Text from “The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger, O.S.B.
Volume 8.
Paschal Time.
Book II.
The Apostle of The Gentiles, explaining the Mystery of The Pasch, tells us that Baptism is the Sepulchre of our sins, and that we rise from it together with Our Redeemer, having our Souls radiant with The Life of Grace.
Our Holy Faith teaches us that he who gives his life, for Christ or His Church, washes away in his own blood every stain from his Soul, and rises to Life Everlasting: It is as though he received a second Baptism, which reproduces all the effects belonging to the great Sacrament of Regeneration.
We have, today, a sinner, who, being purified by Martyrdom and re-Baptised in his own blood, is numbered among the privileged ones who share in the glory of Our Risen Jesus.
Volume 8.
Paschal Time.
Book II.
The Apostle of The Gentiles, explaining the Mystery of The Pasch, tells us that Baptism is the Sepulchre of our sins, and that we rise from it together with Our Redeemer, having our Souls radiant with The Life of Grace.
Our Holy Faith teaches us that he who gives his life, for Christ or His Church, washes away in his own blood every stain from his Soul, and rises to Life Everlasting: It is as though he received a second Baptism, which reproduces all the effects belonging to the great Sacrament of Regeneration.
We have, today, a sinner, who, being purified by Martyrdom and re-Baptised in his own blood, is numbered among the privileged ones who share in the glory of Our Risen Jesus.
Boniface, by his immoralities, had scandalised the City where he lived; but his repentance was most complete. He longed to suffer the most cruel tortures for the love of the God that he had offended, and, thus, make atonement for the sinful pleasures in which he had indulged.
His wish was granted; suffering transformed him into the Saint whose Feast is kept on this day, and whose virtues are a homage to The Divine Conqueror of sin and death.
Holy Church thus commemorates in her Office, the bravery of this generous-hearted Martyr: Boniface was a citizen of Rome, and had held criminal intercourse with a rich lady, by name Aglaë. He was filled with such shame on account of this immoral conduct, that, by way of Penance, he devoted himself to searching out and burying the bodies of Martyrs.
In one of his travels, he left his companions; and finding, on arriving at Tarsus, that many were being put to divers tortures for the Christian Faith, he approached them, kissed their chains, and did all in his power to urge them to bear patiently the short labour of sufferings which were to be followed by Eternal Rest.
For this, he was seized, and his flesh was torn by iron hooks. Sharp reeds were also thrust up his finger-nails, and melted lead was poured into his mouth. His only exclamation, in the midst of these tortures, was: “I give Thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God !”
His wish was granted; suffering transformed him into the Saint whose Feast is kept on this day, and whose virtues are a homage to The Divine Conqueror of sin and death.
Holy Church thus commemorates in her Office, the bravery of this generous-hearted Martyr: Boniface was a citizen of Rome, and had held criminal intercourse with a rich lady, by name Aglaë. He was filled with such shame on account of this immoral conduct, that, by way of Penance, he devoted himself to searching out and burying the bodies of Martyrs.
In one of his travels, he left his companions; and finding, on arriving at Tarsus, that many were being put to divers tortures for the Christian Faith, he approached them, kissed their chains, and did all in his power to urge them to bear patiently the short labour of sufferings which were to be followed by Eternal Rest.
For this, he was seized, and his flesh was torn by iron hooks. Sharp reeds were also thrust up his finger-nails, and melted lead was poured into his mouth. His only exclamation, in the midst of these tortures, was: “I give Thee thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God !”
He was then put, head foremost, into a cauldron of boiling pitch; and when he was taken out, and found to be unhurt, the judge, in a fit of anger, ordered him to be beheaded. During his execution, a great earthquake was felt; whereupon, many of the pagans were converted to the Faith of Christ Our Lord.
On the day following, his companions, who were in search of him, were told that he had suffered Martyrdom. They bought his body for five hundred pieces of silver; and, having embalmed and shrouded it, they had it taken to Rome.
All this was made known by an Angel to Aglaë, who had also devoted herself to Penance and good works. She, therefore, went to meet the Martyr’s Relics. She built a Church, which was named after the Saint, and in which he was buried on the Nones of June (5 June).
The Martyr’s Soul passed into Heaven on the day before the Ides of May (14 May) at Tarsus, a City of Cilicia, under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.
On the day following, his companions, who were in search of him, were told that he had suffered Martyrdom. They bought his body for five hundred pieces of silver; and, having embalmed and shrouded it, they had it taken to Rome.
All this was made known by an Angel to Aglaë, who had also devoted herself to Penance and good works. She, therefore, went to meet the Martyr’s Relics. She built a Church, which was named after the Saint, and in which he was buried on the Nones of June (5 June).
The Martyr’s Soul passed into Heaven on the day before the Ides of May (14 May) at Tarsus, a City of Cilicia, under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.
The Angels rejoiced more at thy conversion, O Boniface, than at the fidelity of the ninety-nine just; but their joy was redoubled when they found that Heaven gained in thee, not only a Penitent, but a Martyr, too.
Receive, also, the congratulations of Holy Church, which Celebrates the memory of thy victory. Rome is still in possession of thy Holy Relics, which repose in the Church on Mount Aventine, where once stood the house of her that imitated thy repentance.
