CONCERNING SS. FELIX AND SPINELLA, AND THE SEVEN BROTHERS, MARTYRS AT ROME.
From the Martyrology of S. Jerome and others.
CommentaryFelix, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Spinella, Martyr at Rome (S.)
The Seven Brothers, Martyrs at Rome (SS.)
G. H.
Four ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology begin this 27th of June with these Roman Martyrs; Their memory in the ancient Fasti. and the most ancient, the Epternach copy, with these words: "At Rome the birthday of the seven brothers, Crispus, Felix, Crispianus, Spinella." But the order is altered in the other three copies, and in the Blume copy in this manner: "At Rome at the ninth milestone, Crispus, Crispianus, Felix, Spinella, and the seven brothers." The Corbie copy has "Crispiniani" in place of "Crispiani." But the Lucca copy has "Crispini, Crispiniani." The Vatican Manuscripts of S. Peter, the Cassino, and the Altemps: "At Rome on the Tiburtine way at the ninth milestone, Crispus, Crispianus, Felix, and the seven brothers." The Barberini and Trier Manuscripts of S. Maximinus: "At Rome the passion of Crispus and Crispianus, Felix, Sponellus, and the seven brothers."
[2] Similar things are found in the Reichenau, Rheinau, and Utrecht Manuscripts of the church of S. Mary; The Seven Brothers, are they the 7 Sleepers of Ephesus? and everywhere the Seven Brothers are added. But these alone are mentioned in the Manuscript of the Queen of Sweden: concerning whom it was afterwards begun to be asked what kind of men they were. Some, however, seem to have conjectured that they are perhaps the Seven Sleeping Brothers, related on this day in certain Breviaries, and in the Trier Manuscript of S. Martin, as also in Rabanus and Notker. But these are attributed not to the city of Rome, but to Ephesus in Asia: concerning whom we shall treat on the 28th of July. Others have understood the Seven brothers, sons of SS. Getulius and Symphorosa, who seem on that account to be referred by Usuard, Ado, and others to this 27th of June. But these, in the four ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology already cited and in other Fasti, are commemorated on the 18th of July, or the sons of S. Symphorosa? with other names assigned to each, as will soon be said. And indeed, why should there not have been at Rome other illustrious seven brothers, celebrated then under that appellation? In a doubtful matter we leave them as they are found in the ancient monuments.
D. P.
[3] But Crispus or Crispinus, and Crispianus or Crispinianus, we think to be those who suffered at Rome after SS. John and Paul together with Benedicta: or others? concerning whom below, and therefore we have passed them over in the title. But while we thus join Felix to Spinella, my doubt is increased concerning Felix, whether a man or a woman is to be reckoned; and, if a woman, whether perhaps the brothers of these women were not those who follow, as having suffered with them or a little after, and animated to the contest by the example of their sisters. Finally, it seems good to leave it to free conjecture whether the Reading of the Epternach copy ought not to be retained altogether, with the names supplied from elsewhere, as if it were written: "At Rome the birthday of the seven brothers Crispus, Felix, Crispinus, Crispianus, Crispinianus, Felix, and Spinella," so that the two sisters joined to the five brothers complete the number seven. That it was certainly nothing new for the Romans to repeat the same name among brothers under a slight difference of ending, let the Flavian family be an example, naming Constantes, Constantii, Constantini, Constantiæ, and Constantinæ, even from the same father. And also there are read among the Saints related on the 31st of May, the brothers Cantius, Cantianus, and Cantianilla.