An Enduring Lady

Tunc igitur et quaedam uxor cujusdam cellaritae regis nomino Dagila, quae temporibus Geiserici multoties jam confessor exstiterat, matrona nobilis ac delicata, flagellis et fustibus omnino debilitata, exsilio arido et invio relegatur, ubi nullus hominum forte consolationis gratia veniendi haberet accessum, relinquens cum gaudio domum, maritum simul et filios. Cui postea oblatum esse dicitur, ut in mitiorem eremum translata, frueretur, si vellet, solatio sociorum. Illa vero ingens sibi adesse credens gaudium, ubi nullus humanus esset consolantis affectus, ne fieret supplicavit. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber V Source: Migne PL 58.246b-c

Then there was a certain wife of a royal attendant named Dagila, who in the days of king Geiseric had already stood forth as a confessor, a noble and delicate matron, who having been beaten with whips and clubs, was sent into exile into a dry and trackless place, where there was no possibility of human comfort, which she had received with thanks, leaving with joy her house and husband and children. Later she was told that she might be moved to a milder place in the desert, where she might enjoy, if she wished, the consolation of companions. But this great lady, believing herself to have obtained a state of joyfulness where there was no touch of human comfort, entreated that it not be so. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 5

Disputes And The Trinity

Nam quod arguat Pater, arguat Filius, arguat Spiritus sanctus ita probandum est. In Psalmo quodragesimo nono legitur: Peccatori autem dcit Deus: Quare tu enarras justitiam meam, et assumis testamentum meum per os tuum? Et infra: Arguam te, et statuam contra faciem tuam. David similiter orans dicit ad Christum: Domine, ne in ira tua arguas me; quia ipse venturus est arguere omnem carnem. Quid vero de Spiritu sancto Salvator in Evangelio dicit? Cum venerit, inquit, Paraclitus, ille arget mundum de peccato, et de justitia, et de judicio. Hoc praevidens David clamabat ad Dominum: Quo ibo a Spiritu tuo, et a facie tua quo fugiam? Nam et quod bonus sit Pater, bonus Filius, bonus Spiritus Sanctus, sic probatur. Dicit propheta: Bonus es tu, Domine, et in bonitate tua doce me justificationes tuas. De se autem ipse Unigentius: Ego sum pastor bonus. De Spiritu aeque sancto David in psalmo dicit ad Dominum: Spiritus tuus bonus deducet me in terram rectam. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber III, Professio Fidei Catholicorum Episcoporum Hunerico Regi Oblata Source: Migne PL 58.230b-c

For what the Father disputes, the Son disputes, and the Holy Spirit disputes, thus must be proved. In the forty ninth Psalm we read: 'God said to the sinner: Why do you tell of my righteousness and take up my testament in your mouth?'1 And further on: 'I shall dispute with you and I shall stand against your face.' 2 Similarly David prays, saying to Christ: 'O Lord, do not dispute with me in your anger,' 3 because He is coming to dispute with all flesh. And what does it say of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel? 'When the Paraclete comes,' He says, 'He shall dispute with the world concerning sin and righteousness and concerning judgement.' 4 Foreseeing this David cried out to the Lord: 'Where shall I go from your spirit, and where shall I fly from your face?' 5 For as the Father is good, the Son is good and the Holy Spirit is good, so it is proved. The Prophet says, 'You are good, Lord, and in your kindness teach me your justifications.' 6 And concerning Himself the Only Begotten says, 'I am the good shepherd.' 7 And concerning the equality of the Holy Spirit, David in the Psalm says to the Lord: 'Your good spirit shall lead me into the righteous land.' 8 Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 3, from the Profession of Faith of the Catholic Bishops to King Huneric 1 Ps 49.16 2 Ps 49.21 3 Ps 6.2 4 Jn 16.8 5 Ps 138.7 6 Ps 118.68 7 Jn 10.11 8 Ps 142.11

