Le
bienheureux Sadoc et ses compagnons dominicains. Église des
dominicains de Sandomierz en Pologne
Bienheureux Sadoc et ses
compagnons
Martyrs en
Pologne (+ 1259)
Sadoc était peut-être originaire d'Hongrie et amené à l'ordre des dominicains par saint Dominique qui l'aurait envoyé en Hongrie avec un groupe de missionnaires dominicains puis il serait allé en Pologne où il fonda une maison dominicaine à Sadomir en 1260 et en fut le prieur. La ville fut pillée par les mongols qui l'envahirent et Sadoc et plusieurs autres frères furent assassinés chantant le Salve Regina. Culte confirmé par Pie VII en 1807.
Commémoraison des bienheureux martyrs Sadoc, prêtre, et ses quarante-huit
compagnons, de l'Ordre des Prêcheurs, qui, dit-on, furent massacrés par les
Tartares à Sandomir sur la Vistule, en Pologne, l'an 1259, alors qu'ils
chantaient le Salve Regina.
Martyrologe romain
SOURCE : https://nominis.cef.fr/contenus/saint/11771/Bienheureux-Sadoc-et-ses-compagnons.html
Sadoc et ses Compagnons
Martyrs, Saints
† 1260
Cette notice n’est pas à
proprement parler une biographie, même succincte, du bienheureux Sadoc,
religieux dominicain des tout premiers débuts de cet Ordre. A notre époque de
diffusion vertigineuse de l’Islam, il est bon que les Chrétiens sachent ce qui
pourrait les attendre de la part de ces peuplades païennes qui n’ont cessé
depuis des siècles de combattre vainement les rangs chrétiens de toutes
régions.
Ce que ne savent pas ces
peuplades, en revanche, c’est que tous ces martyrs sont en réalité la source de
nombreux fidèles qui viennent ainsi renforcer les rangs de l’Eglise pour
évangéliser avec une vigueur nouvelle les hommes qui ne connaissent pas encore
Jésus-Christ, notre Sauveur.
Sanguis Martyrum semen
Christianorum : le Sang des Martyrs est une semence de Chrétiens.
Sadoc, donc, était un des premiers compagnons de saint Dominique qui, au
chapitre général de l’ordre, tenu à Bologne en 1221, le désigna pour aller
prêcher en Hongrie. Il était peut-être lui-même hongrois.
A son arrivée dans ce
pays, il vit, la nuit, une foule de démons qui lui criaient avec rage : “Tu
viens ici pour nous chasser !” Et comme Sadoc avait pour tout bataillon trois
novices fort jeunes : “C’est avec ces gamins que tu nous rosses !”
Il passa plusieurs années
en Hongrie, puis fut placé à la tête du couvent fondé depuis peu par saint
Hyacinthe1 à
Sandomierz, ville du palatinat de Kielce, entre Cracovie et Varsovie, au
sud-est de la Pologne. Au moment de l’invasion des Tartares, Sadoc est prieur
de quarante-huit religieux. La veille de l’irruption des Tartares, le lecteur
du Martyrologe annonça : “A Sandomierz, la passion de quarante-neuf martyrs.”
Ces mots étaient calligraphiés en lettres d’or sur ce livre par une main
inconnue.
Les frères prêcheurs se
préparèrent à mourir. Les Tartares envahirent leur couvent le soir; c’était
l’heure paisible où, à la fin du chant de l’office, les moines élèvent une
ultime salutation à Notre Dame, le Salve Regina.
Tandis qu’on les
égorgeait, les frères chantaient le Salve Regina. Ils chantèrent véritablement
jusqu’à leur dernier souffle.
Les envahisseurs avaient
déjà sévi dans cette région de Sandomierz vingt ans auparavant ; leurs forces
étaient certainement nombreuses et victorieuses, mais la vraie victoire était
celle des fidèles religieux qui sont maintenant dans la gloire de Dieu.
Le pape Alexandre IV
autorisa immédiatement le culte de ces martyrs pour Sandomierz, lequel culte
fut étendu à tout l’ordre dominicain au XIXe siècle.
Le Martyrologe les
commémore le 2 juin.
1 fêté
le 15 août.
SOURCE : http://nova.evangelisation.free.fr/sadoc_et_compagnons.htm
Also
known as
Sadoch
Zadoc
Zadok
Profile
Studied at
the University of Bologna, Italy. Dominican friar, receiving
the habit from Saint Dominic
de Guzman himself. At the General Chapter the Dominicans in Bologna in 1221, Sadoc
was chosen to assist Master Paul of Hungary to
establish a province in Hungary.
Sadoc later moved on to Poland where
he served as preacher for
nearly forty years. In 1260 he
and 48 Dominicans from
Sandomierz were martyred by
the Tartars as they were singing the Salve Regina at Compline; the
custom of singing the Salve Regina at the deathbed of Dominicans stems
from this incident. One of the Martyrs
of Sandomierz.
18 October 1807 by Pope Pius VII (cultus
confirmation)
Lord Jesus, in the midst
of fierce attacks of the foe Blessed Sadoc and his companions greeted the Virgin Mary in
song and received the longed-for palm of martyrdom.
After this exile may your merciful and loving Mother show us to you, who live
and reign in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. – Dominicans
Additional
Information
Book of
Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Catholic
Legends, by Mother Francis Raphael
Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
Saints
of the Day, by Katherine Rabenstein
Short
Lives of the Dominican Saints
The
First Disciples of Saint Dominic, by Father Victor
Francis O’Daniel, O.P.
books
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other
sites in english
images
sitios
en español
Martirologio Romano, 2001 edición
fonti
in italiano
Martirologio Romano, 2005 edition
MLA
Citation
“Blessed Sadoc of
Sandomierz“. CatholicSaints.Info. 26 October 2023. Web. 15 September 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-sadoc/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/blessed-sadoc/
Article
(Saint) Martyr (June 2) (13th
century) A Dominican Saint,
received into the Order by Saint Dominic himself,
and by him sent to Hungary and Poland.
He with his community of forty Religious, suffered martyrdom in
the Tartar Invasion (A.D. 1260).
MLA
Citation
Monks of Ramsgate.
“Sadoc”. Book of Saints, 1921. CatholicSaints.Info.
8 November 2017. Web. 15 September 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-sadoc/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/book-of-saints-sadoc/
Blessed Sadoc and
Companions MM (AC)
Died 1260; second feast
day on May 5. Saint Dominic's dreams of converting the Tartars found
realization in his sons. Missionaries did, in fact, go to the North during his
lifetime, and many more were sent out by Blessed Jordan of Saxony. The more
settled tribes of Poland and Hungary readily accepted the Gospel, and the North
was not long in blooming with Dominican convents. But, in the 13th century, the
restless millions of the East were riding down upon the fertile plains of
Central Europe. Wild Tartar tribes soon destroyed what had been done for their
more peaceful relatives, and scarcely a missionary survived to preach his
message of peace to them.
Paul of Hungary and his
band of 90 died as martyrs, probably in 1241. They were popularly honored as
saints early. Soon to follow was the group headed by Blessed Sadoc, which had
its headquarters at Sandomir, Poland. So tragic was the early history of the
Dominicans in Poland that, even in that martyred country, it is remembered:
Polish Dominicans today wear a red cincture to recall the martyred hundreds who
shed their blood that Poland might receive the light of faith.
Blessed Sadoc was a
student at the University of Bologna when he met Saint Dominic and was received
into the order. Being a Slav himself, he was eager to go to the North to preach
the word of God. This he was given a chance to do when he and Paul of Hungary
were placed in charge of the northern mission band.
Sadoc soon accumulated a
number of eager young students and novices, and proceeded to Poland with them.
On his first night in the mission field, the devil appeared to Sadoc and
reproached him for disturbing his work: "And with such children as
these," he said bitterly, pointing to the young novices. With such as
these, Sadoc did make havoc with the kingdom of evil: He won many souls to God,
and, in the monastery of Sandomir which he founded, Sadoc soon had the
satisfaction of seeing a large community working for the glory of God.
In 1260, the Tartars made
a fresh invasion into Poland and attacked Sandomir. Blessed Sadoc and his
community had assembled for midnight Matins when they received warning of their
approaching death. A novice reading the martyrology for the following day, was
amazed to see, lettered in gold across the pages of the martyrology, the words:
"At Sandomir, the passion of 49 martyrs." On investigation, it was
discovered that it was not merely a novice's mistake, but an actual warning
that they understood came from heaven.
