Justus, St
Justus, St., is the name of a Christian martyr who, with his brother Pastor (aged respectively twelve and nine years), when the persecution of Diocletian against the Christians began, in the face of certain martyrdom boldly avowed himself a Christian. For this alone they were cruelly flogged; and Dacian, at that time the governor of Spain, enraged at their courageous resignation, finally caused them to be beheaded.
Another St. Justus, celebrated in history, was bishop of Lyons, in France. His life gives us an insight into the customs of the 4th century. The monks, both in the East and the West, sought at that time to prevent as far as possible capital punishment, and often represented those who had undergone it in punishment of their crimes as martyrs. A man who, in an excess of rage had killed several persons in the streets of Lyons, fled to the bishop's church for protection. Justus, in order to shield him, delivered him into the hands of the authorities on the condition that he should be but lightly punished but the mob took him out of the hands of the officers and killed him. Justus, considering himself responsible for the death of this man, and henceforth unworthy of his office, fled to Egypt, where he remained unknown in a convent, and there died about 390.
Another St. Justus, a native of Rome, followed St. Augustine in his mission to England, and became, in 624, archbishop of Canterbury. He died Nov. 10, 627. — Herzog, Real-Encyklop. s.v.
