Saint Pothin, évêque et Sainte Blandine, vierge,
et leurs compagnons, martyrs.
Le récit du martyre de Saint
Pothin, évêque de Lyon et de ses quarante-sept compagnons (dont vingt-deux
femmes) nous est parvenu par la Lettre des Eglises de Lyon et de Vienne aux
Eglises d'Asie et de Phrygie, lettre relevée par Eusèbe de Césarée dans son
Histoire ecclésiastique. Les martyrs de Lyon rendirent leur témoignage au
Christ au cours de la persécution déclenchée sous Antonius Verus en 177.
Pothin, plus que nonagénaire, subit d'abord l'interrogatoire du président du
Tribunal, puis il fut l'objet de toutes sortes de mauvais traitements, et enfin
on le jeta en prison où, au bout de deux jours, il mourut. Parmi ses
compagnons, il faut noter surtout le néophyte Maturus, le diacre de Vienne
Sanctus, la servante Blandine et Attale. Alors qu'ils avaient déjà été exposés
à de nombreux supplices, on leur adjoignit le médecin Alexandre, de nationalité
phrygienne, et l'adolescent Ponticus. Tous confessèrent jusqu'à la mort la foi
au Christ, quant à Blandine, « faible et petite », elle avait
« revêtu le Christ » et entra dans l'amphithéâtre « pleine de
joie et d'allégresse, comme si elle était invitée à un festin de noces. ».
Saints Pothin, Sainte Blandine et leurs compagnons
Martyrs - (+ 177)
Saint Pothin fut le premier évêque de Lyon. Il venait de l’Asie, avait été formé à l’école de saint Polycarpe, évêque de Smyrne, et envoyé par lui dans les Gaules.
Pothin, après avoir gagné un grand nombre d’âmes à Jésus-Christ, fut arrêté sous le règne de Marc-Aurèle. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, faible et tout infirme ; son zèle et le désir du martyre soutenaient ses forces et son courage. Conduit au tribunal au milieu des injures de la populace païenne, il fut interrogé par le gouverneur, qui lui demanda quel était le Dieu des chrétiens : "Vous le connaîtrez si vous en êtes digne," répondit l’évêque. A ces mots, la multitude furieuse se précipite contre lui ; ceux qui étaient plus près le frappèrent à coups de pieds et à coups de poings, sans aucun respect pour son âge. Le vieillard conservait à peine un souffle de vie quand il fut jeté en prison, où il expira peu après.
Le récit du martyre des compagnons de saint Pothin est une des plus belles pages de l’histoire de l’Église des premiers siècles. Le diacre Sanctus supporta sans faiblir toutes les tortures, au point que son corps était devenu un amas informe d’os et de membres broyés et de chairs calcinées ; au bout de quelques jours, miraculeusement guéri, il se trouva fort pour de nouveaux supplices. Il ne voulait dire à ses bourreaux ni son nom, ni sa patrie, ni sa condition ; à toutes les interrogations il répondait : "Je suis chrétien !" Ce titre était tout pour lui ; livré enfin aux bêtes, il fut égorgé dans l’amphithéâtre.
Maturus eut à endurer les mêmes supplices que le saint diacre ; il subit les verges, la chaise de fer rougie au feu, et fut enfin dévoré par les bêtes féroces.
Le médecin Alexandre, qui, dans la foule des spectateurs, soutenait du geste le courage des martyrs, fut saisi et livré aux supplices.
Attale, pendant qu’on le grillait sur une chaise de fer, vengeait les chrétiens des odieuses imputations dont on les chargeait indignement : "Ce ne sont pas, disait-il, les chrétiens qui mangent les hommes, c’est vous ; quand à nous, nous évitons tout ce qui est mal." On lui demanda comment S’appelait Dieu : "Dieu, dit-il, n’a pas de nom comme nous autres mortels."
Il restait encore le jeune Ponticus, âgé de quinze ans, et l’esclave Blandine, qui avaient été témoins de la mort cruelle de leurs frères ; Ponticus alla le premier rejoindre les martyrs qui l’avaient devancé ; Blandine, rayonnante de joie, fut torturée avec une cruauté particulière, puis livrée à un taureau, qui la lança plusieurs fois dans les airs ; enfin elle eut la tête tranchée.
SOURCE : http://viechretienne.catholique.org/saints/1656-saints-pothin-sainte-blandine-et-leurs
SAINT POTHIN et ses COMPAGNONS
Martyrs
(177)
Saint Pothin fut le premier évêque de Lyon. Il venait de l'Asie, avait été formé à l'école de saint Polycarpe, évêque de Smyrne, et envoyé par lui dans les Gaules.
Pothin, après avoir gagné un grand nombre d'âmes à Jésus-Christ, fut arrêté sous le règne de Marc-Aurèle. Il était âgé de quatre-vingt-dix ans, faible et tout infirme; son zèle et le désir du martyre soutenaient ses forces et son courage. Conduit au tribunal au milieu des injures de la populace païenne, il fut interrogé par le gouverneur, qui lui demanda quel était le Dieu des chrétiens: "Vous le connaîtrez si vous en êtes digne," répondit l'évêque. A ces mots, la multitude furieuse se précipite contre lui; ceux qui étaient plus près le frappèrent à coups de pieds et à coups de poings, sans aucun respect pour son âge. Le vieillard conservait à peine un souffle de vie quand il fut jeté en prison, où il expira peu après.
Le récit du martyre des compagnons de saint Pothin est une des plus belles pages de l'histoire de l'Église des premiers siècles. Le diacre Sanctus supporta sans faiblir toutes les tortures, au point que son corps était devenu un amas informe d'os et de membres broyés et de chairs calcinées; au bout de quelques jours, miraculeusement guéri, il se trouva fort pour de nouveaux supplices. Il ne voulait dire à ses bourreaux ni son nom, ni sa patrie, ni sa condition; à toutes les interrogations il répondait: "Je suis chrétien!" Ce titre était tout pour lui; livré enfin aux bêtes, il fut égorgé dans l'amphithéâtre.
