This is an inspiring true story of an early Christian family, found in the Victories of the Martyrs, compiled by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
Upon the death of the Emperor Diocletian, his successors Galerius and Maximilian continued the persecution against the Christians, and our saints were of the number of those who then obtained the crown of martyrdom. Timothy was a native of the town of Perapus in Thebais, and was so exemplary a Christian that his bishop ordained him lector. He was married to a Christian lady named Maura, only seventeen years of age; and the marriage had been solemnized but three weeks, when Arianus, the governor of the province, issued an order for the arrest of Timothy, who had been represented to him as one of the greatest enemies of the gods.
When the latter was presented, Arianus said to him: “Art thou not aware of the edicts of the emperors against those who refuse to sacrifice to the idols?” Timothy answered: “I am aware of them, but will rather lay down my life than commit such an act of impiety.” “Then,” said the governor, “we shall put thee to the torture, and hear how thou wilt speak during the infliction.” The saint resolutely refused to comply, and the barbarous tyrant caused burning irons to be put into his ears, until the violence of the pain caused his eyes to start from their sockets.
After this horrible torture Timothy commenced to return thanks to the Lord; whereupon the tyrant, more infuriated than before, ordered him to be suspended by the feet, with a large stone tied to his neck, and a kind of bridle on his mouth to prevent him from speaking. Seeing, however, that torments had no effect upon Timothy, he sent for Maura, and told her that she alone could save her husband from death, as by her tears she might induce him to sacrifice to the gods. She went accordingly to the place, and seeing him in so piteous a condition, endeavored to induce him to abandon the faith.
Timothy, whose mouth had been unbridled that he might answer his wife, replied: “How is it possible, O Maura, that, being thyself a Christian, instead of animating me to die for the faith, thou dost tempt me to abandon it; and thus, to obtain a short and miserable existence here, expose myself to the never-ending pains of hell? Is this, then, thy love?”
Maura was instantly converted by this rebuke; and, casting herself on her knees, besought Jesus Christ, with many penitent tears, to forgive her. She then asked pardon of her husband, and exhorted him to remain firm in his profession of faith, expressing at the same time a desire to sacrifice her life in atonement for her fault, and be the happy companion of his martyrdom. Timothy, much consoled by the repentance of his wife, told her that her last words had caused him to forget his past sufferings, and that she should forthwith return to the governor to retract her first step, and to express her desire of dying for Jesus Christ.
Maura at first was afraid to trust her own weakness; but Timothy prayed for her so effectually, that the Lord granted her grace and strength to execute the orders of her pious husband.
The governor, surprised at her sudden change, endeavored to dissuade her from her holy purpose, by promising to obtain for her an advantageous match upon her husband’s death, but Maura replied that after his death she would have no other spouse than Jesus Christ.
Hereupon Arianus caused her hair to be violently pulled out and her fingers cut off; after which she was immersed in a caldron of boiling water, from which, however, she came out uninjured. Arianus was much affected by this miracle, and it contributed much to his conversion, which happened a few days after. Before the martyrdom of the saints, however, he had not that happiness; and, lest he should be remiss in executing the orders of the emperor, he caused the saint to be tortured with burning sulphur and pitch, after which she was sentenced to be crucified, together with her husband.
While she was proceeding to the place of execution, her mother, shedding many tears, embraced her; but the saint, freeing herself from her parent’s embrace, hastened to the cross. The husband and wife were crucified one opposite to the other; and in order that their agonies might be prolonged, they were not strangled. They continued to live in this state for some days, during which time they ceased not to bless the Lord, and to encourage each other with the hope that they would soon be united to Jesus Christ in heaven. These two saints obtained the crown of their glorious martyrdom on the 19th December, in the beginning of the fourth century.
Their festival is kept by the Greeks, and also by the Muscovites. There was a church at Constantinople dedicated to God in honor of these martyrs.—St. Alphonsus Liguori, Victories of the Martyrs.
I’ll be on silent retreat for the next week, so please pray for me.