Baring-Gould’s sources: Roman Martyrology, Usuardus, Ado Ac.] N the Acts of SS. Processus and Martinian (July nth), we read that when these saints had been baptized in the Mamertine prison by SS. Peter and Paul, “a certain matron named Lucina ministered to them incessantly.” And when they were led to martyrdom, “the most blessed Lucina followed them with all her household to the aqueduct,1 where they were beheaded, and after that she collected their bodies, and buried them in the sand quarry in her farm, near the place where they were decapitated on the Via Aurelia.”

Another Lucina lived at Rome in the reign of Diocletian [Roman emperor 284–305, who began the ‘Great Persecution’ of Christians in 303], and is mentioned in the acts of S. Sebastian, and in those of Pope S. Marcellus. When Nicostratus the praefect was converted with all his family, amongst the holy women of it who were baptized were Beatrix ' “ Jr.xta formam acqu*ductu8.” Forma arc "Canales structllcs et arcuatl." Nov. Justlnlani, 19.

S. Mar ai. and Lucina. S. Sebastian appeared in vision to Lucina and told her where to find his body. “ Thou wilt find my corpse near the circus in the sewer, hanging on a grate.”1 S. Lucina went to the spot indicated, raised the body, carried it away, and buried it. According to the acts of S. Marcellus, S. Lucina gave her house to be used as a church in the year 309. But the acts of S. Marcellus are so utterly untrustworthy, that no reliance may be placed in anything they assert. Nor are the acts of SS. Processus and Martinian worthy of more confidence. They were written certainly later than the acts of S. Sebastian, and probably the name of Lucina was adopted into them from the already extant acts of S. Sebastian.

It is consequently most probable that there was only one Lucina who lived in the 4th century, but the Roman Martyrology, as reformed by Baronius [Cardinal Baronius (d. 1607), church historian who edited the Roman Martyrology], favours the other opinion, for it asserts, “ Lucina, a disciple of the apostles, who ministered of her substance to the necessities of the saints, and visited the imprisoned Christians, and buried the martyrs, was buried near the martyrs in the catacomb she had herself constructed.” S. MARTIAL, B. OF LIMOGES.

(date uncertain.) [Roman and Gallican Martyrologies. Authority The Apocryphal Acts. The original Acts were lost shortly before 994. the date of the second translation [the solemn moving of a saint’s relics to a new shrine] of his relics [the bodily remains of a saint, or objects they used, kept with honor]. The fabulous Acts were forged somewhat later, and were substituted for them. Ordericus Vitalis (d. 1x4) has inserted the substance of them in the second book of his " Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy." The forger pretended to be Aurelian [Roman emperor 270–275], the disciple of S. Martial, and his successor in the see, whom he had 1 M Pendens in gompho," probably a cage or grate in the sewer. raised from the dead. The anachronisms in this narrative are gross. Martial is one of the seventy disciples, and is sent by S. Peter into Gaul [roughly modern France and Belgium], where he is entertained by Amulf; which name is Teutonic, and no Teutons were in Gaul till the beginning of the 5th cent. At Limoges be is hospitably received by a noble widow named Susanna. This is a Hebrew name, and it is not probable that a Jewess lived at Limoges then. Duke Stephen rules the Gascons and Goths [Germanic peoples who invaded the Roman Empire, many of them Arian Christians] in Aquitaine. No Goths were there till 41a, and the province of Novempopulonia was not inhabited by the Gascons or Vascones till the year 663, when they left Spain, and pouring over the Pyrenees, invaded Aquitania. We meet, in the narrative, with other Gothic names, Hildebert and Sigebert These and other anachronisms and absurdities make the Acts of S. Martial quite undeserving of the smallest reliance. The title of Apostle of Limoges has been confirmed to S. Martial by Popes John XIX. and Pius IX. The bull of Pope John XIX. also sanctions the assertion of the tradition that S. Martial had the honour of serving our Lord at table when He ate the Paschal Supper, and instituted the Blessed Sacrament, that he saw Him after His Resurrection, was present at His Ascension, received the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, and attached himself to S. Peter, whose kinsman he was. Nevertheless there can be little doubt that S. Martial was not born till more than a century later, and that, as Butler has asserted, on the authority of Gregory of Tours [bishop and historian of the Franks (d. 594)], he came to Gaul with S. Dionysius in 250. The early Martyrologists knew nothing about S. Martial being a disciple of S. Peter, and only entered him in their Martyrologies as Bishop of Limoges. The Bollandists [Jesuit scholars who since the 1600s have critically studied the lives of the saints] do not even print the Apocryphal Acts, not deeming them to deserve insertion in their collection. Nevertheless Giry and Guerin give a version of them in their contemptible "Vies de Saints," completing the fable of the forger by several other traditions "believed in the Ages of Faith," which means, believed by the ignorant and credulous.1] The following is the legend of S. Martial, as given in the Apocryphal Acts, and by Ordericus Vitalis in his history. There is probably no foundation of truth for the greater part of the story. That there was such a bishop as S. Martial, and that he was apostle of Limoges, 1 There Is a work, utterly worthless as criticism, by M. Arbcllot, entitled “ Document inedits sur 1'apostolat de S. Martial," Paris x86o, the profound learn • ing of which strikes M. Guerin, the editor of Glry's “Vies des Saints," with admiration. As a specimen of the arguments and learning take this: **'lhe Chronicle composed in the Middle Ages under the name of Dexter, friend and contemporary of S. Jerome [translator of the Bible into Latin (d. 420)]," is quoted as evidence to the fact of S Martial having been the apostle of Limoges, Cahors, and Toulouse. The Chronicle quoted is a forgery of the Jesuit Higuera, composed and published in 16x9. £*. Martial.

