ON THE SAINTS MARTYRS OF MASSYLA
IN AFRICA.
CommentaryMassylitan Martyrs, in Africa (SS)
G. H.
The tables of the present-day Roman Martyrology propose these Holy Martyrs in these words: "In Africa of the Holy Martyrs of Massyla, on whose birthday Saint Augustine gave a tract." This is the sermon "On diverse subjects" number 42, to which this title is prefixed: "Tract of Saint Augustine on the birthday of the Holy Martyrs of Massyla"; sacred cult, whose beginning is this: "Let us so admire the fortitude of the holy Martyrs in their passion, that we may proclaim the grace of the Lord. For neither did they wish to be praised in themselves, but in him of whom it is said, 'In the Lord shall my soul be praised.'" And then, making no mention of these Martyrs, he inculcates virtues; and after commending patience, he concludes the tract, of which Possidius also makes mention in his summary. The history of the martyrdom seems to have been very well known among the Africans, so that for that reason Saint Augustine did not narrate it. But at what place these Martyrs died for Christ and earned the crown of glory is not clearly established. Was the place Fez? Prudentius in the Peristephanon hymn 4, to be referred to April 16 concerning the eighteen Martyrs of Zaragoza, has this strophe:
Tingis shall pour forth her Cassianus; Fez, the monuments of the Massylian Kings: Whose ashes gathered subjugated peoples Beneath the yokes of Christ.
I know that "Festa" is commonly read; but since that word makes no suitable sense, and being changed into the name of a place becomes most clear, I thought it should be corrected by conjecture. Now Fez on this day is a notable royal residence of the Moors, and a very large city in the inland parts of the province of Tingitana: called by the Roman colonists Volubilis, from Luis del Mármol, as Ferrari writes in the Geographical Lexicon. The name of Fez was unknown to Ptolemy; but why should it not, after him, with the Roman and foreign name abolished, either have been then first assumed or resumed from ancient tribal use, have prevailed and become known to Prudentius? This conjecture being admitted, the said Martyrs would have been either put to death there or translated thither after their martyrdom; and not from the common people, but from the very family of the Massylian Kings. Livy in book 4 of the third decade places the Massylian people in Numidia, where Gala reigned. In Dionysius Afer, cited in the said Lexicon of Ferrari, there are the Masyli people and the Masyla region of Africa.