Maturus eut à endurer les mêmes supplices que le saint diacre; il subit les verges, la chaise de fer rougie au feu, et fut enfin dévoré par les bêtes féroces.
Le médecin Alexandre, qui, dans la foule des spectateurs, soutenait du geste le courage des martyrs, fut saisi et livré aux supplices.
Attale, pendant qu'on le grillait sur une chaise de fer, vengeait les chrétiens des odieuses imputations dont on les chargeait indignement: "Ce ne sont pas, disait-il, les chrétiens qui mangent les hommes, c'est vous; quand à nous, nous évitons tout ce qui est mal." On lui demanda comment S'appelait Dieu: "Dieu, dit-il, n'a pas de nom comme nous autres mortels."
Il restait encore le jeune Ponticus, âgé de quinze ans, et l'esclave Blandine, qui avaient été témoins de la mort cruelle de leurs frères; Ponticus alla le premier rejoindre les martyrs qui l'avaient devancé; Blandine, rayonnante de joie, fut torturée avec une cruauté particulière, puis livrée à un taureau, qui la lança plusieurs fois dans les airs; enfin elle eut la tête tranchée.
Abbé L. Jaud, Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, Tours, Mame, 1950.
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_pothin_et_ses_compagnons.html
SOURCE : http://magnificat.ca/cal/fr/saints/saint_pothin_et_ses_compagnons.html
Photinus (Pothinus) and
Companions MM (RM)
Died 177. Photinus, Sanctus (Sanctius), Vetius, Epagathus, Maturus, Ponticus,
Biblides, Attalus, Alexander, Blandina (see separate entry), and companions,
were martyrs in Lyons, France, which was the center of trade and government for
Roman Gaul. The authentic acta of these martyrs was preserved in a letter from
the churches in Vienne and Lyons to those of Asia. The author is believed to
have been Saint Ireneaus.
At first they were
set upon by an angry pagan mob, whose harsh handling of the 90-year-old Bishop
Pothinus left him with wounds that caused his death in prison. Pothinus was
raised in Greece and instructed in the faith by the successors to the Apostles.
He was sent to Gaul to evangelize Lyons and become its first bishop. On his
arrival he was warmly welcomed by the Lyonnaise who were of Greek heritage and
built a church and underground crypt on the site of the present-day
Saint-Nizier Church. For the next 20 years he preached the Gospel to an
ever-growing flock.
The persecutions
began under Marcus Aurelius with social ostracism. Christians were prevented
from purchasing goods in the market, visiting the public baths, or using other
public services. The incident in which Photinus was mortally wounded was just
one of many in which gangs of bullies insulted and assaulted the Christians as
they moved about town.
Once the mob was
finished with Photinus and 57 of his followers, they were arrested and taken
into the forum where, after a summary questioning, they were ordered to prison.
A young Christian named Epagathus openly protested the injustice of the
procedure. He asked to be allowed to defend the others from the absurd and
slanderous charges of cannibalism and incest brought against them, but he was
silenced and arrested. Ten of the Christians apostatized, but the rest remained
steadfast.
Two men, Maturus
and Sanctus, were roasted to death on an iron chair. Attalus suffered a similar
fate. Alexander, a physician who had encouraged the martyrs, was arrested and
summarily condemned to be thrown to the wild beasts. All 48 martyrs suffered
tortures of equal viciousness. On the last day only the slave girl named
Blandina, whose mistress had already been killed, and the young boy Ponticus
remained. The boy was tortured first as Blandina urged him to remain steadfast.
Then Blandina was tortured and finally enmeshed in a net and tossed by a wild
bull until she perished, kept repeating the simple words, "I am a
Christian." So great was her faith and firmness in her hope of salvation
that she seemed to feel no pain. After she was beheaded by the sword, "the
pagans themselves saying that they had never seen a woman show such
courage." Not one of the martyrs wavered in the faith.
The bodies of the
martyrs were left in the arena for a week and then thrown into the Rhône
(Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia).
St. Pothinus, Bishop, Sanctus, Attalus, Blandina,
&c., Martyrs of Lyons
From the Letter of the Churches of Vienne and Lyons to
their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, extant though imperfect, in Eusebius’s
Hist. b. 5, ch. 1, 2, 3, one of the most precious and most moving monuments of
the primitive ages, as Jos. Scaliger observes, in his notes on the Chronicle of
Eusebius.
A.D. 177.
AFTER the miraculous victory
obtained by the prayers of the Christians under Marcus Aurelius, in 174, the
church enjoyed a kind of peace, though it was often disturbed in particular
places by popular commotions, or by the superstitious fury of certain
governors. This appears from the violent persecution which was raised three
years after the aforesaid victory, at Vienne and Lyons in Gaul, in 177; whilst
St. Pothinus was bishop of Lyons, and St. Irenæus, who had been sent thither by
St. Polycarp out of Asia, 1 was a priest of that city. Many of
the principal persons of this church were Greeks, and came from Asia; being,
doubtless, led by a zealous desire to propagate the kingdom of Christ, and
invited by the great intercourse of traffic between the ports of Asia and
Marseilles. The progress which the gospel had made, and the eminent sanctity of
those who professed it in that country, enraged the devil, and stirred up the
malice of the idolaters, who in a transport of sudden fury, resolved to
extirpate their very name; not knowing that the church of Christ, planted by
his cross, grew more fruitful by the sufferings of its children, as a vine
flourishes by being pruned. The conflicts of the glorious martyrs, who on this
occasion had the honour to seal their faith with their blood, were recorded by
those who were eye-witnesses, and the companions of their sufferings, in a
letter written by them on purpose to their old friends and brethren, the
Christians of Asia and Phrygia. The piety, eloquence, and animated style of
this epistle, seems to leave no doubt but that St. Irenæus was the principal
author. 2 According to the remark of a modern
historian, 3 the combats of the martyrs are here
painted in so lively colours, that their spirit appears as it were living in
the dead letter, and their blood spilt for Jesus Christ seems to shine
throughout the relation.
