ON SAINT PORPHYRIUS
PRESBYTER, MARTYR, AT CAMERINO IN UMBRIA.
CommentaryPorphyrius the Presbyter, Martyr at Camerino in Umbria (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
The tables of the present Roman Martyrology celebrate on this IV day of May S. Porphyrius the Martyr in Umbria, where noted Baronius, that of him mention is had in the Acts of S. Venantius, Sacred cult who suffered at Camerino on the XVIII of this month of May, on which day his Acts we illustrate. Ludovico Jacobilli volume I on the Lives of the Saints and Blessed of Umbria, on this IV of May, these things especially hands down: When the holy Priest Porphyrius was endowed with great learning, zeal and exemplary life, he went into his country Camerino, and there the faith of Christ preached, conversion of the Gentiles, and a copious multitude of Pagans from the blindness of idolatry to the light of the Christian faith led. Among others he converted and baptized S. Venantius, a most noble youth of Camerino, Supprinus his father, his mother also and others of their kinsmen: and he instructed S. Venantius in every kind of virtues, in which very illustrious to all he appeared: who obeyed S. Porphyrius with great reverence, as his true master. SS. Venantius, Anastasius with their family In the sacred font also he washed Anastasius the Cornicularius of the King, and his wife, as well as four sons, who afterward all by martyrdom finished their life. As will be said on the XI day of May. These sayings of Jacobilli confirms Ferdinand Ughelli volume I of Italia Sacra in the Preface to the Bishops of Camerino. Now from then, he says, from the year CCXLVIII the Evangelical light embraced the city, by the work and effort of S. Porphyrius the Presbyter, once of S. Venantius the most invincible Martyr the master. For he, when scarcely fifteen years old, and having borne through exquisite torments the illustrious palm of martyrdom, very many of the worshippers of idols by his tolerance converted to Christ, together with Porphyrius his preceptor: and full of merits, Decius the tyrant being conquered, he flew away to heaven. But these things more fully are indicated in the Acts of S. Venantius. But the rest from Jacobilli let us prosecute.
[2] There was of the city of Camerino, he says, a Governor by Decius appointed, Antiochus, who by night had such a vision, the exposition of the vision made to the Governor Antiochus: in which appeared to him S. Venantius, full of splendor, while he procured the peoples to be baptized, who also with great brightness shone: but others stood behind, in most obscure darkness wrapped. The Governor therefore commanded to himself to be summoned S. Porphyrius, as a man with great sanctity, authority and learning endowed, that the now related vision he might interpret. He came and expounded to Antiochus the vision, to the true Catholic interpretation conformed: and indicated that those who appeared in obscure darkness and shadows wrapped, were those who lived in the blindness of idolatry, adoring for God statues of wood or stone, which neither see, nor any sense use. But that S. Venantius and the other peoples converted to Christ, were beautiful and with every brightness resplendent, who by the medium of the water of holy baptism, were illumined, and from the savagery of the enormous sin of idolatry freed. And at the same time to him he announced the Christian faith, and indicated in what blindness he was, that the true God he did not adore. Then the Governor, with fury against the holy Priest moved, on account of this interpretation adverse to his sect, commanded his satellites, martyrdom: that his head they should amputate. Brought therefore to the place of punishment he poured out to God his prayers, to Him commending the souls, which to the port of salvation he had led, and his own spirit. Then approached the executioner, and the head from the rest of the body tore away, and in this manner his soul flew away into heaven. This was done at Camerino on the IV day of May, reigning Decius the Emperor. His body was by the faithful reverently buried, and afterward translated into the church, dedicated to S. Venantius and to him by the people erected. These things Jacobilli, burial. citing in the margin the MS. History of Camerino of Angelo Benigno, the ancient Lessons MS., and other authors. The same volume 3 in the Catalogue of the Relics of Umbria, hands down that in the Collegiate church of S. Venantius is preserved the Body of S. Porphyrius the Martyr, in a most ancient marble chest. The rest the reader will find in the Acts of S. Venantius, in which no mention is made of Decius the Emperor, but all things are ascribed to Antiochus the King, who by the later writers is held only a petty King, or Prefect, or Governor of Decius the Emperor.