CONCERNING THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS LUCIUS, HONORATUS, MATROSUS, DATIUS, JULIAN, CAELIANUS, SATURUS, VINCENTIA, VICTORIA, AND ANOTHER XXXII.
CommentaryLucius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Honoratus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Matrosus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Datius, Martyr in Africa (S.) Julian, Martyr in Africa (S.) Caelianus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Saturus, Martyr in Africa (S.) Vincentia, Martyr in Africa (S.) Victoria, Martyr in Africa (S.) Another XXXII Martyrs in Africa
From various sources.
[1] Here there is somewhat greater difficulty and danger that the same persons may be enrolled a second time in the rolls of the Martyrs. For above, on 21 January, Caelianus, Datius, Saturus, Vincentia, Lucius, and Honoratus were recorded; and on the 19th, Honoratus and Lucius; and on the 26th, Julian, Vincentia, Saturus, and Victorina. But the companions joined to them are different in each place. These Saints have namesakes elsewhere. But you, Reader, attend to the register and judge. It was a matter of religious scruple for us to expunge anyone here, since they are found in many Martyrologies: we shall give the words of each. We note in the meantime that there is no reason here to fear the crime--whether it ought to be called betrayal of the public welfare, or peculation, or by whatever other name--that is very frequently committed in the mustering of soldiers, when the same men are repeatedly enrolled under one name and then another, serving the honor or the avarice of their commanders. If you bestow a double gift of honor and reverence upon the same person, you will find even greater favor with the supreme Emperor. But since it is especially fitting that fraud be absent from sacred things, hear what the Martyrologies say about these.
[2] The memory of these in the Martyrologies. The MS. of S. Jerome: "And elsewhere, of Lucius, Honoratus, Matrosus, Datius, Julian, Caelianus, Saturus, Vincentia, Victoria, and another XXXII." The same were recorded above from the Dungalense codex. The Vulgate Bede, Galesinius, Canisius in his second edition: "And of SS. Dotus, Julian, Vincentius, and another XXVII." But the Bavarian manuscript copy of Bede, Rabanus, and the MS. of S. Maximinus: "And of SS. Datius, Julian, Vincentia, and another XXXII." The Roman Martyrology: "Likewise of SS. Dativus, Julian, Vincentius, and another XXVII Martyrs." Baronius cites ancient copies of Bede. The Carthusians of Cologne in their additions to Usuard: "On the same day, of Aemilianus, Publius, Artemius, Armata, Julian, Caelianus, Saturus." We treated of Aemilianus on the 26th. We conjectured above that Publius is the same as the one called Publia or Publianus in the MS. of S. Jerome. Armata, called by others Armatus, is unknown to us; as is Artemius--unless he is Artemas, of whom we treated on 25 January. The Cologne Martyrology: "On the same day, of S. Julian, Martyr."
[3] The date perhaps incorrectly expressed. The MS. Florarium also wished to indicate the date, although it treats only of Julian; but because it joins him with S. Dionysius of Alexandria, it seems to have understood here the Julian who was crowned at Alexandria with Eunus on 27 February. It thus writes: "On the same day, the natalis of SS. Dionysius, Bishop of Alexandria and Martyr, and Julian, soldier and Martyr, in the year of salvation 267."
[4] Otherwise, the place in which the glorious athletes contended, none of the cited authors has expressed. Blessed Notker expressed it: "In Africa," he says, place of martyrdom "the natalis of S. Julian, Vincentia, and another XXXII." And indeed we do not see why this holy writer should not be followed with greater security than the compiler of the Spanish Chronicle, whom more recent writers consider to be Dexter. He writes at the year of Christ 95 thus: "At Aquae Quintianae in Gallaecia in Spain, the holy Martyrs of Christ Julian, Dativus, Vincentius, and another XXVII companions." Bivarius discusses Aquae Quintianae; but he produces no argument by which to claim these Martyrs for that place.