Afra

ON ST. AFRA,

MARTYR AT BRESCIA IN ITALY.

ABOUT CXXXIII.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY,

On the time and Acts of the martyrdom, and also on the cult on various days.

Afra Martyr, at Brescia in Italy (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Brescia was the fruitful mother of very many Saints: among whom the more renowned were SS. Faustinus and Jovita the brothers: whose various Acts we have illustrated on the day XV of February, and toward the beginning we said that Brescia was the head of the Cenomani under the Prefect of the Rhaetian Alps: such as then was the Italic Count, the husband of St. Afra, who afterward, being devoured by lions, leopards, and bears together with the Priests of the idols, St. Afra was converted, Time of the martyrdom. and with the aforesaid brothers Faustinus and Jovita was greatly tortured, and at length crowned with martyrdom under the Emperor Hadrian, and in the time of St. Telesphorus the Roman Pontiff, who sat from the year CXXVI until the year CXXXVII, or the beginning of the following. Consult the old Catalogues of the ancient Pontiffs, published by us before the first volume of April. But hence it follows that these Martyrs did not suffer about the year CXX, as we formerly were of opinion, but about the year CXXXIII.

[2] We give the Acts from the manuscript Lessons, which formerly used to be recited at Matins in the Church of Brescia, Acts from manuscript Lessons, and we have compared them with the Life written in Italian by Ascanio Martinengo, Abbot of the Church and monastery of St. Afra, which at Brescia the Canons Regular of the Lateran Congregation possess. These cohere with the Acts of SS. Faustinus and Jovita: but certain things are here related which are not touched upon in the said Acts; and they are the less like the truth, than the very Acts to which they are superadded, the more recently they appear to have been composed, wherefore also by Martinengo they are related only under doubt. Further, the sacred memory of St. Afra is inscribed in the Roman Martyrology in these words: memory in the calendars. At Brescia St. Afra Martyr, who suffered under the Emperor Hadrian. The same is celebrated by Galesinius, and with great eulogy by Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy. Masinus also mentions her in Bologna Surveyed, because some of her Relics are in the church of St. Mary of the Servite Fathers in the Greater Square. For the rest, her sacred body is in the Church dedicated to her: which, when it was being demolished to be repaired more august, in the year MDLXXX on the day XIX of September it was uncovered and raised out of an old stone chest, The body in the church dedicated to her. within which it was enclosed, placed upon a leaden tablet. Now the sacred body was clad in three garments, of which one was of green silken cloth, another of woven gold, the third of an uncertain color: likewise was found a little plate inscribed thus: Here lies the sacred body of holy Afra, Handmaid and Martyr of Christ. Thus Friar Obicius the Capuchin, who was present as a spectator, in a work still unpublished on the Nobility of Brescia, just as Bernardinus Faynus transcribed these things therefrom, well deserving of the Church of Brescia and of our work. But when Martinengo published his book, that is in the year MDCII, the sacred body had not yet been placed back under the new altar which was being built for that purpose: but the Head was kept separately, enclosed in silver, for more convenient use and the consolation of the devout people. Faynus, in the Martyrology of Brescia which he wrote and published, celebrates St. Afra with a companion Martyr in these words: At Brescia St. Afra Martyr in her own church: who, converted to Jesus by SS. Faustinus and Jovita, and baptized by St. Apollonius, while Hadrian reigned, tortured with various torments by the Count Aurelianus, together with her Samaritan handmaid received the palm of a distinguished martyrdom. And in the Notes he says that this Samaritan handmaid was of the Sacchetta family: which, in the silence of the ancients, we would prefer to have been likewise passed over by him, or rejected to the figments of dreams. He adds, as an eye-witness, that the Bones are now stored up in the altar dedicated to her name: but the head, for the devotion of the faithful, sealed up in a silver bust. Finally, that she herself has great veneration, especially on her feast day, on which the Rectors and Nobles of the city, with the Orders of all the Crafts, come in procession to her cult. The same Faynus indicates, on the day XIX of January, the Finding of the body of St. Afra, and proves that this was celebrated under a double Office from a little table of the Sacristy. feast of the finding On the day VI of April also he refers some Translation, made in the year MDIII, on the very Sunday in Albis, in the presence of Marino Giorgio the Bishop with the Chapter of the Cathedral, and of the translation. and both Clergies and all the Orders and Sodalities, and also the Rectors and Nobles of the city and all the people, with the highest honor, religion, and pomp, carried through the city with the other sacred Bodies, and publicly exposed for three days, and then stored away again.

ACTS OF THE MARTYRDOM

From the manuscript Lessons of Brescia.

