September XXVI

SS. Cyprian and Justina MM.

The empress Eudocia, wife of Theodosius the Younger (who chose her for his consort on account of her learning and skill in philosophy), wrote the history of SS. Cyprian and Justina in a beautiful Greek poem, consisting of three books, commended by Photius, who has given on abstract of this work; but the poem itself is lost, with many other elegant poetical compositions of that princess. The authentic acts of these martyrs are likewise lost. But we have still extant the confession of St. Cyprian, written by himself, the same that was made use of by St. Gregory Nazianzen and Eudocia; also two other genuine pleces, the one entitled. The Conversion of Justina and Cyprian; the other, An Account of their Martyrdom. Also Prudentius, hymn. 13, p. 215. St. Gregory Naz. Or. 18. (though they, by mistake, confound this St. Cyprian with the bishop of Carthage), and Photius, Bibl. Cod. 184, give us the history of these martyrs. On their Latin nets see Card. Baronius, &c. On the Greek of two sorts, Lambecius, Bibl Impel. Vindeb. t. 8, p. 247, 257, 262, Montfauc. Bibl. Coislin. p. 210. See Tillemont, t. 5, Ceillier, t. 4, p. 89, Orsl, t. 4, p. 80, Jos. Assemani in Cal. Univ. t. 5, p. 269 ad 2 Oct.

a. d. 304.

St. Cyprian, surnamed the Magician, was an illustrious instance of the divine grace and mercy. He was a native of Antioch (not the capital of Syria, but a small city of that name, situated between Syria and Arabia), which the Romans allotted to the government of Phœnicia, to the jurisdiction of which province this martyr was subject. The detestable superstition of his idolatrous parents put them upon devoting him from his infancy to the devil, and he was brought up in all the impious mysteries of idolatry, judicial astrology, and the black art. In hopes of making great discoveries in these infernal pretended sciences, he left his native country, when he was grown up, and travelled to Athens, Mount Olympus in Macedon, Argos, Phrygia, Memphis in Egypt, Chaldæa, and the Indies, places at that time famous for superstition and magical arts. When Cyprian had filled his head with all the extravagances of these schools of error and delusion, he stuck at no crimes, blasphemed Christ, and committed secret murders, to offer the blood, and inspect the bowels of children, as decisive of future events. His skill was employed in attempting the modesty of virgins; but he found Christian women proof against his assaults and spells.