They spent the day in
preparation for death. During the singing of the "Salve Regina,"
after Compline, the Tartars broke into the church and the slaughter began. One
novice, terrified at the thought of death, fled to the choir loft to hide, but,
hearing his brothers singing, he realized that they were going off to heaven
without him, and he returned to the choir to die with the others.
From this martyrdom came
the custom of singing the "Salve Regina" at the deathbed of a
Dominican--priest, sister, or brother. It is fitting that a life dedicated to
God and Our Lady should end thus, with the battle-cry "Hail, Holy
Queen!" echoing up from this valley of tears to be joined by the voices of
Dominicans in heaven, who can now see forever the clement, loving, and sweet
Virgin Mary (Benedictines, Dorcy).
SOURCE : http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0602.shtml
Saints and
Saintly Dominicans – 2 June
Blessed Sadoc and
Companions, Martyrs, O.P.
Blessed Sadoc was
chosen by Saint Dominic himself
at the General Chapter of Bologna (1221)
to evangelize the vast regions of the north, in company with Blessed Paul of
Hungary, a celebrated professor of canon law at Bologna, who afterward fell a
victim to the Mongols. Blessed Sadoc set to work at once, preaching with ardor,
praying with fervor. He was singing the Office of Matins with his religious in
the Convent of Sandomir, when the Friar who was reading the martyrology saw in
the book these words written in letters of gold; “At Sandomir, the martyrdom of
forty-nine Friars Preachers.” Understanding this as a warning from Heaven, the
religious prepared themselves for death in the early morning by confession and
Holy Communion, and that same evening the Tartars, breaking into the monastery,
massacred them all during the singing of the “Salve Regina.” From that time our
Order has continued the touching custom of singing the “Salve Regina” in a
subdued voice beside each religious when dying. One novice, hiding through fear
in the belfry, when he heard the Friars singing this beautiful antiphon with
joy and fervor, was seized with remorse, felt his courage renewed, and, coming
down, took his place to shed his blood with the rest. (1250)
Prayer
O Blessed Virgin Mary,
grant that I may hear the “Salve Regina” sung at my death-bed, that I may join
in it in spirit and find there help to die with resignation, confidence and
joy.
Practice
Make your preparation for
death every evening, but especially on the first Friday of the month, or at
your monthly retreat.
– taken from the
book Saints
and Saintly Dominicans, by Blessed Hyacinthe-Marie
Cormier, O.P.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saints-and-saintly-dominicans-2-june/
Short
Lives of the Dominican Saints – Blessed Sadoc and his Companions, the Martyrs
of Sandomir
Article
(A.D. 1260)
Throughout the whole of
his apostolic career, the desire which lay nearest to the heart of Saint
Dominic appears to have been that of devoting himself to the conversion of the
Cumans, a savage horde who had established themselves on the north-east of
Hungary. It was not God’s will, however, that the Father and Founder of the
Friars Preachers should carry the light of faith to these poor barbarians; the
work which he was not permitted himself to undertake was reserved for his sons.
In the General Chapter of A.D. 1221, held only a few weeks before the death of
the Saint, Father Paul of Hungary, who had recently joined the ranks of his
disciples, was dispatched to found the Order in the lands bordering on the
Danube, having as his companions Blessed Sadoc, who was of Sclavonic origin,
and three others. When they reached the confines of Hungary, Blessed Sadoc,
praying during the night, as was his custom, for the extension of the Order and
the success of their mission, saw himself surrounded by a troop of demons, who
cried out: “Woe to us! You are come to snatch from us our rights, to drive us
from our possessions.” Then, pointing to the young novices recruited on the
way, the infernal visitants exclaimed in despairing accents: “And must it be by
mere children like these? O what confusion!”
Father Paul eventually
realised his holy Patriarch’s desire and won a martyr’s crown among the Cumans;
and Blessed Sadoc, who had shared his labours for several years, became Prior
of the Convent of Sandomir in Poland. In the year 1260, this town was attacked
by a fierce horde of Tartars, led on and encouraged by those inveterate enemies
of the Polish nation, the Russians, who, finding the place strongly defended
and almost impregnable, treacherously proposed a suspension of hostilities.
During the night previous to this truce, the Community had assembled to sing
Matins and Lauds. At the conclusion of the Office, one of the novices going out
according to custom into the middle of the Choir to sing the Martyrology (i.e.
the list of the Saints to be commemorated on the morrow) saw in the place of
the book where he should begin, these words in letters of gold: “At Sandomir
the passion of forty-nine Martyrs.” The novice was greatly perplexed at the
sight; nevertheless he mastered his emotion, and, to use the words of the old
chronicler, “with the simplicity of a dove and the voice of a swan sang out to
the Brethren the words which he saw before him.” The astonished Prior desired
the novice to bring the book to him, and the miraculous inscription was
distinctly seen by the entire Community. Then the holy Prior, filled with the
Spirit of God, counted his Friars, and found that with himself they numbered
exactly forty-nine. “Brethren,” he exclaimed, “these words are for us; and
doubtless it is the Tartars who will open for us the gates of heaven; and that
tomorrow. Now, therefore, all that remains for us to do is to prepare by
confession and by a devout reception of the Bread of Angels for our happy
martyrdom.” The religious listened to him with tears of joy and thankfulness.
Not knowing when the destined hour might be, they immediately got ready for
Confession, and spent the remainder of the night in prayer and in calm
preparation for the morning’s Communion and for a June a holy death.
At daybreak, they all
approached the Holy Table, with wonderful peace in their breasts, knowing that
to them it was indeed to be the Viaticum. As the day wore on and no signs of
the expected barbarians appeared, they fulfilled their accustomed offices and
duties, yet with a sweet impatience for the hour of deliverance.
At length, at the hour of
Compline, they went to the Choir to offer up the last act of worship they
should be called on to render in this life. They sang that office with unusual
solemnity and gladness, and at its conclusion went out into the body of the
church in procession, as the manner is in our Order, to sing the Salve. As they
were sweetly entoning this Antiphon to the Blessed Mother of God, a band of
Tartars, traitorously admitted into the city by the treacherous Russians, burst
into the church and cut them all to pieces. One of the Friars was seized with
the impulse to flee and succeeded in hiding himself in the belfry; but (we
quote again from the old Chronicle), “perceiving that the mangled bodies of his
companions, whose souls were now singing Alleluias in heaven, continued, though
dead, to chant that sweet melody of the Salve, he regained courage, offered
himself of his own accord to the swords of the barbarians, and went to join his
fortunate Brethren in the courts of Paradise. Thus they died, like heavenly
swans, whose death-songs were the sweet praises of their Mother Mary, and
doubtless her virginal hands very lovingly crowned them with the garland of
immortality.”
From this time the custom
was introduced into the Order of singing the Salve at the death-bed of its
members, in order to beseech Mary to change the labours and trials of this vale
of tears into the eternal possession of the blessed fruit of her womb.
These blessed Martyrs
were beatified by Pius VII.
Prayer
Mayest Thou be revealed
to us after this exile, O Lord Jesus, by Thy merciful and tender Mother, the
Virgin Mary, whom Blessed Sadoc and his companions saluted with unceasing voice
amidst the assaults of the infidels their enemies, deserving to receive from
Thee the desired palm of martyrdom. Who livest and reignest world without end.
Amen.
MLA
Citation
A Sister of the
Congregation of Saint Catherine of Siena. “Blessed Sadoc and his Companions,
the Martyrs of Sandomir”. Short Lives of the
Dominican Saints, 1901. CatholicSaints.Info.
21 May 2020. Web. 15 September 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/baring-goulds-lives-of-the-saints-/>
The
First Disciples of Saint Dominic – Blessed Sadoc, Martyr
Article
Sadoc is another of the
early disciples of Saint Dominic about whom the scanty records make us long to
know much more. The few references to him show that he was a native of Poland,
a man of good parts, and a splendid, dependable character, which caused him to
be loved, as well as admired, by his confrères. They also prove that he was
greatly esteemed for his holiness of life. Apparently he studied in Bologna,
and afterwards entered the Order there. In 1221, it will be recalled, Dominic
associated him with Paul of Hungary as a colaborer in building up the new
Hungarian province of Friars Preacher, and for the conversion of the Cumans.
With Paul, his superior,
Sadoc journeyed through northern Italy, Tyrol, and Upper Austria into Hungary.
