Saints of the Day – 2 July – Saints Processus and Martinian of Rome * (Died c67) Martyrs, Laymen, Prison guards at the Mamertine prison in Rome. They were among the Guards of St Peter and St Paul, the Apostles. They converted to Christ and were Baptised by Peter and Paul. Patronage – Bagnolo Mella, Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reqads today: “At Rome, on the Aurelian Way, the birthday of the holy Martyrs, Processus and Martinian, who were Baptised by the blessed Apostle Peter, in the Mamertine Prison. After being struck on the mouth, racked, scourged with thongs and whips tipped with metal, after being beaten with rods and exposed to the flames, they were beheaded in the days of Nero and thus obtained the Crown of Martyrdom.”
For many Centuries before the Feast of the Visitation was instituted, the 2nd of July was kept as the Feast of the Martyrs Saints Processus and Martinian, who remain as a commemoration on that day in the Extraordinary Form. According to a legend current since the Sixth Century, they were the jailers in charge of keeping Sts Peter and Paul, in the Mamertine prison in Rome, during the reign of the Emperor Nero and having been converted by the Apostles, allowed them to escape. For this, they were put to death after a long series of torments, through which they simply said over and over again, “Blessed be the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Whom His blessed Apostles have preached!” Originally buried in a cemetery off the via Aurelia, their remains were transferred to the ancient Basilica of St Peter by Pope Paschal I in the early Ninth Century. The north transept of the new Basilica is named for them, where their Relics are kept under the middle of the three Altars.
The central Altar is where this painting of their Martyrdom, by the French painter Valentin de Boulogne (1629) was originally displayed – it is now replaced by a mosaic copy.
Interesting Note: Since the windows of St Peter’s Basilica are so high up, the marble walls are never exposed to direct sunlight for any great length of time and, generally remain cooler than the air. In the summertime, when Italy is often very hot and humid, a great deal of moisture comes into the building and condenses on the cooler marble. In the middle of the 18th Century, it was realised that the paintings over the Altars were being destroyed because they had a slick of condensation over them for several months of the year.
They were, therefore, all removed and replaced by mosaics.
The original of our painting of the Martyrdom, is now in the Painting Gallery of the Vatican Museums. (GREGORY DIPIPPO).
AnaStpaul 