Martyrs Marius

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS MARIUS, MARTHA, AUDIFAX, AND ABACHUM.

Year of Christ CCLXX.

Marius, Martyr at Rome (S.) Martha, Martyr at Rome (S.) Audifax, Martyr at Rome (S.) Abachum, Martyr at Rome (S.)

From various sources.

§ I. The Acts of S. Marius and companions, relics at Rome.

[1] The Roman Church venerates on this day the illustrious athletes Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum; although many Martyrologies place them on the following day, The feast of these Saints, on which they are known to have been crowned with martyrdom. But the celebration of these, says Molanus, is anticipated by one day, because the day of their passion is assigned solely to the martyrdom of SS. Fabianus and Sebastianus. And indeed on this day we read the following in the Roman calendar: At Rome, on the Via Cornelia, the holy Martyrs Marius and Martha, husband and wife, and their sons Audifax and Abachum, noble Persians: who had come to Rome for prayer in the time of the Emperor Claudius: of whom, after enduring cudgels, the rack, fire, iron claws, and the cutting off of their hands, Martha was drowned in a pool; the others were beheaded, and their bodies burned. The same is found in Molanus in his Additions to Usuardus, and in various manuscript and printed Martyrologies. Nearly the same in Bede, Bellinus, Maurolycus, and others; more fully in Galesinius. But most briefly certain ancient manuscript Martyrologies: Of Marius and Martha, and their sons Audifax and Abbacuc, nobles from Persia. Finally, Wandelbertus, the MS. Florarium, and most recent writers commemorate them on this day. On the following day, the Martyrology of S. Hieronymus, the old Roman, Usuardus, Ado, Rabanus, Notkerus, and very many manuscripts. S. Martha is placed on 11 January by Silvanus Razzius, and on the 16th in the MS. of Rhinau.

[2] Marius is written erroneously as Marcus in Maurolycus and in certain manuscripts; the names, in Notkerus he is written Marinus. Baronius, at the year of Christ 270, no. 2, considers that in Persian he was called Maras, or Maris. Martha likewise Marthas. Abachum is variously called Abacuc, Abbacuc, Abachuch; in Notkerus Ambacuc; in Rabanus and others Ambacum; in our Iacobus Canisius Nabachum; in the MS. of Echternach Ambacu; in Octavius Pancirolus Abacon.

[3] The Acts of these Saints, given in summary by Surius on 14 February in the Acts of S. Valentinus, have been presented to us in full from ancient manuscripts of the monasteries of S. Maximinus and of Martinus at Trier, the Acts; of S. Maria de Ripatorio, of S. Audomarus, of Claudius Puteanus, and by Boninus Mombritius. To Baronius, at the year of Christ 270, no. 8, the more prolix Acts of these Martyrs that are found in printed editions seemed in many respects insufficiently authentic: for many things appear to have been added by someone who measured the dignity of the history by its prolixity, and not by sincere truth. But what we give here, we consider entirely worthy of trust, nor do we know what in them Baronius found open to criticism. They certainly agree with what Ioannes Basilius Sanctorius and others relate.

[4] S. Gregory mentions the relics of S. Martha in book 3 of his Dialogues, chapter 30. The church of the Arians, he says, in the region of the City, Relics of S. Martha, which is called the Subura, having remained closed for nearly two years; it was decided that it should be dedicated to the Catholic faith, with the relics of B. Stephanus and S. Martha the Martyr being brought into it: which was done. He then narrates the prodigies that occurred there at that time. But Ioannes the Deacon in his life of S. Gregory, book 2, chapter 31, and Pope S. Zacharias in his Greek translation of the Dialogues, record that the relics of SS. Sebastianus and Agatha were placed there, as we shall say on 20 January.

[5] Octavius Pancirolus in the book entitled Hidden Treasures of the Nurturing City, and of others, translated, region 1, church 15, writes that the relics of all of these were transported from their original place of burial into the City by Pope Paschal I (who lived two hundred and more years after S. Gregory), and parts distributed to various churches, namely S. Adrianus, S. Ioannes Calybita, and S. Praxedes. And indeed in the church of S. Adrianus, when it had been entrusted by Sixtus V to the religious men of the Order of S. Maria de Mercede, and Cardinal Augustinus Cusanus, Deacon of that title, wished to renovate the high altar with its Confessio, the bodies of these and other Saints were discovered there.

[6] Concerning the same discovery, Baronius writes the following in volume 2, year 270, no. 9: The bodies of the said holy Martyrs Marius and Martha, having been later translated to Rome, were interred in the most noble Deaconry of S. Adrianus, together with other illustrious holy Martyrs. And in this very year in which we are composing these works, they were found together with S. Adrianus, Flavia Domitilla, Nereus and Achilleus, three boys, Papias and Maurus the Martyrs, found in 1590, in the Deaconry of S. Adrianus, (of all of whom inscribed lead and stone tablets were the indicators) by the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Augustinus Cusanus, Cardinal Deacon of that church, a man of notable piety and most upright life, and in the magnificently restored Confessio they were most honorably placed in the manner of our ancestors: and they are viewed by the thronging Roman people, and religiously venerated.

