June 14 — Saints Mark and Marcellian, Martyrs. — ♦

We have already met with these noble athletes of to-day's feast, for on January 20 th, when celebrating Saint Sebastian, the brave defender of holy Church, Mark and Marcellian appeared at his side as the noblest conquest won by the sainted head of the praetorian guards. There are other heroes likewise, gained over by his zealous intrepidity, whose names gild the pages of the Martyrology ; but these two whose festival we are keeping, were the immediate occasion of Sebastian's leading to God so goodly a troop of valiant Christians. Their conversion prepared Sebastian's martyrdom by reason of his apos~ tolate in their regard; and their glory eternally redounds to him, around whom in heaven they form a resplendent phalanx.

Captivity, torments, and even the sentence of death pronounced upon them, had failed to shake the courage of these two brethren. A trial yet more terrible awaited them, namely, the sight forced upon them, of the heart-broken grief caused to all they loved on earth, by this their sentence of condemnation ; for their family not being Christian knew no bounds to sorrow. Their father and mother bent down by years, the wife of each, leading by the hand or in

SS. MARK AND MARC ELL IAN.

225; her arms a group of weeping children, all uttering bitterest reproaches against these soldiers of Christ, for the destitution into which their coming death would plunge the survivors ; such was the dire attack ! Sebastian, profiting by the liberty his position afforded to approach the Christians in prison, was ever their comfort and encourager. He failed not to be present at this scene, for his noble heart fully realised how dangerously severe such a trial must be for souls as yet unscathed by any personal peril. The danger he knew might be imminent, at that moment; wherefore scorning his own safety, he there and then revealed himself a Christian, in order to hold out a strengthening hand to the two brethren. Moreover, God lent such wondrou efficacy to his words, that they converted even the pagans there assembled. Thus Mark and Marcellian had the joy of beholding those whose piteous complaints had a, moment before so painfully thrilled their souls, now applauding their constancy and demanding baptism. Their unbounded happiness was evident, all through their final conflict, which opened heaven to them, and which is related as follows in this short Lesson:

Mark and Marcellian were Marcus et Marcellianus two brothers, Romans* who fratres Komani, propter were arrested by the Prefect, christianam fidem a Fabiano

Fabian, for believing in Christ, duce comprehensi, ad stipi- and were fastened to a beam, to tern alligati sunt, pedibus which their feet were nailed, clavis confixis. Ad quos

The judge said to them : cum ita loqueretur judex :

" Wretched creatures, do think Resipicite, miseri, et vos

" for a moment, and free your- ipsos ab his cruciatibus eri-

" selves from such suffering." pite; responderunt : Nun-

But they answered him :"Nev- quam tarn jucunde epulati

" er did we enjoy apy banquet sumus, quam haec libenter

" so much as we do what we Jesu Christi causa perferi-

" are now undergoing for J esus " Christ's sake, in whose love mus, in cujus amore nunc fixi esse ccepimus ; utinam P tamdiu nos haec pati sinat, 14 quamdiu hoc corruptibili " corpore vestiti erimua. Qui " diem noctemque in tormen- " tis divinas laudes canentes, " body \n denique telis transfixi, ad martyrii gloriam pervenerunt. Quorum corpora via Ardeatina sepulta sunt. we now begin to be firmly fixed : would that He might let us suffer this as long as we are clad in this corruptible Still suffering, they for a day and a. night sang the praises of God continually, and in the end were thrust through with darts, and so attained the glory of martyrdom. Their bodies are buried in the Via Ardeatina.

