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The Lives of the Saints Volume 1 - St. Patrick's Basilica

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Footnotes:<br />

1. Matt. xiii.55.<br />

2. John vii. 5.<br />

3. Acts i. 14.<br />

4. Hær. 78. c. 14.<br />

5. Eus. l. 3, c. 5, Epiph. hær. 29, c. 7, hær. 30, c. 2.<br />

6. L. de Pond. et Mensur. c. 15.<br />

7. Demonst. l. 3, c. 5.<br />

{429}<br />

SS. LEO AND PAREGORIUS, MARTYRS<br />

From <strong>the</strong>ir ancient au<strong>the</strong>ntic acts in Ruinart, Bollandus, &c.<br />

THIRD AGE.<br />

www.freecatholicebooks.com<br />

ST. PAREGORIUS having spilt his blood for <strong>the</strong> faith at Patara, in Lycia,<br />

<strong>St</strong>. Leo, who had been a witness <strong>of</strong> his conflict, found his heart divided<br />

between joy for his friend's glorious victory, and sorrow to see himself<br />

deprived <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> happiness <strong>of</strong> sharing in it. <strong>The</strong> proconsul <strong>of</strong> Asia being<br />

absent in order to wait on <strong>the</strong> emperors, probably Valerian and Galien,<br />

<strong>the</strong> governor <strong>of</strong> Lycia, residing at Patara, to show his zeal for <strong>the</strong><br />

idols, published an order on <strong>the</strong> festival <strong>of</strong> Serapis, to oblige all to<br />

<strong>of</strong>fer sacrifice to that false god. Leo seeing <strong>the</strong> hea<strong>the</strong>ns out <strong>of</strong><br />

superstition, and some Christians out <strong>of</strong> fear, going in crowds to adore<br />

<strong>the</strong> idol, sighed within himself, and went to <strong>of</strong>fer up his prayers to <strong>the</strong><br />

true God, on <strong>the</strong> tomb <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Paregorius, to which he passed before <strong>the</strong><br />

temple <strong>of</strong> Serapis, it lying in his way to <strong>the</strong> martyr's tomb. <strong>The</strong><br />

hea<strong>the</strong>ns that were sacrificing in it knew him to be a Christian by his<br />

modesty. He had exercised himself from his childhood in <strong>the</strong> austerities<br />

and devotions <strong>of</strong> an ascetic life, and possessed, in an eminent degree,<br />

chastity, temperance, and all o<strong>the</strong>r virtues. His clo<strong>the</strong>s were <strong>of</strong> a<br />

coarse cloth made <strong>of</strong> camel's hair. Not long after his return home from<br />

<strong>the</strong> tomb <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> martyr, with his mind full <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> glorious exit <strong>of</strong> his<br />

friend, he fell asleep, and from a dream he had on that occasion,<br />

understood, when he awaked, that God called him to a conflict <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

same kind with that <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>. Paregorius, which filled him with<br />

inexpressible joy and comfort.<br />

Wherefore, <strong>the</strong> next time he visited <strong>the</strong> martyr's tomb, instead <strong>of</strong> going<br />

to <strong>the</strong> place through by-roads, he went boldly through <strong>the</strong> market-place,<br />

and by <strong>the</strong> Tychæaum, or temple <strong>of</strong> Fortune, which he saw illuminated with<br />

lanterns. He pitied <strong>the</strong>ir blindness; and, being moved with zeal for <strong>the</strong><br />

honor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> true God, he made no scruple to break as many <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

lanterns as were within reach, and trampled on <strong>the</strong> tapers in open view,

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