Saint Marcel le Centurion
Martyr à Tanger (✝ 298)
Sa légion était cantonnée à Tanger au Maroc. Au jour
de la fête de l'anniversaire de l'empereur Maximien, il osa déclarer au moment
d'offrir l'encens: «Que maudit soit ce métier qui m'oblige à tuer et m'empêche
d'être tout au service du Christ.» Traduit devant le préfet, il maintint ses
propos et fut condamné à mort.
À Tanger en Maurétanie, l’an 298, la passion de saint Marcel le centurion.
Le jour anniversaire de l’empereur, alors que tous sacrifiaient, il jeta devant
les enseignes son ceinturon militaire, ses armes et sa vie même, en déclarant
qu’il était chrétien et qu’il ne lui était plus possible d’obéir comme il
convient au serment des soldats, mais à Jésus Christ seul; aussi acheva-t-il
son martyre par la décapitation.
Martyrologe romain
SAINT MARCEL LE CENTURION,
MARTYR¹. — Année 298.
ON célébra, l'art 298, la naissance de l'empereur Maximien-Hercule , avec une
pompe extraordinaire. Les sacrifices aux dieux de l'empire firent une partie
considérable de la fête. Marcel, centurion ou capitaine de la légion trajane,
alors campée en Espagne, eut horreur de ces superstitions impies; et pour n'y
point participer, il quitta son baudrier à la tête de sa compagnie, et déclara
à haute voix qu'il étoit soldat de Jésus-Christ, le roi éternel. Il quitta
aussi ses armes, et le bàton qui étoit la marque de son grade. On en instruisit
Anastase Fortunat, préfet de la légion. Celui-ci ordonna que l'on mit Marcel en
prison.
Mais après la féte, il fit paroitre Marcel devant
lui, pour lui demander l'explication de la conduite qu'il avoit tenue. Le
martyr lui répondit: a Lorsque vous célébrâtes la fête de l'empereur, le »
douze avant les calendes d'août ², je déclarai que j'étois chrétien, i, et que
je ne servirois jamais que Jésus-Christ, le Fils de Dieu a. Fortunat lui dit
qu'il ne pouvoit dissimuler une pareille témérité, et qu'il étoit obligé d'en
informer l'empereur Maximien et le césar Constance. L'Espagne étoit alors
soumise au césar , qui étoit favorable aux chrétiens.
On envoya cependant Marcel sous bonne garde à
Aurélien Agricolails, vicaire du préfet du prétoire, lequel étoit alors à
Tanger en Afrique. Agricolaiis lui demanda s'il avoit lait ce qui étoit porté
dans la lettre du juge. Marcel ayant tout avoué, il fut condamné à mort, comme
coupable de désertion et d'impiété c'est-à-dire, d'attachement au
christianisme. On le décapita le 50 d'octobre. Ses reliques furent depuis
transférées à Léon en Espagne. On les y garde dans la principale église
paroissiale de cette ville, dont le saint est le patron titulaire.
Cassien, greffier de la cour, refusa d'écrire la
sentence prononcée contre le martyr; il jeta même par terre ses tablettes.
Agricolaïs se levant de son siége avee fureur, lui demanda pour-quoi il
agissoit de la sorte : « C'est, répondit Cassien, que la sentence que vous avez
dictée est injuste a. On le mit en prison, et il subit un second
interrogatoire, environ un mois après. Sa fermeté lui mérita la couronne du
martyre. Il fut décapité le 3 de décembre. Le martyrologe romain nomme saint
Marcel et saint Cassien sous leurs jours respectifs.
C'est à juste titre que nous honorons les martyrs,
puisque Dieu daigne les honorer lui-même. Le martyre est en effet l'acte de
vertu le plus héroïque dont l'homme soit capable, le sacrifice le plus parfait
et le plus entier qu'il puisse faire de lui-même au Seigneur. De tous les biens
de ce monde , la vie est le plus précieux, et celui auquel nous sommes le plus
attachés. Il faut donc bien ;rimer la loi divine, pour s'exposer avec joie à une
mort cruelle, plutôt que de consentir au péché. Il faut donc avoir bien du
courage et de la fermeté, pour affronter des tourments dont l'idée seule fait
frémir la nature. Mais aussi Dieu mesure ses récompenses sur nos souffrances et
sur notre amour pour lui. Nous chercherions inutilement à nous figurer celles
qui sont destinées aux martyrs; aussi se réjouissoient-ils , quand ils voyoient
multi-plier leurs tourments, qu'ils savoient n'avoir aucune proportion avec le
bonheur qui en scroit la suite. Malheur à nous, si nous nous laissons abattre
par les moindres contradictions! Nous prouverions par-là que nous avons bien
peu d'idée des récompenses célestes, que notre foi est bien foible, et notre
charité bien imparfaite.
