The Passion of the Saints Processus and Martinianus. Martyrs

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Bonino Mombrizio (1424-ca. 1500) assembled and published a work on hagiography in about 1480. The work was edited and republished in two volumes in 1910. It preserves the mid-sixth century legend of the martyrdom of Saints Processus and Martinianus after they were baptized by Peter in the Mamertine prison (Mombrizio, Sanctuarium seu Vitae Sanctorum. 2:403–404).

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PASSIO SANCTORVM PROCESSI ET MARTINIANI MATYRVM

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Tempore quo Symon magus crepuit: et impiissimus Nero tradidit beatissimos apostolos Christi Petrum et Paulum Paulino uiro benigno. Magister potestatis Paulinus mancipauit beatissimos apostolos in custodia Mamertini: ueniebantque ad eos multi e christianis infirmi: et a suis curabantur infirmitatibus: atque alii a daemonibus 10 liberabantur per orationes apostolorum. Erant autem custodientes eosdem beatissimos apostolos multi milites: inter quos duo magistri principes fuere Processus et Martinianus Hi cum uiderent mirabilia: quae faciebat per beatissimos apostolos suos dominus Iesus Christus: mirari coeperunt dicentes: Viri uenerabiles nostis: quia hic imperator Nero iam in obluuione processit a persona uestra ecce enim 15 nouem menses sunt quod in custodia estis. Rogamus itaque uos: ut ambuletis: quo uolueritis in huius nomine: in cuius uos cognouimus facere uirtutes magnas baptizate nos. Tunc dixerunt eis beatissimi apostoli Petrus et Paulus: Vos credite et omni eorde et mente uestra in nomine trinitatis: et uos ipsi potestis facere: quae nos facere cognouistis. Hoc audientes omnes qui in custodia erant: clamauerunt unanimiter 20 dicentes: donate nobis aquam: quia siti periclitamur. Eadem autem hora beatissimus Petrus in ipsa custodia Mamertini dum esset: dixit ad omnes. Credite in deum patrem omnipotentem et in Iesum Christum filium eius dominum unigenitum et in spiritum sanctum: et omnia ministrabuntur uobis. Eadem autem hora miserunt se omnes ad pedes apostolorum rogantes: ut baptismum ab eis accipiant. 25 At uero beatissimi apostoli orauerunt in eadem custodia: Cunque orrasent: illico beatus Petrus apostolus facto signo Crucis iu monte Tarpeio in custodia Mamertini eadem hora emanauerunt aquae de monte. Tune baptizati sunt beatus processus et Martinianus magistriani principes a beato Petro apostolo. Hoc dum uidissent cuncti: qui in custodia erant: Prostrauerunt se ad pedes beati Petri apostoli: || et baptizati 30 sunt promiscui sexus et aetatis numero quinquagintaseptem. Tunc obtulit pro eis sacrificium laudis: et participati sunt omnes corpore et sanguine domini nostri Iesu Christi. Uidentes autem beati Processus et Martinianus magistri dixerunt ad sanctos apostolos Christi Petrum et Paulum: Pergite quo desyderatis: quia oblitus Nero desperauit de uobis. Exeuntes uero de custodia sancti apostoli Petrus et Paulus uenerunt 35 per uiam: quae Appia nuncupatur: et coeperunt peruenire usque ad portam Appiam. Tunc beatissimus Petus dum tibiam demolitam haberet de compede ferri cedite ei fasciola ante septem solium in uia noua. Eodem autem tempore ueniens iuxta portam Appiam uidit dominum Iesum: quem cognoscens dixit ei Petrus: domine quo pergis? Et dominus inquit: Romam redeo iterum crucifigi tu autem redi Romam. Et rediit 40 Petrus Romam: Cunque rediret mane: ecce magistriani tenuerunt eum. Eodem uero tempore nunciatum est Paulino uiro clarissimo magistro officii: eo quod Processus et Martinianus magistriani christiani effecti fuerant, misit milites et tenuit eos:et iussit in custodiam recludi. Alia autem die praecepit eos sibi praesentari. Qui cum adducti fuissent: dixit eis Paulinus: Sic stulti facti estis ut deserentes deos et deas: quas 45 inuictissimi principes Colunt: et antiquitas nostra adorat: sequi uelitis uana et mendacia? Respondit Martnianus clara uoce et dixit: Nos modo coepimus habere sacramenta militiae caelestic. Paulinus dixit: deponite iam amentiam cordis uestri: Et adorante deos inmortales: quos a cunabulis uestris uenerati estis. Beati martyres Processus et Martinianus respondentes: una uoce dixeront: Nos christiani facti 50 sumus.  