Sicilian Martyrs

8 July · commentary

ON THE HOLY SICILIAN MARTYRS

PRAMANUS, SEVERUS, CORNILIANUS, AND SIXTY OTHERS.

From the Hieronymian Martyrologies.

Commentary

Pramanus, Martyr in Sicily (S.)

Severus, Martyr in Sicily (S.)

Cornilianus, Martyr in Sicily (S.)

Sixty other Martyrs in Sicily

J. B. S.

Here I contract two Hieronymian announcements into one, since both look to the same region, and of both few things are to be said. All the greater codices read them separately. In Sicily, of Pramanus or Pramiatus: then indeed: At Taormina, of Severus or Seperus, of Cornilianus and forty or sixty others. In the number of the Anonymous, says Florentinius, there is discrepancy, in that the Most Ancient enumerates only forty, while others extend to sixty, by a manifest advance or transposition of the numeral mark for ten. In which codices the error lies, you would not easily say; that I preferred the latter number, Notker caused, who long ago in some Hieronymian found sixty anonymous companions. It did not seem worthwhile to separate the people of Taormina from Pramanus; certainly in the title we have truly noted that all those Martyrs are Sicilians. Cajetanus, who had not seen the Hieronymian Martyrologies, from Notker adduced only the people of Taormina, no notice of them being found elsewhere. What Florentinius conjectures concerning Pramanus being transformed into Pancratius, it would be superfluous to relate here; to each Saint belongs a proper and distinct birthday.

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