This was in 1221. He seems to have taken charge of the three candidates whom
the missionaries gained through their sermons at Enns. That he was a man of
zeal and eloquence is evidenced by the fact that Saint Dominic selected him for
so trying a mission. As is the case with not a few most efficient workers in every
age, especially if they are quiet characters, the historians rarely, if ever,
mention him personally. Still the preceding sketch of Paul of Hungary aff ords
some idea of Sadoc’s apostolic activity. The two men must have often labored
hand in hand during the years they were together. A further idea may be gleaned
from the outlines of the lives of Saint Hyacinth and Blessed Ceslas, for
Sadoc’s last toils were in Poland.
There are indications
that, because of his exemplary life, rare piety, and good judgment, our blessed
was often employed in the training of candidates for the Order and in the
preparation of the younger brethren for the apostolic life. Yet there are no
positive records to that effect. For some years he was prior of the convent at
Agram, Hungary. Similarly, as will be seen, the man of God ended his earthly
career in such a position.
Just when Blessed Sadoe
was called, or sent, from Hungary to Poland it would be impossible to say.
However, in 1260 we find him prior of Saint James’ Convent, Sandomir. The
traditions of his wise, kindly, and spiritual government of that community
which have come down to us, and which are borne out by the conduct of its
members in the catastrophe soon to be recounted, lead one to fancy that he had
been superior there for some years before that sad event. During this time, we
can but believe, he preached not merely in Sandomir itself; for his zeal must
have taken him into many places of the kingdom, if not even throughout its
length and breadth.
How the holy Friar
Preacher escaped death, or fared at the hands of the Tartars, in the calamitous
times when Paul of Hungary and so many of his confrères received the crown of
martyrdom, and Hyacinth and Ceslas were saved only by miracles, possibly will
never be known. Sadoe certainly passed through that awful epoch. But, in the
end, he became a victim of the same merciless marauders. Late in 1259, or early
in 1260, the Tartars again overran Russia in the same way as they did in 1240
and 1241. From Russia they swept into Poland, where they sacked and burned
Lublin and other cities. Carnage and devastation marked their course
everywhere.
Finally, under their
leaders, whom the Polish historian, Rev. Martin Kromer, calls “Nogaio” and
“Celebuga,” the barbarians laid siege to Sandomir, a strongly fortified city on
the Vistula. Night and day they strove to take the place by storm, but in vain.
Not only did Blessed Sadoe bravely remain with his people; he kept his
community there also. Together with the students, novices, and lay brothers,
there were forty-nine religious of his house thus shut up within the municipal
walls. While the holy prior trusted in the goodness of God, he knew that his
brethren would not hesitate to purchase the crown of heaven at the price of
their lives. Possibly he also felt that their blood might, in the designs of
providence, bring peace and quiet to Poland, as well as redound to the good of
religion.
Sadoc did not permit the
turmoil of the time, or his labors among the distracted faithful, to interfere
with the regular exercises of the community. It was while engaged in one of
these that they received their warning. After that part of the divine office
called matins, the novice appointed to read the martyrology, which notes the
saints whose feasts fall on the next day, suddenly faltered and stood aghast.
Then, with his voice scarcely under control, he read: “At Sandomir, the
sufferings of forty-nine martyrs” (Sandomiriae, passio quadraginta novem
martyrum). Quite naturally, everyone was stupefied at so strange and unexpected
an announcement. The superior called for the book. There were the words written
in letters of gold. They disappeared after the community bad seen them.
Some writers tell us that
our blessed then knew by inspiration what was to happen. Be this as it may, his
keen religious instinct would have revealed to him the fate of himself and confrères.
When the prayers were finished, although there seemed to be no danger of the
strongly fortified town being taken by the enemy, he gave his colleagues a
brief conference, in which he assured them that they were all to be martyrs,
and urged them bravely to prepare for the glorious conflict. He felicitated
them that their fortune was to be so happy. Needless to say that his words
produced a profound impression.
This extraordinary
occurrence was on the first day of June; the year 1260. Meanwhile, the Tartars
resorted to fraud and imposture that they might gain possession of Sandomir,
which they had failed to carry by storm. At their instigation, some Russian
officers who had turned traitors to their own country and accepted places in
the army of the enemy arranged a parley with the leaders of the Poles. These
were persuaded that, if they visited the camp of “Nogaio” and “Celebuga,” easy
terms of peace could be made, that neither the city would be injured, nor the
people molested, and that much suffering would be spared. Hardly had they
reached the place where they thought the conference would be held, when the
barbarians, now that its defenders were without commanders, rushed upon
Sandomir, and took it by a vigorous assault.
Never did unwise trust
cost more dearly. The Tartars, innately brutal, were always known to be cruel
in proportion to the resistance with which they met. On this occasion both
their inhumanity and their villainy were consummate. The city was pillaged and
destroyed. The streets ran with blood. When the fiends grew weary of butchering
with the sword, they drove crowds of people to the banks of the Vistula, where
they were drowned in the river.
It is now time to return
to Blessed Sadoc and his community. In expectation of their baptism of blood,
they prepared for the ordeal, so repugnant to the instincts of nature, by
confession, prayers, communion, and thousands of acts of love. Under the noble
example of their superior, they offered their lives to God as a sacrifice for
the sins of the world. With the same regularity as before the choral exercises
were carried out the two days and a night that intervened between the
supernatural admonition and the martyrdom. On the evening of June 2, 1260,
compline was sung as usual. After this, the forty-nine Friars Preacher, in
accordance with the custom of their Order, marched out of the choir in
procession and down the main aisle of the church, singing the Salve Regina.
Possibly an expectation
of rich booty combined with their hatred of Christianity to cause the Tartars
generally to begin their work of devastation, after a city had fallen into
their hands, by pillaging the Catholic churches. At any rate, these sacred
edifices were ever among the first structures visited and despoiled by them. So
it happened in Sandomir. Blessed Sadoc and his community had just reached their
places in Saint James’, when the barbarians rushed upon them. In a moment the
forty-nine lay dead in the main aisle. Of the martyrs sixteen were priests;
three deacons; four subdeacons; eight or nine in minor orders; nine or ten
professed students; five still in their noviceship; and three lay brothers.
Because of his zeal,
virtue, and model life, Blessed Sadoc had been held in veneration wherever he
labored. After death, the devotion towards him not only grew, but was also
extended to his companions in martyrdom, whom he guided to a port of spiritual
safety in a time of danger. Blessed John Prandota, bishop of Cracow, and
Boleslaw V, king of Poland, and called “the Chaste,” sent representatives to
Rome that they might lay the case of these athletes of Christ before Alexander
IV, as well as make known to him what the Catholics had suffered at the bands
of the Tartars; for many of them had certainly died in the cause of their
religion. The Holy Father, to show his sympathy and still further to quicken
the faith of the people, accorded to all who visit the church of Sandomir on
June 2 the same indulgences that can be gained by an attendance at Saint Mary
of the Martyrs, Rome.
It is worthy of note that
the fact that Sadoc and his companions went to death, while engaged in the
chant of the Salve Regina, gave rise to the custom in their Order of
softly singing the same prayer to the Blessed Virgin at the bedside of its
members in their last moments. Marvellous things have been recorded in
connection with the glorious triumph of these Friars Preacher. For instance,
our Lady, whose honor they died praising under the title of “Mother of Mercy,”
is said to have been seen to open the gates of heaven for them. Persons worthy
of credence declared that they often saw the exterior of the church in which
they died illuminated by forty-nine brilliant stars. Others bore witness to the
same number of beautiful candles around the altar erected in honor of the martyrs,
which had been lit and placed there by no human hands. Out of veneration, a
large picture was painted over this altar, in which they are portrayed on their
knees under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin, and holding lighted candles in
token of their victory.
This devotion for our
athletes of the faith has continued down through the course of ages. It is
especially strong in Poland and Sandomir. Pius VII not only took official
recognizance of this fact, but also granted the Order to which they belonged
permission to recite the divine office and say mass in their honor on June 2,
the day of their martyrdom.
MLA
Citation
Father Victor Francis
O’Daniel, O.P. “Blessed Sadoc, Martyr”. The First
Disciples of Saint Dominic, 1928. CatholicSaints.Info.
