De sanctis Nazario et Célso
The Virtues of Nazarius and Celsus
The names and spiritual qualities of Nazarius and Celsus are explained, followed by the account of Nazarius's early life and conversion.
Nazarius is so called as if he were a Nazarene, which is interpreted as consecrated, or clean, or set apart, or flourishing, or guarding. In a person, these five things are required: namely, thought, affection, intention, action, and speech. Thought should be holy, affection clean, intention right, action just, and speech moderate. Blessed Nazarius possessed all these qualities: his thoughts were holy, which is why he is called consecrated; his affections were clean, so he is called clean; his intentions were right, which is why he is called set apart—for intention is what distinguishes our works, since a simple eye creates a bright body, while a wicked eye creates a dark one; his actions were just, so he is called flourishing, because the just will flourish like a lily; and his speech was moderate, which is why he is called guarding, because he guarded his ways and did not sin with his tongue.✦✦ Celsus, meaning 'the high one,' is so called because he rose above himself, surpassing his childhood years with the strength of his spirit. Ambrose is said to have discovered the life and passion of these two in the book of Gervasius and Protasius; however, some books state that a certain philosopher, devoted to Nazarius, wrote down his passion, which Ceratius, who had buried the bodies of the saints, placed at their heads. Nazarius was the son of a most illustrious man named Africanus, who was a Jew, and of blessed Perpetua, a most Christian woman of the Roman nobility who had been baptized by the blessed apostle Peter; when he was nine years old, he marveled greatly to see his father and mother differ so much in their observance of religion, and because his mother followed the law of baptism, while his father followed the law of the Sabbath. He was therefore very much in doubt as to whom he ought to cling to more, for each of them was striving to draw him to their own faith.
Faith Tested by Persecution
Nazarius faces opposition from his father and the Roman authorities, leading to his travels and the beginning of his ministry with Celsus.
Eventually, prompted by God, he followed in his mother's footsteps and was baptized by Pope Linus. When his father found out, he tried to turn him away from his holy resolve by describing, one by one, the tortures inflicted on Christians. As for the claim that he was baptized by Pope Linus, it should perhaps be understood not as the man who was Pope at that time, but as the one who would eventually become Pope. For Nazarius lived for many years after his baptism, as will appear below, yet he suffered martyrdom under Nero, who crucified Peter in the final year of his reign; Linus, however, was Pope after Peter's death. When he would not agree with his father at all, but instead preached Christ most steadfastly, he left the city of Rome at the urging of his parents, who feared he would be killed. He took seven servants laden with his parents' wealth, traveled through the cities of Italy, and gave everything away to the poor. In the tenth year of his departure from Rome, arriving at Piacenza and then Milan, he found the saints Gervasius and Protasius being held there in prison. Hearing that Nazarius was encouraging the aforementioned martyrs, he was quickly dragged before the prefect and, persisting in his confession of Christ, was beaten with rods. Cast out of that city, while he was traveling from place to place, his mother, who had died, appeared to him and, comforting her son, advised him to hurry to Gaul. When he arrived at the city in Gaul called Gemellus and converted many people there, a noblewoman offered him her son, a handsome boy named Celsus, asking that he baptize him and take him along. Hearing of this, the prefect of Gaul had him shut up in prison with the boy Celsus, bound with his hands behind his back and his neck constricted by a chain, so that he could torture him the next day. Then his wife sent word to him, asserting that it was an unjust judgment to kill the innocent and presume to vindicate the almighty gods. Corrected by these words, the governor released the saints, but warned and forbade them from presuming to preach there. He came to the city of Trier and, being the first to preach Christ there and converting many to the faith of Christ, he built a church for himself in that place. Hearing of this, Cornelius, the vicar, sent word to the Emperor Nero, who sent soldiers to arrest him. When they found him near the oratory he had built for himself, they bound his hands, saying, "The great Nero calls for you." Nazarius replied, "A disorderly king has disorderly soldiers. Why didn't you come honestly and say, 'Nero calls for you,' and I would have come?" They then led him to Nero, beating the weeping boy Celsus with slaps and urging him to follow. When Nero saw them, he ordered them to be locked in prison until he could destroy them with devised tortures.
Divine Judgment and Martyrdom
Nero's suffering, the miraculous preservation of the saints, and their eventual martyrdom are recounted.