Afra Martyr, at Brescia in Italy (S.)

BHL Number: 0117

FROM THE LESSONS

[1] In those days, while the Emperor Hadrian reigned, there was a certain Count Italicus, a cruel Pagan: he had a most noble wife, by name Afra. Who, having received letters from the Emperor Hadrian, that wheresoever he should find Christians, he should either compel them to sacrifice to the idols, or destroy them by divers torments; entering the city of Brescia, at once commanded the servants of God Faustinus and Jovita to be seized by the soldiers. When SS. Faustinus and Jovita were unharmed by lions and leopards, And when the Emperor himself had come to the city of Brescia, they were commanded to be presented before him: who, alluring them by divers blandishments, and threatening them with various terrors, endeavored to induce them to sacrifice to the idols. And when they had answered that sacrifice was to be made not to demons, but to God alone, and to his only Son the Lord Jesus Christ; Hadrian commanded them to be seized, and led into the midst of the games. To devour them four lions were sent, whose aspect was most foul: who, coming with great speed, cast themselves at the feet of the Saints. Hadrian, seeing what was done, commanded the attendants to send leopards: who also came into the games, rolling themselves before their footsteps. Then Hadrian said: Let loose against them the mighty bears, and place torches about their sides, that when they have been roasted, they may from pain devour them. And the bears were let loose: who, when they had drawn near to the servants of God, the lions and leopards made an onset upon them, so that they cut them down, so that not one of them escaped alive, and they guarded the Saints of God. Then the Saints said to Hadrian: Send to your Count Italicus together with your Priests, and that by these the Count Italicus and the Priests of the idols were devoured; that they may bring to us your god Saturn, that he may free us from these beasts; and when we have seen ourselves freed, we will fall prostrate and adore God. Then Orphetus the Priest, with the other priests of the idols and the Count Italicus, set Saturn in the midst of the beasts, to whom the Martyrs said: Bring your god near to the beasts, that from fear they may depart from us. Then Orphetus lifting up the god Saturn, with the other priests and the Count Italicus, went off to the beasts. Then the beasts making an onset upon them, devoured them; and eating their flesh, left nothing of them; and they took the statue of Saturn, crushing it most minutely.

[2] But the holy Martyrs stood unharmed, glorifying the most high God: and behold suddenly Afra, St. Afra, wife of Italicus, runs among the beasts to the Saints the wife of the Count Italicus, hearing that her husband had been eaten by the beasts, proceeded to the amphitheatre, crying out and saying: O what a God you have, Hadrian, that through your faithlessness I have remained a widow! What a God you have, who could not free you! And when she said this, she made an onset, and entered in where the servants of God who is in heaven were standing, rolling herself at their feet, and saying: [b] I beseech you, that you give me a sign, that I may be able to believe in God. Now blessed Afra stood with all confidence among the beasts before the sight of the Saints; and the people, seeing her among the beasts, many believed and magnified God. Faustinus said: You see, Hadrian, the faith of the woman, how she stands in the midst of the beasts, and they touch her not? But your Priests came with your god, and in the same hour, devoured, did not appear. Hadrian said: Woman, come to us: for we shall be able to give you much, and you shall be able to receive a nobler husband. Afra said: May your riches be with you unto perdition with your gods, with whom in damnation you shall perish. Hear me, Hadrian, I do not so much grieve for the death of my husband, but I grieve because he is dead for eternity. Hadrian said: Go forth, woman, I cannot hear you: for, as far as I see, you glory in the death of your husband. Afra said: Truly I tell you, that I rejoice at your confusion, because you have been able to do nothing to the holy servants of God: for our Saviour bestows many things on those who hope in him, and rescues them from the damnation and persecution of their adversaries. For the god Saturn, whom you adored, deceived both his Priests and himself. Where then is your god? who had come to deliver, he himself was deceived with his Priests. Hadrian said: Go forth, lest, being much inflamed because of your foolishness, I cause you to be harmed. Therefore Afra, turning to the Saints of God, said: Help me in this world, that I may be able confidently to come to God.

