ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS,
BASILIDES, CYRINUS, NABOR, NAZARIUS,
UNDER DIOCLETIAN.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
Their memory in the Martyrologies, Missals, Breviaries. What sort are the Acts?
Basilides, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Cyrinus, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nabor, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nazarius, Martyr in the same place (S.)
BY THE AUTHORS G. H. & D. P.
[1] The ancient Martyrology of Christina, Queen of Sweden, which Lucas Holstenius used in his Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology, begins this day thus: On the day before the Ides of June. At Rome, on the Aurelian Way at the eighth milestone, the birthday of the Holy Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius. Their sacred cult from the Manuscript Calendars. The same Saints other Manuscripts—namely the Roman one of Cardinal Barberini, the Cologne one of S. Maria ad Gradus, the Reichenau one near Constance in Swabia—set forth thus: At Rome, the birthday of the Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius. The same things, with the arena Rome omitted, are read in the Manuscripts of Dijon, Arras, Tournai, Liessies, Aachen, the two Vatican ones of S. Peter, the Monte Cassino one, the Altemps one, and the Trier one of S. Maximinus, and others. The Rheinau one in Switzerland, and the Augsburg one of S. Ulrich, read thus: At Rome, of Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor: and in the Paris one of Labbe is added, and of Nazarius; but in the last two Tripoli was interposed, as we warned above, which would be the name of a city, not of a Martyr. Again, in the Corbie Manuscript the names of Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius were interposed among the Roman Martyrs; as also in the Blume Manuscript, and indeed after the name of Basilides, but otherwise—yet by an ancient hand—in place of Nazarius was the name of Felix, which was added to others in the said Augsburg and Paris Manuscripts. But SS. Felix and Nabor suffered at Milan on the 12th of July. In the Florentine Manuscripts, the Medici and Strozzi ones, the birthday of the Holy Martyrs Basilides and Cyrinus is indicated.
[2] In the Breviaries and Missals, The ancient Roman Breviaries, which we have both written by hand and printed in type, in the years 1479, 1490, 1522, and 1524, likewise the Missals printed in the year 1484 and afterwards, refer to this 12th of June the birthday of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius: and everywhere this Oration is prescribed to be recited: May the votive birthday celebrations of your Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, we beseech you, O Lord, shine upon us: and what the excellence of their merits conferred upon them, may it increase by the fruits of our devotion. To this first Collect corresponds the Secret: For the venerable blood of your Saints Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, we solemnly immolate victims to you, O Lord, treating of your marvelous deeds, through whom such a victory is perfected: and the Post-Communion: Ever celebrating, O Lord, the solemnities of your Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, grant, we beseech, that we may continually feel their patronage. These Orations are most ancient; inasmuch as they are found, scarcely with a tittle changed, not only in the book of Sacraments of S. Gregory; but also in another composed almost two hundred years earlier by Pope Gelasius, which Joseph Maria Thomasius recently had printed at Rome; but in this one, which you may marvel at, the name of Basilides is everywhere lacking: while on the contrary it alone is placed in the most ancient Roman Calendar which John Fronto published at Paris, where also the Gospel is prescribed concerning Nicodemus, to be taken from Chapter 3 of John; There was a man of the Pharisees, up to, but may have eternal life.
