ON ST. GENEROSUS, MARTYR,
AT TIBUR IN LATIUM.
From the Roman Martyrology.
CommentaryGenerosus, Martyr, at Tibur in Latium (S.)
J. B. S.
The illustrious Martyr St. Generosa is deservedly most celebrated on this day among the Scillitan champions of Africa, praised by the unanimous consent of both the ancient and the more recent Martyrologies; but this St. Generosus, illustrious among the Tiburtines alone, is venerated at Tibur, it has nowhere else been possible to find, so that it must altogether be confessed that he was inscribed in the Roman Fasti by Baronius alone: not in the first edition which Plantin published in the year 1586, but in the later ones reprinted in the year 1608, and the larger one, to which the Annotations were added, in the year 1613, from those things which he himself, before the year 1607, in which he ceased to live, had caused to be printed. That he observed this, Castellani not obscurely intimates, when he enclosed the announcement of that Saint, in the very text of the Roman, in brackets of this kind: At Tibur, of St. Generosus the martyr. In vain I tried to find older tables in which the name of St. Generosus might be marked; nor indeed did the praised Baronius employ or allege any others, except those which the Tiburtines had suggested, thus observing in a few words in his Notations: "Concerning him, the tables and old monuments of the church of Tibur, which we have received. That his venerable body is kept under the high altar of the church of St. Lawrence, we have learned from the same."
[2] Following Baronius, Ferrari in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy on this day, in words a little more numerous, known by name alone. but signifying just as much, made mention of St. Generosus: "Generosus, crowned with martyrdom at Tibur among the Sabines, is there held in honor, although of what country he was, or at what time he suffered, is held unascertained. His body is piously kept in the church of St. Lawrence (which is the cathedral) under the high altar, together with the body of St. Severinus, monk and confessor: whose birthday is commemorated on this day by the church of Tibur." Nothing more does the annotation explain: "Of him, besides Baronius … Fulvio Cardulo, presbyter of the Society of Jesus, makes mention in his notes and digressions on the Passion of the Holy martyrs Getulius and his Companions." For Ferrari connects the very few words of Cardulo (from page 121) with the Baronian, adding of his own that he was crowned at Tibur, whom perhaps he would more probably have summoned from the Roman catacombs. Of the very well-known Tiburtine city itself (commonly Tivoli) there is no reason for me here to treat; the glorious brother Martyrs, with their mother Symphorosa, whose combat is illustrated on the following day, have rendered it far more illustrious. Of that once famous city, whether gentile or Christian, fully and elegantly described, our Cardulo could have been cited, rather than concerning matters pertaining to St. Generosus, buried until now in long oblivion, let us say ignorance.