Dixit autem ad eos Paulinus: Audite me commilitones mei: et facite quae dico: et estote amici mei: fruiminique militia uestra: et estote clari principum: et sacrifícate diis omnipotentibus: et uiuite: respondentes ambo simul tanquam ex uno [page 404] ore dixerunt ei: Sufficit nos declarare tibi: quia christiani ueraces sumus et serui dei et domini nostri Iesu Christi: quem beatissimi apostolic eius Petrus Cum Paulo praedicauerunt. Paulinus | igitur dixit: Iam dixi uobis. Et audistis et nunc iterum dicouobis: Audite consilium meum: et uiuite. Illi autem tacuerunt. Iterum autem atque 5 iterum interrogauit eos Paulinis: Et iussit ut cum lapidibus tunc ora eorum contunderentur: Cumque diu caederentur: Cumque diu caederantur: Clamabant ambo partier dicentes: Gloria in excelsis deo: et in terra pax hominibus bone uoluntatis. Paulinus uero dixit militibus suis: Proferte modo tripoda: et thurificent maiestatibus. Beati igitur martyres Processus et Martinianus hoc audientes dixerunt: Nosmetipsos semel obtulimus deo omnipotenti. 10 Et allata tripoda dixit eis: facite quae dico: Et detulerunt louem aureum. Hoc autem cum uiderent: risum facientes: expuerunt in Iouem et tripodam coram Paulino magistro officii. Iterum autem idem Paulinus praecepit eos in equuleo suspendi: et attrahi neruis et caedi fustibus. Illi autem uultu alacri gaudentes dicebant: Gratias tibi     agimus domine Iesu Christe. Paulinus nimio furore accensus iussit 15 ut flamas ponerent circa latera eorum. Illi autem uociferabant benedictum nomen domini nostri Iesu Christi: quem beatissimi apostoli eius Petrus et Paulus praedicauerunt. Erat autem ibi quaedam matrona nobilissima foemina nomine Lucina: quae ante illos stabat et eos confortabat: dicebatque eis: Milites Christi nolite metuere poenas:quae ad tempus sunt. Paulinus ad eos dixit: Quae est ista amentia uestra? Illi autem 20 corroborati deridebant tormenta. iussit itaque militibus: ut scorpionibus eos appensos in equuleo castigarent sub uoce praeconia dicentes: praecepta principum contemnere nolite. Eadem autem hora Paulinis magister officii amisit oculum sinistrum ex quo poenitentia ductus prae timore et dolore. Coepit clamare: oh carmina artis magicae praecepit que eos deponi de equuleo: et diu maceratos retrudi in custodia Mamertini 25 Matrona autem uenerahlis Luciana incessanter ministrabat sanctis martyribus in custodia: post triduum autem Paulinis subito a daemonio arreptus expirauit. Tunc filius eius Pampinius coepit clamare ad palatium pergens: moderators et gubernatores reipublicae uestra subuenite: ut extinguantur magicae artis induti: Haec audiens Praefectus Urbis Caesarius intimauit Neroni augusto tem || gestam. Nero autem 30 imperator praecepit dicens. Non tardentur: sed celerius  extinguantur. Pompinius uero magistri officci filius coepit fortiter urgere praefectum Urbis Caesarium: Quare ille lata sententia: iussuit eos eiici de custodia: et duci foras muros urbis Romae: in uiam: quae Aurelia nuncupatur: et ibi capite gladio sunt amputati. Beatissima autem Lucina cum hoc uideret: sequebatur eos cum familia sua: usque dum peruenirent iuxta 35 formam aquaeductus: ubi etiam decolati sunt: et corpora eorum relicta sunt truncata a canibus deuoranda sanctissima uero foemina lucina collegit corpora eorum: et condiuit cum aromatibus pretiosis: sepeliutque in praedio suo in harenario iuxta locum: ubi decolati sunt sub die sexto nonas iulias uia Aurelia : ubi praestantur beneficia eorum usque in diem hunc: Regnante domino nostro Iesu Christo: qui 40 uiuit et regnat deus in unitate spiritussancti per omnia saecula saeculorum. Amen.