is all we can safely conclude. As, however, the story is still popularly believed, and has in parts received Papal authorization, it is here given, in the words of the author. It is a fair specimen on the “pious” frauds practised in the “ Ages of Faith.”

Whilst our Lord Jesus Christ was preaching in Judaea, and great crowds of Jews flocked around Him, furnishing Him with things necessary for His human wants, and learning the way of salvation by attentively listening to His instructions, one of the noblest of the Jews, of the tribe of Benjamin, whose name was Marcellus, came to him, bringing with him his wife Elizabeth and his only son Martial, who was then fifteen years of age. Beholding His marvellous works, and hearing the saving doctrines He preached, they believed in Christ with all their hearts, and at His command were baptized by the blessed apostle S. Peter. When all the others returned to their own homes, Martial devoted himself entirely to the Lord Jesus, and became one of His constant disciples.1 In so doing, he closely attached himself to the apostle Peter, to whom he was nearly related. He was a spectator of the raising of Lazarus after being four days in the grave, as well as of many other miracles. He ministered with Cleophas at the last supper, and other mystical rites, and was present with other disciples, at sundry appearances of our Lord after His resurrection, and at His glorious ascension. He partook of the blessings connected with the descent of the Holy Spirit, and 1 S. Thomas Aquinas, Albertos Magnus, Ludolph the Carthusian [a strict order of hermit-monks founded by St. Bruno in 1084], and others say that S. Martial was the little child whom Christ took and set in the midst of his disciples (Matt, xriil i); others sar that he was the lad who had the five barley loaves and the two small fishes, wherewith was wrought the miracle of feeding the hve thousand (John ri. 9). S. Martial is said to hare been born at Rama, and Andrew Thevct. a cosmograpber of tbe 16th cent., pretends that he saw a church dedicated to S. Martial In the village of Arontia, three leagues from Rama. was abundantly endowed with His supernatural gifts, so that he was well prepared by grace and faith for prosecuting vigorously the work of evangelizing. When the apostles were dispersed, Martial went to Antioch with his kinsman, S. Peter the Apostle, and thence, seven years afterwards, to Rome. There Peter and his companions were hospitably entertained by Marcellus, the consul, living for some time in his palace, and preaching publicly to the Romans the saving precepts of eternal life. At that time the Lord Jesus appeared to S. Peter, and commanded him to send Martial to preach in the provinces of Gaul. The apostle then called Martial to him, and duly informed him of the divine command, upon hearing which he wept bitterly, from fear of such distant countries and barbarous tribes. But the blessed Peter gently consoled him, and, reminding him of the divine monitions, sent him on his errand of preaching the Gospel. Without delay, therefore, Martial, with two priests, Alpinian and Austriclinian, set forward on the journey enjoined him. Austriclinian, however, dying on the road, Martial returned sorrowfully to Rome, and informed Peter of the death of his companion. But at the apostle’s command he returned to his deceased brother, and touching his body with the apostle’s staff, he was immediately restored to life, by the merits and intercessions of the saints. Martial then, prosecuting his journey with his disciples, arrived at the castle of Tulle,1 where he was hospitably entertained by a wealthy man named Amulf, with whom he remained two months, diligently em1 M. Lc Prevost, editor of Odericus Vitalis, considers that this is not Tulle in the Limousin, the Latin name of which was Tutela, but aplace called Tonlx on Cassenle* map, on an elevated spot in La Marche, a few leagues north-east of Gueret, srfceR the foundations of a fortification and many Roman antiquities have been discovered.

fane 30.) S. Martial 467 ployed in publishing the word of God. Crowds of people docked to him daily, hearing thankfully from his lips the words of salvation, and witnessing miracles before unknown. During this time the daughter of Amulf, who was daily vexed by a devil, was delivered from the unclean spirit at the command of Martial, and became as one dead; but the man of God took her by the hand, and raising her up, restored her to her father, perfectly healed. He was holy, benevolent, humble, and constant in prayer.

