SS. PROCESSUS AND MARTINIAN, MARTYRS, July 2nd

Collect

O GOD, who dost defend and protect us with the glorious confession of thy holy Martyrs Processus and Martinian : grant, we beseeech thee ; that we may both profit by the following of their example and likewise rejoice in the succour of their intercession. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord, who livest and reignest with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.

For the legend

THE Martyrs, Processus and Martinian have been publically venerated in Rome ever since the fourth century, and perhaps even earlier. But of their passion no historical records have come down to us. However, it is popularly believed that when Saints Peter and Paul were confined in the Mamertime prison, the converted their two soldier-guards, to wit, Processus and Martinian, and also forty others, all of whom were baptized by the Apostles. Whereupon the two guards wished to set the Christians free. But when the prefect of the soldiers learnt thereof, he first sought to dissuade the twain from Christ ; and when they woyld not be seduced by fair words, he had them beaten about the face with stones, so that their lips were torn, and their teeth broken to pieces. Then they were ordered to worship a statue of Jupiter. And upon their refusal, there were tortured on the rack, seared with red-hot irons, and beaten with clubs. Meanwhile they vented their agony by crying out : Blessed be the Name of the Lord : and so they were beheaded, namely, on July 2nd. And afterwards they were buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter, whose wardens they had been, and who had helped set them free from the bonds of their paganism.

From the Anglican Breviary