The Holy Ghost filled you with strength, O glorious Martyrs; and the love which he poured into your hearts changed into exquisite delights, torments that terrify our cowardice. Yet, after all, of how much less account are those tortures that touched but your perishable body, compared with that intense anguish of soul over which you so nobly triumphed ? The dire grief of those whom you held dearer far than life, and whom, to all appearance, you needs must leave in hopeless woe, was verily the culminating pitch of your martyrdom. Only such can fail to realise this, who deserve the reproach cast by Saint Paul upon the pagans of his day, that they are without affection :l yes, when the world once more presents such a hateful spectacle as this, then will be the sign of the last day's near approach, so says the name Apostle. Nevertheless, human love must needs cede to that of God : He that loveth father or mother more than Me, is not worthy of Me : and he who loveth son or daughter more than Me, is not worthy of Me. You understood all this, dear Martyrs; your relatives who would separate you from our Lord, became but enemies in your eyes. At that very instant, our

1 Rom. i. 31. s St. Matth. x. 37.

2 2 Tim. iii. 1, 3. « Ibid. 36.

Jesus, who can never let himself be outdone in generosity, restored these dear ones to you, by taking them, through a miracle of grace, together with you and because of your example, unto himself. Thus do you complete for us the instructions already given, by a Julitta and her boy, by a Vitus and his glori- keen trials, an ever growing courage and love proportionate to our increase in the light and knowledge of our duty to God. ous Com]

Obtain for us, ye victors in such

J (JNE 19. v SAINT JULIANA FALCONIERI.

VIRGIN. - — ♦

This day witnesses the close of the pilgrimage of one who was miraculously supplied with the divine Viaticum. Juliana presents herself at heaven's gate, showing upon her heart the impress of the Sacred Host. The lily emblazoned on the city escutcheon of Florence glistens with fresh radiance to-day, for it was she gave birth to our Saint, as well as to so many others, some of whom have already beamed across our path, and some are about to follow, — all of them brilliant in sublime virtues practised within the ancient walls of this " City of Flowers," under the delighted glance and the urging influence of the Spirit of Love. But what shall we say of the glory of yonder mountains, which nobly crown this fair city, a diadem lovely in men's eyes, and still more so to Angels' gaze ? What of Vallombrosa, and further in the blue distance, of Camaldoli, of Aiberno ? all sacred fortresses, at whose foot hell trembling howls, ail sacred reservoirs of choicest grace, guarded by Seraphim, whence flow in gushing streams more abundant and ihore pure than Arno's tide, living waters of salvation on all the smiling land around !

In 1233, just thirty-seven years previous to Juli-

ST. JULIANA FALCONIERT. ana's birth, Florence seemed destined to be, under the holy influence of such a neighbourhood, a very paradise of sanctity; so common did the higher Christian life become, of such every-day occurrence were supernatural prodigies. The Mother of Divine Grace was then multiplying her gifts. Once on a certain festival of the Assumption, seven of the citizens, the most distinguished for nobility of blood, fortune, and public offices of trust, were suddenly inflamed by a heavenly desire to consecrate thenar selves unreservedly to the service of Our Lady. Presently, as these men passed along, bidding adieu to the world, babes at the breast cried out, all over the city: "Behold the Servants of the Virgin Mary!" Among the innocents whose tongue was thus unloosed to announce divine mysteries, was the new-born son of the illustrious family of Benizii. He was named Philip, and had first seen the light on the very feast of the Assumption, whereon Mary had just founded for her glory and that of her divine Son, the Order of the Servites.

We shall have to return to this child, who was to be the chief propagator of the new order ; for holy Church celebrates his birthday into heaven on the