The Spirit's Dwelling

Habitat Deus in santis suis secundum promissionem qua dixerat: Habitabo in illis. Quod vero Dominus Jesus dicit in Evangelio: Manete in me et ego in vobis, probat hoc Paulus dicens: An nescitis quia Jesus Christus est in vobis? Hoc autem totum in Spiritus habitatione adimpletur, sicut memorat Joannes: Ex hoc, inquit, scimus quia in nobis, quia de Spiritu suo dedit nobis. Similiter et Paulis: Nescitis quia templum Dei estis, et Spiritus Dei habitat in vobis? Et iterum dicit: Glorificate et portate Deum in corpore vestro. Quem Deum? utique Spiritum sanctum, cujus templum esse videmur. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber III, Professio Fidei Catholicorum Episcoporum Hunerico Regi Oblata Source: Migne PL 58.230a-b

God dwells in his holy ones according to the promise which He spoke: 'I shall dwell among them.' 1 Which the Lord Jesus in the Gospel spoke: 'Remain in me and I am in you.' 2 Which Paul approves saying, 'Do you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?' 3 All which is fulfilled in the dwelling of Spirit, as John remembers, saying, 'From this we know that He is in us, because of the Holy Spirit He has given to us.' 4 And similarly Paul says, 'Do you not know that you are a temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you?' 5 And again he says, 'Glorify and bear God in your body.' 6 Which God? Even the Holy Spirit, the temple of whom we appear to be. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 3, from the Profession of Faith of the Catholic Bishops to King Huneric 1 2 Cor 6.16 2 Jn 14.4 3 2 Cor 13.5 4 1 Jn 4.13 5 1 Cor 3.16 6 1 Cor 6.20

A Mother's Martydom

In civitate vero Culusitana non valeo quae gesta sunt nuntiare, quia et ipsam quantitatem martyrum vel etiam confessorum impossibile est homini supputtare. Ubi quaedam matrona, auctrix sui nominis Victoria, dum in conspectu vulgi continuato suspendio cremaretur, a marito jam perdito filiis praesentibus taliter rogabatur: Quid pateris conjunx? Si me despicis, vel horum miserere quos genuisti, impia, parvulorum. Quare oblivisceris uteri tui, et pro nihilo ducis quos cum gemitu peperisti? Ubi sunt foedera conjugalis amoris? ubi societatis vincula, quae inter nos dudum honestatis jure tabulae conscriptae fecerunt? Respice, quaeso, filios ac maritum, et regiae jussionis implere festina praeceptum, ut et imminentia adhuc tormenta lucreris, simul et mihi doneris et liberis nostris. Sed illa nec filiorum fletus, nec serpentis audiens blandimenta, affectum multo altius elevans a terra, mundum cum suis desideriis contemnebat. Quam cum jam continuatione suspendi avulsis humeris, etiam qui cruciabant conspicerent mortuam, deposuerunt prorsus omni parte exanimatam. Quae postea retulit quamdam sibi virginem astitisse, atque tetigisse membra singula, et illico fuisse sanatam. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber V Source: Migne PL 58.243b-244a

However I cannot tell all that happened in the city of Culusitana, because it is impossible for any man to recount even the amount of martyrs or confessors. But I shall say that there was a certain woman, a mother by the name of Victoria, who having been hung up to burn in the presence of the crowd, was asked by her husband, a man who was already ruined, with their children present: 'Why do you suffer, O wife? If you scorn me, at least have mercy on these to whom you have given birth, wicked woman. Why have no care for the fruit of your womb and reckon as nothing these whom you bore amid groans? Where are the bonds of conjugal love? Where that bond of association between us that the honourable written tablets once rightly made? I beseech you, look on your children and your husband, and make haste to fulfill the command of the king, 1 so that you may yet acquire relief from your imminent torment and give a gift to me and your children.' But that woman wept not for her children, nor listened to the charms of the serpent, but with as much passion as she hung above the earth, so she condemned the world and its desires. Then when her shoulder bones had been wrenched out by continual suspension, and those who were torturing her suspected she had expired, they took her down and found that she was indeed dead. It is told that afterwards a certain virgin was brought near and healed by touching every member of her body. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 5 1 King Huneric, who commanded adoption of Arianism

