Grace, virgin martyr

Biography

For this, his terrible edicts were made public throughout the Empire ordering that, if the faithful resisted worshiping the Roman gods, they would suffer the most cruel torments. Among those in charge of carrying out this persecution, Datian, who professed a mortal aversion towards Christians, stood out for his barbarism and cruelty. He held the position of governor of the province of Tarragona, Spain, of which the city of Zaragoza was a part. Undertaking a long journey from Braga, Portugal and bound for Roussillon, a young noblewoman named Engracia, daughter of a regent, is sent by him, followed by a procession of 18 companions, to marry a knight of the same lineage and whom her parents had chosen, as was the custom at that time. Engracia felt happy because she was certain and enthusiastic that a revelation she had had would be fulfilled, according to which on that trip she would suffer martyrdom in defense of her Christian faith. Her heart kindled with a very strong desire to shed her blood for the love of Jesus Christ, brave and guided without a doubt by the Holy Spirit, she appeared before the cruel Datian and said to him: "Why, wicked judge, do you despise the true God and Lord who is in Heaven and so cruelly torment those who worship him? Why do you and your emperors persecute Christians throughout the world, so unjustly, for defending the idols that are vain statues where "Do demons live?" Dacian, astonished to hear such an unexpected rebuke and more admired by the spirit and majesty with which that maiden generously despised the gods of the Empire, enraged, ordered her to be seized and flogged, dragging her tied to a horse throughout the city; This only made Engracia's strength grow and encouraged by her martyrdom, she replied to Dacian when he tried to convince her to abandon her religion: "You, sacrilegious, teach yourself these false dogmas, but not to me; for neither your offers seduce me, nor your words convince me, nor your torments intimidate me. Know that I am sent by my Lord Jesus Christ to rebuke your enormous crimes, which is necessary for you." "repent, if you fear as you should the wrath of God, which I see ready to unleash upon you." Offended Dacian at the noble intrepidity with which Engracia disfigured his cruelties, bellowing like an enraged lion, ordered the most terrible torments: they dislocated all of his limbs and then with iron hooks they tore his flesh. He was executed like this, but in such an inhuman way that, once all the bones were exposed, his insides were seen through different wounds, going so deep that a piece of his liver was removed. Everyone was filled with confusion when they saw her with a happy countenance, worshiping and blessing the Lord in the midst of that set of torments, even the pagans themselves confessing that such strength was not possible except by a miracle. Daciano, wanting to put an end to that situation that made him look ridiculous, ordered a nail to be driven into her forehead and since even that did not kill her, he ordered them to desist and throw her into the damp and dark dungeons in that terrible state, so that the acute pain of the wounds would serve as a greater martyrdom, which was more painful than death itself. There he survived for some time longer, where he later died on April 16, 303, but not before having made the enemies of his religion realize the power of the true God of the Christians. His eighteen companions were similarly tormented and killed. Her venerable body was buried by the faithful, if not with the solemnity of a public funeral, for fear of persecution, but surely honored with the accompaniment of angels who celebrated the most glorious triumph of this distinguished heroine of religion.