The governor of the castle of Tulle, whose name was Nerva, and who was related to the Emperor Nero, had a son who was strangled by the devil. Upon this the father and mother of the deceased, with all the crowd who were present, threw themselves at the feet of Martial, and placed the youth and corpse before him with loud cries and lamentations, exclaiming in their grief, “Man of God, help us.” The holy pontiff had compassion on the sorrow of these people; indeed, he himself and his disciples wept with them, and they joined in prayer to Almighty God for the restoration oi life to the dead. The prayer being ended, and the holy prelate having commanded the dead man to arise whole in the name of the crucified Saviour, he forthwith arose, and throwing himself at the feet of the holy man, began to cry out, “ Baptize me, thou man of God, and sign me with the sign of the faith,” adding, “Two angels came to me with great swiftness, saying that I should be restored to life by the prayers of the blessed Martial. Hell has no bounds; there is nothing there but weeping and bitterness, darkness, wailings and groanings, and deep sorrow; the heat and cold are intense and terrible, and never fail; there are the gnawings of serpents, and insupportable smells, corruption and misery, and the worm Lives oj the Saints.

that never dies; there are infernal gaolers who torment the souls they seize with various sufferings.” When he had made this and similar declarations, all the people began to confess the Lord, and three thousand six hundred souls of both sexes were baptized on the spot. Many gifts were offered to the blessed man, all which he commanded to be given to the poor. After this he went to the idol images, and broke and reduced to atoms all their sculptured statues.

The blessed prelate with his disciples came next to the village of Ahun,1 and preached the true faith to the idolaters, who were deceived by the snares of the devil. Upon this the heathen priests assembled, and severely beat the holy preachers. But they, blessing the Lord, and patiently bearing their ill-treatment for His sake, and faithfully supplicating His aid in this imminent peril, their persecutors were struck blind, and holding each other by the hand, groped their way to the statue of Mercury. On their consulting the oracle as usual, it made no reply, the demon being bound by the angels of God. Having recourse to another idol they learned that their god could give them no answer, because he was chained by the angels of God in fetters of flame. The priests who had been struck blind came therefore to S. Martial, and throwing themselves at his feet, implored his pardon, and the holy bishop restored their sight, and presenting himself with all the people before the image of Jupiter, he adjured the demon in the Lord’s name to come out and break in pieces the statue in presence of the multitude, which command was immediately obeyed, and the statue reduced to atoms. Two thousand six hundred souls were baptized there. A man who was paralytic, hearing of this miracle, 1 Ahun near Gue ret.

June 30.I 6*. Martial. caused himself to be carried to the man of God. He was of high family, and rich in gold and silver, and great possessions. When now the man of God heard his entreaties and perceived his faith, he took him by the hand, and, praying for him, healed him. Thus restored to health, the paralytic glorified God, and offered rewards to the man of God, which he refused to accept, and ordered all to be distributed among the people. While S. Martial dwelt there, the Lord appeared to him in a vision, saying: “Fear not to go down to Limoges, for I will glorify thee in that place, and will be ever with thee.,, Thereupon the blessed bishop, having encouraged those he had baptized, commended them to the Lord, and went to the city with his disciples. They were hospitably received in the house of a noble widow named Susanna, and on the morrow began to preach the Lord in public.

There was a man afflicted with frenzy and bound in fetters in the house where the man of God was entertained, whom no one dared to unloose. Susanna having supplicated the bishop to heal him as he had done others who were sick, he yielded to her entreaties, and, making the sign of the cross over the diseased man, his chains fell off, and he was made whole. The noble mother, and her daughter, Valeria, upon witnessing this miracle, believed, and were baptized by the holy bishop, with six hundred of their household.