[7] By these things we are admonished to correct, or rather to clarify, what we said at first in our Notes on the Roman Martyrology, that the bodies of the holy Martyrs Marius and Martha were interred on the Tiber Island in the church of S. Ioannes Calybita, some in the church of S. Ioannes Calybita: as the inscription affixed above the Confessio indicates, which signifies that the bodies of both them and their sons are contained there. It appears that what happened was this: because the bodies of the said Martyrs' sons were placed there, it was believed that those of the parents were likewise contained there, although no one could rightly deny that some part of the latter's relics also lay there. This can clearly be understood from what is openly attested by the public and trustworthy inscription carved on a marble tablet, placed in the apse of the same Deaconry of S. Adrianus; in which it is declared that in the year of our Lord 1228, in the first year of the pontificate of Pope Gregory IX, there were found in the Confessio of that church, among other things reviewed above, also the bodies of the holy Martyrs Marius and Martha, and that the greater part of them was left there, while the remainder was placed by the same Pope Gregory under the primary altar in the same church which he had shortly after dedicated. So Baronius, and he then describes the Translation of SS. Papias and Maurus made in the same year 1590, which we shall give on 29 January. Concerning SS. Flavia Domitilla, Nereus, and Achilleus, we shall treat on 7 and 12 May; Adrianus on 8 September; the three boys Ananias, Azarias, and Misael on 16 December.

[8] Pancirolus writes that not in the time of Gregory IX, but of Innocent III, in the year 1212, the relics of the same holy Martyr, and of Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, Abachum, and the three boys, were found under the high altar of the Deaconry of S. Adrianus those formerly; and that the same church of S. Adrianus was dedicated on 19 March 1228 by Gregory IX, after it had recently been restored by Cardinal Stephanus.

[9] The same author, region 9, church 2, relates that around the year 1600, when the church of S. Ioannes Calybita was being renovated, these recently found, there was found among other things a marble chest, on which the names of SS. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum were incised; because certain of their relics were contained in it.

§ II. Relics translated to Germany and Belgian Gaul.

[10] Nevertheless, a part of those same relics was brought to Gaul, Germany, and Belgium many centuries ago. For Eginartus in his history of the Translation of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus, which we shall give on 2 June, book 1, writes thus: After this, Ratleicus (Eginartus's notary), having spoken with his host, Some of these sent formerly to Eginartus: asks him to return the sacred ashes of B. Marcellinus, which he had entrusted to him for safekeeping; and not to detain him with any unnecessary delay, since he wished to return to his homeland. His host not only restored without delay what had been requested, but also offered him a not inconsiderable portion of Saints' relics collected together in one bundle, to be carried to me: and when asked about their names, he replied that he would tell me when he came to visit me. He warned, however, that they should be venerated with the same devotion as the other relics of holy Martyrs, because they were of no less merit before God than B. Marcellinus and Petrus: and that I would believe this when knowledge of their names first reached me. He accepted the offered gift and joined it, as he was persuaded, with the bodies of the holy Martyrs. And having taken counsel with his host, he had that sacred and desirable treasure, enclosed and sealed in coffers, transported as far as Pavia by Lunizo, his host's brother, whom we mentioned above, and also by the Priest of Hilduinus, who had come with him.

[11] After he had related that he placed all these relics in the monastery of Seligenstadt which he had built, and that miracles began to shine forth there, Eginartus adds the following in book 3: Therefore departing from there, as I said above, I proceeded to the imperial court. For the Emperor Ludwig, then residing in the palace at Aachen, had ordered an assembly of the nobles to be held there in about the middle of winter: where I too, having been ordered to be present among the others, because I was forced to be away from the presence of the blessed Martyrs, passed rather unpleasant days in the palace. And so after one month from my arrival there had passed, I sent one of our men, named Ellenhardus, commanding him to hasten with all possible speed to the shrine of the blessed Martyrs, to them a hunchback (the Saints warning in a dream) was brought, and having visited our Brothers whom I had left there for divine service when I departed, and having diligently investigated everything that was happening there, to return to us quickly. When he arrived there, he remained three days. But on the fourth day, when he was already preparing to return to us, that blind man named Albricus, whom we mentioned above, detained him as he was about to depart, affirming that he would not set out on his journey until he had seen such a sign performed, the report of which would make me joyful and exceedingly glad. He added also that the most blessed Martyrs had appeared to him in his dreams the previous night, and had given him the charge to seek out a certain poor man named Gisalbertus, weighed down by a huge hump and therefore bent over, leaning on short sticks; and having found him, to place him in the upper chamber above the portico of the basilica, at the time of the morning office, near the relics that were there, because there, through the merits and power of the Saints whose relics those were, he was to be freed from that deformity of the hump and the hindrance of his crookedness. He obeyed the one urging him, and deferred the journey he had prepared to undertake until the next day. And the blind man, seeking out the poor man as he had been instructed, found him, and, as had been commanded, placed him in the upper parts of the church near the aforesaid relics at the time of the morning office. Now those relics were, as we did not yet know, of B. Marius the Martyr, and his wife and sons, namely Martha, Audifax, and Habacuc, which had indeed been brought to us together with the bodies of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus, and in the same casket: but the one who brought them did not know whose relics they were. For the one who had sent them to me had promised that he would come to me himself, and would personally inform me of the names of the Saints whose relics these were, which was afterwards done.

