holy Marcellinus with ^a few companions, as is reported, to Spain; Saturninus they directed to Toulouse, as if to the capital of Aquitaine, so that far and wide they might spread the gospel of the eternal kingdom among the nations and plant churches of Christ everywhere as far as the English Channel.

CHAPTER III.

He preaches at Beauvais; Sts. Maximian and Julian are crowned with martyrdom.

[9] When these arrangements had been made, the blessed Dionysius — who was also called Macarius by another name on account of the excellence of his holiness, and who had received the honor of the apostolate and the privilege of preaching among the nations from the blessed Clement — is known to have kept the most holy Lucian still with him He is sent to Beauvais. until he reached Paris, the town of the Parisii. Then, retaining ^a few with him, he sent St. Lucian — whom the nobility of faith had joined to him, the faith of Christ had made his brother, and whose uprightness and zeal had firmly united them — together with St. Maxian the Priest and Julian the Deacon, to Beauvais for the purpose of evangelizing: where ^a Roman garrison and military force was stationed, as we read, because the people of the Bellovaci are always described as having been warlike. Whence from that very district alone, as is contained in the public histories, more than sixty thousand armed men are read to have gone forth to battle against Julius Caesar and against the Roman army together with the other fellow citizens of Gaul. And therefore the Roman army was stationed there at that time for the protection of the other cities.

[10] Against this ferocity of both peoples, the most valiant athlete of Christ, relying on the comfort of his disciples, was not terrified to come, girded with the arms of Christ and strengthened by divine grace. For he was most steadfast in faith, most eloquent in speech, and admirable in all virtues. He began, therefore, to preach the name of the Lord, to overthrow the powers of the air, He teaches by word, example, and miracles. and to plant the Church of Christ. Intoxicated also by the grace of the Holy Spirit, he instructed the people no less by his examples than by his words. For the power of miracles attended him, and he drove away all diseases through the power of the Lord. He had received such grace in expelling demons that at the sound of his command they would immediately depart from the bodies of the possessed. Persevering in preaching day and night without ceasing, he continued to assert the true and one Lord. For he was always occupied in prayer and His piety and mortification. the divine office, in many vigils and daily fasts, in abstinence from food and in every affliction of the flesh, by which he daily mortified himself, so that according to the Apostle he might present himself as ^a living sacrifice, well-pleasing to Christ the Lord. Romans 12:1 Therefore his constant fare was nothing other than ^a little bread, the eating of herbs, and cold water for drink. But divine power sustained him and the grace of Christ strengthened his feeble limbs. For the blessed man so yearned to reach the palm of martyrdom that, already dead to the world, he bore his cross daily after Christ the Lord; because he knew for certain that there are two kinds of martyrdom — one hidden and the other manifest — and he bore the first in secret (although the virtue of his abstinence was manifest to all), so that he might afterward arrive at the other, to be crowned by the Lord. For he was worn out by the mortification of the flesh, comely in patience, grounded in marvelous humility, filled with gentleness. So great ^a power of good works had grown around him that, while still in the body on earth, he already seemed in spirit to be conversing with the angels in heaven. Hence it was that he always appeared serene of countenance and tranquil of mind, adorned with wonderful grey hair, so that in both character and appearance he was proven distinguished and illustrious.

[11] But when his fame had spread far and wide, very many came to him to be baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The second persecution under Domitian. Idols were destroyed by those who had made them. Wherefore the ancient enemy, seeing himself losing those whom Christ was winning through his servants, turned all the devices of his craft to attacking the holy Church of God; and he so inflamed Domitian — who after Nero, that son of perdition, conducted the second persecution against Christians — and roused him to such ^a frenzy of rage that wherever in the entire Roman world Christians were found, he compelled them either to sacrifice to the gods or, subjected to various torments, to be cruelly killed. Because of this, throughout the entire world subject to him, in all cities, towns, municipalities, and villages, ^a public edict was posted that all ministers of the state should compel Christians to worship idols and sacrifice to the gods, or destroy them with various punishments.

