ON THE MANY MARTYRS WHO SUFFERED IN NUMIDIA UNDER DIOCLETIAN AND MAXIMIAN.
ABOUT THE YEAR 300.
CommentaryMartyrs in Numidia (SS.)
G. H.
[1] When, as Eusebius attests in book 8 of his Ecclesiastical History, chapter 3, it had been publicly decreed in all places by the Emperor's letters that the scriptures of the Christians should be consumed by fire, Those who refused to hand over the sacred Scriptures the Governors in the provinces and the Officials in each city, town, and village made it their business to ensure that the sacred books be delivered up for burning. Moreover those who, broken by fear or by punishments, handed them over, were called Traditores, especially in Africa. At the same time, however, very many were found who preferred to suffer death for Christ rather than to produce the sacred codices for burning. Some mention of these was made on the second of January, who preferred to give their bodies to the executioners rather than holy things to dogs. Others we celebrate on this day, who, having assembled to celebrate the Lord's Day, were apprehended and suffered put to death by martyrdom in Numidia under the Proconsul Anulinus at Carthage in the year of Christ 303. To these Baronius added these Numidian Martyrs, with the year approximately three hundred noted in the margin. Concerning whom these words are read in the tables of the Roman Martyrology: In Numidia, the commemoration of many holy Martyrs who, apprehended during the same persecution, when they refused to hand over the divine Scriptures according to the Emperor's edict, were tortured with the most severe punishments and put to death.
[2] Baronius testifies that St. Augustine manifestly points to these same Martyrs in the Proceedings with the Donatists, in the Abridgment of the Conference of the third day, chapter 13, when he says: indicated by St. Augustine They also read out the letters of Secundus, Bishop of Tigisis, and Primate of the Bishops of Numidia, peaceably addressed to Mensurius, Bishop of Carthage, where he also narrated what the persecutors did in Numidia. And those who, having been apprehended, refused to hand over the holy Scriptures, and suffered many evils, and were tortured with the most severe punishments and put to death: and he commended them to be honored according to the merit of their martyrdom. Thus St. Augustine, and from him Baronius for this day. We shall speak of Secundus and Mensurius in connection with the following Acts.