Meanwhile, when Nero sent hunters out to capture wild beasts, a large group of them suddenly broke into his garden. It entered, tearing many to pieces and killing a great number, to such an extent that Nero was terrified and fled, barely reaching the palace with a wounded foot. He was bedridden for many days because of that wound. Lying there in pain, he finally remembered Nazarius and Celsus, and he decided the gods were angry with him for letting them live so long. At the emperor's command, therefore, soldiers dragged Nazarius and Celsus from prison, kicking and beating them, and stood them before the emperor. When Nero saw his face shining like the sun, he thought he was being tricked by an illusion; he told him to give up his magic and ordered him to sacrifice to the gods. Nazarius was then led to the temple and asked for everyone to leave; as he prayed, all the idols shattered. Hearing this, Nero ordered him thrown into the sea, commanding that if he managed to escape, those following him were to burn him and throw his ashes into the water. Nazarius and the boy Celsus were put on a ship and taken out into the middle of the open sea, where they were thrown overboard; but a great storm immediately rose up around the ship, while a great calm surrounded the saints. And when they... As they feared they were in danger and repented of the evils they had committed against the saints, Nazarius appeared to them with the boy Celsus, walking on the water with a cheerful face; he boarded the ship, and as they now believed, he calmed the sea with his prayer and then traveled with them for six hundred paces to a place near the city of Genoa. After he had preached there for some time, he finally came to Milan, where he had left Gervasius and Protasius. When the prefect Anolinus heard of this, he sent him into exile while Celsus remained in the house of a certain matron; but Nazarius went to Rome, and finding his father, now an old man and a Christian, he asked how he had been converted. He told Cai that the apostle Peter had appeared to him and advised him to follow his wife and son, who had already gone ahead to Christ. Then, the temple priests forced him to return with much abuse to the city of Milan, from where he had been sent to Rome, and there he was presented to the governor with the boy Celsus. He was led outside the Roman gate to a place called the Three Walls and was beheaded with the boy Celsus.
The Discovery of the Relics
The burial of the saints and their later discovery by Saint Ambrose are described, highlighting the incorruptibility of Nazarius.
After the Christians had taken their bodies and laid them to rest in their own gardens, the saints appeared that very night to a man named Ceratius and told him to bury their bodies deeper inside his own house, because of Nero. He replied, "I beg you, my lords, heal my paralyzed daughter first." Once she was immediately healed, he took their bodies and buried them as they had instructed. A long time later, however, the Lord revealed their bodies to blessed Ambrose. He left Celsus in his own place, but finding Nazarius with his blood still fresh—as if he had been buried that very hour—fragrant with a wonderful scent, and whole and incorrupt, even with his hair and beard, he moved him to the church of the apostles and buried him there with honor. They suffered, however, under Nero, who began his reign around the year 57 of the Lord. Ambrose says this about the martyr in his preface: "The holy martyr Nazarius, bathed in rose-colored blood, deserved to ascend to the heavenly kingdom." While he was being cruelly tormented by countless tortures, he overcame the tyrant's rage with the constancy of his faith, nor could he yield to the threats brought by his persecutors, since Christ the Lord, the author of victory, was fighting for him. Meanwhile, he was led to the temple to offer sacrifice to the profane idols, whose portents he reduced to dust as soon as he entered, supported by divine protection. Because of this, he was cast far from land into the liquid waves of the sea by the angels.
A Hymn of Praise
The chapter concludes with a devotional reflection on the victory of the martyrs and their role as patrons of the Church.
He kept his footing firm amidst the waves through the service of his duty. O happy and renowned soldier of the Lord, who attacked the prince of this world and brought an innumerable multitude of people into eternal life. O great and ineffable Sacrament, that the Church should rejoice in the salvation of those whom the world exults to have punished. O blessed mother, glorified by the torments of your children, whom you don't lead to the underworld with weeping or groaning, but follow with perpetual praise as they migrate to the eternal heavens. O most fragrant witness, shining with heavenly brightness, whose inestimable scent surpasses the spices of Sheba. Ambrose found him and gave him as an everlasting patron and physician, a defender of the faith, and a warrior of the holy battle: You, who long ago found the drachma hiding in much dust through the kindled power of the heavenly Word, so that your gifts of the seat, O Christ, might be open to all, and human eyes might behold the angelic faces—this is Ambrose.
