Julia

ON ST. JULIA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR. LIKEWISE ON SS. CLAUDIUS, EMPEROR OF THE BARBARIANS, JUSTUS, JUCUNDINUS, AND FIVE OTHERS: OR JUSTA, JOCUNDA, TERNUS, ANTONIUS, HERENUS, THEODORUS, DIONYSIUS, APOLLONIUS, APPAMIA, PIONICUS, CUSSIO, PAPYRA, SATURIUS, AND SEVEN OTHERS.

AT TROYES IN GAUL.

Under Aurelian.

Julia, Virgin and Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Claudius, Emperor of the Barbarians, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Justus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Jucundinus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Five other Martyrs, at Troyes in Gaul. Justa, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Jocunda, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Ternus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Antonius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Herenus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Theodorus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Dionysius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Apollonius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Appamia, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Pionicus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Cussio, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Papyra, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Saturius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Seven other Martyrs, at Troyes in Gaul.

BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.

The Acts of this holy Virgin of Troyes were first, so far as I know, brought to light by him whom we praised in our Observations on Usuard, the author of the Troyes Promptuary, Nicolas Camuzat, a canon there, The Acts first published by Camuzat, a most accurate investigator of the affairs of the Church of Troyes, in a little note subjoined to the Acts themselves skillfully warning that the aforesaid history is inelegantly composed, which is indeed most true; but that he neither ought nor was able to pass it over, since the martyrdom of St. Julia is woven into the Fasti or Martyrology of the Roman Church at July 21. He could nearly have said that he had discovered the source whence probably the Martyrs recounted in the title had passed into the sacred Fasti themselves; the first indeed into Usuard: At Troyes, of St. Julia, virgin and martyr: Claudius, Justus, and Jucundinus into his supplements, the rest into Saussay, who expressed by name as many companions of the martyrdom as he had found in the said history of the passion; which we here, for that cause alone, again produce after Surius, although it be most evident that an unskilled writer inserted many things which no one would easily fit either to the facts or to the times.

[2] Whether Usuard saw those Acts, and thence received Julia, it is more probable Usuard did not see them; I should indeed not dare to assert; it is more probable that the Virgin became known to him from the neighboring cult alone; for why would he have passed over the companions of the martyrdom, who in those same Acts are so expressly commemorated, and who by others, in the order which I have already said, were successively added? Claudius indeed emperor of the barbarians, Justus, and Jucundinus, with five anonymous ones in the Cologne Usuards. Molanus added the translation of St. Julia, of which the author of the manuscript Florarium of the Saints had first made mention, whose words are: Whose sacred body, translated into the territory of Meaux, to the monastery of Jouarre, is honorably venerated buried, in the year of salvation 272. At what time these things were done, let those teach us whose concern it is; it is plain enough that this florilegist strays from the truth, even when below he adds: In Greece, the deposition of the emperor Claudius, in the year of salvation 272. He doubtless meant to say at Troyes. Equally confused are his last words: Likewise of the blessed martyrs Dionysius, Pontus, Cussio, Papirius, Saturius, with seven others; who by greater confusion were transferred by Greven into Africa. The last ones Saussay's not inelegant eulogy suggested, reporting the substance of the Acts somewhat softened, the order of the holy Martyrs being also somewhat changed, while three women are placed in the last rank. Here is Saussay's discourse:

[3] On the same day at Troyes, the birthday of St. Julia, virgin and martyr, Saussay elegantly who, born of the same city, excelled no less in the zeal of the purest religion and the chastest morals than in a rare beauty of body. On which accounts, first sought in marriage by Claudius, leader of the military forces; by the great efficacy above all of her virtue and faith, she drew that very man, with some of his fellow-soldiers, from the nefarious worship of demons to the acknowledgment and obedience of Christ the Savior: and so she both preserved unblemished the honor of her virginity, which she had consecrated to the Lord, and made her suitor, snatched from the way of perdition, the servant of Christ, and advanced him into the path of true felicity. The series of which matter being learned, the emperor Aurelian, inflamed with fury against the Virgin,

magnanimously persevering in the affirmation of her faith and the proclamation of Christ, ordered her to be beheaded outside the walls of the city.

[4] And since he had been unable to draw away from his resolve Claudius, and elegantly abridged them, whom he saw made firmer, by the very martyrdom of the Virgin, in defending Christian piety, he commanded him too, together with twenty others who had received baptism through the saving admonitions of the Virgin, to be struck likewise with the axe in the same place; where, bravely giving their necks, they all rendered a last testimony to Christ by a unanimous confession. Of this noble band of athletes the names of only thirteen were handed down to memory; namely of Ternus, Antonius, Herenus, Theodorus, Dionysius, Apollonius, Pionicus, Cussio, Papyra, Saturius, Justa, Jucunda, Apamia: but the names of the rest, which fell from the memory of men, shine forever inscribed in the book of God and of the Lamb. But the body of St. Julia is observed with great veneration, with the head of St. Claudius, in the sacristy of the illustrious monastery of Jouarre in the territory of Meaux, to which it was long ago translated from the city of Troyes, not without tokens of divine power and grace: which would that he had dug out from somewhere, and taught us concerning the time of the translation. In the Breviary of Meaux there is on this day no memory of St. Julia or her companions, nor does Camuzat make mention of any singular cult among the people of Troyes.