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At the time when Simon Magus raised a ruckus, and the most impious Nero handed over the most blessed apostles of Christ, Peter and Paul, to Paulinus, a kind man, the commander Paulinus transferred the most blessed apostles to the Mamertine prison. And many sick from the Christians were coming to them and they were cured of their infirmities, and others were freed from evil spirits through the prayers of the apostles.

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However, many soldiers were guarding the same most blessed apostles, among whom were two guards, Processus and Martinianus. When they saw the wonders which the Lord Jesus Christ was doing through his most blessed apostles they began to marvel saying, “Venerable men you know that the Emperor Nero has by now forgotten about you. Truly, it is the ninth month that you have been in prison. So we ask you to baptize us, and you may walk where you wish in this name in which we know you have done great works.” Then the most blessed apostles Peter and Paul said to them, “If you will believe with your whole heart and your mind in the name of the Trinity, then you yourselves will be able to do what you know we do.” When all those who were in the prison heard this they cried out unanimously saying, “Give us this water for we are dying of thirst.”   

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At that same hour the most blessed Peter, while he was in the Mamertine prison, said to all, “Believe in God the Father almighty and in Jesus Christ his only son, the Lord, and in the Holy Spirit, and all will be done for you.” At the same hour they all placed themselves at the feet of the apostles asking to receive baptism from them. (26) And indeed, the most blessed apostles prayed in that very prison. And when they were praying, in that place the blessed apostle Peter made the sign of the cross on the Tarpeian hill in the Mamertine prison, at that very time waters flowed from the hill. Then the blessed Processus and Martinianus, the chief guards, were baptized by the blessed apostle Peter. 

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When all who were in the prison saw this, they prostrated themselves at the feet of the blessed Apostle Peter. They were baptized, a mix of gender and age, to the number of fifty-seven. Then they offered for them the sacrifice of praise. And they all participated in the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. (33) So, seeing this, the blessed teachers Processus and Martinianus said to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, “Go wherever you desire. Because forgetful Nero has given up on you.” So leaving the prison, the holy apostles Peter and Paul went out along the way known as Appia. And they came to the Appian gate. Then the most blessed Peter, while he had a severely injured leg from the iron shackles, removed the bandage before the seven stone coffins on the Via Nova.

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At that very time, coming next to the Appian gate he saw the Lord Jesus, whom Peter recognized and said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” (domine, quo pergis?) (39). And the Lord answered, “I am going back to Rome to be crucified again. However, you go back to Rome.” And Peter went back to Rome. And when he had gone back in the morning, behold the soldiers took hold of him.

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Indeed, at that very time it was announced to most noble Paulinus, drill-instructor, that Processus and Martinianus, once instructed, had been made Christians. He sent soldiers and apprehended them. And he ordered them to be thrown into prison. However on another day he ordered them to present themselves [for trial]. And when they appeared before him Paulinus said to them, “Have you become so stupid that you fail to recognize the gods and goddesses which the invincible emperors worship, and our ancestors adored, and that you follow lies and vanity?  (47) Martinianus responded with a clear voice and said, “We have recently begun to take our oath of allegiance to the army of heaven.” Paulinus said, “Now put aside the madness of your heart, and worship the immortal gods whom you have venerated from your infancy.”

