Orthodox
icon of Saint Marcellus and Cassian of Tangier.
Икона
святых мучеников Маркелла и Кассиана Танжерских письма Натальи Масюковой.
Martyr à Tanger (+ 298)
Sa légion était cantonnée
à Tanger au Maroc. Au jour de la fête de l'anniversaire de l'empereur Maximien,
il osa déclarer au moment d'offrir l'encens: «Que maudit soit ce métier qui
m'oblige à tuer et m'empêche d'être tout au service du Christ.» Traduit devant
le préfet, il maintint ses propos et fut condamné à mort.
À Tanger en Maurétanie,
l’an 298, la passion de saint Marcel le centurion. Le jour anniversaire de
l’empereur, alors que tous sacrifiaient, il jeta devant les enseignes son
ceinturon militaire, ses armes et sa vie même, en déclarant qu’il était
chrétien et qu’il ne lui était plus possible d’obéir comme il convient au
serment des soldats, mais à Jésus Christ seul; aussi acheva-t-il son martyre
par la décapitation.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : http://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/2105/Saint-Marcel-le-Centurion.html
León
- Iglesia de San Marcelo
Church of San Marcelo, León
León
- Iglesia de San Marcelo
Church of San Marcelo, León
León
- Iglesia de San Marcelo
Church of San Marcelo, León
León
- Iglesia de San Marcelo
Church
of San Marcelo, León
SAINT MARCEL LE
CENTURION,
MARTYR¹. — Année 298.
ON célébra, l'art 298, la
naissance de l'empereur Maximien-Hercule, avec une pompe extraordinaire. Les
sacrifices aux dieux de l'empire firent une partie considérable de la fête.
Marcel, centurion ou capitaine de la légion Trajane, alors campée en Espagne,
eut horreur de ces superstitions impies; et pour n'y point participer, il
quitta son baudrier à la tête de sa compagnie, et déclara à haute voix qu'il
était soldat de Jésus-Christ, le roi éternel. Il quitta aussi ses armes, et le
bâton qui était la marque de son grade. On en instruisit Anastase Fortunat,
préfet de la légion. Celui-ci ordonna que l'on mit Marcel en prison.
Mais après la fête, il
fit paraître Marcel devant lui, pour lui demander l'explication de la conduite
qu'il avait tenue. Le martyr lui répondit: Lorsque vous célébrâtes la fête de
l'empereur, le douze avant les calendes d'août ², je déclarai que j'étais
chrétien, et que je ne servirais jamais que Jésus-Christ, le Fils de Dieu.
Fortunat lui dit qu'il ne pouvait dissimuler une pareille témérité, et qu'il
était obligé d'en informer l'empereur Maximien et le césar Constance. L'Espagne
était alors soumise au césar, qui était favorable aux chrétiens.
On envoya cependant
Marcel sous bonne garde à Aurélien Agricola, vicaire du préfet du prétoire,
lequel était alors à Tanger en Afrique. Agricola lui demanda s'il avait fait
ce qui était porté dans la lettre du juge. Marcel ayant tout avoué, il fut
condamné à mort, comme coupable de désertion et d'impiété c'est-à-dire, d'attachement
au christianisme. On le décapita le 30 d'octobre. Ses reliques furent depuis
transférées à Léon en Espagne. On les y garde dans la principale église
paroissiale de cette ville, dont le saint est le patron titulaire.
Cassien, greffier de la
cour, refusa d'écrire la sentence prononcée contre le martyr; il jeta même par
terre ses tablettes. Agricola se levant de son siège avec fureur, lui demanda
pourquoi il agissait de la sorte : « C'est, répondit Cassien, que la sentence
que vous avez dictée est injuste. On le mit en prison, et il subit un second
interrogatoire, environ un mois après. Sa fermeté lui mérita la couronne du
martyre. Il fut décapité le 3 de décembre. Le martyrologe romain nomme saint
Marcel et saint Cassien sous leurs jours respectifs.
C'est à juste titre que
nous honorons les martyrs, puisque Dieu daigne les honorer lui-même. Le martyre
est en effet l'acte de vertu le plus héroïque dont l'homme soit capable, le
sacrifice le plus parfait et le plus entier qu'il puisse faire de lui-même au
Seigneur. De tous les biens de ce monde , la vie est le plus précieux, et celui
auquel nous sommes le plus attachés. Il faut donc bien aimer la loi divine,
pour s'exposer avec joie à une mort cruelle, plutôt que de consentir au péché.
Il faut donc avoir bien du courage et de la fermeté, pour affronter des
tourments dont l'idée seule fait frémir la nature. Mais aussi Dieu mesure ses
récompenses sur nos souffrances et sur notre amour pour lui. Nous chercherions
inutilement à nous figurer celles qui sont destinées aux martyrs; aussi se
réjouissaient-ils quand ils voyaient multiplier leurs tourments, qu'ils
savaient n'avoir aucune proportion avec le bonheur qui en serait la suite.
Malheur à nous, si nous nous laissons abattre par les moindres contradictions!
Nous prouverions par-là que nous avons bien peu d'idée des récompenses
célestes, que notre foi est bien faible, et notre charité bien imparfaite.
¹ Tiré de ses actes
sincères, publiés par Baronius et par Sui ius. D. Ruinait en a donné une
édition plus correcte. à laquelle il a joint un abrégé des Actes de saint
Cassien , p. 512. Voyei. aussi Tillemont , t. IV, p. 575.
² C'était le jour
où Maximien a voit été déclaré césar.
SOURCE : http://jesus-passion.com/saint_marcel_le_centurion_FR.htm
ACTES
DE SAINT MARCEL, CENTURION, A TANGER, EN L'ANNÉE 298.
Les préludes de la
dernière persécution nous retiennent aux armées où un conscrit, un centurion,
un greffier militaire souffrirent vers le même temps, avec un grand nombre
d'autres militaires; mais sur ces derniers nous avons des détails moins
certains que sur Maximilien, Marcel et Cassien.
