— Isaiah 26:7-8 —

=C2=A0=E2=80=94 Isaiah 26:7-8 =E2=80=94=20

The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to walk in.
And in the way of thy judgments, O Lord,
we have patiently waited for thee: thy name,
and thy remembrance are the desire of the soul.=C2=A0 DRB
=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=3D=
=3D=3D
At times the "path of the righteous" doesn't seem smooth and it isn't
easy to do God's will, but we are never alone when we face tough
times. God is there to help us through difficulties, to comfort us,
and to lead us. God does this by giving us a purpose and giving us
provisions as we travel. God provides us with relationships of family,
friends, and mentors. God gives us wisdom to make decisions and faith
to trust him. Don't despair; stay on God's path.

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November 8th - Four Crowned Martyrs (RM)

Died c. 305.
 On the Caelian Hill in Rome stands the church of Santi
Quattro Incoronati. In it is a chapel specially dedicated to the guild
of marble-workers. A church has stood in this place since the 6th
century and probably before that, too.

Much has been written about who the four crowned martyrs might be, but
the stories break down into two irreconcilable groups with different
names and different places. Oddly enough, the Church commemorates not
four but five Christian martyrs in both versions. Since in both cases
their names were at first unknown, they are generally referred to by
the collective title.

The most convincing explanation is that they were five men who were
martyred in either in Pannonia (modern Hungary) or at Albano, Italy,
one of whom, Simplicius, was unaccountably omitted. Some time after
the relics of Severus, Severianus, Carpophorus, and Victorinus had
been brought to Rome and interred on the Via Labicana, a legend was
fabricated in which four Roman soldiers were represented as having
been martyred under Diocletian for refusing to sacrifice to an image
of Aesculapius, the Greek god of medicine, in the Baths of Trajan.
They were later named by Pope Miltiades.

The more popular Pannonian account relates that they came from Sirmium
(Mitrovica) in Pannonia, were average Christians, and were brilliant
stone-carvers, who worked together. Their names were Simpronian,
Claudius, Nicostratus, Castorius, and Simplicius.

Their work exhibited a perfect understanding of stone and space.
Emperor Diocletian himself had commissioned a number of works from
them and he was pleased with their work. Other less talented sculptors
were doubtless envious and persuaded Diocletian to order them to carve
a statue of Aesculapius. The commission would have brought additional
renown as well as pay. But the five stone- carvers were Christians and
politely refused to cooperate in the worship of idols.

The masons were then ordered to make a sacrifice to the Sun god. This
was even less acceptable than the notion of carving a statue of
Aesculapius. The emperor accepted their beliefs, but when they refused
to do their civic duty--sacrifice to the gods--they were imprisoned.
When Diocletian's officer Lampadius, who was trying to convince them
to sacrifice to the gods, suddenly died, his relatives accused them of
his death. To placate the relatives, Diocletian had them bound,
fastened in leaden boxes and drowned in the river.

The late 4th century account of them is of special interest for what
it tells about the imperial quarries and workshops in the mountains
near Sirmium; and also because it gives a more human picture of
Diocletian than that of the bloodthirsty tyrant commonly represented
in the passions of martyrs.

Whatever the true story, the bodies were buried on the Lavican way
about three miles from Rome. Pope Gregory the Great mentions an old
church of the four crowned martyrs in Rome. Pope Leo IV, in 841,
repaired the church and translated the relics from the cemetery on the
Lavican Way. When this church was destroyed by fire, Paschal II
rebuilt it. During the course of the reconstruction two rich urns--one
of porphyry, the other of serpentine marble--were discovered under the
altar. The urns were deposited in a stone vault under the new altar
where they were again found by Paul V.

Working masons of the Middle Ages held the Four Crowned Martyrs in
special honor, and this has been perpetuated in English Freemasonry;
there is a Quatuor Coronati lodge in London that has published its
annual report for 75 years under the title of Ars Quatuor Coronatorum.
There was already a chapel of the Four Crowned Martyrs in Canterbury
in the year 619 (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Encyclopedia,
Husenbeth).

In art they are, of course, represented by four men with sculptor's
tools. At times the picture will include a chisel, column and
sculptor's tools; or Claudius planing a plank, Simplician (Simpronian)
with a pickaxe, and Castor as an old man.

They are the patrons of sculptors, stone-cutters, and marble- workers,
as well as protectors of cattle. Invoked against fever (Roeder).


Saint Quote:
"Take away justice, and what are kingdoms but mighty bands of robbers "
--St. Augustine (Doctor, 354-430) - "City of God"

Bible Quotes:
"And it was not enough for them to err about the knowledge of God, but
whereas they lived in a great war of ignorance, they call so many and
so great evils peace. ... they sacrifice their own children, ... they
neither keep life, nor marriage undefiled, but one killeth another
through envy, or grieveth him by adultery: And all things are mingled
together, blood, murder, theft and dissimulation, corruption and
unfaithfulness, tumults and perjury, disquieting of the good,
"Forgetfulness of God, defiling of souls, changing of nature, disorder
in marriage, and the irregularity of adultery and uncleanness" ... for
two things they shall be punished, because they have thought not well
of God ... and have sworn unjustly in guile despising justice  (Wisdom
14:22-26)

"the land is filled with blood, and the city is filled with
perverseness: for they have said: The Lord hath forsaken the earth,
and the Lord seeth not. Therefore neither shall my eye spare, nor will
I have pity: I will requite their way upon their head"   (Ezechiel
9:9-10)