Read the original Latin
Nazarius dicitur quasi Nazarenus, quod interpretatur consecratus vel mundus vel separatus vel floridus aut custodiens. In homine requiruntur haec quinque, scilicet cogitatio, affectio, intentio, actio et locutio. Cogitatio autem debet esse sancta, affectio munda, intentio recta, actio justa et locutio moderata. Haec omnia fuerunt in beato Nazario, habuit enim cogitationem sanctam et inde dicitur consecratus; affectionem mundam et inde dicitar mundus; intentionem rectam et inde dicitur separatus, intentio enim est, quae separat opera, quia ex oculo simplici corpus lucidum, ex oculo nequam corpus tenebrosum creatur; actionem justam et inde dicitur floridus, quia justus florebit sicut lilium; locutionem moderatam et inde dicitur custodiens , quia custodivit vias suas et non deliquit in lingua sua. - Celsus, quasi excelsus, quia se supra se extulit, dum aetatem puerilem virtute animi superavit. Horum vitam et passionem Ambrosius in libro Gervasii et Protasii reperisse dicitur, in quibusdam autem libris legitur, quod quidam philosophus Nazario devotus ejus passionem conscripsit, quam )Ceratius, qui sanctorum corpora sepelierat, ad caput ipsorum posuit. Nazarius filius illustrissimi viri nomine Africani, sed Judaei, et beatae Perpetuae christianissimae et Romanorum nobilissimae et a beato Petro apostolo baptizatae, cum haberet IX annos, plurimum mirabatur videns patrem sunm et matrem in observatione religionis tam dissimiliter variari et quia mater sua legem baptismi, pater vero suus legem sabbati sequeretur. Unde cni magis adhaerere deberet, plurimum dubitabat, enm uterque ad fidem suam eum trahere niteretar.
Tandem nutu Dei vestigiis matris adhaesit et a beato Lino papa sacrum baptisma suscepit, quod pater intelligens coepit ipsum a sancto proposito avertere et tormentorum genera, quae christianis inferatur, per ordinem explicare. Quod autem dicitur eum a Lino papa baptizatum, forte intelligitar non, qui tunc papa erat, sed qui futurus erat. Nazarius enim post baptismum, sieut infra patet, annis multis supervixit, qui tamen a Nerone martirium pertulit, qui Petrum anno ultimo sui imperil crucifixit, Linus autem post mortem Petri papa fuit. Cum autem patri nullatenus assentiret, sed potius Christum constantissime praedicaret, ad preces parentum, qui, ne occideretur, timebant, de urbe Roma exiit et VII samarios de parentum divitiis oneratos accipiens per civitates Italiae venit et omnia pauperibus erogavit, Decimo autem anno digressionis suae a Roma Placentiam et deinde Mediolanum adveniens sanctos Gervasium et Protasium ibidem in carcere detineri reperit, audito autem, quod Nazarius praedictos martires animaret, cito ad praefectum pertrahitur et in confessione Christi perdurans fustibus verberatur, et sic ex urbe illa projectus dum de loco ad locum pergeret, mater ejus, quae obierat, sibi apparuit et filium suum confortans, ut ad Gallias properaret, admonuit. Cumque ad urbem Galliae, quae Gemellus dicitur, advenisset et ibidem plurimos convertisset, quaedam matrona filinm suum nomine Celsum elegantem puerum sibi obtulit, rogans, ut ipsum baptizaret et secum duceret, Quod praefectus Galliarum audiens ipsum cum puero Celso retro manibus vinctum et collo catena constrictum in carcere reclusit, ut eum in crastino tormentis afficeret. Tunc uxor sua misit ad eum asserens injustum esse judicium, ut innocentes occideret et Deos omnipotentes vindicare praesumeret, Quibus verbis praeses correctus sanctos absolvit, sed ne ibi praedicare praesumerent, admonuit et interdixit, Venit autem ad urbem Treviris et ibi Christum primus praedicans et multosad fidem Christi convertens ibidem sibi ecclesiam aedificavit, Quod audiens Cornelius vicarius Neroni imperatori mandavit, qui milites ad eum capiendum misit, Qnem cum illi juxta oratorium, quod sibi construxerat, invenissent, ligaverunt manus ejus dicentes: magnus Nero te vocat. Quibus Nazarius: incompositus rex incompositos milites habet; quare enim venientes honeste non dixistis: Nero te vocat, et venissem, Vinetum igitur ad Neronem ducebant et puerum Celsum plorantem alapis caedentes, ut sequeretur, urgebant. Quos cum Nero vidisset, jussit eos in carcere recludi, donec ipsos suppliciis excogitatis perimeret.
