From The Lives of the Saints, Father Alban Butler
In the seventh year of Dioclesian’s persecution,
continued by Galerius Maximianus, when Firmilian, the most bloody governor of
Palestine, had stained Caesarea with the blood of many illustrious martyrs,
Adrian and Eubulus came out of the country called Magantia to Caesarea, in
order to visit the holy confessors there. At the gates of the city they were
asked, as others were, whither they were going, and upon what errand? They
ingenuously confessed the truth, and were brought before the president, who
ordered them to be tortured, and their sides to be torn with iron hooks, and
then condemned them to be exposed to wild beasts. Two days after, when the
pagans at Cæsarea celebrated the festival of the public genius, Adrian was
exposed to a lion, and not being despatched by that beast, but only mangled,
was at length killed by the sword. Eubulus was treated in the same manner, two
days later. The judge offered him his liberty if he would sacrifice to idols;
but the saint preferred a glorious death, and was the last who suffered in this
persecution at Caesarea, which had now continued twelve years under three
successive governors, Flavian, Urban, and Firmilian. Divine vengeance pursuing
the cruel Firmilian, he was that same year beheaded for his crimes, by the
emperor’s order, as his predecessor Urban had been two years before.
It is in vain that we take the name of
Christians, or pretend to follow Christ, unless we carry our crosses after him.
It is in vain that we hope to share in his glory, and in his kingdom, if we accept
not the condition. We cannot arrive at heaven by any other road but that which
Christ walked, who bequeathed his cross to all his elect as their portion and
inheritance in this world. None can be exempted from this rule, without
renouncing his title to heaven. Let us sound our own hearts, and see if our
sentiments are conformable to these principles of the holy religion which we
profess.
Are our lives a constant exercise of patience
under all trials, and a continual renunciation of our senses and corrupt
inclinations, by the practice of self-denial and penance? Are we not impatient
under pain or sickness, fretful under disappointments, disturbed and uneasy at
the least accidents which are disagreeable to our nature, harsh and peevish in
reproving the faults of others, and slothful and unmortified in endeavoring to
correct our own? What a monstrous contradiction is it not to call ourselves
followers of Christ, yet to live irreconcilable enemies to his cross! We can
never separate Christ from his cross, on which he sacrificed himself for us,
that he might unite us on it eternally to himself. Let us courageously embrace
it, and he will be our comfort and support, as he was of his martyrs.
From Father
Alban Butler. “Saints Adrian and Eubulus, of Palestine, Martyrs”. The Lives of the Saints
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