From his ancient acts, much esteemed by Baronius, and inserted by
Ruinart in his authentic collection. St. Zeno of Verona made use of them
in his forty-ninth sermon on this martyr. See Tillemont. t. 5 p. 557.
THE time of this saint's martyrdom is not mentioned in his acts; some
place it under Valerian, others under Dioclesian: he seems to have
suffered in some city of Mauritania, probably the capital, Caesarea. The
fury of the tyrants raged violently, and the devil had instigated his
soldiers to wage, like so many wolves, a bloody war against the servants
of Jesus. Upon the least suspicion they broke into houses, made rigorous
searches, and if they found a Christian, they treated him upon the spot
with the greatest cruelty, their impatience not suffering them to wait
the bringing him before a judge. Every day new sacrileges were
committed; the faithful were compelled to assist at superstitious
sacrifices, to lead victims crowned with flowers through the streets, to
burn incense before idols, and to celebrate the enthusiastic feasts of
Bacchus. Arcadius, seeing his city in great confusion, left his estate
and withdrew to a solitary place in the neighboring country, serving
Jesus Christ in watching, prayer, and other exercises of a penitential
life. His flight could not be long a secret; for his not appearing at
the public sacrifices made the governor send soldiers to his house; who
surrounded it, forced open the doors, and finding one of his relations
in it, who said all he could to justify his kinsman's absence; they
seized him, and the governor ordered him to be kept in close custody
till Arcadius should be taken. The martyr, informed of his friend's
danger, and burning with a desire to suffer for Christ, went into the
city, and presenting himself to the judge, said: "If on my account you
detain my innocent relation in chains, release him; I, Arcadius, am come
in person to give an account of myself, and to declare to you, that he
knew not where I was." "I am willing," answered the judge, "to pardon
not only him, but you also, on condition that you will sacrifice to the
gods." Arcadius replied, "How can you propose to me such a thing? Do you
not know the Christians, or do you believe that the fear of death will
ever make me swerve from my duty? Jesus Christ is my life, and death is
my gain. Invent what torments you please; but know that nothing shall
make me a traitor to my God." The governor, in a rage, paused to devise
some unheard-of torment for him. Iron hooks seemed too easy; neither
plummets of lead, nor cudgels could satisfy his fury; the very rack he
thought by much too gentle. At last {130} imagining he had found a
manner of death suitable to his purpose, he said to the ministers of his
cruelty, "Take him, and let him see and desire death, without being able
to obtain it. Cut off his limbs joint by joint, and execute this so
slowly, that the wretch may know what it is to abandon the gods of his
ancestors for an unknown deity." The executioners dragged Arcadius to
the place, where many other victims of Christ had already suffered; a
place dear and sweet to all who sigh after eternal life. Here the martyr
lifts up his eyes to heaven, and implores strength from above; then
stretches out his neck, expecting to have his head cut off; but the
executioner bid him hold out his hand, and joint after joint chopped off
his fingers, arms, and shoulders. Laying the saint afterward on his
back, he in the same barbarous manner cut off his toes, feet, legs, and
thighs. The holy martyr held out his limbs and joints, one after
another, with invincible patience and courage, repeating these words,
"Lord, teach me thy wisdom:" for the tyrants had forgot to cut out his
tongue. After so many martyrdoms, his body lay a mere trunk weltering in
its own blood. The executioners themselves, as well as the multitude,
were moved to tears and admiration at this spectacle, and at such an
heroic patience. But Arcadius, with a joyful countenance, surveying his
scattered limbs all around him, and offering them to God, said, "Happy
members, now dear to me, as you at last truly belong to God, being all
made a sacrifice to him!" Then turning to the people, he said, "You who
have been present at this bloody tragedy, learn that all torments seem
as nothing to one who has an everlasting crown before his eyes. Your
gods are not gods; renounce their worship. He alone for whom I suffer
and die, is the true God. He comforts and upholds me in the condition
you see me. To die for him is to live; to suffer for him is to enjoy the
greatest delights." Discoursing in this manner to those about him, he
expired on the 12th of January, the pagans being struck with
astonishment at such a miracle of patience. The Christians gathered
together his scattered limbs, and laid them in one tomb. The Roman and
other Martyrologies make honorable mention of him on this day.
* * * * *
We belong to God by numberless essential titles of interest, gratitude,
and justice, and are bound to be altogether his, and every moment to
live to him alone, with all our powers and all our strength: whatever it
may cost us to make this sacrifice perfect and complete, if we truly
love him, we shall embrace it with joy and inexpressible ardor. In these
sentiments we ought, by frequent express acts, and by the uninterrupted
habitual disposition of our souls, to give all we are and have to God,
all the powers of our souls, all the senses and organs of our bodies,
all our actions, thoughts, and affections. This oblation we may
excellently comprise in any of the first petitions of our Lord's prayer:
the following is a form of an oblation to our divine Redeemer, which St.
Ignatius of Loyola drew up and used to repeat: "O sovereign king, and
absolute Lord of all things, though I am most unworthy to serve you,
nevertheless, relying on your grace and boundless mercy, I offer myself
up entire to you, and subject whatever belongs to me to your most holy
will; and I protest, in presence of your infinite goodness, and in
presence of the glorious Virgin your mother, and your whole heavenly
court, that it is my most earnest desire, and unshaken resolution, to
follow and imitate you the nearest I am able, in bearing all injuries
and crosses with meekness and patience, and in laboring to die to the
world and myself in a perfect spirit of humility and poverty, that I may
be wholly yours and you may reign in me in time and eternity."
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