27 October 2021. Web. 15 September 2026.
<https://catholicsaints.info/the-first-disciples-of-saint-dominic-blessed-sadoc-martyr/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/the-first-disciples-of-saint-dominic-blessed-sadoc-martyr/
Catholic
Legends – The Legend of Blessed Sadoc and the Forty-Nine Martyrs
In the year of grace
1260, the whole country of Poland suffered greatly from the ravages of the
barbarous Scythian or Tartar tribes, who then formed the great terror of the
Christian countries situated on the northeastern frontier of Europe. Instigated
and assisted by the treacherous Russians, they overran the open country; setting
fire to villages and convents, and putting all the helpless inhabitants to the
sword. Unable to resist their violence in the open country, the Polish nobles,
gathering together as many of the fugitive peasantry as had escaped, threw
themselves into the strong town of Sandomir; where they gallantly defended
themselves against the enemy for a considerable time. The Tartars were but
little used to habits of regular warfare; and were about to give up the siege m
despair, when the Russian leaders who were in the camp persuaded them to
continue the attempt, and laid a plan for overcoming the defenders of the town
by a fraudulent device. They presented themselves to the governor of the
fortress under the character of ambassadors of peace; and offered to negotiate with
the barbarians, and induce them to evacuate the country on payment of a sum of
money. The Poles, who never doubted the sincerity of the Russian envoys, agreed
to a suspension of arms; and it was arranged that their chiefs should pass to
the enemy’s camp, under the safe-conduct of the Russians, to arrange the
articles of peace. This had been the plan arranged beforehand by the
treacherous Russians, in order to seize the persons of the Polish leaders, and
in their absence make themselves masters of the city during the suspension of
hostilities.
There was at this time in
the Convent of Friars-Preachers established at Sandomir a very holy prior named
Sadoc, one of the first companions of Blessed Paul, when he was sent from
Bologna by the great patriarch Saint Dominic to plant the order of preachers in
his native country of Hungary. The apostolic labours of Blessed Paul had
already been crowned with martyrdom; and ninety other sons of the same glorious
order had suffered death together with him at the hands of the barbarous tribes
whom they had laboured to bring to the faith. Sadoc had not been with his
brethren, but had been sent on a mission to Poland; where, being appointed
prior of the Convent of Sandomir, he governed the brethren in so admirable a
manner, that it was commonly said among the people of the town that the Convent
of Saint Mary Magdalen was inhabited by angels.
On the night when the
Polish chiefs left the city for the Tartar camp, the brethren had assembled in
their choir as usual for the recital of matins. Matins were now just ended; and
all being seated in their places as the custom is, one of the younger novices,
standing in the middle of the choir, prepared to read aloud the martyrology for
the ensuing day; that is, the names of the saints who were to be commemorated.
He opened the heavy clasped book that lay before him; something seemed to
perplex and astonish him, for there was a moment’s pause. The pages of the book
were rich with the gold and painted letters of manuscripts of that day; but it
was none of these that caught and riveted his gaze. For an instant he doubted
if he saw aright; tor there, in characters not of gold but of intense and
glorious light, appeared the words, “At Sandomir, the Passion of Forty-nine
Martyrs.” His hesitation was but momentary; the next instant the passing
emotion of surprise was put away; and, faithful to the simple instinct of
obedience, he sang in a clear boyish voice the words which seemed to announce
to his brethren their own impending fate. The words fell on their astonished
ears like a thunder-clap: Sadoc rose from his seat and called the novice to his
side. “Is this a jest, my child?” he said; “if so, it is but ill-timed. What
words are those you have just sung?” “Father,” replied the young man, with much
simplicity, “I only sang what I saw in the book;” and so saying, he placed the
open page before the prior. Then the Divine illumination of the Holy Spirit
revealed to Sadoc that these things were written for him and his companions;
and turning to them as they sat in wonder what all this might mean, “Fathers,
brothers, and dear friends,” he said, “the Most High God has sent us blessed
tidings tonight. Listen, my children; ‘At Sandomir, the Passion of Forty-nine
Martyrs;’ who should these forty-nine be but ourselves, for we exactly make up
that number? Tomorrow, therefore, will see the golden gates of the New
Jerusalem open to receive us; and doubtless it will be the swords of the
Tartars that are to carve a short way for us to heaven. O blessed death, that
shall crown us with the green wreath of the martyrs, and admit us to the
embraces of Eternal Love! What can we desire more? God is calling us home from
our long exile; we will go there right joyfully, and welcome the blows that
shall make our path thither so quick and easy. But our time is very short; and
we who have so soon to meet the Bridegroom must see that our lamps are bright
and burning, and ourselves ready for His coming. Let the night, therefore, be
given to prayer, and the purification of our souls in the holy Bath of Penance;
and in the morning we will receive the Bread of Heaven, which will give us the
strength and courage of true martyrs.” The brethren listened to his words with
an extraordinary joy; and that night was spent in solemn preparation tor death.
Each one confessed his sins to the venerable prior, with the tears and
contrition of men whose last hour was at hand; then they remained in silent
prayer before the altar, calmly and joyfully awaiting the dawn of that day
which they knew was to be their last.
Bright and beautiful was
the morning light that streamed through the tall eastern window, and fell over
the kneeling forms of that little white-robed army of martyrs. There was no
sound of combat or of danger without; the city lay in profound quiet, and
nothing seemed to betoken that the glorious summer day which was breaking over
the world was to be one of bloodshed and of crime. There was but one Mass said
that morning in the convent church; and the few citizens who assisted at the Holy
Sacrifice marvelled not a little at the unusual sight they witnessed; for the
Mass was celebrated by Sadoc himself, and the entire community received
communion together at his hands, a thing which was not customary save at some
of the greater festivals of the Church. And then there was nothing more to do
but to wait for their executioners. They knew not the hour when they would
come; and though possibly they felt something of a holy impatience for their
release, the loveliness of religious discipline was never more wonderfully
manifested than during the long hours of that day in the Convent of the
Magdalen. As if nothing unusual were at hand, each one went to his accustomed
office and occupation. The bell rang and called them to refectory and to choir;
and no sign of unwonted haste or excited gesture could be marked to break their
holy and unruffled tranquillity. Only sometimes sighs and words of fervent
desire would hurst from their hearts. ” Ah, will they never come!” said the
young novice to whose eyes the blessed tidings had first been given. “They are
long about it; I counted by this time to have been with Jesus and Mary.” “Let
us go and bid farewell to the holy images and altars,” said another; “it will
be a happy thing to die before them: or perhaps even God may suffer us to give
our blood in defence of the Blessed Sacrament.”
But still the day passed
on, and every thing wore its usual aspect. The convent was situated in a remote
part of the city, and surrounded by a garden; so that few of the sounds from
the busier streets and more populous Quarters reached its quiet cloisters. The
friars, too, had been full of their own thoughts; or perhaps they would have
heard from time to time the echoed shouts and cries, which showed that a fierce
struggle of some kind was going on at no great distance. But, as I have said,
they were full of their own thoughts; and their thoughts were now with God. It
even seemed to them that the day had a quietness of its own; for the solemnity
of their own feelings seemed to cast the stillness of unwonted prayer over all
the world around them.
Evening came at last, and
the bell for compline summoned the brethren to sing the Divine praises in their
choir; the last homage they were to offer to their Creator in this world,
before being translated to the celestial choir of the angels. Surely never had
the words of that most beautiful service sounded so full of meaning to their
hearts, as now when they were fitting themselves for death. First, Sadoc’s
voice might be heard giving the blessing, as the office began: “May the
Almighty God grant us a quiet night and a perfect end” Then came another tone,
which sang the warning words: “Brethren, be sober and watch; for your adversary
the devil as a roaring lion goeth about, seeking whom he may devour; whom
resist ye, strong in faith.” Then burst forth from the choir the solemn and
magnificent chant, swelling through the arched aisles with more than usual
power in its tones. What wonderful words were those for dying men to utter! “He
that dwelleth in the help of the Most High shall abide under the protection of
the God of heaven. His truth shall compass thee as a shield; thou shalt not be
afraid for the terror of the night, for the arrow that flieth in the day, or
for the assault of the evil one in the noon-day. Forsake us not, O Lord, our
God. In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum. Commendo spiritum
meum. Gloria Patri et Filio et Spiritui Sancto. Commendo spiritum meum.” (Into
your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit. I commend my spirit. Glory to the Father
and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit I commend my spirit.)
