Urticinus, a Pious Christian, in the Year 99

Next to Timothy is placed Urticinus, or Ursinius, a physician at Ravenna in Italy. Having been reported to the judge Paulinus as being a Christian, he was tortured in many ways for the name of Christ. He bore it all steadfastly, and still refused to sacrifice to the gods of the heathen, so the judge finally sentenced him to be beheaded with the ax.

When Urticinus received this sentence of death, he began to tremble and shake before the death that was coming, and to consider with himself whether he should deny Christ, or how he might most easily escape death.

But while he was thus taking counsel with flesh and blood, one of the company of judge Paulinus, whose name was Vitalus, stepped up to him from behind, and strengthened him with these words: "My beloved brother in Christ, Urticinus, who, as a faithful physician, by the potions so often and so happily restored the sick to health, take heed, lest by your denial you plunge yourself into eternal death and damnation."

Through this admonition Urticinus regained such courage that he joyfully prepared for death, and, having of his own accord offered his neck to the ax, he thus, through the separation of his head from the body, came to a godly and noble end. See concerning this, A. Mell., 1st book, van de Hist. der hervolg., folio 18, columns 3 and 4, according to Tenant. Fortunat., book 4. hitce S. Martini, Hieronym. Rub. Hilt. Raven., book 1. Beda, Usard. Ado: Vincent, Spec. Hist., book 9, chapter 50. holateran. in AntrhoQal. Pet. Dam., in Senn. de S. S. Vitale and haleria. [n126-1]