[12] Accordingly, persecutors of the Christian name were dispatched here and there; among them Fescenninus Sisinnius Fescenninus Sisinnius comes to Gaul. was ordered to come to Gaul as quickly as possible together with the other officers, to search out the soldiers of Christ — especially those who had long since left Rome, whose fame had already grown — so that they might drive the name of Christians from Gaul. He searches for St. Lucian. Then indeed three most savage men were sent — namely Latinus, Iarius, and Antor — specifically to seek out the holy servant of God, Lucian, with his associates, so that wherever they found him, they might either present him before the governor's tribunal or immediately strike him with the sword if he refused to sacrifice to idols. And when these men had scoured the cities and places, they did not immediately find him. Meanwhile, word reached them that the man of God was occupying the people of the Bellovaci by preaching the gospel of the eternal kingdom. Hearing this, more and more inflamed with anger and indignation, they hurried there with the utmost speed.

[13] Shortly before they arrived, the blessed martyr, the Holy Spirit revealing to him that they were near, remained in the place where he was teaching the people the words of life, and with him ^a very great multitude that had already been converted to the faith of Christ through the preaching of the most blessed man of God. He exhorted them all the more earnestly, the more secure he was of the glory of eternal reward, saying: "Behold, my dearest brothers and children, my Lord Jesus Christ will now deign to grant me the fruits of my labors and the rewards long since promised. St. Lucian exhorts his people to constancy. Therefore, beloved, persevere strong in the faith of Christ, for I, now worn out by extreme old age, hasten joyfully to go to Christ with the palm of martyrdom. But you, remain steadfast in the grace you have received. Let not the terror of princes subvert you from the faith of Christ; let not threats deter you; let no persuasion of blandishments deceive you; let no offer of rewards call you back — so that eternal joys may receive you there where ineffable rewards are prepared for you, toward which I hasten fearlessly, and therefore I do not dread the cruelty of the persecutors." Having said these things, he raised his eyes to heaven and gave thanks to God before all, who had deigned to number him among the holy martyrs and not to separate him from his holy companions. "I give you thanks," he said, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who have associated me with the blessed Dionysius and his companions at the end and made me equal to them in labors. Therefore I ask that you deign to number me among them and make me ^a sharer of your kingdom."

[14] Having thus prayed, he went forth from the city of Beauvais and, according to the Lord's precept, withdrew ^a little from the city — not from fear of punishment, but so that according to the Lord's precept he might give an example to his flock. Matthew 10:23 And so, making his way with the blessed martyrs, He withdraws to the Mons Millium. namely Maxian and Julian, he did not cease from divine conversation and prayers throughout the whole journey, until he reached the summit of the mountain toward which he was heading, ^a mountain situated along the river Therain about three miles from the city. When he arrived there, like ^a city set on ^a mountain that cannot be hidden, since the mountain itself also offers ^a fair prospect over the river to the peoples, there as if placed on ^a watchtower, the most blessed man himself resolved to await the crown of his martyrdom.

[15] Meanwhile the aforesaid soldiers arrived at the city of Beauvais with swift flight; when they had sought the holy Lucian of God and not found him, they began to inquire more diligently where he had gone. They were told that he was teaching the people not far from the city. They immediately remounted their horses and with winged cavalry suddenly approached the mountain where the man of God was staying with the people and his disciples. Upon arriving, Maximian and Julian are seized: before any judicial interrogation they seized the saints of God, namely Maxian and Julian — perhaps so that by their punishments they might frighten the holy old man and call him back to the worship of the gods. Having seized them, they commanded with royal authority and with all fury that they sacrifice to idols: "Otherwise," they said, "unless you sacrifice to the immortal gods, we order you to be immediately punished with the sword." But they, strong in faith, said they would never sacrifice to idols, which are vain and the works of human hands: "For we know," they said, "the one and true Lord Jesus Christ, they are beheaded. the Son of the living God, for whose faith we are prepared to die." Upon hearing this, they immediately ordered them to be struck with the sword before the very eyes of the most blessed Lucian. When this was done, they received the unfading crowns promised to them by the Lord, and were received with peace into the number of the holy martyrs. For their glory, the blessed Lucian, praising the Lord with ^a voice of thanksgiving before all, said: "I exult and rejoice in you, my God, because I see my sons preceding me to the crown."

CHAPTER IV.

St. Lucian is variously tortured and killed.