Already might the Tartar
war-cry be heard clear and terrible in the very street beneath them; already
too heavy blows were falling thick and fast on the convent-gate: yet still the
friars seemed to take no heed. Quietly and in order they formed themselves into
rank for the procession, and moved down into the nave, singing the Salve with
tones so sweet and joyous, that you might have thought their voices were
already mingling with the angel choirs. Then they knelt, turning to the altar;
and Sadoc walked through the rank, and gave the accustomed sprinkling of holy
water. It was at this moment that the door of the church burst open, and a band
of the Tartars rushed in: their hands and garments were dripping with blood,
and their whole appearance savage and revolting. They advanced tumultuously
towards the kneeling friars; but for a moment the scene before them seemed to
strike them with awe, and they paused as if under the influence of a
supernatural presence. They might well feel it so, as they marked that kneeling
row of figures clothed in white garments, whose faces were turned towards the
heaven which was about to receive them into its rest, already wearing something
of celestial beauty. Not a head was moved, not a voice faltered; you might hear
the words of the anthem sung as clearly and as sweetly as ever: “Et Jesum
benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende.” They were the
last they were to utter; the barbarians recovered from their momentary
astonishment, and with a yell of savage malice rushed on them, and slaughtered
them where they knelt. They fell with those words upon their lips, singing as
they died. One alone moved from his place, and seemed touched by an emotion of
terror. He rose, and turned to fly; but a wonderful sign was given him which
restored his courage. “For,” says the old chronicle which records this history,
“he perceived that the dismembered and mangled bodies of his companions, whose
souls were now singing everlasting alleluias with the angels, ceased not to
utter in accents of superhuman melody the words of the half-finished anthem;
whereupon he also cast away all base and coward fear, and offered himself to
the swords of the Tartars. So did these heavenly swans fly up to heaven,
singing the praises of their great Mother Mary; and very well may we believe
that her virgin hands did there crown their brows with the immortal laurels of
the martyrs.”
In the office granted in
their memory by Pope Pius VII, the words which they are recorded to have been
singing at the moment of their massacre are introduced into the collect: “Et
Jesum, benedictum fructum ventris tui, nobis post hoc exilium ostende.” Pope
Alexander IV, who filled the Chair of Saint Peter at the time of their
martyrdom, granted singular privileges to all who in their honour should visit
the Church of Sandomir; and their festival is still observed on the scene of
their death with extraordinary devotion and splendour.
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/catholic-legends-the-legend-of-blessed-sadoc-and-the-forty-nine-martyrs/
BLESSED SADOC, MARTYR
Sadoc is another of the
early disciples of Saint Dominic about whom the scanty records make us long to
know much more. The few references to him show that he was a native of Poland,
a man of good parts, and a splendid, dependable character, which caused him to
be loved, as well as admired, by his confrères. They also prove that he was
greatly esteemed for his holiness of life. Apparently he studied in Bologna,
and afterwards entered the Order there. In 1221, it will be recalled, Dominic
associated him with Paul of Hungary as a colaborer in building up the new
Hungarian province of Friars Preacher, and for the conversion of the Cumans.(1)
With Paul, his superior,
Sadoc journeyed through northern Italy, Tyrol, and Upper Austria into Hungary.
This was in 1221. He seems to have taken charge of the three candidates whom
the missionaries gained through their sermons at Enns.(2) That
he was a man of zeal and eloquence is evidenced by the fact that Saint Dominic
selected him for so trying a mission. As is the case with not a few most
efficient workers in every age, especially if they are quiet characters, the
historians rarely, if ever, mention him personally. Still the preceding sketch
of Paul of Hungary aff ords some idea of Sadoc's apostolic activity. The two
men must have often labored hand in hand during the years they were together. A
further idea may be gleaned from the outlines of the lives of Saint Hyacinth
and Blessed Ceslas, for Sadoc's last toils were in Poland.
There are indications
that, because of his exemplary life, rare piety, and good judgment, our blessed
was often employed in the training of candidates for the Order and in the
preparation of the younger brethren for the apostolic life. Yet there are no
positive records to that effect. For some years he was prior of the convent at
Agram, Hungary.(3) Similarly,
as will be seen, the man of God ended his earthly career in such a position.
Just when Blessed Sadoe
was called, or sent, from Hungary to Poland it would be impossible to say. However,
in 1260 we find him prior of Saint James' Convent, Sandomir.(4) The
traditions of his wise, kindly, and spiritual government of that community
which have come down to us, and which are borne out by the conduct of its
members in the catastrophe soon to be recounted, lead one to fancy that he had
been superior there for some years before that sad event. During this time, we
can but believe, he preached not merely in Sandomir itself; for his zeal must
have taken him into many places of the kingdom, if not even throughout its
length and breadth.
How the holy Friar
Preacher escaped death, or fared at the hands of the Tartars, in the calamitous
times when Paul of Hungary and so many of his confrères received the crown of
martyrdom, and Hyacinth and Ceslas were saved only by miracles, possibly will
never be known. Sadoe certainly passed through that awful epoch. But, in the
end, he became a victim of the same merciless marauders. Late in 1259, or early
in 1260, the Tartars again overran Russia in the same way as they did in 1240
and 1241. From Russia they swept into Poland, where they sacked and burned
Lublin and other cities. Carnage and devastation marked their course
everywhere.(5)
Finally, under their
leaders, whom the Polish historian, Rev. Martin Kromer, calls
"Nogaio" and "Celebuga," the barbarians laid siege to
Sandomir, a strongly fortified city on the Vistula(6) Night
and day they strove to take the place by storm, but in vain. Not only did
Blessed Sadoe bravely remain with his people; he kept his community there also.
Together with the students, novices, and lay brothers, there were forty-nine
religious of his house thus shut up within the municipal walls. While the holy
prior trusted in the goodness of God, he knew that his brethren would not
hesitate to purchase the crown of heaven at the price of their lives. Possibly
he also felt that their blood might, in the designs of providence, bring peace
and quiet to Poland, as well as redound to the good of religion.(7)
Sadoc did not permit the
turmoil of the time, or his labors among the distracted faithful, to interfere
with the regular exercises of the community. It was while engaged in one of
these that they received their warning. After that part of the divine office
called matins, the novice appointed to read the martyrology, which notes the
saints whose feasts fall on the next day, suddenly faltered and stood aghast.
Then, with his voice scarcely under control, he read: "At Sandomir, the
sufferings of forty-nine martyrs" (Sandomiriae, passio quadraginta
novem martyrum). Quite naturally, everyone was stupefied at so strange and
unexpected an announcement. The superior called for the book. There were the
words written in letters of gold. They disappeared after the community bad seen
them.(8)
Some writers tell us that
our blessed then knew by inspiration what was to happen. Be this as it may, his
keen religious instinct would have revealed to him the fate of himself and
confrères. When the prayers were finished, although there seemed to be no danger
of the strongly fortified town being taken by the enemy, he gave his colleagues
a brief conference, in which he assured them that they were all to be martyrs,
and urged them bravely to prepare for the glorious conflict. He felicitated
them that their fortune was to be so happy. Needless to say that his words
produced a profound impression.