A Rich Man's Martyrdom

Qualiter autem Adrumentinae civitatis civem Victorianum, tunc proconsulem Carthaginis, praedicem, nescio, deficientibus verbis. Quo in Africae partibus nullus ditior fuit, qui etiam apud impium regem pro rebus semper sibi comissis fidelissimus habebatur. Mandatur ei a rege familiariter, diciturque quod eum habiturus esset prae omnibus domesticum, si ejus precepto facilem commodasset assensum. Sed ille vir Dei missis ad se tale dedit cum fiducia magna responsum: Securus ego sum de Christo Deo et Domino meo. Haec regi dicatis: Subrigat ignibus, adigat bestiis, excruciet generibus omnium tormentorum. Si consensero, frustra sum in Ecclesia catholica baptizatus. Nam si haec praesens vita sola fuisset, et aliam, quae vere est, non speraremus aeternam, nec ita facerem ut ad modicum atque temporaliter gloriarer, et ingratus existerem ei qui suam fidem mihi contulit, creditori. Ad quod tyrannus excitatus, quantorum temporum, et quantis eum afflixit peoneis, humanus sermo non poterit explicare. Qui tripudians in Domino, feliciterque consummans, martyrialem coronam accepit. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber V Source: Migne PL 58 244a-b

Likewise I do not know, lacking the words, how to commend Victorianus, a citizen of the city of Hadrumetum and then proconsul of Carthage. No one in Africa was richer than him, and even the business of the wicked king Huneric was faithfully committed to him. A command was issued by the king that he should be more closely associated with him, and that he would be preferred above all his servants if he acceded with easy assent to his instruction. 1 But that man of God, giving attention to himself, gave this response of great faith: 'I am safe with Christ and my Lord. Say this to the king: stoke fires, rouse beasts, torment with every kind of torture, if I consent then I have been baptised in the Catholic Church in vain. For if there were only this present life and we did not hope for another eternal one, which truly is life, I would not thus scorn mediocre and temporal glory and live ungrateful to him who bestowed his own faith on me, and to whom I am indebted.' The tyrant was enraged by this and afflicted him with many punishments over a long time, such that human speech is not able to recount it. He who, exulting in the Lord, happily reaching his end, received the crown of martyrdom. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, from Book 5 1 To adopt Arianism

Stripping The Altars

Accenditur post haec adversus Dei Ecclesiam Geisericus. Mittit Proculum quemdam in provinciam Zeugitanam, qui coarctaret ad tradendum ministeria divina, vel libros cunctos, Domini sacerdotes, ut primo armis nudaret, et ita facilius inermes hostis collidus captivaret. Quibus se non posse tradere calmantibus sacerdotibus, ipsi rapaci manu cuncta depopulabantur, atque de palliis altaris, proh nefas! camisias sibi et femoralia faciebant. Qui tamen Proculus, hujus rei exsecutor, frustatim sibi comedens linguam, in brevi trupissima consumptus est morte. Tunc etiam sanctus Valerianus Abbenzae civitatis epsicopus, dum viriliter sacramenta divina ne traderet dimicasset, foras civitatem singularis jussus est pelli: et ita praeceptum est, ut nullus eum neque in domo, neque in agro dimiteret habitare: qui in strata publica multo tempore nudus jacuit sub aere. Annorum autem erat plus octoginta, quem nos tunc indigni in tali exsilio meruimus salutare. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber I Source: Migne PL 58.196b-197a

After these things the Arian king Geiseric was inflamed against the Church of God. He sent a certain Proculus into the province of Zeugitana and he sought to make the priests of the Lord hand over the things they used in the divine service, even every book, so that first by stripping them of their arms it would then be easier for the cunning enemy to capture those who had been made defenceless. Those priests who protested that were not able to give up these things suffered the loss of everything by his rapacious hand, even their altar cloths, for shame, being made into shirts and leg coverings. However Proculus the executor of these things, a little later, chewing his own tongue into pieces, was devoured by a most disgraceful death. But then the blessed Valerianus, bishop of the city of Abbenza, who had bravely fought against handed over the sacred things, was ordered to be cast out of the city, and it was further commanded that no one might allow him to dwell in a house or a field, and so for a long time he dwelt on the public way naked beneath the sky. He was more than eighty years old, and I, though unworthy, was permitted to salute him in such exile Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 1