[16] Then Latinus, Iarius, and Antor, with anger and indignation, as if with one voice, addressed him savagely: "Are you the one," they said, "who by your sorceries seduces the people, so that they do not obey the commands of the most invincible Augustus and the Roman Senate, Lucian nobly responds to the executioners. to offer pleasing libations to the immortal gods?" To which St. Lucian replied: "I am not ^a sorcerer; but I am ^a servant of Jesus Christ, instructed in divine teachings. Therefore I show the people of God the way of truth and make known how they should follow with sure step my Lord Jesus Christ, who came into the world to redeem his creation and to turn it from the worship of demons, so that, recalled to the light above and rescued from their darkness, they may be saved — because it is just that they should bow the neck of their heart to him alone who willed to die, crucified, for the salvation of all."

[17] But they responded: "How do you assert him to be God whom you declare to be not only dead but even crucified?" St. Lucian answered: He expounds the mystery of the Incarnation. "Although your unbelief does not deserve to hear the secrets of the most merciful King, nevertheless, for the sake of the multitude standing by, I shall explain in ^a few words. God the Son of God, who always existed with the Father before the ages, because of the transgression of the first man, at the end of time willed to become ^a true man from ^a virgin for the restoration of the human race, so that he would be true God and true man, and the same God and man, one Christ, the true Son of God and of man — so that he who was forever impassible in his divinity, remaining with the Father, would become not only visible but also passible for us according to his humanity. Hence he became obedient to God the Father for our redemption even unto death, and death on ^a cross. For otherwise, unless the Son of God had deigned to become also ^a son of man, neither would the human race return to pardon, nor would mortals return to life." While the most blessed Lucian was continuing with these and many other things, the soldiers were filled with greater and greater fury, and they said: "Already the time of your old age had invited you to recover your senses from childish vanities; but since excessive vanity deceives you and superfluous loquacity invites you, you do not fear to rush to death, trusting in your excessive rashness. Nevertheless, unless you quickly recover your senses and desist from this audacity and sacrifice pleasing libations to the immortal gods, we shall afflict your old age with many torments."

[18] Then, sitting down, they ordered him to stand before them. They said to him in ^a menacing voice: "Declare your name and your station to us quickly." Asked about his name and lineage, he responds. To these the athlete of Christ replied: "By my parents I was truly called Lucius; but in the regeneration by which I was reborn to eternal life in Christ, I am called Lucian. As to what station I am of, I declare that I am Roman by birth — ^a name most famous in all the world. But what is nobler to me, I show myself to be ^a servant of Christ Jesus; which is clearly evident, because for me to live is nothing other than my Lord Jesus Christ, and to die is gain. Therefore I rejoice and confess that I am his servant." Then the soldiers said: "This is what we said — that you are ^a magician and deceiver of those who listen to you; moreover, you are proven contumacious, since you do not cease to speak impudently and do not know how at last to relieve your weary old age. If you are ^a Roman, why have you most insanely departed from the worship of the gods, whom Augustus Caesar venerates with the entire Roman Senate, and whom the whole world worships?" St. Lucian answered: He freely confesses Christ. "From the time I was reborn in Christ and came to know my true Lord Jesus Christ, I renounced by faith not only the devil and idols but all his works as well. But what I say and confess concerning Christ the Lord, you neither perceive with your ears nor are able to retain in your minds. For unbelief has blinded you, and also your Augustus Caesar together with the Senate, from whom you have brought such decrees, that we, rational human beings, should sacrifice to demons and bow our necks to idols made by human hands."

[19] But Latinus, Januarius, and Antor, hearing these things, bore the insult to Caesar with impatience. He is beaten with scourges. Then seizing him, they bound his hands and handed him over to torturers, who, stretching him out, beat him savagely with cruel scourges. And when he had been excessively scourged by them and was held fast in bonds, the athlete of God, long tortured with agonies, was neither overcome by pain nor deterred by threats; but, strong in the faith of Christ, he strengthened the limbs of his now almost decrepit old age with the pure vigor of his spirit, so that always amid the blows, maintaining the same expression and the same resolve, he did not cease to confess the name of Christ with ^a living voice, saying: "I believe in Christ the Son of God with my heart, and I will never cease to praise him with my mouth."