[12] The poor man, who had been placed near those relics by the aforementioned blind man, when the second lesson was being read at the night office according to custom, cried out with a great shout, striking no small fear into those who heard. He is unexpectedly healed. When some of the clergy, along with the one who had been ordered to wait there for this, rushed to him, they found him lying face down and stretched out near the altar, and the pavement beneath his mouth wet with much blood. Lifting him up and reviving him with water that had been brought, they led him down to the lower parts of the church, congratulating him, for he was sound and upright, retaining no sign of that hump-like crookedness. When this miracle had been accomplished in this manner, the one whom I had sent there returned to me with the greatest haste, and when he had reported what he had seen, he filled us with great joy and exultation. Not long after, Ratleicus, who had brought the sacred ashes of the Martyrs from Rome, as we demonstrated above, came, as he himself asserted, by command, bringing a booklet containing several chapters; the reason for which he reported as follows, The Saints' own instructions, saying that the blind man, whom we just mentioned, had commanded him by the authority of the Martyrs to copy those chapters and bring them to me, and to say that I should receive them and offer them to the Emperor to read.

[13] Relics of these same Saints were brought at the same time to Soissons, to the monastery of S. Medardus; whether from that bundle Some relics brought to Soissons: which the Roman host had given to Ratleicus, the priest of Hilduinus secretly stole them, as he also did certain relics of SS. Marcellinus and Petrus, which Hilduinus returned to Eginartus; or rather whether he himself with his companions gathered them from the sepulchre of the Martyrs at Rome; this we have not been able to determine. The latter account is given by the monk Odilo in his letter on the arrival and reception of the bodies of SS. Tiburtius, Marcellinus and Petrus, Marcellianus and Marcus, etc., to Ingrannus, writing thus: Amid such great acts of divine dispensation and devoted religious worship, it happened that, while they were visiting the cemeteries at night for the purpose of prayer with the aforesaid Archdeacon, near the relics of the holy Martyrs Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abacuc, they received divine oracles of warning; clearly instructed by whose consolations and indications, they likewise took up the four bodies, and more quickly mixed them with the caskets of the aforesaid Saints. This was accomplished without any difficulty and with the greatest reverence. Thus that entire mass of holy bodies was procured by the industry of the illustrious Archdeacon, and received with redoubled joy by the legates of the Lord Abbot Hilduinus, and mixed with the relics of the other Martyrs, they arrived together at Pavia with exulting spirits as they carried them. These things were done perhaps without Ratleicus's knowledge, and from this his host stole what he afterwards gave him, fragments of those relics.

[14] Nevertheless, the complete bodies of those Saints were not then carried away from Rome: for a part of their relics still remains there, some at Gembloux: and another part was later brought to Gembloux as well. Gembloux is a distinguished Benedictine monastery and town in Brabant, about which more will be said in the life of S. Guibertus its founder on 23 May. Its ninth Abbot was Arnulphus, formerly a monk of S. Nicasius at Reims, who became abbot in 1137, as the Supplement to the Chronicles of the monk Sigebertus and Abbot Anselmus at Gembloux records. He, having been consecrated at Rome by Pope Innocent II himself (who reigned from 1 March 1130 to 24 September 1143), brought back from there the relics of S. Marius and S. Fortunatus, and of other Saints, as Miraeus writes in his Calendar and Molanus in his Calendar of Saints, and, as the latter testifies, the feast of the holy Martyr has twelve lessons at Gembloux. The Gallo-Belgian Martyrology mentions this celebration on this day.

[15] Arnoldus Raissius testifies that on 23 July 1623 these relics of the holy Martyrs were inspected, recently inspected: and that one separate head, the half of a bone, and small bones of the hip and arms, hair, and two empty flasks, in which blood appeared to have been contained, were found.

[16] From this you may correct what Saussaius writes in his Gallican Martyrology, that these relics were transported from Gembloux to Soissons, not these brought to Soissons; but others, since they had been at Soissons three hundred and more years before they were at Gembloux. The birthday of S. Marius the Martyr, he says, who today at Rome on the Via Cornelia, with his wife Martha and sons Audifax and Abacuc, under the Emperor Claudius, was tortured with dire and various torments, and accomplished a glorious martyrdom. His body, together with the relics of B. Fortunatus and other Saints, was brought into Belgian Gaul by Arnulphus, the ninth Abbot of Gembloux, as a gift of Pope Innocent II, and rested for some time in the aforesaid monastery: but from there it was transported to Soissons, to the monastery of S. Medardus, the common home of very many Saints, and was kept there with great honor: and those scattered, until by the Calvinist heretics, who impiously devastated and destroyed this noble monastery, together with the most sacred bodies of very many other Saints resting there, it was cast out of the Sanctuary and stripped of its silver casket, and burned with flames, not without testimony of divine glory and justice raging against the impious aggressors.

[17] Some at Courtrai in Flanders: There are also at Courtrai in Flanders some relics of SS. Marius and Martha, which Cardinal Augustinus Cusanus gave to Ioannes Vendevillius, Bishop of Tournai, on 20 March 1590; the executors of Vendevillius's will gave them on 12 January 1593 to the College of the Society of Jesus at Courtrai; which town is situated in the diocese of Tournai.