In both her and thee, we have a proof of the infinite Mercy of Our Risen Jesus, Who called the two sinners from spiritual death to the Life of Grace. Have compassion, O Holy Martyr, on those poor sinners whom this Easter has not yet brought back to their Redeemer.
Receive, also, the congratulations of Holy Church, which Celebrates the memory of thy victory. Rome is still in possession of thy Holy Relics, which repose in the Church on Mount Aventine, where once stood the house of her that imitated thy repentance.
In both her and thee, we have a proof of the infinite Mercy of Our Risen Jesus, Who called the two sinners from spiritual death to the Life of Grace. Have compassion, O Holy Martyr, on those poor sinners whom this Easter has not yet brought back to their Redeemer.
The Alleluia has resounded through the whole Universe, and, yet, it has failed to rouse them from their sleep of sin. Pray for their resurrection. Their days are numbered; and, perhaps, they are not to see another Easter. Yet, do we hope in the Divine Mercy, which has shown us its power by making thee and Aglaë to be vessels of election.
We, therefore, unite our Prayers with thine, O Boniface, that Our Lord may grant a resurrection to our brethren. Hope is our armour in this peaceful contest with Divine Justice, which delights in being vanquished by Prayer. Present our Prayer before the Throne of God; and many of those that are now spiritually dead will rise again, and their conversion will cause joy to the Angels, as thine did.
We, therefore, unite our Prayers with thine, O Boniface, that Our Lord may grant a resurrection to our brethren. Hope is our armour in this peaceful contest with Divine Justice, which delights in being vanquished by Prayer. Present our Prayer before the Throne of God; and many of those that are now spiritually dead will rise again, and their conversion will cause joy to the Angels, as thine did.
“The Liturgical Year”.
By: Abbot Guéranger.
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Zephyrinus’ blog always inspires one to greater study of our Catholic hagiographic devotional history: this vignette on S. Boniface of Tarsus (not “the Apostle of Germany,” the English Benedictine martyr who died ca. 754) is another example.
ReplyDelete“Boniface of Tarsus” some hagiographic sources state was originally a Roman who became the steward of S. Alexis of Rome some time towards the end of the 3rd C. Like SS. Pudenziana & Praxedes (Prasseda), Boniface was inspired to give a holy burial to the Christian dead. As a result, he undertook travels to Cilicia in Asia Minor where Christians were being savagely martyred while Galerius was the Eastern Roman emperor, and their bodies left exposed to the elements with no regard to proper burial. Boniface eventually was also martyred for his corporal works of mercy in 307AD, and his body subsequently transported by faithful Christians back to Rome, where a funeral monument was erected over his tomb and that of his mentor, S. Alexis. (part I, comment by Dante P)
Part II: Later in the 4th C, a basilica was constructed (Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e(d) Alessio) sometime in the 4th C., where it stands today, near the Benedictine San Anselmo Athenaeum and not far from the Dominican church of Santa Sabina, on the slope of the Aventine hill, all three overlooking the Tiber. It is said that, from the adjoining cloister of the former Benedictine monastery, that it has a marvelous view of the Vatican and S. Peter’s from the Aventine height.
ReplyDeleteThe Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e(d) Alessio today is a Romanesque-Baroque church, due to its restoration by Renaissance architectural masters Giovanni Battista Nolli (1701-1756) and Tommaso De Marchis (1693-1759). Visitors remark on the balanced “quadriform” arch facade, its 13th C classic bell tower, its triple nave harmonious architectural style and unexpected Baroque elegance. It also displays in a side chapel the miraculous icon, Madonna di Sant'Alessio, said also to be from the ancient Christian city of Edessa in Asia Minor, also titled “The Intercession of the Madonna, the Heavenly Mediatrix.” It is said to date from the 12-13th C., and piously believed to have been painted by S. Luke the Evangelist. (Dante P)
Part III: In the crypt altar under the church, major relics of S. Thomas a Becket are venerated: When Thomas Becket came to Rome to escape his arrest, he was housed for a time in the adjoining Benedictine Convent of SS. Boniface and Alexis. The crypt of the basilica was subsequently consecrated in 1218 for the centenary of the birth of the archbishop, who had been canonized in 1173.
ReplyDeleteThis writer had heard of “the Ice Saints”—saints whose feast days in Europe corresponded to an often-noted last relapse of winter in the northern countries, May 12-13-14. They are SS. Boniface of Tarsus (or in some countries, Mamertus), Pancras, and Servatius. These “cold snap” saints were invoked to finally end winter in the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Poland, as well as other parts of Europe. (Dante P)
An outstanding contribution to this Article from our Historical Correspondent, Dante P, for which we are extremely grateful.
DeleteThe Readers of this Blog are most fortunate to have this level of historical information afforded them by Dante P.
Many thanks.
Zephyrinus is quite kind, but in truth, this writer did not know much of anything about Boniface of Tarsus, (And confused him with Boniface of Germany ) and didn’t even know that there was a basilica dedicated to him and Saint Alexis in Rome. Nor of the “Saints,” he had ‘peripherally’ heard about them..
DeleteSo thanks to this blog for spurring “the investigation.” 😊. Comment by Dante P