Saint
Saturninus of Toulouse ( also known as Sernin; Saturnin) was a third
century missionary from Rome to Gaul, the Pyrenees ( mountain range
in southwestern Europe, forming a natural boundary between France and
Spain), and the Iberian peninsula (peninsula in southwestern Europe,
divided into Spain and Portugal, together with Gibraltar).
He
made many converts including the farmer now known as Saint Honestus
who joined him in the missions. Saint Saturninus and two companions
were imprisoned at Carcassone by the prefect Rufinus, but they were
freed by an angel. He was the first bishop of Toulouse, where he
performed miraculous healings. He converted and baptized Saint
Firminus who was later bishop of Amiens.
When
Saturninus began his work in Toulouse, the local pagan priests
stopped receiving oracles from their “gods”. The devils were
struck dumb by the presence of the saint as he passed that way. One
day in 257, when the priests were hopelessly frustrated, Saturninus
passed by in the street. The priests blamed the bishop, and ordered
the crowd of heathens to seize him and force him to offer sacrifice
to their gods. The idols fell to pieces in front of the bishop. The
crowds abused him, then tied his feet to a wild bull which was to be
sacrificed, and then drove the bull out of the temple. He was dragged
to death.
The
martyrdom of this saint probably happened in the reign of Valerian,
around 257 A.D.
Quotation:
"I adore one only God, and to him I am ready to offer a sacrifice of praise. Your gods are devils, and are more delighted with the sacrifice of your souls than with those of your bullocks. How can I fear them who, as you acknowledge, tremble before a Christian?" -- Saint Saturninus