Comme nous en avons eu de
nos jours encore l'affligeant spectacle, les quelques scélérats qui détenaient
le pouvoir entreprirent l'épuration de l'armée. Commencée dans les provinces de
Galère, elle s'étendit à celle d'Hercule. La recherche directe des soldats
chrétiens laissant trop de part à la camaraderie, les empereurs adoptèrent une
mesure radicale. Chaque militaire dut prendre part, les jours de fêtes, aux
cérémonies religieuses célébrées dans les camps. Dès lors c'était chaque
chrétien qui se dénonçait lui-même : telle fut l'occasion du martyre du
centurion Marcel.
BOLL. 30/X, Octobre XIII,
274-284. — RUINART, Acta sinc. p. 311 et suiv. — P. ALLARD, Hist.
des perséc., t. IV, p. 133 et suiv. — FLOREZ, Espana sagrada, XXXIV,
336-53, 401407 ; XXXVI, 256-60. - TILLEMONT, Méru., IV, 575-8, 768-70.
LES
ACTES DE SAINT MARCEL, CENTURION.
Dans la ville de Tanger,
dont Fortunat était gouverneur, se célébrait alors l'anniversaire de la
naissance de Maximien Hercule. Tous étaient réunis aux sacrifices qui
accompagnaient les banquets. Marcel, un des centurions de la légion Trajane, ne
voyant dans tes banquets que des assemblées sacrilèges, s'approcha du trophée
de drapeaux de la légion devant lequel on offrait les sacrifices, et lança à
terre son ceinturon en disant : « Je suis soldat de Jésus-Christ, le roi
éternel ». Il lança aussi le cep de vigne, insigne de son grade, ses armes, et
ajouta : « A partir de ce jour, je cesse de servir vos empereurs, car je ne veux
pas adorer vos dieux de bois et de pierre, sourdes et muettes idoles. Si c'est
à cause du métier qu'on nous oblige à faire des sacrifices aux dieux et aux
empereurs, je jette avec mépris le cep, le ceinturon, les drapeaux, je ne suis
plus soldat ».
Les assistants se
regardèrent, ahuris, puis ils arrêtèrent Marcel et on envoya un rapport au
commandant. Celui-ci fit écrouer le centurion. Quand toutes les ripailles
furent bien finies, Fortunat se fit amener le centurion dans la salle
d'honneur.
— « Pourquoi as-tu,
contrairement aux règlements, jeté le ceinturon, le cep et le baudrier? »
— « Le 21 juillet, devant
le trophée, pendant la célébration de la fête de l'empereur, j'ai dit
publiquement que j'étais chrétien et ne pouvais servir que Jésus-Christ, Fils
du Dieu tout-puissant. »
— « C'est trop violent
pour que j'essaie d'étouffer l'affaire. J'enverrai un rapport aux empereurs et
au César. Je ne te punis pas. On va te conduire à mon chef Aurélius Agricola,
lieutenant du préfet du prétoire.
Le 30 octobre, le
centurion Marcel ayant comparu à Tanger, l'appariteur dit : « Le préfet
Fortunatus a renvoyé devant ta puissance Marcel, centurion. Voici son rapport ;
si tu l'ordonnes, je le lirai ».
Agricola: « Lis ».
L'appariteur lut : «
Fortunatus à Agricola, et le reste.
Ce soldat ayant jeté le
ceinturon militaire, s'est déclaré chrétien et a accumulé les blasphèmes contre
César. C'est pourquoi nous te l'avons envoyé, et ton Illustration voudra bien
nous faire parvenir les ordres qu'elle aura décrétés ».
La lecture faite,
Agricola dit : « As-tu prononcé les paroles relatées dans le rapport du préfet
» ?
— « Oui. »
« Tu servais comme
centurion ordinaire ? »
« Oui. »
« Quelle fureur t'a fait
renoncer au serment militaire et parler ainsi ?»
« Il n'y a pas de fureur
en ceux qui craignent Dieu.»
« As-tu prononcé toutes
les paroles consignées dans le rapport?»
« Oui. »
« As-tu jeté tes armes ?
»
— « Oui.
Il ne convenait pas qu'un chrétien qui sert le Seigneur Christ servît dans les
milices du siècle. »
— « La conduite de Marcel
doit être punie suivant les règlements. » Et il dicta la sentence ; « Marcel,
qui servait comme centurion ordinaire, a renoncé publiquement à son serment, a
dit qu'il en était souillé et a prononcé d'autres paroles furieuses, relatées
dans le rapport du préfet. J'ordonne qu'on lui coupe la tête ».
En marchant au supplice,
il dit à Agricola : « Dieu te bénisse ».
Il était digne d'un
martyr de quitter ainsi le monde. Presque aussitôt sa tête tomba pour le nom de
Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ, à qui soit la gloire dans les siècles des siècles.
Amen.
SOURCE : http://www.abbaye-saint-benoit.ch/martyrs/martyrs0002.htm#_Toc90634922
.jpg)
San
Marcelo en la iglesia homónima de León.
Marcellus of Tangier - Sculptures by Gregorio Fernández - Church of San Marcelo, León
San Marcelo en la iglesia homónima de León.
Marcellus of Tangier - Sculptures by Gregorio Fernández - Church of San Marcelo, León
San Marcelo en la iglesia homónima de León.
Marcellus of Tangier - Sculptures by Gregorio Fernández - Church of San Marcelo, León
Also
known as
Marcellus of Tangier
Profile
Roman centurion at
Tangiers (in modern Morocco). During a celebration of the emperor’s birthday,
Marcellus refused to participate in the pagan offering
ceremony. He threw away his arms and armour,
openly declared himself a Christian,
and was condemned to death.
