Baring-Gould’s sources: Peter de Natalibus, Greven, Molanus, Maurolycus, Canisius, and others* on May 14th; the ancient Breviary of Milan on May 17th, the (Calendar of the Church of Capua on May 19th; but the Roman and all the ancient Martyrologies, as those of Usuardus, Ado, and Notker, on June 10th. Authority 1 The ancient Acts, which seem to be trustworthy.] In the year 295, the Emperor Diocletian issued his edict of persecution against the Church of Christ Not long after, the Prefect Euphemius came to Aquileia to examine and punish the Christians there. And when he entered the city, he went to the temple of Jupiter, and there offered sacrifices, and then he sent a herald through Aquileia to call all the citizens together to the temple. Then said one of the magistrates of Aquileia, “ There have come into our city two brothers, who are said to be Christians.” Then the prefect ordered them to be apprehended and brought before him. And when the soldiers came to take them, they found the brothers saying, “ Thou, O God, art our refuge from one generation to another; before ever the mountains were brought forth, or the earth or the world were made, Thou art God from everlasting, and to ages of ages.”
Then the chief officer took them, and put iron collars round their necks, and shackles on their hands, and went before the prefect and said, “ Sir, those men whom thou didst command me to arrest are without.” Then said Euphemius, “Bring them in.” And when they were introduced into his presence, Felix, one of the brethren, made the sign of the cross on his brow, and beat his breast, and prayed within himself Euphemius — “ What are your names ?”
Felix — “ My name is Felix. My brother is called Fortunatus, and we are both Christians.” Euphemius — “ Are you natives of this city, or whence come ye ?"
Felix — “We have come into this city from a neighbouring village, not far off We saw that the people worshipped vain idols, and we resolved to go away into the wilds, preferring to be with the savage beasts than with the idolators.”
Euphemius — “Have you not heard the edict of the emperors, that those who worship Christ should die painful deaths ?” Felix — “ We have; but we obey a king in heaven, who lias no fellowship with the ministers of Satan.” The patience of the prefect being exhausted, he ordered the two men to be beaten with rods. And as they were beaten they prayed aloud. Then the prefect said, “You are mad, the most sacred emperors have waxed very wrath against those who call on the name of Christ” Felix — “ The hotter their wrath, the brighter our glory.” Then the prefect smiled derisively and said, “Poor wretches ! if I order your heads to be cut off what glory will you gain thereby ?”
Fortunatus answered, “ The glory we look forward to is spiritual, heavenly, not that which is of this world, for this Jtnc ii.] SS. Felix & Fortunatus.
world passeth away, and all the glory of it; but that which is laid up for us in the heavens is eternal, which God hath prepared for them that believe in Him. And what are you and your princes, and all your pomp and glory, but smoke that is blown away by the storm Euphemius, very angry, ordered the brothers to be hung on the little horse, and their sides to be burnt with candles. Then SS. Felix and Fortunatus broke forth into a glad hymn to God, and sang, “ Lord, King of the holy Angels, send the Archangel Michael to assist us, and to confound all them that worship carved images, and delight in vain gods 1 The snare is broken, and we are delivered, our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who hath made heaven and earth.”
u These are idle words,” said Euphemius. “ Come and sacrifice to the great Jupiter, and you will find real safety.” S. Felix answered, “ Our salvation is very different from that which thou dost promise. Christ is our salvation.” Then, as they hung still on the little horse, Euphemius ordered boiling oil to be poured over their stomachs. They still cried out to Christ in prayer and praise. And the prefect, exasperated at their endurance, said to the executioners, “ Smash their jaws with your leaded sticks, to stop their blasphemies.”
Then Fortunatus, turning his head towards the governor, said, “ O minister of the devil, search and find out some more savage torment But know that the Angel of the Lord stands by us, and soothes our suffering members.” Thereupon some one standing by the prefect said, “ It is of no use trying them any longer, order their heads to be struck 0$ and finish this spectacle.” And Euphemius said, “So be it.” Then he gave the orders, and with a blow of the sword, the two martyrs received their crown. | VOL. VL