By decree of Emperor Diocletian, Pope Marcellinus was forced to make offerings to the Roman gods, which he soon regretted 4. Escaping to lower Italy, he called a council of bishops in which he confessed his sins and required that he be pronounced penance.
All of the bishops remained silent, save one who asked Pope Marcellinus to answer a question. The Pope agreed, the bishop asked if Peter had sinned. The Pope replied that Peter had lied to Christ. The bishop asked, “Did he lie once or more than once?” “Three times”, answered Marcellinus. The bishop then asked who had heard Peter’s confession, given him absolution and had pronounced penance.
No answer was forthcoming, so the bishop himself said, “no one absolved Peter, no one absolved him and no one proclaimed a penalty on him because no mortal had power over him as he was the highest of all. You should do likewise; you are the highest bishop of Christianity and should declare your own penance.”
Marcillenus then said that he was a worshipper of false idols and being unworthy of a Christian burial, no one should bestow such a service upon him under penalty of excommunication. He then returned to Rome, presented himself before Emperor Diocletian and proclaimed himself a Christian.
The Emperor had Marcillenus beheaded, leaving the body unburied for 30 days during which time God protected his remains from animals and birds. One night in a dream, Peter appeared to Marcellus, Marcellinus’ successor, and asked, “Why haven’t you buried my body, brother Marcellus?” Astounded, Marcellus answered that Peter’s body was long ago interred in Rome. “My body is the body of my brother Marcellinus”, replied the apostle.
When Marcellus explained that because of Diocletian’s ban on burying Marcellinus’ body, no one dared attempt the burial. Referring to Christ’s word, “he who lowers himself shall be raised”, Peter commanded that Marcellinus’ body be interred next to him in Rome.
And it was done.
4Marcellinus, bishop of Rome and later Pope at the time of Emperor Diocletian, was forced to make offerings to Roman gods when Diocletian began persecuting Christians. He later recanted and suffered martyrdom ca. 304.