This extraordinary
occurrence was on the first day of June; the year 1260. Meanwhile, the Tartars
resorted to fraud and imposture that they might gain possession of Sandomir,
which they had failed to carry by storm. At their instigation, some Russian
officers who had turned traitors to their own country and accepted places in
the army of the enemy arranged a parley with the leaders of the Poles. These
were persuaded that, if they visited the camp of "Nogaio" and
"Celebuga," easy terms of peace could be made, that neither the city
would be injured, nor the people molested, and that much suffering would be
spared. Hardly had they reached the place where they thought the conference
would be held, when the barbarians, now that its defenders were without
commanders, rushed upon Sandomir, and took it by a vigorous assault.(9)
Never did unwise trust cost
more dearly. The Tartars, innately brutal, were always known to be cruel in
proportion to the resistance with which they met. On this occasion both their
inhumanity and their villainy were consummate. The city was pillaged and
destroyed. The streets ran with blood. When the fiends grew weary of butchering
with the sword, they drove crowds of people to the banks of the Vistula, where
they were drowned in the river.(10)
It is now time to return
to Blessed Sadoc and his community. In expectation of their baptism of blood,
they prepared for the ordeal, so repugnant to the instincts of nature, by
confession, prayers, communion, and thousands of acts of love. Under the noble
example of their superior, they offered their lives to God as a sacrifice for
the sins of the world. With the same regularity as before the choral exercises
were carried out the two days and a night that intervened between the
supernatural admonition and the martyrdom. On the evening of June 2, 1260,
compline was sung as usual. After this, the forty-nine Friars Preacher, in
accordance with the custom of their Order, marched out of the choir in
procession and down the main aisle of the church, singing the Salve Regina. (11)
Possibly an expectation
of rich booty combined with their hatred of Christianity to cause the Tartars
generally to begin their work of devastation, after a city had fallen into
their hands, by pillaging the Catholic churches. At any rate, these sacred
edifices were ever among the first structures visited and despoiled by them. So
it happened in Sandomir. Blessed Sadoc and his community had just reached their
places in Saint James', when the barbarians rushed upon them.(12) In
a moment the forty-nine lay dead in the main aisle. Of the martyrs sixteen were
priests; three deacons; four subdeacons; eight or nine in minor orders; nine or
ten professed students; five still in their noviceship; and three lay brothers.(13)
Because of his zeal,
virtue, and model life, Blessed Sadoc had been held in veneration wherever he
labored. After death, the devotion towards him not only grew, but was also
extended to his companions in martyrdom, whom he guided to a port of spiritual
safety in a time of danger. Blessed John Prandota, bishop of Cracow, and
Boleslaw V, king of Poland, and called "the Chaste," sent
representatives to Rome that they might lay the case of these athletes of
Christ before Alexander IV, as well as make known to him what the Catholics had
suffered at the bands of the Tartars; for many of them had certainly died in
the cause of their religion. The Holy Father, to show his sympathy and still
further to quicken the faith of the people, accorded to all who visit the
church of Sandomir on June 2 the same indulgences that can be gained by an
attendance at Saint Mary of the Martyrs, Rome.(14)
It is worthy of note that
the fact that Sadoc and his companions went to death, while engaged in the
chant of the Salve Regina, gave rise to the custom in their Order of
softly singing the same prayer to the Blessed Virgin at the bedside of its
members in their last moments. Marvellous things have been recorded in
connection with the glorious triumph of these Friars Preacher. For instance,
our Lady, whose honor they died praising under the title of "Mother of
Mercy," is said to have been seen to open the gates of heaven for them.
Persons worthy of credence declared that they often saw the exterior of the church
in which they died illuminated by forty-nine brilliant stars. Others bore
witness to the same number of beautiful candles around the altar erected in
honor of the martyrs, which had been lit and placed there by no human hands.
Out of veneration, a large picture was painted over this altar, in which they
are portrayed on their knees under the mantle of the Blessed Virgin, and
holding lighted candles in token of their victory.(15)
This devotion for our
athletes of the faith has continued down through the course of ages. It is
especially strong in Poland and Sandomir. Pius VII not only took official
recognizance of this fact, but also granted the Order to which they belonged
permission to recite the divine office and say mass in their honor on June 2,
the day of their martyrdom.
NOTES
1.
Father Touron has one article for Paul of Hungary and Blessed Sadoc, and so has
no special general references for his sketch of the latter. However, the
following may be given: Acta Sanctorum, XXI (first vol. for June),
358 ff; Année Dominicaine, VI (June 2), 45 ff; BZOVIUS (Bzowski),
XIII, col. 689-690; FRACHET, de, Vitae Fratrum (Reichert ed.), p.
305; MAMACHI, 644-645; MARCHESE, III, 363 ff; MORTIER, op. cit., I, 135
and passim; PIO, col. 61-62. (Ed. note).
2. See de Frachet, as
above, and the sketch of Paul of Hungary.
4. The Dominicans had two
houses in Sandomir -- Saint Mary Magdalen's, and Saint James'. Father Touron
places the martyrdom at Saint Mary Magdalen's. We follow Father Mortier in
saying Saint James', for he had the advantage of later historical research.
(Ed. note).
5. Some writers place
Blessed Sadoc's death in 1241, or the same year as that of Paul of Hungary,
which is not altogether unnatural, as they had labored together. At the end of
his sketch, Father Touron speaks of this, and shows his disinclination to go
against these. Yet he clearly indicates his belief that it was in 1260. We have
taken this latter year all through our sketch, for it is that given by later
authors, who had the advantage of fuller historical research. (Ed. note).
7. There were likely
other fathers of the house who were engaged in missionary work, when the
Tartars surrounded Sandomir, and were thus not included in the massacre. (Ed.
note).
10 Ibid. Kromer,
whom the Acta quotes, feels quite certain that this took place in
1260; but the authority of Dlugosz, who assigns it to 1259, causes him to
waver. The later authorities give 126O. (Ed. note).
11. For the different
opinions about the year of Sadoc's death see note 5. All agree in placing it on
June 2, whatever the year. (Ed. note).
12. See note 4 about the
two convents in Sandomir. For the reason assigned there, we follow Father
Mortier in giving the name of this church as Saint James, instead of Touron,
who says Saint Mary Magdalen's. We found no reference to the fathers of the other
house in Sandomir at this time. Possibly, because of the size of the city, the
need of laborers, or other cause, it was closed after the earlier irruption of
the Tartars. (Ed. note).
13. The Année
Dominicaine (VI, 47-48) gives their religious names as follows: (the
priests) Sadoc, Paul, Malachy, Andrew, Peter, James, Abel, Simon, Clement,
Barnabas, Elias, Bartholomew, Luke, Matthew, John, and Philip. The deacons were
Joachim, Joseph, and Stephen; the subdeacons Thaddeus, Moses, Abraham, and
Basil; those in minor orders David, Aaron, Benedict, Onuphrius, Dominic,
Michael, Mathias, Timothy, and probably Maurus; the professed students possibly
the Maurus just mentioned, Gordian, Felician, Mark, John, Gervasius, Christopher,
Donatus, Medard, and Valentine; those still in their novitiate Daniel, Tobias,
Macarius, Raphael, and Isais; the lay brothers Cyril, Jeremiah, and Thomas.
(Ed. note).
14. BZOVIUS, col. 690;
MATHIAS of Miechow, Historia Poloniae Book 3, Chap. XLIV.
15. Année
Dominicaine, VI, 48.
SOURCE : http://www.domcentral.org/trad/disciples/28sadoc.htm
June 2: BB Sadoc and
Companions, M., O.P., Commemoration
Today, in the 1962
Dominican Rite Calendar, we commemorate the feast of Blessed Sadoc and his
companions, martyrs of Poland. The ferial office is prayed, according to the rubrics and
at Lauds and Vespers, the commemoration of Blessed Sadoc and his
companions is made. A second commemoration is made of Ss. Marcellinus,
Priest and Peter, Exorcist, both of whom were martyrs.
Beginning today, we have
back-to-back feasts of Dominican martyrs, celebrated today and tomorrow.
However, we should recall the words of St. Thomas Aquinas, regarding the
perfect charity of those who shed their blood, or indeed forfeit their lives,
for our Lord's sake:
"We, therefore, say
that the martyrs did a most perfect work; for they renounced, for the love of
God, life itself, which others hold so dear, that, for its sake, they are
content to part with all temporal goods, and are willing to purchase it by any
sacrifice whatsoever." ("The Perfection of the Spiritual
Life", Opusculum XVIII, St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. by Fr. John Procter, O.P.,
Newman Press, 1950)
From the Martyrology:
At Sandomir, the
suffering of forty-nine martyrs of the Order of Preachers. They were warned by
these selfsame words (miraculously) inserted in the martyrology the day before,
and while they were in the church singing to the Mother of God, the infidels put
them all to death at the same time.
From “Short Lives of the
Dominican Saints” (London, Kegan Paul, Trench, and Trübner & Co., Ltd.,
1901):
Throughout the whole of
his apostolic career, the desire which lay nearest to the heart of Saint
Dominic appears to have been that of devoting himself to the conversion of the
Cumans, a savage horde who had established themselves on the north-east of
Hungary. It was not God's will, however, that the Father and Founder of the
Friars Preachers should carry the light of faith to these poor barbarians; the
work which he was not permitted himself to undertake was reserved for his sons.
In the General Chapter of A.D. 1221, held only a few weeks before the death of
the Saint, Father Paul of Hungary, who had recently joined the ranks of his
disciples, was dispatched to found the Order in the lands bordering on the
Danube, having as his companions Blessed Sadoc, who was of Sclavonic origin,
and three others. When they reached the confines of Hungary, Blessed Sadoc,
praying during the night, as was his custom, for the extension of the Order and
the success of their mission, saw himself surrounded by a troop of demons, who
cried out: "Woe to us! You are come to snatch from us our rights, to drive
us from our possessions." Then, pointing to the young novices recruited on
the way, the infernal visitants exclaimed in despairing accents: "And must
it be by mere children like these? O what confusion!"
