The first victims of the superstition of the Romans and the conventionality of their Emperor were St. Felicitas and her sons. Their trial and death forms a celebrated episode in the history of the martyrs. It well illustrates the spirit of the martyrs[A] and the great things which the Church was doing for the weak ones of the world; how that out of the mouths of babes and sucklings she was perfecting praise through the strong love of Christ which was the inheritance of her children. [A] This is admitted even by those scholars who regard, and rightly it would seem, these Acts as a historical romance, _but founded on facts_. Since the main facts are true, and my concern is to illustrate the spirit of the martyrs, this testimony seemed sufficient justification for quoting the Acts. The Act tells us that “owing to indignation amongst the Pontiffs, Felicitas, a woman of high rank, was struck down with her seven most Christian sons.” Her life had been a source of great edification to her fellow-Christians, and the Pontiffs “seeing that, thanks to her, the good repute of the Christian name was growing, spoke of her to Augustus Antoninus (i.e., Marcus Aurelius), saying: ‘This widow and her sons are outraging our gods to our great peril. If she does not pay homage to the gods, your majesty must know that they will be so angry that they cannot be appeased.’ Then the Emperor ordered the Prefect of the City to compel her and her sons to appease the wrath of the gods by sacrifice.” This Prefect of the City was Publius Salvius Julianus, the most distinguished and trusted of Roman lawyers; and before him Felicitas was now brought for trial. He attempted first by blandishments, then by threats, to persuade her to sacrifice. She replied: “You cannot entice me by blandishments nor frighten me by threats, for I have within me the Holy Spirit, Who keeps me from being conquered by the devil: this is my ground for assurance, that living I shall overcome thee and when dead I shall triumph still more.” “At least let your children live.” “My children live if they do not sacrifice to idols; but if they commit such a crime, they shall go to eternal death.” Thus ended this first interview between Publius, a Roman of the old school, with a strong sense of justice as he understood it, but understanding it only as identified with Roman law, and this Roman matron of noble birth, who had left the darkness for the light. Next day she and her sons were again brought before the Prefect. “Have pity on your sons,” said he, “those fine young fellows yet in the flower of their youth.” Felicitas replied: “Your pity is impious and your advice cruel.” Turning to her children she added: “Lift up your eyes to heaven, my children, look aloft where Christ awaits you with His saints. Do battle for your souls and show yourselves faithful in the love of Christ.” At this Publius ordered her to be buffeted. “Darest thou in my presence counsel contempt for the Emperor’s orders!”