CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS LEO, DONATUS, ABUNDANTIUS OR ABUNDIUS, ADRASTUS, CHARISIUS, NICEPHORUS, DONATILLA, FORTUNUS, POLOCRONIUS, AGAPIUS, AND SIX OTHERS.
Historical Commentary.
St. Leo, Martyr.
St. Donatus, Martyr.
St. Abundantius or Abundius, Martyr.
St. Adrastus, Martyr.
St. Charisinus, Martyr.
St. Nicephorus, Martyr.
St. Donatilla, Martyr.
St. Fortunus, Martyr.
St. Polocronius, Martyr.
St. Agapius, Martyr.
Six companions, Martyrs.
[1] We possess a most ancient Martyrology attributed to St. Jerome (which we have hitherto used in elucidating the Acts of Saints honored in the months of January and February), a threefold copy of the Martyrology of St. Jerome: written about a thousand years ago in the old Anglo-British script, as Lucas Holstenius, prefect of the Vatican Library and Canon of the Church of St. Peter, a man worthy of a longer life on account of his distinguished virtue and learning, most warmly approved this our judgment concerning it. We were present when he died on February 2, 1661, and were asked to confer the last rites which a priest customarily administers at that moment. A second copy of this Martyrology we found in the Etruscan city of Lucca, in the possession of Francesco Maria Fiorentini, a man so celebrated for his singular learning that Pope Alexander VII judged it would benefit our studies if, before departing from Italy, we should visit him, which we did, being received as guests with singular kindness. Meanwhile, Lucas d'Achery obtained a third copy of the same Martyrology from an ancient codex of the monastery of Corbie and inserted it in volume 4 of his Spicilegium, printed at Paris in the year 1661.
[2] In these three codices, three classes of Martyrs adorn this first day of March: in it the commemoration of these Martyrs: and the first class in the Martyrology printed at Paris is presented thus: On the Kalends of March. The Birthday of the Saints Leo, Donatus, Abundantius, Adrustus, Charisius, Nicophorus, Donatella, and nine other Martyrs. The second class contains three Martyrs who suffered in Africa: the third, various ones killed at Marseilles, of whom we shall treat below. In the Lucca codex the same are reported, with names slightly varied: Kal. March. Birthday of the Saints Leo, Donatus, Habundantius, Adrastus, Carasius, Nicophorus, Donatella, and nine others. In the first manuscript which we possess, they are attributed to Africa, and the names also differ slightly: Kal. March. In Africa, the Birthday of the Saints Leo, Donatus, Habundius, Adrastus, Carissius, Nicephorus, Donatilla, and nine others. And immediately follows: In Africa, Adrianus, Viciorius, Secundilla, of whom we shall treat separately below, as having certainly suffered in Africa, which is not said of the former in the other two codices.
in Gaul, as also in the Usuard printed at Lübeck about two hundred years ago, and in the Catalogue of Peter de Natalibus, book 11, chapter 130, number 82. This Leo seems to have been transferred to the Martyrs of Marseilles by Galesinius and Saussay, as will be stated more fully below.
[4] In the second place is recorded St. Donatus, Martyr, from whom is distinct the St. Donatus who will be given below from Usuard and ancient manuscripts as having suffered in Africa, at Carthage, under the commander Ursacius and the tribune Marcellinus: when he is celebrated separately, we judge that it is rather this latter who is meant; indeed perhaps it is from him that the others are attributed to Africa. The manuscripts of the Martyrologies of Cardinal Barberini and of the Queen of Sweden report both under a distinction thus: In Africa, of Donatus the Martyr. And of St. Leo: who belongs to this class. Two companions are joined to him, with no place assigned, or of several: by the manuscript Martyrologies of Corbie and another of the Queen of Sweden: The Birthday of the Saints Leo, Donatus, Habundantius. The same are reported in the manuscripts of St. Ulrich at Augsburg and the Paris manuscript of Labbé. But Nicephorus with nine companions is joined in the manuscripts of Monte Cassino, Altemps, the Vatican Archive of St. Peter, and the monastery of St. Cyriacus, citing which Baronius inscribed them in the Roman Martyrology with these words: Likewise the birthday of the holy Martyrs Leo, Donatus, Abundantius, Nicephorus, with nine others. In total they are reckoned at fourteen in the manuscript of St. Mary at Utrecht and the manuscript of St. Martin at Trier, which number Greven and Canisius also count in the German Martyrology, and generally joined to Donatus of Carthage.
