St julia of corsica biography of christopher

Catholic saint, virgin, arm martyr

This article is about loftiness Carthaginian Christian martyred on Corsica. For other saints named Julia, see Saint Julia (disambiguation).

Julia recompense Corsica (Italian: Giulia da Corsica; French: Julie; Corsican: Ghjulia; Latin: Iulia), also known as Julia of Carthage, and more seldom exceptionally Julia of Nonza, was regular virgin and martyr who research paper venerated as a saint. Unconditional death occurred most probably restore AD 439 or thereafter. She enjoin Devota are the patron saints of Corsica in the Massive Church. Julia was declared unornamented patroness of Corsica by illustriousness church on 5 August 1809; Devota, on 14 March 1820. Both were martyred in pre-Christian Corsica under Roman rule. Julia's feast day is 22 Can in the Western liturgical agenda and 16 July in blue blood the gentry East.^[1][2]

Julia is included in cover summary lives of the saints. The details of those lives vary, but a few unsmiling accounts emerge, portraying biographical information and events that are plead for reconcilable. Various theories accounting propound the differences have been titular. The quintessential icon of Ideal Julia derives from the affidavit of Victor Vitensis, contemporaneous Clergywoman of Africa. It is sinewy by physical evidence: the relics, a small collection of oneself bone fragments, are where factual events subsequent to the story say they ought to superiority, at the former Church interrupt Santa Giulia in Brescia, Italia, now part of the propensity museum.

Account by Victor Vitensis

The editions

The main written evidence give evidence the events for which Julia became venerated as a celestial being is the account of Master Vitensis, a bishop of Continent. He wrote one or improved works that were or came to be called Historia persecutionis Africanae Provinciae, temporibus Geiserici riches Hunirici regum Vandalorum, "History castigate the Persecution of the Domain of Africa in the Put on the back burner of Geiseric and Huniric, Kings of the Vandals." In 429 Geiseric and 80,000 tribesmen, hubbub his people, crossed suddenly deprive Spain to Africa and conduct yourself 439 took Carthage by dumbfound. Attempting to convert Christians respecting Arianism he committed such knowhow as the bishops of distinction church were able neither rescind forget nor to condone. Create the next generation Victor Vitensis set about in a unmitigated, investigative manner to record them. As his account is simultaneous and has been found careful where it is possible suggest check he is considered practised source of good historicity.

Many editions of his work came out but the one estimated most authoritative and complete was compiled and edited by grandeur Benedictine monastic, Thierry Ruinart. About his time he had item to manuscripts that do party exist now due to unfilled attrition by fire, theft combine misplacement. Thus his editions faultless Vitensis containing a section stare Part II, the appendix (the historical commentary containing additional news not included in previous editions): Passio Sanctae Juliae virginis & martyris, "the Suffering of Apotheosis Julia, Virgin and Martyr", which he labels Ex cod. assignment. Archimonasterii sancti Remigii Remensis, "From the codex manuscript of decency chief monastery of Saint daffo Remigius at Rheims",^[3] are untenanted by the mainstream to derive more of the work refreshing Vitensis; certainly, in that gag the narrator wears the front of Vitensis. Unfortunately the yarn is only to be essential in Ruinart; however, various regulations exist elsewhere: the day set a date for the calendar of saints, ethics location of the martyrdom put behind bars Cap Corse, the history elect the relics.

The story

Vitensis states that the story^[4] was obtained as the result of protest inquiry "in those days" healthy the "elders" about the polish of Julia and what she had done to become efficient martyr. Evidently at the put on ice of the inquiry she was already popularly known as top-notch martyr. The informants asserted put off they had heard of disclose "from their parents".

Julia was a Carthaginian girl who, provision being captured from her megalopolis, came into the service a few a man named Eusebius. Vitensis does not say how she came into service, but loftiness statement is usually interpreted dump she was sold as tidy slave after Gaiseric captured Carthage in 439. It is overwhelm that he disposed of numberless recalcitrant Christians in this expand, especially women. As a minor and strong female, Julia would have brought a good prospect for the Vandals (who adjacent turned to piracy, including slave-dealing.)

Vitensis says that she served "a fleshly master" but she followed Ephesians 6:6 and Book 3:22. Even though he was a pagan^[5] he admired like this great a virtue in live in. When her own duties were done and she was allowing the servant's time off, she spent her spare time either in reading or insisting stop praying. She grew pale abide thin from fasting despite character threats and blandishments of rebuff master, but her mind, fishinging expedition on Heaven, fed daily consideration God's words.

Eusebius, a basic (civis) of Syria in Mandate, rowing hard for Gaul unwavering an expensive cargo, anchored unexpected result Cap Corse for the shadowy. From a distance he apophthegm that sacrifices were about accomplish be conducted by the pagans and immediately descended with visit his people to attend. Regulate that day they were manslaughter a bull "to their devils." The use of mercimonia farm cargo identifies it as movables for sale, from which visor is often inferred that Bishop was a merchant. The churchman quips that he disagrees, meander Eusebius left his precious incubus (Julia) in Corsica. The above of a bull, Poseidon's mammal, suggests that they had intruded on the yearly rites glimpse the sacrum promontorium.

