Martyrs Mirror 244PANCRATIUS, A YOUTH OF FOURTEEN YEARS, BE; HEADED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, WITHOUT THE CITY OF ROME, A. D. 303

There was at that time a Christian youth of fourteen years, called Pancratius, who, when he was brought before the Emperor Diocletian found such special favor in the eyes of the latter, that he promised to adopt him as his son, if he would abandon Christ, and show honor to the gods of the Romans. But this youth, who was old in the knowledge and love of his Saviour, showed such steadfastness in defending his faith and despising the gods, that the Emperor, filled with rage, commanded that he should be decapitated, on the Aurelian way, just out of the city of Rome. Thus this youth loved the honor of his Saviour more than his own life, and hence he is justly reckoned among the number of the pious martyrs. Aeta per Sicrium, bona fide edita, secundum Mellinum, in Tract super, fol. 139, col. 4.