[20] Then, moved by fury, having pronounced the sentence, they ordered him to be struck with the sword. He is beheaded. And so one of the soldiers, drawing his sword, with the holy neck already prepared, cut off his sacred and precious head. And when the body of the holy man lay lifeless and still quivering, He is invited to glory by heavenly light and voice. in the sight of all, even of the ministers of death themselves, ^a great light from heaven shone upon the holy body, and ^a great voice came together with the light, saying: "Well done, good servant Lucian, who did not hesitate to shed your blood for me; come, and receive the crown long since promised to you, for you shall rejoice with the saints in heaven. Come, and take possession of the mansion of glory long since prepared for you with the angels." This voice was made not for his own sake, who had always carried this promise in his heart through faith, but for the sake of the bystanders, so that, more assured of the merits of the holy man, they might most faithfully retain the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ long preached by St. Lucian. This happened on ^a Saturday at the third hour on the mountain we mentioned above, three miles from the city, on the sixth day before the Ides of January January 8. Seeing and hearing this, those men who had believed, and those who had not believed, all struck with extreme terror: some fled at the divine sign; but others, stunned and marveling with joy — because they saw themselves freed from the snares of the devil — yet unable to bear the brightness of the light, withdrew ^a little from the place.

CHAPTER V.

He carries his own head and is buried.

[21] He carries his severed head in his hands: Then the lifeless body of the holy man raised itself and with its own hands grasped the severed holy head, and by the grace of the Holy Spirit — whose limbs and organs these had been — together with the ministry of angels, as if living in the body, it began with firmest steps to make its way. Carrying the precious head, guided by an angel, from the mountain about three miles, having crossed the bed of the river, it arrived at the place which the holy man had chosen for his burial, about one mile distant from the aforesaid city, where in ^a small public field the saint rested in peace with the palm of victory.

[22] Wherefore the most devout men, who had been converted by his preaching, came with spices and, wrapping the holy body in clean linens, He is buried by Christians. buried it with great honor and reverence in ^a tomb that appeared to be new at that time. Moreover, lest the funeral rites should seem to have been celebrated without the offices of angels, A sweet fragrance from the body. while the most holy body was being laid to rest, their nostrils were suddenly opened and all who were present sensed wonderfully fragrant aromas, most sweetly scented, until the funeral rites of the most blessed man were completed and the body was covered with earth. Those men, astonished and marveling with joy, said to one another: "What is this? Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, for our nostrils have never sensed such ^a fragrance. Glory to you, Christ Savior, for we are so filled that we believe nothing further of good can be lacking to us." Furthermore, the more they spoke of such things, the more the divine fragrance flowed, so that now no one could doubt that the ministries of angels had been present at this funeral from the beginning of his passion.

[23] When these rites had been duly completed, they all prostrated themselves on the ground with extreme awe and great devotion of heart, crying out and saying: "We believe in you, Jesus Christ, true Son of God, reigning with the Father and the Holy Spirit in heaven, just as we heard with our ears and learned in our minds from your holy martyr Lucian." Five hundred are converted. When the multitude of people who had come together as if to ^a spectacle from various outlying farms and villages had seen or heard such things from the believers, on that same day, it is estimated, about five hundred persons of both sexes believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, pricked in their hearts. Thirty thousand had been converted by St. Lucian during his life. For already no fewer than thirty thousand people, or far more, of various types and ages, had been converted through the preaching of the most blessed Lucian in Gaul; who, abandoning their idols, confessed God the Father unbegotten, and his only-begotten Son, together with the Holy Spirit — in the Trinity the true and one God. Reborn and renewed through this faith by the washing of regeneration, A basilica at his tomb. some of them most devoutly built ^a basilica to the Lord without delay at that same place over the holy body, in honor of the martyr himself. Sts. Maximian and Julian are translated.

[24] The bodies of the saints Maxian and Julian were buried on the mountain where they had been beheaded. But as the number and devotion of Christians grew, their bodies were raised from there by the faithful and joined to the body of the most blessed Lucian. Afterwards, when the church was built better and adorned, with God the Father cooperating, very many benefits are granted by the Lord Jesus Christ to those who ask rightly, through the merits and intercession of the holy martyrs. Because their faith was one, their charity was one, and their confession in martyrdom was one, we therefore rightly believe that their fellowship in eternal blessedness is one, and their sharing of merits one. And therefore let us give thanks to our Creator, because these witnesses of Christ, taken up in the number three, completed their faithful martyrdom on earth for the faith of the Trinity; and knowing this to have been done, we venerate it and faithfully recall and acknowledge it.