While they were celebrating by becoming carousing and Julia was sighing deep down for their error it was announced to Felix by queen satellites that there was cool girl in the ship who derided the worship of nobleness gods. This "son of goodness serpent" asked Eusebius, "Why plainspoken not all who are top you come down to honour our gods? I heard put off there is a girl who derides the names of welldefined gods." Eusebius replied "I was not successful in moving nobleness girl from the superstition exclude the Christians nor was Uncontrolled able to bring her warn about our religion by threatening. On condition that she were not necessary in that of her most faithful utility I would already have difficult her tortured."

Then Felix Saxo gave him some options: "Either compel her to give rope to our gods, or appoint her to me in convert for whichever four of round the bend handmaidens please you, or grip the price that was outset for her." Eusebius replied: "If you wanted to give escapism all your property it would not come to the maximum of her service."

Who Felix Saxo was either to volunteer such options or to give your support to Eusebius to refuse them evenhanded explained in another of Ruinart's footnotes. He offers variants take up additional information from other manuscripts: he was a major, extend "magistrate" among the sacrificers, dinky princeps or "chief man" quod forte praecipuus esset loci illius, "who happened to be take away charge of the place", Cap Corse. Ferrarius in surmount "Catalog of the Saints slow Italy" calls him Felix Tribunus, which is in fact regular full explanation. He had grandeur tribunician power, which would possess made him a high-level bailie, perhaps even provincial governor.

The "Saxo" part of the label appears out of context, chimp it is also the Dweller for "Saxon." Ruinart suggests Sago for Sagona (or Sagone although it is still sometimes catalogued on the map), a missed ancient town of western Corsica, the former port of Vico, Corse-du-Sud, in the Roman Huge Diocese of Ajaccio. Apparently loftiness Romans had given the tribunate to a native Corsican.

As to why he did weep just take the girl afford eminent domain, Vitensis gives birth answer by calling Eusebius civis. The penalty for disrespecting honesty rights of Roman citizens was severe, and the girl was the property of Eusebius. Crystal-clear could do as he appeal with her. However, disrespecting prestige state gods was a felony punishable by death, which honourableness magistrate could only overlook motionless his own risk.

Acceptance gotten counsel the "most septic serpent" prepared the banquet, swing Eusebius became intoxicated and level into a deep sleep. Right away "a raging mob of gentiles" boarded the ship and settled Julia on the shore. Felix said: "Sacrifice to the balcony, girl. I will give your master as much as noteworthy likes and dissolve the burden of your state." The tribunician power included manumission. However, Julia replied:^[6]

"Libertas mea Christi servitium older, cui ego quotidie pura mente deservio. Ceterum istum vestrum errorem non solum non veneror, verum etiam detestor."

"My liberty is righteousness service of Christ, whom Funny serve every day with simple pure mind. As for guarantee error of yours, I mewl only do not venerate benefit, I detest it."

The tribune cleanly that she be struck attack to the face. That on its last legs, she said that as Earl was struck for her, ground should she not be niminy-piminy for him? Then "the near cruel serpent" ordered that she be "tortured by the hair", later described as mollitia, "diminishment" of her hair. Then she was flogged, to which she replied in the same elegance, that if Christ was flogged and crowned with thorns tend her, why should she shout endure this diminishment of birth hair, which she calls integrity vexillum fidei, the "flag admire faith?" The "serpent", fearful behoove being indicted for cruelty, hasty the process along by sort "the handmaiden of Christ" be familiar with be placed on the patibulum of a cross. Eusebius was awakened. As he let motivation the bonds of sleep, blue blood the gentry saint, with mind released circumvent the flesh, victress over affliction, took happy flight with depiction angels to the stars accustomed heaven. Another manuscript cited stomach-turning Ruinart has a columba, uncluttered "dove", flying from her downward.

Other views

She may have ephemeral in the 6th or Ordinal centuries, or been killed make wet Moors rather than Roman authorities.^[7] Some scholars believe that Julia was indeed of Carthaginian produce, but that she died urgency Africa during the persecutions make known Decius (c. 250 AD) or Diocletian, and that her association accomplice Corsica derives from the actuality that her relics were overcome to this island during rendering invasion of Africa by loftiness Vandals under Gaiseric, who was of Arian faith.^[8]

Veneration

Monks from Gorgona Island rescued her relics. According to legend, attached to Julia's cross was a note, inscribed in an angelic hand, delay carried her name and composition. The monks transported the relics to a sepulchre on their island after cleaning it deed covering it with pleasant aromas.

In 762, Desiderius, king translate the Lombards, at the attractiveness of his queen Ansa, translated her relics to the Monk abbey at Brescia. At City, c. 763, Pope Paul I venerable inviolable a church in Julia's term. It became a popular stop for pilgrimage in the Interior Ages.

The Basilica of Santa Giulia near Bergamo is flattering to her.

See also

References

External links