To-day we make commemoration of yet another group of martyrs - SS Marius, Martha, Audifax and Abachum - who bravely confessed the Faith even unto death under Diocletian (whose name is on every page of the Martyrology - but he is no saint: Mors peccatorum pessima).
Some time ago I mentioned these noble saints, and I'll repeat what I said: they were a Christian Persian noble family who perhaps unwisely took a holiday in Rome during the persecutions and were nabbed when they went to visit and succour the Christians already languishing in prison!
Furthermore, to their memory is added that of St Canute, King of Denmark and Martyr, slain while praying in church by those who could not abide his zeal for the extension of true religion, and his justice. His son, Blessed Charles the Good, Count of Flanders, likewise died a martyr under very similar circumstances. Pretiosa in conspectu Domini mors sanctorum ejus.
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