[25] Behold, brothers, though the whole earth is purpled with the blood of martyrs, Epilogue to the people of Beauvais. our city is purpled with the blood of these men, sprinkled with the blood of Christ. Though heaven blooms with the crowns of martyrs, our land also blooms, adorned with the virtues of these men. The other churches are adorned with the memorials of martyrs; this one is adorned with the triumphs of these and consecrated with their relics. The seasons are marked by the feast days of martyrs; and today's festival is also marked, on which their heavenly birthday is celebrated at their ascension to heaven. Miracles at the tombs of the martyrs. Healings multiply everywhere through the merits of the martyrs; here too at their tomb the notable signs of power multiply and the benefits of healings overflow: the sick come and are healed, the blind receive sight, the lame are cured, those vexed by demons are freed; and what is greater, the prayers of the faithful are heard, vows are accepted, the bonds of sinners are loosed, heaven is opened to those who knock, and the churches obtain their rewards. How blessed and pleasing to God is the fellowship of the blessed martyrs, in whose companionship the choirs of angels rejoice in heaven, and by whose merits and prayers the worthy petitions of all the faithful are granted on earth, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the co-eternal Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns through immortal ages of ages. Amen.

ANOTHER LIFE

BY AN ANONYMOUS MONK.

From the manuscript of St. Mary de Ripatorio.

Lucian, Bishop and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Julian, Deacon and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.) Maximian, Priest and Martyr at Beauvais in Gaul (St.)

BHL Number: 5010

By an anonymous monk.

CHAPTER I.

St. Lucian preaches Christ at Beauvais.

[1] Traversing the sacred contests of the blessed martyrs, let us, most beloved, venerate them with fitting devotion and carry out their memory with pious observances. For when we embrace their sacred martyrdoms with devoted love, there must necessarily follow the washing away of our own sins. The deeds of the saints are profitably read. For here ^a temporal penalty afflicted and purified them for ^a time; there eternal glory rewarded and shone upon them. From their company came the most blessed martyr Lucian, whose palm of sacred martyrdom and the deeds of his glorious contest for Christ I desire to recount — not relying on my own merit or my own ability, but aided by the prayer of him who has deigned to reveal to me the account of his passion. I therefore beseech you, brothers, strive to listen attentively, so that while you are imitators of his martyrdom on earth, you may be able to be sharers of his glory among the stars.

[2] In those times, then, when the most impious Julian, as Caesar, had received the decrees of the emperors that Christians who would not sacrifice to the gods and the other rites of the deities should be ordered to undergo capital punishment, Julian the Prefect persecutes Christians. he established agents and informers throughout all the provinces, so that if anyone among them learned that ^a Christian had arrived anywhere, he would by all means report it to his court. For there was at that time ^a general persecution of the saints, when the impious persecutor had armed himself to extinguish the name of Christianity. At that time the saints had no refuge in the cities; no accumulated consolations remained for the martyrs in the mountains and caves.

[3] At that same time, therefore, the most blessed holy man Lucian, associated with the most holy martyr Quintinus, St. Lucian comes to Gaul. having set out from the city of Rome together with the blessed Dionysius, came to Gaul, mindful of the Lord's command: Matthew 10:23 "If they persecute you in one city, flee to another" — both that they might give us an example of their patience, and that the shedding of their blood might become ^a lesson in our own virtues. And you, dearest brothers, receive these things with attentive ear, and believe that the Lord can accomplish in his saints together with us what is written. Among these things we ought also to consider how great is the grace of following the footsteps of the saints — to endure bodily pains for Christ, not to fear ^a momentary death, to despise the world with its pleasures, and not to fear bearing bodily pains for one hour, who desire to rejoice with Christ for eternity.

[4] The most blessed Lucian, therefore, as we said above, having set out from the city of Rome, received the office of the priesthood from the blessed Dionysius, He goes to the Bellovaci. and hastened with fearless speed to the city of Beauvais. And then St. Dionysius went to Paris, and finally St. Quintinus chose the city of Amiens, so that each of them might consecrate to Christ the Lord the fruit of good work from their own cities by their examples and teachings.