A Dangerous Situation, A Dangerous Wife

Novimus et alium ea tempestate nomine Saturum: qui, cum lucidum esset membrum Ecclesiae Christi, et privatatem Arianorum libertate catholica frequenter argueret (fuit hic procurator domus Hunerici), convenitur, accusante Marivado quodam diacono, quem Hunericus infaustus singulariter honorabat, ut fieret Saturus Arianus. Promittuntur honores et divitiae multae si faceret, praeparantur supplica dira si nollet: hac optione proposita, ut is regalibus iussibus non obediret, primo facta discussione, et ante amissa domo vel substantia, distractis omnibus mancipiis ac fiilis, uxor eius, ipso praesente, camelario in conjugium traderetur. Quod ille plenus Deo magis ut velociter proveniret, impios provocabat. Ob quam causam uxor eius inducias visa est ab his qui exsequebantur, nesciente marito, petisse. Accedit ad maritum alia Eva consilio magistrata serpentis. Sed ille Adam non fuit, qui illecebrosa bitae arboris poma contingeret: quia non indigens, sed Saturus vocabatur, saturatus ab ubertate domus Dei, et torrente deliciarum eius potatus. Advenit mulier ad locum ubi maritus singularis orabat, conscissis vestibus, crineque soluto, secum comitantibus, filiis, unamque infantulum, quae tunc lactabatur manibus gestans; quam nescientis projiciens ad pedes mariti, etiam ipsa suis genua complectitur uluis, sibilans vociferatione draconis: Miserere mei, dulcissime, simul et tui; miserere communibus liberis, quos conspicis ipse. Non subjaceant conditioni servili, quos claros prosapia eddidit generis nostri. Non subjiciar ego indigno et turpi conjugio vivente marito, quae mihi semper inter coaevas plaudebam de Saturo meo. Cognoscit Deus quia invitus facturus es hoc, quod forte voluntarie aliquanti fecerunt. Cui ille Job sancti voce respondit: Tamquam una ex insipientibus mulieribus loqueris. Formidarem, mulier, si sola esset hujus vitae amara dulcedo. Artificio, conjux, diaboli ministras. Si diligeres maritum, nunquam ad secundam mortem attraheres proprium virum. Detrahant filios, separent uxorem, auferant substantia; mei Domini ego, securus de promissis, verba tenebo: Si quis non dimiserit uxorem, filios, agros, aut domum, meus non poterit esse discipulus. Quid ulta? Discedente muliere cum filiis refutata, confortatur Saturus ad coronam, discutitur, interdicitur ei prodeundi accessus. Totum ei tulerent, stolam tamen baptismatis auferre ei non potuerunt. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber I Source: Migne PL 58.200b-202a

We shall take note of another in this storm, one by the name of Saturus, who was a shining member of the Church of Christ and also a procurator of the house of King Hunericus. He frequently disputed against the depravity of the Arians and for the liberty of Catholics, and so it came about that by the information of a certain deacon Marivadus, whom Hunericus had singularly honoured, that it was determined to make Saturus an Arian. They promised him honours and great wealth if he would do so, and they threatened dire punishments if he refused. But this man remained disobedient to the orders of the king, and so it was first proposed, before taking his house or goods, to bring out his dependents and sons and his wife bound and led by a camel driver before him. That man, full of God, told them to do it quickly, and thus further provoked those impious ones, and because of this his wife was induced, without the knowledge of the husband, to seek to lead him astray. She approached her husband like another Eve schooled by the counsel of the serpent. But he was no Adam that he would touch the alluring apple of the tree; because he was not 'Needy' but 'Saturus,' being saturated with the abundance of the house of God, and its overflow was his drink. The wife came to the place where the remarkable husband prayed and tearing her clothing and pulling her hair, with her retinue of children, including an infant who was then feeding in her arms, falling at the feet of the husband, embracing his knees and crying out, she hissed these serpentine words: 'Have mercy on me, sweet one, and on yours; have mercy on our children whom you see here. Do not subject them to a servile condition, these glories our lineage has brought forth. May I not be reduced to poverty and disgrace by my living spouse whom always I would praise among his contemporaries. God knows that you are unwilling to do what is asked, yet no small number have done what you still refuse.' To this our Job with sacred voice replied, 'You speak like one of the foolish women. I fear only, O wife, the bitter sweetness of the life they offer. With cunning, woman, you serve the devil. If you love your husband, do not drag him to the second death. Let them drag away sons, seize my wife and carry off property; I am confident in the promises of my Lord and I hold to his words: 'If a man will not give up his wife, children, lands or house, he is not able to be my disciple.' What more? Learning that the wife and children had been rebuffed and that Saturus had laid hold upon the crown, they reduced him to nothing and prohibited anyone from helping him. Everything he had was taken away but for his baptismal garment, for they were not able to strip that from him. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 1