It is impossible, say the authors of
this letter, for us to give an exact account, nor will it be easy to conceive
the extent of our present calamities, the rage of the Pagans against the
saints, and the sufferings of the holy martyrs among us. For the adversary
directs his whole force against us, and lets us see already what we are to
expect when he is let loose, and allowed to attack the church in the end of the
world. He makes his assaults boldly, and stirs up his agents against the
servants of God. Their animosity runs so high that we are not only driven from
private houses, from the baths and public places, but even forbidden to show
ourselves at all. But the grace of God, which is an overmatch for all the
powers of hell, hath rescued the weak from the danger, and from the temptation
of the fiery trial, 4 and exposed such only to the combat
as are able by an invincible patience to stand their ground, like so many
unshaken pillars of the faith, and dare even invite sufferings, and defy all
the malice and strength of the enemy. These champions have fought the powers of
darkness with success, borne all manner of infamy, and the most inhuman
torments, looked on all their sufferings as nothing, but rushed through them
with an intrepidity that spoke them thoroughly persuaded that all the miseries
of this life are not fit to be allowed any consideration, when weighed against
the glory of the world to come. At first the people attacked them in a
tumultuous manner, struck them, dragged them about the streets, threw stones at
them, plundered, confined them, fell on them with all the exorbitancies of an
incensed mob, when allowed to take their own revenge of their enemies; all
which the Christians bore with an inexpressible patience. After this first
discharge of their rage they proceeded more regularly. The tribune and the
magistrates of the town ordered them to appear in the public place, where they
were examined before the populace, made a glorious confession of their faith,
and then were sent to prison, where they were to await the arrival of the
governor. When that judge came to town, they were carried before him, and used
with so much cruelty, that Vettius Epagathus, 5 one of our number, fired with a
holy resentment at our treatment, desired to be heard on that subject. He was
full of the love of God and his neighbour; a man so exactly virtuous, that
though young, the character of old Zacharias might justly be applied to him;
for he walked in all the commandments blameless. His heart was inflamed with an
ardent zeal for the glory of God; and he was active and indefatigable whenever
his neighbour wanted his assistance. This excellent person undertook the
defence of the injured brethren; and promised to make it appear, that the
Christians were guilty of no impious practices. But the whole crowd, who were too
well acquainted with his merit, opposed the motion in a noisy and tumultuous
manner; and the governor, determined not to grant him that reasonable request,
which impeached him and his associates for injustice, interrupted him, by
asking whether he was a Christian? Upon his declaring his faith boldly, he was
ranked among the martyrs, with the additional title of The Advocate of the
Christians; which, indeed, was justly his due. And now it was easy to
distinguish between such as came thither well provided for the trial, and
resolved to suffer all extremities, and such as were not prepared for the
battle. The former finished their glorious course with the utmost alacrity;
while the latter started back at the near view of what was prepared for them
upon persevering in the faith, and quitted the field; which was the case of ten
persons. Their cowardice and apostacy not only proved an inexpressible
affliction to us, but also cooled the zeal of several, who were not yet
apprehended, and had employed their liberty in a constant attendance on the
martyrs, in spite of all the dangers to which their charity might expose them.
We were all now in the utmost consternation, which did not arise from the fear
of torments, but the apprehension of losing more of our number in the way. But
our late loss was abundantly repaired by fresh supplies of generous martyrs,
who were seized every day, till our two churches were deprived of all their
eminent men, whom we had been used to look on as the main support of religion
among us.
As the governor’s orders for letting
none of us escape were very strict, several Pagans in the service of Christians
were taken with their masters. These slaves, fearing they should be put to the
same torments which they saw the saints endure, at the instigation of the devil
and the soldiers, accused us of feeding on human flesh, like Thyestes, engaging
in incestuous marriages, like Œdipus, and several other impious extravagances,
which the principles of our religion forbid us to mention, or even think of, and
which we can hardly persuade ourselves were ever committed by men. These
calumnies being divulged, the people were so outrageously incensed against us,
that they who till then had retained some sparks of friendship for us, were
transported against us with hatred, and foamed with rage. It is impossible to
express the severity of what the ministers of Satan inflicted on the holy
martyrs on this occasion, to force some blasphemous expression from their
mouths. The fury of the governor and soldiers, and the people, fell most
heavily upon Sanctus, a native of Vienne, and a deacon: also on Maturus, who,
though but lately baptized, was yet bold and strong enough for the combat; on
Attalus, a native of Pergamus, but who had ever been the pillar and support of our
church: and on Blandina, a slave, in whom Christ has shown us that those whom
men look on with contempt, and whose condition places them below the regard of
the world, are often raised to the highest honours by Almighty God for their
ardent love of him, manifested more by works than words or empty show. She was
of so weak a constitution, that we were all alarmed for her, and her mistress,
one of the martyrs, was full of apprehensions that she would not have the
courage and resolution to make a free and open confession of her faith. But
Blandina was so powerfully assisted and strengthened, that she bore all the
torments her executioners, who relieved each other, could ply her with from
break of day till night; they owned themselves conquered, protested they had no
more torments in reserve, and wondered how she could live after what she had
endured from their hands; declaring that they were of opinion that any one of
the torments inflicted on her would have been sufficient to despatch her,
according to the common course of nature, instead of the many violent ones she
had undergone. But that blessed person, like a valiant combatant, received
fresh strength and vigour from the confession of her faith. The frequent
repetition of these words: “I am a Christian; no wickedness is transacted among
us:” took off the edge of her pains, and made her appear insensible to all she
suffered.