[3] In the Roman Martyrology The aforesaid ancient Roman Breviaries add to this first Oration three Lessons, concerning SS. Nazarius and Celsus the boy, who suffered martyrdom under the Emperor Nero, and with Anolinus presiding, on the 5th day before the Kalends of August, whose bodies were found and translated by S. Ambrose on the day before the Ides of June, as is added near the end. In place of these, having nothing to do with the Martyrs of this day, two Lessons were inserted into the Breviary published by order of Pius V, hitherto customarily recited; according to which, in the present Roman Martyrology, these things stand in the first place: At Rome, on the Aurelian Way, the birthday of the holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, soldiers; who, in the persecution of Diocletian and Maximian, under the Prefect Aurelius, for the confession of the Christian name, were thrust into prison, and lacerated with scorpions, and beheaded. In the Notes Baronius adds: Of these, Bede, Usuard, Ado, and the other more recent writers. and others. Bede in the genuine Martyrology has only this: The birthday of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius. In the Ephemeris of Bede in the first volume of his works, the arena Rome is prefixed. But Usuard begins this day thus: At Milan, the birthday of B. Nazarius the Martyr, with a long elogium, concerning him and Celsus the boy, and then adds: Likewise at the aforesaid city, of the Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor. Does Usuard then assert that these suffered at Milan? Perhaps the Roman Martyrs, of whom we have already treated, had been placed before in other more ancient Manuscripts, and these being omitted, it was inadvertently placed, at the aforesaid city, namely the Roman one. The third cited by Baronius, Ado, after a long elogium concerning SS. Nazarius and Celsus, adds this: Likewise of B. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor. But an author somewhat more ancient than Usuard and Ado, Rabanus, writes thus concerning these Martyrs: On the 2nd day before the Ides of June, at Rome, on the Aurelian Way at the fifth milestone, the passion of the Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, etc. I omit the more recent ones.
[4] An epitome of the Acts The Acts of S. Basilides, which we have given above from Mombritius, we found in the S. Maximinus Manuscript and in another Thuringian one, and in Belfortius, adorned with a more brilliant style, and augmented with several circumstances, and with the names of three companions. And thus interpolated Peter de Natalibus also found them, and composed this Epitome of them, inserted in book 5, chapter 109. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, under the persecution of Diocletian, suffered at Rome. from Peter de Natalibus, These, sprung from the City itself, coming to the city of Aurelia, distributing all their possessions to the poor, returning to Rome, were brought before the Emperor Maximian. Who, when they did not fear to confess Christ, first most severely beaten with scorpions, then thrust into prison, and there macerated for seven days, then led out, by order of the same Emperor were beheaded, and exposed to the wild beasts to be devoured: but by the grace of God their bodies, kept unharmed, were buried by the Christians at the third milestone from the City, in the place which is called the Catacombs, on the day before the Ides of June. These things there, which in the reformed Roman Breviary are expanded into two small Lessons, whereas before three Lessons were recited, concerning SS. Nazarius and Celsus of Milan. But these new Lessons are set forth thus: and in the Roman Breviary
[5] Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, Roman soldiers, noble in family and illustrious in virtue, having received the Christian religion, when they preached Christ the Son of God under the Emperor Diocletian, were arrested by Aurelius the Prefect of the City, and, being admonished to make sacrifice to the gods, despising his commands, were sent to prison. While they were praying, when suddenly a most brilliant light, arising before the eyes of all who were there, had illumined the prison; moved by that heavenly splendor, Marcellus, the keeper of the guard, and many others, believed in Christ the Lord. But afterwards, released from prison by the Emperor Maximian; when, neglecting even his command, they had the one Christ as God and Lord on their lips; tortured with scorpions, they were again cast into chains; from which, led out on the seventh day, and set before the feet of the Emperor, they persisted in mocking the empty gods, most constantly confessing Jesus Christ as God. For which reason, condemned, they are struck with the axe. Their bodies, exposed to the wild beasts, These are here set forth whole, to be judged. and not touched by them, were honorably buried by the Christians. If the same things were found written in ancient times, I believe there would be no one to whom such a narration would be suspected of fiction; but since from the Acts presently to be produced it appears that the foundation of the whole narration is ruinous, what is built upon it cannot be deemed firm, however great a show of probability it shines with, while in it are omitted all the things that could give offense. For (as I said) they took it upon themselves to interpolate the Acts of some one S. Basilides—both those who held the bodies of SS. Basilides, Tripus, and Mandalis; and those who together possessed, and had given over to be translated to Germany, the bodies of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius. How foolishly the former did it, we have already seen above; let us now see what the latter did. While I do this, let me be permitted to omit in the text those things which, in the very same words, I have already given to be read from Mombritius. Afterwards I shall treat of the translations, and pursue the disquisition of our Henschenius.
