Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology. l*he Sacramentary of S. Gregory, Ado, Usinrdus, &c. York Kalendar, “Commemoration of S. Martin," i.t. % of S. Martinian. Authority: — The ancient Acts, which are not, however, trustworthy. S. Gregory the Great (d. 604), has a homily on these saints (xxxii.), but does not relate their story. Probably the Acts are not altogether destitute of some foundation of truth.] The legend — we cannot call it history — of these saints is as follows: — In the days of cruel Nero, when Simon Magus deceived the people, and stirred them up against the truth, SS. Peter and Paul were thrown into the Mamertine prison, by order of Paulinus, a magistrate. And there came to the apostles many infirm Christians, and they were cured of their disorders.
Now amongst the soldiers deputed to guard them were THE VISITATION. After Domenico Ghirlaudajo’s Fresco m the Church of Santa Maria Novello, Florence. July a.] S. Processus & Martinian.
two officers, 1 Processus and Martinian, who seeing the wonders that were wrought by the hands of the apostles, said, “ Venerable sirs I there can be no doubt that Nero has forgotten all about you, for now is the ninth month that ye are in prison. We pray you, therefore, to depart where ye will, only baptize us in the name of Him by whom ye work such wonders.”
Then said the blessed apostles, Peter and Paul, “ If ye will believe in your hearts and souls in the name of the Trinity.” 3 When they heard this, they cried out with one voice, “ Give us water that we may be baptized.” Then S. Peter said, “Believe in God the Father Almighty* and in Jesus Christ our Lord, His only begotten Son, and in the Holy Spirit, 3 and ye shall have what ye desire.”
Then they cast themselves at the apostle's feet, and besought baptism. Then the blessed Peter made the sign of the cross on the rock Tarpeia, and there gushed forth water. And all who saw it wondered and were baptized, to the number of forty-seven. “Then Peter offered for them the sacrifice of praise, and they were made partakers of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ”
Then Processus and Martinian bade the apostles 1 “ Magistriani Melloprincipis," the titles evidently belong to the later empire. In the constitutions of Justinian [Byzantine emperor 527–565] we have Melloproximi. I do not know of the title of Melloprincepa occurring earlier. met with in S. Theophilus of Antioch (Antolyc ii. 15), who died about a.d. x8a, bat the Latin word Trinitas was introduced Into the West by Tcrtullian, (Prax, ilL xii. Pudic. xxi.), before which the words oikonomia, dispensatio, dispositio were in use. The date of Tertullian is 345, and it was not till much later that the word became common.
in his Sacramentary wc find the addition “ Maker of heaven and earth." depart And going forth out of prison, along the Appian way, they came to the Appian gate. And as they went Peter limped, for his foot was wounded by the iron chains. Then there fell a bandage out of heaven upon the hedge by his side. And presently he met the Lord Jesus, and recognizing Him, he said, “ Lord ! whither goest Thou ¥* And the Lord answered, “To Rome, that I may be crucified there again. 1 ' Then Peter returned to Rome, and was seized by the soldiers. Now it was told Paulinus that his officers, Processus and Martinian, were Christians. So he sent and had them taken into custody, and on the following day they were brought before him. Then he said, “ Are ye become fools, that ye will desert the gods and the goddesses, whom the unconquered princes worship, and thereby merit to be stripped of your military insignia?" Processus and Martinian answered, “ We have taken the oaths of a heavenly warfare (sacramenta militiae ccelestis).” Paulinus said, “ Lay aside this madness, and adore the immortal gods whom you have venerated from your cradles."
But the martyrs replied, “We are Christians” Then Paulinus ordered their mouths to be beaten with a paving-stone. And with one voice they cried out, “Glory to God in the highest !" Thereupon Paulinus bade that a golden image of Jupiter should be brought in, and a tripod; but the martyrs spat on the image and the tripod. Paulinus, in a rage, bade them to be hung on the little horse, and beaten, and strained. And they cried out with joy, “ We give thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ 1” Now there was present a noble lady named Lucina, and she encouraged the martyrs with these words, “ Be steadfast, ye soldiers of Christ 1 and fear not the pains which are but for a moment 1" Paulinus ordered the martyrs to joiy*.] vSVS. Processus & Martiman. 37 be beaten with scorpions; and at the same moment he lost his left eye. Then he cried out that they used magic, and ordered them to be taken back to the Mamertine prison. And in the dungeon they were ministered to by Lucina. But after three days Paulinus was possessed with a devil, and died.
Thereupon his son, Pompinius, ran shouting to the palace, and cried, “ Ho, moderators and governors of the Republic, help 1 that they who work magical arts may be put to death.”
On hearing this, Caesarius, prefect of the city, 1 informed Nero, who ordered the execution of the two soldiers. They were accordingly led forth outside the gate on the Via Aurelia, and were decapitated. Then Lucina took their bodies, and buried them in the catacomb adjoining that road, “where their good offices are manifest to this day,” say the Acts.* The relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor] of SS. Processus and Martin ian are preserved in the Vatican. The miraculous fountain is shown in the Mamertine prison. A chapel “Domine quo vadis,” is built on the spot where S. Peter is said to haye met Our Lord, and the impression of the Saviour's feet on the stones is shown in it Although the Acts are untrustworthy, it will not do to conclude rashly against the existence of those to whom they relate. The martyrs, their bodies, their memorial, were guarded with scrupulous care, but their Acts were consigned to tradition which altered and distorted the facts, till they have lost all historical value.
The two saints are represented in Roman armour, with swords and palms. » No prefect with that name occurs in the list of prefects of the city.