Martyrs

On the Holy Martyrs

AGAPUS, VALERIUS, PUBLIUS, BASSUS, JULIANUS, FELIX, PAULUS, MAURUS, HERTULA, VERECUNDA, AND 42 OTHERS.

Agapus, Martyr (St.)

Valerius, Martyr (St.)

Publius, Martyr (St.)

Bassus, Martyr (St.)

Julianus, Martyr (St.)

Felix, Martyr (St.)

Paulus, Martyr (St.)

Maurus, Martyr (St.)

Hertula, Martyr (St.)

Verecunda, Martyr (St.)

42 Other Martyrs (SS.)

The greatest and most atrocious persecution against the Christians was begun under Diocletian in the year of Christ 303, when the feast of Easter fell on the 18th day of the month of April. Then, says Eusebius in Book 8 of the Ecclesiastical History, chapters 2 and 3, "When the nineteenth year of Diocletian's reign was being spent, Persecution begun by Diocletian at Easter in the year 303. as the festal day of the Lord's passion was approaching, imperial edicts were everywhere set forth, by which the churches were commanded to be razed to the ground and the sacred books to be consumed by fire. And not long after, other letters followed, by which it was commanded that all the Prelates of the Churches everywhere should first be cast into chains, and then by all means compelled to sacrifice to the gods. Then indeed very many Rectors of the Churches, enduring the gravest punishments with alacrity of spirit, exhibited spectacles of illustrious contests. Of the rest, each one experienced various kinds of torments: this one cut up with scourges, that one tortured with intolerable tortures and with hooks, others likewise in other ways accomplished their contest… whose deeds if we should wish accurately to explain, no speech would at all suffice." Thus Eusebius. Of these Martyrs in that persecution, as we think, who suffered in the following year 304, very many are referred on this day, to be distinguished into several groups, these and the following Martyrs seem to have suffered then. concerning whom we regret that because of their multitude not even the arena of their contest has been added. The first class in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, of which we have collated four copies, is of this sort: "And elsewhere, of Agapus, Valerius, Publius, Bassus, Julianus, Felix, Paulus, Maurus, Hertula, Verecunda, and of others to the number of forty-two." Of these the first eight are mentioned in an old Irish codex of the monastery of Tallaght, but three in the ancient manuscript codices of Reichenau and Rheinau, namely Agapus, Paulus, and Valerius: the two former are also referred to in the manuscript Martyrology of the Church of Prague, and by Greven in his additions to Usuard. For Hertula is also read "Hercula" and "Hestula." Of Saint Quartus, who is attributed to Capua in a single codex, we shall treat in the next class.

On the Holy Martyrs.

QUARTUS, SATURNINUS, SECUNDINUS, DECIMUS, DARIUS, QUARTUS, JANUARIUS,

SECUNDUS, QUINTUS, DEXTER, VICTOR, DONATUS, VARICUS, BUTTUS, VENUSTUS,

TITIANUS, LIKEWISE VICTOR, SIRILLA, LUCIUS, ORBANA, LIKEWISE ORBANA, MARCUS,

JUSTUS, CITTINUS, PATERNUS, PATINUS, PUTTUS, MARICUS, OPTATUS, LIKEWISE VICTOR,

MIGONUS, DEMETRIUS, FLAVIANUS, MARES, VITALIS, MINALIA, CLEMENTIA, VICTURIA,

FELICIA, MAXIMA, MUSTA, LIKEWISE MARCUS, HONORATUS, LAURENTIUS, ARBURUS,

CRISPINUS, TERTIUS, QUINTULUS, RESTITUTUS, REVOCATUS, SATURNINUS, BUTTARUS,

BARICUS, PAULUS, OPTATUS, SPINUS, DONATUS, MANILUS, PETRUS, PROCULUS, LIKEWISE

DONATUS, GEMELLA, EVANTUS, LAZARUS, VENUSTUS, FLAVINUS, RUFINUS, VALERIUS,

PAULUS, CRISPINUS, FELIX, NABOR, VICTORINUS, DONATULA, TERTIUS, VICTOR,

ACUTINA, TERTIA, MAMERUS, LIKEWISE SEVERIANUS AND SALUSTUS.

Quartus, Martyr (St.)

Saturninus, Martyr (St.)

Secundinus, Martyr (St.)