The deacon Sanctus, too, endured
most exquisite torments, with more than human patience. The heathens, indeed,
hoped these severities would at last force some unbecoming expressions from
him; but he bore up against their attacks, with such resolution and strength of
mind, that he would not so much as tell them his name, his country, or station
in the world; and to every question they put to him, he answered in Latin: “I
am a Christian:” nor could they get any other answer from him. The governor,
and the persons employed in tormenting the martyr, were highly incensed at
this; and, having already tried all other arts of cruelty, they applied hot
plates of brass to the tenderest parts of his body: but, supported by the
powerful grace of God, he still persisted in the profession of his faith. His
body was so covered with wounds and bruises, that the very figure of it was
lost. Christ, who suffered in him, made him a glorious instrument for
conquering the adversary, and a standing proof to others, that there is no
grounds for fear, where the love of the Father dwells; nor is there anything
that deserves the name of pain, where the glory of Christ is concerned. Some
days after, the martyr was brought on the stage again; for the pagans imagined,
that his whole body being so sore and inflamed that he could not bear to be
touched, it would now be an easy matter to overcome him by a repetition of the
same cruelties; or, at least, that he must expire under their hands, and thus
strike a horror into the other Christians. But they succeeded in neither of
these views; for, to the amazement of all, his body under the latter torments
recovered its former strength and shape, and the exact use of all his limbs was
restored: so that by this miracle of the grace of Jesus Christ, what was
designed as an additional pain, proved an absolute and effectual cure. The
devil thought himself secure of Biblis, one of the unhappy persons who had
renounced the faith; and desirous to enhance her guilt and punishment by a
false impeachment, caused her to be arraigned, believing it would be no hard
matter to bring one so weak and timorous to accuse us of impieties. But the
force of the torments had a very different effect upon her; they awakened her,
as it were, out of a profound sleep; and those transitory pains turned her
thoughts upon the everlasting torments of hell. So that, contrary to what was
expected of her, she broke out into the following expostulation: “How can it be
imagined that they should feed upon children, whose religion forbids them even
to taste the blood of beasts?” 6 From that moment she publicly
confessed herself a Christian, and was ranked amongst the martyrs. The most
violent torments being thus rendered ineffectual by the patience of the
martyrs, and the power of Jesus Christ, the devil had recourse to other
devices. They were thrown into a dark and loathsome dungeon, had their feet
cramped in wooden stocks, and extended to the fifth, or last hole; and all those
severities exercised upon them, which are commonly practised by the enraged
ministers of darkness upon their prisoners; so great, that numbers of them died
of the hardships they endured there. Others, after having been so inhumanly
tortured, that one would have thought all the care imaginable could not have
recovered them, lay there destitute of all human succour; but so strongly
supported from above, both in mind and body, that they comforted and encouraged
the rest: whilst others but lately apprehended, and who had as yet undergone no
torments, soon died, unable to bear the loathsomeness of the prison.
Among the persons who suffered for
their faith on this occasion was the blessed Pothinus, bishop of Lyons. He was
then above ninety years old; and so weak and infirm, that he could hardly
breathe. But his ardent desire of laying down his life for Jesus Christ, gave
him fresh strength and vigour. He was dragged before the tribunal; for, though
his body was worn out with age and infirmity, his life was preserved till that
time, that Jesus Christ might triumph in him. He was brought thither by the
soldiers and magistrates of the city, the whole multitude hallooing after, and
reviling him with as much eagerness and rage as if he had been Christ himself.
Being asked by the governor, who was the God of the Christians? Pothinus told
him, to prevent his blaspheming, he should know, when he was worthy of that
satisfaction. Upon which he was dragged about unmercifully, and inhumanly
abused. Those who were near him, kicked and struck him without any regard to
his venerable age; and those who were at some distance, pelted him with what
first came to hand; imagining the least tenderness or regard for him would have
been an enormous crime, when the honour of their gods was so nearly concerned,
which they endeavoured to assert by insulting the martyr. He was scarcely alive
when he was carried off, and thrown into prison, where he expired after two
days’ confinement.
Those who had denied their faith
when first taken, were imprisoned too, and shared the same sufferings with the
martyrs, for their apostacy at that time did them no service. But then there
was this difference between their condition, that those who had generously
owned their religion, were confined only as Christians, and no other crime
alleged against them; but the perfidious wretches were imprisoned like
murderers and criminals, and thus suffered much more than the martyrs, who were
comforted with the joyful prospect of laying down their lives in that glorious
cause, and supported by the divine promises, the love of Jesus Christ, and the
spirit of their heavenly Father; while the apostates were tortured with the
remorse of conscience. They were distinguished from the others by their very
looks: when the martyrs appeared, it was easy to discover a lovely mixture of
cheerfulness and majesty in their faces: their very chains appeared graceful,
and seemed more like the ornaments of a bride than the marks of malefactors:
and their bodies sent forth such an agreeable and pleasant savour, as gave
occasion to think that they used perfumes. But those who had basely deserted
the cause of Christ, appeared melancholy, dejected, and completely
disagreeable. The very pagans reproached them with faint-heartedness and
effeminacy, for renouncing their principle, (the honourable, glorious, and
salutary name of Christian,) their former profession whereof had ranked them
with murderers, an imputation they, by their apostacy, had justly incurred.