[18] Peregrinus Merula in his Sanctuary of Cremona relates that Antonius Campus left it in writing that some at Cremona; the bodies of the holy Martyrs Marius and companions (or rather, as Merula himself interprets, some of their relics) were translated to Cremona and placed in the church of S. Laurentius, which belongs to Benedictine monks, by Abbot Lambertus. But Ludovicus Cavitellus in his Annals of Cremona writes that this was done in 1130: Lambertus, he says, Abbot of S. Laurentius, arranged for the bodies of SS. Marius, when brought there; Martha, Audifax and Abachum, parents and sons, martyred in the year of our Lord 306 at Rome, to be brought from the City to Cremona, together with the relics of SS. Urbanus, Supreme Pontiff, and Quirinus, also Martyrs, and to be placed in the church of S. Laurentius. He errs in the year of martyrdom. The same author at the year 1462: Antonius Melius of Cremona, Abbot of the monks of the church of S. Laurentius, relocated, of the Order of S. Benedict at Cremona, by his order and at his expense had erected in that church a very elegant marble chest, in which he had the bones of SS. Marius and Martha, Audifax and Abachum, mother and sons, with the relics of SS. Urbanus, Supreme Pontiff, and Quirinus the Martyrs, brought from the City to Cremona in the year 1131 through the efforts of the then Abbot Lambertus of the same abbey.

ACTS

From several ancient manuscripts.

Marius, Martyr at Rome (S.) Martha, Martyr at Rome (S.) Audifax, Martyr at Rome (S.) Abachum, Martyr at Rome (S.)

BHL Number: 5543

From manuscripts.

CHAPTER I.

The holy works of Marius and companions.

[1] In the times of Claudius, a certain man came from the region of Persia, S. Marius and companions come to Rome: named Marius, with his wife Martha, and his sons Audifax and Abbacuc, most Christian men, for the purpose of prayer at the tombs of the Apostles. Coming to Rome, they seek out the bodies of Saints: they began to search for the bodies of Saints throughout the prisons and burial places. And while they frequently, diligently, and carefully sought them out, coming to the Camp across the Tiber, they found in prison a venerable man named Cyrinus, who had already endured many beatings for the name of Christ, and had been entirely stripped of all his possessions. They minister to the captive Saints. Coming to him, Marius and his wife Martha, with their two sons Audifax and Abacuc, cast themselves at his feet, that he might pray for them: and they remained there eight days. And they began to minister to B. Cyrinus from their own resources, and to wash his feet, and those who were bound in chains, and to pour the water upon their own heads and those of their sons.

[2] At the same time Claudius ordered that if any Christians were found, either among the common people or in custody, they should be punished without interrogation. Many killed by Claudius. He therefore, after the decree had been published, seized two hundred and sixty Christians on the Via Salaria, who had been condemned to dig sand for the name of Christ, whom he had enclosed in a pottery works outside the walls of the Salarian Gate, and ordered them to be killed with arrows in the amphitheater of the city.

[3] When this had been done, Marius and his wife Martha, greatly distressed, with their sons Audifax and Abbacuc, came to the place where the bodies of the Saints had been killed, together with B. Ioannes the Priest, and found a fire placed over the holy bodies; and taking hold of them, they began to withdraw the bodies of the Saints from the fire, and to bury them with linen cloths at their own expense; they bury them; for they were exceedingly rich and wealthy: and as many as they could, they buried in a crypt on the Via Salaria, near the Clivus Cucumeris. Then they also buried with them a certain Tribune of Claudius, named Blastus: and in the same place they kept vigils and fasts with prayers for many days with B. Ioannes.

[4] Hearing this, Claudius began diligently to search for Marius and his wife Martha, and did not find them, because they were doing this secretly. Coming to Rome, they went to the Camp seeking B. Cyrinus. Not finding him, they were exceedingly distressed. They found, however, a certain Priest named Pastor, who told them everything that had happened, and how B. Cyrinus had been killed by the sword at night, and had been cast into the Tiber, and his body had remained on the Lycaonian Island. Going therefore by night with his household and B. Pastor, and bury S. Cyrinus the Priest, they collected his body, and buried him in the cemetery of Pontianus in a crypt, on the eighth day before the Kalends of April.

[5] Coming after this, BB. Marius and Martha with their sons, heard at night in a place across the Tiber, in a certain upper room, a multitude of Christians singing psalms. Going therefore to the place with joy, they knocked at the door of the upper room. But those inside, being afraid, would not open to them. Now in that same place was a Bishop named Callistus. Who, when he heard those knocking, said to the Saints of Christ: Take courage, do not be afraid. They approach a gathering of Christians. Christ knocks at our door: let us open our mouths, and strengthening ourselves more, let us together praise the Lord, for He himself calls us. And immediately he went himself to the door, and opened it. When Marius and his wife Martha saw him, together with their sons Audifax and Abbacuc, young men, they cast themselves at the feet of B. Callistus the Bishop. When all the Christians saw them, they rejoiced, and kissed one another. And B. Callistus gave a prayer at that very hour, saying: God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who gathers the scattered and preserves the gathered, increase the faith and confidence of your servants through Christ our Lord, who lives with God the Father almighty and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. And all the people responded, Amen. And they remained in the same place for two months in hiding.

CHAPTER II.

The confession and miracles of S. Valentinus the Priest.

