Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix

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Saints Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix
The Martyrdom of Saints Simplicius and Faustinus. From a 14th century manuscript.
Born
Died	302 or 303
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Major shrine	Santa Maria Maggiore
Feast	July 29
Saints Portal

Simplicius, Faustinus and Beatrix (or Beatrice, Viatrix) were a group of Christian martyrs and saints at Rome during the Diocletian persecution (302 or 303).

[edit] Legend

No firm information or reliable Acts survive concerning them, only the legend, which is that the brothers Simplicius and Faustinus were cruelly tortured on account of their Christian faith, beaten with clubs, and finally beheaded; their bodies were thrown into the Tiber (according to another version a stone was tied to them and they were drowned). Their sister Beatrix had the bodies drawn out of the water and buried.

Then for seven months she lived with a pious woman named Lucina, and together they secretly helped persecuted Christians. Finally she was discovered and arrested. Her accuser was her neighbor Lucretius who desired to obtain possession of her lands. She asserted before the judge that she would never sacrifice to demons, because she was a Christian. As punishment, she was strangled in prison. Her friend Lucina buried her with her brothers in the cemetery ad Ursum Pileatum on the road to Porto.

Divine punishment soon overtook the accuser Lucretius, who at a feast was mocking the folly of the martyrs. A small child cried out, "Thou hast committed murder and hast taken unjust possession of land. Thou art a slave of the devil", who at once took possession of him and tortured him three hours and drew him down into the bottomless pit. The terror of those present was so great that they became Christians.

[edit] Veneration

Pope Leo II (682-683) translated their relics to a church which he had built at Rome in honour of St. Paul. Later the greater part of the relics of the martyrs were taken to the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.

Saint Simplicius is represented with a pennant, on the shield of which are three lilies, called the crest of Simplicius; the lilies are a symbol of purity of heart. Saint Beatrix has a cord in her hand, because she was strangled. Their feast day is 29 July.