Maturus

Saint Maturus of Lyon, Martyr, had been a Christian only a short time when he became one of the martyrs of Lyon, venerated as the first holy martyrs of present-⁠day France. In the year 177, the persecution of Christianity by the emperor Marcus Aurelius brought a great slaughter in the capital of Gaul, Lugdunum (Lyon). Maturus is commemorated on 2 June, together with forty-⁠seven others: Bishop Pothinus, the virgin slave Blandina, Alexander, Vettius Epagathus, Attalus, the deacon Sanctus, the priest Zacharias, Macarius, Alcibiades, Silvius, Primus, Ulpius, Vitalis, Comminus, October, Philomenus, Geminus, Julia, Albina, Grata, Aemilia, Potamia, Pompeia, Rhodana, Biblis, Quartia, Materna, Helpis, Ponticus, Istus, Aristaeus, Cornelius, Zosimus, Titus, Julius, Zoticus, Apollonius, Geminianus, a second Julia, Ausonia, a second Aemilia, Jamnica, a second Pompeia, Domna, Justa, Trophima and Antonia. Some died in prison, others were killed in the arena before thousands of onlookers, either by the sword or by being thrown to wild beasts. He is a saint of the undivided Church.