St. Getulius, the husband of St. Symphorosa, had been an officer in the Roman army under Trajan and Hadrian. Upon his conversion to the Christian faith, he resigned from his post and withdrew to his estate in the Sabine Hills, near Tivoli in Italy. Here, he lived in seclusion, surrounded only by a small group of Christians whom he taught and supported.
One day, while Getulius was teaching his followers, he received an unexpected visit from Cerealis, the imperial vicar, who had been sent to apprehend him. Interestingly, during their conversations, Cerealis was deeply moved by Getulius and his brother Amantius, who, despite being a fervent believer, continued to serve as a tribune in the Roman army and became a convert to the faith. As soon as the Emperor learned of what had occurred, he ordered Consul Licinius to apprehend the three men and condemn them to death unless they consented to abjure their faith.
They were brought before the Consul, who ordered them to renounce their faith. However, in the face of adversity, they courageously proclaimed their faith, leading to their imprisonment for 27 days in Tivoli. During their captivity, they endured various forms of torture, but their unwavering commitment to their beliefs remained unshaken, rendering the attempts to make them renounce their faith futile. They were finally beheaded on the Via Salaria in the year 120. The relics of these Saints were buried by St. Symphorosa in an arenarium upon her estate.
St. Getulius intercede for us so that through our lives, we may bear witness to the transformative power of God's love and share it with all people, spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the world.
Jonathan Fabian Ginunggil,
Most High Servant,
Jesus, Mary, Joseph Ministry of Love (Blessed and Saints and the Nine Choirs of Angels)
No comments:
Post a Comment