ON THE HOLY NINE HUNDRED MARTYRS,
From the Hieronymian Martyrologies.
CommentaryThe Nine Hundred Martyrs (SS.)
J. P.
This numerous band of martyrs is read in various ancient sacred calendars, but not in the same manner or on the same day. For in vol. 4 of D'Achery's Spicilegium, in which is extant the Martyrology headed with the name of St. Jerome, which is there called the most ancient, this is found on the XXX day of August, after the announcement of St. John the Baptist: And elsewhere, the birthday of the holy nine hundred martyrs, who suffered on the same day. In the Martyrology which Florentinius published under the name of the same Saint, on the XXIX day of this month, their birthday is joined with the birthday of St. John the Baptist: for after him is written this: In the province of Palestine, in the city of Sebaste, the birthday of St. John the Baptist, and of others the birthday of the holy 900 martyrs who suffered on the same day. Florentinius in his notes says: Thus the holy nine hundred martyrs are joined with the festival of St. John the Baptist, so that they seem to be ascribed not only to the same day but even to the same place. So great a throng of the heavenly ones the Corbie Martyrology here passes over in silence, since it recounts them on the following day. Yet the most ancient Martyrology did not pass them over, and indeed coupled them with the passion of St. John the Baptist; it did not, however, mark the place, which the Corbie Martyrology notes as uncertain, ELSEWHERE, on the following day. The rest of the published Martyrologies pass them over. Thus he; to which may be added what was said in the Observations on our Usuard on this day; on which Greven — to add him here to the more ancient — subjoins thus to St. Candida the virgin, of whom we treat today: Likewise the holy nine hundred martyrs, who suffered on the same day. In the text of Florentinius perhaps it ought to be read et alibi for et aliorum, since that Martyrology is very faulty, and thus it would be more conformable to the other Martyrologies just cited.