Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax, & Abachum, Martyrs

Marius and Martha his wife were Persian nobles, who with their two sons Audifax and Abachum came to Rome to worship God in the reign of Claudius II. There they visited Christians cast into prison for their faith: "You had compassion on prisoners," says the Epistle.  Marius was a Persian of noble extraction. With his wife, who was also noble-born, and his two sons, Audifax and Abachus, he came to Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II (268-270) to venerate the graves of the martyrs. They visited the Christians in prison, encouraged them by word and deed, and shared with them their goods. And like Tobias of old, they buried the bodies of the saints. They devoted themselves in many ways to the service of religion; but soon they had themselves to suffer for the faith: for "they were tortured and put to death" (Gospel). "Without fearing the persecutors" (Communion), they underwent all these torments with prayers of thanksgiving on their lips, for in them they saw like "the sparrow liberated from the bird-catcher's net and who escapes towards heaven" (Offertory), the means of going to enjoy God for evermore (Introit).   Martha was the first to die, but not before she had fervently exhorted her husband and sons to endure steadfastly whatever tortures might be inflicted for the faith. All were beheaded in the same place and their bodies thrown into the fire. Felicitas, a saintly Roman woman, succeeded in recovering the half-burnt bodies and buried them on her estate. They were martyred in 270.  (How would we do if we found ourselves in this position?  Would it be worse to have the children die first, or have them watch us die first?  Would we hold onto the Faith unto death?)

Let us ask Jesus Christ "who showed Himself so admirably in these martyrs" (Alleluia) also to make manifest in our souls the effects of His divine power so that, "enjoying peace in this life, we may in the other receive the eternal reward" (Collect).

Justi epulentur, et exultent in conspectu Dei, et delectentur in laetitia. * Exsurgat Deus, et dissipentur inimici ejus: et fugiant qui oderunt eum, facie ejus.

Let the just feast, and rejoice before God: and be delighted with gladness. * Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered: and let them that hate Him flee from before His face.
(Psalm 67:4,2  from the Introit of Mass)

Exaudi, Domine, populum tuum cum Sanctorum tuorum patrio cinio supplicantem: ut et temporalis vitae nos tribuas pace gaudere; et aeternae reperire subsidium.

Hear Thy people, O Lord, supplicating Thee through the intercession of Thy saints: that Thou wouldst grant us to enjoy peace in this life, and obtain help unto life eternal.
(Collect)

 From the Catholic Encyclopedia