This sight had a happy influence on several, strengthened them in their
profession, and defeated all the attempts the devil could make on their
constancy and courage. After this, great variety of torments was allotted to
the martyrs; and thus they offered to the eternal Father a sort of chaplet, or
crown, composed of every kind of flowers of different colours; for it was fit
that these courageous champions, who gained such glorious victories in so great
variety of engagements, should receive the crown of immortality. A day was set
when the public was to be entertained at the expense of their lives, and
Maturus, Sanctus, Blandina, and Attalus were brought out in order to be thrown
to the beasts for the barbarous diversion of the heathens. Maturus and Sanctus
being conducted into the amphitheatre, were made to pass through the same
torments, as if they had not before felt the force of them, and looked like
champions, who had worsted the adversary several times, and were just entering
on the last trial of their skill and courage. Again they felt the scourges, and
were dragged about by the beasts as before; and in a word, they suffered every
torment the incensed multitude were pleased to call for; who all joined at last
in requiring they should be put into the red-hot iron chair, which was granted;
nor did the noisome smell of their roasted flesh, offensive as it was, any way
abate, but seemed rather to enhance their rage. They could extort nothing more
from Sanctus than his former confession: and he and Maturus, after a long
struggle, had their throats cut; and this their victory was the only
entertainment that day.
Blandina was fastened to a post to
be devoured by beasts: as her arms were stretched out in the ardour of her
prayer, that very posture put the faithful in mind of the sufferings of him who
was crucified for their salvation, gave them fresh courage, and assured them
that whoever suffers for Jesus Christ, shall partake of the glory of the living
God. After she had remained thus exposed for some time, and none of the beasts
could be provoked to touch her, she was untied, carried back to prison, and
reserved for another combat; in which she was to gain a complete victory over
her malicious adversary the devil, (whom she had already foiled and discomfited
on several occasions,) and to animate the brethren to the battle by her
example. Accordingly, though she was a poor, weak, inconsiderable slave, yet,
by putting on Christ, she became an overmatch for all the art and malice of her
enemy, and, by a glorious conflict, attained to the crown of immortality.
Attalus was called for next, as a
noted person, and the people were very loud in their demands to see him suffer:
who, being one that had always borne a glorious character among us for his
excellent life and courage in asserting the truth, boldly entered the field of
battle. He was led round the amphitheatre, and this inscription in Latin
carried before him: “This is Attalus, the Christian.” The whole company
was ready to discharge their rage on the martyr, when the governor,
understanding he was a Roman citizen, remanded him to prison, and wrote to the
emperor to know his pleasure concerning him and the rest of the prisoners.
During their reprieve, they gave extraordinary proofs of charity and humility.
Notwithstanding such a variety of sufferings for the faith, they would by no
means allow us to call them martyrs; and severely reprimanded any of us, who,
in writing or speaking, gave them that title; which, according to their humble
way of reasoning, was due only to Jesus Christ, the faithful and true martyr,
or witness—the first-born of the dead, and the guide to eternal life; or, at
most, could only be extended to such as were freed from the prison of the body.
These, indeed, said they, may be termed martyrs, because Christ has sealed them
by a glorious death; but we are yet no more than confessors of a mean rank.
They then besought the brethren, with tears, to offer up assiduous prayers for
their persevering to the end. But, though they refused the title of martyr, yet
every action of theirs was expressive of the power of martyrdom; particularly
their meekness, their patience, and the intrepid freedom with which they spoke
to the heathens, and which showed them to be void of fear, and in a readiness
to suffer anything it was in the power of their enemies to inflict. They
humbled themselves at the same time under the powerful hand of God, who hath
since raised them to the highest glory; excusing every body, accusing none;
and, like that great protomartyr, St. Stephen, praying for their persecutors.
But their chief concern, on the motive of sincere charity, was how to rescue
those unhappy persons from the jaws of the devil, whom that infernal serpent
reckoned he had as good as swallowed up. Far from insulting over the lapsed, or
valuing themselves upon the comparison, they freely administered to their
spiritual wants, out of their abundance, the rich graces with which God had
favoured and distinguished them; expressing the tenderness of a mother for
them, and shedding floods of tears before their heavenly Father for their
salvation. Thus they asked for life, and it was granted them, so that their
brethren partook of it. For their endeavours were so successful, and their
discourse and behaviour so persuasive, that the church had the pleasure of
seeing several of her children recover new life, ready to make a generous
confession of the sacred name they had renounced, and even offer themselves to
the trial.
Among the martyrs, there was one
Alcibiades, who had long been used to a very austere life, and to live entirely
on bread and water. 7 He seemed resolved to continue this
practice during his confinement; but Attalus, after his first combat in the
amphitheatre, understood, by a revelation, that Alcibiades gave occasion of
offence to others, by seeming to favour the new sect of the Montanists, who
endeavoured to recommend themselves by their extraordinary austerities.
Alcibiades listened to the admonition, and from that time he ate of every thing
with thanksgiving to God, who did not fail to visit his servants with his
grace, and the Holy Ghost was their guide and counsellor. In the mean time the
emperor’s answer arrived, directing the execution of all who persisted in their
confession, and discharging those who had recanted. The governor took the
opportunity of a public festival among the pagans, which drew vast crowds from
all parts; and ordered the martyrs to be brought before him with a design of
entertaining the people with the sight of their sufferings. After a
re-examination of them, finding them resolute, he sentenced such of them as
were Roman citizens to lose their heads, and ordered the rest to be thrown to
wild beasts. And now the glory of Jesus Christ was magnified in the unexpected confession
of such as had before denied their faith. Those weak persons were examined
apart, with a view of giving them their liberty; but, upon their declaring
themselves Christians, they were sentenced to suffer with the other martyrs.
Some indeed still continued in their apostacy; but then they were only such as
never had the least trace of true faith, nor any regard for the wedding
garment; strangers to the fear of God; who, by their way of living, had cast a
scandal on the religion they professed, and who may justly be styled sons of
perdition.
