ON ST. NEMESIUS THE CONFESSOR.
From the Martyrology of Usuard.
CommentaryNemesius, Confessor, perhaps in Normandy (S.)
By the author J. B. S.
I cite this Martyrologist alone, because he alone among the classic ones made mention of the Saint, and from him all received [it] in whom, as also in the Roman, Nemesius is commemorated on this day, sufficiently distinguished by the very title from the other synonymous Martyrs. By name alone Nor was it possible to ascribe the position or place of the cult, since, after all diligence applied, my Parisian friends and others being also consulted, I have not yet been able to learn again that his festivity is today celebrated in any memory anywhere. In vain also would you ask whence Usuard received it. This is certain, that in his Martyrology it is announced on this day in these very words: In the district of Lisieux, of St. Nemesius the confessor. Wholly wonderful in expressing that place is the diversity of the codices, in which you will find Lesuino, Lisimio, Lisuyno, Lysynio, Lissuino, Liisyuno, Tisino, Bissuino, Siluino, etc. To say nothing now that even the name itself is not uniformly formed everywhere, some substituting for Nemesius Menesius or Menesi, so that here nearly all things are ambiguous. Nor does Castellanus bring any light, when in the margin of his universal Martyrology he notes that he was of old called in French S. Lemps or Lempsius: about the place nevertheless he has not deserved so ill.
[2] he is known in the Martyrologies. This one our Labbe, in his version of the Roman Martyrology, had interpreted in French, Aubourg de Lisum; but Willot: In a village near Lisieux: which is nearly to expound the obscure by the more obscure; for whether you call Lisuinum a village, or a district, a parish or a municipality, just as much is understood; unless that position be more clearly explained; which the praised Castellanus performed, and with him our Mother, by assigning "Au pays Lievin," which before them Augustine Lubin had taught a little more expressly in his geographical notes on the Roman Martyrology, page 62, where about both the place and the Saint you have whatever can here be related by us. He thus explains the district of Lisieux in few words and clearly: The district Lisuinus, the region which now they commonly call Le Lievin, about the city Lexovium, which was sometime called Lisoiensis, commonly Lisieux, and is episcopal under the archbishop of Rouen, in Upper Normandy, above the river Lezon. He goes on about the Saint in these words: August 1. Of St. Nemesius the confessor. About him Usuard on this day, yet no memory of St. Nemesius survives, neither in the Breviary of Lisieux, nor among the people of Lisieux today. Whoever shall have been able to teach more about this St. Nemesius will win from me singular favor.