There lived at Antioch a young lady called Justina, whose birth and beauty drew all eyes upon her. She was born of heathen parents, but was brought over to the Christian faith, and her conversion was followed by that of her father and mother. A pagan young nobleman fell deeply in love with her, and finding her modesty inaccessible, and her resolution invincible, he applied to Cyprian for the assistance of his art. Cyprian was no less smitten with the lady than his friend, and heartily tried every secret with which he was acquainted to conquer her resolution. Justina, perceiving herself vigorously attacked, studied to arm herself by prayer, watchfulness, and mortification, against all his artifices and the power of his spells. “She defeated and put to flight the devils by the sign of the holy cross,” says Photius, from Eudocia.¹ St. Cyprian writes in his Confession:² “She armed herself with the sign of Christ, and overcame the invocation of the demons.” St. Gregory Nazianzen adds: “Suppliantly beseeching the Virgin Mary that she would succor a virgin in danger, she fortified herself with the antidotes of fasting, tears, and prayers.” Cyprian finding himself worsted by superior power, began to consider the weakness of the infernal spirits, and resolved to quit their service. The devil, enraged to lose one by whom he had made so many conquests of other souls, assailed Cyprian with the utmost fury, and, having been repulsed in several other assaults, he at length overspread the soul of the penitent sinner with a gloomy melancholy, and brought him almost to the brink of despair at the sight of his past crimes. God inspired him in this perplexity to address himself to a holy priest named Eusebius, who had formerly been his school-fellow: by the advice of this priest he was wonderfully comforted and encouraged in his conversion. Cyprian, who, in the pressure of his heart, had been three days without eating, by the counsel of this charitable director took some refreshment, and, on the following Sunday, very early in the morning, was conducted by him to the assembly of the Christians; for though it was forbidden for persons not initiated by baptism to assist at the celebration of the divine mysteries, this did not regard other devotions, to which such as were under instruction in the faith might be admitted. These assemblies were then held very early in the morning, both to watch in prayer, and for fear of the heathens. So much was Cyprian struck at the awful reverence and heavenly devotion with which this act of the divine worship was performed, that he writes of it:³ “I saw the choir of heavenly men, or of angels, singing to God, adding at the end of every verse in the psalms the Hebrew word Alleluia, so that they seemed not to be men.”* Every one present was astonished to see Cyprian introduced by a priest among them, and the bishop was scarce able to believe his own eyes; or at least to be persuaded that his conversion was sincere. But Cyprian gave him a proof the next day, by burning before his eyes all his magical books, giving his whole substance to the poor, and entering himself among the catechumens. After due instruction and preparation, he received the sacrament of regeneration from the hands of the bishop. Agladius, who had been the first suitor to the holy virgin, was likewise converted and baptized. Justina herself was so moved at these wonderful examples of the divine mercy, that she cut off her hair in order to dedicate her virginity to God, and disposed of her jewels and all her possessions to the poor. St. Gregory Nazianzen beautifully describes the astonishing change that was wrought in Cyprian, his edifying deportment, his humility, modesty, gravity, love of God, contempt of riches, and assiduous application to heavenly things. The same father tells us, that, out of humility, with earnest entreaties, he prevailed to be employed as sweeper of the church. Eudocia, quoted by Photius, says he was made door-keeper; but that, after some time, he was promoted to the priesthood, and, after the death of Anthimus the bishop, was placed in the episcopal chair of Antioch. Joseph Assemani thinks, not of Antioch, but of Damascus, or some other city in Syria.

The persecution of Dioclesian breaking out, Cyprian was apprehended, and carried before the governor of Phœnicia, who resided at Tyre. Justina had retired to Damascus, her native country, which city at that time was subject to the same presidial; and, falling into the hands of the persecutors, was presented to the same judge. She was inhumanly scourged, and Cyprian was torn with iron hooks, probably at Damascus. After this they were both sent in chains to Dioclesian, residing at Nicomedia, who, upon reading the letter of the governor of Phœnicia, without more ado, commanded their heads to be struck off: which sentence was executed upon the banks of the river Gallus, which passes not far from the city of Nicomedia. Theoctistus, also a Christian, was beheaded with them for speaking to Cyprian as he was going to execution. Their relics were procured by certian Christians who came from Rome, and were carried by them thither on board their vessel. In the reign of Constantine the Great a pious lady, named Rufina, of the family of Claudius, built a church in their memory, near the square which bears the name of that prince. These relics were afterward removed into the Lateran basilic.

If the errors and disorders of St. Cyprian show the degeneracy of human nature corrupted by sin, and enslaved to vice, his conversion displays the power of grace and virtue to repair it. How strangely the image of God is disfigured in man by sin appears by the disorders of his spiritual faculties, the understanding, and will, in which the divine resemblance was stamped in the creation. Not only beasts and other creatures have revolted from his dominion, and the shattered frame of his body is made a pray to diseases and death, but his will is rebellious, and the passions strive to usurp the empire, and destroy in his soul the government of reason and virtue. Also the understanding, that should be the eye to the blind will, is itself blind, and the light within us is become darkness. In the state of innocence it was clear, serene, and free from the vapors of the passions: it directed the verdict of the imagination and the senses, and gave to the soul, by intuition and without study, a full view into all speculative natural truths, suited to man’s condition; but its most valuable privilege was, that it taught man all the practical rules and notions of moral virtue firm and untainted, so that he carried this law in his bosom, and had but to look into his own conscience for the direction of his actions in the practice of all moral virtue, which, by the strong assistance of grace, was always easy to him. His understanding was also enlightened by a perfect divine revelation, and his will found no obstacle in the exercises of all theological and other supernatural virtues. The most fatal consequence and punishment of his disobedience we deplore in the extravagances, folly, crimes, and errors into which men are betrayed when they become once enslaved to their passions. Religion and faith alone secure us from these dangers, enlighten our understanding, and offer us the means to restore the rectitude of the will.