ACTS
From the Manuscript of the Monastery of S. Maximinus near Trier.
Basilides, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Cyrinus, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nabor, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nazarius, Martyr in the same place (S.)
BHL Number: 1020
FROM THE MANUSCRIPT
PROLOGUE
[1] Fortified beforehand by the help of Jesus Christ our Lord, let us take care to comprehend in writing the contests of the holy Martyrs; that we may merit to have as intercessors those whose solemnities we celebrate with worthy praises. The Author excusing his slenderness of talent, Wherefore, compelled by brotherly love, we attempt to write the glorious passion of these most blessed Martyrs, Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius; that the saving miracles of their contest may kindle the souls of the hearers to the love of the heavenly homeland; and that they may not fear to die for the Lord, who desire to reign with him in heaven without end. But this perhaps seems unfitting to some, that we, ignorant of wisdom, presume to transform an arduous matter. To whom it must be said, that not relying on boldness of talent, but led by pious love, we attempt to do this. For we know that the gentile Poets praised the victories of their Kings in various songs, and handed down very many lies in their volumes, he sets forth the purpose of his writing. whence in this world they were exalted by the glory of honors and enriched with riches. And therefore it does not befit us to be silent about the contests of the Martyrs of Christ, who, for no one but him pouring out their blood abundantly, merited the heavenly realms; that they themselves may not cease to entreat the Lord for us, so that we may be able to attain to their most holy glory. The immense piety of God diligently cries out to us, sometimes through the precepts of the Apostles, sometimes through the examples of the Martyrs, saying: Come to me all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you. But these things which we have said, lest they cause weariness to the readers in the holy Church of God, let us hasten, with the Lord's help, to set forth the illustrious passion of the aforesaid Martyrs.
THE PASSION.
[2] When the devil had stirred up the Princes of this world to torture the souls of the Saints; and was everywhere shaking the churches of our Lord and Savior, with Maximian persecuting the faithful in Italy, with diverse tempests of persecution; and, with the friends of the Kings stirred up, raging the more, was rousing battles against the people of God; he daily increased the growths of his savagery. And so, with the laws of the Emperor Maximian pressing hard, the army of the Christians was harassed; and through Illyricum the sacrilegious command of Diocletian raged hostilely against the people of Christ, with Maximian added as a partner in his tyranny in the kingdom, who also displayed his rabid fury throughout every province of Italy. Nevertheless, almost all the Judges of the provinces sent forth the sacrilegious edicts of the wicked Princes, that they might compel the Christians to immolate in the temples of the demons, that the churches of Christ be closed, that the Priests and Ministers of Christ be seized so that they might not obey the laws of God, but confess that the images were gods; to whom, if they were unwilling to offer incense, they would be subjected to diverse torments and deaths.
In that storm, therefore, among the Soldiers four holy Roman soldiers, who triumphed in the army of Christ, were the most valiant men Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, who, sprung at Rome from a most illustrious lineage, held to the path of the holy religion in the city of Aurelia; and carefully, although they were under the earthly Prince Maximian, they kept the things that were Caesar's; faithfully rendering to Caesar what was Caesar's, and to God what was God's. When they heard of the time of the impending persecution, having granted all that they had for the use of the poor, they withdraw to the East: they secretly withdrew across the sea into an Eastern city; and there, serving as soldiers under the Prefect Plato, they were an example of virtues to many, and strove to bring them back to the way of truth.
