ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS
AQUILINUS, SPERATUS, CIVINUS, FELIX, CRESTINUS, LUTATUS, NAZARIUS, VETUSA, GENEROSA, JANUARIUS; LIKEWISE JANUARIUS, TITIANUS, AND NESSA.
From the Hieronymian codices.
CommentaryAquilinus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Speratus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Civinus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Felix, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Crestinus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Lutatus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Nazarius, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Vetusa, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Generosa, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Januarius, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Januarius, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Titianus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Nessa, Martyr in Africa (S.)
J. B. S.
Here we number thirteen African athletes with the most ancient Epternach codex, although in the Lucca codices, Felix being omitted, only eleven, and in the Corbie codex twelve are reckoned, the names being here and there variously inflected. The Epternach reads "Calvinus" for "Civinus"; the Corbie "Crescentiani" for "Crestini," where also "Lactati" for "Lutati." "Januaria" is in the Lucca codices, but the rest read "Januarius," whom the Epternach doubles, the particle "likewise" being interposed, which is also expressed in the Corbie, although the name is not repeated. Whether the last name is Hesia, Hessa, or Nessa is uncertain. Here Florentini rightly observes that in this today's African series the names of some martyrs agree with those which are celebrated on the preceding day, whether they be of Scillium or of Carthage, and so raise a suspicion of a repeated veneration of the same. This too ought to have been noted in the list of the Lucca codices of the past day, where in Asia almost the same are recorded whom we just now vindicated for Durostorum. We have often confessed, and shall further confess, that by the unskillfulness of copyists the lists were sometimes mixed together, or ineptly distinguished and transposed. But in that uncertainty, we prefer to err by repetition rather than by omission.
ON ST. FALTEUS OR FALVEUS, BISHOP, AND PERHAPS JUCUNDUS, MARTYRS.
From the Hieronymian codices.
CommentaryFalteus or Falveus, Bishop, and perhaps Martyr (S.)
Jucundus, Martyr (S.)
J. B. S.
The one whom we here announce as Falteus, Falveus, Falbeus, or Falbaeus, bishop, is passed over in the most ancient Epternach codex; but in all the others, and even in some minor or abridged ones, he is so constantly marked that he could not be passed over. In the Lucca and Corbie codices he is thus subjoined to the African martyrs, as if he belonged to their class; but in the minor codices, the Reichenau, Augsburg, and Labbe, the particle "elsewhere" is so expressly appended, that there seems no doubt that he is to be referred elsewhere. Whither? Indeed I could not divine, nor by what means especially the name is to be expressed, which in the Reichenau is "Fabei," in others is written in diverse ways, as we have already noted. From the Corbie codex we added the companion Jucundus, the title of martyr being added to each, which Florentini before us judged to belong to them.