St. Agapitus of Palesitrina, Youthful Martyr.
Today, in the year 274 AD, St. Agapitus merited the glory of martyrdom. He was just fifteen years old, but refused to reject his faith. As a member of the nobility from the Anicia family of Palestrina (just outside Rome), his "defiance" of the edict to worship pagan gods was seen as too great a public challenge to ignore. The emperor Aurelian (270-275) ordered the prefect Antiochus to force him to submit or suffer the death penalty. Young Agapitus was chained in a dungeon and suffered cruel torments, including being burned with live coals. Despite these tortures, he would not yield to threats or gilded promises. Thus he was thrown to the wild beasts in the local arena of Palestrina. However, like Daniel of old, the beasts refused to harm him. Thus Antiochus ordered the executioners to behead him.
His death however foiled the plans of the emperor, for by his courageous martyrdom he brought about far many more conversions in death than he would ever have managed in life. For this reason, as well as on account of his youth, he was a popular saint for many centuries and his story was a favorite among young Christians. He is considered a patron of those who suffer from 'colic' or abdominal pains.
In the fifth century, Pope St. Felix III (483-492) built a basilica in his honor at the site of his martyrdom. His relics were kept at this basilica, but at some later date were transferred to the present cathedral of Palestrina. Pope St. Felix courageously fought against various heresies and had to excommunicate several episcopal usurpers to heal schisms in the East. He is often quoted for having said "Not to oppose error is to approve it, and not to defend truth is to suppress it, and, indeed, to neglect to confound evil men - when we can do it - is no less a sin than to encourage them."
These words ought to cut to our heart today. Through the intercession of both Pope Felix and St. Agapitus, may we have the grace of greater fidelity to these lofty and virtuous principles.