St. Fructuosus, Augurius and Eulogius -- A Bishop and His Two Deacons, Martyrs (original) (raw)

St. Fructuosus was the bishop of Tarragona in Spain. Augurius and Eulogius were his deacons. All three suffered martyrdom at Tarragona in the year 259 during the persecution of Valerian and Gallenius. The earliest account of the martyrdom is in the "Acts of Fructuosus," which hagiographers agree in considering authentic. All the episodes related in the Acts are found in "A Hymn in Honor of the Most Blessed Martyrs Fructuosus, Bishop of the Church of Tarragona, and Augurius and Eulogius, Deacons" composed by Prudentius and published in the year 405.

Prudentius took special pride in the fact that the three martyrs were from his native country and opened his hymn with corresponding verses of praise.

Tarragona, O Fructuosus, raises High its fortunate head agleam with splendor From the fires lit for you and your two deacons.

God regards with benevolence the Spanish, For the Trinity singularly honors This Iberian city with three martyrs.

Bright Augurius seeks the highest heavens, And Eulogius shining not less brightly Takes his flight to the throne of Christ supernal.

Their guide, Master, and teacher, Fructuosus, To the heavenly heights advanced in glory, Dignified by the holy name of martyr.

Prudentius then tells the tale of martyrdom. Fructuosus approached it eagerly while his deacons seemed to be more reluctant. However, they remained strong in their faith -- thanks to the encouragement of their bishop.

Summoned all of a sudden to the forum By command of the judge, the holy prelate Had appeared with his levites as companions.

As the butcher, who fed on blood, was dragging These heroes to the galling chains of prison, Fructuosus ran hence with eager joy.

Lest with fear his companions should be stricken Their courageous instructor urged them forward, Kindling in them the love of Christ the Savior.

'Stand you firm with me, men. The bloody serpent Calls the servants of God to cruel sufferings. Be dauntless in death. The palm awaits you.'

The three approached the prison stronghold and were incarcerated there for several days.

For six days in this prison they lay hidden; Then they stood at their cruel foe's tribunal, And the gridirons shuddered at the trio.

With a menacing look, Aemilianus, The proud, impious prefect, fierce and brutal, Bade them worship at altars of the demons. ...

'If you now have good sense you will relinquish This old woman's belief, for Gallenius Has decreed that all worship as he worships.'

At this mandate the gentle prelate answers: 'The eternal monarch of days I worship, The Creator and Lord of Gallenius,

'And Christ, Son of the everlasting Father. His servant, of His flock I am the shepherd.' The judge smiled on him: 'you are that no longer.'

The prefect then ordered fires prepared for the martyrs. They rejoiced at their fate but had to restrain the tearful mourners. Some of these presented the bishop with a cup to drink but he refused it, saying, "I will not drink, for we are fasting."

Now at last they approach the vast arena, By its circular tiers of seats surrounded, Where the mobs drunk with blood of wild beasts gather ...

Here a swarthy assassin had made ready For their tortures a pyre of blazing fagots, And was laying the last brands on the altar, ...

Pious friends now came forward to assist them: One would take off the sandals of the bishop, Bending low to untie the thongs that bound them.

Fructuosus refused this act of compassion and asked his supporter to leave lest he make his own death more painful. Then the bishop untied his own sandals so that he might run more swiftly into the furnace. At the moment when he had completed this action, a prodigy occurred.

As with bare feet the martyr there was standing, Lo the voice of the Spirit from Heaven sounded, Uttering words that astonished all the hearers: ... 'Blest indeed are these souls to whom is given To mount upwards through fire to heights celestial; Fires eternal shall flee from them hereafter.'

At these words with quick steps the martyrs enter The hot furnace of flames that crackle round them And recoil before them, all atremble.

Soon the fetters that bound their hands behind them Were consumed in the blaze and quickly falling, Left the flesh of the holy ones uninjured.

There, in the midst of the inferno, the three martyrs were now free to lift their arms in the form of a cross and to offer an extended prayer to the Father. During the course of their prayer, the flames spared the heroes.

While these saints, when the blazing fires retreated, Prayed to God that the flames might rush upon them And soon bring to an end their dreadful peril.

Sovereign Majesty heard these faithful servants, And releasing them from their fragile bodies Bade them come to Himself by death's sure pathway.

Then a guard from the palace of the prefect Saw the heavens stand open for the martyrs, And the heroes borne through the starry spaces.

Upon seeing this vision, the guard informed the prefect's little daughter. She also saw the vision and so knew that those slain in her father's forum now lived in heaven.

Prudentius next pens a couple of verses that provide interesting information pertaining to the cult of martyrs in this early period of Church history.

Then men sprinkled with wine the sacred relics, And collecting the bones and glowing embers Each one claimed for himself some precious token.

So intent were the brethren in obtaining For their homes these blest gifts of holy ashes, Or to bear them as pledges in their bosoms.

Prudentius then writes of concerns that the sacred relics would be buried in scattered places far apart. In response, the three saints returned with a final request.

Now appeared the three saints in snowy garments, And enjoined that their hallowed dust be gathered And enshrined in a sepulchre of marble.

The poet ends his hymn with an appeal to the citizens of Tarragona.

Let a chorus come forward of both sexes: Youth and maidens and children, men and women, Sing the praises of your own Fructuosus!

Let a psalm now resound to your Augurius, And Eulogius be praised in equal measures; Let us raise hymns alike to both these heroes.

Reference

"The Poems of Prudentius" translated by Sr. M. Clement Eagan, C.C.V.I. "The Fathers of the Church, Vol. 43"; The Catholic University of America Press, Washington, D.C., 1962.

[� Michael Closs, June 25, 1997]