[3] And when they had snatched a very great part of the unbelievers from the bloody jaws of the enemy of the human race, and with inner delight of mind continually associated themselves with the Lord by prayers and holy works; in a certain night vision they merited to take part in a divine utterance, saying: It is not lawful for you, my friends, to serve this mortal lord; whence, divinely commanded to return to their homeland, but rather it now befits you to suffer cruel things for my Lord, and to endure adversities. The holy Martyrs answered: Lord, master of all virtues, we are ready to undergo for you the torments of all sufferings. Return, said the Lord, to the sea, carrying with you no provisions for the journey; there you will find a small one, providing you all things necessary, a vehicle by which you will reach the desired birthplaces: I too, for your contest of passion, am going to give you a reward, and a perpetual crown. Having heard these things in the vision, indeed—to speak more certainly—fervent over the Lord's promises, they went to the aforesaid Prefect of the city, telling him that they had now been in his service for five years; and that the time was at hand for them to visit their parents, that they might know whether the breath of life still cherished them or not. The Prefect, questioning them, said: In what province do your parents dwell? To whom the holy Martyrs: In the province of Italy, the Prefect giving leave, which is called by the name Aurelia. The Prefect answered and said: I have already heard many say such things about that very province, that Maximian, the Emperor of that same province, inflicts very many torments on the disciples of Christ: and this is greatly to be feared by you, lest, while you are present there, he hear that you are his disciples, and order you to be afflicted with graver torments. To whom the holy Martyrs answered, saying: If we should be worthy of the fellowship of the blessed Martyrs, for the love of our master Jesus Christ, we shall endure more atrocious pains: for whatever we suffer in this world is nothing in comparison to the heavenly reward. Hearing these things, the Prefect granted them leave, saying: Go, and after a year return to me; and you shall remain with me, partakers of my kingdom, in the palace.
[4] They betake themselves to Aurelia; The holy Martyrs, having received leave, began to return with joy to their own. Therefore, with a favorable breeze blowing, coming to the seashore, they found a small boat, filled by divine will with bodily food, in which, sustained by angelic rowing, they reached the desired land: and entering the city of Aurelia, they proceeded to the house of their parents. Soon it came by rumor to the ears of Aurelius, the most cruel tyrant of that city, that certain men of the holy religion had entered the city: and at once he ordered the soldiers and being brought before Aurelius the prefect, to seek out the Saints throughout the whole city. When he had found them, preaching divine things to the people in the houses of their parents, they announced it to the tyrant Prefect Aurelius. Then the minister of the devil ordered the holy soldiers of the Lord to come to him in great haste: whom he thus addresses with a threatening countenance, saying: Whence now do these seducers come? who once, as we have heard, fled from our presence, lest they sacrifice to the immortal gods. The holy Martyrs answered: We are not, as you assert, Aurelius, seducers; but worshipers of the one true God: who until now have refused to offer honor not only to you, but also to your demons, whom you call gods; indeed, we lead back to the way of truth others who have been seduced by error of this kind.
[5] And when they were again questioned by him as to why they had fled; and having given the reason for their flight, the holy Martyrs said: We were not fleeing, but doing the commands of the Lord: it is written for us, If they have persecuted you in one city, flee to another. Aurelius said: Who commanded this? To whom the holy Martyrs: Christ, who is the true God. Aurelius answered: And do you not know that the commands of the Emperors could find you everywhere? And this one whom you call the true God, when you were arrested, why could he not help you? The holy Martyrs answered: Our Lord is always with us, and wherever we are he will swiftly help us. Just now, when they were arresting us, he was with us; and here he is with us, strengthening us: and he himself answers you from our mouth. The Prefect said: You say many things, and by speaking you put off the institutions of great Kings. Read therefore the divine edicts, and what is commanded, fulfill. The holy Martyrs answered: We despise the command of your Emperors, because it is sacrilegious and contrary to the precepts of God: it is not lawful for the servants of Christ to immolate to your gods, whom we do not serve, because they are nothing. Aurelius, indignant against the servants of God, pronounced a sentence of this kind, saying: Let them be shut up in prison, and weighed down with chains, until they become sober. they are condemned to prison: The holy Martyrs answered: We do not dread the prison, believing that our Lord Jesus Christ is with us in the prison, who is always with his worshipers. And when they had been afflicted with blows, bound, they are thrust back into prison.