His condemnation led to the death of Saint Cassian.
martyred c.298 at
Tangiers, Morocco
–
León, Spain (an
early version of his story gave this as the site of his martyrdom)
Additional
Information
Book
of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Alban
Butler
Lives
of the Saints, by Father Francis
Xavier Weninger
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
Short
Lives of the Saints, by Eleanor Cecilia Donnelly
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
Oxford Dictionary of Saints, by David Hugh Farmer
other
sites in english
Halloween
and Catholicism, by Father Steve Grunow
images
video
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
nettsteder
i norsk
MLA
Citation
“Saint Marcellus the
Centurion“. CatholicSaints.Info. 17 November 2023. Web. 5 May 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marcellus-the-centurion/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-marcellus-the-centurion/
St. Marcellus The Centurion
It is believed that Saint
Marcellus was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he entered upon the
career of arms, hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady named
Nona and they were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous
solider and was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought for any
advancement except the sort pertaining to his military life, when he heard the
fervent preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with
his entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would
soon give their blood in honor of their Faith.
Back in the ancient Roman
Empire, some Christians refused to serve in the imperial armies believing that
they could not do so in Christian conscience. If being a soldier meant
performing pagan rites, as it sometimes did, obviously no Christian could do
so. But the additional question was now and then raised: Is armed service in
itself forbidden by the Christian law of love?
St. Marcellus the
Centurion, after some years of military service, concluded that it was
forbidden … at least according to his mature conscience.
The birthday of the
Emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298 with extraordinary
feasting and solemn rites. Marcellus, as a centurion of the army, a captain in
the legion of Trajan then posted in Mauritania or Spain, in order not to defile
himself in these impious sacrifices, left his company, throwing down his
cincture and his arms and declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus
Christ, the eternal King. He was at once committed to prison.
When the festival was
over, he was brought before a judge, and having reiterated his faith, was sent
under a strong guard to a prefect, Aurelian Agricolaus. This Roman officer
passed upon him a sentence of death by the sword. Marcellus was immediately led
to execution and beheaded on the 30th of October of the year 298. Cassian, the
secretary or notary of the court, refused to record the sentence pronounced
against the martyr, because of its injustice. He was immediately hurried to
prison, and was beheaded in his turn on the 3rd of December.
The children of Saint
Marcellus imitated his constancy, and all lost their lives for the defense of
the Gospel; three of the boys were hanged and then decapitated at Leon. Their
pious mother bought back their bodies for money and buried them secretly; they
were later transferred to a church built in their honor in the city of Leon.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/saint-marcellus/
Book of
Saints – Marcellus – 30 October
(Saint) Martyr (October
30) (3rd
century) The Official “Acts” report that during a festival at Tangier
(Africa) in honour of the birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus, a
centurion by name Marcellus refused to take part in the religious (Pagan) rites
and, declaring himself a soldier of Christ, the Eternal King, threw down his
arms and insignia, and that he was thereupon arrested and imprisoned and in the
end beheaded (A.D. 298). These official Acts should have been written out by
Saint Cassian (December
3), the notary of the Court. But he was so indignant at the injustice of
the sentence that he threw down his stylus and parchment and refused to write,
for which action he was imprisoned and afterwards condemned to death. The
Spanish tradition that Saint Marcellus was the brother of Saint Nona is
unreliable.
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Marcellus”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
19 November 2014. Web. 6 May 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-marcellus-30-october/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-marcellus-30-october/
Pictorial
Lives of the Saints – Saint Marcellus, The Centurion, Martyr
The
birthday of the Emperor Maximum Ilerculeus in the year 298 was celebrated with
extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion or
captain in the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to defile himself
with taking part in those impious abominations, left his company, declaring
aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal king. He was at once
committed to prison. When the festival was over, Marcellus was brought before a
judge, and having declared his faith, was sent under a strong guard to Aurelian
Agricolaus, vicar to the prefect of the praetorium, who passed sentence of death
upon him. Saint Marcellus was forthwith led to execution, and beheaded on the
30th of October. Cassian, the secretary or notary of the court, refused to
write the sentence prouounced against the martyr, because it was unjust. He was
immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded, about a month after, on the
3rd of December.
Reflection – “We are
ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God,” exclaimed one of the
Machabees. This sentiment should ever be that of a Christian in presence of
temptation.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/pictorial-lives-of-the-saints-saint-marcellus-the-centurion-martyr/
Marcellus of Tangier M
(RM)
(also known as Marcellus
the Centurion)
Died 298. During the
festivities held by a Roman legion at Tingis (Tangiers) in celebration of
Emperor Maximian's birthday the centurion Marcellus, regarding such festivities
as idolatrous, refused to sacrifice to the gods. He threw off his military belt
and tossed away his arms and vine-branch, the insignia of his rank. When the
festival was over, he was brought before a judge named Fortunatus. When
questioned, Marcellus declared, "I serve only the eternal king, Jesus
Christ."
Fortunatus remanded Marcellus
to lay his case before Emperor Maximian and Constantius Caesar, who was then in
Spain and favorably disposed to Christians. Instead Marcellus taken under guard
before the deputy praetorian prefect, Aurelius Agricolan, who was then at
Tangier. After an exchange between the two that is still preserved, Marcellus
pleaded guilty to repudiating his allegiance to an earthly leader, and was
executed by sword for impiety.
It was afterwards said
that the official shorthand writer, Saint Cassian, was so indignant at the
sentence that he refused to report the proceedings, and that he too was
executed in consequence. In all probability this is a fictitious addition to
the authentic account of Saint Marcellus, though there seems to have been a
martyr at Tangier named Cassian.
The relics of Saint
Marcellus were translated to León, Spain, were they are kept in a rich shrine.
