Lentorama 2006 Saint of the Day: St. Benjamin

During the 5th century, Christians in Persia were enjoying a run of peace until a bishop named Abdas decided to burn down the great Persian sanctuary called the Temple of Fire. The Persians didn't appreciate the irony, and threatened to destroy all the Christian churches unless Abdas agreed to rebuild the temple. He refused, and the Persians carried out their plan, razing churches, killing Abdas, and starting a persecution that lasted 40 years.

St. Benjamin, a deacon who spent a year in prison for being Christian, was released on the condition that he'd not talk religion with the local gentry. This didn't last too long, as Benjamin felt it was his duty to preach.

The Persians, appreciating deal-breaking less than irony, repeatedly jabbed reeds inbetween Benjamin's nails and other fleshy places. After that (and here I quote Catholic Online), "a knotted stake was inserted into his bowels to rend and tear him. The martyr expired in the most terrible agony about the year 424."

In true Catholic art fashion, he's often depicted with the reeds sticking out from under his fingernails. Usually someone who dies in such a gruesome fashion is the patron saint of something related to their death, but all I've been able to find here is that St. Benjamin is the patron saint of people named Benjamin. Seems a little on the nose.