[6] Then Claudius seized a certain venerable man, Valentinus by name, a Priest, and shut him in prison, S. Valentinus freely professes the faith: bound with fetters and chains: whom after two days he ordered to be brought before him in his palace near the amphitheater. When he had been presented to his sight, he said to him: Why do you not enjoy our friendship, and live with the company of our Republic? I hear of quite admirable wisdom among you, and although you are wise, you give offense by the superstition of vanity. Valentinus the Priest responded and said: If you knew the gift of God, you too would rejoice, and your Republic, and you would reject the demons and the handmade idols, and confess one God, the Father almighty, and Jesus Christ His Son, the creator of all things, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them. A certain lawyer who was standing by Claudius responded, saying in a loud voice to B. Valentinus the Priest: And what do you debate about the God Jupiter, or Mercury? Valentinus the Priest responded and said: I dispute nothing else about them, except that I know they were wretched and base men, who during the time of their lives always lived wickedly in impurities and pleasures and shameful treatment of their own bodies. But if you will show me their genealogy, you will see how base they were. The lawyer responded, exclaiming in a loud voice: He has blasphemed the gods and the rulers of the Republic.

[7] On the same day Claudius listened more patiently, and responding to Valentinus said: If Christ is God, why do you not reveal to me what is true? Valentinus the Priest responded and said: Let your piety hear; and you truly listen to me, O King, and your soul will be saved, and your Republic will be increased, and your enemies will be destroyed, and you will be victorious in all things, and you will enjoy the kingdom both here and in the age to come. I only urge that you repent of the blood of the Saints which you have shed, and believe in Christ, and be baptized; and you shall be saved. Then Claudius said to those standing by him: Hear, Roman citizens and company of the Republic, He would have won Claudius to the faith, what sound doctrine is proclaimed by this man. Calpurnius the Prefect responded, saying in a loud voice: You are seduced, O Prince, by false doctrine: and if it is right that we abandon what we have worshiped and adored from our cradles, had not Calpurnius the Prefect opposed it, you judge.

[8] At that hour the heart of Claudius was changed, and with sadness he handed him over to Calpurnius the Prefect, saying: Hear him patiently, and if the counsel he declares is not sound, do to him what the laws prescribe against the sacrilegious; but if it is sound, let his just petition be heard. Then Calpurnius the Prefect, receiving Valentinus the Priest, He is handed over to Asterius, to be perverted: gave him to a certain Asterius, his chief officer, saying: If you can humble him with gentle words, I will make your teaching known to Claudius, and you will be his friend, and you will be enriched with wealth and possessions. Asterius then took him and led him to his house. When Valentinus the Priest had entered the house of Asterius, he knelt and prayed, saying: God, maker of all things visible and invisible, and creator of the human race, who sent your Son the Lord Jesus Christ, to free us from this present age, and to lead us from darkness to the true light, who commanding us, said: Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest; convert this household, and grant it light after darkness, that they may know you as God and Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen. Matt. 11:28.

[9] Hearing this, Asterius the chief officer said to Valentinus the Priest: I marvel at your wisdom, that you say your Christ is the light. Valentinus responded in a loud voice and said: And truly, because the Lord Jesus Christ, he explains to him the mysteries of the faith, who was born of the Holy Spirit and of the Virgin Mary, is the true light, who enlightens every man coming into this world. Asterius responded, saying: If he enlightens every man, I will now test whether he is God; but if not, I will extinguish your deceit. I have an adopted daughter, whom I have loved from her cradle, and suddenly, about two years ago, she was blinded and disfigured by cataracts: bring her then to me; and when she has been healed, I will do whatever you command me. Valentinus the Priest therefore said: In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, bring her to me. Asterius ran anxiously and brought the blind girl to B. Valentinus the Priest. Valentinus then raised his hands to heaven, his eyes flowing with tears, and said: Lord God almighty, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies, who sent your Son our Lord Jesus Christ to earth, to lead us from darkness to the true light, I call upon you, a sinner unworthy. But because you save every soul, and wish no one to perish; therefore I beseech your mercy, that all may know that you are God, and the Father and Creator of all, who opened the eyes of the man born blind, and raised the already decomposing Lazarus from the tomb: I call upon you who are the true light, and the Lord of all Princes and Powers; not my will but yours be done upon this your handmaiden, that you deign to enlighten her with the light of your understanding. and restores sight to his daughter. And he placed his hand upon her eyes, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, enlighten your handmaiden, for you are the true light. And when he had said this, her eyes were opened.

c Same MS.: lawyer.

CHAPTER III.

The conversion and martyrdom of S. Asterius and his household.

[10] When Asterius saw this, he fell with his wife at the feet of B. Valentinus, and they said: Through Christ, through whom we have known the light, we pray that you do what you know, Asterius releases the captive Christians: so that our souls may be saved. Valentinus responded and said: Then do what I say, and if you believe with your whole heart, break all the idols, and fast, and forgive the faults of all, and let each one be baptized in his confession, and he shall be saved. Then he enjoined upon them a three-day fast. He is baptized with his household, after a three-day fast: And because Asterius had many Christians in his custody, he released them all. When the three days of fasting had been completed, on the holy Lord's Day, he baptized Asterius with all his household. And he called to himself S. Callistus the Bishop, who came and confirmed Asterius with all his household, souls of both sexes numbering about forty-six.