1Does this mean to say that all was perfection in Florence, at this period? Certainly not ; nor is such in any degree our opinion, as we shall have occasion to show, in other passages of this work. Let the teaching so admirably conveyed by St. Augustine, beever borne in mind, namely, that Jerusalem and Babylon are wont to be commingled here below, and that never is hell so nigh, as when heaven is manifesting itself more evidently. Thus, whilst in those days rife with warlike instincts, Florence, but too often, incurred transient yet severe blows of wrath from the Holy See, when her city became the scene of Frederick the Second's deeds of violence, of hereticalassaults, and of allmanner of excesseson the part of foreign podestd or powerful families,— seated as she was, in the midst of Ghibelline Tuscany, she ceased not, by the visible protection of our Lady, to be throughout the restless agitations of the 13th century, the City of Mary and of the Popes. morrow of the Octave of the Assumption. He was destined to be Juliana's spiritual father. In the meanwhile, the seven invited by Mary to the festival of penitence, who all, persevering faithful unto death, are inscribed on the catalogue of the Saints, had retired three leagues from Florence to the desert of Monte Senario. There Our Lady, during seven years, formed them to the great work, of which they were the predestined though unwitting instruments. According to his wont, the Holy Ghost, during all this preparatory season, though of long duration, kept from them every idea save that of their own sanctification, employing them in the mortification of the senses, and in a spirit of exclusive contemplation of the sufferings of Our Lord and those of his divine Mother. Two amongst them daily came down to the city to beg bread for themselves and their companions. One of these illustrious mendicants was Alexins Falconieri, the most eager for humiliations amongst all the seven. His brother, who, still continuing in the world, held one of the highest positions amongst the citizens, was in every way worthy of this blessed man, and paid homage to his heroic self-abasement. He likewise took an honourable share in the united gift bestowed, with the concurrence of all classes of these religious citizens, upon the solitaries of Monte Senario, whereby a magnificent church was added to the poor retreat they had been induced to accept, for greater convenience, at the gates of Florence.

To honour the mystery wherein their sovereign Lady declared herself to be the humble servant of the Lord, this church and monastery of the Servites of Mary received the title of the "Annunziata." Among the marvels which wealth and art, in succeeding ages, have lavished upon its interior, the principal treasure which puts all the rest in the shade

ST. JULIANA FALCONIERJ. is a primitive fresco of the angelical salutation, dating from the life-time of the founders, the painter whereof, more devout to Mary than skilful with his pencil, deserved to be aided by the hands of angels. Signal favours obtained without interruption from this sacred picture, still attract flocks of devout visitors. If the city of the Medici and of the Tuscan Grand-Dukes, though swallowed up by the universal brigandage of the house of Savoy, has preserved better than many others the lively piety of better days, she owes it to this her ancient Madonna, as well as to her numerous saints, who seem gathered within her walls, to serve as a cortfege of honour for Our Lady.

These details seem necessary to throw light on the abridged account given in the Liturgy, regarding our saint. Juliana, born of a sterile mother and of a father advanced in years, was the reward of the zeal displayed for the Annunziata by her father, Carissimo Falconieri. Beside this picture of the Madonna was she to spend her life and to yield up her last breath. Close by it, her sacred relics now repose. Educated by her uncle, Saint Alexius, in the love of Mary and of humility, she devoted herself from her very youth to the Order founded by Our Lady, ambitioning no title save one, that of Oblate, which would entail upon her the serving, in the lowest rank, the Servites of God's Mother. For this reason she was, later on, acknowledged to be the foundress of the Third Order of the Servites, and was superioress of the first community of these female tertiaries, surnamed "Mantellatse." But her influence extended further still, so that the whole Order, both the men and the women alike, hail her as their mother; for it was indeed she who put the finishing stroke to the work of its foundation, and gave it the stability it has been possessed of for centuries.

The Order, which had become marvellously eltended during forty years of miraculous existence, was just then, under the government of Saint Philip Benizi, passing through a dangerous crisis, the more to be feared because the storm had taken rise in Rome itself. There was question of everywhere carrying into effect the canons of the councils of Lateran and Lyons, prohibiting the introduction of new Orders into the Church. Now, the institute of the Servites being posterior to the first of these councils, Innocent V. was resolved on its suppression. The superiors had already been forbidden to receive any novice to profession or to clothing; and whilst awaiting the definitive sentence, the goods of the Order were considered, beforehand, as already devolved on the Holy See. Philip Benizi was about to die, and Juliana was but fifteen years of age. Nevertheless, enlightened from on high, the Saint hesitated not : he confided the Order to Juliana's hands, and so slept in the peace of our Lord. The event justified his hopes: after various catastrophes, which it were long to relate, Benedict XI, in 1304, gave to the Servites the definitive sanction of the Church. So true is it, that in the counsels of divine Providence, nor rank, nor age, nor sex, count for aught ! The simplicity of a soul that has wounded the Heart of the Spouse is stronger in her humble submission than highest authority; and her unknown prayer prevails over powers established by God Himself.