Marcellus is the patron of the city (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney,
Husenbeth).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/1030.shtml
Irondequoit Catholic Communities
(Feast October 30)
Back in the ancient Roman
Empire, some Christians served in the imperial armies, but others refused to
serve, believing that they could not do so in Christian conscience. If being a
soldier meant performing pagan rites, as it sometimes did, obviously no
Christian could do so. But the additional question was now and then raised: Is
armed service in itself forbidden by the Christian law of love?
St. Marcellus the
Centurion, after some years of military service, concluded that it was forbidden
... at least according to his mature conscience.
One day in 298 during the
reign of the Emperor Diocletian, Marcellus' unit in northern Africa was
celebrating this pagan emperor's birthday with a party. Suddenly Marcellus,
perhaps as the result of long pondering, perhaps in a spur-of-the-moment
revulsion, rose before the banqueters and denounced such parties as heathen.
Then, casting off his military insignia, he cried out: “I serve Jesus Christ
the eternal King. I will no longer serve your emperors and I scorn to worship
your gods of wood and stone, which are deaf and dumb idols.”
The centurion was at once
arrested for breach of discipline. At his trial (of which we have the full
record), he admitted that he had said and done that of which he was accused.
Notice, there was no question of his being required to worship pagan gods. His
motive for quitting was, as he had declared it, that it is “not right for a
Christian man, who serves the Lord Christ, to serve in the armies of the
world.” Because of his stand, he was executed. He died in great peace of mind,
asking God to bless the judge who had condemned him. For this death, on behalf
of conscience, the early Church considered him a martyr.
Three years before this,
Maximilian of Numidia, 21 years old and subject to military service, had
refused to be inducted for much the same reason. “I cannot fight for this
world,” he said. “I tell you, I am a Christian.” The military judge reminded
him that there were many Christians in the Roman army. Maximilian replied,
“That is their business. I also am a Christian, and I cannot serve.” On being
executed, he, too, was acclaimed by his fellow Christians as a martyr and a
saint.
What is the Church's
attitude on military service? St. Thomas Aquinas pointed out that since a
nation has a right to self-defense, its citizens have a duty to help defend
their country. Of course, there have been Catholic pacifists (and their number
has tended to increase in our times in which saturation bombing and nuclear
bombing of whole populations, noncombatants as well as combatants, have raised
the question whether any war today can be acceptable in conscience.)
What does the Church
teach, therefore, on conscientious objection? There has still not been, and
perhaps there never can be, one rule laid down for all cases that will draw the
line between civic duty and conscientious disagreement. In general, the Church
acknowledges the right of the government to call on its citizens to defend the
nation. Even here, however, no soldier may obey military directives that are
immoral, like killing the innocent. Vatican II recommended that governments
make humane provision for those who conscientiously abhor bearing arms,
provided that these objectors are willing to accept some other form of
community service in place of fighting. (See Catechism of the Catholic Church,
2310.)
Still, in all ages there
will probably be a few prophetic individuals like SS. Marcellus and Maximilian
as well as SS. Victricius and Martin of Tours, who by their readiness to suffer
rather than strike back, remind the whole world that, as Pope Pius XII said,
“Nothing is lost by peace; everything is lost by war.”
--Father Robert F. McNamara
October
30
St. Marcellus the Centurion, Martyr
From the authentic acts of his martyrdom in Baronius and
Surius, and most correctly in Ruinart, who has published with them the short
acts of St. Cassian, p. 312, Tillem. t. 4, p. 575.
A.D. 298.
THE BIRTH-DAY of the
emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298, with extraordinary
feasting and solemnity. Pompous sacrifices to the Roman gods made a
considerable part of this solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion or
captain of the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to defile himself
with taking part in those impious abominations, cast away his military belt at
the head of his company, declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ,
the eternal King. He also threw down his arms and the vine-branch, which was
the mark of his post of centurion; for the Roman officers were forbid to strike
a soldier with any instrument except a vine-branch, which the centurions
usually carried in their hands. The soldiers informed Anastasius Fortunatus,
prefect of the legion, by whose order Marcellus was committed to prison. When
the festival was over, this judge ordered Marcellus to be brought before him,
and asked him what he meant by his late proceedings. Marcellus said, “When you
celebrated the emperor’s festival on the 12th before the calends of August,
(the day on which Maximian had been declared Cæsar,) I said aloud that I was a
Christian, and could serve no other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Fortunatus told him that it was not in his power to connive at his rashness,
and that he was obliged to lay his case before the emperor Maximian and
Constantius Cæsar. Spain was immediately subject to Constantius, who was at
that time Cæsar, and most favourable to the Christians. But Marcellus was sent
under a strong guard to Aurelian Agricolaus, vicar to the prefect of the
prætorium, who was then at Tangier, in Africa. Agricolaus asked him whether he
had really done as the judge’s letter set forth: and upon his confessing the
fact, the vicar passed sentence of death upon him for desertion and impiety, as
he called his action. St. Marcellus was forthwith led to execution and
beheaded, on the 30th of October. His relics were afterwards translated from
Tangier to Leon in Spain, and are kept in a rich shrine in the chief parish
church in that city, of which he is the titular saint.
Cassian, the secretary or
notary of the court, refused to write the sentence which the vicar pronounced
against the martyr, and threw his pencil and table-book on the ground.
Agricolaus, rising in a rage from his seat, asked him why he behaved in that manner?
“Because,” said Cassian, “the sentence which you have dictated is unjust.” He
was immediately hurried to prison, and examined again about a month after. The
firmness with which he defended his former answer procured him the crown of
martyrdom. He was beheaded on the 3rd of December. These two martyrs are
mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on their respective days.
We justly honour the
martyrs, whom God himself honours. Martyrdom is the most heroic act of divine
love, and the most perfect and entire sacrifice man can make of himself to God.
Of all the goods of this life, man has nothing more precious and dear than his
life and honour. And what stronger proof can he give of his fidelity to the law
of God than to embrace with joy an ignominious and cruel death rather than
consent to sin? Nor does any thing require a more heroic degree of courage and
firmness than to suffer torments at the very thought of which nature shudders.