Alexander, a Phrygian by birth, and
physician by profession, was present, when the apostates were brought this
second time before the governor. He had lived many years in Gaul, and was
universally remarkable for his love of God, and his freedom in publishing the
gospel; for he was full of an apostolical spirit. This man being near the
tribunal at that critical moment, he made several signs with his eyes and head,
to exhort them to confess Jesus Christ, with as much agitation as a woman in
labour; so that it was impossible he should pass unobserved. The heathens
exasperated to see those confess who had recanted, elamoured against Alexander
as the author of this change. Upon which the governor turning himself towards
him, asked him who and what he was? Alexander answered, he was a Christian;
which so enraged the governor, that, without any further inquiry, he condemned
him to be thrown to the wild beasts. Accordingly, the next day, he was
conducted into the arena with Attalus, whom the governor, to oblige the people,
had delivered up a second time to the same punishment. Having undergone all the
various torments usually inflicted in the amphitheatre, they were despatched
with the sword. Alexander was not heard to sigh or make the least complaint,
conversing only with God in his heart. When Attalus was placed in the iron
chair, and the broiling of his body exhaled an offensive smell, he turned to
the people, and said to them, in Latin: “This may, with some justice, be called
devouring men, and thus you are guilty of that inhuman act; but we are neither
guilty of this, nor any other abominable practice we are accused of.” Being
asked what was the name of his God, he replied: “God had not a name like us
mortals.”
On the last day of the combats of
the gladiators, Blandina and Ponticus, a lad not above fifteen years old, were
brought into the amphitheatre. They had been obliged to attend the execution of
the martyrs every day, and were now urged to swear by the idols. Upon their
absolutely refusing to comply with the demand, and expressing a thorough
contempt of their pretended gods, the people gave a free loose to their rage;
and, without any regard either to Ponticus’s youth, or the sex of Blandina,
employed all the different sorts of torments upon them, pressing them from time
to time, but in vain, to swear by the idols. Ponticus, encouraged by his
companion, went through all the stages of his martyrdom with great alacrity,
and died gloriously. Blandina was the last that suffered. She had acted like a
mother, animated the other martyrs like so many favourite children, sent them
victorious to the heavenly King; and then, passing through the same trials,
hastened after them with joy. She was scourged, torn by beasts, put into the
burning chair; afterwards wrapt in a net, and exposed to a wild bull, that
tossed and gored her a long time. But her close conversation with Christ in
prayer, and the lively hopes she had of the good things of the other life, made
her insensible to all these attacks on her body; and she too had her throat
cut. The heathens themselves could not but wonder at her patience and courage,
and own, that, among them, no woman had ever been known to have gone through
such a course of sufferings.
Not content with the death of the
martyrs, that savage and barbarous people, spurred on by the infernal beast,
raised a new persecution against their dead bodies. Those who died in prison
were thrown to the dogs, and a strict guard kept, day and night, to prevent our
carrying them off. The remains of the other martyrs, such as the beasts or fire
had spared, their scattered half-burnt limbs, the heads and trunks, were
carefully laid together, and watched by the soldiers several days. Some foamed
and gnashed their teeth at the sight of these relics, expressing an eager
desire of inflicting more exquisite torments upon them; while others laughed
and scoffed at the martyrs, extolling their own idols, ascribing to them the
punishment of their enemies. Even those who had behaved themselves with the
most moderation, and felt some compassion for their sufferings, could not
forbear reproaching them now, by asking, Where is their God? What hath this
religion availed them, which they have preferred to life itself? These were the
dispositions of the heathens on this occasion, while we were most sensibly
afflicted that we could not bury our brethren. The soldiers were always on the
guard, not to be gained by entreaty or money, and took as much care to keep the
bodies unburied, as if, by so doing, they were to have gained some mighty
advantage. The martyrs’ bodies lay thus exposed six days, and then were burnt
to ashes and thrown into the Rhone, that no part of them might remain above
ground. This they did, as if they had been superior to God, and could thereby
have prevented the resurrection, the hopes of which, as they observed, had put
them upon introducing a new and strange religion, making a mock of the severest
torments, and meeting death with pleasure. Let us now see, said the heathens,
if they will ever return again to life, and whether their God can save them,
and deliver them out of our hands?
Thus far the incomparable letter of
the Christians of Lyons and Vienne, which was inserted entire in Eusebius’s
account of the martyrs, as he himself assures us. But that piece is lost, and
we have no more of this letter than what that author has given us in his Church
History. He adds, that the churches of Vienne and Lyons subjoined, in the close
of this epistle, a religious testimony conformable to holy faith, concerning
the Montanists. These martyrs suffered in the beginning of the pontificate of
Eleutherius, in the seventeenth year of Marcus Aurelius, as Eusebius testifies, 8 and of Christ 177, not 167, as
Dodwell pretends. They are called the martyrs of Lyons, because that city was
the theatre of their sufferings, though some of them were citizens of Vienne.
St. Gregory of Tours says, they were forty-eight in number, and that part of
their ashes was miraculously recovered. These relics were deposited under the
altar of the church which anciently bore the name of the Apostles of Lyons.
The fidelity, fervour, and courage,
of so many saints, of every age and condition, condemn aloud our tepidity and
indifference. We profess the same religion, and fight for the same cause with
the primitive martyrs. Whence comes this monstrous disagreement in our conduct
and sentiments? if we do not prefer God and his service to every other consideration—that
is, if we are not martyrs in the disposition of our souls—we cannot hope to be
ranked by Christ among his disciples, or to inherit his promises. What should
we do under greater trials, who are unfaithful on the most trifling occasions?
What so many followers of our Lord attained to, that may we. Their passions and
infirmities were the same with ours: our trials and temptations are far less
than theirs: we serve the same God, are guided by the same truths, supported by
the same power, elevated by the same hopes; we have the same peace bequeathed
us, the same spirit; the same heaven promised us, and we march under the
conduct of the same Captain.