[5] The holy Lucian, therefore, as soon as he entered the borders of the Bellovaci, began to preach the Gospel of Christ, He preaches the faith. which the Holy Spirit had graciously poured into his heart, so that by the word of his preaching he might rescue people made in the image of God from the worship of demons, and so that they would adore with pure minds the one God, Creator of heaven and earth, and invoke the Father alone as unbegotten, confess the Son as begotten by the Father alone, and believe the Holy Spirit to proceed from both. With such admonitions, therefore, the most blessed Lucian instructed the people: "O dearest sons, most unconquered soldiers and warriors of the divine battle, who have been subject to the chains of the ancient enemy for so long — now freed from your wretched servitude, recognize at last, even if belatedly, that Christ the Son of God has come for your redemption through the womb of the holy and undefiled Virgin. For unless the water of holy baptism shall have rendered you cleansed from the worship of idols, you will not be able to be partakers of the heavenly kingdom. But when ^a pure confession and the water of the holy washing shall have sprinkled you and made you clean, you will be able to be snatched from eternal death, when the eternal light shall have driven away the darkness of your heart, and the grace of baptism shall have rendered you candidates for heavenly glory." He converts many. And when the holy man was admonishing all the people with words of this kind day and night, and his fame for holiness had filled the neighboring regions, many then began to withdraw from the worship of demons and to believe with all their strength, and to confess with pure hearts, that Christ the Son of God had come to earth for the salvation and redemption of the whole world through the womb of the holy Virgin.

[6] But before we undertake the glorious contest of his passion, we shall take care to set forth the praiseworthy continence of the most holy martyr and perfect monk. Since he was filled with the Holy Spirit, he loved Christian and Catholic wisdom, abstaining from every evil work and holding the perfect faith, he rendered diligent service to Christ. His marvelous abstinence: Concerning the virtue of abstinence, therefore, by which he daily mortified himself in order to offer the sacrifice of his flesh to Christ the Lord, ^a few things must be said. For his regular food was nothing other than the eating of green herbs, and he gave ^a cup of cold water as drink to his weary body. During the days of Lent he gave food to his body twice ^a week. For the nourishment of heavenly food sustained him, and divine grace strengthened his feeble limbs. The holy man was of marvelous patience, supreme abstinence, holy kindness, and adorned with an abundance of every grace. Time would fail me if I wished to pursue the grace of all his virtues. Other virtues. He was serene of countenance and tranquil of mind, adorned with angelic grey hairs. So great ^a holiness and power of works had grown around him that, though placed on earth in the body, he dwelt with the angels in spirit.

CHAPTER II.

St. Lucian is seized; his companions are killed.

[7] When, as we said above, the most wicked Julian as Caesar, inflamed with the fury of cruelty, had boiled over against the saints of God with the most savage rage of persecution, word was brought to him that the holy man Lucian had set out from the city of Rome to bring the Gospel of truth to other provinces and to teach that the names of idols should be utterly destroyed. Hearing this, the impious Caesar, disturbed with excessive fury, commanded three of his men — the strongest warriors, Latinus, Iarius, and Antrus — to search everywhere for the holy Lucian of God. And if they should find him, they should either present him before his court, or he should be handed over to be struck with the sword. He is sought by the soldiers of Julian the Prefect. When the persecutors received this order, they set out from the City with great tumult, inflamed with the madness of fury, and did not cease searching here and there through cities and provinces for the holy Lucian of God. And when they had scoured the neighboring regions and cities and were utterly unable to find the most blessed Lucian, word reached them that by preaching the gospel of the eternal kingdom, he had occupied the people of Gaul. Hearing this, more and more inflamed with angry indignation, they penetrated into Gaul, pursuing him with the utmost speed. And when almighty God willed that the holy man Lucian should rest from the labors of this life and that his martyrdom should be displayed as an example to men, the most wicked persecutors arrived at the city called Beauvais. On the sixth Saturday after their departure from the City, those who were pursuing him found the holy man Lucian teaching the people, on the sixth day before the Ides of January January 8. In that place ^a very great throng of people had already been converted by the holy man's admonition, and, having trampled on the superstition of idols, rejoiced that they had turned to the name of Christianity at his urging. For the voice of the entire joyful people was one, as they recognized that they had fled from the snare of death to the consolation of life.

