Jocundianus

ON ST. JOCUNDIANUS, MARTYR IN AFRICA.

From the Hieronymian Martyrologies, etc.

Jocundianus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

J. B. S.

What could be gathered concerning this holy Martyr from the ancient Martyrologies has been almost wholly said in our observation on Usuard. It is certain that he is recorded in the most ancient Epternach codex: "in Africa, the feast of Jocundianus." In the Lucca codices the place of his passion is lacking; the Corbie codices added the place of martyrdom: "In Africa, the feast of Jocundianus, cast into the deep, and a martyr." There is some confusion in the abbreviated Hieronymian codices, especially the Rheinau one, where it is read: "In Africa, the feast of Jocundianus, Serenus, and Theodorus." Concerning Serenus, put in place of "Sirmium," we shall speak presently; whence the name of Theodorus crept in, I do not yet understand, unless the drowsiness of a copyist transformed it out of Sabbatia. The Augsburg and Labbe codices labor under another fault, when they join together, "the feast of Jocundianus, Innocentius"; for this latter belongs to another class. The codex of the Queen of Sweden corrupted the name: "In Africa, the birthday of the holy Martyr Succidianus." We have elsewhere noted the change in the Little Roman: Ado, Usuard, with all his progeny, keep the phrase of the Corbie codex, as does the Roman Martyrology, except that for "into the deep" they read "sunk into the sea"; nor did Peter de Natalibus find anything else concerning that holy Martyr, nor did the more recent martyrologists, whom it would profit nothing here to call by name and in order, or to heap together their variously altered and expanded texts from here and there.