Father Paul
eventually realized his holy Patriarch's desire and won a martyr's
crown among the Cumans; and Blessed Sadoc, who had shared his labours for
several years, became Prior of the Convent of Sandomir in Poland. In the year
1260, this town was attacked by a fierce horde of Tartars, led on and
encouraged by those inveterate enemies of the Polish nation, the Russians, who,
finding the place strongly defended and almost impregnable, treacherously
proposed a suspension of hostilities. During the night previous to this truce,
the Community had assembled to sing Matins and Lauds. At the conclusion of the
Office, one of the novices going out according to custom into the middle of the
Choir to sing the Martyrology (i.e. the list of the Saints to be commemorated
on the morrow) saw in the place of the book where he should begin, these words in
letters of gold: "At Sandomir the passion of forty - nine Martyrs."
The novice was greatly perplexed at the sight; nevertheless he mastered his
emotion, and, to use the words of the old chronicler, "with the simplicity
of a dove and the voice of a swan sang out to the Brethren the words which he
saw before him." The astonished Prior desired the novice to bring the book
to him, and the miraculous inscription was distinctly seen by the entire
Community. Then the holy Prior, filled with the Spirit of God, counted his
Friars, and found that with himself they numbered exactly forty-nine.
"Brethren," he exclaimed, "these words are for us; and doubtless
it is the Tartars who will open for us the gates of heaven; and that to-morrow.
Now, therefore, all that remains for us to do is to prepare by confession and
by a devout reception of the Bread of Angels for our happy martyrdom." The
religious listened to him with tears of joy and thankfulness. Not knowing when
the destined hour might be, they immediately got ready for Confession, and
spent the remainder of the night in prayer and in calm preparation for the
morning's Communion and for a holy death.
At daybreak, they all
approached the Holy Table, with wonderful peace in their breasts, knowing that
to them it was indeed to be the Viaticum. As the day wore on and no signs of
the expected barbarians appeared, they fulfilled their accustomed offices and duties,
yet with a sweet impatience for the hour of deliverance.
At length, at the hour of
Compline, they went to the Choir to offer up the last act of worship they
should be called on to render in this life. They sang that office with unusual
solemnity and gladness, and at its conclusion went out into the body of the
church in procession, as the manner is in our Order, to sing the Salve. As they
were sweetly entoning this Antiphon to the Blessed Mother of God, a band of
Tartars, traitorously admitted into the city by the treacherous Russians, burst
into the church and cut them all to pieces. One of the Friars was seized with
the impulse to flee and succeeded in hiding himself in the belfry; but (we
quote again from the old Chronicle), "perceiving that the mangled
bodies of his companions, whose souls were now singing Alleluias in heaven,
continued, though dead, to chant that sweet melody of the Salve, he regained
courage, offered himself of his own accord to the swords of the barbarians, and
went to join his fortunate Brethren in the courts of Paradise. Thus they died,
like heavenly swans, whose death-songs were the sweet praises of their Mother
Mary, and doubtless her virginal hands very lovingly crowned them with the
garland of immortality."
From this time the custom
was introduced into the Order of singing the Salve at the death-bed of its
members, in order to beseech Mary to change the labors and trials of
this vale of tears into the eternal possession of the blessed fruit of her
womb.
These blessed Martyrs
were beatified by Pius VII.
Prayer
After this our exile may
the merciful and loving virgin Mary show you to us, Lord Jesus, whom the
blessed Sadoc and his companions hailed amidst the fierce attacks of the foe,
and thereby deserved to receive from you the longed-for palm of martyrdom. For
you live and reign....
SOURCE : https://breviariumsop.blogspot.com/2017/06/june-2-bb-sadoc-and-companions-m-op.html
Blessed Sadoc &
Companions, MM.O.P.
Memorial Day: June 2nd
Profile
Saint Dominic's dreams of
converting the Tartars found realization in his sons. Missionaries did, in
fact, go to the North during his lifetime, and many more were sent out by
Blessed Jordan of Saxony. The more settles tribes of Poland and Hungary readily
accepted the Gospel, and the North was not long in blooming with Dominican
convents. But, in the thirteenth century, the restless millions of the East
were riding down upon the fertile plains of Central Europe. Wild Tartar tribes
soon destroyed what has been done for their more peaceful relatives, and
scarcely a missionary survived to preach his message of peace to them.
Paul of Hungary and his
band of ninety died as martyrs, probably in 1241. They were popularly honored
as saints from earliest times. Soon to follow was the group headed by Blessed
Sadoc, which had its headquarters at Sandomir, in Poland. So tragic was the
early history of the Dominicans in Poland that, even in that martyred country,
it is remembered. Polish Dominicans today wear a red cincture to recall the
martyred hundreds who shed their blood that Poland might receive the light of
truth.
Blessed Sadoc was a
student at the university of Bologna when he met Saint Dominic and was received
unto the Order. Being himself a Slav, he was eager to go to the North to
preach the word of God. This he was given a chance to do when he and Paul of
Hungary were given charge of the northern mission band. He soon accumulated a
number of eager young students and novices, and proceeded to Poland with them.
On his first night in the mission field, so say the old chronicles, the devil
appeared to Sadoc and reproached him for disturbing his works: "And with
such children as these," he said bitterly, pointing to the young novices.
With such as these, Sadoc did make havoc with the kingdom of evil: he won many
souls to God, and, in Sandomir, he soon had the satisfaction of seeing a large
community working for the glory of God.
In 1260, the Tartars made
a fresh invasion into Poland and attacked Sandomir. Blessed Sadoc and his
community had assembled for midnight Matins when they received warning of their
approaching deaths. A novice, reading the martyrology for the following day,
was amazed to see, lettered in gold across the pages of the martyrology, the
words: " At Sandomir, the passion of forty-nine martyrs." On
investigation, it was discovered that it was not merely a novice's mistake, but
an actual warning which they understood to be from heaven.
They spent the day in
preparation for death. During the singing of the "Salve Regina,"
after Compline, the Tarttars broke into the church and the slaughter began. One
novice, terrified at the thought of death, fled to the choir loft to hide, but
hearing his brothers singing, he realized that they were going off to heaven
without him, and he returned to the choir to die with the others.
From this martyrdom came
the customs of singing the "Salve Regina" at the deathbed of a
Dominican-priest, sister, or brother. It is fitting that a life dedicated to
God and Our Lady should end thus, with the battle cry "HAIL HOLY
QUEEN!" echoing up from this valley of tears to be joined by the voices of
Dominicans in heaven, who can now see forever the clement, loving, and sweet
Virgin Mary.
Born: Various years
within the Thirteenth century
Died: died 1260
Beatified: Their
cult was confirmed in 1807 by Pope Pius VI
Prayers/Commemorations
First Vespers:
Ant. The souls of the
Saints who followed in the footsteps of Christ rejoice in heaven: and because
for love of Him they poured out their blood, therefore shall they reign forever
with Christ.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Sadoc with thy companions.
R. That we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Lauds:
Ant. These are the
Saints, who for love of God despised the threats of men: the holy Martyrs
triumph with the angels in the kingdom of heaven. O how precious is the death
of the Saints, who constantly assist before the Lord and are not separated one
from another!
V. Wonderful is God
R. In His Saints
Second Vespers:
Ant. God will wipe every
tear from the eyes of the Saints: and mourning there will be no more, neither
weeping nor any sorrow because the former things have passed away.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Sadoc with thy companions.
R. That we may be worthy
of the promises of Christ.
Prayer
Let us Pray: May the
clement and loving Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, O Lord Jesus, show Thee unto us
after this our exile, she whom Blessed Sadoc and his companions, unceasingly
hailing amidst the hostile, assaults of infidels, merited from Thee the
longed-for palm of martyrdom. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
Pascal Time
First Vespers:
Ant. Come, O
daughters of Jerusalem, and behold a Martyr with a crown wherewith the Lord
crowned him on the day of solemnity and rejoicing, alleluia, alleluia
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Sadoc with thy companions, alleluia
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ, alleluia.
Lauds:
Ant. Perpetual light will
shine upon Thy Saints, O Lord, alleluia, and an eternity of ages, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia
V. The just man shall
blossom like the lily, alleluia.
