Though only twenty-one years old, Placid was the Benedictine ideal of a holy abbot, having lived since he was seven years old under the watchful eye of Saint Benedict himself. He set out obediently to establish a monastery on his father’s estate in Sicily.

Five years later, tragedy struck. While Placid and his thirty monks were at prayer reciting the Divine Office, Saracen pirates made a sudden invasion. They were all taken captive, as well as Placid’s two brothers and his saintly sister, the virgin Flavia, who were visiting from Rome. Only one monk, Gordinian, managed to escape to tell the story:

Placid and his companions, united in strong determination, refused to adore the idols of the Saracen barbarians. They were brutally beaten, and subjected to the most horrific tortures, but were unshaken in their faith. Speaking for them all, twenty-sixyear-old Placid said with a powerful voice: “Do what you mean to do; for we are all of one mind, one faith, one manner of life.” The pirates beheaded Placid’s sister first, then Placid, his two brothers, and his companions on the shores near Messina. They were the valiant protomartyrs of the Benedictine family.