Saint of the Day – 20 October – Saint Maximus of Aquila (c228-c250) Deacon Martyr. Born in c228 in Aveia, Italy and died by being cast off a cliff in Aveia, Italy in c250. Also known as – Maximus of Aveia, Maximus of Naples, Massimo… Additional Memorial – 10 June on which date he is celebrated by a Festival in Aquila (translation of Relics). Maximus is the Main Patron of both the City and Archdiocese of Aquila, L’Aquila and of Penne – Italy.
The Roman Martyrology reads: “At Aveia, near Aquila in Abruzzo, Italy, the birthday of blessed Maximus, Deacon and Martyr, who, through the desire of suffering, presented himself to the persecutors who sought him. After answering with great constancy, he was racked and tortured, then beaten with rods and finally, he died by being precipitated from an elevated place.”
Maximus was born in the ancient City of Aveia (surrounding L’Aquila) in the first half of the 3rd Century (c228). It seems that he was born into a Christian family as demonstrated by his status as an aspirant to the Priesthood, the Relics of his father, also Maximus and his deposition before the Prefect of Aveia.
During the persecution of Decius which lasted from October 249 to November 251, he was Martyred. From a ‘Passio,’ we know that after various questions from the Governor of the City and the answers of loyalty to Jesus Christ, he was stretched out on the rack and tortured for a long time. The long torture was of no use, however. To dissuade him, the Governor even promised him his daughter, Cesaria, as a bride. The exasperated persecutor ordered Maximus to be thrown from the highest peak, which was called Temple Circle and Tower.
Perhaps it was due to this Martyrdom that the City of Aveia (today Fossa) became a Bishopric.
Upon the destruction of Aveia, during an invasion, Maximus’ Relics were taken to a nearby City “City of St Maximus” and, it was here that on 10 June 956, Emperor Otto I the Great and Pope John XII came to venerate the Relics of our Saint. In 1256 the See and the Relics were moved to the newly built City of L’Aquila and were placed in the new Cathedral there which was also dedicated to him.
Note from the local Daily News of L’Auila on some of the Festival Celebrations:
Saturday 10 June, at 11am, Holy Chapter Mass at the Church of the Anime Sante, presided over by Canon Sergio Maggioni , Archdeacon of the L’Aquila Chapter, while in the evening, at 9.45pm, the musical event “Galileo Queen Tribute band & DJ set Lorenzo Baglioni” in Piazza San Basilio, with a food and drink area from 7pm organised by Anbra brewery and Bivacco.
This is the St Maximus’ Processional Cross, in silver, enamel and copper. by Nicola Gallucci da Guardiagrele (1385-1462).
AnaStpaul 