Fructuosus, Bishop of the Church of Tarragona

It is stated that at this time Fructuosus, bishop of the church of Tarragona in Spain, and Augurius and Eulogius, his deacons, were arrested at the command of Aemilian, the Proconsul, and held in prison six days, before they were brought before the tribunal of the Proconsul. [n212-1] When they were standing before the judgment seat, Aemilian ordered them to kneel before the altars, and to worship the gods standing on them, and to sacrifice to them, saying to Fructuosus: “I understand that you are a teacher of a newly devised religion, and that you incite giddy young women no longer to go to the groves, where the gods are worshiped, indeed, to forsake Jupiter himself. Go on, then, despising our religion, but know this, that the Emperor Gallien has, with his own lips, issued a decree by which he binds all his subjects to serve the same gods which the prince, that is, the Emperor, serves or honors.”

Then Bishop Fructuosus answered: “I worship the eternal Prince, who has created the days and the gods, and is Lord even over the Emperor Gallien; and Christ, who is begotten of the eternal Father Himself, whose servant I am, and the shepherd of whose flock I am.”

The Proconsul said mockingly: “Yes, you have been so until now; but you are so no longer.” [n212-2] With this, he sentenced Fructuosus and his two deacons, Augurius and Eulogius, to be burned alive.

These faithful martyrs, having received the sentence of death for the name of Christ, rejoiced in the martyrdom that was coming upon them, and when they saw the people weep as they were led to death, they forbade them to weep. When some offered Fructuosus a drink on the way, so that he might refresh his heart, he refused it, following the example of Christ, saying: “Now is our fast day. I do not want to drink; it is not yet the ninth hour of the day (that is, three o’clock in the afternoon, before which time those who fasted did not eat); and death itself shall not break my fast day.”

When they arrived in the arena, where the executioner had been ordered to build a great fire in which to burn these pious martyrs, a dispute (coming, however, from heartfelt love) arose among the faithful Christians, as to who should first untie the shoe straps of the bishop, their beloved shepherd and teacher. But Fructuosus would not allow it, saying: “I will untie them from my feet myself, so that I can go into the fire unhindered.” And seeing that they wept, he said: “Why do you weep? And why do you ask me to remember you? I will pray for all of Christ’s people.”

Standing with his bare feet by the fire, he said to all the people: “Believe me! What you see before your eyes is no punishment; it passes away in a moment of time, and does not take away life, but restores it. O happy souls! who through this temporal fire ascend into heaven to God, and who on the last day shall be saved from everlasting fire.” [n212-3]

All at once they hurried toward the fire, which indeed burned off in a moment the bands that had fastened their hands behind their backs, thus freeing them; but their bodies remained whole in this great heat, so that with outstretched hands they prayed God to let the flames quickly deliver them from the agony of death. Their prayer was heard, and leaving their frail bodies here as pledges, they committed their souls to God. The three martyrs fell calmly asleep in the Lord, from whom, on the day of judgment, they will receive, in reward of their faithful services and steadfast testimonies, the martyr’s crown, and white robes in token of their victory. Abr. Mell., 1st book, folio 81, column 4, and folio 82, columns 1, 2, from Prudent. Stephan. Hym. 6, ex Actis Proconsul. [n212-4]