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The blessed martyrs Processus and Martinianus responding said with one voice, “We have been made Christians.” However, Paulinus said to them, “Hear me my fellow soldiers and do what I say and be my friends and enjoy your service, and be noble leaders! (53) And sacrifice to the omnipotent gods and live.” Both responding at the same time with one mouth said to him, “It is enough for us to say to you: we are true Christians and servants of our God and Lord Jesus Christ, whom his most blessed apostles Peter with Paul preached.”

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Paulinus therefore said, “So I have already spoken to you and you have listened. And now I say to you again, “Hear my advice and live.” They however were silent. So again and again Paulinus interrogated them, and he ordered that their mouths be pounded with stones. While they were being severely beaten they both cried out alike saying, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those of goodwill.”

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Paulinus said to his soldiers, “Bring forth the tripod and they will burn incense to the majesties.” The blessed martyrs Processus and Martinianus hearing this said, “We have offered our very selves once-for-all to almighty God.” When the tripod was delivered he said to them, “Do what I say.” (10)  And they brought the golden (statue of) Jupiter. When they saw it they began to mock it. They spit on the Jupiter and the tripod in the presence of Paulinus, the drill-instructor. 

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So Paulinus again ordered them to be hung on the rack, their joints stretched and beaten with sticks. They however looked happy and rejoicing said, “We give thanks to you Lord Jesus Christ.” Paulinus, now that his anger was exceedingly kindled, order that fire be applied to their sides. However they cried out, “Blessed be the name of the Lord, Jesus Christ, whom his most blessed apostles Peter and Paul preached.”

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Now, there was a most noble lady by the name of Lucina who stood before them and comforted them. She said to them, “Soldiers of Christ do not be afraid of the punishment that is but for a time.” Paulinus said to them, “What is this insanity of yours?” Thus strengthened they laughed at the torments. So he gave orders to the soldiers that they be chastised with scorpions, suspending them on the rack, and with a loud voice saying, “Do not despise the commands of the leaders.”

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At that very hour, Paulinus, drill-instructor, lost his left eye; because of this punishment led by fear and pain, he began to shout, “Oh the spells of the magic art!” And he charged them to be placed on the rack. And he charged that after they were tortured at length, they be returned to the Mamertine prison. However the venerable matron Lucina was unceasingly ministering to the holy martyrs in prison. After three days Paulinus, seized by a demon, suddenly died.

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Then his son Pompinius, going to the palace, began to shout, “Officers and governors of your republic, help! Let these dealers of the magic art be eradicated!” Hearing this, Caesarius, prefect of the city, reported the matter to Nero Augustus in short order. The emperor Nero ordered saying, “Do not delay! But eradicate them quickly!”

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In response, Pompinius, the son of the drill-instructor began to strongly urge Caesarius, the prefect of the city. Therefore, that one passed sentence [upon them]. He ordered them to be brought out from the prison and to be led outside the walls of the city of Rome on the road that is called Aurelia. And there they were decapitated with a sword. When the most blessed Lucina saw this she followed them with her family until they arrived at the form of the aqueduct where they were beheaded and the trunks of their bodies were left, to be devoured by dogs. The most holy woman Lucina gathered their bodies and preserved them with valuable spices. And she buried [them] on her estate in a sandpit next to the place where they were beheaded on the sixth of the Nones of July on the Aurelian Way, where their favors are bestowed to this day, while our lord Jesus Christ reigns, who lives and reigns, God, in the unity of the Holy Spirit for all ages of ages.

This text and my translation is also available in: The Rome of Peter and Paul.

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