February 14 — Saints Faustinus and Jovita

The two brothers whom we are to honour to-day suffered martyrdom in the beginning of the second century, and their memory has ever been celebrated in the Church. The glory of the great ones of this world passes away, and men soon forget even their very names. Historians have oftentimes a difficulty in proving that such heroes ever existed, or, if they did exist, that they flourished at such a period, or achieved anything worth notice. Brescia, the capital of one of the Italian provinces, can scarcely mention the names of those who were its governors or leading men in the second century ; and yet here are two of her citizens, whose names will be handed down, with veneration and love, to the end of the world, and the whole of Christendom is filled with the praise of their glorious martyrdom. Glory, then, to these sainted brothers, whose example so eloquently preaches to us the great lesson of our season, fidelity in God's service.

The sufferings which merited for them the crown of immortality, are thus recorded in the liturgy :

Faustinus et Jovita fratres The two brothers, Faustinus nobiles Brixiani, in multis and Jovita, were born of a

I.taliae urbibus quo vincti, noble family in Brescia. Dur- sseviente Trajani persecu- ing the persecution under tione, ducebantur, acerbis- Trajan, they were led captives sima supplicia perpessi, through various cities of Italy, fortes in christian® fidei con- in each of which they were fessione perstiterunt. Nam made to endure most cruel

Brixiw diu vinculis con- sufferings, by reason of their strum. Amen.

Amen. stricti, feris etiam objecti in ignemque conjecti, et a stiis et flamma integri et incolumes servati sunt ; inde vero iisdem catenis colligati Mediolanum venerunt, ubi eorum fides tentata exquisitissimis tormentis, tanquam igne aurum, in cruciatibus ceive magis enituit. Postea Hotifice confirmati, ibi quoque Denique perducti Neapolim, in ea etiam urbe varie cruciati, vinctis manibus pedibusque in mare demerguntur : unde per angelos mirabiliter erepti sunt. Quare multos et constantia in tormentis, et miraculorum Evaristus ; virtute ad Christi fidem converterunt. Postremo reducti Brixiam, initio suscepti ab Adriano imperii, securi percussi, illustrem martyrii coronam acceperunt. brave confession of the Chrisbe- tian faith, which nothing could induce them to deny. At Brescia, they were for a long time confined in chains ; then were exposed to wild beasts, and cast into fire, from neither of which tortures did they rehurt or harm. From Brescia they were sent to mammissi,abEvaristoPon- Milan, still fettered with the same chains : and there their crudelissime torquentur. faith was put to the test of every torment that cruelty could devise ; but, like gold that is tried by fire, their faith shone the brighter by these sufferings. After this, they were sent to Rome, where they received encouragement from Pope but there, also, they were made to endure most cruel pains. At length they were taken to Naples, and there, again, put to sundry tortures; after which, they were bound hand and foot, and cast into the sea ; but were miraculously delivered by angels. Many persons were converted to the true faith, by seeing their courage in suffering, and the miracles they wrought. Finally, they were led back to Brescia, at the commencement of the reign of the Emperor Adrian ; there they were beheaded, and received the crown of a glorious martyrdom.

When we compare our trials with yours, noble martyrs of Christ, and our combats with those that you had to fight, how grateful ought we to be to our Lord for having so mercifully taken our weakness into account! Should we have been able to

SEPTUAGESIMA endure the tortures, wherewith you had to purchase heaven, we that are so easily led to break the law of God, so tardy in our conversion, so weak in faith and charity ? And yet, we are made for that same heaven which you now possess. God holds out a crown to us also, and we are not at liberty to refuse it. Rouse up our courage, brave martyrs ! Get us a spirit of resistance against the world and our evil inclinations; that thus we may confess our Lord Jesus Christ, not only with our lips, but with our works too, and testify, by our conduct, that we are Christians.