¹ Tiré de ses actes sincères, publiés par Baronius et par Sui ius. D.
Ruinait en a donné une édition plus correcte. à laquelle il a joint un abréCé
des actes de saint Cassien , p. 512. Voyei. aussi Tillcmont , t. IV, p. 575.
² C'étoit le jour où Maximien a voit été déclaré césar.
ACTES DE SAINT MARCEL, CENTURION, A TANGER, EN L'ANNÉE 298.
Les préludes
de la dernière persécution nous retiennent aux armées où un conscrit, un
centurion, un greffier militaire souffrirent vers le même temps, avec un grand
nombre d'autres militaires; mais sur ces derniers nous avons des détails moins
certains que sur Maximilien, Marcel et Cassien.
Comme nous en
avons eu de nos jours encore l'affligeant spectacle, les quelques scélérats qui
détenaient le pouvoir entreprirent l'épuration de l'armée. Commencée dans les
provinces de Galère, elle s'étendit à celle d'Hercule. La recherche directe des
soldats chrétiens laissant trop de part à la camaraderie, les empereurs
adoptèrent une mesure radicale. Chaque militaire dut prendre part, les jours de
fêtes, aux cérémonies religieuses célébrées dans les camps. Dès lors c'était
chaque chrétien qui se dénonçait lui-même : telle fut l'occasion du martyre du
centurion Marcel.
BOLL. 30/X, Octobre XIII, 274-284. — RUINART, Acta sinc. p.
311 et suiv. — P. ALLARD, Hist. des perséc., t. IV, p. 133 et
suiv. — FLOREZ, Espana sagrada, XXXIV, 336-53, 401407 ; XXXVI,
256-60. - TILLEMONT, Méru., IV, 575-8, 768-70.
LES
ACTES DE SAINT MARCEL, CENTURION.
Dans la ville
de Tanger, dont Fortunat était gouverneur, se célébrait alors l'anniversaire de
la naissance de Maximien
Hercule. Tous étaient réunis
aux sacrifices qui accompagnaient les banquets. Marcel, un des centurions de la
légion Trajane, ne voyant dans tes banquets que des assemblées sacrilèges,
s'approcha du trophée de drapeaux de la légion devant lequel on offrait les
sacrifices, et lança à terre son ceinturon en disant : « Je suis soldat de
Jésus-Christ, le roi éternel ». Il lança aussi le cep de vigne, insigne de son
grade, ses armes, et ajouta : « A partir de ce jour, je cesse de servir vos
empereurs, car je ne veux pas adorer vos dieux de bois et de pierre, sourdes et
muettes idoles. Si c'est à cause du métier qu'on nous oblige à faire des
sacrifices aux dieux et aux empereurs, je jette avec mépris le cep, le
ceinturon, les drapeaux, je ne suis plus soldat ».
Les assistants
se regardèrent, ahuris, puis ils arrêtèrent Marcel et on envoya un rapport au
commandant. Celui-ci fit écrouer le centurion. Quand toutes les ripailles
furent bien finies, Fortunat se fit amener le centurion dans la salle
d'honneur.
— « Pourquoi
as-tu, contrairement aux règlements, jeté le ceinturon, le cep et le baudrier?
»
— « Le 21
juillet, devant le trophée, pendant la célébration de la fête de l'empereur,
j'ai dit publiquement que j'étais chrétien et ne pouvais servir que
Jésus-Christ, Fils du Dieu tout-puissant. »
— « C'est trop
violent pour que j'essaie d'étouffer l'affaire. J'enverrai un rapport aux
empereurs et au César. Je ne te punis pas. On va te conduire à mon chef
Aurélius Agricola, lieutenant du préfet du prétoire.
Le 30 octobre,
le centurion Marcel ayant comparu à Tanger, l'appariteur dit : « Le préfet
Fortunatus a renvoyé devant ta puissance Marcel, centurion. Voici son rapport ;
si tu l'ordonnes, je le lirai ».