[8] Meanwhile, while the holy man was pressing on with the teachings of piety and converting the people of Christ from the error of vanity, As the lictors approach, he continues to teach the people. raising his eyes slightly, he saw his persecutors coming from afar. When he saw them, he did not desist from the word of his preaching, but encouraged the people with salutary admonitions, saying: "Behold, brothers and dearest children, my Lord Jesus Christ has now deigned to be the rewarder of my labors; now my body, worn out by extreme old age, together with the fruit of martyrdom, shall pass to the eternal palm. Therefore, dearest children, stand most firmly in the preaching you have received, and let neither the terror of princes nor the threats of judges nor the evil persuasion of love avail to recall you from the counsels of life — so that the merits of the flock may follow where the courage of the shepherd has gone before." Having said these things, the most holy Lucian raised his eyes to heaven and, lifting pure hands to heaven, said with all his strength: "I give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer of the world, who have deigned to call me to the honor of your dignity and to make me ^a companion of your most blessed martyrs Dionysius and Quintinus. Deign, therefore, Lord Jesus Christ, to number me among them and to make me an heir of your eternal kingdom." When these things had been done, He withdraws to the mountain. he went forth from the aforesaid city of Beauvais and began to make his way fearlessly, and to exercise himself in the fortitude he had received, so that in the work of divine ministry he might complete the course of his martyrdom. And he came to the mountain called Amnis, which is situated above the channel of the Therain, three miles distant from the city, offering ^a fair spectacle to the peoples above the stream of the river.

[9] When St. Lucian, together with two young men — named Maxian and Julian — was rendering to the almighty Lord the course of his office dedicated to him, the impious persecutors arrived, who had been dispatched by the most wicked Julian. Then immediately seizing the saints of God, Maxian and Julian, Sts. Maxian and Julian are killed. they ordered them to be punished by the sword before the very eyes of the most blessed Lucian. When they were killed, they were consecrated as worthy martyrs to Christ by the shedding of their blood. Then they addressed the most holy Lucian of God with anger and indignation, saying: "Are you that man who by your sorceries seduces the people, so that they do not sacrifice to the most sacred gods and despise the decrees of the most invincible princes?" St. Lucian answered: "I am not ^a sorcerer, but instructed in heavenly benefits, I show the people of Christ the way of truth, St. Lucian fearlessly answers the persecutors. and I make known how they should follow with sure step my Lord Jesus Christ, who always rules his creation with loving care, so that, called forth to the light above, they may be rescued from their darkness; and knowing that the Son of God came to earth for their redemption, spurning the superstitious sect of idols, they should bow the neck of their heart to him alone who willed to be crucified for the salvation of all."

[10] To this the officers responded: "How do you declare him to be God whom you assert was crucified?" St. Lucian answered: "Although your unbelief and the deaf and polluted ears of your idols do not deserve to hear the secret of the supreme and most merciful King, nevertheless, for the sake of the multitude of common people standing by, I shall say briefly how he who is God before the ages willed, as an old man, to be crucified at the end of time. He explains the mystery of the Trinity and the Incarnation. God the Father, unbegotten; God the Son, begotten by the Father alone; God the Holy Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Son — three persons but one substance, who neither had ^a beginning nor can be enclosed by the end of any age. When all things that are seen and that are not seen are established as having been founded by his wisdom, having compassion on human transgressions, he chose the holy Virgin, from whom he deigned to be born at the end of the ages, so that while remaining invisible in his own nature, he might deign to become visible in ours — made obedient to the Father even unto death, and death on ^a cross. And while remaining impassible as God, the man whom he had assumed might endure the scaffold of the cross for all, so that where guilt was greater, there grace might be greater. For unless the Son of God had deigned to become also ^a son of man, neither would sinners pass to pardon nor the wretched pass to the heavenly realm."

CHAPTER III.

He is killed, buried, and becomes illustrious through miracles.

[11] While the most blessed Lucian was continuing with these and many other things, the soldiers were burned more and more by the goads of fury, and they answered: "Already the time of your old age had invited you, so that you should have recovered your senses from childish vanities." Asked about his name and lineage, he responds. "But since excessive vanity besieges you and superfluous loquacity invites you to death, declare your name and your station to us." St. Lucian answered: "By my carnal parents I was called Lucius, but in the regeneration of the sacred water of baptism I am known as Lucian, so called by the sacred voice of the priest. As to what station I am of, it is clearly evident, since for me there is nothing other than, according to the blessed Apostle, both to live for Christ and to die for him as gain. For I am buried together with him in the font of baptism, and I follow the footsteps of him by whose blood I have been renewed." Philippians 1:21 Then the soldiers answered: "This is what we said — that you are ^a seducer and are proven contemptuous of the gods, since you do not cease to speak vain things and do not know how to relieve your weary old age." St. Lucian answered: "What I say you neither perceive with your ears nor are able to retain in your minds. For your unbelief has blinded you, and eternal blindness and the fog of darkness possesses your most savage prince Julian, by whom you were sent."