[11] When Marius and his wife Martha heard that this had happened, with their sons Audifax and Abbacuc, he is visited by SS. Marius and companions: that the blind girl had been illuminated by B. Valentinus, and through her illumination the whole house of Asterius had believed, they came with great joy to the house of Asterius giving thanks to God, and they remained there thirty-two days. After these days, Claudius sought Asterius the chief officer. And it was reported to him that the girl in his house had been illuminated, and through this sign he had been baptized in the name of Christ with all his household through Valentinus the Priest. With them he is captured: Enraged, he sent soldiers, and seized all whom he found in his house. When they had been brought in chains, among whom were Marius and Martha, Audifax and Abbacuc, most noble persons from Persia, who had come for prayer at the tombs of the holy Apostles; he ordered them to be separated from the congregation of the just, commanding that Asterius with all his household be led in chains to the city of Ostia, and there to receive sentence under examination of punishments.

[12] And when they had arrived at the place, they handed them over to a certain Judge, he is led to Ostia: named Gelasius. Then Gelasius, receiving them, ordered them all to be cast into prison. After twenty days, Gelasius ordered them to be presented before him. When they had been presented, he said to them: Have you heard what the victors of the Republic have ordered? They said: We do not know. He said to them: Whoever sacrifices to the gods, let him live, and let his liberty remain, and let him be honored with possessions. But whoever refuses to humble himself before the gods, let him be killed with various punishments. B. Asterius said: Let those sacrifice to them, and perish with them, who are like them. For know this, that we offer ourselves as a sacrifice to God almighty and to the Lord Jesus Christ his Son. He is tortured on the rack: his companions are beaten with rods. Then Gelasius the Judge, enraged, ordered B. Asterius to be raised on the rack and tortured; and he ordered all the others to be beaten with rods. And they said: Lord Jesus Christ, who extinguished the blazing flames of fire for the three boys in the furnace, extinguish the threats of this tyrant, so that he may not glory over your servants, and do not separate us from our lord Asterius.

[13] Immediately he ordered him to be taken down from the rack, and to be committed again to custody, saying: More grievous torments must be prepared for these. And he ordered all the people to assemble at dawn for the spectacle. Then he ordered a show to be prepared for himself in the amphitheater, and B. Asterius and all the Saints to be presented before him. To whom he spoke thus: Abandon the madness of your vanity, and promise that you will sacrifice to the gods, so that you do not fail under torments, and all these perish together. B. Asterius responded and said: We all desire this, that just as our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for sinners, so we also, unworthy sinners, may endure torments for his name; so that, purified from the defilements of this world, we may securely merit to reach the desired kingdom of heaven. All are thrown to the beasts. Hearing this, Gelasius the Judge, moved with anger, ordered them to be given to the beasts. And immediately the attendants seized them, and led them to the place called the Bear-pit, near the Golden Temple, because wild beasts were kept there. And when all the Saints had entered the pit, the beasts were immediately released to kill them. Then B. Asterius, making the sign of Christ, said in a loud voice: Lord God almighty, who had mercy on your servant Daniel in the den of lions, unharmed: and strengthened him through Habakkuk the Prophet, so also visit your servants through your holy Angel. And the beasts ran and began to adore the feet of B. Asterius, and of all the Saints together.

[14] And when Gelasius saw this, he said to the people: Have you seen how by magic arts they have tamed the beasts? But many said: Their God has delivered them. Then he ordered the Saints to be cast out of the pit, and to be burned with flames: they are thrown into fire, unharmed: Then B. Asterius, crying out, said to the Saints: Take courage and do not be afraid, for that Fourth One, who was present among the three Hebrew boys in the furnace of fire, behold, is with us. And immediately the flames were extinguished, they are killed, so that not one of their limbs was harmed. Then Gelasius, seeing that he was defeated in everything, ordered them to be taken outside the walls of the city of Ostia, and there to undergo capital punishment, and others to be stoned. Then the Christians buried their bodies with all diligence on the fifteenth day before the Kalends of February. In which place a church was built, and there the blessings of the Martyrs flourish to the present day.

CHAPTER IV.

The execution of SS. Valentinus, Marius, and companions.

[15] But the Emperor ordered Marius and Martha, Audifax and Abbacuc to be reserved for himself, S. Valentinus is beheaded: so that he might hear them in person; but Valentinus the Priest he ordered to be beaten with rods, and to undergo the sentence of decapitation. He was beheaded on the Via Flaminia on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of March. His body was collected by a certain matron Savinilla and buried in the same place, he is buried, where he was beheaded, where the Lord works many miracles to the praise and glory of his name.

[16] Claudius therefore ordered that Marius, Martha, Audifax and Abbacuc be presented before him. Marius and companions are examined by Claudius: When they had been presented, Claudius, supposing that they were loaded with money, thus addressed them, saying: Where are you from? Audifax, their elder son, responded, saying: From Persia. Claudius said: What noble rank do you hold among yourselves? Audifax responded: I and Abbacuc, as regards the flesh, are their sons. Claudius said: For what reason have you come down to the superior homeland? Audifax responded: We have earnestly desired to come to the feet of the Apostles for prayer. Claudius said: And what means did you have, to spend so much on the journey? or what is your birth, tell me. Marius and Martha responded and said: The Lord almighty knows, they profess their royal lineage, that we were born noble from every generation. For that you may know we are noble, I am the son of the Emperor Maromenus, and she is the daughter of the sub-king Cusinitis. Claudius said: And why do you not follow the judgment of your parents, so as to desert the gods which your parents worshiped, and their faith, and seek dead men? Marius responded: We, servants of Christ, have come to beseech his servants and Apostles, that they may deign to intercede for us. Claudius said: Are your possessions at hand? Marius said: We have given our possessions to him who had given them to us for a short time, to the Lord Jesus Christ. Claudius, hearing this speech, they are handed over to Muscianus the Vicar: greatly enraged, handed them over to the Vicar Muscianus, saying: If they do not sacrifice and abandon this superstition, exercise various torments upon them.