Agricola: «
Lis ».
L'appariteur
lut : « Fortunatus à Agricola, et le reste.
Ce soldat
ayant jeté le ceinturon militaire, s'est déclaré chrétien et a accumulé les
blasphèmes contre César. C'est pourquoi nous te l'avons envoyé, et ton
Illustration voudra bien nous faire parvenir les ordres qu'elle aura décrétés
».
La lecture
faite, Agricola dit : « As-tu prononcé les paroles relatées dans le rapport du
préfet » ?
— « Oui. »
« Tu servais
comme centurion ordinaire ? »
« Oui. »
« Quelle
fureur t'a fait renoncer au serment militaire et parler ainsi ?»
« Il n'y a pas
de fureur en ceux qui craignent Dieu.»
« As-tu
prononcé toutes les paroles consignées dans le rapport?»
« Oui. »
« As-tu jeté
tes armes ? »
—
« Oui. Il ne convenait pas
qu'un chrétien qui sert le Seigneur Christ servît dans les milices du siècle. »
— « La conduite
de Marcel doit être punie suivant les règlements. » Et il dicta la sentence ; «
Marcel, qui servait comme centurion ordinaire, a renoncé publiquement à son
serment, a dit qu'il en était souillé et a prononcé d'autres paroles furieuses,
relatées dans le rapport du préfet. J'ordonne qu'on lui coupe la tête ».
En marchant au
supplice, il dit à Agricola : « Dieu te bénisse ».
Il était digne d'un martyr de
quitter ainsi le monde. Presque aussitôt sa tête tomba pour le nom de
Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ, à qui soit la gloire dans les siècles des siècles.
Amen.
St. Marcellus The Centurion
It is believed that Saint Marcellus was
born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he entered upon the career of arms,
hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady named Nona and they
were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous solider and
was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought for any advancement
except the sort pertaining to his military life, when he heard the fervent
preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with his
entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would soon
give their blood in honor of their Faith.
Back in the ancient Roman Empire, some Christians
refused to serve in the imperial armies believing that they could not do so in
Christian conscience. If being a soldier meant performing pagan rites, as it
sometimes did, obviously no Christian could do so. But the additional question
was now and then raised: Is armed service in itself forbidden by the Christian
law of love?
St. Marcellus the Centurion, after some years of
military service, concluded that it was forbidden … at least according to his
mature conscience.
The birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus was
celebrated in the year 298 with extraordinary feasting and solemn rites.
Marcellus, as a centurion of the army, a captain in the legion of Trajan then
posted in Mauritania or Spain, in order not to defile himself in these impious
sacrifices, left his company, throwing down his cincture and his arms and
declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He was
at once committed to prison.
When the festival was over, he was brought before a
judge, and having reiterated his faith, was sent under a strong guard to a
prefect, Aurelian Agricolaus. This Roman officer passed upon him a sentence of
death by the sword. Marcellus was immediately led to execution and beheaded on
the 30th of October of the year 298. Cassian, the secretary or notary of the
court, refused to record the sentence pronounced against the martyr, because of
its injustice. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded in his
turn on the 3rd of December.
The children of Saint Marcellus imitated his
constancy, and all lost their lives for the defense of the Gospel; three of the
boys were hanged and then decapitated at Leon. Their pious mother bought back
their bodies for money and buried them secretly; they were later transferred to
a church built in their honor in the city of Leon.
October 30.—ST. MARCELLUS, THE CENTURION, Martyr.
THE birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus, in the year 298, was
celebrated with extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian
centurion or captain in the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to
defile himself with taking part in those impious abominations, left his
company, declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal
King. He was at once committed to prison. When the festival was over, Marcellus
was brought before a judge, and, having declared his faith, was sent under a
strong guard to Aurelian Agricolaus, vicar to the prefect of the prætorium, who
passed sentence of death upon him. St. Marcellus was forthwith led to
execution, and beheaded on the 30th of October. Cassian, the secretary or
notary of the court, refused to write the sentence pronounced against the
martyr, because it was unjust. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was
beheaded, about a month after, on the 3d of December.
Reflection.—"We
are ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God!" exclaimed one
of the Machabees. This sentiment should ever be that of a Christian in presence
of temptation.