Juliana, ex nobili Falco- Juliana, of the noble family neria f am ilia, clarissimo pa- of Falconieri, was daughter of tri, qui templum Deiparae ab that illustrious nobleman who

Angelo salutataa aere suo founded and built the church magnifice a fundamentis of Our Lady of the Annunci-

Florentiaa, ut nunc visitur, ation, still to be seen in Flo- erexit ; matre Reguardata, rence. When she was born, in

ST. JULIANA FALCON IERI. the year 1270, both he and Reguarda his wife were already advanced in years, and up to this, quite childless. From her very cradle, she gave tokens of the holiness of life to which she afterwards attained. And from the lisping of her baby lips was caught the sweet sound of the names of J esus and Mary. As she entered onjier girlhood, she delivered herself up entirely to the pursuit of Christian virtues, and so excellently shone therein, that her Uncle, the blessed Alexius, scrupled not to tell her motherthat she had given birth to an angel rather than to a woman. So modest, indeed, was her countenance, and so pure her soul from the slightest speck of indiscretion, that she never in her whole life raised her eyes to a man's face, and that the very mention of sin made her shiver; and when the story of a grievous crime was told her, she dropped down fainting and almost lifeless. Before she had completed her fifteenth year, she renounced her inheritance, although a rich one, and all prospect of earthly marriage, solemnly making to God a vow of virginity, in the hands of St. Philip Benizi, from whom she was the first to receive the religious habit of what are called the " Mantellatae."

Juliana's example was followed by many young women of noble families, and even her own mother put herself under her daughter's instructions. Thus in a little while, their ambobus jam senescentibus, ac ad id tempus sterilibus, nata est anno millesimo ducentesimo septuagesimo. Abincunabulis non exiguum f uturae sanctitatis specimen dedit; vagientibus quippe labris suavissinia Jesuet Marise nomin a ultro prof erre audita est. Pueritiam postmodum ingressa, to tarn se christianis virtu ti bus mancipavit, in quibus adeo exeelluit, ut beatus Alexius patruus, cujus institutis ac exemplis instruebatur, matri dicere non dubitaverit ipsam non feminam peperisse, sed angelum; nam ita modesto vultu, animoque ab omni vel levissima erroris macula pura fuit, ut oculos nunquam in toto vitae cursu ab hominis faciem intuendam erexerit, auditoque peccati vocabulo contremuerit, imo, sceleris narratione perculsa, illico prope exanimis corruerit. Expleto nondum decimo quinto aetatis suae anno, re familiari, licet opulenta, terrenisque posthabitis nuptiis, Deo virginitatem in manibus divi Philippi Benitii solemniter vovit, ab eoque omnium prima religiosum Mantellatarum habitum, ut dicunt, sumpsit.