Mother and Son

Per universas Africae terra provincias, uno tempore, tortores crudelissimas destinare, et nulla remansisset domus et locus ubi fuisset ejulatus et luctus, ut nulli aetati, nulli parceretur sexui, nisi illis qui eorum succumberent voluntati. Hos fustibus, illos suspendio, alios ignibus concremabant. Mulieres veri et praecipue nobiles, contra iura naturae, nudas omnino in facie publica cruciabant. Ex quibus unam nostram Dionysia cursim ac breviter nominabo. Cum viderent eam non solum audacem esse, sed etiam matronis caeteris pulchiorem, ipssam primo nisi sunt fustibus exspoliatem appetere. Quae cum pateretur, diceretque de Domino suo secura: Qualiter libet cruciare, verecunda tamen membra nolite nudare; amplius illi magis furentes, celsiori loco vestimentis exutam constituunt, spectaculum eam omnibus facientes. Quae inter ictus virgarum, dum rivuli sanguinis toto iam corpore fluitarent, libera voce dicebat: Ministri diaboli, quod ad opprobrium meum facere computatis, ipsa laus mea est; et quia erat Scripturarum divinarum scientia plena, aptatis arctata poenis, et ipsa iam martyr, alios ad martyrium confortabat. Quae suo sancto exemplo pene universam suam patriam liberavit. Quae cum suum unicum filium, admodum adhuc tenerae aetatis et delicatum, timore poenarum formidolosum conspiceret, verberans eum nutibus oculorum, et increpans auctoritate materna, ita confortavit, ut matre multo fortior redderetur. Cui inter crudelia verbera constituto ita dicebat: Memento, fili mi, quia in nomine Trinitatis in matre Ecclesia catholica baptizati sumus. Non perdamus indumentum nostrae salutis, ne veniens invitator vestem non inveniat nuptialem, et dicat ministris: Mittite in tenebras exteriores, ubi erit fletus oculorum, et stridor dentium. Illa, fili, poena timenda est quae nunquam finitur; illa desideranda vita quae semper habetur. Talibus itaque filium solidans verbis, velociter martyrem fecit. Venerabilis vero adolescens, Majoricus nomine, in certamine confessionis spiritum reddens, cursum palmiferum consummavit; amplexansque illa hostiam suam, quantis potuit vocibus Domino gratias agens, ad gaudium spei futurae, in sua domo maluit sepelire; ut quotiens super sepulcrum eius Trinitati preces effundit, alienam se a filio numquam esse confidat. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber V Source: Migne PL 58.241a-242b

