Genesius was a comic actor who lived during the reign of Emperor Diocletian, who was intent on eliminating all Christians. Genesius' theatrical troupe was once commissioned to perform before the emperor. They chose to stage a farce that mocked the Christian sacrament of baptism. Genesius played the convert who was to be baptized.
All of a sudden, something unexpected occurred. During the scene in which Genesius' character was being baptized, God's grace entered the actor's heart. As the water was being poured on him, the performer experienced the power of God. Instead of reciting a speech filled with mockery that he was supposed to deliver, he began witnessing to his conversion to Jesus Christ. At first, the emperor thought that it was just part of the act, but when he realized that Genesius was not acting and that he was, in fact, mocking the emperor, he was hauled off to prison and tortured. From that moment on, Genesius refused to renounce the Christian faith and was tortured until he died. There is a side chapel dedicated to the martyred actor in St. Mary Church, located in the Broadway theater district, in New York City.
(This item originally appeared in The Providence Visitor)
