Blessed Anthony Neyrot

Now, it happened that, some time later, while traveling from Sicily to Naples, he was taken during the crossing by pirates fr om Tu Tunis Place of death of Saint Louis during the Eighth Crusade. nis and carried off as a captive to Africa. His courage and soon his faith faltered under this misfortune: he eve n went so far as to publicly ren renier publiquement Jésus-Christ The act of renouncing one's faith, a central moment in the life of Anthony. ounce Jesus Christ.

He had already been languishing in his apostasy for four months when God cast a look of mercy upon him and drew him from the abyss by the power of His grace. Having thus abjured the infamous Mohammedanism, Anthony hastened to prepare himself, through all the rigors of penance and the fervent recitation of the Divine Office, for an impending struggle. After which, twice washed in the blood of Jesus Christ, at the holy tribunal and at the holy table, and clothed in the habits of his Order, he went to find the King of Tunis, who was then returning from a recent expedition. In his presence and in the midst of an immense crowd, Anthony lamented his impiety, proclaimed the Christian religion, which he had abandoned, as the only true one, and spoke of Jesus Christ with marvelous boldness and eloquence. The King tried to shake him by all means; he promised, he cajoled, but without any success: he finally ordered him to be led to prison and handed him over to the judgment of the leader of the sect. For three whole days, the perfidious and artful Muslim did everything in his power to overcome him: the courage of the servant of God was unshakable. Overwhelmed almost incessantly by the barbarians with insults and blows, his patience did not falter for a single instant. Some Christians sent him aid: he distributed it to the poor, contenting himself with bread and water, and thus prepared himself for death. Finally, five days after his imprisonment, the judge had him brought before him one last time; one last time he failed before his constancy, and condemned him to be stoned. He was dragged to the place of execution. There, the soldier of Jesus Christ knelt, raised his hands to heaven, entered into prayer, and, in courageous immobility, received the hail of stones that consummated his martyrdom. This blessed death occurred on March 10, in the year 1460.

The barbarians then delivered his body to the flames; but the flames respected him, and he was ransomed by Genoese merchants who were then anchored in Tunis. He was washed with respect, and sent to Genoa, exhaling the most sweet odor. From this city, the Blessed Amadeus IX, Duke of Savoy, B. Amédée IX, duc de Savoie Duke of Savoy who organized the transfer of relics to Rivoli. had him transferred to Rivoli in the year 1469.

Soon the glory of miracles came to enhance the glory of martyrdom upon these holy remains; a great number of the faithful declared themselves indebted to the merits of Bl. Antoine for very distinguished graces. The cult of the martyr grew and spread from day to day. Finally, Clement X, seeing it well established, approv ed it and permitted the Or Ordre des Frères Prêcheurs Mendicant religious order founded by Saint Dominic. der of Preachers to recite the office and celebrate the Mass in honor of Bl. Antoine.

Rivoli Rivoli Birthplace and burial site of the blessed. is a small town of about 6,000 souls, located a few leagues from Turin. It is there that the mortal remains of Bl. Anthony, martyred in Tunis around the middle of the 15th century, rest in expectation of the glorious resurrection.

Until the end of the last century, this precious deposit was guarded by the Friars Preachers, who then possessed a convent in the town of Rivoli.

After the revolutionary turmoil, a collegiate church was put in their place, and this collegiate church is now itself struck by the decree of abolition. Our Blessed Antoine has not, however, ceased to be held in great veneration in his homeland, and every year his feast is celebrated very solemnly on the second Sunday after Easter.

This feast is always preceded by a novena. It is among the solemnities that are still preserved among the rural populations. The spirit of piety not having disappeared, religious affections mingle there with the love of the homeland, and the days when the whole Church honors a man whom the country saw born are regarded as the most beautiful days of the year. The ceremony is performed with extraordinary pomp. Many faithful from neighboring regions hasten to Rivoli. The crowd is immense, especially for the procession that takes place after Vespers, and the statue of the Blessed is then carried through all the streets of the town. All the confraternities are there with their banners, and a large number of the faithful follow with a candle in hand. It is the most numerous and the most beautiful procession of the whole year. What distinguishes it in a particular way is the constant attendance of the descendants of the family of Antoine Neyrot. They are still more than a hundred at this moment, and one is moved to see them all, on this day of domestic glory, following immediately behind the statue. All, men and women, are dressed in black, and carry a candle in hand. As soon as the procession has returned to the church, the feast ends with the blessing of the Most Blessed Sacrament, and the crowd withdraws happy, after having bid a final farewell to its beloved Protector, by devoutly kissing his relics.

Année dominicaine, vol. I and II.