Page 37 - Saints of the Month: February

Saints of the Month: February

once formed, the object of which was to die
for Christ. Even the little children joined it.
Peter, a Christian child six years old, was
awakened early and told that he was to be
beheaded, together with his father. Strong
in grace, he expressed his joy at the news,
dressed himself in his gayest clothing, and
took the hand of the soldier who was to lead
him to death. The headless trunk of his
father first met his view; calmly kneeling
down, he prayed beside the corpse, and,
loosening his collar, prepared his neck for
the stroke. Moved by this touching scene,
the executioner threw down his sabre and
fled. None but a brutal slave could be found
for the murderous task; with unskilled and
trembling hand he hacked the child to
pieces, who at last died without uttering a
single cry. Christians were branded with the
cross, or all but buried alive, while the head
and arms were slowly sawn off with blunt
weapons. The least shudder under their
anguish was interpreted it into apostasy.
The obstinate were put to the most cruel
deaths, but the survivors only envied them.
Five noblemen were escorted to the stake
by 40,000 Christians with flowers and lights,
singing the litanies of Our Lady as they
went. In the great martyrdom, at which
thousands also assisted, the martyrs sent up
a flood of melody from the fire, which only
died away as one after another went to sing
the new song in heaven. Later on, a more
awful doom was invented. The victims were

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