Antonio Belda Martínez
CHAPTER III
– The last victory of Saint George with the tyrant -
20.- While Jorge remained in jail.
Converts to the faith of Christ by seeing such miracles, bribing the vigilantes, they manage to go to Jorge, accompany him and prostrate at his feet. Many of them are healed in the name of Christ by making the sign of the cross..
A poor man, Glycerium, when I plowed, one of the oxen collapsed (otherwise frequent thing) and he died. The fame of the Saint reaches their ears. Glicerio rushes to jail and reports the accident to Santo. And Saint George laughing tells him: "Go happy, my Christ has brought your ox back to life. Glicerio believes him and again finds his ox cured. Return immediately to the Martyr; he is shouting around the city ". "Truly, great is the God of Christians "!
Some soldiers pass each other by chance, they stop him and tell the Emperor that, furious, determine neither to see nor question him. Send him to be slaughtered outside the city walls. Glycerium, led by soldiers, run before them joyfully and as a guest to treat. Invoke God screaming. Pray that their martyrdom will replace water baptism. That's how life ended.
At that time some senators accused George before the Emperor. They said that from jail he upset the people and separated many from the worship of the gods, and that with magic united them to the crucified God. It was necessary to return to the charge to absolve him if he regretted, or to take his life if he persisted in the same madness.
21.- The emperor, meeting in council with Magnencio, orders that the tribunal be prepared in the temple of Apollo and have public questioning with the Saint the following day.
On that night the Saint prayed in jail. Falling asleep, he saw the Lord lifting him up with his own hand, hugged him, I put a crown on his head and said: "Do not worry, be of good cheer ". "You have already been made worthy to reign with me.". "You will soon enjoy what I have prepared for you; you will come with me right away ". Wake up the saint, give thanks to God and call the jailer. He asks him to let his servant in to speak to him. With the jailer's absence, the young man, that was waiting outside, come in, venerates his lord chained and weeping prostrates himself. The saint lifts him up, encourages you to be encouraged and communicates the vision: "My son, Our Lord will call me soon. After this life has passed, receive my body, as I have determined, and bring it to the house in Palestine where we used to live; the lord will lead you on your way. Fulfill everything that is in my last will. Be afraid of God and do not stray from the faith of Christ ". Tearful the servant promises the Saint to carry out his will with the help of God. Saint George embraces him and dismisses him.
22.- At sunrise the next day, constituted the court, Diocletian orders the Martyr to be brought to him. Master his anger and with meekness he begins: "Don't you think, Jorge, very human and full of love being so humble with you? May all my gods witness to me the enormous pain that your adolescence causes me, the flower of your beauty, the seriousness of your prudence and your constancy of mind. If you reconsider and come back to you, would you live with me and take second place in court. Dime, well, Jorge, what you feel".
And Saint George: "It would have been timely, Emperor, since you have declared these cares of yours, not having done us so many and such great evils with your anger ". The Emperor listens gladly. And Jorge adds: "If you wanted me, as a father you would lovingly give gifts to those you have hurt with martyrdom and I would repay them with the greatest honors ". "If you want, let us enter the temple and contemplate the gods you worship."
The emperor, happy, orders the Senate and the people to go to the temple.
The people praise the Emperor, going on the way and giving as made the victory of their gods.
They enter and there is silence. The sacrifice is prepared. All eyes converge on the Saint. They expect me to sacrifice.
The Martyr approaches the statue of Apollo with his hand outstretched and says: "Why do you want to receive from me a sacrifice like God?"At the same time he makes the sign of the cross.
The demon from the statue answers: "I am not God; I am not; nor is any of my peers. One is only God and it is the one that you preach. U.S, of angels servants of God, we have become apostates; we deceive men out of envy. ".
And the saint responds: "For what reason do you dare to stay here, being present I worship the true God?”.
As soon as this is said, a noise and roar similar to that of a battle coming out of the statues is heard, that fall broken on the ground.
Some of the town, mad with rage, spurred on by the priests, they seize the Saint and bind him with chains and whip him screaming: "Remove, out that wizard, outside!”.
23.- The tumult grows and the Empress Alejandra leaves the palace; can no longer hide his faith in Christ. Go from afar to Jorge. He cannot be approached because of the crowd and he cries out: "God of Jorge Help me; you alone are almighty god!”.
Once the riot of the people was quelled, Diocletian orders the Saint to be brought to his presence and tells him: "With such graces do you reciprocate my benevolence, cruel head? In that way you usually sacrifice to the gods?
And Saint George: "This is how I learned to sacrifice, Foolish emperor, and from that I have known how to honor them ". "Be ashamed from now on to attribute your salvation to such gods. Salvation that they cannot give themselves. Nor do they endure the presence of the servants of Christ ".
While the Saint spoke thus, stepping forward, the Empress repeated the same exclamation before the Emperor.. He prostrates himself at the feet of the Saint, reproaches the impiety of the tyrant, with expletives he despises the gods and abhors his worshipers.
The Emperor tells him: "What's wrong Alejandra? How do you adhere to this wizard and charming, shameless? Do you turn away from the gods?”.
The Empress rejects him with bitterness. Does not answer.
24.- Diocletian, furious, he does not worry about the saint. Saint George has irritated him. Wait for the sacrifice and consider their gods brought down. Consider the change of the Empress. His anger grows. Decree the sentence against the Martyr and the most noble Empress: Evil george, as Galileo testifies, you have hurt the gods and myself with insults without number. You have used your magic against everyone. You have corrupted the Empress with your spells. Like a madman you have cursed the gods themselves. I order that both of you be slaughtered with the sword ".
To the point, those who had ordered his execution, They seized the Saint and led him in chains outside the city. Together with the Martyr the Empress who prayed joyfully is taken, moving the lips and frequently raising the eyes to the sky. When arriving at a certain place the Empress asks to sit down. Authorized sits, bow your head on your knees and give your spirit to God.
Saint George praises God, thanks you. Walk lightly and pray that their combat ends well. Arrive at the place of execution and pray out loud:
25.- "Blessed are you, Sir, My God, why have you allowed us to get the teeth of those who bit me?, nor have you tolerated that my enemies laugh at me, and you have delivered my soul like a bird from the trap of the hunter. "
"Now, Sir, listen to me in the same way and assist this your servant in this last hour. Deliver my soul from the iniquity of the great enemy and his spirit. Do not consider as a crime what they have done against me, dragged out of their ignorance. Rather grant them your forgiveness and your love. May they also have a part in your kingdom with your chosen ones ".
"Receives, too, my soul with those who have liked you in this world. Forget all the bad things that I have consciously or unconsciously done. "
"Remember, Sir, of those who invoke your most holy name, because you are blessed and glorious forever. Amen."
Finished this sentence, joyfully presents the neck. He was beheaded on April 23.
Glorious confession! Finish his career and keep the faith immaculate! Possess the promised crown of justice!
26.- These are the trophies of the hard-working victor of such great battles. These are the glorious fights and the illustrious made against their enemies.
Whoever fights in this way will be given an uncorrupted and eternal crown.. For whose prayers, if only, let us also manage to have a part with the righteous and be placed to the right of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST.
To whom is the glory, honor and worship forever and ever. Amen.
