Baring-Gould’s sources: Ancient Roman and almost all Latin Martyrologies. S. Tiburtius by the Greeks on Dec. 18. Authority: — The Acts of S. Sebastian, in the main trustworthy, though not in their original form.] GRESTIUS CHROMATIUS was either praefect of Rome1 or vice-praefect. S. Tranquillinus, when brought before him, assured him that, having been troubled with the gout, he had recovered his health on being baptized. This is by no means improbable, for the profession of Christianity probably induced Tranquillinus to lead a temperate and frugal life, and the gout, brought on by immoderate use of the bottle in his old pagan, jovial days, disappeared when he adopted the austere habits of a Christian. Chromatins, who was also tormented with the gout, caught at the suggestion. “ If thou desirest to be delivered from the anguish of gout,” said Tranquillinus, “believe in Christ, the Son of God, and thou shalt be freed from it this day, as I am.” Chromatius sought the priest, Polycarp, to be instructed in the faith. 1 He is called prefect in the Acts, but his name does not occur in the catalogue of prefects.

VOL. IX. “ Sir,” said the vice-prefect, “ I have seen Tranquillinus relieved from gout in his hands and feet, which before were swelled and painful; and when I asked him what medicine he had used to cure him, he exhorted me to baptism.” After three days’ preparation, Chromatius and his son Tiburtius were baptized. The vice-prefect then went to his villa, and broke all his idols. Under the new regimen imposed by his faith, the twinges of gout ceased to make themselves felt. His baptism had been preceded by severe fasting.

Torquatus, an apostate, betrayed Tiburtius. The prefect Fabian sentenced him to death, and he was executed on the Via Lavicana, at the third milestone from Rome. Chromatius lived quietly in his villa in Campania in the practice of Christian virtues till his death.1 The body of S. Tiburtius is shown in the basilica of S. Peter at Rome. Another body at Autun, given in 862 by Pope Nicolas I.; perhaps this may be the body of another martyr of tire same name.