THE FEAST OF A MARRIED COUPLE WHO REMAINED VIRGINS

Daria was unbaptized when she married Chrysanthus. It had been Chrysanthus's father who had arranged the marriage. His name was Polemius and he had been very disappointed when his son became a Christian. Polemius thought that marriage to a young, non-Christian maiden might distract Chrysanthus from his new faith. They were nobles in the 3rd century, and Polemius had given his son every privilege and the best education money could buy. Chrysanthus had, however, grown disenchanted. After he read the Acts of the Apostles, he became a follower of Christ. 

After the wedding, Chyrsanthus sought to convert Daria, and she agreed to be baptized. Daria, too, was a noble and in becoming Christian she gave up many honors and she risked being treated as the lowest of the low. They, by mutual consent, decided to remain virgins and the marriage was never consummated, but Daria looked upon Chyrsanthus as her legal husband, and Chyrsanthus looked upon Daria as his legal wife. They were different faiths when they entered the marital state, but Daria proved herself as zealous a soldier for Christ as her husband. Together they were a dynamic team who brought many people to faith in Christ and His Church. It was for this reason they got into trouble. They were members of an illegal religion and they were tirelessly bringing in newcomers. 

For his pains in converting others, Chyrsanthus was sewn into an ox's hide and placed in the scorching sun. Meanwhile Daria was taken to a brothel, but a lion broke into the house just before a man could defile her. Eventually, they were both buried alive in graves of sand and died when they asphyxiated. Their lungs must have looked like sand-filled hourglasses. It was the year 283. 

They were a married couple who are most like Mary and Joseph in their pledge of virginity. Chrysanthus and Daria join the ranks of the relatively few married couples who have been canonized and sit alongside the parents of the Little Flower, Zelie and Louis Martin.  They knew the married state and can intercede for married couples, most especially married couples who are engaged in evangelization and who suffer for their efforts. I submit that they could also intercede for a couple where one is a Christian and one is a non-Christian.  

Discovering this couple has been an answer to prayer for me. I'm praying to Chrysanthus and Daria for a couple I know who are in love, the woman is baptized and the man is unbaptized. They are both fine people, exceptionally decent, and the lady hopes to bring her suitor into the Catholic fold. He very much wants to be with her, but she only wants to marry someone of the Faith. I hope - in time - to be able to report back to you that he's been baptized that they've had a Catholic wedding.  

In the meantime, happy feast of Ss Chrysanthus and Daria! 

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This post was informed by Dr Pius Parsch's The Church's Year of Grace. The picture is from an 11th Byzantine manuscript that is housed in the Vatican library.