Famous last words: Anthony Ricetti

Anthony Ricetti had been sentenced to execution by drowning because of his confession of Christ.  A few days before the sentence was to be carried out, his son came to him in prison and pleaded with him to renounce his faith so that he might not be left fatherless.  Anthony replied:

A good Christian is bound to relinquish not only goods and children, but life itself, for the glory of his Redeemer: therefore I am resolved to sacrifice every thing in this transitory world, for the sake of salvation in a world that will last to eternity.

Despite other attempts by civil authorities to convince him to recant, reports that a fellow prisoner had denied his faith, and promises of financial reward, Ricetti would not turn from his confession and was executed in Venice in 1542.