[3] Then prostrate upon her face she said: Lord God, look upon me wretched, and bring me forth to your grace. the prayers being poured forth by them Then the holy servants of God said: Lord God, look upon the faith of this woman, who gives and commends herself to you with all her heart: give her your grace, that she may be worthy to receive the baptism of the redemption of her soul, in so far as

she may be able to resist the devil. Stretch forth also the right hand of your glory over the lost sheep. Then blessed Faustinus took the right hand of Afra, and raised her from the ground. Jovita said: O most high God, who lookest upon the face of the earth, give your mercy upon the manly spirit of this woman: that she may be confirmed in your truth, receiving the seal of your name, and may worthily preserve it. And turning they said to Hadrian: Send someone to drive back the beasts, which are about us, that we may go forth. Hadrian said: Truly I now send to you those who shall take you out of the midst, because I cannot hear so great a deceit of yours. And he said to his attendants: Have you prepared what I commanded? The attendants said: It is ready. Then ^c he commanded fifty salted bulls to be brought into the amphitheatre, and the bulls made tame by the sign of the Cross, whose size and fury were great, giving forth a bellowing with a mighty voice, so that the amphitheatre was almost moved, and Hadrian himself trembled. As these came on, the holy ones of God Faustinus and Jovita, meeting them, made the sign of the Cross, and at once the bulls humbled themselves to the ground before their feet. she insults the Emperor. Then blessed Afra said: Hadrian, you see how much the Lord has deigned to grant me, that among the beasts I should stand with the confidence of praying to Christ? Hadrian said: Did I command you to go down to the beasts? Afra said: and she says that she has the God of heaven propitious: Not by your command, but by his who chose me out of your iniquity, that I might have, worthy in his sight and with his Saints, a free will, and might stand among the beasts. Hadrian said: What free will do you say it is? Afra said: He who has the God of heaven propitious, has a free will. Hadrian said: Now the sixth hour passes, let each one betake himself to his own house. Behold, because of the madness of Faustinus and Jovita I suffer injury. Faustinus said: Send to us someone to rescue us from the fear of the beasts. Hadrian said: If the God whom you worship is true, go forth free from the beasts.

[4] Faustinus and Jovita said: See, Hadrian, what you have said: if you should see the glory of God, would you believe in God who is in the heavens? Hadrian said: Let me see you freed together with Afra, and I will give you pardon. Afra said: The servants of God will not receive your indulgence, Hadrian, but see how great wonders God shows through his servants. Hadrian said: If you will hear my words, you shall be nobler in the city of Brescia. The Saints, hearing the words of Hadrian, said: We say to you, O beasts, that you go forth out of the city, touching no one: but lead also the handmaid of God Afra with you into the desert, that she may know that God is in heaven, until God visit us and her also. having received the blessing, she goes off with the beasts into the desert: Then the beasts set Afra in the midst of themselves, and Afra said: Bless me, servants of God, together with these my brethren, and may your blessing remain with us in the desert. Bowing her head, Afra with the beasts, and blessed by the Saints of God, went off into the desert. While the people looked on, the beasts went out, but the bulls remained, looking to what the Saints of God might command them. The servants of God, turning to the bulls, said: We say to you, who came to us with great wrath, and by the command of God have been made like lambs, follow after the beasts, that the eyes of Hadrian may see, and that they may be confounded together with all who obey him. The bulls, hearing their command, with head lowered down to the ground, followed the beasts. Hadrian sends his attendants to seize the bulls: and the bulls became as a mighty tempest upon the attendants, so that Liberius the Counselor of the Count Italicus together with the attendants ended their life. But the bulls went off, with the beasts and Afra the handmaid of God, to the wilderness ^d. And when the Saints of God had endured many torments in the city of Brescia, bound they were led to the city of Milan. and by these brought back to the Saints But placed among tigers and bears, and mindful of the handmaid of God Afra, they said to them: Hear, O sheep of God: go through the desert places, seeking the lions and leopards, and also the handmaid of God Afra: join yourselves to them, diligently guarding her. And on the day when the Lord shall visit you, come with them to us. But the tigers, kissing the feet of the Saints, went forth wandering through the desert places, until they found blessed Afra; and dwelling likewise with the beasts, they guarded the handmaid of God.

[5] But the Saints of God Faustinus and Jovita, dragged through divers places, came with Hadrian to the city of Rome; against whom Hadrian commanded the most savage beasts to be let loose into the place of the arena, namely lions, bears, tigers, and leopards: who, coming, fell down before the sight of the Martyrs in the presence of all the people. Then a great sound was made, and the gates of the arena were opened, and behold suddenly the beasts entered, and having entered Rome with them, which the Saints of God together with Afra the handmaid of God commanded to proceed to the wilderness. It came to pass on that day, that she, prostrate before the feet of the Saints, cried out; Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God. But all marvelled, that blessed Afra had entered with the beasts into the midst of the arena. And lifting up her voice she said; Why do you marvel, citizens of Rome, that I stand among the beasts? O how great and what things shall I announce to you, that you may believe the truth, and not the lie, that there may be given you by the most high God indulgence of sins. Then the holy Martyrs of God said to Hadrian: Do you recognize Afra, who despised the life of the Count Italicus her husband? whom now she holds for nothing in this world with your delights, who would not believe in your gods, in whom there is no salvation. Hadrian said: How great a sorceress do I see Afra made? whom in the city of Brescia I had condemned to the beasts, now she has entered Rome with the very beasts. Saying these words he greatly feared the tumult of the people. Then the people with one voice said: Truly great is the one God alone, whom these men preach, and announce that he is to come. For there was a great clamor of those believing in God. Then the holy ones Faustinus and Jovita said thus to the beasts which had come with Afra the handmaid of God: By the command of the Lord slay the beasts which Hadrian sent to devour us. Then the beasts, hearing this, which were with Afra, came at the command of the Martyrs, and in a moment slew all the beasts which Hadrian had let loose, so that not one of them at all remained. And the Saints commanded the beasts to withdraw, touching no one: which they did.

