We continue our series on Christian martyrs by looking now at Blandina of Lyon, France who was martyred by the Romans in the early days of Christianity. Her endurance and bravery is a lasting testament to the strength we have in Christ. May this blessed martyr stand, as John Foxe has said, "[...] as a glorious testimony, and to all Christian men as a spectacle or example of singular fortitude in Christ our Savior."
The whole fury of the multitude, the governor, and the soldiers, was spent... on Blandina, through whom Christ showed that those things that appear unsightly and contemptible among men are most honorable in the presence of God, on account of love to His name exhibited in real energy, and not in boasting and pompous pretences. For - while we all feared, and among the rest while her mistress according to the flesh, who herself was one of the noble army of martyrs, dreaded that she would not be able to witness a good confession, because of the weakness of her body; - Blandina was endued with so much fortitude, that those who successively tortured her from morning to night were quite worn out with fatigue, owned themselves conquered and exhausted of their whole apparatus of tortures, and were amazed to see her still breathing whilst her body was torn and laid open. The blessed woman recovered fresh vigor in the act of confession; and it was an evident annihilation of all her pains, to say, "I am a Christian, and no evil is committed among us."
Blandina [along with some fellow Christians] were led to the wild beasts into the amphitheater to be the common spectacle of the Gentile inhumanity. They were exposed to all the barbarities which the mad populace with shouts demanded, and above all to the hot iron chair, in which their bodies were roasted and emitted a disgusting smell. These after remaining alive a long time, expired at length.
Blandina, suspended from a stake, was exposed as food to the wild beasts; she was seen suspended in the form of a cross and employed in vehement supplication. The sight inspired her fellow combatants with much alacrity, while they beheld with their bodily eyes, in the person of their sister, the figure of Him Who was crucified for them. None of the beasts at that time touched her: she was taken down from the stake and thrown again into prison. Weak and contemptible as she might be deemed, yet when clothed with Christ, the mighty and invincible champion, she became victorious over the enemy in a variety of encounters, and was crowned with immortality.
The blessed Blandina... as a generous mother having exhorted her children, and sent them before her victorious to the king, reviewing the whole series of their sufferings, hastened to undergo the same herself, rejoicing and triumphing in her exit, as if invited to a marriage supper, not as one going to be exposed to the wild beasts. After she had endured stripes, the tearing of the beasts, and the iron chair, she was enclosed in a net, and thrown to a bull; and having been tossed some time by the animal, and proving quite superior to her pains, through the influence of hope, and the realizing view of the objects of her faith and her fellowship with Christ, she at length breathed out her soul.
I was reminded on reading this account and the hope that this great woman had in enduring great pain at the hands of our enemies, of the character in "The Pilgrim's Progress" named Standfast who like Blandina did not cower at the thought of death but approached it with joy as if, as Foxe said earlier, "invited to a marriage supper." Standfast, as he was ready to cross the river into the heavenly kingdom says,
This river has been a terror to many, yea, the thoughts of it also have often frightened me; but now methinks I stand easy, my foot is fixed upon that upon which the feet of the Priests that bare the Ark of the Covenant stood, while Israel went over this Jordan. The waters indeed are to the palate bitter, and to the stomach cold; yet the thoughts of what I am going to, and of the conduct that waits for me on the other side, doth lie as a glowing coal at my heart.
I see myself now at the end of my Journey; my toilsome days are ended. I am going now to see that Head that was crowned with thorns, and that Face that was spit upon for me.
I have formerly lived by hearsay and Faith; but now I go where I shall live by Sight, and shall be with Him in whose company I delight myself.
I have loved to hear my Lord spoken of; and wherever I have seen the print of His shoe in the earth there I have coveted to set my foot too.
His name has been to me as a civet-box; yea, sweeter than all perfumes. His Voice to me has been most sweet; and His Countenance I have more desired than they that have most desired the light of the Sun. His Word I did use to gather for my food, and for antidotes against my faintings. He has held me, and I have kept me from mine iniquities; yea, my steps hath He strengthened in His way.
Now, while he was thus in discourse, his countenance changed, his strong man bowed under him; and after he had said, "Take me, for I come unto thee," he ceased to be seen of them.
Such a picture is the one we receive when hearing of the faithful battle of blessed Blandina. May we all know and be assured that the battles of this life cannot be compared with the glory in the next and that regardless of how death arrives it only ushers in the life we as Christians have been striving for. With great peace and courage may we until our dying breath glorify our God.
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