Julianas exemplum secutae sunt plurimae ex nobilioribus familiis feminae, ac mater ipsa filiaa sese religiose instituendam dedit ; ita ut, aucto paulatim numero, Or- dinem Mantellatarum instituerit, ac illi pie vivendi leges summa prudentia ac sanctitate tradiderit. Ejus virtutes cum optime perspectas divus Benitius haberet ; mortis proximus, nulli melius quam Julianae, non feminas taritum, sed et tot am Servorum Ordinem, cujus propagator et moderator exstiterat, commendatum voluit. Verum ipsa demisse semper de se cogitabat : et cum cseterarum esset magistra, in re quaque domestica, licet vili, sororibus famulabatur. Assiduitate orandi integras insumebat dies, in exstasim ssepissime rapta ; et si reliquum, in sedandis civium dissidiis, criminosis a via iniquitatis retrahendis, ac inserviendis impendebat aegrotis, quorum quandoque saniem ex ulceribus manantem admoto ore lambens,eos sanitati restituebat. Corpus suum flagris, nodosis funiculis, ferreis cingulis, vigiliis, humi nudse cubando, terere solita f uit. Parcissime cibo, et hoc vili, quatuor hebdomadse diebus, et reliquis duobus solo Angelorum pane contenta, excepto die Sabbati, quo pane solo et aqua nutriebatur.

Dura hujus modi vivendi ratione in atom ac hi morbum incidit, quo ingravescente, t PENTECOST. number increased, and she became foundress of the Order of the Mantellatse, to whom she

§ave a rule of life, full of wisom and holiness. St Philip Benizi having thorough know- . ledge of her virtues, being at the point of death,thought that to none better than to her could he leave the care not only of the women but of the whole Order of Servites, of which he was the propagator and head: yet of herself she ever deemed most lowly ; even when she was the mistress of others, ministering to her sisters in the meanest offices of the household work* She passed whole days in incessant prayer, and was often rapt in spirit; and the remainder of her time, she toiled to make peace among the citizens, who were at variance amongst themselves ; to recall sinners from evil courses; and to nurse the sick, to cure whom shewould sometimes use even her tongue to remove the matter that ran from their sores, and so healed them. It was her custom to afflict her body with whips, knotted cords, iron girdles, watching, and sleeping upon the bare ground. U poa four days in the week, she ate very sparingly, and that only of the coarsest food ; on the other two she contented herself with the Bread of Angels alone, except Saturday whereon she took only bread and water.

This hardship of life caused her to fall ill of a stomach complaint, which increasing,

ST. JULIANA brought her to the point of death, when she was seventy years of age. She bore the daily sufferings of this long illness with a smiling face and a brave heart ; the only thing of which she was heard to complain being, that her stomach was so weak, that unable to retain food, she was withheld, by reverence for the holy Sacrament, from the Eucharistic Table. Finding herself in these straits she begged the Priest to bring her the Divine Bread, and as she dared not take It into her mouth, to put It as near as possible to her heart exteriorly. The Priest did as she wished, and to the amazement of all present, the Divine Bread at once disappeared from sight, and at the same instant, a smile of joyous peace crossed the face of J uliana, and she gave up the ghost This matter seemed beyond all belief, until the virginal body was being laid out in the accustomed manner; for then there was found, upon the left side of the bosom, a mark like the stamp of a seal, reproducing the form of the Sacred Host, the mould of which was one of those that bear a figure of Christ crucified. The report of this and of other wonders procured for Juliana a reverence not only from Florence, but from all parts of the Christian world, which reverence so increased through the course of tour hundred years, that Pope Benedict XIII. commanded a proper Office in her honour to cum septuagesimum aetatis annum ageret, ad extremum vitae spatium redacta est. Diuturnse valetudinis incommoda hilari vultu, constantique animo pertulit: de uno tantum conqueri audita est, quod cum cibum capere ac retinere nullo modo posset, ab Eucharistica mensa ob Sacramenti reverentiam arceretur. Verum, his in angustiis constituta, sacerdotem rogavit, ut allatum divinum panem, quern ore sumere nequibat, pectori saltern exterius admoveret. Precibus illius morem gessit sacerdos, et mirum ! eodem temporis momento divinus panis disparuit, et Juliana sereno ac ridenti vultu exspiravit. Res supra fidem tamdiu fuit, donee virgineum de more curaretur corpus ; inventa enim est circa sinistrum pectoris latus carni veluti sigillo impressa forma hostise, quae Christi crucifixi effigiem repraesentabat. Hujusprodigiifama caeterorumque miraculorum, non Florentiae tantum, sed to this christiani or bis venerationem illi conciliavit, ac per quatuor prope integrasaecula adeo aucta est, ut tandem Benedictus Papa Decimustertius in ejus celebritate Officium proprium recitari ab uni verso Ordine beatae Mariae Virginis Servorum jusserit. Clemens veroDuodecimus, munificentissimus ejusdem Ordinis protector novis in dies miraculis co- be celebrated by the whole ruscantem sanctarum Virgi- Order of Servitesof the Blessed num catalogo adscripsit Virgin Mary, and Clement XII, the munificent Protector of the same Order, finding new signs and wonders shedding lustre upon her glory every day, inscribed the name of Juliana upon the catalogue of holy virgins.

