(END OF 11TH CENT.)
[Gallican Martyrology. Authority:--Guibert, Ab. of Nogent-sous-Coussi,
l. 1053, d. 1124. Guibert knew S. Matthew personally; they were both
natives of the same village, and grew up together from childhood as
friends.]
Matthew was a knight of noble birth, of Agnetz, near Clermont, in
Beauvais. He was a model of purity, sincerity, and piety, ever calm,
and never giving way to petulance, or agitated by passion. He took
the cross and went to the East to fight for the recovery of the Holy
Sepulchre, with the bishop of Beauvais. At the court of Alexis, in
Constantinople, he was greatly respected. Having been made prisoner by
the Saracens, he was offered his life if he would renounce the cross of
Christ. He asked to be allowed to delay his reply till the following
Friday. On that day he was again urged to adopt their religion. He
replied, "I asked you to grant me this delay, not because I had any
doubt as to what my decision would be, but that I might have the honour
and felicity of shedding my blood on the same day as my Saviour Jesus
Christ bled for me. Come then, strike me! I give my life to Him who
laid down His for mankind." So saying he knelt and stretched forth his
neck for the blow, and with one stroke was decapitated.
March 28.
SS. PRISCUS, MALCHUS, AND ALEXANDER, _MM. at Cæsarea, circ._ A.D. 259.
S. XYSTUS OR SIXTUS III., _Pope_, A.D. 440.
S. SPES, _Ab. at Nursia, in Italy_, A.D. 513.
S. GUNTRAM, _K. of Burgundy_, A.D. 593.
S. CONON, _Monk at Nesi, in Sicily_, A.D. 1236.
VEN. MARY DE MAILLIAC, _V.W. at Tours_, A.D. 1414.