At the same time through the whole province of Africa cruel tortures were commanded and no house nor open space was without cries and tears, for neither age nor sex was spared unless they succumbed of their own will to become Arian. Some were beaten with clubs, some hung, others were burnt with fire. Noble women, against the law of nature, were stripped naked and crucified in public. Of these I will quickly describe Dionysia. When they saw her not only to be bold be also as most beautiful among the other women, they struck her first with the clubs. When she had suffered and then spoke of her trust in the Lord, that she was ready to be crucified but that she was unwilling to expose her body, so she enraged them all the more and they stripped her of her garments forthwith to make her a spectacle to everyone. She, between the renewed blows of the sticks, with streams of blood flowing over her body, said with a clear voice, 'Servants of the devil, though you reckon to disgrace me, this is my glory.' Because she was full of the knowledge of the Divine Scriptures, suffering in her body, already a martyr, she fortified others for martyrdom. She liberated her whole fatherland with her holy example. Her only son, who was still at a tender and delicate and who looked on the formidable punishments with fear, the beatings paining his eyes, she addressed with the authority of a mother, that he should be brave and that he would prove much stronger than his mother. When he had been given over to the beatings, she said, 'Remember, my son, that we were baptized in the name of the Trinity into the mother Catholic Church. Let us not lose the garment of our salvation, lest when he who invites comes he does not find the garment and he says to his servants, 'Send this one out into the darkness, where there is the weeping of eyes and the grinding of teeth.' 1 That fearful punishment never ends, so desire to have eternal life.' With such words she encouraged her son and he swiftly came to martyrdom. He was a noble young man, by the name of Majoricus, who in the struggle of persecution gave up this soul and swiftly seized on the palm of victory. Embracing his sacrifice the mother gave many thanks to God, and for the joy of future hope she chose to bury him in her own house, so that often upon this tomb she could pray to the Trinity, confidant that she would never be apart from her child. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 5 1 Mt 22.10-13

Count Sebastian

Referam autem factum quod ipso gestum est tempore. Fuit comes quidam Sebastianus, famosi illius gener comitis Bonifacii, acer consilio, et strennus in bello; cuius Geisericus, sicut consilia necessaria habebat, ita et praesentiam formidabat, cupiens autem illum exstinguere, occasionem mortis de religione quaesivit. Cogitavit rex ut praesentibus episcopis atque domesticis suis, Sebastianum taliter conveniret. Sebastiane, inquit, scio quia fideliter nobis adhaerere iurasti, cuius veritatem sacramenti labores tui vigilantiaque demonstrant. Sed ut nobis connex semper iugisque maneat amicitia tua, hoc placuit praesentibus sacerdotibus nostris, ut euius efficiaris cultor religionis quam et nos et noster populus veneramur. Cui Sebastianus, rem inveniens miram multisque necessariam pro tempore acute, respondit: Quaseo, domine rex, ut nunc unus panis mundissimus ac similagineus afferatur. Qui cum ignorasset Geisericus Sebastiani victoriam, illico iussit afferri, Apprehendens itaque Sebastianus mundissimum panem, ita effatus est: Hic panis ut ad tantum decorem splendoris veniret, quo mensae regiae necessarius haberetur, discussa spuria furfuris, ex massa similaginis conspersus, per aquam transivit et ignem: idcirco et aspectu clarus, et esu sauvis habetur. Ita et ego mola catholicae matris commolitus, et cribro examinationis ut simila munda purgatus, rigatus sum aqua baptismtis, et igne sancti Spiritus coctus, Et ut hic panis de furno, ita et ego per officia sacramentorum divinorum, artifice Deo, de fonte mundus ascendi. Sed fiat, si velis, quod ipse, propono. Iste panis confrigatur in frustra, madidetur aqua, et iterum conspergatur, mittaturque in furnum, si melior exierit, faciam quod hortaris. Quam propositionem Geisericus cum omnibus qui aderant cum audisset, ita ligatus est, ut se solvere omnino non posset; quem alio generis argumento postea virum occidit. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber I Source: Migne PL 58.188b-189b

I shall tell here of a deed that occurred at the same time. There was a certain Count Sebastian, son in law of the famous Count Bonifacius, 1 acute in counsel and mighty in war, whose advice King Geiseric had need of, and yet his presence troubled him, and he came to desire to destroy him, and he sought an excuse for his death in religion. The King amid his Arian clergy and domestics contrived to have Sebastian come into his presence. He said to him, 'Sebastian, I know that you have sworn to adhere faithfully to us and your labours and vigilance demonstrate the truth of your oath, but that your friendship may endure firmly forever, it pleases our clergy gathered here that you adopt the religion which we and our people practice.' To this Sebastian, devising something wonderful and quite necessary to many in difficult times, shrewdly replied, 'Lord King, I would have bread most pure and made of the finest flour brought here.' Geiseric, ignorant of Sebastian's coming victory, ordered it brought. Sebastian took the bread and said, 'This bread, to come to such splendor that it would be fit for the royal table, had worthless bran shaken from the mass of flour and passed through water and fire, thus it became fair to see and sweet to taste. Likewise I in the mill of the Catholic Mother was ground and by the sieve of examination I was similarly cleansed to purity, moistened by the water of baptism and baked by the fire of the Holy Spirit. And just as this bread came from the oven, I, through the office of the Divine Sacraments, which have God as author, rose pure from the font. Let it be, if you wish, as I propose: let this bread be broken apart, softened with water, again moistened, and put in an oven; if it comes out better I shall do as you suggest.' Hearing this, Geiseric and those with him were like those fettered, utterly unable to free themselves. But later on, on some other grounds, he had the man killed. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 1 1 Roman general and governor of the diocese of Africa