To serve Mary, was the only nobility that had any attraction in thine eyes, O Juliana ! To share her Dolours, was the only recompense which thy generous soul, in its lowliness, could ambition. Thy desires were granted: but from that lofty throne where She reigns as Queen of angels and of men, She who confessed herself the Handmaid of the Lord and saw God to have regard to her humility, was also pleased to exalt thee, like herself, above all the mighty ones. Counteracting that hidden silence wherein thou wouidst fain have had the human brilliancy of thy pedigree forgotten and lost for ever, she hath made thy holy glory eclipse the fair honour of thy sires, in Florence; so that if the name of Falconieri has now a world-wide fame, it is on thy account, O humble Tertiary, 0 lowly Servant of the Servites of Our Lady! Further still: in that fair home of true nobility, in yonder City of God, where ranks are distinguished by the varying degree of radiance shed by the Lamb on the brow of each one of the Elect, thou dost shine resplendent with an aureola, which is nothing less than a participation of Mary's glory. Just as she acted in regard of holy Church, after the Ascension of our Lord, so didst thou in respect of the Servite Order ; for whilst leav-

1 St. Luke, i. 48, 52.

ST. JULIANA FALCONlERi: ing to others such action as appears externally, and such authority as must rule souls, thou wast none the less, in thy lowliness, the real mistress and mother of the new family, formed of the men and the women chosen by God for that Order. More than once, in other centuries likewise, has the divine Mother been pleased thus to glorify her faithful itnitatrices, by making them become, beyond all calculation of their own, faithful copies of herself. Just as in the family confided to Peter by her Divine Sod, Our Lady was the most submissive of all others to the rule of Christ's Vicar and that of the other Apostles ; whereas all knew right well that she was their Queen, and the very fountain-head of the graces of consolidation and growth that were inundating the Church; so, O Juliana, the weakness of thy sex and age in no way restrained a strong religious Order from proclaiming thee its light and its glory. This was because the Most High, ever liberal in His gifts, was pleased to grant to thy youthfulness, results which he refused to the greater maturity, to the genius, yea, to the sanctity of thy Father, Saint Philip Benizi !

Continue, then, to shield thy devout family of Servites of Mary: stretch forth thy protecting mantle over every religious Order severely tried in these our days. May Florence, through thine aid, ever hold in most precious remembrance the favours lavished on her by Our Lady and the saints, because of her faith, in the good days of old. May Holy Church ever have more and more cause to sing thy power, as a Bride, over the Heart of the Divine Spouse. In return for the signal grace he bestowed on thee, as the crown of thy life, and the consummation of his Love in thee, be thou propitious to us in our last struggle: obtain for us that we may not die unhelped by the reception of the holy

Viaticum. The whole of this portion of the cycle is illumined with the rays of the adorable Host, proposed to our prostrate worship in so special a manner, at this season, by another Juliana. Oh! may that sweet Host be the one Love of our life's career. May it be our strong bulwark in life's final combat! yea, may our death be nothing else than a passing from the divine banquet of earth's land of shadows, up to the delicious festal board of Eternal Union !