Decimus, Martyr (St.)

Darius, Martyr (St.)

Quartus II, Martyr (St.)

Januarius, Martyr (St.)

Secundus, Martyr (St.)

Quintus, Martyr (St.)

Dexter, Martyr (St.)

Victor, Martyr (St.)

Donatus, Martyr (St.)

Varicus, Martyr (St.)

Bruttus, Martyr (St.)

Venustus, Martyr (St.)

Titianus, Martyr (St.)

Victor II, Martyr (St.)

Sirtilla, Martyr (St.)

Lucius, Martyr (St.)

Orbana, Martyr (St.)

Orbana II, Martyr (St.)

Marcus, Martyr (St.)

Justus, Martyr (St.)

Cittinus, Martyr (St.)

Paternus, Martyr (St.)

Patinus, Martyr (St.)

Puttus, Martyr (St.)

Maricus, Martyr (St.)

Optatus, Martyr (St.)

Victor III, Martyr (St.)

Megonus, Martyr (St.)

Demetrius, Martyr (St.)

Flavianus, Martyr (St.)

Mares, Martyr (St.)

Vitalis, Martyr (St.)

Minalia, Martyr (St.)

Clementia, Martyr (St.)

Victuria, Martyr (St.)

Felicia, Martyr (St.)

Maxima, Martyr (St.)

Musta, Martyr (St.)

Marcus II, Martyr (St.)

Honoratus, Martyr (St.)

Laurentius, Martyr (St.)

Arburus, Martyr (St.)

Crispinus, Martyr (St.)

Tertius, Martyr (St.)

Quintulus, Martyr (St.)

Restitutus, Martyr (St.)

Revocatus, Martyr (St.)

Saturninus II, Martyr (St.)

Buttarus, Martyr (St.)

Baricus, Martyr (St.)

Paulus, Martyr (St.)

Optatus II, Martyr (St.)

Spinus, Martyr (St.)

Donatus II, Martyr (St.)

Manilus, Martyr (St.)

Petrus, Martyr (St.)

Proculus, Martyr (St.)

Donatus III, Martyr (St.)

Gemella, Martyr (St.)

Euantus, Martyr (St.)

Lazarus, Martyr (St.)

Venustus II, Martyr (St.)

Flavinus, Martyr (St.)

Rufinus, Martyr (St.)

Valerius, Martyr (St.)

Paulus II, Martyr (St.)

Crispinus II, Martyr (St.)

Felix, Martyr (St.)

Nabor, Martyr (St.)

Victorinus, Martyr (St.)

Donatula, Martyr (St.)

Tertius II, Martyr (St.)

Victor IV, Martyr (St.)

Acutina, Martyr (St.)

Tertia, Martyr (St.)

Mamerus, Martyr (St.)

Severianus, Martyr (St.)

Salustus, Martyr (St.)

G. H.

Behold a troop of seventy-nine Martyrs, collected from four ancient codices of the Hieronymian Martyrology: yet in the Blumian codex there was a gap after Saint Sirilla, the other Martyrs being omitted. Quartus, the standard-bearer of the rest (if indeed all suffered in the same place), is referred to in the manuscripts of Reichenau and Rheinau, attributed to Cappadocia: who in the ancient codex of Echternach was inserted in the preceding troop, and was attributed to Capua. Of the Capuan Martyrs we shall treat presently. The memory of the same Quartus is inserted in the Martyrology of Tallaght. For "Buttus" in the Blumian codex is read "Inittus," for Orbana and Puttus in the Echternach are read "Urbana" and "Buttus," who was previously missing: as also for "Buttarus" is read "Buttasus." Who at the end is placed, Mamerus, is only in the Corbie codex printed at Paris. In the Cassino codex these are read: "The birthday of the Holy Martyrs Severianus, Marcus, Felix, Crispinus, and Salustus." Of these Severianus and Salustus are added at the end: though three others are found here. I do not repeat here the names of each, since they can be read in the title placed above, and are also expressed above under the beginning of this day. Of Saint Lazarus, Martyr of Trieste, we have treated above on this day. Whether it be the same one who is celebrated among these Martyrs, who shall say? Among those Passed Over we have treated of Saints Crispulus and Restitutus, Martyrs who suffered in Spain under Nero, whom we think to be different from the Crispinus and Restitutus here referred to, to be referred with the Roman Martyrology on the 10th day of June.

