Roman Martyrs Bellus

23 January · commentary

ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS BELLUS, FLORUS, SATURNINUS, MINUTIUS, CASTULUS, AND BASILLA.

Commentary

Bellus, Martyr at Rome (S.) Florus, Martyr at Rome (S.) Saturninus, Martyr at Rome (S.) Minutius, Martyr at Rome (S.) Castulus, Martyr at Rome (S.) Basilla, Martyr at Rome (S.)

From various sources.

These are suggested to us by the ancient manuscript Martyrology of S. Jerome, in which the following is found: At Rome, on the old Salarian Way, Bellus, Florus, Saturninus, Minutius, Castulus, Basilla; and in another place, Cornelius the Exorcist. The Rhinau manuscript: At Rome, Bellus, Florus, Saturninus, Castulus. In the Irish manuscript of the Dungal convent, all is confused, as usually: Severianus, Cornelius, Saturnus, Castulus, Bellus, Minutius, Aquilia, Vetera, Basilla, Eugenius, Galatia, Macarius, Papias, Clematus, Exorcista, Castulus, Florius, Serdus, Nenon. One may recognize the negligence or ignorance of the ancient scribe, who, having torn "Exorcist" away from the name of Cornelius, reported it as a different Saint: and wishing to omit the names of places, perhaps for the sake of brevity, he supposed that "Vetera" and "Galatia" were names of Saints, when he had read "on the old Salarian Way" and after "Ancyra of Galatia." What "Serdus" means, we do not know. Of the rest we shall presently treat.

ON S. CORNELIUS THE EXORCIST.

Commentary

Cornelius the Exorcist (S.)

The Martyrologies already cited display this name. It is probable that he was a Martyr: whether at Rome is not established; for what is said in the Martyrology of S. Jerome, "and in another place," can be understood to mean that he was killed not on the old Salarian Way with the foregoing, but in another place of the City or its suburbs.

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