Their story
Adapted in modern English from Alban Butler's Lives of the Saints · Baring-Gould original below · little is known
Serapion was an Englishman whom St. Peter Nolasco received into his order at Barcelona. He made two journeys among the Moors to ransom captives. At Murcia he bought the freedom of ninety-eight slaves. At Algiers he redeemed eighty-seven and stayed behind himself as a hostage for the rest of the money.
He preached Christ boldly to the Mahometans and baptized several. For this he was tortured, scourged, fastened to a cross, and stabbed and quartered alive. Pope Benedict XIII declared him a martyr in 1728. Butler and Baring-Gould agree on 1240.
Early life
The book says little or nothing about early life. This is how the account begins.
Thin entry · the 1914 book gives only 101 words. We have not filled the gap with invented detail.
He was an Englishman, whom S. Peter Nolasco received into his Order at Barcelona. He made two journeys among the Moors for the ransoming of captives, in 1240. The first was to Murcia, in which he purchased the liberty of ninety-eight slaves; the second to Algiers, in which he redeemed eighty-seven, but remained himself a hostage for the full payment of the money.
How they teach us to live
Drawn from themes in the original account
Stay faithful when it costs you. This account is about holding firm under pressure.
Share your faith, in words and by example. Preaching and conversion are central here.
Learn from the kind of life it was. Faithfulness to Christ when it cost everything.