St. Eusebius, Pope, C.

He succeeded St. Marcellus in the pontificate, and strenuously maintained the discipline of the Church in the rigorous observance of the penitential canons, with regard to penitent sinners, especially those who had denied the faith in the persecution. Many, offended hereat, having at their head a turbulent man named Heraclius, gave him great disturbance on this account; but the true pastor stood his ground with invincible patience. He was banished into Sicily by the tyrant Maxentius, but was called thence by God in a short time to eternal test, in 310. The Liberian Calendar informs us that he sat only four months and sixteen days. See pope Damasus’s epitaph or poem on this holy confessor.

St. Colman Elo, Abbot, C.

This eminent saint, who was born in the province of Meath in Ireland, left his own country very young, in order entirely to devote himself to the divine service. The more perfectly his heart was disengaged from the love of creatures the more vehemently he found his soul attracted to God, and inflamed with divine love. Hence proceeded his ardor for the exercise of holy contemplation and prayer, and the constant union of his soul with God, whom he made the centre of his heart, and his whole happiness. Having lived a considerable time upon Mount Bladin in Leinster, and at Connor in Ulster, he returned into Meath, and built there the great monastery of Land. Elo (now Lin-Alli, in the King’s County), in which he trained up many in religious perfection. His surname was given him from this place, to distinguish him from several other Irish saints of the same name. He was closely linked with St. Columbkille before that saint left Ireland. St. Colman Elo died on the 26th of September, 610. See Usher’s Antiqu. c. 18, &c.

St. Nilus, The Younger, Abbot

This saint was of Grecian extraction, and born at Rossano in Calabria, in 910. From his infancy he was fervent in religious duties, and in the practice of all virtues, and made considerable progress both in profane and sacred learning. He engaged in wedlock with a view to the sanctification of his soul by the faithful discharge of the duties of that holy state, and was careful in it to nourish and improve the sentiments of virtue in his heart by frequent hours of holy retirement. These he devoted to religious meditation, reading, and prayer, lest the seeds of piety should be choked amidst the cares and business of the world. Though his attention to his obligations as a Christian held the first place with him, this was so far from encroaching on his duties to others, that it made him more diligent in them. But then he was careful to shun idle conversation, and the vain pleasures and diversions of the world, which are apt to blot out those serious thoughts which are impressed upon our minds in the time of holy retirement. After the death of his wife, his love of solitude moved him to take sanctuary in his beloved harbor of a monastery, from the embarrassments of a public life, and the glittering temptations of the world. He therefore retired about the year 940, into a convent belonging to the church of St. John Baptist at Rossano, where his mind was entirely employed in conversing with God. The reputation of his extraordinary sanctity was soon spread over the whole country, and many repaired to him for spiritual advice. In 976 the archbishop Theophylactus, metropolitan of Calabria, with the lord of that territory, named Leo, many priests and others, went to see him, rather desiring to try his erudition and skill, than to hear from his mouth any lessons for their edification. The abbot knew their intention, but having saluted them courteously, and made a short prayer with them, he put into the hands of Leo a book in which were contained certain maxims concerning the small number of the Elect, which seemed to the company too severe. But the saint undertook to prove them to be clearly founded in the principles laid down, not only by St. Basil, St. Chrysostom, St. Ephrem, St. Theodore the Studite, and other fathers, but even by St. Paul, and the gospel itself; adding, in the close of his discourse: “These maxims seem dreadful, but they only condemn the irregularity of your deportment. Unless your lives be altogether holy, you will not escape everlasting torments.” These words struck terror into all that heard the saint speak, which they expressed by deep sighs and groans. One of the company then asked the abbot, whether Solomon was damned or saved. To which he replied: “What does it concern us to know whether he be saved or no? But it behoves you to reflect, that Christ denounces damnation against all persons who commit impurity.” This he said, knowing the person who put that question to be addicted to that vice. The saint added: “I would desire rather to know whether you will be damned or saved. As for Solomon, the holy scripture makes no mention of his repentance, us it docs of that of Manasses.”