[17] On the same day he ordered a tribunal to be prepared for himself in the Temple of Tellus, and all kinds of instruments of torture to be brought. When they had been brought into his presence, filled with fury he said: Has what the Princes and rulers of our Republic have decreed been made known to you? Audifax responded, saying: We do not know. Muscianus the Vicar said: Do you then wish to learn the decree? Marius and Martha responded: We desire to hear what has been commanded to you. Muscianus the Vicar said: Let the instruments of torture be brought. And when they had been brought, he said: Every kind of torture will be spent upon you, his threats and promises being scorned, if you do not carry out the decree of the Emperors. But if you heed the command of the Princes, your noble rank will be renewed, and you will shine with lofty dignity. The victors of the Republic have ordered this, that you sacrifice to the gods without delay, and be friends of the Princes. Audifax, the elder son, responded, saying: You have spoken a foolish thing. Muscianus said to Marius, Martha, and Abbacuc: What do you say? They responded: We have all spoken as with one mouth.

[18] They are beaten with rods: Muscianus the Vicar therefore ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods, but Martha to stand before them. While they were being beaten, with the heralds crying out: Do not despise the commands of the Princes; Martha rejoiced, saying: My sons, be steadfast. And Marius praised the Lord, saying: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ. They are tortured on the rack. Muscianus the Vicar ordered them to be raised from the ground and suspended on the rack. While they were being stretched with hemp ropes, Audifax the elder son cried out in a loud voice: Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ, with fire and iron claws: who have deigned to number us among your servants. Muscianus, enraged, ordered fire to be applied to their sides, and their bodies to be scraped with iron claws. But they, with cheerful countenance, joyfully cried out: We give you thanks, Lord. Their hands are cut off. Muscianus ordered them to be taken down from the rack in the sight of Martha, and cut off their hands. And when their hands had been cut off, blood began to flow. Martha, collecting the blood of her husband and sons, with Martha exulting: anointed her own head with joy. Then Muscianus ordered that with their hands tied to their necks, they should be led around the city, with the herald crying out: Do not blaspheme the gods. But Marius, Audifax, and Abbacuc cried out: They are not gods, but demons, who will destroy both you and your Princes.

[19] On the same day he passed sentence that they should be beheaded. They were led on the Via Cornelia, to the thirteenth milestone at the Pools of Catabassus, and there in that place Marius, Audifax, and Abbacuc were beheaded in a sand-pit; Martha was drowned in a pool. They are killed. Muscianus then ordered their bodies to be burned so that they would have no burial. But a certain matron, named Felicitas, Their half-burned bodies are buried. seized their half-burned bodies, and buried them on her estate. She also lifted Martha from the well, and joined her to the holy bodies, on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of February: where the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ are bestowed even to this day, through the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever, Amen.

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS PAULUS, QUINCTUS, GERONTIUS, IANUARIUS, SATURNINUS, SUCCESSUS, GERMANA, TERTULUS or ZERTULUS, TIBERITANUS, MAIOLUS, VICTORIANUS, HONORATUS, FORTUNATUS, IULIUS, LUCIUS, MARCUSUS or MARCISSUS, PUBLIUS, FELIX, CAIA, VITALIS, CASSIANUS, SECUNDUS, VICTOR, PRIMUS, SPANUS or HISPANUS, CACINANUS or CAECUMARUS, another LUCIUS, SATURNINA, FLORIDA, CALLISTA, MELONDION or MOLENDION, and about six hundred others.

Paulus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Quinctus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Gerontius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Ianuarius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Successus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Germana, Martyr in Africa (S.) Tertulus or Zertulus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Tiberitanus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Maiolus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Victorianus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Honoratus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Fortunatus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Iulius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Lucius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Marcusus or Marcissus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Publius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Felix, Martyr in Africa (S.) Caia, Martyr in Africa (S.) Vitalis, Martyr in Africa (S.) Cassianus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Secundus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Victor, Martyr in Africa (S.) Primus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Spanus or Hispanus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Cacinanus or Caecimarus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Lucius the younger, Martyr in Africa (S.) Saturnina, Martyr in Africa (S.) Florida, Martyr in Africa (S.) Callista, Martyr in Africa (S.) Melondion or Molendion, Martyr in Africa (S.) Other Martyrs in Africa, about six hundred

From various sources.

