Saint of the Day – 18 April – St Perfectus (Died 850) Priest and Martyr of Córdoba in Spain. His Martyrdom was recorded by Saint Eulogius in the Memoriale Sanctorum. Also known as – Parfait, Perfecto, Perfect.
The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Córdoba, St Perfect, Priest and Martyr, killed by the Moors for inveighing against the followers of Mohammed.”
Perfectus was born in Córdoba when the area was under the control of the Moors. Perfectus was a Monk and Ordained Priest. He served at the Basilica of St Acisclus in Córdoba. Christians weregenerally tolerated in the area but not uniformly.
Perfectus, like all his colleagues, he knew that he was risking his life by trying to convert Muslims. He was, therefore, wary when two Muslims approached him in the street and asked him what he thought of Mohammad and Jesus because, they said, “we only want to educate ourselves.”
At first, he refrained from responding, so as not to provoke them but they insisted. Perfectus set about proving to them that Mahammad was a false prophet and that only Jesus was the Saviour. They wished Saint Perfectus good morning, let him go home in peace but then, a few days later, they denounced him to friends. Brought before the Arab tribunal, he was sentenced to death. Once again and publicly, he spoke out about his thoughts on Mohammad and the Quran.
Perfectus was found guilty of blasphemy by the Islamic Court and was executed. The Vita says that Perfectus’ final words were to bless Christ and condemn Mohammed.
He was beheaded on 18 April 850. Perfectus’ Martyrdom was one of the first in a period of Muslim persecution of the Christians in Córdoba which began in 850 and continued intermittently until 960.
His cult spread to France, since the Canons of the Paris Cathedral sang a solemn Mass in his honour for a long time every 18 April.
AnaStpaul 