Animals in Church History: Protection of Saints by Animals in Martyrdom & Death

Sources: Various

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Protection of Saints by Animals in Martyrdom & Death

Wild animals would not assist in the martyrdom of these saints:

* Saints Abdon and Sennen (Neither lions nor bears would touch them)

* St. Blandina (On first attempt at martyrdom)

* St. Eustace & family ("Lions showed nothing but gentleness")

* St. Januarius and Companions (Lions)

* Saints Primus and Felician ("Lions only fawned upon the knees of the saints, making friends with them, caressingly moving their heads and tails")

* St. Prisca (Emerged unharmed after being thrown to the lions)

* Sts. Tarachus, Probus, and Andronicus (Lions and tigers could not be made to come near them, a ferocious bear advanced toward them and merely licked the wounds and feet of the saints)

* St. Thecla (Roaring lions suddenly laid down at her feet and kissed them)

* Sts. Tyrannio, Zenobius and Others (Raging wild animals, including leopards, wild bears, boars and bulls, while not refusing others, refused to approach the Christians)

* St. Venantius (Rather than martyr him, the lions threw themselves at his feet)

* Saints Vitus, Modestus & Crescentia ("They were dragged out and cast to a lion; but he only lay down before them and licked their feet")

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Martyred Saints' bodies that animals would not touch:

* St. Anastasius (only body left untouched)

* Saint Basilides and Companions

* St. Stephen, the first martyr (body was left exposed one day and one night)

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Martyred Saints' bodies that animals helped protect:

* St. Stanislas (defended by eagles for three days) 

* St. Vincent (defended by a crow)

* Sts. Arian, Theoticus, and three others (dolphins brought their bodies back)

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Animals that assisted in burial (and related matters):

* Two lions dug a grave for St. Anthony to bury St. Paul the First Hermit as he stood wondering how he would excavate the ground.

* When controversy arose over a burial location, the coffin of St. Raymund Nonnatus was placed on a blind mule. It went to the chapel "where the saint had begun his more perfect life".

* St. Ursula's place of burial was revealed to St. Cunibert by a dove.

* The holy monk and priest Zosimus was assisted by a lion in digging a grave for St. Mary of Egypt.

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Also See: Saints & Animals

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