St. Justus of Beauvais

Feastday: October 18
Death: 287

St. Justus of Beauvais, Martyr (Feast day - October 18) Justus was born in 278 and lived at Auxerre, France, with his father. At that time, the persecution of Diocletian was in full force. Justus and his father went to Amiens to ransom a relative. While there, Justus was reported to the authorities to be a Christian magician, and soldiers were sent to arrest him. When confronted at Beauvais, Justus, who was nine years old, confessed that he was a Christian, and he was immediately beheaded. Legend has it that he then stood upright with his head in his hand, at which the soldiers fled.

3rd century saint of Roman Catholic Church

Saint Justus of Beauvais (c. 278—c. 287) is a semi-legendary saint of the Roman Catholic Church. He may have been a Gallo-Roman martyr, but his legend was confused with that of other saints, such as Justin of Paris.

History

Tradition states that he was a child of nine who was denounced as a Christian while on a trip with his father to Amiens to ransom or rescue an imprisoned relative during the persecutions of Diocletian. He was executed for confessing that he was a Christian and for refusing to give away the hiding place of his father and uncle.

After he was beheaded, Justus' body then picked up the severed head and continued to speak. Justus is thus one of the legendary cephalophores, the saintly "head-carriers" who miraculously continued to speak or move despite being decapitated. This legend was elaborated in subsequent centuries, and stated that the headless boy managed to convert pagan onlookers.

This miraculous act is said to have happened in a spot between Beauvais and Senlis now named after him: Saint-Just-en-Chaussée.

Veneration

Veneration for Justus was widespread in France, Belgium, and Switzerland –where places named Saint-Just refer to him- and his cult spread to England as well.

Winchester claimed some of his relics from the 10th century. In England the Annales monasterii de Wintonia reports that in 924 Athelstan donated to the treasury of Winchester the head of this martyr. It is possible that this may not have been the entire head but just a fragment of it, according to one scholar.

In the first half of the 11th century, the diocese of Chur in Switzerland received his relics as well.

Additionally, the abbey of Malmedy in Belgium asserted that at the beginning of 10th century its monk had acquired -at a good price- the body of Justus. Saint-Riquier also claimed his body.

Zutphen in the Netherlands also claimed some of his relics since at least the 14th century. Franciscans brought an additional relic of Justus to Zutphen around 1450 when they established themselves there. A confraternity dedicated to Ewald and Justus was established in 1454. His feast is celebrated on October 11 there.