SOURCE : http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/lots/lots336.htm
St. Marcellus of Tingis
The Passion of St. Marcellus (BHL 5255a)
St. Marcellus of Tingis
The Passion of St. Marcellus (BHL 5255a)
1. During the consulship of Faustus and Gallus [298], on
the 5th day before the kalends of August [28 July], when the former centurion
of the first cohort had been brought in, the praeses Fortunatus said,
"What were you thinking to discard your belt and hurl down your sword and
staff ?"
2. Marcellus replied, "I have already told you on 21 July, loudly
and in public, before the standards of this legion, when you were celebrating
the anniversary of your emperor, that I am a Christian and cannot observe this
oath unless to Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God."
3. The praeses Fortunatus said, "I cannot conceal your rash
behaviour and so I will report these things to the ears of our lords the
Augusti and Caesars. You, of course, will be sent to the court of my lord
Aurelius Agricolanus, the vice-praetorian prefect, under armed guard by the
consular official Cecilius.
3a. "Manilius Fortunatus sends greetings to his lord Agricolanus.
On the anniversary most happy and blessed throughout the whole world of our
same lords the Augusti and Caesars, when we were willingly celebrating the
festival, lord Aurelius Agricolanus, the centurio ordinarius Marcellus,
seized by what madness I do not know, wantonly disgirded himself of belt and
sword and decided to hurl down the staff which he was carrying before the very
headquarters of our lords. I have decided that it was necessary to report what
was done to your power, even for him to have been sent to you also."
4. During the consulship of Faustus and Gallus, at Tingis, on the third
day before the kalends of November, when Marcellus, the former centurion of the
first cohort, had been brought in, an official announced, "The praeses
Fortunatus has sent him to your power. There is here for your greatness also a
letter concerning his case which I will read out if you so direct."
5. Agricolanus said, "Let it be read out."
6. [See 3a]
7. When it had been read out, Agricolanus said, "Did you say those
things which are recorded in the praeses' record ?"
8. Marcellus said, "I did."
9. Agricolanus said, "Were you serving as a centurio ordinarius
?"
10. Marcellus said, "I was."
11. Agricolanus said, "What madness possessed you to cast aside aside
your oath and say such things ?"
12. Marcellus said, "No madness possesses him who fears God."
13. Agricolanus said, "Did you make these separate statements which
are recorded in the praeses' record ?"
14. Marcellus said, "I did."
15. Agricolanus said, "Did you hurl down your weapons ?"
16. Marcellus said, "I did. It is not proper for a Christian man,
one who fears the Lord Christ, to engage in earthly military service."
17. Agricolanus said, "Marcellus' actions are such that they ought
to be disciplined." And so he stated, "It pleases (the court) that
Marcellus, who defiled the office of centurion which he held by his public
rejection of the oath and, furthermore, according to the praeses'
records, gave in testimony words full of madness, should be executed by the
sword."
Select Bibliography
Primary Sources
- Delehaye,
H. "Les actes de S. Marcel le centurion", Analecta
Bollandiana 42 (1923), 257-287 [BHL 5253 and 5254]
- Lanata, G.
"Gli atti del processo contro il centurione Marcello", Byzantion
42 (1972), 509-522 [BHL 5255a]
Secondary
Literature
- de
Gaiffier, B. "S. Marcel de Tanger ou de Léon ? Évolution d'une
légende", Analecta Bollandiana 61 (1943), 116-139
- Masai, F.
"Pour une édition critique des Actes du centurion Marcel", Byzantion
35 (1965), 277-290
- Masai, F.
"Réflexions sur quelques acceptions remaquables dans les Actes de S.
Marcel le centurion", Vivarium 3 (1965), 95-105
- Masai, F.
"Mélectures d'abréviations romaines dans les Actesdu centurion
Marcel", Scriptorium 19 (1966), 11-30
- Orgels, P.
"À propos du sens de principia dans les Actes de S.
Marcel", Vivarium 3 (1965), 108-114
- Seston, W.
"À propos de la Passio Marcelli centurionis. Remarques sur les
origines de la persécution de Dioclétien", 239-246 in Aux sources
de la tradition chrétienne. Mélanges offerts à Mourice Goguel (Paris,
1950), 239-246. Reprinted in William Seston. Scripta Varia: Mélanges
d'histoire Romaine, de droit, d'épigraphie et d'histoire, du christianisme
(Collection de l'école française de Rome 43: Rome, 1980), 629-636
- Wistrand, E. "A note on the geminus
natalis of the Emperor Maximian", Eranos 62 (1964),
139-142
SOURCE : http://www.ucc.ie/milmart/Marcellus.html
ST MARCELLUS THE CENTURION, MARTYR (A.D. 298)
|
October 30
|
[From the authentic acts of his martyrdom in
Baronius and Surius, and most correctly in Ruinart who has published with
them the short acts of St. Cassian, p. 312; Tillem. t. iv. p. 575.]