[1] Whether all these were killed at the same time or in different places and times, though in the same Africa, is not clear, since the Acts have either perished or lie hidden. We shall give the words of the Martyrologies, The names of these Saints inscribed in the Roman Martyrology by Baronius, until someone unearths more certain information. The Roman: In Africa, the holy Martyrs Paulus, Gerontius, Ianuarius, Saturninus, Successus, Pia, Germana, Iulius, and Catus. Baronius acknowledges that he added these to the Martyrology from an ancient codex of S. Cyriacus in Thermis. Galesinius drew the same from Bede, as he says: but they are not found in the common text of Bede. The Cologne Carthusians and Canisius also cite Bede: In Africa, according to Bede, SS. Paulus, Quinctus, already recorded by others, Gerontius, Ianuarius, Saturninus, Successus, Pia, Germana, Iulius, Gagus. Notkerus: In Africa, Paulus, Quinctus, and very many Martyrs. The ancient MS. of the monastery of Rhinau: In Africa, Paulus, Quinctus, Ianuarius, Germanus. The manuscripts of the monasteries of S. Martinus at Tournai and of Liessis: In Africa, the birthday of SS. Paulus, Hermes, Quinctus, Gerontius, Ianuarius, Successus, Valens, Publius, Gagius, with six hundred others.

[2] The Martyrology of S. Hieronymus, transcribed by Laurentius of Echternach, appears to enumerate some of these six hundred: In Africa, Paulus, in some, many other names, Quinctus, Gerontius, Ianuarius, Saturninus, Successus, Germana, Zertulus, and many others. Tiberitanus, Maiolus, Victorianus, Honoratus, Fortunatus, Iulius, Lucius, Marcusus, Publius, Felix, Caia, Vitalis, Cassianus, Secundus, Victor, Primus, Spanus, Cacinanus, likewise Lucius, Saturnina, Florida, Callista, Melondion. The same are enumerated in nearly the same way by the ancient Irish MS. of the Convent of Dungal: Paulus, Quinctus, Gerontius, Ianuarius, Saturninus, Successus, ... Gagia, Saturnina, Florida, Caliza, Pia, Priscari, Tertulus, Tiberus, Tanmaiolus, Victorianus, Honoratus, Fortunatus, Iulius, Lucius, the birthday of S. Germanis, Marcissus, ... Publius, Felix, Vitalis, Cassianus, Secundus, Victor, Primus, Hispanus, Lucius, Caecumarus, Molendion. We have omitted what was inappropriately interjected: Marius and Martha, sister of Lazarus, and Paulus the elder.

[3] In certain names, then, there is a discrepancy. Pia, listed by Canisius, the Carthusians, and variously written, Baronius, and Galesinius, seems to belong elsewhere, as will be said below. Galesinius and Canisius write Gerantius, who is Gerontius. Tertulus seems the correct reading, with the Irish MS., who is Zertulus in the Echternach MS. But what is Tiberitanus in the latter, rightly in our opinion, is Tiberius in the other MS. by a copyist's error, the syllable Tan having been wrongly attached to the name Maiolus. In one manuscript it is Marcissus, in the other Marcusus: to debate which reading you might prefer is scarcely worth the effort. We prefer Caia, unless you would rather say Caius, to the other MS.'s Gagia; the Carthusians have Gagus; the Tournai and Liessis MSS. Gagius; Baronius, Galesinius, Canisius, Catus. Spanus and Hispanus are the same; for Spania was the name used even by the ancients for what is Hispania, and by our countrymen Spanien. Although σπανός also means rare, precious. For Cacinanus and Caecumarus, would you not conjecture that Caecinianus should be read? Whether it is Molendion or Melondion hardly matters; another might conjecture that Melandion, or Melandryon, should be read. Callista in one MS. is called Calista, in another Caliza.

[4] In the most recent edition of the Martyrology, it has been noted in the margin that these appear to have undergone martyrdom in the year 302. When they were killed. But Franciscus Bivarius, in his commentary on the Chronicle of Flavius Dexter, year 138, no. 5, thinks that the Germana listed here is one of the nine twins of Catellius, or C. Attilius, daughters of Regulus, a sister of S. Quiteria (about whom we shall treat on 22 May); but that when the sisters parted from one another at the sign of an Angel, she crossed the sea and migrated to Africa, and there laid down her life for the defense of the Christian faith along with eight other companions; and that these eight companions are those whom Baronius restored to the Roman Martyrology. He cites the Chronicle of Julianus, not yet seen by us, in which he says the following is found: S. Germana, sister of these, suffers at Carthage in Africa. These things are uncertain, and we have no intention of either following or refuting them. Antonius Vasconcellius, one of ours, followed this in his Description of the Kingdom of Lusitania, writing that other sisters suffered death for Christ elsewhere, and Germana at Carthage in Africa. But no one else asserts that these Martyrs entered their contest at Carthage, but only in Africa.

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS PIA, PICARIA, AND THIRTY-EIGHT OTHERS AT CARTHAGE IN AFRICA.

Pia, Martyr at Carthage in Africa (S.) Picaria, Martyr at Carthage in Africa (S.) Other XXXVIII Martyrs at Carthage in Africa

Baronius, Canisius, Galesinius, the Carthusians, and the Dungal MS. joined Pia with the other African Martyrs. And it is frequent in the ancient Martyrologies, that even without any place being specified, or indeed with one indicated, other Saints are added who do not belong there; especially when only names are listed, without any mention of acts. Notkerus and the Martyrology of S. Hieronymus distinguished them: At Carthage, of Picaria, Pia, and thirty-eight others. For Picaria, the name Priscari appears in the Dungal codex. Perhaps Priscaria was written. In the same codex, the thirty-eight Martyrs are mentioned separately: Nicetus (a Bishop, whom we referred above to 2 April) and thirty-eight other Martyrs.