[5] For the rest, Saussay abridged the Acts elegantly enough, the chief stone of stumbling being nearly removed, and softened the harsher parts. namely in that title affixed to St. Claudius, of emperor of the barbarians, whom he better called leader of the military forces. And why might he not have been also a leader of some barbarians, in that century in which it is well enough known that the incursions of foreign peoples (who among the Romans were called barbarians) into the Gauls were not infrequent; among whom that Claudius, by the constancy, chastity, and other virtues of the most holy Christian Virgin, may have been led, with some of his soldiers, to the Christian faith, and have attained the palm of martyrdom in the time of Aurelian in the city of Troyes: which, if they were explained in that simpler phrase in the very history of the passion, would neither have seemed so inelegant to Camuzat, nor been so crudely rejected by Tillemont and the critics who follow him. For my part I am far from approving the history, but of whatever sort it appear, I shall say with the praised Camuzat that I ought not to have excluded it from our Acts, in which six hundred such things are related, even for that reason alone, that from their comparison the sincere and genuine Acts may shine forth the more.

[6] Notes are not subjoined, because I judged them altogether superfluous for explaining those things Camuzat's observation. which seem to have been invented by the compiler merely for the sake of ornament: but those things were not to be passed over which Camuzat suggests concerning some surviving veneration of her among the people of Troyes, assigning the time of the martyrdom, with Baronius, to the year 275, at which time the emperor Aurelian was staying at Troyes. But a common opinion has pervaded the minds of the men of this region (he says) that the Virgin herself, together with Claudius and his companions, was struck with the axe near the city of Troyes and beheaded, not far from that place where today is seen a well, covered with a vaulted arch, shaped in the form of a chapel, on the front of which stands a stone effigy of the aforesaid Virgin. It is also usual for those laboring with fever, that by some movement of devotion they drink the water flowing from the aforesaid well, prayers being poured out to the said Virgin and her protection implored, trusting that they will recover their former health. Now let the judgment of the Acts themselves be the readers'.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

From Camuzat and Surius.

Julia, Virgin and Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Claudius, Emperor of the Barbarians, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Justus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Jucundinus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Five other Martyrs, at Troyes in Gaul. Justa, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Jocunda, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Ternus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Antonius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Herenus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Theodorus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Dionysius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Apollonius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Appamia, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Pionicus, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Cussio, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Papyra, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Saturius, Martyr, at Troyes in Gaul (S.) Seven other Martyrs, at Troyes in Gaul. BHL Number: 4518

FROM THE PUBLISHED SOURCES

Julia, captured by Claudius, refuses his nuptials: At that time Julia, a consecrated nun of Christ, a citizen of the city of Troyes, was captured by a certain Claudius, emperor of the barbarians: and when he had captured her, he led her into his native land: but seeing her most beautiful countenance, he at once wished to join her to himself in marriage. Then the Handmaid of Christ said to him: I have for my Spouse my Lord, to whom I have vowed myself, and commended my soul, and his angel dwells always with me: if he shall perceive even slightly that you touch me with a polluted love, he will straightway stir up his fury against you, and will avenge my wrongs upon you. And when Claudius the emperor had heard these things, full of anger, he said to her: And who is your Spouse, or who is he to whom power has been given by him to avenge your wrongs out of my hands? But she, as a handmaid of Christ, confidently fearing nothing, answered saying: I have my Lord Jesus Christ who is in the heavens, to whom I have devoted myself a virgin, who has power over all human flesh: whom I serve immaculate, who is able to grant all things to those who ask him in faith. But he, hearing these things, said to her: You then, as I hear, are a Christian: she answering said: Truly I am a Christian. Hearing these things the emperor feared the more, and thenceforth began to honor her greatly. And straightway he ordered a worthy chamber to be prepared, where no man might have entrance: and he commanded the maidens to render her service without intermission: and while she dwelt there, each rendered service to the other in turn. Then the Handmaid of Christ, entering the chamber, began to devote herself to prayer and fasting, and to give the greatest thanks to God day and night, who deigned to look upon her set in captivity, that she might find such grace in the sight of the Lord Claudius the emperor, for whom she so devoutly besought the Lord, that no evil might befall the people, nor the house of that king.

[2] And while this was going on, it happened after a short time and by her prayers she aids him. that the emperor Claudius went to war against his adversaries. And before he set out, he called Julia the handmaid of God, and said to her: Pray for me to your Lord that I may return safe, triumphing over my enemies; and I will enrich you with ample honors. The most chaste Julia of God said to him: Go secure, my lord, for I will pray my Lord and you will return safe. But he, having heard the word of the Handmaid of God, came to his adversaries by night, and smote them to utter destruction. But when he had triumphed over them, returning to his house with great glory and adding great honors to her; he adored her as a mistress, not as a handmaid. For he understood that through her prayers the Lord had deigned to save him. Since it is long to narrate all things in the order of the deeds done, I will, if I can, take care to say a few things out of many. As often as Claudius the emperor went to war, all his enemies being laid low in the name of God, he returned victor: because our Lord Jesus Christ, through the prayer of Blessed Julia his handmaid, granted this to him.