The priests of the idols, being incensed that the holy men preached in the theatre, severely scourged them, and threw them into prison; but S. Martial and his companions bore patiently the injuries they received, giving thanks to God. S. Martial was praying about the third hour of the day following, when suddenly a light like that of the bright sun shone in the dungeon, Lives oj the Saints.

and the fetters of those who were confined fell to pieces, and the doors were opened, so that all who witnessed it entreated to be baptized. The city was shaken with an earthquake, there were lightnings and thunder, the heathen seeking in vain the protection of their idols, for the priests who had scourged the holy men of God were killed by a thunder-bolt. The citizens, therefore, were struck with universal terror, and, rushing to the prison, threw themselves at the bishop’s feet, entreating pardon and help. The bishop and his colleagues offering their prayers, Aurelian and Andrew1 were restored to life, and throwing themselves on their knees, sought forgiveness, confessing the true God, with all the people who saw with amazement such unheard-of prodigies. The day following, S. Martial assembled the whole population, from the least to the eldest, and having addressed to them a suitable exhortation, baptized them all. Thus twenty-two thousand believed in the Lord, and submitted with joy to His saving worship. The holy bishop then hastened with all the people to the temple, in which stood the statues of Jupiter, Mercury, Diana, and Venus, and destroying the images, converted the temple into a church dedicated to the honour of S. Stephen, the first martyr. The blessed Susanna died happily in the Lord, and was buried by S. Martial with great honour. She had conferred innumerable gifts and possessions on the holy bishop, and had granted to him the service of a numbei of her slaves. Moreover, her daughter Valeria devoted her virginity to the Lord, and full of the Holy Ghost, shewed herself a model of all good works. Hearing that duke Stephen, to whom she was betrothed, was on his road to Limoges, and feeling sure that he would be 1 Probably two of the idol-priests so named. grievously offended by her vow of chastity, she distributed to the poor all her wealth in gold, and silver, and vestments of various kinds, and precious stones. She had already joined her mother in making over to the holy bishop all their domains, with their slaves and serfs, that after his death his holy remains might be there interred.

Duke Stephen's principality extended from the river Rhone to the ocean, and he possessed all the country on this side the Loire, Aquitaine, inhabited by the Gascons and Goths. He was not called king, because no prince assumed that title except Nero, who possessed the Roman empire. On Stephen's reaching Limoges, he ordered Valeria, his affianced bride, to be conducted to him, and finding from the conference that he was rejected by her, and that it was certain he would never prevail on her to become his wife, he became so enraged that he broke off the conversation, and ordered her to be immediately led out of the city and be beheaded. Arrived at the place of execution, she foretold the sudden death of the executioner, and spreading out her hands in prayer, commended herself with confidence to the Lord her God. During her prayer a voice was heard from above, saying: 44 Fear not, Valeria, thou art expected in the celestial brightness which never ends." The virgin rejoiced at hearing these words, and lifting up her eyes to heaven, said: 44 Lord, into Thy hands I commend my spirit." Having thus spoken, she voluntarily offered her neck to the executioner, who cut off her head with a single blow. Many persons saw her spirit depart from the body, bright as the sun, and rising to heaven in a globe of fire, with a choir of angels, singing: “Blessed art thou, Valeria, martyr of Christ, for thou hast kept the commandments of God. Henceforth thou shalt be for ever in His sight, in the brightness of the light that knows no end.1” The squire of Duke Stephen, who had beheaded Valeria, hearing these words, hastened to his master, and told him all he had seen and heard. Mentioning last the virgin’s prediction of his own impending death, he was struck by an angel, and fell at the duke’s feet, and presently expired. Fear and trembling seized the duke and all the people, and the duke, covering himself with sackcloth, requested the blessed Martial to come to him. On his arrival, the duke prostrated himself at his feet, and said, with many tears: " I have sinned, most holy man, in that I have shed the blood of the righteous; but I pray thee to restore this my squire to life, and cause me to believe in your God.” Then the holy bishop convoked the whole Christian population, and exhorted them all to supplicate for the recovery of the dead man. Silence being then made, he himself prayed with a loud voice; and his prayer ended, he approached the body of the dead, and taking his hand commanded him to rise in the name of the Lord. And he immediately arose, and throwing himself at the bishop’s feet entreated to be baptized. Duke Stephen, also, on seeing this miracle, knelt before the holy bishop, imploring his forgiveness for the sin he had committed. The blessed prelate, therefore, enjoined him a penance for putting to death the virgin and martyr, and baptized him with all his counts, and officers, and the whole army, and all the people of both sexes, to the number of fifteen thousand. The duke of whom we are speaking, gave to Martial^ his master in Christ, large sums of gold and silver, that he might build churches to the honour of the Lord, ' S. Valeria is venerated as the first martyr of Aquitaine, in the diocese of Limoges, where her festival is celebrated on Dec. xoth as a double..S'. Martial.

He also granted him large domains, with many beneficiary estates, and vineyards, and serfs, in the province of Limoges, to enable him to embellish the churches he built, and to supply the wants of the clergy, who were to serve God in them. He afterwards erected a hospital for the poor, to the charitable memory of Valeria, in which he directed three hundred poor persons to be fed daily. He also founded another, in which he made provision for refreshment being given daily to a crowd of the indigent, to the number of six hundred; and he also built a church over the tomb of S. Valeria, virgin and martyr.

