ON SAINT GEMMULUS THE MARTYR, AT GANNA IN THE TERRITORY OF MILAN.
PrefaceGemmulus, Martyr, at Ganna in the territory of Milan (Saint)
By the author I. B.
Saint Gemmulus is venerated at Ganna. Varese is a town of the territory of Milan, which Leander Albertus calls Varescium, and which is said by others to be called Vicum Varronis, by some Varsisium, also Vallesium as if from the situation of the valleys, and Varisium. Near it lies the village called Ganna, celebrated for the cult of Saint Gemmulus the Martyr. Philippus Ferrarius records his feast on this day in the General Catalogue of the Saints as follows: February 4 "In the territory of Milan, of Saint Gemmulus the Martyr." In his Annotations he testifies that he is also called Hyemulus. In the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy he writes that whenever the inhabitants suffer from want of rain, he is invoked for rain they are accustomed to obtain it through the intercession of Saint Gemmulus; in what age he lived is unknown. His martyrdom he narrates from a certain manuscript of the Church of Ganna as follows.
LIFE FROM FERRARIUS.
Gemmulus, Martyr, at Ganna in the territory of Milan (Saint)
Gemmulus, a German by birth, while traveling from Germany to Rome with the Bishop whose nephew he was, to visit the thresholds of the holy Apostles, killed by robbers whom he admonished was impiously struck down near Ganna (a village of the territory of Milan, close to the town of Varese) by robbers who had seized the Bishop's horse and whom he gently exhorted to make restitution -- since, when asked by them whether he would willingly undergo martyrdom for Christ, eager for martyrdom; he lifts his head and places it upon his neck he had replied that nothing more desirable could befall him. And he -- wondrous to relate! -- took up his head and, having set it upon his neck, made his way all the way to the Bishop, by whom he was buried. This too is worthy of admiration: that the stones of that fountain into which the Martyr's blood flowed, Stones in the fountain are red from the blood whether naturally formed there or cast in, are red to this very day, as though stained with blood; and it is reported that Saint Charles Borromeo, when visiting the diocese, removed several of them out of devotion.