ON ST. RUSTICUS, PRIEST AND CONFESSOR,
AT LYONS IN GAUL.
From the Martyrologies.
CommentaryRusticus, Priest and Confessor, at Lyons in Gaul (S.)
J. B. S.
Of St. Rusticus, the celebrated bishop of Lyons, Henschenius treated on the 25th of April, enumerating many Martyrologies of various kinds, in which the same is seen to be named now presbyter, now bishop, both on the day already said and on this 19th of July: Two of the same name, the one a bishop, the other a presbyter, at last, set in such great darkness, he asks light from the people of Lyons themselves, by which a fuller judgment might here be passed on him. But they have hitherto suffered their labor to be wanting, so that the whole controversy today remains equally entangled, on account of the diversity with which in the Hieronymian Martyrologies, both the larger and the abridged, St. Rusticus is announced. That it is a mere addition of the Gallic antiquary, I judge manifest; to recount the several codices would profit nothing, since those long ago published can be handled by everyone. More important are the Lucca, Corbie, Blume, Reichenau, Augsburg, Queen of Sweden, St. Cyriacus, Barberini, and other codices, which on this day record a presbyter, as also the appendix of Ado, which is not rightly adduced by the Sainte-Marthe brothers for a bishop, since it reads most expressly: At Lyons, of St. Rusticus, presbyter and confessor. Add Notker and the old codex of Usuard, augmented in England, which we call the Rosweydine, in which it is read most simply: At Lyons, of Rusticus the presbyter.
[2] they seem to be owed to the people of Lyons. Since therefore so many ancient authorities favor the people of Lyons, and none so weighty militate to the contrary, let it be permitted to settle the suit in their favor, since concerning the bishop of the same name, otherwise most well known, there is no doubt; let it be permitted, I say, from the consent of so many Martyrologies to add St. Rusticus the presbyter, although we have nothing ascertained concerning his age or deeds, which so often, and of so many other Saints, must be confessed. Hither makes the Index of Raynaud, however dryly and sparingly it speaks of the Saint, yet bearing testimony for his cult. Saussay likewise, after the notable eulogy assigned to St. Rusticus the bishop on the 25th of April, thus proclaims of today's: At Lyons, of St. Rusticus, presbyter and confessor, a man conspicuous for the priestly insignia. The matter is more confirmed in the universal Martyrology by Castellanus, in this part a little more scrupulous than the rest, and an approved witness for the Saints, especially the Gallic ones, when on this day he did not hesitate to claim Rusticus the presbyter for the people of Lyons.