R. And shall flourish
forever before the Lord, alleluia
Second Vespers:
Ant. In the city of the
Lord the music of the Saints incessantly resounds: there the angels and
archangels sing a canticle before the throne of God, alleluia.
V. Pray for us, Blessed
Sadoc with thy companions, alleluia
R. That we may be made
worthy of the promises of Christ. alleluia
Prayer
Let us Pray: May the
clement and loving Virgin Mary, Thy Mother, O Lord Jesus, show Thee unto us
after this our exile, she whom Blessed Sadoc and his companions, unceasingly
hailing amidst the hostile, assaults of infidels, merited from Thee the
longed-for palm of martyrdom. Who livest and reignest world without end. Amen.
SOURCE :
http://www.willingshepherds.org/Dominican%20Saints%20May.html#Sadoc Companions
Beato Sadoc e 48 compagni Martiri
domenicani
† Sandomierz, Polonia, 2
giugno 1260
Nel Capitolo Generale del
1221, il Santo Patriarca Domenico inviò in Ungheria il Beato Paolo, per
fondarvi quella Provincia, dandogli quattro compagni, uno dei quali fu Sadoc.
Una notte Sadoc udì i lugubri ululati del demonio che prevedeva quante anime
gli avrebbero strappate quei nuovi apostoli, i quali, a quel grido d’inferno,
si sentirono animati da più generoso ardore. Dopo aver percorsa l’Ungheria
predicando e fondando Conventi, Sadoc fu chiamato a reggere quello di
Sandomierz, in Polonia, sua patria. Nel 1260 la città fu invasa dai Tartari.
Una notte i padri, dopo aver cantato Mattutino, si disposero ad ascoltare il
Martirologio. Un novizio lesse a voce alta: “Sandomiriae Passio quadraginta
novem Martyrum”. Un trepido stupore si dipinge su tutti i volti: Sadoc, il
santo Priore, compreso l’avviso celeste, preparò i fratelli al sacrificio. Alla
sera di quel giorno, dopo Compieta, i frati, mentre cantavano la Salve Regina,
furono assaliti dai Tartari e trucidati. Uno solo era fuggito spaventato, ma
sentendo i compagni terminare in cielo il canto incominciato in terra,
commosso, tornò in chiesa per ricevere la stessa palma. Di questo avvenimento
glorioso ha avuto origine la bellissima consuetudine di cantare la Salve Regina
al letto dell’agonia degli appartenenti all’Ordine Domenicano, per chiedere a
Maria che mostri loro finalmente il frutto del suo seno, Gesù. Papa Pio VII il
18 ottobre 1807 ha permesso il loro culto, già ampiamente diffuso. Infatti, dal
1295, se ne celebrava la memoria nella locale chiesa di Santa Maria.
Martirologio Romano: A
Sandomierz sulla Vistola in Polonia, beati Sadoc, sacerdote, e compagni
dell’Ordine dei Predicatori, martiri, che, come si tramanda, furono uccisi dai
Tartari, mentre cantavano l’antifona ‘Salve Regina’, salutando così in punto di
morte la Madre della Vita.
Esistono tuttora delle
perplessita da parte degli storici circa l’identificazione del Beato Sadoc.
Molti lo ritengono ungherese anziché polacco, presumibilmente uno dei novanta
martiri domenicani in Ungheria che per mano dei Tartari “furono uccisi o con la
spada o trafitti da frecce o trapassati da lancia; altri volarono al Cielo
bruciati”, come asseriscono le “Vitae Fratrum”. In esse è citato fra Sadoc, in
seguito priore a Zagabria, inviato da San Domenico in Ungheria dopo il secondo
capitolo generale dell’ordine del 1221 insieme a fra Paolo ed altri tre
confratelli, tacendo però circa le sue presunte origini polacche ed il suo
martirio. Il Taegio nel “De insigniis” include tra i martiri della provincia
ungherese anche il piore Sadoc, messo a morte con altri quarantotto frati:
“Frater Sadoc, vir devotus et sanctus, quum in prenominatis provinciis Christi
fidem verbo et exemplo predicaret, cum quadraginta octo fratribus cum martyrii
palma celos gloriosus ascendit”.
Il Loenertz asserisce che
forse si tratterebbe del medesimo personaggio cui talvolta vengono associati
ben 93 o 94 compagni di martirio. L’Alberti invece conferma i numeri forniti
nel “De insigniis”. Bisogna notare come né il Taegio, né l’Alberti considerino
Sadoc polacco, ma solo nel 1556 il catalogo di Ususmaris censisce “Sadoc
Polonus”. Il Loenertz non sa spiegarsi ciò ed ipotizza che alcuni autori
abbiano arbitrariamente messi in rapporto Sadoc ed i suoi compagni con i
martiri domenicani di Sandomierz in Polonia. Le antiche fonti relative a questi
ultimi ignorano i loro nomi ed il loro numero.
A smentire tali
perplessità concorrono, però, non solo l’ininterrotta tradizione domenicana, ma
anche l’indulgenza che Papa Alessandro IV concesse a tutti coloro che il 2
giugno di ogni anno avessero visitato la chiesa domenicana di Sandomierz,
nonché l’indulgenza plenaria che Bonifacio VIII nel 1295 accordò per la festa
di questi martiri celebrata in Roma presso la chiesa di Santa Maria “ad
Martyres”. Inoltre nel 1959 l’antropologo Sarama intraprese degli scavisotto il
convento di San Giacomo a Sandomierz, rinvenendo così parecchi scheletri,
alcuni dei quali riportanti evidenti tracce di armi taglienti e frammenti di
giavellotti. Il regime comunista polacco interruppe però la sua opera. Infine è
doveroso sottolineare come sia ambigua l’interpretazione del termine Ungheria
utilizzato nelle “Vitae Fratrum” nel 1260, anno del martirio di Sadoc e
compagni. A quel tempo l’Ungheria non era il piccolo staterello di oggi, ma
comprendeva anche alcune zone limitrofe, poi passate alle vicine nazioni, e ciò
potrebbe spiegare la non corcondanza fra le varie indicazioni geografiche.
La tradizione dell’Ordine
Domenicano vuole che durante l’invasione tartara del 1259-60 Sadoc fosse priore
del convento domenicano di Sandomierz e, la vigilia dell’espugnazione della
città, il novizio addetto alla lettura del martirologio avrebbe esclamato fra
lo stupore generale: “Sandomiriae, passio quadraginta novem martyrum”. Così
avvenne: l’indomani, 2 giugno 1260, i Tartari irruppero nella chiesa di San
Giacomo per sterminare Sadoc ed i suoi confratelli, intenti a cantare la Salve
Regina. Proprio parafrasando tale antifona maria l’orazione liturgica nella
festa dei martiri recita infatti: “Ti mostri a noi, Signore Gesù, dopo questo
esilio la clemente e misericordiosa Vergine Maria, tua Madre, che il beato
Sadoc e i suoi compagni non cessarono d’invocare mentre l’aggressione dei
nemici meritava loro la sospirata palma del martirio”. Da ciò nacque l’uso per
i domenicani di cantare la Salve Regina al capezzale dei frati moribondi.
Papa Pio VII il 18
ottobre 1807 confermò il culto che da tempo immemorabile era tributato a questi
gloriosi martiri.
Ecco l’elenco completo
dei 48 presunti compagni di martirio del Beato Sadoc:
- Paolo, vicario
- Malachia, predicatore
del convento
- Andrea, elemosiniere
- Pietro, custode
dell’orto
- Giacomo, maestro dei
novizi
- Abele, sindaco
- Simone, penitenziere
- Clemente
- Barnaba
- Elia
- Bartolomeo
- Luca
- Matteo
- Giovanni
- Filippo
i diaconi:
- Gioacchino
- Giuseppe
- Stefano
i suddiaconi:
- Taddeo,
- Mosè
- Abramo
- Basilio
i chierici:
- David
- Aronne
- Benedetto
- Onofrio
- Dominico
- Michele
- Mattia
- Mauro
- Timoteo
i professi
studenti:
- Gordiano
- Feliciano
- Marco
- Giovanni
- Gervasio
- Cristoforo
- Donato
- Medardo
- Valentino
i novizi:
- Daniele
- Tobia
- Macario
- Raffaele
- Isaia
i frati conversi:
- Cirillo, sarto
- Geremia, calzolaio
- Tommaso, organista
Autore: Fabio
Arduino