[6] Then the holy Martyrs prostrated themselves on the ground, and praying said: We give thanks to you, O Lord, which being illumined from heaven, because for your sake these insults have been inflicted on us: we ask that those who are held in this prison may perceive that we are worshipers of the true God, and may believe that there is no other God but you. And when all had said Amen, at once a great splendor from heaven appeared in the prison. When Marcellus, the keeper of the persons, had seen it, he opened the prison, and prostrated himself on the ground at the feet of the Saints, saying to them with tears: Pray for me, my Lords, for I believe there is no other God but the one you worship. Indeed, many who were held in the prison, seeing these things, the keeper Marcellus and many captives are converted, believed in the Lord, and praised him with tears arising from joy, saying: Blessed is the Lord God whom you worship, who has changed the darkness of the prison into light, and, error being forsaken, has infused truth into our minds.
[7] After three days, Aurelius ordered the holy Martyrs to come out of prison, and, bound with chains, led them to the Emperor Maximian, that for the contumacy which they had shown against the laws of the Emperors, they might undergo the final sentence. And when they had been brought to him, Aurelius said: Most sacred Emperor, behold, we present to your piety these despisers of our gods, who strive to nullify the Roman Empire and the commands of the Emperors. Then the Emperor Maximian, inflamed with grave anger, addresses them thus, saying: Whose disciples are you? Maximian, addressing the Saints brought before him, The most valiant soldiers of Christ answered constantly, and said: We are servants of Jesus Christ, and we desire to serve him alone. To this the tyrant: Have you not heard how very many things I have done to his disciples? The holy Martyrs said: We have indeed heard of your torments, but we have not in the least feared them. Therefore our Lord permitted us to come here, that we too might merit to receive from him the palm of martyrdom. Hearing these things, the Emperor said: So, as I see, your Lord ordered you to come for this, that you might suffer the like. The holy Martyrs answered, saying: We count you and your torments as nothing; since &c., as above at n. 3, word for word the same. Hearing these things, Maximian ordered them to be thrust back into prison, and their flesh to be lacerated with the sharpest scorpions. But the holy Martyrs, amid those very torments beseeching the Lord, said: Lord Jesus Christ, who do not desert your servants amid the torments of the executioners, but rather console them; he orders them lacerated with scorpions. command us, your little sheep, to come to you, who for your name do not shrink from bearing the punishments inflicted on us &c., as above at n. 4, but all in the plural.
[8] Therefore, when seven days had passed; the cruel Maximian ordered the soldiers of Christ to come forth from prison, and be presented to his sight. and again presented to him Questioning them thus with a savage countenance, he said: Have you abandoned your error, which allows you to suffer such things? To whom the holy athletes of the Lord, smiling, said: Unhappy man, if you knew yourself, you would never say that we err &c., as above. Hearing these things, Maximian, the enemy of truth, said: Alas, wretches! restrain the madness of your minds, and do not blaspheme the most unconquered gods, for the sharpest torments are now prepared for you. Yet we grieve that your youth is lacerated with blows, and therefore we desire to amend your minds with words, that you may enjoy the remaining time of your life, serving the gods according to the sanction of the Imperial laws. The holy Martyrs answered: Why do you doubt about the age of those whom inviolate faith can render stronger than all tortures? he threatens worse things: Neither is our confession broken by torments, nor seduced by the delight of the present life, nor is our constancy disturbed by fear of death, however bitter. O unhappy one! why does such great madness hold you? &c., as above at n. 5. You indeed are a servant of demons, and a sacrilegious assailant of Christians.