[6] But the Saints of God according to the word of the Lord went off with Calimerius, she comes into the Catacombs, and Afra the handmaid of Christ: and they came to the place which is called the Catacombs, and there found Blessed ^e Linus the Bishop, who himself also lay hidden among the sepulchres of the Martyrs for fear of the Pagans. And when they had found him, they cried out saying; The blessing of God be with your Spirit. But blessed Linus cried out to them saying: Come, blessed Angels of God, for in you our Saviour, who is your desire, has rested: and he gave them peace. But the Blessed Martyrs of God said: The Lord has sent us, that you should ordain Calimerius Bishop, and direct him into the city of Milan, and that the handmaid of God Afra may obtain baptism, so that she may accompany him thither. where, baptized by the Pontiff, And blessed Linus, hearing this, filled with joy, did as the Martyrs said. And when he had ordained Calimerius Bishop, and baptized the most blessed handmaid of God Afra, they bade one another farewell, and set out. Then the Blessed Martyrs blessed the Most High, because the Lord had directed Calimerius to the scattered sheep, and because Afra had received baptism. The Martyrs of God, worn down with divers and various afflictions, returned to the city of Brescia, and returned to Brescia, and thence set out to the city of Milan; that those who had received the Sacraments from them might be confirmed by the word of the Lord: and taking with them the handmaid of God Afra, with her they returned again to Brescia.

[7] But the people, hearing that the holy Martyrs were returning with the handmaid of God Afra, went off with ^f blessed Apollonius to the river which is called ^g Mella: and there awaiting them they sang psalms in divers manners. she is received with honor: And behold suddenly there was made in that same place a most sweet odor, and immediately the Saints with blessed Afra arrived, sitting in a vehicle. But Saint Apollonius, with hands stretched out to heaven, said: Lord, the lord of all creation, we give thanks to you. But the Blessed Martyrs saluted the people with the crowd of those singing psalms: and blessed Afra, and the holy Martyrs of God entered the city. But Aurelianus, filled with madness, commanded them to be presented to him, to whom he said: Still you persevere in your deceit. Behold now you shall know where your God is, when I shall have commanded you to be slain.

[8] Then the Martyrs said: Turn, most foul tempter, why do you delay? Draw near, and what your father the devil commands do more quickly, for we are ready to die for the name of our Lord. beheaded, she consummates her martyrdom: Then Aurelianus commanded them together with blessed Afra the handmaid of Christ, and all who had followed their doctrine, to perish by the sword. And the soldiers led them outside the city, on the ^h Cremonese road, and there, with their knees set down, the executioners cut off the heads of the Saints. But Afra, struck on the head by the swords of the ⁱ lictors, happily consummated her Martyrdom on the Cremonese road, following the footsteps of her Saviour.

[9] Now blessed Afra suffered under Aurelianus the Prince, in the times of the Emperor Hadrian, whose body with much reverence and with many spices, and with flashing miracles, rests beside the said Cremonese road, in one stone chest, namely in a Basilica not far from the city itself, constructed ^k in honor of the holy Martyrs: deposited in a stone chest in the church of SS. Faustinus and Jovita. whose feast Mother Church celebrates on the ninth Kalends of June. Let us therefore most devoutly entreat, dearest Brethren, the most blessed Afra Martyr of Christ, that we who deserve to celebrate her votive solemnities may feel her patronage with the Lord. By the granting of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, through all ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

b. Life 2. I beseech you, eternal showers of light, that you would deign to instill into me, how I may be able more certainly to believe in Christ. But they, seeing her constancy, rejoicing imbued her with the sacred doctrines, that she should devote her service to the one Lord alone, the founder of heaven and earth, with a pure heart and chaste love, and preserve the unspotted integrity of faith undefiled with all her strength.