A child in the service of an emperor who died for Christ.

Hyacinth was a native of Caesarea in Cappadocia, born in the late 1st century to a Catholic family. As a boy, he was appointed to serve as an assistant to the chamberlain to the Emperor Marcus Ulpius Traianus who was expanding the Roman Empire to its maximum territorial extent. They were unaware that he was a Catholic in secret.

On a day while the emperor and his entourage were offering sacrifices to the Roman pagan gods, the young Hyacinth remained at the palace, shut himself up in a small room, and prayed fervently to the Lord. One of the servants overheard him and denounced him to the emperor.

He was brought to trial before the emperor, who tried to persuade the young boy to deny Christ and to make the sacrifices. Instead, he remained steadfast, declaring he was a Christian.

He was whipped for his defiance and thrown into prison where he underwent numerous scourgings and tortures.

He was deliberately served food which had been offered as sacrifice to the pagan gods, the eating of which was banned by the Catholic Church. He therefore starved to death in 108, dying after 38 days at just the age of 12 in the city of Rome. Guards saw 2 angels in the cell at the time of his death. One covered his body with his own garment and the other placed a crown of glory on his head.

His relics were transferred to Caesarea and later placed in Fürstenfeld Abbey in Bavaria.

His feast day is July 3.

For God’s Glory.