Note 4. The humility of the authors of this letter, in order to show they had no
share in the praise of the martyrs, made them ascribe to their own weakness and
cowardice that they had escaped the fury of the persecutors, though their style
speaks them animated with the same heroic spirit. [back]
Note 5. Vettius is mentioned in the acts as
a person of high rank, and he is called by St. Gregory of Tours, the first
senator of all the Gauls. The Vettii, or Vectii, were a most ancient and noble
family, which often adorned the first dignities in the commonwealth at
Rome. [back]
Note 6. These Christians still observed the
law of abstaining from eating blood, enacted by the Apostles. Acts xv. 20. [back]
Note 7. Eusebius, (ch. 3,) speaking of this
action of Alcibiades, observes, that these martyrs were not unacquainted with
the superstitious austerities of Montanus and his followers, and with their
pretended prophecies. Many miraculous operations, wrought by the power of God
at that time, in the Catholic Church, inclined some to believe at first that
these fanatics had the gift of prophecy, as this historian adds: who further
says, that these martyrs were better informed, and wrote several letters,
whilst in prison, to their brethren in Asia and Phrygia, against the errors and
false prophecies of the Montanists, and that they stirred up Pope Eleutherius
against the same, by a letter, of which St. Irenæus, whom they much commended
to that pope, was the bearer. (Ib. ch. 4.) They therefore exhorted Alcibiades
to avoid such extraordinary practices, which might seem an affected conformity
with fanatics. St. Irenæus, at that very time a most holy and learned priest at
Lyons, testifies, that the church fasts, especially Lent, were observed with
severe abstinence from certain meats. [back]
Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume
VI: June. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
St. Blandina
Virgin and martyr.
She belongs to the band of martyrs of Lyons who, after some of their number had endured the most frightful tortures, suffered a glorious martyrdom in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (177) and concerning whose death we have the touching report sent by the Church of Lyons to the Churches of Asia Minor (Eusebius, Church History V.2). The fanaticism of the heathen populace in Lyons had been excited against the Christians so that the latter, when they ventured to show themselves publicly, were harassed and ill-treated. While the imperial legate was away the chiliarch, a military commander, and the duumvir, a civil magistrate, threw a number of Christians, who confessed their faith, into prison. When the legate returned, the imprisoned believers were brought to trial. Among these Christians was Blandina, a slave, who had been taken into custody along with her master, also a Christian. Her companions greatly feared that on account of her bodily frailty she might not remain steadfast under torture. But although the legate caused her to be tortured in a horrible manner, so that even the executioners became exhausted "as they did not know what more they could do to her", still she remained faithful and repeated to every question "I am a Christian and we commit no wrongdoing." Through fear of torture heathen slaves had testified against their masters that the Christians when assembled committed those scandalous acts of which they were accused by the heathen mob, and the legate desired to wring confession of this misconduct from the Christian prisoners. In his report to the emperor the legate stated that those who held to their Christian belief were to be executed and those who denied their faith were to be released; Blandina was, therefore, with a number of companions subjected to new tortures in the amphitheater at the time of the public games. She was bound to a stake and wild beasts were set on her. They did not, however touch her. After this for a number of days she was led into the arena to see the sufferings of her companions. Finally, as the last of the martyrs, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer who tossed her into the air with his horns, and at last killed with a dagger. Her feast is celebrated 2 June.
She belongs to the band of martyrs of Lyons who, after some of their number had endured the most frightful tortures, suffered a glorious martyrdom in the reign of Marcus Aurelius (177) and concerning whose death we have the touching report sent by the Church of Lyons to the Churches of Asia Minor (Eusebius, Church History V.2). The fanaticism of the heathen populace in Lyons had been excited against the Christians so that the latter, when they ventured to show themselves publicly, were harassed and ill-treated. While the imperial legate was away the chiliarch, a military commander, and the duumvir, a civil magistrate, threw a number of Christians, who confessed their faith, into prison. When the legate returned, the imprisoned believers were brought to trial. Among these Christians was Blandina, a slave, who had been taken into custody along with her master, also a Christian. Her companions greatly feared that on account of her bodily frailty she might not remain steadfast under torture. But although the legate caused her to be tortured in a horrible manner, so that even the executioners became exhausted "as they did not know what more they could do to her", still she remained faithful and repeated to every question "I am a Christian and we commit no wrongdoing." Through fear of torture heathen slaves had testified against their masters that the Christians when assembled committed those scandalous acts of which they were accused by the heathen mob, and the legate desired to wring confession of this misconduct from the Christian prisoners. In his report to the emperor the legate stated that those who held to their Christian belief were to be executed and those who denied their faith were to be released; Blandina was, therefore, with a number of companions subjected to new tortures in the amphitheater at the time of the public games. She was bound to a stake and wild beasts were set on her. They did not, however touch her. After this for a number of days she was led into the arena to see the sufferings of her companions. Finally, as the last of the martyrs, she was scourged, placed on a red-hot grate, enclosed in a net and thrown before a wild steer who tossed her into the air with his horns, and at last killed with a dagger. Her feast is celebrated 2 June.
Sources
Acta SS., June, I, 161 sqq.; ALLARD, Histoire des persécutions (Paris, 1892), I, 397 sqq.
"St. Blandina." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 4 Jun. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02594a.htm>.
"St. Blandina." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 4 Jun. 2015 <http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02594a.htm>.
Transcription. This
article was transcribed for New Advent by Bob Mathewson.
Ecclesiastical approbation. Nihil Obstat. 1907. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor. Imprimatur.
+John M. Farley, Archbishop of New York.
Blandina M (RM)
Died in Lyons, France, 177.
The memory of Blandina, a
slave, has been preserved in a letter from the survivors of the persecution of
the Church at Lyons (Lugdunum) to the Church in Asia Minor, which Eusebius
recorded in his history. The letter reports that the official persecutions
began with a popular boycott that prevented Christians from entering enter
private houses, baths, and markets. Many Christian masters were accused to the
officials by their slaves who thereby hoped to escape suspicion themselves.
Through Blandina, ". .