The birthday
of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298 with
extraordinary feasting and solemnity. Pompous sacrifices to the Roman gods
made a considerable part of this solemnity. Marcellus, a Christian centurion
or captain in the legion of Trajan, then posted in Spain, not to defile
himself with taking part in those impious abominations, cast away his
military belt at the head of his company, declaring aloud that he was a
soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He also threw down his arms and
the vine-branch, which was the mark of his post of centurion; for the Roman
officers were forbid to strike a soldier with any instrument except a
vine-branch, which the centurions usually carried in their lands. The
soldiers informed Anastasius Fortunatus, prefect of the legion, by whose
order Marcellus was committed to prison. When the festival was over, this
judge ordered Marcellus to be brought before him, and asked him what he meant
by his late proceedings. Marcellus said, "When you celebrated the
emperor's festival on the 12th before the calends of August (the day on which
Maximian had been declared Caesar), I said aloud that I was a Christian, and
could serve no other than Jesus Christ, the Son of God." Fortunatus told
him that it was not in his power to connive at his rashness, and that he was
obliged to lay his case before the Emperor Maximian and Constantius Caesar.
Marcellus was sent under a strong guard to Aurelian Agricolaus, vicar to the
prefect of the praetorium, who was then at Tangier, in Africa. Agricolaus
asked him whether he had really done as the judge's letter set forth; and,
upon his confessing the fact, the vicar passed sentence of death upon him for
desertion and impiety, as he called his action. St. Marcellus was forthwith
led to execution and beheaded on the 30th of October. His relics were
afterwards translated from Tangier to Leon, in Spain, and are kept in a rich
shrine in the chief parish church in that city, of which he is the titular
saint.
We justly
honour the martyrs, whom God himself honours. Martyrdom is the most heroic
act of divine love, and the most perfect and entire sacrifice man can make of
himself to God. Of all the goods of this life man has nothing more precious
and dear than his life and honour. And what stronger proof can he give of his
fidelity to the law of God than to embrace with joy an ignominious and cruel
death rather than consent to sin? God proportions his rewards and crowns to
the measure of our sufferings and love for him. How great, then, is the
glory, how abundant the recompense which attends the martyrs! They rejoiced
to see their torments redoubled manifold, because they had before their eyes
the incomparably greater increase of grace, divine love, and eternal glory.
If we shrink under the least sufferings, it is plain our faith and our idea
of everlasting bliss must be very weak, and our love faint and imperfect.
(Taken from
Vol. III of "The Lives or the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal
Saints" by the Rev. Alban Butler.)
|
Provided Courtesy
of:
Eternal Word Television Network
5817 Old Leeds Road
Irondale, AL 35210
www.ewtn.com
SOURCE : http://www.ewtn.com/library/MARY/MARCELUS.htm
Saint Marcellus the
Centurion
Also known as
Profile
|
Roman centurion at Tangiers (in modern Morocco). During a celebration of
the emperor’s birthday, Marcellus refused to participate in the pagan
offering ceremony. He threw away his arms and armour,
openly declared himself a Christian, and was condemned to death. His condemnation led to the death of Saint
Cassian.
Saint Marcellus, the Centurion
and His Children
Martyrs
(† 298)
It is believed that Saint Marcellus
was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he entered upon the career of
arms, hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady named Nona and
they were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous solider
and was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought for any
advancement except the sort pertaining to his military life, when he heard the
fervent preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with
his entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would
soon give their blood in honor of their Faith.
The birthday of the Emperor Maximian
Herculeus was celebrated in the year 298 with extraordinary feasting and solemn
rites. Marcellus, as a centurion of the army, a captain in the legion of Trajan
then posted in Mauritania or Spain, in order not to defile himself in these
impious sacrifices, left his company, throwing down his cincture and his arms
and declaring aloud that he was a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King. He
was at once committed to prison. When the festival was over, he was brought
before a judge, and having reiterated his faith, was sent under a strong guard
to a prefect, Aurelian Agricolaus. This Roman officer passed upon him a
sentence of death by the sword. Marcellus was immediately led to execution and
beheaded on the 30th of October of the year 298. Cassian, the
secretary or notary of the court, refused to record the sentence pronounced
against the martyr, because of its injustice. He was immediately hurried to
prison, and was beheaded in his turn on the 3rd of December.
