CONCERNING THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS
CRISPUS OR CRISPINUS THE PRIEST, CRISPINIANUS THE CLERIC, AND BENEDICTA THE VIRGIN.
THE YEAR 362.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
From the Acts of SS. John and Paul, and the Martyrology of S. Jerome.
Crispus or Crispinus, Priest, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Crispinianus, Cleric, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Benedicta, Virgin, Martyr at Rome (S.)
D. P.
The Passion of the holy John and Paul, published on the preceding day from an old Corbie Manuscript, Summoned by the Saints preparing themselves for Martyrdom, has given us some notice of these Martyrs, which it pleases here to set forth in full, from our membrane Manuscript, which once belonged to the monastery of Vaucelles, and which, lest it should be torn up for typographical uses in the Plantin workshop, we redeemed, containing the Acts of the Saints of May and June. In both it is said that the holy John and Paul, knowing that after ten days they must either deny the worship of Christ or die, sent and asked Crispus the Priest, and Crispinianus the Cleric, and Benedicta the venerable woman to come to them, to whom they narrated all that had been done, and offered sacrifices in their house; nor is there doubt but that through these same persons they distributed their goods. And when the tenth day had passed, on which the Saints were to consummate their contest, the blessed Priest Crispus, after their goods had been distributed, having heard that John and Paul were confined within their house, came to them with Crispinianus and Benedicta, that they might comfort them. Who, when they had come, were not permitted to enter, or to see, or to speak. But when these were secretly slain in that very place, the Blessed Priest Crispus, and Crispinianus, and Benedicta lamented in the house
of those Saints, and prayed daily, and tears did not cease from their eyes, they ask to be divinely taught the place where they were buried; day and night; begging that the Lord Jesus Christ would show them some sign concerning the holy Martyrs, where they had been buried: and God made it manifest to them, according to their desire. So it is read in our larger membrane Manuscript, far more distinctly than in the Corbie one; but the rest of the passion of the aforenamed Martyrs, passed over in the Corbie copy, is thus extended in the same our membrane Manuscript.
[2] Then Julianus (perhaps the uncle of the Emperor Julian, they confess the faith, or some other minister of the tyrant, here wrongly bearing the name of his lord) then, I say, whatever Julianus he was, ordered them to be held and presented before his sight. Who when they had been presented, Julianus said to them: "Say from your own mouth, by what name are you called?" Then Crispinus being brought forward (for thus, not Crispus, is it read in this Manuscript, where the preceding things concerning those three are not had) said: "I am called Crispinus." Julianus said: "What office do you hold?" B. Crispinus answered, saying: "A sinful Priest." Julianus said: "Sacrifice to the gods, and offer sacrifice: but if not, know that most bitter torments shall be expended upon you, if you do not sacrifice to the gods." Then B. Crispinus the Priest said: "I always offer sacrifice to the Lord my God Jesus Christ day and night: for to your idols I never sacrifice." Then Julianus, angered, caused Crispinus to be removed, and Crispinianus to be brought forward. Julianus says to him: "Tell us, you also, your name." He answered, "I am called Crispinianus, servant of the servants of Christ." Julianus said: "What office do you also hold? Declare it." Crispinianus answered: "I am a Cleric." Julianus says to him: "Sacrifice to the gods, that I may hold you as my friends." B. Crispinianus answered, saying: "May it never be well with you, wretch. But we adore our Lord Jesus Christ: for to your idols we never sacrifice." Then Julianus caused this one also to be removed, and Benedicta to be brought forward: to whom also he said: "Tell us, you also, your name." She answered: "I am called Benedicta, a sinner." Julianus said: "Sacrifice to the gods, and take a husband." Then B. Benedicta cried out with a loud voice, saying: "I am a Christian, and I have Christ as my spouse: but your gods, as if mire which is trodden underfoot, I cast away." Thus far our codex; the Corbie one proceeds further with it.
[3] Then Julianus, angered, ordered them to undergo capital sentence, and their bodies to be left to the dogs. and they are smitten with the head on the 27th of June. Then secretly by night John the Priest and Pimeneus the Priest, and Fabianus an illustrious man from the prætorium of the city, snatched away their bodies; and buried them in the house of John and Paul, not far from them, on the 5th of the Kalends of July. Benedicta, Virgin or Widow? But these seem to us to be the same with whom all the copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology begin this day, concerning whom above, and therefore we have distinguished them from Felix and Spinella likewise named there. As to S. Benedicta, I have called her a Virgin; because, invited to nuptials, she answered that she had Christ as her spouse; but above I judge her to be called a Venerable woman, on account of her age, by which she had passed beyond youth, yet was not unfit for marriage, if she had a mind to take a husband. If anyone, however, prefers to believe that she was a widow of flourishing age and form, her husband being dead, when these things were done; so far as I am concerned, let him affix to her the title of Matron.