Some African Confessors

Confessorum autem ingens et plurima multitudo, ex quibus multitudo, ex quibus aliquos narrare tentabo. Erant tunc servi cuiusdam Vandali: fuit autem hic Vandalus de illis, quos Millenarios vocant, Martinianus, Saturianus, et eorum duo germanii; erat et quaedam conserva eorum egregia Christi ancilla nomine Maxima, corpore simul et corde decora. Et quia Martinianus armifactor erat, et domino suo satis videbatur acceptus, et Maxima universae domui dominabatur, creditit Vandalus, ut fideles sibi magis memoratus faceret famulos, Martinianum Maximamque coniugali consortio sociare. Martinianus adolescentulorum saecularium more coniugium affectabat; Maximaque, iam Deo sacrata, humanas nuptials refutabat. At ubi ventum est ut cubiculi adirentur secreta silentia, et Martinianus nesciens fiducia quasi cum coniuge cuperet cubitare, viva voce ei memorata famula Christi respondit: Christo ego, o Martiniane frater, membra mei corporis dedicavi, nec possum humanum sortiri coniugium, habens iam coelestem et verum sponsum. Sed dabo consilium. Si velis, poteris et ipse tibi praestare, dum licet, ut cui ego concupivi nubere, delecteris et ipse servire. Ita factum est, Domino procurante, ut obediens Virgini etiam adolescens suam animam lucraretur. Nesciente igitur Vandalo spiritalis secreti commercium, compunctus atque mutatus Martinianus, etiam suis fratibus persuasit ut thesaurum quem invenerant haberent, ut pote germani, communem. Conversus itaque cum tribus fratribus suis, Dei quoque puella comitante, nocte clam egredientes, Tabraceno monasterio, cui praeerat tunc nobilis pastor Andreas, sociantur. Illa vero haud procul monasterium incoluit puellarum. Sciscitante igitur barbaro inquisitionibus et muneribus crebris, quod gestum erat celari non potuit. Inveniens itaque iam non sua, sed Christi mancipia, coniicit in vinculis, et variis tormentis Dei famulos insectatur; agens cum eis non tantum ut pariter miscerentur, sed, quod gravius est, per rebaptizationis coenum, fidei suae ornamenta turparent. Pervenit hoc ipsum usque ad notitiam Geserici regis, qui praecepit ut tandiu implacabilis herus servos affligeret, quanddiu illius succumberent voluntati. Iubet in modum ferarum fustes robustos veluit palmatos cum stirpibus fieri, qui quatientibus tergis non solum ossa confringerent, sed etiam tenebrantes aculei intrinsecus remanerent. Qui dum sanguis efflueret, et dissipatis carnibus viscera nudarentur, sequenti die, Christo medente, semper incolumes reddebantur. Hoc saepius ac multo factum est tempore et nulla plagarum vestigia videbantur, sancto Spiritu subinde curante. Post hoc arctantur maxime dura custodia, compedeque crudeli extenduntur, quibus eum Dei servorum visitantium non deesset frequentia videntibus cunctis ingentium lignorum putrescens soluta est fortitudo. Miraculum hoc et voce omnium celebratur, et nobis ille ad quem custodia pertinebat, cum sacramento testatus est ita fuisse. At ubi Vandalus virtutem neglexit cogoscere divinam, coepit in domo eius vindicatrix ira grassari. Moritur ipse simul et filii; familiae atque animalium, quaecunque optima erant, pariter intereunt. Remanens itaque domina vidua, marito, filiis, et substantia destituta, servos Christi cognato regis Srsaoni gratia muneris offert, Qui cum eos, utpote oblatus, cum gratulatione minia suscepisset, filios et domesticos eius sanctorum merito male coepit daemon variis motibus agitare. Ex ordine ille cognatus, ut gestum erat, suggerit regi. Dercenit statim rex cuidam gentili regi Maurorum cui nomen inerat Capsur, religandos debere transmitti. Maximam vero Christi famulam confusus et victus propriae voluntati dimisit; quae nunc superest virgo, mater multarum virginum Dei, nobis etiam nequaquam ignota. Victor Vitensis, Historia Persecutionis Africae Provinciae, Liber I Source: Migne PL 58.193b-195b

