ON BLESSED SOLLICITUS OF THE ORDER OF THE CROSS-BEARERS IN PICENUM.
CommentarySollicitus of the Order of the Cross-bearers in Picenum (Bl.)
Matilica, a town of ancient name, mentioned in Frontinus among the Colonies, is situated in Picenum above the river Aesis on the slopes of the Apennines, between Fabriano and Septempeda, now called San Severino. Pliny, from this town, in book 3, chapter 14, names the inhabitants Matilicates. Near this city, says Ferrarius in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, Blessed Sollicitus, who flourished in holiness of life among the Cross-bearers, has his veneration. A sacred building has been erected in his name among the Maticilicates, and on this day Francis Maurolycus makes mention of him. So says Ferrarius from the Tables of the Brethren of the Cross-bearers. He notes that at what time he lived and what his homeland was, although he inquired more than once from the aforesaid Religious, he was nevertheless able to report nothing else but that he is honored at Matelica and in their monasteries. The same Ferrarius in the General Catalogue: At Matelica in Picenum, he says, of Blessed Sollicitus, Confessor, of the Order of the Cross-bearers. And he cites in his Notes Maurolycus and Felicius, and the Tables of the Brethren of the Cross-bearers, who venerate him with Ecclesiastical Office in their own church. We have the double Venetian edition of Maurolycus, and the Urbinian edition of Felicius, but in both without mention of Blessed Sollicitus. Meanwhile Silvester Marulus or Maurolycus, in book 1 of the Ocean of Religious Orders, page 51, asserts that these words are read in the Martyrology of Francis Maurolycus: On the same day, of St. Sollicitus, Confessor, of the Order of the Cross-bearers. Concerning the most ancient origin, progress, and reformation of the Order of Cross-bearers, Paul Morigia treats in his History of Religious Orders, chapter 31. Bishop Brautius in his Poetic Martyrology published this distich on Blessed Sollicitus:
Sollicitus to bear the Cross, he bore it on high, And exalting it above, he lightened his burden.