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Home  »  Volume VIII: August  »  St. Gelasinus, Martyr

Rev. Alban Butler (1711–73). Volume VIII: August. The Lives of the Saints. 1866.

August 26

St. Gelasinus, Martyr

 
[A comedian at Heliopolis in Phœnicia.]  HE having been baptized, in jest, in a warm bath on the stage, coming out of it, loudly professed himself a Christian, and was stoned to death by the mob, in 297, as the chronicle of Alexandria relates. Theodoret speaks of these examples, when he says that some on the stage have passed from the worship of devils to the rank of martyrs. 1 The examples of wonderful conversions strongly invite us to address ourselves to the divine mercy, and to beg that God would be pleased, by his omnipotent grace and power, perfectly to subdue and convert our hearts.  1
 
Note 1. Theodoret de Curand. Græc. Affect.; Serm. 8, de Martyr. t. 4, p. 606. [back]