Euphraxus, a vain and haughty nobleman, was sent governor of Calabria from the imperial court at Constantinople. St. Nilus made him no presents upon his arrival, as other abbots did; on which account the governor sought every occasion of mortifying the servant of God. But shortly after falling sick, he sent for the saint, and falling on his knees, begged his pardon and prayers, and desired to receive the monastic habit from his hands. St. Nilus refused a long time to give it him, saying: “Your baptismal vows are sufficient for you. Penance requires no new vows, but a sincere change of heart and life.” Euphraxus was not to be satisfied, and continued so urgent that the saint at length gave him the habit. The governor made all his slaved free, distributed his personal estate among the poor, and died three days after in great sentiments of compunction.

St. Nilus refused the bishopric of Capua, and rejected pressing invitations to go to Constantinople; but the Saracens conquering Calabria, Aligern, abbot of Mount Cassino, bestowed on him the abbey of Bright-Valley, where St. Nilus took refuge with his community. He spent there fifteen years; then ten years in the monastery of Serperi.

The emperor Otho III. coming to Rome to expel Philagatus, bishop of Placentia, whom the senator Crescentius had set up antipope against Gregory V., St. Nilus went to intercede with the pope and emperor, that the antipope might be treated with mildness, as he was a bishop, and was received with great honor. Otho making a pilgrimage to mount Gargano, paid a visit to St. Nilus, but was surprised to see his monastery consisting of poor scattered huts, and said: “These men are truly citizens of heaven, who live in tents as strangers on earth.” St. Nilus conducted the emperor first to the oratory, and after praying there some time, entertained him in his cell. Otho pressed the saint to accept some spot of ground, in whatever part of his dominions he should choose it, promising to endow it with competent revenues. St. Nilus thanked his majesty: but returned him this answer: “If my brethren are truly monks, our divine Master will not forsake them when I am gone.” In taking leave, the emperor said to him: “Ask what you please, as if you were my son: I will give it you with joy and pleasure.” The abbot laying his hand upon the emperor’s breast, said: “The only thing I ask of you is, that you would save your soul. Though emperor, you must die, and give an account to God, like other men.” Our saint was remarkable for an eminent spirit of prophecy, of which many instances are recorded in his life. In his old age in 1002, he retired to Tusculum, near Rome, where he died in 1005, being about ninety-six years old. A community was formed in that place after his death, called of Grotto Ferrata, at Frescati, which still follows the rule of St. Basil. See the life of St. Nilus, compiled by a disciple of the saint in Baronius, Annal. t. 10; Fleury, l. 57, n. 5; D’Andilly, Saints Illustres; Barrius De Antiquitate Calabriæ cum notis Thomas Aceti, l. 5, c. 2, p. 362, 366; S. John of Meda; Richard Diet. p. 318.

¹ Cod. 184.

² P. 310.

³ Cod. p. 329.

* The ingenious Mr. Wharton, sub-preceptor of Westminster school, who had travelled into France, in his Essay on the Writings and Genius of Mr. Pope, among several miscellany anecdotes, makes the following reflection (p. 325). “I believe few persons have ever been present at the celebrating a mass in a good choir, but have been extremely affected with awe. If not with devotion.—Lord Bolingbroke, being one day present at this solemnity, in the chapel at Versailles, and seeing the bishop elevate the host, whisperer his companion the marquess de——, ‘If I were king of France, I would always perform this ceremony myself. This is the testimony of professed adversaries and scoffers. See also Dr. Taylor, &c.

 Butler, A., The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints (New York 1903) III, 757-761.