God proportions his rewards and crowns to the measure of our sufferings and
love for him. How great then, is the glory, how abundant the recompence which
attends the martyrs! They rejoiced to see their torments redoubled manifold,
because they had before their eyes the incomparably greater increase of grace,
divine love and eternal glory. If we shrink under the least sufferings, it is
plain our faith and our idea of everlasting bliss must be very weak, and our
love faint and imperfect.
Rev. Alban Butler
(1711–73). Volume X: October. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.
Weninger’s
Lives of the Saints – Saint Marcellus and His Sons, Martyrs
Article
Saint Marcellus,
mentioned today in the Roman Martyrology, was a centurion, or captain over a
hundred, in one of Trajan’s legions. The bravery he had manifested in many
battles had made him a great favorite with his General; but he was still more
beloved by the Almighty on account of the edifying and Christian life which he
led, though surrounded by wicked people. He did not, for a long time, make it
known that he was a Christian; but when the imperial army in Gallaecia, a
province of Spain, was celebrating the birth-day of the emperor Dioclesian with
great festivities, and offering the usual sacrifices to the gods, Marcellus
confessed he was a Christian and could not take part in their worship. This
frank confession caused him to be immediately seized and brought before
Agricolaus, commander of the imperial body-guard. When asked whether he was in
truth a Christian, Marcellus replied fearlessly: “Yes, I am a Christian, and
nothing will induce me to abandon Christ.” Agricolaus, unwilling to dispute
with him, sentenced him forthwith to die by the sword. Marcellus, thankful for
the grace vouchsafed him to die a martyr, willingly bowed his head to receive
the fatal stroke.
He had twelve sons, all
of whom he had carefully brought up in the Christian faith and prepared for
martyrdom. When they, after the death of their father, were presented to the
Governor and admonished by him to forsake their faith, there was not one among
them who did not show himself ready rather to die than become faithless to
Christ. The heroic example of their father had made so deep an impression on
them, that they were not to be intimidated: hence they were deemed worthy to
die the same death which had obtained for him everlasting life. The Governor
sentenced them all to be beheaded. The joy, which they manifested when they
arrived at the place of execution was so great, that even the heathens could
not hide their astonishment. Their pious mother, Nonna, was now left alone.
When she was told of the death of her husband and children she rejoiced greatly
and gave thanks to the Almighty for the grace which He had vouchsafed to them.
Her only desire was that God might deem her worthy to die the same death, and
she prayed constantly to be united again with her loved ones. Her prayer was
heard by the Almighty. She did not die a martyr, but a pious Christian, a
faithful handmaid of the Most High; for, her life had been one continued
exercise of all Christian virtues.
Practical Considerations
Saint Marcellus and his
twelve sons entered heaven by martyrdom. The pious mother followed her spouse
and children, not crowned as a martyr, but as a faithful Christian. How
glorious an example! Father and mother, with their twelve children, all saved,
in heaven! none lost, none condemned! Whence this great happiness? Mar- cellus
and Nonna lived piously, instructed their children carefully, and taught them
by their own conduct. The children followed their parents, received their
instructions, and conformed their lives to the example before them. Hence, all
were saved, all went to heaven. How different is the result, when the parents
are careless in the instruction of their children, and when they do not walk
before them in the right path, or when children do not follow their parents and
receive not their instructions. Therefore, on the day of judgment, there will
be a great separation between parents and children. The parents will stand on
the right and the children on the left; or the children on the right and the
parents on the left. Or, perhaps, one part of the children will stand with one
parent among the elect, the remainder with the other among the condemned. If
parents and children would be saved together, then the former must endeavor to
keep their children, by word and example, in the right path, and the latter
must conform their lives in accordance with the precepts of their parents.
MLA
Citation
Father Francis Xavier
Weninger, DD, SJ. “Saint Marcellus and His Sons, Martyrs”. Lives of the Saints, 1876. CatholicSaints.Info.
21 May 2018. Web. 6 May 2025.
<https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-marcellus-and-his-sons-martyrs/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/weningers-lives-of-the-saints-saint-marcellus-and-his-sons-martyrs/
Saint Marcellus, the
Centurion and His Children
Martyrs
(† 298)
It is believed that Saint
Marcellus was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he entered upon the
career of arms, hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady named
Nona and they were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous
solider and was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought for any
advancement except the sort pertaining to his military life, when he heard the
fervent preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with
his entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would
soon give their blood in honor of their Faith.
The birthday of the
Emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298 with extraordinary
feasting and solemn rites. Marcellus, as a centurion of the army, a captain in
the legion of Trajan then posted in Mauritania or Spain, in order not to defile
himself in these impious sacrifices, left his company, throwing down his cincture
and his arms and declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the
eternal King. He was at once committed to prison. When the festival was over,
he was brought before a judge, and having reiterated his faith, was sent under
a strong guard to a prefect, Aurelian Agricolaus. This Roman officer passed
upon him a sentence of death by the sword. Marcellus was immediately led to
execution and beheaded on the 30th of October of the year 298. Cassian,
the secretary or notary of the court, refused to record the sentence pronounced
against the martyr, because of its injustice. He was immediately hurried to
prison, and was beheaded in his turn on the 3rd of December.
The children of Saint
Marcellus imitated his constancy, and all lost their lives for the defense of
the Gospel; three of the boys were hanged and then decapitated at Leon. Their
pious mother bought back their bodies for money and buried them secretly; they
were later transferred to a church built in their honor in the city of Leon.
Reflection: We are
ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God! exclaimed one of the
Maccabees. This sentiment must ever be that of a Christian in the throes of
temptation.
Les Petits Bollandistes:
Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882), Vol.
13; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based
on Butler's Lives of the Saints and other sources by John
Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers: New York, 1894).
SOURCE : https://magnificat.ca/cal/en/saints/saint_marcellus_the_centurion_and_his_children.html
Musicile
di Portico di Caserta, chiesa di San Marcello Martire, piazza San Marcello.
Musicile,
lapide chiesa di San Marcello Martire
St. Marcellus of Tingis
The Passion of St. Marcellus (BHL 5255a)
1. During the
consulship of Faustus and Gallus [298], on the 5th day before the kalends of
August [28 July], when the former centurion of the first cohort had been
brought in, the praeses Fortunatus said, "What were you thinking
to discard your belt and hurl down your sword and staff ?"
2. Marcellus
replied, "I have already told you on 21 July, loudly and in public, before
the standards of this legion, when you were celebrating the anniversary of your
emperor, that I am a Christian and cannot observe this oath unless to Jesus Christ
the Son of the Living God."
3. The praeses Fortunatus
said, "I cannot conceal your rash behaviour and so I will report these
things to the ears of our lords the Augusti and Caesars. You, of course, will
be sent to the court of my lord Aurelius Agricolanus, the vice-praetorian
prefect, under armed guard by the consular official Cecilius.
3a. "Manilius
Fortunatus sends greetings to his lord Agricolanus. On the anniversary most
happy and blessed throughout the whole world of our same lords the Augusti and
Caesars, when we were willingly celebrating the festival, lord Aurelius
Agricolanus, the centurio ordinarius Marcellus, seized by what
madness I do not know, wantonly disgirded himself of belt and sword and decided
to hurl down the staff which he was carrying before the very headquarters of
our lords. I have decided that it was necessary to report what was done to your
power, even for him to have been sent to you also."
4. During the
consulship of Faustus and Gallus, at Tingis, on the third day before the kalends
of November, when Marcellus, the former centurion of the first cohort, had been
brought in, an official announced, "The praeses Fortunatus has
sent him to your power. There is here for your greatness also a letter
concerning his case which I will read out if you so direct."
5. Agricolanus said,
"Let it be read out."
6. [See 3a]
7. When it had been
read out, Agricolanus said, "Did you say those things which are recorded
in the praeses' record ?"
8. Marcellus said,
"I did."
9. Agricolanus said,
"Were you serving as a centurio ordinarius ?"
10. Marcellus said,
"I was."
11. Agricolanus
said, "What madness possessed you to cast aside aside your oath and say
such things ?"
12. Marcellus said,
"No madness possesses him who fears God."
13. Agricolanus said,
"Did you make these separate statements which are recorded in the praeses' record
?"
14. Marcellus said,
"I did."
15. Agricolanus
said, "Did you hurl down your weapons ?"
16. Marcellus said,
"I did. It is not proper for a Christian man, one who fears the Lord
Christ, to engage in earthly military service."
17. Agricolanus
said, "Marcellus' actions are such that they ought to be
disciplined." And so he stated, "It pleases (the court) that
Marcellus, who defiled the office of centurion which he held by his public
rejection of the oath and, furthermore, according to the praeses' records,
gave in testimony words full of madness, should be executed by the sword."
Select Bibliography
Primary Sources
Delehaye, H. "Les
actes de S. Marcel le centurion", Analecta Bollandiana 42
(1923), 257-287 [BHL 5253 and 5254]
Lanata, G. "Gli atti
del processo contro il centurione Marcello", Byzantion 42
(1972), 509-522 [BHL 5255a]
Secondary Literature
de Gaiffier, B. "S.
Marcel de Tanger ou de Léon ? Évolution d'une légende", Analecta
Bollandiana 61 (1943), 116-139
Masai, F. "Pour une
édition critique des Actes du centurion Marcel", Byzantion 35
(1965), 277-290
Masai, F.
"Réflexions sur quelques acceptions remarquables dans les Actes de S.
Marcel le centurion", Vivarium 3 (1965), 95-105
Masai, F.
"Mélectures d'abréviations romaines dans les Actes du centurion
Marcel", Scriptorium 19 (1966), 11-30
Orgels, P. "À propos
du sens de principia dans les Actes de S. Marcel", Vivarium 3
(1965), 108-114
Seston, W. "À propos
de la Passio Marcelli centurionis. Remarques sur les origines de la
persécution de Dioclétien", 239-246 in Aux sources de la tradition
chrétienne. Mélanges offerts à Maurice Goguel (Paris, 1950), 239-246.
Reprinted in William Seston. Scripta Varia: Mélanges d'histoire romaine,
de droit, d'épigraphie et d'histoire, du christianisme (Collection de
l'école française de Rome 43: Rome, 1980), 629-636
Wistrand, E. "A note
on the geminus natalis of the Emperor Maximian", Eranos 62
(1964), 139-142
SOURCE : http://www.ucc.ie/milmart/Marcellus.html
San Marcello di Tangeri Martire
venerato a Leon
Secondo la «passio» di
san Marcello il 21 luglio del 298 si celebrava la festa «augusti imperatori» e
in quella data il santo, centurione ordinario di stanza a Tangeri, gettò le sue
armi alla presenza della truppa riunita e proclamò la sua rinuncia al servizio
militare per servire nella milizia di Cristo. Il 28 luglio fu interrogato dal
preside Fortunato, il quale considerando la gravità del delitto, decise di
rimandarlo al suo superiore gerarchico, Aurelio Agricolano di Tangeri. Il 30
ottobre Marcello fu di nuovo interrogato, questa volta a Tangeri, e condannato
a morte. La devozione che, in seguito, aveva fatto di Marcello il patrono
principale della città spagnola di León, si sviluppò lontano dai suoi resti
mortali che si conservavano a Tangeri, per cui, subito dopo la liberazione di
questa città, ad opera del re del Portogallo, León richiese le spoglie del suo
martire. Il 29 marzo 1493 i resti di Marcello fecero il loro ingresso in città
e vennero collocati nella chiesa a lui dedicata. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Marcello,
diminutivo di Marco = nato in marzo, sacro a Marte, dal latino
Martirologio Romano: A
Tangeri in Mauritania, nell’odierno Marocco, passione di san Marcello,
centurione, che nella festa dell’imperatore, mentre tutti sacrificavano agli
dei, gettò la cintura militare, le armi e la vita stessa davanti alle insegne,
professando di essere cristiano e di non poter più obbedire adeguatamente al
giuramento militare, ma solo a Gesù Cristo, subendo per questo il martirio per
decapitazione.
