San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-04

selves at the martyrs feet, asking his
pardon and desired to be converted The
saint instructed them as well as time
would permit, sent for priests the same
night and, going with them to the seaside.
had them baptized and returned with them
again to the prison. The next morning, so
the story runs, Maximian was informed of
the conversion of the guards and in a
transport of rage sent officers to bring all
four of them before him.
The three soldiers persevered in the
confession of Jesus Christ, whereupon the
emperor's orders to hehead them were i'm
mediately carried out. Victor, after hav-
ing been exposed to the insults of the
whole city and beaten with clubs and
scourged with leather thongs, was carried
back to prison, where he remained for
three days. After that term the emperor
called him again before his tribunal, so
the legends run, and commanded the
martyr to offer incense to a statue of
Jupiter. Victor is said to have gone up to
the profane altar and by kick of his foot
thrown the statue to the ground For this
the emperor ordered the foot to be chop
ped off, which, according to historians,
the saint suffered with great joy, offer
ing to God these first-fruits of his body.
few moments later the emperor con-
stone of a hand-mll and crushed to death.
The executioners turned the wheel and
when part of his body was bruised and
crushed the mill broke down. The saint
still breathed little and his savage per-
secutor Immediately ordered his head to
be cut Off. Victor's body, as well as the
bodies of the three soldiers, were thrown
into the sea, but, being cast ashore, were
buried by the Christians in a grotto cut
out of a rock
st. Honoratus was of consular Roman
family settled in Gaul. In his youth he
renowned the worship of idols and gained
his elder brother, Venantus to the cross.
st: Vitalis was a citizen of Milan. and
Is said to have been the father of Saints
Gervasius and Protasius. Divine Provi
dence, according to historians of the
church, conducted him to Ravenna. whore
he saw a Christian named Ursicinns who
was condemned to lose his head for his
faith, standing aghast at the sight of
death, and seeming ready to yield. Vitalis
was extremely moved at this spectacle. He
knew his double obligation of preferrinp
the glory of God and the eternal saliva
ton of his neghbor to his own cornora,
life; he therefore boldly and successfullv
encouraged Ursicinus to triumph over
death, and after his martyrdom carried
ri III me- pony ana respectfully inferred il.
ne Judge, whose name was Paulinus.
being informed of this, caused Vitals m
be .apprehended, stretched on the rack
and, after other torments, to be buried
alive in place called the Palm-tree in
Ravenna. ~
81. Clement is said to have been con-
secrated bishop by St. Peter himself He
llved at the same time and in the same
church VI 'he
st. Plus was the ninth successor of St
refer ana relgned as Pope from about the
year f40 until his death in 1874: Will e.
Leo IL reigned as bishop of Rome from
682 to 6S3. iioii
st. John was martyred at Rome under
Julian the Apostate about the year 36I
Both he and st. Paul were beheaded 60.
creuy oy lerentlanus in their house, where
their honor and where they themselves
were buried.