. Christ showed that those who in the eyes of men appear cheap, ugly and
contemptible, are treated by God with great honor because of their love for
Him, which displays itself in power and now mere outward boasting. For while we
were all of us trembling and her earthly mistress . . . was in torment lest
Blandina, so frail in body, should not be strong enough to acknowledge her
faith frankly, the child was filled with such strength that the torturers, who
followed one another in relays and tormented her from morning to night with
every kind of torture, acknowledged that they were beaten and had nothing more
that they could do to her." She repeatedly said, while being tortured,
"I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done amongst us." She said
this because they were accused of incest and cannibalism (a literal
interpretation of Christians' consuming the Body and Blood of Christ).
Blandina's steadfast faith
inspired Sanctus, a quite recent convert, and strengthened him.
After a time the Emperor
said the apostates should be released; the obstinate executed. Blandina was
taken to the amphitheater and "fastened to a stake as though to a cross;
she prayed aloud, giving much courage to the others, who beheld with their very
eyes, by means of this their sister, Him who had been crucified for them!"
The wild beasts would not
touch Blandina, so they put her back in prison. On the last day, she and
Ponticus--a 15 year old, were brought out (after having watched the others
being tortured daily). Ponticus died first. She was then scourged, burned, tied
up in a net and thrown to a savage bull to be tossed and finally she was
killed. After the bodies rotted for a week, they were cremated, and the ashes
thrown into the Rhone. This occurred under the reign of Marcus Aurelius
(Attwater, Benedictines, Martindale)
In art, Saint Blandina is a
martyred maiden with a bull near her; otherwise the image may include (1) a net
and bull; (2) her being tossed by the bull in the amphitheater; or (3) tied to
a pillar with a lion and bear near her (Roeder). This patroness of servant
girls is venerated in Lyons and Vienne, France (Roeder).
Santi Potino, Blandina e compagni
Martiri di Lione
† Lione, 177
Martirologio
Romano: A Lione in Francia, santi martiri Potino, vescovo, Blandina e
quarantasei compagni, le cui ardue e reiterate prove compiute al tempo
dell’imperatore Marco Aurelio sono attestate nella lettera scritta dalla Chiesa
di Lione alle Chiese d’Asia e Frigia. Tra questi, il nonagenario vescovo Potino
rese il suo spirito poco dopo essere stato incarcerato; altri, come lui,
morirono in carcere e altri ancora posti al centro dell’arena davanti a
migliaia di persone radunate per lo spettacolo: quanti erano stati identificati
come cittadini romani subirono la decapitazione, gli altri invece venivano dati
in pasto alle fiere. Da ultima, Blandina, sgozzata alfine con la spada dopo
aver patito più lunghe e aspre torture, seguì tutti coloro che ella aveva poco
prima esortato a raggiungere la palma del martirio.
Nel 177
si scatenò a Lione, una persecuzione contro i cristiani, secondo gli editti
dell’imperatore Marco Aurelio; il ‘Martyrologium Romanum’ riporta al 2 giugno
un gruppo di 48 martiri, uccisi più o meno nello stesso tempo in odio alla fede
cristiana, sia a Lione sia a Vienne, ma che comunque sono denominati ‘Martiri
di Lione’.
Il loro glorioso martirio è narrato da testimoni contemporanei, assolutamente
degni di fede; il racconto completo era contenuto in una lettera, che la Chiesa
della Gallia, inviò poco dopo gli avvenimenti, ai confratelli dell’Asia e della
Frigia e che lo storico Eusebio di Cesarea, incluse integralmente nella sua
‘Historia Ecclesiastica’ pervenuta così fino a noi.
Il gruppo menzionato è capeggiato da s. Fotino vescovo e il secondo nome è
quello di Blandina, la quale era una schiava cristiana, arrestata insieme alla
sua padrona. Nonostante i timori che gli altri cristiani nutrivano sulla sua
saldezza nella fede, ella dimostrò invece una fermezza straordinaria
nell’affrontare il martirio, che a lei non fu risparmiato in crudeltà; ripeteva
“io sono cristiana e tra noi non c’è nessun male”.
Fu condotta inizialmente nell’anfiteatro e appesa ad un palo a forma di croce,
ella pregò ad alta voce e le fiere non l’aggredirono. Poi fu ricondotta
nell’arena insieme ad altri fedeli, sopravvissuti ai vari supplizi, qui fu
costretta ad assistere alla morte atroce dei suoi compagni, mentre lei superava
ancora una volta, il tormento della graticola ardente.
Rimasta sola, su di lei si accanì la ferocia pagana; ignuda e ricoperta con una
rete, fu esposta ai lazzi degli spettatori ed alla furia di un toro, che
colpendola con le corna, la lanciò più volte in aria; infine fu finita con la
spada. Gli stessi pagani dichiararono che mai, in mezzo a oro, una donna aveva
sopportato così numerosi e duri tormenti.
Santa Blandina, schiava nella vita, ma eroica e gloriosa martire nella morte, è
raffigurata da secoli nell’arte, con gli attributi del suo supplizio: la rete,
la graticola, il palo, i leoni, il toro; viene celebrata il 2 giugno insieme
agli altri martiri di Lione.
Autore: Antonio
Borrelli
PÈRE ANDRÉ GOUILLOUD, DE LA CONGRÉGATION DE JÉSUS. SAINT POTHIN ET SES COMPAGNONS MARTYRS. ORIGINES DE L'ÉGLISE DE LYON, FÉLIX GIRARD, LIBRAIRE ÉDITEUR – 1868 : http://www.mediterranee-antique.info/Religion/Gouilloud/EL_000.htm
Voir aussi : http://www.sources-chretiennes.mom.fr/index.php?pageid=martyrs_lyon
http://www.maintenantunehistoire.fr/blandine-lesclave-heroique/
http://storage.canalblog.com/52/29/249840/51860144.pdf