Meanwhile Stephen, prince of the Gauls, was summoned to Italy by order of the Emperor Nero, and there served in the army for six months with four legions of soldiers. During his military service Stephen did not forget the divine laws, but so ordered his troops that every one was satisfied with his own, and if any committed robbery he suffered death. After the term of his service was expired, Stephen obtained his leave of absence; but he was unwilling to return to his own estates until he had seen the blessed Peter the Apostle. He hastened, therefore, with all his troops to Rome, and entering the city, they found the apostle teaching great crowds of people in a place called the Vatican. Approaching the apostle with bare feet and sackcloth on their loins, they knelt before him and humbly besought his blessing. S. Peter, seeing the flower of the youth of Gaul, and learning that they had all been instructed in # the Gospel of Christ, and baptized by the blessed Martial, was filled with joy, and gave blessings to the Lord. He made many anxious inquiries of the pious duke concerning the manners and grace and way of life of the holy bishop, and the duke took pleasure in recounting many particulars of his goodness and miracles, and the conversion of the people who hastened from all parts to the font of holy baptism. When the duke had received absolution from the apostle for having shed the blood of the innocent Valeria, he offered him the two hundred pounds of gold which he had just received as a donation from the Emperor Nero, but the apostle directed him to take the gold to the holy bishop, that he might employ it in erecting churches or relieving the poor. Having, therefore, received the apostolic benediction, Stephen and his soldiers returned to Gaul, and at the duke’s suggestion they visited their common father before they returned to their own homes. Arriving at a certain royal palace called S. Junien, they pitched their tents and pavilions on the bank of the river Vienne.1 The heat of the weather drove them to the river for refreshment, both from the dust and from the sun’s rays, when Hildebert, son of Arcadius, count of Poitou, was drowned by the devil at a place called Garri, and died on the spot, nor could his body be found, although the whole army searched for it. Arcadius and all the soldiers were overwhelmed with grief, and hastening with lamentations to Limoges, he humbly implored the aid of Martial on his son’s behalf. Great crowds of Goths and Saxons, and people of other provinces, had now flocked to Limoges, desiring to hear the word of salvation from the holy man. Arcadius, therefore, and all the people, threw themselves at Martial’s feet, beseeching him with much lamentation on behalf of the young man drowned in the river. The holy man wept with them, and came to the place clothed in sackcloth, and with naked feet. All 1 There is a commune still called du Falais on the banks of the Vienne, about one league from Limoges.

June 30.I 6*. Martial. present joining in prayer, the man of God adjured the demons, who lurked in a hollow of the channel, that they should render themselves visible to the people, and bring the corpse of the young man to the river-bank. Immediately the body was cast ashore at the distance of about six furlongs, the demons appearing in the shape of swine. At length, the demons making deprecatory prayers, and the bishop adjuring, they rushed violently from the river, and came and lay down at the feet of S. Martial. They were like the Ethiopians, black as soot, their feet enormous, their eyes terrible and bloody, their whole body was covered with bristly hair, and from their mouths and nostrils they breathed sulphurous flames. Their speech resembled the croakings of the raven, and when the bishop demanded their names one of them answered, “ I am called Thousand-craft, because I have a thousand arts of deceiving the human race.” Another said, “I am called Neptune, because I have dragged numbers of men into this hole, and plunged them into the torments of hell.” The holy bishop inquired, “ Why do you wear rings of fire in your snouts ?” The demons replied, “When we have seduced the souls of men, it is by chains attached to these that we drag them to our master.” The bishop asking their master's name, they replied, “ Strife, for he never ceases to stir up quarrels, and his rage and passion are without end.” The demons then entreating the bishop that he would talk no more with them in Latin, and would not send them into the abyss or boundless ocean, he commanded them, in the Hebrew tongue, to depart into a desert place, and to hurt no living creature to the day of judgment. The demons then flying through the air appeared no more. And now the duke with the whole crowd of people, and all the army collected from different provinces, and present at this extraordinary spectacle, threw themselves at the feet of the holy bishop, pitifully imploring him to restore life to the young man who then lay dead. The bishop, moved at their distress, commanded all with one heart to make intercession to the Lord, and taking the hand of the deceased, said: “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Hildebert, arise;” and he immediately arose and lived piously twenty-six years afterwards. While all who witnessed so glorious a miracle were praising God, S. Martial called Hildebert and made enquiry of him, for the edification of the hearers, what he saw while he was dead. With some hesitation, he related as follows: — 44 Bathed in sweat from the intense heat of the sun, I was washing myself in the river, when suddenly the demons plunged me into a deep hole and drowned me. But when they attempted to bind me in chains of fire, an angel of the Lord stood by me, and delivered me out of their hands. We had begun to take the road to the east, when two bands of demons opposed our progress, throwing at us fiery darts. One of these bands attacked us in front, while the other assaulted us in the rear. For my part I was terribfy frightened, but the angel, my companion, encouraged me, beginning to sing with a melodious voice and sweet expression: * Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, praise His holy name, Who forgiveth all thy iniquities and redeemeth thy life from the pit.* At length we reached the purgatorial fire, where Christians are punished for such of their daily transgressions as are not aggravated to mortal sins. Purgatory is a river of fire, with a bridge across, over which the angel of the Lord conducted me and then stood still, and taking my hand, said: *S. Martial.

