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Martyrs, members
of a noble family of Brescia; the elder brother, Faustinus,
being a priest, the younger, a
deacon.
For their fearless preaching of the Gospel, they were
arraigned before the Emperor Hadrian, who, first at Brescia,
later at Rome and Naples, subjected them to frightful
torments, after which they were beheaded at Bescia in the
year 120, according to the Bollandists, though Allard
(Histoire des Persécutions pendant les Deux Premiers Siècles,
Paris, 1885) places the date as early as 118. The many
"Acts" of these saints are chiefly of a legendary character.
Fedele Savio, S.J. the most recent writer on the subject,
calls in question nearly every fact related of them except
their existince and martyrdom, which are too well attested
by their inclusion in so many of the early martyrologies and
their extraordinary cult in their native city, of which from
time immemorial they have been the chief patrons. Rome,
Bologna and Verona share with Brescia the possession of
their
relics. Their feast is celebrated on 15 February, the
traditional date of their martyrdom. |
