Had not Lupulus, a priest of Jupiter, regained his eyesight after he had been converted by them? Had not the jailer himself asked for baptism? The emperor became furious their evil influence must be stopped. The gift of miracles was attributed to the heroic sufferers. Christians came to console and left consoled. Back in prison, the four Christians passed day and night in prayer and holy meditation. Instantly one of the torturers who witnessed the apparition shouted his belief in the faith of the tortured and hurried off for baptism.
But from the tongues of the sufferers arises a joyous song: "Glory be to the Lord who has deigned to exalt us with such visitations!" Look! Look, a radiant youth, an angel, is now standing among them - with a sponge he is soothing their scorched members, shielding them from the flames. A final torture: let burning torches be thrust against their naked limbs. No results? Then let whips and lashes be added. If not, the Roman rack would surely wrench from them their unworldly faith, would draw from them the desired knowledge. "Where," asked the emperor and others of his type, "where had his wealth gone?" The senator's Christian friends, Eusebius, the boy Peregrin and the rest, would know they must be made to speak - the dungeon would reveal the truth. Peregrin along with his companions found the battered body outside the amphitheater and lovingly buried it. Julius in chains was given the alternative. The newly-received gift of faith burnt brightly within his soul the poor became the object of his wealth, his pagan associates the object of his zeal and eloquence, and Christ the object of his love stronger than death. Do penance and be baptized, lest you perish together with Commodus!" Among the fruits of their heroic street preaching was the conversion of the Roman Senator Julius. Give honor to the one God, the Blessed Trinity, the omnipotent Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. "O dearest friends," they entreated, "abandon the worship of demons. When they had heard of the blasphemous conduct of emperor and people, they became inflamed with holy fervor and incited by the Spirit hurried into the streets defiantly condemning the revolting Roman practices. Four especially were prominent, Eusebius, Vincent, Pontian and the boy Peregrin. A community of Christians who were very devoted to prayer and to the poor and who were most eager to die for Christ were living at that time in the quarter of Rome called Carnarius. He received, of course, what he demanded but the more intelligent began to chew on laurel leaves to hide their laughter and so to save their heads. On the appointed day Commodus appeared quite indecently clad in a lion-skin, crowned, a club in hand, expecting not only adulation but also adoration from the populace. On the anniversary of the emperor's birthday all Rome was to pay homage to him as the demigod Hercules. Martyrdom The story of our saint, according to trustworthy tradition, begins with the issuance of a decree by Emperor Commodus in the year 192. Our Peregrin is not the Italian confessor, Peregrinus Laziosi O.Serv. John's Abbey Church, Collegeville, Minnesota. The earthly remains of Saint Peregrin, a second century martyr, are enshrined in the Relic Chapel of St.
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