sins, you are fit to be a partaker of the heavenly kingdom.1 After this we arrived at the gate of Paradise, near which we found a crowd of demons assembled, whose rage and whose slanders I horribly feared. But at that moment a voice was heard from heaven, saying: 1 Let the soul of the young man return to his body, and let him live twenty-six years/ The angel who conducted me was of incredible beauty, his whole aspect surpassing the human race. To my inquiries concerning our teacher, S. Martial, he replied: 1 His merit in heaven is great because he has continued in celibacy, and is and means to be free from the love of women. From his youth he began to serve the Lord, and attach himself to the blessed Peter, never returning to his father's house. As he is known to be free from the concupiscence of the flesh, so he will be delivered from the pains of death. Twelve angels are commissioned by the Lord to attend him constantly, who do not suffer him to be weary, nor to hunger or thirst, but preserve him from all evil, and shield him from every touch of sorrow/ ” While Hildebert was relating these things and others similar to them, the hearts of the bishops and the duke, and all the assembled people, were gladdened, and they offered thanksgivings to the Lord for all the benefits conferred upon them. Hildebert observing the angel’s admonitions, shaved his head, and attaching himself to the blessed prelate, devoted himself to the service of the Lord, and neither drank wine nor ate flesh. He went barefoot, and was satisfied with bread and water for food, and sackcloth for raiment. He gave himself up to constant prayers, and frequent fastings, and the continual performance of good works. All that he inherited from his parents he distributed to the poor, and reserved nothing for himself on the morrow. Multitudes fol(June 3c.

lowed his example, and renouncing their own wills, hastened to Christ by the narrow way. Duke Stephen published an ordinance directing that through all the nations which were subject to his dominions, the temples and idols should be broken down and burnt with fire, and that they should worship the one only God, whom they should strive to obey. He himself, as he had learnt from his master, observed a life of religion towards God. He was liberal in alms, just in his judgments, careful for the poor, docile, and devoted to the priests and all the ministers of God; he was the wise father of the Christians, but a fierce persecutor of the pagans. From the day of his baptism till the day of his death he lived in perfect chastity, and controlled all his appetites, like a true Christian. There was in the city of Bordeaux a count named Sigebert, who for six years was grievously afflicted with paralysis. Hearing the miracles which were wrought by the blessed Martial, he directed his wife Benedicta to go with all haste to the man of God, and taking with her twenty-six pounds of gold and a sufficient sum in silver, implore the favour of God through the intercession of His friend. She used the utmost despatch in preparing what was commanded, and hastened to the man of God with an escort of two thousand eight hundred horsemen. On her arrival she earnestly petitioned the man of God for her husband’s health, which he, rejoicing in her faith, promised to restore. He therefore delivered his staff to the matron, commanding her to lay it on her husband and he would be healed. He refused to accept the gold and silver, but according to the Lord’s commandment conferred the spiritual benefits gratuitously. He baptized the noble Benedicta and all the companions of her journey, and S. Martial.