[9] and at last to be beheaded, Hearing these things, the tyrant pronounced a capital sentence against them, saying to the torturers: Take these transgressors of the Imperial commands; and, their heads being struck off, expose their corpses to the beasts and birds to be consumed. Soon the executioners, seizing them, led them outside the city. When they had arrived there, the magnificent athletes of the Lord sang psalms &c., as above at n. 6, omitting the verses which are of more recent composition both here and at n. 2. and orders the bodies to be left to the beasts: And their prayers being completed, fortifying themselves with the sign of the Cross, they stretched out their victorious necks: and at once, with rejoicing souls, they were beheaded. But the executioners, obeying the harsh command of the sacrilegious Maximian, exposing the bodies of the Saints, handed them over to the wild animals: which, with the Lord guarding them, remained untouched. The most glorious servants of the Lord, Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, suffered under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, on the 2nd day before the Ides of June; and they were crowned by our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and dominion unto the ages of ages. The Christians nevertheless bury them. Amen. The Christians therefore, gathering their most holy bodies, placed them secretly with great diligence on the Appian Way, at the third milestone from the city, in the Basilica of the Apostles; where the bodies of those same Princes once lay, namely Peter and Paul; and saint Sebastian, Martyr of Christ, rests in the same place, which is called the Catacombs; building a church to their holiness, where, by the suffrage of their merits, the benefits of the Lord are bestowed, to this present day.
ANNOTATION OF D. P.
Thus far the Acts, now indeed in the Breviary sufficiently conveniently purified in appearance, as I said; but in such a way as to diminish for the Acts themselves the credit which they, considered separately, ought to obtain; while from the Acts collated with it, it appears that Peter de Natalibus had before his eyes only a narration of slight credibility when writing that Epitome, whence afterwards were taken the Lessons we now have, which nevertheless inculpably remained hidden from their Authors. Peter could indeed, by prudently omitting—as he thought—the circumstances and adjuncts that were wholly improbable, make the rest appear more probable; but he could not thus bring it about that they were in themselves more certain than the whole text whence they were drawn; unless one supposes—what ought not to be supposed gratuitously—a divine revelation, teaching how to discern the true substance of the deeds from the false interpolations. I wished, therefore, on account of the reasons produced before those Acts, with the liberty already several times assumed, to entitle the Acts "Apocryphal," lest perhaps an incautious reader, not having seen the foregoing, stumble upon the simple title "Acts"; and, thinking he would find some solid history, afterwards complain that he had been deceived by a title promising better things. But opportunely, just at the time of printing this folio, I am warned that a title of this sort, before the similar Acts of S. Venantius the Martyr, on the 16th of May, did not lightly displease some; because from them are taken the Lessons concerning that Saint. They added that it was said at Rome, although not truly, that I had called the same Acts of S. Venantius the Martyr "Fabulous"—an Epithet indeed not a little harsher than the one I actually dared to use there in the title. Rather, however, let the word "Apocryphal" be both omitted here and deleted elsewhere; than that the truth, which would otherwise not displease (as those grave men who approve censorship write), should suffer rebuff, on account of one word taken in a worse sense.
ON THE TRANSLATION
Of SS. Nabor and Nazarius into Germany; and of him and S. Cyrinus and Basilides to Milan.
Basilides, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Cyrinus, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nabor, Martyr in the same place (S.)
Nazarius, Martyr in the same place (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] A double Translation of these Martyrs is believed to have been made, one to the German-Gallic parts, the other to the city of Milan. The bodies obtained from Pope Paul I. Concerning the former, Paulus Warnefridus has this in his account of the Bishops of Metz: A distinguished man, and to be extolled with all praises, Bishop Chrodegang … asked from Paul the Roman Pontiff three bodies of the Holy Martyrs, that is, of B. Gorgonius, which rests at Gorze; and of B. Nabor, which is buried in the monastery of Hilariacum; and of B. Nazarius, which he placed beyond the river Rhine in the monastery called Lorisaim, a Basilica of marvelous beauty having been built in honor of that very Martyr. Similar things, in the Chronicles, at the year 764 or the following, are had by Marianus Scotus, Sigebert, and others. But that those words are to be understood concerning SS. Nabor and Nazarius, of whom we here treat, is best proved by the Martyrology of B. Rabanus, from Abbot of Fulda Archbishop of Mainz, whose words are these: On the 2nd day before the Ides of June, at Rome, on the Aurelian Way at the fifth milestone, the passion of the Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, Nabor, and Nazarius, of whom Nabor and Nazarius, together with Gorgon the Martyr, Hruocgangus, Bishop of Metz, translated from Rome into Gaul, with the permission of Pope Paul of Rome, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 765: and the said Bishop placed S. Gorgon in the monastery which is called Gorze; but S. Nabor in another monastery, which is called Nova-cella; and S. Nazarius also in the monastery which is called Lorsch: where signs and miracles in the healing of the sick and the disabled often occur. These things Rabanus, which are read quite the same in the Martyrology Falsely Attributed to Bede, with some names more accurately described, and S. Nazarius brought to Lorsch. as we have noted in the margin. S. Godegrandus, or Chrodegang—above also Hruocgangus—is venerated on the 6th of March, on which day, in his Life §3, we treated at length of the translation of these three sacred bodies; and chiefly from the Chronicle of Lorsch, on account of the body of S. Nazarius brought there: whose Miracles also—wrongly mixed in among the acts of S. Nazarius in the Frankfurt Legendary—our Gamansius wrote, having found them, more than half a century ago now, but mutilated: but they are not even thus found there any longer, and it only remains to be wished that they be brought out whole from elsewhere. These we do not wish to repeat, since they can be read there.
