African Martyrs Januaria

ON THE SAINTS JANUARIA, MUCIUS, DONATA, SPISINNA, JULIUS,

MARTYRS IN AFRICA.

From the same Martyrology.

Januaria, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Mucius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Donata, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Spisinna, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Julius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

G. H.

Now so many times even on this day alleged, the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology consign these as having suffered in Africa. Of these the name of Mucius is in the Epternacensian alone, and of Julius in the Corbeian alone. What in three is written Januaria, in the Epternacensian is Januarius, and in place of Spisinna is read Spisina and Spesina, and more contractedly Spina. But again a controversy arises, because on the day before this or the seventh of June, among seven African Martyrs are found the names of Januaria or Januarius, Donata, and Spisina or Spissina. But in the same Martyrologies, and indeed with four companions, different from the two here joined. If anyone shall wish them to be the same, we shall not draw the contentious rope, especially if he shall have brought forward something of likely reasoning.