CONCERNING THE SEVEN HOLY BOY MARTYRS OF LEONTINI IN SICILY.
UNDER DECIUS
CommentaryThe Seven Boys, Martyrs at Leontini in Sicily (SS.)
[1] The celebrated memory of the people of Leontini after the ruin of the city is preserved by many crowned with the laurel of martyrdom for the faith of Christ there: from these the Records of this Church present on this day the unconquered spirit of Seven boys, Sacred cultus: generously triumphing under the Emperor Decius; concerning whom the Ecclesiastical Office approved by Pope Paul V is recited. The same are mentioned by Octavius Caietanus in the Sicilian Martyrology, and Ferrari in the General Catalogue. Their Acts are contained in the Life and history of the martyrdom of SS. Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, to be presented in full on their birthday, May 10. Here we offer as a foretaste what the aforesaid Caietanus extracted about these seven boys from that source, and they are as follows:
[2] In the persecution of the Emperor Decius and Valerian, under Tertullus the Governor of Sicily, eulogy. a helpless and innocent age experienced the ultimate in cruelty: for at Leontini seven holy Boys endured death, but were first tortured by Tertullus with torments, that by their severity faith might be extinguished. But the Tyrant's plan had the opposite effect: neither was faith and Christ extinguished in the boys; but childhood was crowned by Christ, the weakness of the body being transcended by the virtue of the soul. By which crime Tertullus was all the more savage, the more innocent the age that was torn apart by punishments: but the death of the Boys was more beautiful and their glory greater, the more tenderness and strength there was in their small bodies. Their names and acts, which we regret, have not come down to us at all; we drew this memorial from the Martyrdom of SS. Alphius, Philadelphus, and Cyrinus, whom the Consular Tertullus, when he had ordered them to be dragged naked over rough rocks, and then torn and dragged before him; addressed in this manner: Where is your God? Why did he not rescue you from my hand? Then the Holy Martyrs, reproaching the Governor for his cruelty, said: O impious one, are you not yet satiated with the blood of so many innocents, which you have shed from the very beginning of your magistracy, nor with such torments with which you have afflicted us? But in doing this, you have increased our crowns, just as those of the Seven Holy Boys who preceded us and died for the law of Christ: but flames await you, which there is no hope of extinguishing. Thus they spoke. Do not mourn, Sicily, the slaughter of your Boys: but rejoice that you have choirs of little ones who together praise God in heaven: nor should you mothers of Leontini dwell in grief. The loss of a small body and a life of few days is a small loss: but the reward of that loss is great, and the reward in heaven. Now celebrate the departure, or rather the passing, of your sons with song: for they have not died, but live in God with Christ, to whom be glory forever.