La passio di Marcello ci è pervenuta in due recensioni, trasmessa da mss. dispersi nelle biblioteche di Roma, Bruxelles, Londra, Madrid, León, Bordeaux, ecc. Fu pubblicata per la prima volta dal Ruinart, quindi dall'Allard e recentemente dal Delehaye (1923), da García Villada (1929), da J. González (1943), da B. De Gaiffier (1943) e R. Rodriguez (1948).
Il nucleo originale è riconosciuto autentico e consta di due verbali d'interrogatorio in due diversi tribunali a distanza di tre mesi, in due località diverse. Poi, intorno al sec. XI, si aggiungono delle interpolazioni che fanno di Marcello lo sposo di s. Nonia e il padre di dodici figli, Claudio, Lupercio, Vittorico, Facondo, Primitivo, Emeterio, Celidonio, Servando, Germano, Fausto, Gennaro e Marziale. L'origine e l'evoluzione di questa leggenda, profondamente radicata nella tradizione cristiana del popolo di León è stata accuratamente studiata dal De Gaiffier.
Secondo la passio, dunque, il 21 luglio del 298 si celebrava la festa degli "augusti imperatori" e, in quella data Marcello, centurione ordinario, gettò le sue armi alla presenza della truppa riunita e proclamò la sua rinuncia al servizio militare per servire nella milizia di Cristo. Il 28 luglio fu interrogato dal pre side Fortunato, il quale considerando la gravità del delitto, decise di rimandarlo al suo superiore gerarchico, Aurelio Agricolano di Tangeri. Il 30 ottobre Marcello fu di nuovo interrogato, questa volta a Tangeri, e condannato a morte.
Dall'accurato studio del De Gaifiier risulta e vidente che Marcello è un autentico martire africano e che soltanto nelle successive interpolazioni della passio, operate da scrittori spagnoli, è stato trasformato in cittadino di León, sul falso fondamento che egli appartenesse alla legio Traiarti, presunta fondatrice di quella città. Dopo questa identificazione, fatta nel sec. XVI, si credette anche di poter indicare a León la casa del martire nei pressi della Porta Cauriense, oggi trasformata in cappella dedicata al Cristo della Vittoria. Secondo questa stessa tradizione, all'avvento della pace costantiniana venne costruita a León una chiesa dedicata a Marcello.
Il cod. 11 dell'Archivio della cattedrale di León riferisce che Ramiro I (842-850) "restaurò la chiesa di S. Marcello nel suburbio legionense nei pressi della Porta Cauriense, fuori le mura della città...". Presso questa chiesa sorse un monastèro nel quale abitò l'insigne teologo legionense, s. Martino, e nel sec. XII un ospedale con lo stesso nome.
La devozione che aveva fatto di Marcello il patrono principale della città di León, era però nata e si era sviluppata lontano dai suoi resti mortali che si conservavano a Tangeri, per cui, subito dopo la liberazione di questa città, ad opera del re del Portogallo, León richiese le spoglie del suo martire. Anche le città di Jerez e Siviglia se ne disputarono il possesso. Il 29 marzo 1493, comunque, i resti di Marcello portati dallo stesso re Ferdinando il Cattolico, fecero il loro ingresso a León e vennero collocati nella chiesa a lui dedicata. Secondo documenti contemporanei conservati nell'archivio municipale le spoglie ebbero un'accoglienza "come mai ve ne fu di migliore".
Le reliquie si conservano oggi in un'arca d'argento sull'altare maggiore; vi si trovano anche una pergamena in cui si narra l'ingresso nella città e i miracoli da cui fu accompagnato, i documenti relativi alla donazione di una reliquia di M. alla chiesa di S. Gil di Siviglia e alcune lettere del re Enrico IV di Castiglia e di Isabella la Cattolica al papa Sisto IV sulla traslazione del corpo del martire a León.
Le reliquie erano portate in processione insieme con quelle di s. Froilano, in occasione di grandi calamità pubbliche. Ogni anno il 9 ottobre, data della festa, il capitolo cattedrale e la giunta comunale della città si recano processionalmente al tempio di Marcello per assistere alla Messa solenne: i canonici e i consiglieri comunali si dispongono alternati, a simbolizzare il comune e uguale diritto di patronato che per molti secoli ebbero sulla chiesa di S. Marcello e per il quale il sindaco custodiva una delle chiavi dell'arca che racchiude le reliquie del santo.
Autore: José Marìa Fernàndez Catòn
SOURCE : http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/75700
Retablo
de San Marcelo, del s. XIII, con Marcelo, Nonia y sus doce hijos a los lados.
Museo de León
Den hellige Marcellus
centurionen av Tanger (d. 298)
Minnedag:
30. oktober
Den hellige Marcellus
(sp: Marcelo) ble født en gang rundt midten av 200-tallet, ifølge tradisjonen i
Arzas i det nåværende Galicia i Spania. Han var en modig hedning som satset på
en militær karriere i håp om å skaffe seg en stor formue og romersk borgerskap
når han ble dimittert. Han giftet seg med en ung kvinne ved navn Nonia (Nonna,
Nona, Novia) og de skal ha fått tolv sønner. Marcellus var en djerv soldat og
ble forfremmet til centurion (kaptein) av første klasse i den trajanske legion.