On the Holy Martyrs

PRIMUS, CARUS, CYRILLUS, MACARIUS, HILARIUS OR ISTIALIS, VENUSTUS, LIKEWISE VENUSTUS, JULIA, FELIX, VERECUNDUS, AND 6 OTHERS.

Primus, Martyr (St.)

Carus, Martyr (St.)

Cyrillus, Martyr (St.)

Macarius, Martyr (St.)

Hilarius or Istialis, Martyr (St.)

Venustus, Martyr (St.)

Venustus II, Martyr (St.)

Julia, Martyr (St.)

Felix, Martyr (St.)

Verecundus, Martyr (St.)

Six Other Martyrs (SS.)

G. H.

This is the fourth class of Martyrs, indicated in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome: but with some diversity. In the first place are set Primus and Carus, in the Corbie and Blumian copies. In the Lucca, as one word, is held "Primocarus." In the Echternach codex they are named in inverted order, "Carus and Primus." In the Paris manuscript of Labbé also "Carus," but to him is joined "Isaac": hence with the words joined in the Augsburg manuscript of Saint Udalric it is written "Isacharus": but perhaps "Carpus and Isaac" should be read, of whom we are to treat on the following day. What follow, Cyrillus and Macarius, are everywhere held in the same way. Who in the Echternach and Corbie manuscripts is "Hilarius," in the Lucca is called "Istialis," in the Blumian "Stialius": Venustus is placed twice in three codices: in the Echternach only once; Julia is read uniformly everywhere, to whom in the Blumian alone was joined Felix. Verecundus is in three codices, but Verecunda in the Corbie copy; somewhere Veremundus is read, which pleases less, because Frankish or Lombard names we scarcely find applied to ancient Martyrs. Six companions are indicated in the Echternach and Blumian manuscripts, who in the Corbie are established as seven and in the Lucca as nine.

On the Holy Martyrs,

EOCAPUS, TERTULLA, ANTONIA, MUSTILA, MAGGINA, ACUTINA, DONATA.

Eocapus, Martyr (St.)

Tertula, Martyr (St.)

Antonia, Martyr (St.)

Mustilla, Martyr (St.)

Maggina, Martyr (St.)

Acutina, Martyr (St.)

Donata, Martyr (St.)

G. H.

This is the fifth class of Martyrs, noted in the same Martyrology of Saint Jerome. Of these Eocapus is found in three copies, is missing in the Echternach. But the remaining women are read in all four codices. For Mustila is also written "Mustula": but with greater variety, Maggina, Miggina, Migina, and "Maginus" is read: and for "Acutina" also "Agutina" is written. Of Tertulla and Antonia inquiry could be made whether they are the Virgins who suffered in Numidia in the persecution of Valerianus, to be referred to April 29: and thus light would shine on the rest concerning the place and time of the Martyrdom. But with this doubt proposed, we leave all things here as we found them, until greater clarity shall come from other ancient monuments.

On the Holy Martyrs,

EUPHEMIA, FELIX, MACARIUS, PRIMUS, AND NINE OTHERS.

Euphemia, Martyr (St.)

Felix, Martyr (St.)

Macarius, Martyr (St.)

Primus, Martyr (St.)

Nine Other Martyrs (SS.)

G. H.

This is the last class of Martyrs, found in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome cited up to now: and thus is expressed in the Echternach manuscript: "And elsewhere of Eufemia, likewise of Felix, Macharius, Primus, and eight others." Of these Felix is wanting in the other copies; the rest are held: and nine companions are assigned in the Corbie and Blumian manuscripts: eight in the Lucca. In the manuscript additions to Bede of the Barberini, these are read: "And elsewhere of Euphemia, Macharius, and nine others." In the Liège manuscript Ado of Saint Laurence and the manuscript Florarium, Macaria is held with Euphemia and nine companions. In the Prague manuscript, with the rest, Macarius is written, and eight companions are assigned. Euphemia is found on various days in the Martyrology of Saint Jerome, and on August 17 in the Corbie copy she is joined with Saint Macarius and attributed to Chalcedon; but this is perhaps that most celebrated Martyr, patroness of the city of Chalcedon, whose feast the Roman Martyrology indicates on September 16.