ON ST. FAUSTINUS AND 44 COMPANION MARTYRS.
CommentaryFaustinus, Martyr (St.) 44 Companion Martyrs
By the author G. H.
[1] The manuscript Martyrology of the monastery of St. Cyriacus, which is preserved at Rome among the manuscript codices of Cardinal Baronius in the library of the Fathers of the Oratory, a copy of which we have obtained through their kindness, through the intercession of Cardinal Pietro Luigi Carafa, indicated these Martyrs. In it, after the martyrdom of St. Polychronius is related, the following is added: The names of St. Faustinus and companions in the Martyrologies On the same day, the birthday of St. Faustinus the Martyr, and of 44 others, whose names God knows. Baronius inscribed the same in the Roman Martyrology, saying they were restored from the same most ancient exemplar, which we have mentioned often before. He conjectured, moreover, that they suffered at Rome, which is not entirely expressly asserted in that manuscript. For it reads thus: At Rome, the passion of St. Faustinus, whom 44 others followed to the crown. Ferrarius reports the same from the Roman Martyrology in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, adding that before its correction there had been no memory of these.
[2] Some relics of St. Faustinus the Martyr, deposited at Bologna in the church of St. Francis, are reported to be preserved by Masinus for February 17, relics as if they were those of this St. Faustinus. But the body of St. Faustinus is testified by the previously mentioned Ferrarius to rest at Montefiascone. Montefiascone, called by others Mons Flasconus, is a city of Etruria or rather a fortified citadel, to which Urban V granted an episcopal see in the year 1369, situated above Lake Bolsena on the Via Cassia. Consult Ughellus in volume 1 of Italia Sacra, who learnedly discusses that See. Whether, however, the body of that St. Faustinus who is treated in the Roman Martyrology rests there, or whether some relics are preserved at Bologna, is not clear, since no records of received relics are produced.
[3] Some scruple also adheres as to whether perhaps in the manuscript of St. Cyriacus these companions have been joined from different classes. With SS. Januarius, Do these Saints belong to other classes? Felicianus, and other Martyrs, of whom we shall treat presently, St. Faustinia is venerated, from which "the birthday of St. Faustinus" could easily have been formed by error: thus what in the said manuscript of St. Jerome is called Marcella, in the manuscript of Liessies is Marcellus. From the same class of Martyrs, SS. Januarius and Mareus in the Aachen manuscript are joined to SS. Donatus, Secundianus, and others who suffered at Concordia: to which, as related in Notker, the following is added: and of 84 others, whose names God knows, for which in the said manuscript of St. Cyriacus the following is read: and of 44 others, whose names God knows. In the manuscript of St. Jerome they are reported with 34 others; in the manuscript of St. Lambert's at Liege, with 96 others. Let the reader consult what we said about SS. Alexander, Ammonius, and 20 other Martyrs of Cyprus on February 9, no. 5, where we corrected a similar error in the manuscript of St. Cyriacus.
ON THE HOLY MARTYRS JANUARIUS, FELICIANUS, DONATUS, CASTUS, LIKEWISE DONATUS, VICTOR, AGAPA, DONATA, CODENIS, DATIVUS, FORTUNIO, MARCELLA, QUINTIANUS, JULIA, LIKEWISE JANUARIUS, CASCENTUS, CELESTINUS, SATURNINUS, CYPTON, FELICITAS, DONATIANUS, VICTURIA, AEMILIA, BASSILLA, SATURUS, EBASUS, SECUNDUS, FELIX, OCTAVIANUS, FAUSTINIA, ALBINA, VENUSTINA, ROGATIANUS, VICTOR, MAREUS, CETULA, RUTILUS, SILVANUS, COVILIUS.
CommentaryJanuarius, Martyr (St.) Felicianus, Martyr (St.) Donatus, Martyr (St.) Castus, Martyr (St.) Donatus the other, Martyr (St.) Victor, Martyr (St.) Agapa, Martyr (St.) Donata, Martyr (St.) Codenis, Martyr (St.) Dativus, Martyr (St.) Fortunio, Martyr (St.) Marcella, Martyr (St.) Quintianus, Martyr (St.) Julia, Martyr (St.) Januarius the other, Martyr (St.) Cascentus, Martyr (St.) Celestinus, Martyr (St.) Saturninus, Martyr (St.) Cypton, Martyr (St.) Felicitas, Martyr (St.) Donatianus, Martyr (St.) Victuria, Martyr (St.) Aemilia, Martyr (St.) Bassilla, Martyr (St.) Saturus, Martyr (St.) Ebasus, Martyr (St.) Secundus, Martyr (St.) Felix, Martyr (St.) Octavianus, Martyr (St.) Faustinia, Martyr (St.) Albina, Martyr (St.) Venustina, Martyr (St.) Rogatianus, Martyr (St.) Victor the other, Martyr (St.) Mareus, Martyr (St.) Cetula, Martyr (St.) Rutilus, Martyr (St.) Silvanus the other, Martyr (St.) Covilius, Martyr (St.)