The children of Saint Marcellus
imitated his constancy, and all lost their lives for the defense of the Gospel;
three of the boys were hanged and then decapitated at Leon. Their pious mother
bought back their bodies for money and buried them secretly; they were later
transferred to a church built in their honor in the city of Leon.
Reflection: We are
ready to die rather than to transgress the laws of God! exclaimed one of the
Maccabees. This sentiment must ever be that of a Christian in the throes of
temptation.
Les Petits Bollandistes: Vies des Saints, by Msgr. Paul Guérin (Bloud et Barral: Paris, 1882),
Vol. 13; Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's
Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger
Brothers: New York, 1894).
Marcellus of Tangier M
(RM)
(also known as Marcellus the Centurion)
Died 298. During the festivities held by a Roman legion at Tingis (Tangiers) in
celebration of Emperor Maximian's birthday the centurion Marcellus, regarding
such festivities as idolatrous, refused to sacrifice to the gods. He threw off
his military belt and tossed away his arms and vine-branch, the insignia of his
rank. When the festival was over, he was brought before a judge named
Fortunatus. When questioned, Marcellus declared, "I serve only the eternal
king, Jesus Christ."
Fortunatus remanded
Marcellus to lay his case before Emperor Maximian and Constantius Caesar, who
was then in Spain and favorably disposed to Christians. Instead Marcellus taken
under guard before the deputy praetorian prefect, Aurelius Agricolan, who was
then at Tangier. After an exchange between the two that is still preserved,
Marcellus pleaded guilty to repudiating his allegiance to an earthly leader,
and was executed by sword for impiety.
It was afterwards
said that the official shorthand writer, Saint Cassian, was so indignant at the
sentence that he refused to report the proceedings, and that he too was
executed in consequence. In all probability this is a fictitious addition to
the authentic account of Saint Marcellus, though there seems to have been a
martyr at Tangier named Cassian.
The relics of Saint
Marcellus were translated to León, Spain, were they are kept in a rich shrine.
Marcellus is the patron of the city (Attwater, Benedictines, Delaney,
Husenbeth).
San Marcello di Tangeri
Martire venerato a Leon
Secondo
la «passio» di san Marcello il 21 luglio del 298 si celebrava la festa «augusti
imperatori» e in quella data il santo, centurione ordinario di stanza a
Tangeri, gettò le sue armi alla presenza della truppa riunita e proclamò la sua
rinuncia al servizio militare per servire nella milizia di Cristo. Il 28 luglio
fu interrogato dal preside Fortunato, il quale considerando la gravità del
delitto, decise di rimandarlo al suo superiore gerarchico, Aurelio Agricolano
di Tangeri. Il 30 ottobre Marcello fu di nuovo interrogato, questa volta a
Tangeri, e condannato a morte. La devozione che, in seguito, aveva fatto di
Marcello il patrono principale della città spagnola di León, si sviluppò
lontano dai suoi resti mortali che si conservavano a Tangeri, per cui, subito
dopo la liberazione di questa città, ad opera del re del Portogallo, León
richiese le spoglie del suo martire. Il 29 marzo 1493 i resti di Marcello
fecero il loro ingresso in città e vennero collocati nella chiesa a lui
dedicata. (Avvenire)
Etimologia: Marcello, diminutivo di Marco = nato in marzo, sacro a
Marte, dal latino
Martirologio
Romano: A Tangeri in Mauritania, nell’odierno Marocco, passione di san
Marcello, centurione, che nella festa dell’imperatore, mentre tutti
sacrificavano agli dei, gettò la cintura militare, le armi e la vita stessa
davanti alle insegne, professando di essere cristiano e di non poter più
obbedire adeguatamente al giuramento militare, ma solo a Gesù Cristo, subendo
per questo il martirio per decapitazione.