Interea cum Nero quadam vice ad capiendas feras misisset venatores, subito ferarum multitudo erumpens viridarium Neronis. intravit, ubi maltos laceravit et plerosque occidit, in tantum, ut Nero turbatus diffugeret et vulnerato pede vix ad palatium pervenit. Multis autem diebus illius vulneris. dolore decumbens tandem Nazarii et Celsi meminit et putavit Deos sibi iratos fuisse, eo quod tamdiu ipsos vivere permisit. Jussu igitur imperatoris milites Nazarium calcibus tundentes et puerum verberantes de carcere eduxerunt et coram imperatore statuerunt. Videns autem Nero faciem ejus instar solis se phantastice deludi putavit et ut magicas artes deponeret, sibi dixit ac ut Diis immolaret, praecepit. Ductus ergo Nazarius ad templum rogavit, ut omnes exirent, et sic eo orante omnia ydola sunt confracta. Quod audiens Nero jussit eum in mare praecipitari, praecipiens, ut, si forte evaderet, ipsum insequentes igni comburerent et pulverem ejus in mare projicerent.
Nazarius igitur et puer Celsus navi imponuntur et in medium pelagus producti ibi praecipitantur, sed statim circa navem tempestas maxima concitatur et circa sanctos tranquillitas maxima cernitur. Cumque illi . periclitari timerent et malorum, quae in sanctos commiserant, poeniterent, ecce Nazarius cum puero Celso super aquas ambulans hilari vultu iisdem apparuit ac super navem conscendens ipsis jam credentibus oratione sua mare placavit ac inde cum iis ad locum per passus DC juxta urbem Januensem pervenit. Ubi cum diutius praedieasset, Mediolanum tandem, ubi Gervasium et Protasium reliquerat, venit. Quod cum Anolinus praefectus amdivisset, enm remanente Celso in domo cujusdam matronae in exsilium direxit, Nazarius vero Romam veniens et patrem suum jam senem et christianum inveniens, quomodo conversus fuerit, inquisivit. Cai dixit, apostolum Petrum sibi apparuisse et ut praecedentes ad Christum uxorem et filium sequeretur, admonuisse. Deinde a templorum pontificibus ad urbem Mediolanum, unde Romam missus fuerat, redire cum injuria multa compellitur, ubi cum puero Celso praesidi pracsentatur. Qui eductus extra portam Romanam in loco, qui dicitur Tres Muri, cum puero Celso decollatus est.
Quorum corpora cum christiani rapuissent et in hortis suis collocassent, in ipsa nocte sancti cuidam, nomine Ceratio, apparentes dixerunt, nt eorum corpora in domo sua propter Neronem profundius sepeliret. Quibus ille: quaeso, domini, sanate prius filiam meam paraliticam. Quae cum continuo sanata fuisset, corpora eorum tulit et, ut jusserant, sepelivit, Post longum vero tempus dominus corpora eorum beato Ambrosio revelavit, Celsum vero in loco suo relinquens, Nazarium cum sanguine recenti quasi eadem hora sepultum, miro odore fragrantem, integrum et incorruptum um capillis et barba reperiens ipsum ad ecclesiam apostolorum transtulit et ibi honorifice sepelivit. Passi sunt autem sub Nerone, qui coepit circa annos domini LVII. De hocmartire sic dieit Ambrosius in praefatione: martir sanctus roseo lustratus cruore Nazarius coeleste meruit conscendere regnum. Qui dum per innumera tormentorum supplicia crudelius vexaretur, tyrannicam rabiem fidei constantia superabat nec potuit persecutorum illatis cedere minis, quando pro se certante ipse actor victoriae Christus dominus dimicabat. Ducitur interea ad templum ydolis praelibare profanis, quorum portenta divino fultus praesidio mox, ut ingressus est, redegit in pulverem. Ob hoc liquidas maris in undas longius a terra projectus angelici.
muneris famulatu solida inter fluctus vestigia praefigebat. O felix et inclitus domini proeliator, qui mundi aggressus principem innumeram populi multitudinem vitae sociavit aeternae. O magnum ac ineffabile sacramentum, ut de illorum potius salute laetetur ecclesia, quos punivisse mundus exsultat. () beata mater natorum suorum glorificata tormentis, quos non planctu, non gemitu ad inferna deducit, sed ad coelestia aeterna migrantes perpetua laude prosequitur. O testis fragrantissime, nitore oelesti fulgide, eujus inaestimabilis odor Sabaeicis praepollet aromatibus. (Quem Ambrosius reperiens perennem patronum dedit et medicum, fidei propugnatorem, sacri proelii bellatorem: 3 Tu dudum multo latitantem pulvere dragmam Invenis accensa verbi virtute superna, Ut pateant cunctis tua, Christe, munera sedis, Angelicos cernant humanaque lumina vultus, Haec Ambrosius.
Scripture echoes
- ↩Matt.6.22-Matt.6.23 — The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light. Matt.6.23 — But if your eye is evil, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
- ↩Ps.39.1 — For the choirmaster. For Jeduthun. A Psalm of David.
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