Faustinus and 44 Companion Martyrs

ON ST. FAUSTINUS AND 44 COMPANION MARTYRS.

Faustinus, 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.

Januarius, 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.