Hans rang og inntekt gjorde at han kunne eie en liten gård som ville ha forsørget
familien når han var ute på felttog, som det var mange av. Da han hørte den
lidenskapelige forkynnelsen til en hellig biskop i kirken i León, ble han
omvendt til den kristne religion sammen med hele sin familie. De skulle alle,
med unntak av Nonia, snart gi sitt blod for sin tros skyld.
Hans avdeling ble
stasjonert i byen Tingis i Nord-Afrika (i dag Tanger i det nordlige Marokko) i
den romerske provinsen Mauretania Tingitana. Den 21. juli 298 skulle soldatene
i provinsen Tingitana feire fødselsdagen til keiser Maximian Herkules
(286-305), keiser Diokletians (284-305) medregent i vest. Til feiringen hørte
også med at de skulle ofre til de romerske gudene. Men for øynene på alle
soldatene kastet Marcellus av seg sitt militære belte (phalera), sverd og
vinløvgren (tegnet på hans rang) og erklærte at han tjente bare den levende Gud
Jesus Kristus, ikke avguder av stein og tre. Hvis krigstjeneste for keiseren
også innebar ofring til disse gudene, la han ned sin tjeneste i keiserens hær.
I de andre soldatenes
øyne hadde Marcellus begått forræderi, ulydighet, svik og blasfemi. Legionens
forbløffede oberst fikk kastet ham i fengsel, og etter festen ble han avhørt av
guvernøren Fortunatus, som sa at han ifølge romersk lov ikke kunne overse denne
ubesindige handlingen, men måtte rapportere den til keiser Maximian og
underkeiser Konstantius I Klorus (293-306), hvorav sistnevnte oppholdt seg i
Spania og var vennlig innstilt til de kristne (Konstantius var far til den
salige keiser Konstantin I den
store). Men Marcellus ble etter egen intervensjon brakt for assisterende
pretorianerprefekt Aurelius Agricolanus av Tanger.
Prefekten stilte
Marcellus for krigsrett den 30. oktober. Agricolanus foretok forhørene og
rettsskriveren (exceptor) Kassian førte
protokoll. Marcellus innrømmet det han hadde gjort og forklarte at det ikke
passet seg for en kristen, som kjemper for Kristus sin Herre, å kjempe for
denne verdens hærer. Det endte med at Marcellus ble dømt til å halshogges med
sverd. Da han ble ført ut, sa han: «Agricolanus, måtte Gud belønne deg».
Samme dag, den 30.
oktober 298, ble Marcellus halshogd med sverd, og noen dager senere led Kassian
den samme skjebne. Marcellus’ bevarte acta er svært pålitelig, mens
Kassians historie muligens er et fiktivt tillegg, selv om det helt klart var en
martyr ved navn Kassian i Tanger. En annen versjon, som er mindre troverdig,
plasserer Marcellus’ martyrium i Léon i Spania. Marcellus’ legeme skal ikke ha
gått i forråtnelse, men blitt bevart i Tanger til 1471. For den 28. august 1471
ble Tanger erobret av kong Alfons V av Portugal (1438-81), og der fant han en
grav hvor det sto på gravsteinen: Marcellus, Mártir Legionensis. Etter
forhandlinger kom påskeaften den 29. mars 1493, levningene av centurion
Marcellus fra Tanger, hvor han led martyrdøden, til León, brakt dit av kong
Ferdinand V den katolske (1452-1516), som var spansk konge sammen med sin
hustru, Isabella I den katolske. Marcellus’ relikvier er fortsatt bevart i et
skrin i benediktinerklosteret i León. Plaza de San Marcelo i denne byen er
oppkalt etter ham. Kirken San Marcelo stammer fra 900-tallet. De eldste
versjonene av dokumentene om Marcellus har ingen referanse til Léon.
Marcellus’ minnedag i den
nyeste utgaven av Martyrologium Romanum (2004) er dødsdagen 30. oktober, som er
obligatorisk minnedag i Nord-Afrika og valgfri minnedag i den mozarabiske
ritus. I Léon feires han den 29. oktober, som høytid i byen og obligatorisk
minnedag i bispedømmet. Kassian har egen minnedag i Martyrologium Romanum den
3. desember. Bollandistene nevner Marcellus og hans hustru Nonia den 29.
november.
Ifølge tradisjonen hadde
Marcellus tolv sønner, som alle led martyrdøden: de hellige Facundus og
Primitivus av Sahagún (d. ca 304), de hellige Claudius, Lupercus
og Victorius av León (d. ca 300), de hellige Emeterius og
Celidonius av Calahorra (d. 304), de hellige Servandus og
Germanus av Cádiz (d. ca 300) og de hellige Faustus, Januarius
og Marcialis av Córdoba (d. ca 304). Alt tyder på at vi her har å
gjøre med en legendedannelse. Sannsynligvis er det et antall kjente martyrer
fra samme tid som er lagt til Marcellus. På denne måten ble Marcellus mer lik
Jesus, som også hadde tolv åndelige «sønner» rundt seg. Samtidig ble mange
spredte martyrhistorier forbundet med hverandre.
Kilder:
Attwater/John, Attwater/Cumming, Farmer, Benedictines, Delaney (1), Delaney,
Bunson, Melchers, KIR, Patron Saints SQPN, Infocatho, Heiligenlexikon,
en.wikipedia.org, es.wikipedia.org, Butler 1866, magnificat.ca, zeno.org,
heiligen-3s.nl, aytoleon.es, diariodeleon.es - Kompilasjon og oversettelse: p. Per Einar Odden
Opprettet: 15. desember 1997
Linken er kopiert til
utklippstavlen!
SOURCE : https://www.katolsk.no/biografier/historisk/mcenturi
Voir aussi : http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/religion/pages_liees/st_marcel_pn93.htm
