(ABOUT A.D. 484.)
[Usuardus, Ado, Notker, ancient and modern Roman Martyrologies.
Authority:--Victor of Utica's History of the Vandal Persecution.]
Victorian, proconsul of Carthage, a native of Adrumetum, was one of the
wealthiest men in North Africa, and had discharged several important
offices under Hunneric, the Vandal king, son of Genseric. But Hunneric
being resolved to trample out the faith in the Godhead of Christ, and
establish the Arian heresy throughout his dominions, offered Victorian
the highest honours, and his own special favour, if he would regard
Christ as a creature. Victorian replied, "Nothing can separate me from
the faith and love of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the confidence that I
have in so mighty a master, I am ready to suffer all kinds of torments
rather than to consent to Arian impiety. You may burn me or expose
me to wild beasts, or kill me by other tortures; but never will you
prevail on me to desert the Catholic Church in which I was baptized."
This reply so exasperated the tyrant that he made the saint undergo
the worst and most protracted torments his ingenuity could devise.
Victorian endured them all with a good courage, and gained the martyr's
crown.
In the city of Tambala also many suffered for the right faith, and in
that of Aquæ regiæ two brothers exhibited great constancy. They were
hung up by their wrists, with heavy weights attached to their feet.
After having thus hung all day, the endurance of one brother gave way,
and he cried out to be released. Then the other exclaimed, "Do not so,
brother! or I will accuse thee at the judgment seat of Christ; for have
we not sworn over His Body and Blood to suffer together for Him?" Then
the weaker brother was strengthened to endure, and the Vandals incensed
at their obstinacy, applied red-hot plates of iron to their flesh, and
tore them with iron rakes, and so, they entered into the joy of their
Lord.
Two merchants of Carthage, both named Frumentius, also sold all that
they had, even to their lives, to gain the most precious pearl of
eternal life.
The Church honours also on the same day S. Liberatus, his wife, and
sons, who suffered in the same persecution. Liberatus, a physician of
Carthage, was exiled, along with his wife, on account of his faith.
He felt keenly the being separated from his children, but his wife
consoled him, saying, "Think no more of thy children, Jesus Christ will
be their guardian." The husband and wife were incarcerated in separate
prisons, so as not to see one another. "Thy husband has submitted to
the orders of the king," said the Arians to the wife: "therefore do
thou yield also." But she answered, "Let me see him and speak with
him." Then she was conducted to where he was, and she reproached him
for his apostasy. But he exclaimed, "They have deceived thee, O my
wife, never have I renounced my faith." Then she gave praise to God. It
is not known how these saints suffered, but they are honoured by the
Church as martyrs.