La passio
di Marcello ci è pervenuta in due recensioni, trasmessa da mss. dispersi nelle
biblioteche di Roma, Bruxelles, Londra, Madrid, León, Bordeaux, ecc. Fu
pubblicata per la prima volta dal Ruinart, quindi dall'Allard e recentemente
dal Delehaye (1923), da García Villada (1929), da J. González (1943), da B. De
Gaiffier (1943) e R. Rodriguez (1948).
Il nucleo originale è riconosciuto autentico e consta di due verbali d'interrogatorio in due diversi tribunali a distanza di tre mesi, in due località diverse. Poi, intorno al sec. XI, si aggiungono delle interpolazioni che fanno di Marcello lo sposo di s. Nonia e il padre di dodici figli, Claudio, Lupercio, Vittorico, Facondo, Primitivo, Emeterio, Celidonio, Servando, Germano, Fausto, Gennaro e Marziale. L'origine e l'evoluzione di questa leggenda, profondamente radicata nella tradizione cristiana del popolo di León è stata accuratamente studiata dal De Gaiffier.
Secondo la passio, dunque, il 21 luglio del 298 si celebrava la festa degli "augusti imperatori" e, in quella data Marcello, centurione ordinario, gettò le sue armi alla presenza della truppa riunita e proclamò la sua rinuncia al servizio militare per servire nella milizia di Cristo. Il 28 luglio fu interrogato dal pre side Fortunato, il quale considerando la gravità del delitto, decise di rimandarlo al suo superiore gerarchico, Aurelio Agricolano di Tangeri. Il 30 ottobre Marcello fu di nuovo interrogato, questa volta a Tangeri, e condannato a morte.
Dall'accurato studio del De Gaifiier risulta e vidente che Marcello è un autentico martire africano e che soltanto nelle successive interpolazioni della passio, operate da scrittori spagnoli, è stato trasformato in cittadino di León, sul falso fondamento che egli appartenesse alla legio Traiarti, presunta fondatrice di quella città. Dopo questa identificazione, fatta nel sec. XVI, si credette anche di poter indicare a León la casa del martire nei pressi della Porta Cauriense, oggi trasformata in cappella dedicata al Cristo della Vittoria. Secondo questa stessa tradizione, all'avvento della pace costantiniana venne costruita a León una chiesa dedicata a Marcello.
Il cod. 11 dell'Archivio della cattedrale di León riferisce che Ramiro I (842-850) "restaurò la chiesa di S. Marcello nel suburbio legionense nei pressi della Porta Cauriense, fuori le mura della città...". Presso questa chiesa sorse un monastèro nel quale abitò l'insigne teologo legionense, s. Martino, e nel sec. XII un ospedale con lo stesso nome.
La devozione che aveva fatto di Marcello il patrono principale della città di León, era però nata e si era sviluppata lontano dai suoi resti mortali che si conservavano a Tangeri, per cui, subito dopo la liberazione di questa città, ad opera del re del Portogallo, León richiese le spoglie del suo martire. Anche le città di Jerez e Siviglia se ne disputarono il possesso. Il 29 marzo 1493, comunque, i resti di Marcello portati dallo stesso re Ferdinando il Cattolico, fecero il loro ingresso a León e vennero collocati nella chiesa a lui dedicata. Secondo documenti contemporanei conservati nell'archivio municipale le spoglie ebbero un'accoglienza "come mai ve ne fu di migliore".
Le reliquie si conservano oggi in un'arca d'argento sull'altare maggiore; vi si trovano anche una pergamena in cui si narra l'ingresso nella città e i miracoli da cui fu accompagnato, i documenti relativi alla donazione di una reliquia di M. alla chiesa di S. Gil di Siviglia e alcune lettere del re Enrico IV di Castiglia e di Isabella la Cattolica al papa Sisto IV sulla traslazione del corpo del martire a León.
Le reliquie erano portate in processione insieme con quelle di s. Froilano, in occasione di grandi calamità pubbliche. Ogni anno il 9 ottobre, data della festa, il capitolo cattedrale e la giunta comunale della città si recano processionalmente al tempio di Marcello per assistere alla Messa solenne: i canonici e i consiglieri comunali si dispongono alternati, a simbolizzare il comune e uguale diritto di patronato che per molti secoli ebbero sulla chiesa di S. Marcello e per il quale il sindaco custodiva una delle chiavi dell'arca che racchiude le reliquie del santo.
Autore: José Marìa Fernàndez Catòn
Voir aussi : http://alger-roi.fr/Alger/religion/pages_liees/st_marcel_pn93.htm
