ON ST. JUSTINIANUS, CONFESSOR
AT LIMOGES IN GAUL.
From the Breviary of the place and the Martyrologies.
CommentaryJustinianus, Confessor, at Limoges in Gaul (S.)
I. B. S.
Andrew Saussay in his great Gallican Martyrology, toward the end of the little list, records on this day in this manner: On the same day, at Limoges, the deposition of St. Julianus the confessor, illustrious for the glory of his sanctity more than for any special review of his Acts. He is known by cult alone, Who suggested this Julianus of Limoges to Saussay, I seek in vain thus far: he himself seems afterward to have better understood the matter, when in the Supplement (no mention or retraction of the former announcement being made) he thus wrote for this same day page 1146: At Limoges, of St. Justinianus the confessor, illustrious for the works of faith and the offices of charity. Certainly the names of Julianus and Justinianus differ, nor do both suit the men of Limoges on this day; nor is it sufficiently established that Saussay could have had a much more distinct notice of the latter than of the former: nor indeed could Bernard Gui supply it in his work On the Saints who adorn the diocese of Limoges, published by Labbe, tome 1 of the Manuscript Library from page 629, inasmuch as in it neither Julianus is named, nor Justinianus, so that at first sight I could not perceive whence Saussay produced him, being not wont to cite any warrantors of his statements. The latter text Castellanus followed, but neither did he himself contribute anything to illustrating the matter.
[2] also under the name of Julianus. From all these things it was easy to conjecture that this Saint, whether Julianus or Justinianus, is known by name alone. Justinianus, Ferrarius also marked in these words: At Limoges, of St. Justinianus the confessor; assigning as source the Calendar of the church of Limoges, and adding that he had read nothing else in it. Which indeed is no wonder, for while I turn and turn again the Breviary of that church, edited in the year 1625, as accurately as I can, in its Calendar at this day I find only the name of Justinianus proposed: but in the very order of the Breviary these very few things only are read: On the day XVI July. Of St. Justinianus the confessor. Prayer. Be present, O Lord, from the common of a confessor not a pontiff. Lesson III. The just man, if he be overtaken by death. And hence it follows plainly enough that the men of Limoges themselves are ignorant who, of what sort, or of what country this Saint was: in what century he lived, by what virtues in life, or by what miracles after death he was famous: so that the whole matter is at last reduced to this, that he was long ago and constantly venerated there as a Saint proper to that church.