Feast Day: January 19
The commemoration of St. Marius, St. Martha, St. Audifax, and St. Abachum honors a family of holy martyrs who gave their lives for Christ during the persecution of Christians under the Emperor Claudius II (also known as Claudius Gothicus) in the 3rd century. Their story is one of profound faith, familial love, and courage amidst grave trials.
Their Lives and Martyrdom
St. Marius and St. Martha were husband and wife, noble Persians who embraced Christianity. Together with their two sons, St. Audifax and St. Abachum, they left Persia and traveled to Rome on a pilgrimage to venerate the relics of the martyrs and to offer their service to Christians in need.
In Rome, during a time when the Church faced severe persecution, the family devoted themselves to aiding imprisoned Christians, burying the bodies of martyrs, and providing comfort to the faithful who were suffering. Their acts of charity and public witness to the faith brought them to the attention of Roman authorities.
The entire family was arrested and brought before Roman officials. Refusing to renounce their faith or offer sacrifices to the pagan gods, they were subjected to torture in an attempt to force their apostasy. Despite their sufferings, they stood firm in their belief in Christ, inspiring many by their steadfastness.
Eventually, they were sentenced to death. St. Marius and his two sons were beheaded, while St. Martha was drowned in a well. Their martyrdom occurred around the year 270 A.D., and their heroic sacrifice quickly led to their veneration by the early Church.
Relics and Veneration
After their deaths, the bodies of the holy martyrs were recovered by a pious Roman lady named Felicitas (not to be confused with St. Felicitas, the early Roman martyr). She buried them with reverence on her estate outside of Rome, where a church was later erected in their honor.
Their relics are believed to have been distributed to various churches, and their names are preserved in the Roman Martyrology, the Church’s official listing of saints and martyrs. Their feast day has been celebrated on January 19 since the early centuries of the Church.
Spiritual Lessons from Their Lives
- Courage in Persecution: St. Marius, St. Martha, St. Audifax, and St. Abachum remind us of the virtue of courage in the face of trials. They stood firm in their faith even unto death, demonstrating the power of divine grace in times of suffering.
- Family Holiness: As a family united in faith, their lives reflect the ideal of Christian family life, where parents and children support each other in the path to holiness. Their shared martyrdom is a testament to the strength of familial love grounded in Christ.
- Charity and Service: The family’s dedication to serving imprisoned Christians and burying martyrs emphasizes the importance of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. Their example calls us to imitate their selflessness in aiding those in need.
- Pilgrimage and Reverence: Their journey from Persia to Rome highlights the role of pilgrimage as a spiritual act of devotion. Even today, their story invites us to deepen our reverence for the saints and martyrs of the Church.
Collect Prayer for the Feast
O God, who gladden us each year with the feast of Thy holy martyrs, St. Marius, St. Martha, St. Audifax, and St. Abachum, graciously grant that, as we venerate their heroic witness, we may imitate their constancy and charity in our own lives. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God, world without end. Amen.
Reflection
The story of this holy family challenges us to reflect on our own readiness to bear witness to Christ in an increasingly hostile world. Are we willing to make sacrifices for our faith, defend the truth with courage, and practice heroic charity? The feast of these martyrs invites us to place our trust in God, knowing that He sustains those who remain faithful to Him.
May the intercession of St. Marius, St. Martha, St. Audifax, and St. Abachum strengthen us in our trials and inspire us to live out our faith with courage and love!