r fury this year, but the edict of
Decius renewed it in 250. See the rest of the relation on the 27th of
February. An ancient church in Rome, which is frequented with great
devotion, bears the name of St. Apollonia: under whose patronage we meet
with churches and altars in most parts of the Western church.

* * * * *

The last part of our saint's conduct is not proposed to our imitation,
as self-murder is unjustifiable. If any among the Fathers have commended
it, they presumed, with St. Austin, that it was influenced by a
particular direction of the Holy Ghost, or was the effect of a pious
simplicity, founded in motives of holy zeal and charity. For it can
never be lawful for a person by any action wilfully to concur to, or
hasten his own death, though many martyrs out of an ardent charity, and
desire of laying down their lives for God, and being speedily united to
him, anticipated the executioners in completing their sacrifice. Among
the impious, absurd, and false maxims of the Pagan Greeks and Romans,
scarce any thing was more monstrous than the manner in which they
canonized suicide in distress, as a remedy against temporal miseries,
and a point of heroism. To bear infamy and all kind of sufferings with
unshaken constancy and virtue, is true courage and greatness of soul,
and the test and triumph of virtue: and to sink under misfortunes, is
the most unworthy baseness of soul. But what name can we find for the
pusillanimity of those who are not able so much as to look humiliations,
poverty, or affliction in the face? Our life we hold of God, and he who
destroys it injures God, to whom he owes it. He refuses also to his
friends and to the republic of mankind, the comfort and succors which
they are entitled in justice or charity to receive from him. Moreover,
if to murder another is the greatest temporal injustice a man can commit
against a neighbor, life being of all temporal blessings the greatest
and most noble, suicide is a crime so much more enormous, as the charity
which every one owes to himself, especially to his immortal soul, is
stricter, {388} more noble and of a superior order to that which he owes
to his neighbor.

SAINT NICEPHORUS, M.

From his genuine Acts in Ruinart, p. 244. Tillemont, t. 4, p. 16.

THERE dwelt in Antioch a priest called Sapricius, and a layman, named
Nicephorus, who had been linked together for many years by the strictest
friendship. But the enemy of