ON STS. CASTUS AND AEMILIUS,
MARTYRS IN AFRICA.
ABOUT CCL.
The Acts of Martyrdom from S. Cyprian, the cult proved from the Fasti.
Castus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Aemilius, Martyr in Africa (S.)
G. H.
Saint Caecilius Cyprian, in the illustrious treatise on the Lapsed, makes mention of these Martyrs, when he had deplored that some from human frailty fell from the faith on account of torments, which here, that the lapse of these Martyrs may be excused, it is fitting to set before. He can complain of torments, who was overcome by torments: he can hold forth the excuse of pain, who was conquered in pain. Such a one can ask and say: I wished indeed to strive bravely, and mindful of my oath, I took up the arms of devotion and faith: but in the encounter as I fought, various torments and long sufferings overcame me. After the defection amid torments, My mind stood steadfast and my faith strong, and with the racking pains my soul long struggled unmoved: but when, the cruelty of the most savage Judge growing fierce again, now scourges tore my body, already wearied, already faint, now clubs bruised it, now the rack stretched it, now the claw dug into it, now the flame scorched it; my flesh deserted me in the struggle, the weakness of my bowels yielded; nor my spirit, but my body failed in pain. Such a cause can quickly attain to pardon: such an excuse can be pitiable. Thus, thus the Lord at length forgave Castus and Aemilius: thus those overcome in the first encounter He rendered victors in the second battle, so that they became stronger than fires, their spirits resumed, they undergo martyrdom: who before fires had yielded; so that whence they had been overcome, thence they should overcome. They besought, not by the pity of tears, but of wounds; nor with a lamentable voice only, but with the laceration of the body and pain. There flowed for weepings blood, and for tears gore from their half-burned bowels flowed down. These things S. Cyprian.
[2] The natal day of these Martyrs is everywhere noted in all the Latin Martyrologies at this XXII of May, and in the genuine Bede these things are read on the XI Kalends of June: In Africa of Castus, Aemilius, who by the fire of suffering consummated their martyrdom. referred to in the sacred Fasti May 22. Cyprian wrote this in the book on the Lapsed. The same or things similar to these have Rabanus, Usuard, Ado, Notker, and other more recent ones, and very many Mss. Martyrologies agree. In some, as also in today's Roman Martyrology, a little more from Cyprian is described. This man presided over the Church of Carthage from the year CCXLVIII until the year CCLVIII, in which he himself also suffered martyrdom: within which time these Martyrs were crowned, perhaps in the year CCL in the great persecution of Decius, when also Origen offered incense.