Cyrica

ON SS. CYRICA, MUSCA, VALERIANA, MARIA,

MARTYRS AT AQUILEIA IN ITALY

The names of all in the Martyrologies, of the first two also in the Breviary.

Cyrica, Martyr at Aquileia (S.)

Musca, Martyr at Aquileia (S.)

Valeriana, Martyr at Aquileia (S.)

Maria, Martyr at Aquileia (S.)

G. H.

In the third place these Martyrs are set forth in the four copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Sacred cult, & that in these words: At Aquileia, of Cyria, Musca, Valeriana, Maria. For "Cyria" is read in the Epternach "Geria," in others "Cyrica"; & for "Valeriana," in the Corbie, "Valerianus." In the Florentine Mss. of the library of the Grand Duke of the Medici, & of the Museum of Senator Strozzi, these are held: At Aquileia, SS. Musca, Cyrina, Valeriana & Marina. The Reichenau Ms. sets forth only this: And at Aquileia, of Cyria. We found at Rome a Ms. Kalendar of the Church of Aquileia, in which was recorded the feast of Cyria the Virgin & Musca the Martyrs, to be celebrated under a double rite. But in the Kalendar of the same Church of the year 1674 both Virgins & Martyrs are honored under a double rite. Concerning these, Ferrarius in the general Catalogue suggests this: At Aquileia, of the holy Virgins & Martyrs, Cyrica & Musca. The same Ferrarius, in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, honored them with this elogium: Cyriaca or Cyrica & Musca, sisters & Virgins of Aquileia, of whom the former was more devoted to contemplation, the latter to action, from their tender years, having spurned the allurements of the world, served Christ the Lord, to whom they had consecrated their virginity: in the persecution of the Christians delated & seized, Elogium from the Breviary. since they could by no reasoning be brought to worship the idols, with many torments, at last, to the honor of virginity, they added the palm of martyrdom. They suffered at Aquileia on the 15th of the Kalends of July. Whose bodies, entombed there by the Christians, rest. Thus Ferrarius, citing the ancient Breviary of the Church of Aquileia. Then he notes: In the Tables it is read "Cyrica & Musca," but in the Breviary "Cyria or Ciria & Musca." The time at which they suffered does not appear from their Lesson. Indeed this seems to have been so composed by posterity, that it could be recited of any Virgins & Martyrs whatsoever. Henricus Palladius de Olivis, in book 8 of the Affairs of Friuli, page 135, when he had treated of the Saints who suffered under Diocletian, adds this: Nor of less fame the happy misfortune of Musca & Ciriaca, Virgins of Aquileia, whose blood, poured out in those times, consecrated the eternal glory of the homeland on the 15th of the Kalends of June. So there, but wrongly the month of June is put in place of July.