[3] But when Julia had completed twenty-eight years there, the Lord appeared to her in a vision saying: Admonished in a vision, she returns to Troyes with Claudius; Arise, he said, Julia, for it behooves you no longer to remain here, but to return to the city which is called Troyes, whence you were captured, since it behooves you there to receive the crown of martyrdom. But holy Julia, rising at first light, exulting and praising and adoring the Lord, rejoiced that she had seen the vision commanding this, that she should return to her city: but she was the more strengthened, since to the glory and praise of Christ she had deserved to undertake martyrdom, saying: Since if I am to complete my course there, I am called to the crown of martyrdom. St. Julia therefore approached Claudius the emperor; and said to him: For thus has my Lord Jesus Christ deigned to reveal to me, whom I serve in body, and in my immaculate spirit, that I return to Troyes, because there it behooves me to receive the crown of martyrdom. See therefore, emperor, that you wish not to retain me here, and be grieved. Claudius the emperor said to St. Julia: You go hence, to whom do you leave me? It is not expedient for me that you go, for my adversaries will come, from whom by your prayer you were wont to free me, and they will kill me. Therefore, leaving behind what is mine, I will go with you. But holy Julia said to him: Leave all your goods and come with me; for I believe in my Lord that he will make you acceptable to himself, and to your holy flock. But he, when he had heard these things, leaving his house, with his wife and children, gold, silver, many and infinite possessions, set out with the Handmaid of God, not as a foreigner, but as a domestic of the Saints, not as a barbarian, but as a faithful Christian. Not as a wolf, but as a sheep of Christ he takes the journey with the Handmaid of God, and both hasten into the borders of Troyes. But they entered the city in the time of persecution.

[4] But holy Julia was doing this, that to the religious who were shut up in prison, she is captured, and beheaded; for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ she might openly show herself, that she might be struck by the soldiers. But after not much time St. Julia was arrested, and led to Caesar. And when she had been presented to Elidius the prefect, he said to her: Do you adore Christ whom you say you have for a Spouse? But holy Julia answered: I confess Christ my Lord: for I do not adore unclean demons. Then the prefect said to the soldiers: Go and stretch her on the pulleys, and place burning coals upon her back. And when Blessed Julia had been stretched out, the eyes of the ministers of the executioners were blinded, and crying out they said: Help us, Julia: and when those who were beating her had been blinded, other ministers came, to drag her with raw sinews, and could not. And when the most impious Aurelian had seen this, that the most holy Virgin remained in her constancy, he said to her: Sacrifice to the gods, or certainly if you sacrifice not, today you shall die by the sword. Blessed Julia answered: I am ready to die for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, who deigned to call me: that, the contest being finished, I may receive the crown of my life. Then the emperor, sentence being given, ordered her to be beheaded.

[5] and Claudius is afflicted with the same punishment And when Claudius had heard these things to have been done against the Handmaid of God, offering himself to the emperor, he said: Command me too to be killed with her, for my mistress

is she. But the emperor asked who he was. And he answering said: I am Claudius the emperor, who led her into captivity: when I fought against the Romans. For her God bestowed on me many good things through her: whom I preserved for twenty-eight years by revering her. But when her God appeared to her by night through a dream, that she should receive the crown of martyrdom, she said to me: Do not retain me, my lord, but have me sent away, that I may go to the city of Troyes, where my God will deign to give me the crown. But I said to her: You shall not go unless with you. And that Saint said to me: Leave your possession and give to the poor, and come with me, that you may receive the crown of eternal life. But I, all things being left, for the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, set out with her even to here. But the emperor Aurelian, hearing these things, said to him: You are not a Christian; how can you die in his name? And Claudius the emperor answering said: I believe, if for the name of my God Jesus Christ I shall have shed my blood, I shall truly be a Christian. Nor will he make me a stranger before the sight of his great divinity, by the merits of Blessed Julia his martyr. The emperor Aurelian, hearing these things, sentence being given, ordered him to be struck with the sword outside the walls of the city of Troyes, where the glorious virgin Julia deserved to receive from the Lord the palm, on the 12th day before the Kalends of August.

[6] and after him 20 others. And when the emperor had returned into his praetorium, there were presented to him twenty others: and these are their names, Justa, Jocunda, Ternus, Antonius, Herenus, Theodorus, Dionysius, Apollonius, Appamia, Pionicus, Cussio, Papyra, Saturius, and their companions, whose names are written in the book of Christ and of the Lamb. But likewise they consummated their martyrdom in peace, and were buried in the aforesaid place, in which the virgin Julia suffered and was buried. They received therefore the crown of life with our Lord Jesus Christ by the confession of his name: because he deigned to give eternal life, to whom be honor and glory, power and everlasting dominion, praise and might, with God the Father, and the kindly and life-giving Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.

* his