From the great multitude of the confessors, from such a multitude, I shall try to tell of a few. There were some slaves of a certain Vandal, one of those Vandals called the 'Millenari', named Martinianus, Saturianus, and their two brothers, and also a fellow female slave, a most excellent handmaid of Christ named Maxima, fair in both body and heart. And because Martinianus was a weapon maker and was well liked by his master and Maxima held office over the whole house, the Vandal believed that by marrying Martinianus and Maxima he would make them more faithful servants. Martinianus was a young man of worldly ways and wanted to marry, but Maxima, already consecrated to God, had spurned human nuptials. When it came about that they approached the private silence of the bedroom and Martinianus, not knowing, desired to lie with her as a husband, the aforementioned handmaid of Christ, with lively voice responded, 'To Christ, brother Martinianus, I have dedicated the members of my body and I cannot partake of human marriage, for I have a heavenly and true spouse. But I will give you some advice: if you wish, He can also stand over you, while it is allowed, so that He who I have desired to marry you might also delight to serve.' So it was that by the Lord's care the young man's soul was enriched by obedience to a maiden. With the Vandal being ignorant of the commerce of their spiritual secret, Martinianus, now changed and compunctious, persuaded his brothers that as they were brothers they should have in common the treasure he had discovered. Then the converted man, with his three brothers and with the young lady of God accompanying them, stole away by night, and they entered the monastery of Tabraca, which was then presided over by the noble shepherd Andreas, and the young lady entered a convent of maidens nearby. The barbarian began to investigate the matter and handed over many gifts, and so what had occurred could not be hidden.  Discovering that they were not his but belonged to Christ, he had them thrown into chains and inflicted various torments on them, acting so not so that they would be bound together, but, far worse, that through the filth of rebaptism they might sully the ornaments of their faith. The matter came to the notice of King Geiseric and he ordered that the implacable master should continue to afflict the slaves for as long as it took them to surrender to his will. He commanded that strong clubs shaped like palm fronds should be made, which when used in beating the back would not only break bones but the jagged edges would remain within. So blood flowed and torn flesh revealed the viscera, and yet on the following day, by the medicine of Christ, they were discovered healthy. This happened very often over a long time and no vestiges of wounds were to be seen, for the Holy Spirit instantly cured them. After this a harsh imprisonment was imposed and they were cruelly stretched out in shackles, and frequently visited by the servants of God all of them saw the heavy wood of the racks rotting away. This miracle was celebrated by every voice, and he who was responsible for their custody testified that it was so under oath. The Vandal refused to recognise the Divine power and vengeance began to prowl about his house. He and his children died at the same time, and also the finest among his servants and animals perished. The wife now widowed, destitute of husband and children and property, offered the servants of Christ to a relation of the king named Sersa. He happily took them, but then, by the merit of the saints, his sons and servants began to be troubled by the various acts of a demon. In his turn a relative of his reported the matter to the King and instantly he decided that they should be sent away into exile to Caspur the king of the Moors. Apart that is from Maxima, the handmaid of Christ, she who had confounded and conquered. He dismissed her to do as she wished, and even now the maiden lives, a mother to many maidens, and she is not unknown to us. Victor Vitensis, History of the Persecution of the African Province, Book 1