dismissed them to their homes confirmed in the faith. Meanwhile when the populace of Bordeaux flocked to the idol temples, and the priests burnt incense, the demon said that he would come out at the command of a certain Hebrew, named Martial, and published with sorrow the great virtues of the holy bishop and his honour with God. As the matron was entering the city on her return, the elders of the people proceeded to meet her, and told her all that they had heard from Jupiter. Then the countess sent for the chief pontiff of the idols, and commanded him that he should go to all the temples, except those of the unknown God, and utterly destroy them. She then, with her Christian companions, implored God’s mercy, and coming in His name to her husband’s bed, placed on him the blessed apostle’s staff. Immediately his limbs, which had been injured by the contraction of the nerves, and dried up by fever, became instantly as though they had never lost their power. After the just-named Count Sigeberwas healed, he went with a great retinue to the holy bishop and was regenerated by him, with all his followers, in the water of holy baptism. He returned abundant offerings of prayers and thanks for the heavenly benefits conferred upon him, and lived many years afterwards happily in the service of the Lord. It happened on a certain occasion that when the city of Bordeaux was, for the presumption of the inhabitants in danger of being consumed by fire, the flames threatening its entire destruction, the pious Benedicta, in full faith, opposed the staff of the man of God to the fire, invoking the aid of the Creator, whose omnipotence she confessed. And the conflagration was immediately extinguished so that no traces of fire remained. At that time Martial, the bishop of Christ, moved by divine inspiration, went to the bank of the river Garonne, and preached the Gospel to multitudes, who flocked to him at a place called Mortague, remaining there three months in the saving work of his divine mission. Nine demoniacs, brought by their parents in chains from the city of Bordeaux, were healed by S. Martial, the demons being expelled. The demons also, who by virtue of Christian faith were expelled from the city of Bordeaux, incensed with those whom they had subjugated, took possession of some miserable idolaters, and entering their bodies grievously vexed them. Their parents, therefore, brought them to the man of God, at whose prayers and commands their malignant enemies issued forth from their mouths with torrents of blood, and were no more seen. On one occasion when the blessed S. Martial preached in Mortague, and crowds of people flocked to hear the true doctrine, Count Sigebert resolved to join him with a considerable body of soldiers, and to show his friendship by supplying him with all that was necessary for meat and drink. Among other things he desired a quantity of fish, and despatched his servants to the sea for the purpose of fishing. When at last the fishermen, bringing with them many kinds of fish, were looking forward with anxiety to reach the shore, a sudden storm arose and threatened them with shipwreck and destruction. The Countess Benedicta, who with a crowd of people was on the shore waiting, saw the danger, and were in great alarm. And now the men began to sink with the boats, when the devout woman, extending her hands towards heaven, called upon God with a loud voice, and the storm immediately ceased. The fishermen, with their boats, and fish, and nets, came safe to the harbour, and all who saw it glorified God.

On his return from Mortague the amiable prelate again visited Limoges, and thence went to a village called Ansae. It boasted an idol of Jupiter, held in great veneration by the heathen, which drew together numbers of sick folk labouring under various infirmities. On the bishop’s arrival, the demon was dumb, but at the request of the inhabitants the man of God commanded him to come out of the image, and breaking the statue, show himself to the people in a visible form. There forthwith issued from the statue what had the appearance of a negro boy, black as soot, covered with dark and rough hair from head to foot, and fire flashing from his mouth, nostrils, and eyes, with a sulphurous smell. Thus the saint showed the people what sort of god they had worshipped, and repeated his order to the demon that he should destroy the image, which he accordingly reduced to powder, and never again appeared. Then the venerable bishop assembled round him all the sick, and making the sign of the cross over them, healed them in the name of the Lord, baptizing all those who were natives of that place. Returning afterwards to his own see, he caused oratories to be built, and decorated them carefully with rich ornaments. One he dedicated to the honour of S. Stephen, the first martyr, his own kinsman, and another to S. Peter the Apostle, his own master.1 The altar was overlaid all round with plates of gold. When the churches were built, the blessed bishop fixed a day for the consecration, and Duke Stephen caused preparations to be made for entertaining all who came to the holy solemnity. When, however, the holy bishop was celebrating the mass, Herv£, count of Tours, was carried off by the devil, as well as his Christian wife. church here called S. Peter’s has been known by the name of S. Martial since th* I time that the relics of that apostle of the Limousin were deposited in it. TJune 30.

But the holy man did not suffer them to be long tormented, but calling them to him he rebuked the devil for taking possession of them. But they replied that it was permitted them on account of the transgressions of the count and his wife. Upon the count and the people entreating favour for the possessed, the holy bishop restored them to sound health and vigour, expelling the demon in the name of the Lord. The church of S. Peter was consecrated on the sixth of the nones (2nd) of May, in the reign of the Emperor Nero, when so dazzling was the light shed in it on the day of dedication, that it was scarcely possible to distinguish one person from another.

These ceremonies being duly performed, the blessed Martial ordained Aurelian to succeed him in the see of Limoges [a bishop’s “see” is his diocese, named from his seat (Latin sedes)] after his own decease. He also caused Andrew the priest to preside over the church of S. Peter the Apostle, settling in it Hildebert, son of Count Archadius, and thirty-six clerks besides, for whom Duke Stephen provided out of his own domains an abundant revenue, to supply food and clothing.

