ON THE HOLY MARTYRS PAUL, HERACLIUS, SECUNDILLA, OR SECUNDOLA, JANUARIA, AND LUCIOSA, AT THE PORT OF ROME.
Historical Sylloge.
Paul, Martyr, at the Port of Rome (Saint)
Heraclius, Martyr, at the Port of Rome (Saint)
Secundilla, or Secundola, Martyr, at the Port of Rome (Saint)
Januaria, Martyr, at the Port of Rome (Saint)
Luciosa, Martyr, at the Port of Rome (Saint)
[1] We recorded on the 24th of February the holy Martyrs Paul and Primitivus, or Primitiva, killed at the Port of Rome out of hatred of the Christian faith, and we described that Episcopal city, once celebrated for most noble buildings and even now adorned with the dignity of a Cardinal's see. Some Martyrs at the Port of Rome, 24 February. We also doubted whether at least St. Paul, if not also Heraclius, ought to be sent on to this second day of March, just as we put off to it the Martyrs of Caesarea in Cappadocia, Saints Lucius, Absalon, Georgius, or Lorgius, and Herolus, of whom we treated on this day under the preceding title; and we brought forward the principal Martyrologies with the mention of these Saints of Portus, and added towards the end that if others should find anything more certain than what was said, and should suggest it, we would bring it forward on this day. The very ancient manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome begins the 24th of February thus: "At Rome at the Port, the natal day of Paul and Primitivus." In the Lucca and Paris manuscripts Paul is omitted. The same Martyrs, assigned to Rome with Portus omitted, were then recorded from the Reichenau and Aachen manuscripts and from Greven's Additions to Usuard. Primitivus alone was reported as having suffered at Rome from the Tournai and Liessies manuscripts, but Primitiva is written in the St. Cyriacus manuscript, and Primitiva in the Roman Martyrology and in the Paris edition of St. Jerome.
[2] In the said manuscript Martyrology of St. Jerome, for this day only this is found: "At Rome, of Secundula, Januaria." In the Lucca and Paris manuscripts the word "At Rome" is omitted, and in the latter "of Luciosa" is added. In the Reichenau manuscript it is "Januarius," 2 March, Saints Secundula, Januaria, Luciosa: and the word "At Rome" is by error inserted among the Martyrs of Caesarea. In the manuscript Ado, now of Christina, Queen of Sweden, formerly of the Church of Toulon, this is found: "Likewise on the same day, of Saints Secundola and Januaria." To these Paul is joined in several Martyrologies. The manuscript of the Queen of Sweden: "At Rome, of Paul." The Monte Cassino and Altemps manuscripts: "At Rome, of Paul, Januarius." The printed Bede and the Richeberg manuscript: "At the Port of Rome, of Paul, Secundola, Januaria." More correctly Rabanus: "At the Roman Port, of Paul, Secundola, Januaria." Paul, The Tournai manuscript: "On the same day at the Roman Port in the cemetery, of Paul, the natal day
(but this should be transposed: "Natalis of Paul"), of the Virgins Secundola and Januaria. The manuscript of Saint Maximin: "At the Port of Rome, of Paul"—but Secundula and Januaria are added to the Caesarean Martyrs. The same Secundola is added in the manuscripts of Centula and Aachen; in the latter, Paul and Januarius are also added to the others. Paul and Januarius are found inscribed in the manuscript of Saint Cyriacus at Rome as well, and Januaria should be restored. Similarly, in the Prague manuscript, Secundinus is read for Secundola, but erroneously, and Januaria and Paul are added, mixed in with others.
[3] Heraclius Galesini adds a fourth: "At the Port of Rome, of the holy Martyrs Paul, Heraclius, Secundola, and Januaria." Molanus in his first edition reports them thus: "At the Port of Rome, of Secundola, Januaria, and Saints Paul and Heraclus." Canisius has the same. But Molanus in later editions reports the first three, having relegated Heraclus to other Martyrs, whom nonetheless Wandelbert seems to have once joined to Paul in this verse:
"On the sixth day before the Nones, Heraclus and Paul are venerated."
The same two are reported by the manuscript of Ado from Saint Lawrence near Liège. All four are inscribed in the Roman Martyrology in these words: "At the Port of Rome, of the holy Martyrs Paul, All inscribed in the Roman Martyrology Heraclius, Secundilla, and Januaria." Of these, Secundilla is by others called Secundola or Secundula. Hermann Greven in his Additions to Usuard mixes in more: "At Rome," he says, "of Saints Gregory, Heraclus, Absalonius, Paul, Januarius, Primitivus, and Secundola." Ferrarius also treats of the same in his General Catalogue, and Arturus de Monasterio treats of the women in his Sacred Gyneceum. Luciosa is added from the Martyrology of Saint Jerome printed at Paris.
[4] Tamayo de Salazar in his Hispanic Martyrology presents the following: "At Zaragoza in Spain, the deposition of Saint Paul the Martyr, who completed his contest with Heraclius and other companion Martyrs at the Port of Rome. Whether the body of Saint Paul already mentioned is at Zaragoza? His sacred relics, having been brought to Spain and deposited in the monastery of the Discalced Brothers of the Most Holy Trinity, are there honorably venerated and preserved." So Tamayo, who soon in his Notes wishes Heraclius to be struck out and sends him to Augustobriga, and declares Saint Paul to be the companion of Saints Secundilla and Januaria the Martyrs. He then adds Instrumental Acts through the most illustrious and reverend Lord Julius Rospillosi, Bishop of Tarsus, Apostolic Nuncio in the kingdoms of the Spains, drawn up at the reception, handing over and distribution of the sacred Bodies, twelve of which had been sent. In them those Bodies are said to have been taken from the cemetery of Callistus on the Appian Way and from the cemetery of Priscilla on the Salarian Way. But we suspect that this 2nd day of February was chosen at will for the veneration of this Saint Paul, because on this day St. Paul, Martyr at the Port of Rome, is venerated.