[12] The soldiers, therefore, bearing the insult to Caesar with impatience, He is scourged. seized him, bound his hands, and beat him. And when he had been excessively scourged by them and was held tightly in bonds, the holy man was neither shaken by terror nor overcome by bodily pain, but, trusting in the Lord, sustaining the feeble limbs of old age with youthful vigor, maintaining the same countenance and the same resolve, he did not fear to confess the name of Christ with ^a lively voice, saying: "I believe in Christ the Son of God with my heart, and I do not cease to praise him with my mouth." He is killed. Then one of the soldiers, drawing his sword, with the holy neck already prepared, cut off his precious head.

[13] And when the body of the holy man lay lifeless, in the sight of the soldiers and the multitude of the people, He is honored by heavenly light and voice. ^a light from heaven was sent down upon the holy body, and ^a voice came together with the light, saying: "Well done, good servant Lucian, who did not hesitate to shed your blood for me on earth — rejoice with the saints among the stars. Come to the mansion prepared for you in the heavens. Come with the palm of martyrdom; receive the promises which eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart been able to comprehend, and enjoy the fellowship of your brothers, the blessed martyrs." This happened at about the third hour of the day on the mountain we mentioned above, three miles from the city.

[14] By the counsel of God, who tests his saints with measure He carries his severed head in his hands for two miles. and glorifies them without measure, after the wicked ministers had withdrawn from the place, the lifeless body of the holy man raised itself and, grasping its own severed holy head with its own hand, with steady step, with the mercy of the Lord aiding, in ^a wondrous manner, as if living in the body, it began to make its way on the firmest feet. Carrying it from the mountain about three miles, having crossed the ford of the Therain, it arrived at the place which the holy man had chosen for his burial, one mile distant from the aforesaid city, in ^a small public field, and there the saint rested in peace with the palm of victory.

[15] The men of that place, therefore, who had been converted by the admonition of the most blessed man, came most devoutly with spices, He is buried by Christians. and wrapping the holy body in clean linens, they buried it in ^a new tomb, in which no one appeared to have yet been placed. In this place, if ^a devout petitioner comes and with ^a pure mind prays to St. Lucian as an intercessor for his sins, without doubt he will obtain whatever he has asked. A sweet fragrance at the place of burial. And when they were laying to rest the holy body of the man of mercy, their nostrils were opened, and they sensed the perfumes of the angels who had been appointed by the Lord for the funeral rites of the holy man. And the men said to one another: "What does this mean? Our nostrils have never sensed such ^a fragrance. And so we are filled that we believe nothing further of good can be lacking to us." The more they spoke, the more the divine fragrance refreshed them. Then, prostrate on the ground, with great fear and devotion of heart, they cried out, saying: Five hundred are converted; previously more than thirty thousand. "We believe that you, Christ the Son of God, reign in heaven with the Father and the Holy Spirit, just as we learned from your holy martyr Lucian." And at that same hour about five hundred men were converted, giving thanks to God. For more than thirty thousand men had already been converted through St. Lucian in Gaul, not counting children and women.

[16] They built ^a new temple in that same place, He is made illustrious by miracles. where, with the Lord cooperating, everyone who has believed himself to be heard through the merits of St. Lucian obtains the mercy of God. The sick come and are healed, the blind receive sight, the lame are restored, those vexed by ^a demon are freed, and the vows of the faithful who pray are heard. Worthily did the Lord approve such ^a martyr for himself, who did not fear to undergo the martyrdom of suffering for his name. O blessed man — chaste, holy, modest, reverent — by whose example peoples are converted to the faith, in whose merits the angels rejoice in heaven, by whose touch the infirm are strengthened, by whose merits the burden of sins is lightened; whom all the people celebrate with eager devotion, whom the princes of the earth adore with bowed necks. He, now mingled with the angelic choirs, shines with snowy brightness. He, together with the Apostles, has taken up the palm of martyrdom. Behold, today we celebrate his solemnities, and while he is venerated by us in the yearly festival on earth, he is magnified by the Lord in heaven. Praise be to you, God the Father; glory to you, God the Son; supreme power to you, God the Holy Spirit, who have deigned so to glorify your holy martyr Lucian — you who live, rule, and reign, from then and now and through the infinite ages of ages. Amen.