[2] The monastery of Nova-cella, also called Helera and Hilariacum, now the town of S. Nabor, situated among the Lotharingians, was constructed by the zeal of S. Fridolin, as is contained also in his Life, illustrated on the 6th of March, chapter 3. The inscription of S. Nabor. Bruschius traces all its Abbots down to his own times, in the chronology of the Monasteries of Germany: where, at the tomb of S. Nabor, raised from the earth, and placed after the high altar, he asserts that these little verses are inscribed.
Behold the relics of the distinguished Martyr Nabor, Contained in this tomb, born of an illustrious lineage: Whom, because he was unwilling to offer sacred things to profane Jove, Maximian, having broken him with cruel scourges, Adding a witness to the heaven-dwellers, slew with the bloody sword. But at last, by the will of a nursling of the Tiberine See, Chrodegang marvelously led him to our dwellings: Whom the Mediomatrican Church had as its Pastor. With six ages twice over and seven lustres added, And also with an Olympiad, when the most pleasant times Of our salvation were marked, and ever most grateful.
S. Gorgonius is venerated on the 9th of September, concerning whose body's translation to the monastery of Gorze, in the year 765 on the 4th day before the Ides of March, we treated at greater length on the 27th of February, in the Life of B. John, Abbot of Gorze, which things are not to be repeated here.
[3] The relics of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor at Milan, Joannes Petrus Puricellus, in his Nazarian Dissertation, printed at Milan in the year 1656, chapter 75, treats at length of the Translation of these three sacred bodies, from the city of Rome to the aforesaid places: and accurately distinguishes these Roman ones, Nabor and Nazarius, from the Saints of this name, the Martyrs who suffered at Milan, of whom Nabor with Felix is venerated on the 12th of July, and Nazarius with Celsus on the 28th of July. But since at Milan, in the Church of S. Celsus, the Relics of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor were found, Puricellus judges, in the said chapter 75, n. 13, that they were given by the same Pope Paul I, in the church of S. Celsus during these times, to the Archbishop of Milan, who had labored no less than that Bishop of Metz for the liberation of the Roman Church. This was B. Lætus, of whom we treated on the 4th day of April among those Passed Over; and he sat, not (as is there read by error) from the year 755 to 769, but from the year 744 to 759, which was the 3rd year of Paul I. The same Puricellus, chapter 115, brings forward the testimony of Gualvaneus Flamma, who led a religious life in the Order of Preachers of S. Dominic around the year 1300 and the following, and wrote this: The Feast of the Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor on the 12th day of June. They lie at S. Celsus. Thus far he there. But Carolus a Basilica Petri, in book 6 of the Life of S. Carolus Borromeus, chapter 1, found under the altar in the year 1581, pursuing the deeds of the year 1581, when he had narrated the solemn Translation of the sacred Relics which were found in the Stephanian Basilica, made on the 14th day of April, adds: And in the same month, after five days, he moved the Relics of SS. Cyrinus, Nabor, and Basilides, which were enclosed in the altar of S. Celsus, placed at the head of the left nave (as they call it): which altar, on account of its not at all suitable place, had to be removed. He judged that no celebrity or pomp of it should be instituted, since he had previously beheld only a few bones. These were privately laid away, soon to be brought back to a more fitting place.