G. H.
[1] This is an illustrious crown of thirty-nine Martyrs: some traces of them exist in various Martyrologies. The ancient manuscript of the monastery of Liessies in Hainaut commemorates Donatus, Secundianus, Castus, and Marcellus. But in place of the last, Marcella appears in others: and Donatus together with Secundianus was listed above with the Martyrs of Concordia. The Victor who is reported in the Martyrology of Aachen on February 16 as having suffered at Rome we have moved back to this day, on which both Victor, already listed, and Romulus -- if that is perhaps the correct reading -- previously joined to the Martyrs of Concordia, are venerated. In the same Martyrology, Januarius and Mareus are commemorated for this February 17. Januarius is also the standard-bearer of other Martyrs in the very ancient manuscript Martyrology of St. Maximin's: concerning whom Notker writes thus: Elsewhere, of Januarius and very many others, whose names the ancient Roman Martyrology, or that of St. Jerome, has thus expressed: And elsewhere, of Januarius, Felicianus, Donatus, Castus, likewise Donatus, Victor, Agape, Donata, Codenis, Dativus, Fortunio, Marcella, Quintianus, Julia. Likewise Januarius, Cascentus, Celestinus, Saturninus, Cypton, Felicitas, Donatianus, Victuria, Aemilia, Bassilla, Saturus, Ebasus, Secundus, Felix, Octavianus, Faustinia, Albina, Venustina, Rogatiana, Victor, Mareus, Cetula, Rutulus, Silvanus, Covilius. So it reads there. Whether Faustinia in the manuscript of St. Cyriacus is called Faustinus, we inquired above. The remaining details, which pertain to the place, time, and manner of martyrdom, are as yet hidden.
ON SS. THEODULUS AND JULIAN, MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN PALESTINE
The year of Christ 308.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Theodulus, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (St.) Julian, Martyr at Caesarea in Palestine (St.)
By the author G. H.
[1] This is a part of the illustrious crown of twelve Martyrs who suffered at Caesarea in Palestine and are venerated on various days. The first of these is St. Pamphilus the Priest, to whom and to SS. Valens the Deacon and Paul the Kalends of June are sacred. Another seven are SS. Elias, Jeremiah, Isaiah, Samuel, and Daniel the Egyptians, Porphyrius the servant of St. Pamphilus, SS. Theodulus and Julian, companions of the 12 Martyrs, venerated on February 17 and St. Seleucus the Cappadocian, concerning whom we treated on February 16. But the only ones who remain, SS. Theodulus and Julian, are ascribed to February 17, and indeed with this eulogy in the Calendar of the Roman Martyrology: At Caesarea in Palestine, of St. Theodulus, an elderly man, who, being of the household of the Governor Firmilian, was moved by the example of the Martyrs, and when he steadfastly confessed Christ, he was affixed to the cross and merited the palm of martyrdom by a noble triumph. Likewise there, of St. Julian the Cappadocian, who, kissing the bodies of the slain Martyrs, was reported as a Christian and led before the Governor, and was ordered to be burned by a slow fire.
[2] Galesininus reports the same with the other Martyrs both on June 1 and February 16. by others on June 1 and February 16 On the latter day they are also reported by the Greeks in the Great Menaea and Anthologion, and by Cytheraeus in his Lives of the Saints. We gave an epitome from there on February 16: on which day Lipomanus published their Acts, which were reprinted by Surius for the Kalends of June. Those Acts are transcribed from Eusebius, The Acts are found in Eusebius and Metaphrastes. as we then noted, and we gave excerpts pertaining to the seven Martyrs who are venerated on that day: the complete Acts from the Greek manuscript to be given on the Kalends of June. What pertains to these two Martyrs, Eusebius thus narrates in book 8, chapter 21, after relating the death of St. Seleucus:
[3] In the footsteps of Seleucus followed Theodulus, a venerable and pious old man, St. Theodulus, an old man from the Governor's household one of the household of the Governor Firmilian, and honored by him above all his domestics, partly on account of his advanced age (for he was the father of a third generation, that is, a great-grandfather), and partly on account of the goodwill and most faithful spirit which he had maintained toward him. When he had acted in the same way as Seleucus, he was brought before his master Firmilian: and because he provoked him to greater anger than the others, affixed to the cross he was handed over to the cross of the saving Passion and endured martyrdom. So Eusebius concerning him. But Metaphrastes adds that, just as Seleucus had done before, he had greeted some Martyrs with a kiss. Gentianus, in place of "father of a third generation," translates that he was the father of three children. In Greek he is called "trigonias pater," and by Eusebius "trigeneias pater." Concerning St. Julian, the same Eusebius narrates the following:
[4] When after these there still remained one who would complete the number of twelve among the said Martyrs, St. Julian Julian appeared to fulfill it. He, having already arrived from abroad and not yet having entered the place, suddenly, just as he was from his journey, having heard of the slaughter, betook himself to that spectacle of the Martyrs, and when he saw the bodies of the Saints lying on the ground, filled with joy, he embraced and greeted each one individually. While he was doing this, the lictors and ministers of the execution immediately seized him and brought him before Firmilian. wondrously joyful, burned by fire The latter, acting in accordance with his custom, delivered him to a slow fire. Thus Julian, exulting with joy and giving thanks in a loud voice to God who had deemed him worthy of such great blessings, was gifted with the crown of the Martyrs. He was of Cappadocian descent according to the flesh, but in his character most holy, most faithful, and most noble; and as he was distinguished in other respects, so also was he imbued with the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit himself. Such was the company of those who through the grace of God were admitted into the fellowship of martyrdom with Blessed Pamphilus.
[5] The following is common to these two along with the other Martyrs. The sacred and truly holy bodies of those men, he says, by the command of the impious Governor, were kept in the open for four days and as many nights The bodies are not touched by beasts so that they might be devoured by carnivorous beasts. But when, as if by a miracle, no beast, no bird, no dog came near them, they were again, through the dispensation of Divine Providence, taken away whole and unharmed; and having received their funeral rites, they are buried they were honorably committed to customary burial...
[6] Moreover, it is worthwhile to record in this place in what manner at length, and not long afterward, the heavenly and Divine Providence avenged those impious magistrates together with the tyrants themselves. For Firmilian, Firmilian is punished along with his own who had so wantonly and contemptuously raged against the Martyrs of Christ, together with other participants in the same crime, suffering the ultimate punishments, met the end of his life by the sword.