Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum[1] (died 270) were, according to their largely legendary passio of the 6th century, four saints of the same family (a married couple and their two sons). They came from Persia to Rome, and were martyred in 270 for sympathizing with Christian martyrs and burying their bodies. Some ancient martyrologies place the date of their death between 268 and 270, during the reign of Claudius II, although there was no persecution of Christians during this time.[2]
Their story relates how the family's assistance to Christians exposed them to persecution. They were seized and delivered to the judge Muscianus or Marcianus, who, unable to persuade them to abjure their faith, condemned them to various tortures. Despite the torture, the saints refused to abjure.[3] Marius and his two sons were thus beheaded on the Via Cornelia, and their bodies were burnt. Martha meanwhile was killed at a place called in Nimpha or Nymphae Catabassi (later called Santa Ninfa),[4] thirteen miles from Rome. Tradition states that Martha was cast into a well.
VenerationEdit
According to tradition, a Roman lady named Felicitas secured the half-consumed remains of the father and sons and also the mother's body from the well, and had the sacred relics secretly interred on her estate at Buxus, today Boccea. This is said to have occurred on January 20.[2] A church arose at Boccea, and during the Middle Ages, it became a place of pilgrimage.[2]
The relics of the martyrs later suffered various vicissitudes: some were transferred to the churches of Sant'Adriano al Foro and Santa Prassede, in Rome, and part of these relics were sent to Eginhard, biographer of Charlemagne, who lodged them in the monastery of Seligenstadt.[2] Some relics went to Prüm Abbey where their presence was recorded in the early 11th century. The original reliquary chest was destroyed during the French occupation at the end of the 18th century. The current chest dates from the 19th century.
The martyrs are inscribed in the current Roman Martyrology on 19 January.[5] Their feast or commemoration was included on that date in the General Roman Calendar from the 9th century to 1969, when they were excluded because nothing is known with certainty about them except their names, their place of burial (the cemetery Ad Nymphas on the Via Cornelia), and the day of their burial (19 or 20 January).[6]
ReferencesEdit
^Form of the names in the Roman Martyrology. In some sources, Marius is called "Maris" and Audifax is placed last.
^Clugnet, Léon. "Sts. Maris, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 9. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 16 January 2023 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
^Father Alban Butler: Saints Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum 2006-05-13 at the Wayback Machine
^Martyrologium Romanum, Typis Vaticanis, 2004, p. 106
^Calendarium Romanum, Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis, 1969, p. 113
Sources
Holweck, F. G., A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints. St. Louis, MO: B. Herder, 1924.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Sts. Maris, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External linksEdit
(in Italian) Santi Mario, Marta, Abaco e Audiface
August 30, 2023
marius, martha, audifax, abachum, saints, died, were, according, their, largely, legendary, passio, century, four, saints, same, family, married, couple, their, sons, they, came, from, persia, rome, were, martyred, sympathizing, with, christian, martyrs, buryi. Saints Marius Martha Audifax and Abachum 1 died 270 were according to their largely legendary passio of the 6th century four saints of the same family a married couple and their two sons They came from Persia to Rome and were martyred in 270 for sympathizing with Christian martyrs and burying their bodies Some ancient martyrologies place the date of their death between 268 and 270 during the reign of Claudius II although there was no persecution of Christians during this time 2 Marius Martha Audifax and AbachumMartyrsBorn3rd centuryPersiaDied270Nymphae Catabassi near RomeVenerated inRoman Catholic ChurchMajor shrineRome Prum AbbeyFeast19 JanuaryTheir story relates how the family s assistance to Christians exposed them to persecution They were seized and delivered to the judge Muscianus or Marcianus who unable to persuade them to abjure their faith condemned them to various tortures Despite the torture the saints refused to abjure 3 Marius and his two sons were thus beheaded on the Via Cornelia and their bodies were burnt Martha meanwhile was killed at a place called in Nimpha or Nymphae Catabassi later called Santa Ninfa 4 thirteen miles from Rome Tradition states that Martha was cast into a well Veneration EditAccording to tradition a Roman lady named Felicitas secured the half consumed remains of the father and sons and also the mother s body from the well and had the sacred relics secretly interred on her estate at Buxus today Boccea This is said to have occurred on January 20 2 A church arose at Boccea and during the Middle Ages it became a place of pilgrimage 2 The relics of the martyrs later suffered various vicissitudes some were transferred to the churches of Sant Adriano al Foro and Santa Prassede in Rome and part of these relics were sent to Eginhard biographer of Charlemagne who lodged them in the monastery of Seligenstadt 2 Some relics went to Prum Abbey where their presence was recorded in the early 11th century The original reliquary chest was destroyed during the French occupation at the end of the 18th century The current chest dates from the 19th century The martyrs are inscribed in the current Roman Martyrology on 19 January 5 Their feast or commemoration was included on that date in the General Roman Calendar from the 9th century to 1969 when they were excluded because nothing is known with certainty about them except their names their place of burial the cemetery Ad Nymphas on the Via Cornelia and the day of their burial 19 or 20 January 6 References Edit Form of the names in the Roman Martyrology In some sources Marius is called Maris and Audifax is placed last a b c d Santi Mario Marta Abaco e Audiface Clugnet Leon Sts Maris Martha Audifax and Abachum The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 9 New York Robert Appleton Company 1910 16 January 2023 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Father Alban Butler Saints Marius Martha Audifax and Abachum Archived 2006 05 13 at the Wayback Machine Martyrologium Romanum Typis Vaticanis 2004 p 106 Calendarium Romanum Typis Polyglottis Vaticanis 1969 p 113 SourcesHolweck F G A Biographical Dictionary of the Saints St Louis MO B Herder 1924 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Sts Maris Martha Audifax and Abachum Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company External links EditEntry in Lives of the Saints by Father Alben Butler in Italian Santi Mario Marta Abaco e Audiface Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Marius Martha Audifax and Abachum amp oldid 1133946558, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
