England's First Saint

Today is the feast of St. Pancras, a fourteen year old martyr whose relics were sent to England to be placed in the first church dedicated by St Augustine of Canterbury.

According to the Golden Legend he was of noble birth and when his parents died, placed under the protection of his uncle, Denis. Together they went to Rome, where they received the faith from Pope Cornelius. When Denis died, Pancras was brought before Diocletian and the emperor tried to persuade him to give up his faith. Pancras however resisted him to his face saying that his threats would no sooner move him than the paintings on the wall while the pagan gods he worshipped were nothing but deceivers and fornicators against God. When Diocletian heard this he realized the boy could not be overcome and ordered his execution by beheading. At night a certain Octavilla took his body, embalmed and buried it on the Aurelian Way. During the Middle Ages it was common for oaths to be taken before the shrine of St. Pancras and he was invoked against perjury.