[4] These things he, which are more broadly expounded by Petrus Glussianus, in book 9 of the Life of the same S. Carolus, chapter 11, and in the Manuscript codex of this monastery of S. Celsus of the Canons Regular of S. Salvator, in the said Puricellus, chapter 151: raised by S. Carolus Borromeus on the 19th of April from which it is established that two altars from the nave of the said Church, by order of Hieronymus Ragazonus, Apostolic Visitor, then Bishop of Famagusta, afterwards of Bergamo, had to be removed: of these, one, dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God, was soon taken away from the right head of the said nave, namely in the year 1576: but the other, consecrated to the Holy Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor, in the year 1581. And when there a sepulcher was to be constructed for Alphonsus Guevara, the chief representative of the Catholic King among the Milanese in the privy Council; there was uncovered a vessel or marble chest: which when S. Carolus Borromeus learned, taking with him the Bishops of Novara and Bergamo, and other Prelates and Ecclesiastical men, and a great multitude of people, on the 19th day of April he came to the church of S. Celsus with the customary ceremony: and prayers being recited, first at the high altar, then at the excavated place; and after the litanies were recited, the cover of the said vessel or marble chest was raised, and the sacred bones of the three Martyrs Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor were found; deposited in the sacristy, and these, amid songs and organs, and spiritual applause, and other demonstrations and signs of devotion, were raised, and carried into the sacristy, and there kept under four keys and seals. On the following day two Commissaries were sent down, with their Officials and a public Notary: before whom were questioned and examined all who could contribute any information, knowledge, or notice concerning these Relics, whether by writing or by tradition; and all things, even the most minute, were noted down, before several Canons Regular present there, whose names also can be seen there.
[5] The same Puricellus, chapter 167: It was certainly just, indeed already fitting, that the bodies of SS. Basilides, Cyrinus, and Nabor the Martyrs, translated privately from their tomb into the sacristy of the Celsian Church already in the year 1581, and there shut up with keys and seals, and in the year 1608 translated to their own chapel until a new and befitting altar should be built for them elsewhere in a suitable place within the same Church; it was certainly just, I say, that in the year at last 1608 they should obtain a more honorable tomb, and be fittingly kept in a chapel properly destined for them. Near the Marian chapel, therefore, another was constructed; and this, increased and adorned at last at the expense of Caesar Marinus, a Genoese Patrician, seemed to be a decorous and fitting repository for those relics of the Martyrs. Wherefore they also inserted into the wall a marble tablet, on the left side of the same chapel, and indeed carved with these monuments of letters.
D. O. M.
Nabor, Basilides, strengths of the Roman youth, [with this inscription.] Three times you fall in joint slaughter, and three times, O Cyrinus, you fall. The ashes of the threefold band are kept in one urn: This was Caesar's piety, that was Caesar's fury.
The little shrine being increased and adorned, with provisions decreed for a Priest, Caesar Marinus, Genoese Patrician, took care to have the Bodies of three Martyrs—who under Caesar Maximian poured out their life with singular constancy—kept and venerated in this place, in the year of the Lord 1608.
[6] The first word, "Nemur," was read in Puricellus;
I corrected it by conjecture, through which the other words receive a suitable sense: as for what pertains to the Bodies, it is nothing new in this matter that the whole be named for the part, and we have already seen that only a few bones are had: but we easily believe that S. Chrodegang, when he returned from Rome to his Lotharingia, was given some Relics at Milan in passing, perhaps; and in turn left there a part of the treasure which he was carrying.
ANNOTATIONS.
* Gorgonio * Grodegandus * Gorgonium