[5] In the manuscript of Reichenau near Constance another Martyr is added, and all are described thus: In Africa, Leo, Donatia, Fortunus, Donatilla, Abundantius. Another Martyr is joined by Hermann Greven in his additions to Usuard: in others also Fortunus, Polocronius Likewise the Saints Abundius, Leo, Arcastus, and Polocronius. For Arcastus, one reads above Adrastus and Adrustus. A third, Agapius, is added to these in the Greek Synaxarion manuscript from the Clermont College of the Society of Jesus at Paris, in which, after other Saints recorded, the first day of March is concluded thus: "And of the holy Martyrs Charesius, Nicephorus, and Agapius" (Καὶ τῶν ἁγίων Μαρτύρων Χαρησίου, Νικηφόρου καὶ Αγαπίου). and Agapius. For Charesius, one reads above Charisius, Carasius, and Carissius. Nicephorus is often written Nicophorus in the Latin manuscripts. Since therefore we add Fortunus, Polocronius, and Agapius, out of the nine unnamed Martyrs we place only six in the title.
[6] The arena of martyrdom remains doubtful to us: in a single manuscript codex of the Martyrology of St. Jerome, and another manuscript of Reichenau, they are attributed to Africa. also very ancient, they are attributed to Africa; which are supported by the manuscript Martyrologies of St. Martin at Tournai and of Liessies: In Africa, the Passion of St. Leo and Donatus. But those words should perhaps be emended from the Martyrologies indicated above, in which one reads: In Africa, of Donatus the Martyr, namely the one who suffered at Carthage, of whom we shall treat below. And the Passion of St. Leo, as so many manuscripts already cited have it. Nor should Philip Ferrari be heeded when, citing the Martyrology of St. Cyriacus, he asserts they suffered at Rome, in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, in the Annotation on the 260 Roman Martyrs. At Rome. No mention of Rome is made in the said Martyrology.
[7] A greater difficulty is raised by the Spaniards on account of these words inserted in the Chronicle of Flavius Dexter under the year of Christ 115: At Ursao in Baetica, St. Leo the Martyr and his companions. and at Ursao or Osuna. That Ursao is now called Osuna we consider beyond dispute. Would that we could say the same of the Chronicle of Dexter, whose authority continually wavers more in our estimation. Meanwhile, the Saints Leo, Donatus, Abundantius, Nicephorus, and nine companions assigned in the Roman Martyrology are understood. So hold Francisco Bivarius and Rodrigo Caro in their commentaries on the Chronicle of Dexter, Pablo de Espinosa in book 2 of the History of Seville, chapter 9, and Antonio Quintanadueñas on the Saints of the Archdiocese of Seville, page 280 and following. Indeed, in the Order for reciting the divine office for the Church and diocese of Seville, printed at Madrid in 1635 and 1646, we read the office of the Saints Leo, Donatus, Nicephorus, etc., Martyrs, prescribed under the double rite. The same were inscribed in the Spanish Martyrology by Tamayo Salazar: At Ursao in Baetica, the Saints Donatus, Leo, Abundantius, Nicephorus, and nine others, who through the straits of martyrdom reached the august mansions of heaven with the Lord's help. On what basis? On the other hand, Martin de Anaya in his Apologeticus, cited by the said Tamayo, contends that these most holy Martyrs were neither from Ursao nor to be added to the calendar of Seville; indeed they should be rejected because Dexter names only Leo and companions without specifying Donatus or others: since therefore he passes over in silence the quality and proof of this, from whom did Antonio Quintanadueñas derive the idea that those Martyrs of the Roman Martyrology on the Kalends of March were theirs? So much for that. More prudent Spaniards, who assert that the Chronicle of Dexter itself is a fabrication, would seek further proofs.
[8] In an ancient Breviary of the Church of Burgos printed in the year 1502, the ecclesiastical office of St. Albinus the Bishop is prescribed for this day, and there is added a commemoration of St. Nicephorus the Martyr, Nicephorus is venerated at Burgos. with antiphons and a prayer to be taken from the Common of one Martyr. Concerning the time at which they suffered, nothing is known. The persecution of Trajan and the year of Christ 115 are assigned in the Chronicle of Dexter, but Pablo de Espinosa transfers them from there to the times of Diocletian and Maximian, though without giving any reason for his opinion.
CONCERNING THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS ADRIAN, VICTURUS, AND SECUNDILLA.
Commentary.
St. Adrian, Martyr in Africa.
St. Victurus, Martyr in Africa.
St. Secundilla, Martyr in Africa.
[1] This second class of Martyrs is brought forward in the Martyrology of St. Jerome; and indeed in the one printed at Paris with these words: In Africa, Adrian, Victurus, Secundilla. In the Lucca codex, Alanus is read for Adrian; in the third codex it is Viciorius, who in others is Victurus. In the manuscript Calendar of the Vallicella, the former is recorded: In Africa, St. Adrian. In the Prague manuscript they are mixed with the Marseilles Martyrs: In Africa, at Marseilles, the Saints Hermes and Adrian, Victurus, Secundilla, etc. The rest remains hidden.