Saint Floscel

A traitor, C amarinus, Camarinus Individual who denounced Floscel to the emperor. denounced him to the emperor, and the latter had him brought to the forum by lictors and came out to interrogate him: "Detestable young man," he said to him, "what plot do you dare to hatch against us? Who pushes you to destroy the worship of the visible gods?" — "Unjust persecutor and teacher of iniquity," replied Floscel, with the majesty of an apostle, "listen to me: if you wish to enter the house of God, take care not to defile the Church of Jesus Christ" — "And you, take care not to be overwhelmed by torments, like the Crucified One, in payment for the perfidious counsels that you have attempted to prevail against us" — "I do not fear your threats, I fear the Lord our God."

Thus provoked, Valerian ordered Floscel to be stretched on a rack and scourged. "Christ is my confidence," said the valiant soldier, under the rods that tore his body; "He is my boldness. It is He who helps and sustains us." And Valerian, irritated, shouted to the executioners: "Torment him more actively, for he deserves it" — "O folly! You will gain nothing from my tortures: for I believe in God who gives strength" — "Break his jaw, so that he may cease to insult us" — "My boldness increases with my confidence in the Lord..." Then, outraged with anger, Valerian had him thrown into a dungeon with a lion. Floscel said to God: "Come to my aid, for You are powerful." At that very instant, the animal fell dead at his feet; the dungeon was miraculously illuminated by seven torches, and perfumed with very sweet scents, then angels brought him a mysterious bread that gave him new vigor.

However, Valerian commanded the lictors to see what was happening in the prison; and perceiving the brightness of the light, the lion lying dead, and the young martyr who was singing hymns, they hastened to report to the prince what they had just seen. The latter, struck by such a marvelous fact which he attributed to magic, ordered the executioners to burn him alive. A pyre was therefore lit, but the flames were extinguished under torrents of rain caused by a storm that occurred suddenly, and the martyr was once again delivered. Then they pierced his hands and tongue, then stripped him of his clothes to cover him with a linen tunic, and they cut off his head in the public square, in the presence of a barbaric multitude and under the eyes of a prince even more barbaric who did not have the kindness to shed the blood of a child of ten or twelve years.

A trustworthy tradition designates Pleury Pleury Site of the saint's initial burial near Autun. , near Autun, as the place where he was buried. Around the year 996, on April 26, he was transported to the collegiate churc Beaune City of birth and ministry of the saint in Burgundy. h of Beaune (Côte-d'Or), then in the diocese of Autun, at the same ti saint Herné Saint whose relics were transferred at the same time as those of Floscel. me as Saint Herné, and became the object of fervent devotion t here. On Nove Simon de Brie Legate of the Holy See and later Pope, he oversaw the elevation of the relics in 1265. mber 9, 1265, Simon de Brie, Cardinal of the title of Saint Cecilia, legate of the Hol y See and later Po Girard de Beauvoir Bishop of Autun who attended the translation of the relics in 1265. pe, assisted by Girard de Beauvoir, Bishop of Autun , solemnly rais précieux restes Bodily remains of the martyr preserved in Beaune and Autun. ed the precious remains of the martyr from the ground and enclosed them in a reliquary to present them for public veneration in a place called Gagnare, which was more honorable and decent. His cult became famous in the city of Beaune, and God was pleased to consecrate it Himself through miracles. Two feasts were celebrated in his honor there, one on the day of his martyrdom, September 17, and the other on November 9, the day of the solemn translation of his relics. This precious treasure has been fortunately preserved. Today it enriches the churches of Beaune and the cathedral of Autun: the latter has the good fortune of possessing a bone from his head.

Excerpt from The Saints of Dijon, by Abbé Duplus, and Saint Symphorian and his cult, by Abbé Binet.