s, in Spain. Those infidels had till then
tolerated the Christian religion among the Goths, exacting only a
certain tribute every new moon. Our saint was educated among the clergy
of the church of St. Zoilus, a martyr, who suffered at Cordova, with
nineteen others, under Dioclesian, and is honored on the 27th of June.
Here he distinguished himself by his virtue and learning; and being made
priest, was placed at the head of the chief ecclesiastical school in
Spain, which then flourished at Cordova. He joined assiduous watchings,
fasting, and prayer, to his studies: and his humility, mildness, and
charity, gained him the affection and respect of every one. He often
visited the monasteries for his further instruction in virtue, and
prescribed rules of piety for the use of many fervent souls that desired
to serve God. Some of the Christians were so indiscreet as openly to
inveigh against Mahomet, and expose the religion established by him.
This occasioned a bloody persecution at Cordova, in the 29th year of
Abderrama III., the eight hundred and fiftieth year of Christ.
Reccafred, an apostate bishop, declared against the martyrs: and, at his
solicitation, the bishop of Cordova, and some others, were imprisoned,
and many priests, among whom was St. Eulogius, as one who encouraged the
martyrs by his instructions. It was then that he wrote his Exhortation
to Martyrdom,[1] addressed to the virgins Flora and Mary, who were
beheaded the 24th of November, in 851. These virgins promised to pray as
soon as they should be with God, that their fellow-prisoners might be
restored to their liberty. Accordingly, St. Eulogius and the rest were
enlarged six days after their death. In the year 852, several suffered
the like martyrdom, {565} namely, Gumisund and Servus-Dei: Aurelius and
Felix, with their wives: Christopher and Levigild: Rogel and Servio-Deo.
A council at Cordova, in 852, forbade any one to offer himself to
martyrdom. Mahomet succeeded his father upon his sudden death by an
apoplectic fit; but continued the persecution, and put to death, in 853,
Fandila, a monk, Anastasius, Felix, and three nuns, Digna, Columba, and
Pomposa. St. Eulogius encouraged all these martyrs to their triumphs,
and was the support of that distressed flock. His writings still breathe
an inflamed zeal and spirit of martyrdom. The chief are his history of
these martyrs, called the Memorial of the Saints, in three books; and
his Apology for them against calumn