November 2026, No. 229
October 2026, No. 228
September 2026, No. 227
Who are the Heralds of the Gospel?
Help of Christians
Christmas Carols
Rome, matriarch of a great historical era. At the mere mention of her name, a sense of inescapable dominion fills the imagination. Her heroes are stony, imposing and invincible; her men are strong, haughty and proud. In her, legend merges with history; or rather, her history is legendary!
Almost the entire known ancient world was subject to the city of the seven hills. Her emperors, as they surveyed the panorama from the heights of their magnificent palaces, could be certain that the world would soon bow before them… Indeed, the day would come when their dominion would know no setting sun.
One Man, however, subdued – not by force of arms, but solely through the influence of His personality – that indomitable lady; by transforming the despot of Antiquity into the queen of the future, He endowed her with her true identity. This victor was Jesus, whom we recognise as Christ!
As the third century of the Christian era began, much of the empire was already beginning to be illuminated by the radiance of the Holy Cross. In Roman Gaul, a certain herald proclaimed these first glimmers, so that the empire might never witness the setting of the true Sun.
Cultivation begins in Toulouse
In the fourth century B.C., Toulouse fell under Celtic rule and began to appear in historical records.1 Later, in 128 B.C., Rome established its sovereignty over this region of the yet-barbaric Gaul as well. Despite – or perhaps thanks to – its conquerors, the ancient Gallic city grew increasingly magnificent!
Imperial progress built civilization wherever it spread: superb structures and endless roads that still astound modern engineers, and an impeccable legal code that continues to inspire us today. Yet, one thing was missing… or rather, not one thing, but one God.
This sole God did not abandon humanity to its fate, especially not after sending His Son to redeem it. He ordained the spread of the Good News, commanding: “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation” (Mk 16:15). In the territory of Toulouse, the first to fulfil this mission would be Saturninus.
Saturninus enters history like a new Melchizedek, of whom Scripture records only that he was “without father or mother or genealogy” (Heb 7:3). His name – a diminutive of Saturn, one of the many gods of pagan Rome – was common and unremarkable for the era, offering no significant clues about the man himself.
Furthermore, it is uncertain whether he came from within the Empire or from the East; legends support both theories, and the accounts containing more precise details of his life date from after his arrival in Toulouse, that is, from the time he was already serving as its Bishop.
The story of St. Saturninus became the subject of countless myths, and the official chronicles do little to enrich the story, given that the Roman Martyrology recounts his life in the briefest of terms.
We know for certain only that he was the first prelate of Toulouse, where he left behind the memory of an exemplary shepherd.
Upon arriving in those lands, he found the number of the faithful to be small; yet, the words of the Word of God, delivered with heavenly eloquence, found fertile soil in the hearts of the people, quickly yielding “a hundredfold” (Lk 8:8).
Stones, thorns and weeds…
Saturninus was tireless! With true apostolic zeal, he cared not only for the sheep of his own small flock but was also solicitous towards the other members of the Mystical Body of Christ.
The saintly Bishop frequently crossed the Pyrenees to evangelize the Iberian territory. It is said that in Pamplona he baptized – the reader may well be astonished – forty thousand people!
Upon returning to Toulouse, he encountered two ladies, daughters of the King of Huesca and, discerning a special calling in them, exhorted them to have faith in Christ.
Converted, both followed him to his diocese. In time, these young women – remembered by the Church as Holy Maidens – would courageously strive to recover their Bishop’s mortal remains following his martyrdom.
With so many souls saved, one can imagine the rejoicing of the Angels of the nations privileged by the presence of this distinguished shepherd. Yet, one can also glimpse the hatred of hell at seeing its power wane…
Thus, despite the triumphs of the Cross, the souls of the leading figures of the age were becoming increasingly like stony ground, filled with thorns and cultivated by the devil (cf. Lk 8:12-14). It was not long before the fruits of such wretched soil became apparent.
In the year 250, the greatest persecution of the Church ever recorded in Gaul broke out. Under the rule of Emperor Decius, edicts were issued compelling Christians, under penalty of death, to bow publicly to idolatry and offer worship to pagan deities.
What was the reason? The silence… not that of the Christians, but of the gods – a silence that had to be broken.
Indeed, time was passing, and although pagan priests implored their idols for wonders, signs, and oracles to guide them, the answer remained the same: a heavy silence.
There could be only one explanation for such muteness, for in recent years someone had thrown Gaul into turmoil: that unknown man whose teachings drew crowds. Saturninus was the one to blame!
Armed with this argument, the civil and religious authorities of Toulouse joined forces to enforce the imperial edict; they sought to stifle the seeds of faith newly sown in French soil by demanding the life of the sower.
Incense or blood?
One day, pagan priests spotted Bishop Saturninus walking near the temple of Jupiter. Having incited the crowd, they sought to force him to offer public sacrifice to the gods.
The Saint boldly resisted this vile proposal:
“I worship one God alone, and to Him alone will I offer sacrifices of praise. Your gods are evil and delight more in the sacrifice of your souls than in that of your bulls. How could I fear them, when you yourselves acknowledge that they tremble before a Christian?”
Such was his spirited defiance that the mob – deeming the tacit approval of the Roman magistrates sufficient – bypassed the usual judicial proceedings and seized the defiant Bishop.
They bound him to a bull destined for sacrifice and drove the animal to a wild, uncontrollable charge through the streets, tearing him to pieces.
Unwittingly, however, the mob’s uprising watered the very fields the Bishop had sown with this holocaust; his martyrdom would cause the Faith to spring up in that region, eventually bearing abundant fruit.
The memory of the just is eternal!
Pagan Rome may well be remembered for its past; the Roman Catholic Apostolic Church, on the other hand, will never be forgotten, for hers is a triumphant future.
The ancient empire tried to substantiate its prestige through heroes carved in stone; the ever-reigning Bride of Christ has immortalized her glory through saints and martyrs.
Saturninus, through the integrity of his life, sustained right up to a most cruel death, earned his place in the roll of the Holy Church, and alongside this illustrious Mother he has held sway for centuries over the hearts of those who had never imagined they would be subject to anyone.
Thus, he who was small in name became great through his example, which will be followed for all time to come.
