Julianus

ON ST. JULIAN, MARTYR

Julian, Martyr (St.)

[1] St. Julian the Martyr is celebrated on January 7 in various Martyrologies, namely the Roman, those of Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinius, and Molanus's Additions to Usuard, etc. The place and time of his martyrdom are not recorded.

[2] L. Magnus Julian, Martyr of Toledo. In the Chronicle published under the name of Flavius Dexter, at the year 91, the following is found at number 7: "St. Julian, a citizen of Toledo, suffered at Toledo on the 7th day of January. He was a Bishop." On which Franciscus Bivarius comments as follows: "It was unknown until now who this Julian was, and he eluded Baronius; but now by Dexter's Chronicle many things are made manifest which without it were unknown." And at the year 86, number 6, the same Chronicle states: "St. Julian, a disciple of St. Peter, dear to Martial, is transferred to Vicus." Bivarius interprets this as meaning that in that year he was banished from Rome to Spain by the command of the Emperor Domitian. And indeed there were certain places among the Spaniards upon which the name Vicus was bestowed. Bivarius adds that before St. Eugenius (of whom we shall treat on November 15) he preached the Gospel to his fellow citizens of Toledo, and was called Bishop of Toledo and of all Carpetania. To prove that he was dear to Martial, he recites several epigrams written to L. Julius — which (to confess what I think) is a slight conjecture. Certainly that Eugenius was the first Apostle of the Toledans, Franciscus Pisa in his description of Toledo, and other authors, have handed down. Again concerning Julian, Dexter's Chronicle at the year 94, number 4: "L. Magnus Julian, citizen of Toledo and Martyr, is held in esteem." Which Bivarius takes to refer to the honors paid to him after death and the miracles wrought. But these matters we leave to the Toledans to examine more carefully.

[3] St. Julian, Martyr of Cagliari. Seraphinus Esquirrus, in Part 1, Book 2, Chapter 26 of his Sanctuarium Calaritanum, testifies that on July 22, 1615, the relics of St. Julian the Martyr were found at Cagliari in Sardinia: namely the bones of the entire body, fittingly arranged each in its proper place and as it were connected, and these were large; the head was intact, wounded by three blows, the back of the skull still bloody. In the same tomb a stone was found placed next to the head, smeared with blood, from which it could be conjectured that he had been killed by stones. A twofold inscription had previously been found, which testified that these were the remains of St. Julian. The first, with some letters corrupted by moisture or torn away during the excavation, read thus:

..... HERE LIES BLESSED MARTYR JULIAN ..... WHO LIVED YEARS ..... 90. HE RESTED ..... FROM THE BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN

Seraphinus expounds this inscription as follows: "Here lies the blessed Martyr Julian, who lived approximately 90 years, rested in peace in the year from the Virgin's birth......" The other inscription reads thus:

☩ B[LESSED] M[ARTYR] JULIAN WHO LIVED

YEARS APPROXIMATELY 100. HE RESTED

IN PEACE UNDER THE D[AY]

10TH OF THE KALENDS OF MARCH

The discrepancy in age perhaps arose from the omission of the letter X before C.

[4] Venerated on January 7. And although he is said to have been killed on February 20, Seraphinus nevertheless reports that he is venerated on January 7 with the greatest solemnity, with an immense concourse of people to his church, which is three miles distant from Cagliari. He adds that he was illustrious in birth and dignity, that he is customarily depicted in equestrian form, and is commonly called by the Sardinians "Sanctu Julianu Conti," as though he had been a Count. To the same effect, a half gold ring was found in his sepulchre, together with golden threads.

[5] Philippus Ferrarius records him on January 2 in these words: "At Cagliari in Sardinia, St. Julian the Count and Martyr," and reports in his Notes that he is held in great veneration throughout the entire island, and that many churches are dedicated to his name, but that the time of his martyrdom is unknown. Why, however, one who is said to have been crowned with martyrdom on February 20 is venerated by the Sardinians on January 7, is hidden from us. Franciscus de Esquivel, Archbishop of Cagliari, in his report on the relics found, sent to Paul V, relates the same concerning the veneration of St. Julian and the churches sacred to him, and says that in the villages around Cagliari, when the Confiteor is recited at the beginning of Mass, most people are accustomed to add, even before this discovery, "and to St. Julian the Count."

[6] I confess that these things seem somewhat more probable than what is said in Dexter's Chronicle. If, however, that Julian was at Toledo, we wish nothing to be derogated from his honor. Therefore we shall treat again of St. Julian of Cagliari on February 20, especially if in the meantime we obtain more certain documents.

ON ST. JULIAN, MARTYR IN GAUL

Julian, Martyr among the Angevins in Gaul (St.)

We have treated above of St. Julian the Sardinian Martyr. Andreas Saussay records another on this very day in his Gallican Martyrology, in these words: "In the territory of Anjou, the birthday of St. Julian the Martyr, whose body rests with fitting honor in the monastery or Priory of St. John on the Loire." I have found nothing else about him elsewhere. Whether it is this one or the Sardinian who is celebrated in the Roman Martyrology, I do not determine; that this one is different from the Sardinian is certain, since the body exists in both places.