ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS: DIONA, ALEXANDER, PETER, MAMMERUS, NABOR, FRONTO OR PROMTO, COMIS, AND MARIA.
CommentaryDiona, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Alexander, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Peter, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Mammerus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Nabor, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Fronto or Promto, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Comis, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Maria, Martyr in Africa (S.)
[1] The third class of Martyrs is thus proposed in the Martyrology of St. Jerome printed at Paris: In Africa, of Diona, Alexander, Peter, Mammerus and Nabor, Martyrs, Fronto, Maria. The same, Sacred veneration: with the name of Maria removed, is read in the Blumian and Lucensian copies, but in the latter Nabotis is read instead of Naboris, and in the former Fronteonis instead of Frontonis: for which in the Lucensian codex Promtonis is read. In our manuscript of the same St. Jerome they are placed in this order: In Africa, of Alexander, Diona; in Africa, of Peter, Mammerus, Nabor, Comis, Pronto. By Notker the first five are thus reviewed: In Africa, of Diona, Alexander, Peter, Mammarius and Nabor, Martyrs. In the Tamlactensian manuscript among the Irish are the names Peter, Mammerius, Naborius, Fronto, Alexander and Diona. The manuscript of Cardinal Barberini: In Africa, of Alexander, Peter, concerning whom treatment is also found in the Augustan and Labbéan manuscripts. The Trier manuscript of St. Martin: In Africa, of Peter, Nabor, Martyrs. But the name of St. Peter is more celebrated than the others, and is alone related in the handwritten and printed codices of Usuard: likewise in the ancient manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, the Vallicellian of the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome, and several others. Bellinus, Felicius, Maurolycus, and Canisius follow, nearly everywhere with these words: In Africa, of St. Peter the Martyr.
[2] Whether Aphrodisius should be joined. Galesius in his customary manner adds conjectures: In Africa, he says, of the holy Martyrs Peter and Aphrodisius, who are crowned with martyrdom by the Vandals, most hostile adversaries of the Catholic faith. He notes moreover: Otherwise Euphrodisius, but in all it is written Aphrodisius. Concerning these, Victor of Utica. But in what passage, he is silent. Indeed, that in all it is written Euphrosius or Effrosius, not Aphrodisius, has already been clearly shown above. Meanwhile Baronius, whom he otherwise rejects, following Galesius, inscribed the same Aphrodisius joined with Peter in the Roman Martyrology, citing Usuard and other more recent writers, in whom, apart from Galesius, one reads Euphrosius, of whom we have treated above, and we have said that the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome was composed before the Vandal persecution.