A Christian physician in 5th-century Africa, Liberatus was imprisoned and exiled for his faith during the persecution. Despite the ruses of the heretics and the threat to his children, he remained steadfast with his wife, with whom he eventually suffered martyrdom in 484.
Guided reading
6 reading sections
SAINT LIBERATUS, MARTYR (484).
Spiritual Introduction
The text introduces the narrative as a lesson on the superiority of spiritual love, anchored in God, over carnal or natural love.
The story that we are about to tell you is not long, but it is very instructive, since it will make you understand the difference that exists between carnal or natural love, and spiritual love, which has its source in God.
Arrest and ruse of the authorities
Liberatus, a physician in Africa, is imprisoned for his faith. The authorities attempt to deceive his wife by making her believe that he has abjured.
« Five hundred years after Jesus Christ, there was in Africa a famous physician, name d Liber Libérat African physician and martyr of the 5th century. atus, who was imprisoned for the faith, with hi sa femme Wife of Liberatus, martyred with him, having encouraged her husband to remain steadfast. s wife, but each separately, so that they could neither see nor speak to one another. They went to tell the wife falsely: — « Do not be rebellious any longer to the king's orders; your husband has submitted to them ». She replied: — « I wish to see him first, then I will do what God inspires me to do ».
The confrontation at the Forum
Before the crowd, Libératus's wife first rebukes him for his alleged betrayal before he publicly reaffirms his Catholic faith.
"She was led to the Forum, where she found her husband and a vast crowd. Indignant at the sight of Lib Libérat African physician and martyr of the 5th century. ératus, for she had believed the lie that had been told to her, she sharply addressed him in these terms: — 'Wretch, what have you done? For a few moments of earthly happiness, you have renounced the grace of God and eternal happiness! What use will the riches you might still acquire be to you? Will they save you from the eternal flames?' — Libératus replied to her: 'Are you mad? What are you talking about? Who could have told you that I have renounced the faith? I will never cease to adore Jesus Christ, as every true Catholic Christian must do.'"
Exile and the trial of the children
The family is condemned to exile. Despite the separation from their children, the couple chooses to prioritize their eternal salvation over earthly attachment.
In this way, the imposture of the heretics was confounded. Liberatus was therefore exiled with his wife and children. B ses enfants Children of the couple, used as a means of pressure by the persecutors. ut before expelling them, a final effort was attempted: an appeal was made to their feelings for their children. They began by locking the parents and children separately. Liberatus could not help but weep, but his wife said to him: — Do you wish to lose your soul because of your children? From this day on, they are no longer ours, but Christ's, who will know well how to take care of them. Do you not hear that they too are crying out: We are Christians?
The martyrdom
The account concludes with the death as martyrs of Liberatus and his wife.
Another historian reports that later Liberatus died a martyr, at the same time as his heroic wife.
Source
Reference to the work of A. Stols from which this hagiographic summary is taken.
Summary b y A. Sto A. Stols Author of the hagiographical work cited as a source. ls, *Vies des Sain Vies des Saints Hagiographic collection (Volume IV). ts*.
Annexes & related entities
Structured data for exploration: events, miracles, quotes, places, attributes, patronages, and important entities cited in the text.
Key Events
- Imprisonment for the faith in Africa
- Confrontation at the Forum following a ruse by the heretics
- Exile with his wife and children
- Forced separation from his children
- Final martyrdom with his wife
Quotes
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I will never cease to adore Jesus Christ, as every true Catholic Christian must do
Saint Liberatus -
From today, they are no longer ours, but belong to Jesus Christ, who will know how to take good care of them.
The wife of Liberatus