ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS DONATUS, JUSTUS, IRENAEUS (OR HIRENA), PISINION (OR PISION), AURULIUS, RUTULUS, PRIMASIUS, INGENULA (OR INGENUA), AND FORTY-FIVE OTHERS.
Historical Collection.
Donatus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Justus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Irenaeus, or Hirena, Martyr in Africa (St.) Pisinion, or Pision, Martyr in Africa (St.) Aurulius, Martyr in Africa (St.) Rutulus, Martyr in Africa (St.) Primasius, Martyr in Africa (St.) Ingenula, or Ingenua, Martyr in Africa (St.) Forty-five others, Martyrs in Africa
G. H.
[1] The Martyrs whom we here report under the two following headings are distinguished into two groups in the ancient and never sufficiently praised manuscript Roman Martyrology, which some believe to have been composed by St. Jerome. Memory of the Martyrs in various Martyrologies It begins this day with these words: "On the fifth day before the Kalends of March. In Africa, the birthday of Donatus, Justus, Irenaeus, Pisinion, Aurulius, Rutulus, Primasius, Ingenula, and forty-five others." The first two are also inscribed in the ancient Martyrologies of Laetia and of St. Martin of Tournai: "In Africa, the birthday of Saints Donatus and Justus." In the manuscripts of St. Mary of Utrecht and of St. Martin of Trier, the number of Martyrs is added: "In Africa, of Donatus and Justus, Martyrs, and of fifty-one others." The same is read in the supplement of Greven to Usuard. But the manuscript of Centula, or of St. Riquier, joins Ingenia, who above is called Ingenula, and reduces the number: "In Africa, of Saints Donatus, Justus, Ingenia, and fifty others." Otherwise, the number has so far agreed in all. The manuscript of Aachen lists these four, omitting the number of the unnamed: "In Africa, the birthday of Saints Donatus, Justus, Herinaeus, and Pisio." To others, Ingenua is added at the end -- who is either the Ingenula listed here, or rather Ingona belonging to the second group. The manuscript Martyrology of St. Cyriacus: "In Africa, of Donatus, Justus, Ereneus, Ingenua, and forty-five others." So reads our copy received from Rome. But Baronius annotates at this February 25 that in the old Martyrology of the monastery of St. Cyriacus, besides those already listed, another forty-four are added. Ingenua is omitted in the Roman Martyrology, in which the following is read: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Donatus, Justus, Herena, and their companions."
[2] He is also called Herena in the printed copy and the handwritten copy of Bede from the monastery of Richenberg. to whom others are incorrectly joined But other companions, who do not belong here, are joined, in these words: "In Africa, the birthday of Saints Donatus, Justus, Rotulus, Herena, Pisio" -- who do belong here -- "then of Pamphilus," but one should read "In Pamphylia, of Nestor; and of Casta" -- the latter should be added to the following group. St. Nestor should be referred to February 25. Canisius in the German Martyrology, omitting Rotulus and Pamphilus, lists the rest and adds that there were fifty other companions, who all, having constantly professed the faith of Christ with great patience, attained eternal joys through various tribulations and torments. Rabanus: "In Africa, the birthday of Saints Donatus, Justus, Rotulus, Herenaeus, Pisio, Pamphilus (for which should be read: In Pamphylia), the birthday of Nestor and Casta." Notker clearly distinguishes along with others: "In Africa, of Saints Donatus, Justus, Rutulus, Irenaeus, Pisio. Then in Pamphylia, of Nestor and Casta." In the Reichenau manuscript, those who belong here are divided into two classes: "In Africa, of Justus, Herenaeus, and forty-five. Of Donatus, Piscinion, Aurilius, Rutulus, and ten others." These other ten should perhaps be referred to the following class, and it should be read thus: "In Africa, of Justus, Herenaeus, Donatus, Piscinion, Aurilius, Rutulus, and forty-five. And elsewhere, ten" -- who are however eleven, but the second Fortunatus is perhaps omitted. In the Paris manuscript of our Philippe Labbe, one reads: "The fifth before the Kalends of March: of Donatus, Ingenua, and forty-five others."
[3] Behold the memory of these Martyrs drawn from ancient Martyrologies. names variously expressed Donatus and Justus are expressed in the same way in all. He who is Irenaeus is elsewhere written as Herenaeus, Herinaeus, Erenaeus, and Herena. Pisinion is also Pisio; Ingenola, Ingenua, and Ingenia; Rutulus and Rotulus; Aurulius and Aurilius. Primasius is added only in the Martyrology of St. Jerome.
[4] Baronius in his Notes at this February 25 says: "These seem to be those whom Lucian mentions in letter 22 in Cyprian, and among others names Donatus and Herena, although Pamelius in the Annotations on the same letter, Does Lucian in St. Cyprian treat of these Martyrs? on the authority of a certain other manuscript of the library of the Guillemites of Bruges, affirms that they suffered on different days. We, however, defer more to the Roman." The words of Lucian in the cited letter 22 are these: "Greet Numeria and Candida, who, according to the precept of Paul and the other Martyrs, whose names I subjoin: Bassus in the perjury-chamber, Mappalicus under interrogation, Fortunion in prison, Paul after interrogation, Fortuna, Victorinus, Victor, Herenaeus, Credula, Herena, Donatus, Firmus, Ventus, Fructus, Julia, Martial, and Ariston, who by God's will were killed by hunger in prison." Thus Lucian. Behold the names of Donatus and Herena reported by Baronius. But why does he omit Herenaeus, named in the same letter? Concerning the others mentioned by Lucian, we treated on February 11 and 22, and shall treat again on April 17. Nor, however, did Lucian express all the names, because this was not necessary for his purpose. Moreover, the St. Aurulius or Aurilius reported above is perhaps the Aurelius whom St. Cyprian mentions in letter 23 in these words: "In the name also of the youth Aurelius, who had endured torments, many certificates were given, written by the hand of the same Lucian, because the former did not know his letters."
[5] Baronius in his Annals assigned this part of Lucian's letter cited by us to the year 253, which he reckons as the first year of Decius. At what time did they suffer? But we have already often noted that Decius reigned only thirty months, from the year 249 to the year 252.