p/c St. Anastasia, by America Needs Fatima.
In the early 2000s, when I was in Rome, I went looking for a chapel of perpetual-adoration in which I could pray at night. The only one I found was the Basilica of St. Anastasia, located between the Circus Maximus and the Palatine Hill. Unlike the museumesque secularism that pervades most Roman Churches during the day, this quiet adoration chapel of St. Anastasia was always filled at night with faith-filled Romans, few as they might have been in that quiet chapel with a monstrance lit up flickering candles.
The Basilica is still open. However, that perpetual-adoration chapel of St. Anastasia was closed down only several years ago. To my knowledge, it was the last chapel standing of perpetual-adoration still going in Rome. It’s one of many good things that has been shut down in the Archdiocese of Rome over the last dark decade.
Although St. Anastasia is not buried in that Church, St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs has an accurate account of her martyrdom which I decided to publish in full for Holy Week below.
As you read it, please notice the power of the sign of the cross for someone in union with God. As many people (including me) are looking for the perfect exorcism prayer to ward off evil spirits, I am repeatedly surprised how the earliest Christians treated the simple sign of the cross (In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… across the chest) as not only an act of adoration, but also an act of deliverance from temptation. You will see Christians do this in the very first paragraph of the below account. (This also proves to Protestants how old the sign of the cross is.)
Also, notice the serenity with which St. Anastasia endured her most gruesome martyrdom. It is not that God dulled her pain nerves, but rather God flooded her soul and body with supernatural charity. So also, this red-martyr is an example of what we need to pray for in our white martyrdom over the current crucifixion and eclipse of the Catholic Church. In fact, I have consecrated my Holy Week to St. Anastasia in petition for an increase in perseverance, love, purity and wisdom. You may consider doing the same after you read the account of her unflinching courage for Jesus Christ and the truth of Our Faith.
St. Alphonsus Liguori’s Victories of the Martyrs, chapter 57, St. Anastasia, Virgin, and St. Cyril, October 28
Valerian succeeded to the empire on the death of Gallus, in the year 244, and in the beginning of his reign showed himself so favorable to the Christians, that many of them were employed at his court; but his subsequent cruelty towards them was as remarkable as his former clemency. A certain Egyptian magician succeeded in ingratiating himself into the emperor’s confidence; and as many Christians, by the sign of the cross, were enabled to destroy his demoniacal incantations, the favorite stimulated Valerian to undertake the destruction of the Christian religion, towards the close of the year 247.
St. Anastasia was a Roman virgin of noble and Christian parentage; and, although endowed with extraordinary beauty, manifested from her tenderest years a desire to be espoused to Jesus Christ only. She accordingly led a most holy life, without any other desire than to increase in the divine love. There was at Rome a nunnery governed by a most holy lady named Sophia, the inmates of which lived in the greatest Christian perfection and among these St. Anastasia enrolled herself, in order to make still further progress in virtue. The devil left no means untried in order to tempt her to abandon her holy design; but, by the assistance of continual prayer, she overcame these temptations, and thus rendered herself more perfect, and more intimately united to Jesus Christ.
No sooner were the edicts of Valerian published against the Christians than his emissaries began a most searching inquisition. They discovered the residence of Anastasia, who, by reason of her exemplary life, had acquired great reputation for sanctity amongst the faithful; and accordingly, an officer, accompanied by a band of soldiers, having proceeded to the monastery, broke open the doors, and in the name of Probus, Prefect of Rome, demanded that Anastasia should be given up to them. Hereupon the good Sophia hastened to animate her disciple in the following terms: “Behold, my daughter, the time hath arrived when the Spouse calleth thee. Go, and offer thyself as a sacrifice of love to him who for thee offered himself upon the cross. Be strong and fear not; make it appear that thou art worthy of such a spouse.”
The young virgin was forthwith brought before Probus, who, admiring her wonderful beauty, spoke to her with much affability, and inquired her name. She replied: “My name is Anastasia, and I have the happiness to be a Christian.” “This,” said the prefect, “is a bad recommendation; it overshadows thy prospects, and I would, therefore, recommend thee to abandon so odious a religion. I intend to render thee perfectly happy; but, to this end, thou must come with me to the temple, and offer sacrifice to Jove; but, if thou wilt not obey, know that the most cruel torments await thee.” The saint replied: “I shall rather await these torments, and I am ready to suffer them for the love of God. Thy promises and thy threats are equally ineffectual; for the Almighty God, whom I adore, will give me strength to resist both.”
At these words, so resolutely uttered, the prefect became greatly exasperated, and commanded the saint to be buffeted upon the face; which was done with such violence that she was covered with blood, and in this state was sent back to prison. Here she manifested so much holy joy, that the tyrant’s fury knew no bounds; he commanded that she should be tortured by the dislocation of all her limbs, and that her sides should be burned with lighted torches. This infliction was endured by the saint without a moan, and with so serene a countenance, that the prefect, perceiving that torture and fire moved her not, commanded the nails to be torn from her fingers, her teeth to be broken with a hammer, and her breasts to be pulled off with iron pincers. In the order of nature, she should have expired under these tortures; but the Lord so upheld her that she did nothing but bless his holy name, and upon being brought back to prison, all her wounds were miraculously cured.
Probus having heard this, and being informed, moreover, that the saint called his gods “gods of wood, of clay, and of metal,” ordered her tongue to be pulled out by the roots. The holy virgin, upon hearing the cruel command, began to thank the Lord, and to sing his praises. The operation filled the spectators with horror, and a torrent of blood proceeded from her mouth, which completely stained her clothes. Finding herself ready to faint after the infliction, she made signs to a certain Christian, named Cyril, to give her some water; he complied, and this act of charity earned for him the crown of martyrdom.
Notwithstanding the loss of her tongue, St. Anastasia ceased not to bless the Lord, and implore of him help to consummate her sacrifice. In these prayers she frequently raised her hands to heaven, which so annoyed the tyrant that, in addition to her other torments, he had her hands and feet cut off, and finally ordered her to be beheaded. Thus did this glorious saint enter the kingdom of Jesus Christ, with as many merits as she had suffered tortures for his sake.
The above-mentioned Cyril was also beheaded at the same time, which was on the 27th or 28th of October, about the year 249. Surius adds, that the good Sophia, having heard the glorious end of her novice, procured the body; and with the assistance of two pious persons, buried her outside the city.