In the year 40, after our Lord’s resurrection, when the blessed Martial was praying, as he was wont, the Lord Jesus Christ appeared to him in glory with his disciples, and having graciously saluted him by name, predicted that the fifteenth day from thence would be the period of his departure out of this world. The holy man, full of joy, gave thanks to God, and during two weeks prepared for his end with fasting, and watching, and prayer. After a short cessation, to rest his wearied limbs, he rose in the night for prayer at the hour appointed, and continued his prayers and divine praise to the second hour of the day. Then he offered the holy sacrifice to the Lord, for himself and the whole Church, at Jane jo.].S. Martial.

the second hour, and afterwards preached diligently until the evening towards the close of the day. As night approached, he took the nourishment to which he rigorously confined himself — viz., bread and water.

The period of his vocation being near, the holy man convoked his brethren, and announced to them that the day of his departure was at hand; making known the same also by messengers, he despatched through all the provinces and districts which he had gained for the Lord. Great numbers assembled in deep sorrow, viz., the people of Poitou, Berry, Auvergne, Gascony, and Gothia. The day of his death drawing near, at the request of all he went out of the gate of the city called the Lime-gate, and there delivered a discourse on the true faith and the divine operations, and profitably recounted the blessed virtues which adorn the Christian life. At the end of his discourse he gave the benediction to the people, commending them to God in devout prayer, and then causing himself to be carried into the oratory of S. Stephen, and lying there on sackcloth and ashes waited his end, while, with bended knees and hands outstretched to heaven, he caused prayers to be offered to aid him in his last struggle. At the close he thus addressed the Lord: “ Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit; 99 and whilst those who stood around were weeping and praying, he made a sign with his hands for silence, and said to them: “ Be still, hear ye not the songs of praise proceeding from heaven ? Surely the Lord cometh, as He, promised; ” and immediately a great light shone around, and the voice of the Lord was heard calling him, and saying: “Blessed spirit, depart,” and instantly he rose to heaven, surrounded by the glorious light, while a concert of angels UOB* 3a.

was heard. On the morrow, at the third hour, a paralytic who touched his bier immediately became sound. When his body was carried forth for burial, at the moment of the departure towards the church of S. Stephen, the heavens were opened, and continued open while the bearers of the holy remains carried them to the place of interment. Moreover, as a multitude of infirm persons was collected at the funeral, the blessed Alpinian, taking the sudarium of the holy bishop, applied it to the bodies of the sick, and invoking the name of Christ, all were healed. Among the rest a dropsical man was brought from Toulouse with six blind persons and four demoniacs, who, on the day following the death of the holy bishop, were presented before his tomb, and healed by the touch of the sacred napkin. S. DONATUS, M.

(date unknown.) [Venerated in the diocese of Cologne. The festival is observed at Munster-Eifel, on the 1st Sunday in July.] In 1652, the Jesuits erected a college of their Order at Munster-Eifel, in the upland volanic district to the west of the Rhine. They were given by the pope the body of a S. Donatus, of whom nothing is known, but who was probably a martyr, and was found in the catacomb of S. Agnes. The relics reposed for a while at Wingarten, and were thence translated with great pomp to the new monastery. A Calvinist deriding the procession and the devotion of the people, was brought to his senses, we are told, by the balustrade of the bridge yielding, whereupon he was precipitated head over heels into the mud, and crawled out all over slime, to the •S'. Peter.

amusement and edification of the faithful. On the day before the translation, a furious tempest had burst over Enskirchen, whilst the parish priest was saying mass. In his alarm he invoked S. Donatus. Thereupon a flash of lightning penetrated the church, tearing a stone from its place, struck, and set fire to the gauze veil of the image of the Blessed Virgin above the altar, flashed round the chalice, burnt the altar linen, struck the celebrant, perforated his sacred vestments, and even burnt patches in his linen next his skin, shot down his left leg, tore off the sole of his shoe, and entered the floor. The priest fell down much hurt, and more frightened, but not killed, thanks to S. Donatus whom he had invoked. S. Donatus is represented with a palm branch, and in the back-ground a church struck with lightning.

S. PETER, C. (date unknown.) [Venerated at Aste. Ferrarius in his Catalogue of Italian Saints. Toe Acta Sanctorum [the Bollandists’ huge collection of saints’ lives], Ac. Authority: - Popular tradition. J This saint is traditionally said to have been a labourer of Aste, whose sanctity was thus manifested. The Benedictines [monks following the Rule of St. Benedict] of S. Seraphia at Aste had erected a commodious monastery, and then dug a well, but could find no water. They were in sore perplexity, as it would be highly inconvenient to have to remove their monastery elsewhere. As they were in doubt, one suggested that application should be made to Peter, who was known to be a man of prayer and power with God. Accordingly Peter was summoned, he took a spade, descended into the well, and the first spade graft disclosed a spring of limpid water. According to another Lives oj the Saints.

account he was of noble birth of the Gonzaga family, and not a peasant. The pictorial representations of him with a spade, on account of this miracle, have led to the popular supposition that he was an agricultural labourer.