CONCERNING SS. SATURNINUS AND NINE COMPANIONS, MARTYRS IN AFRICA.
Commentary Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Nine Companions, Martyrs in Africa (SS.)
[1] The memory of these Martyrs is most celebrated in the foremost and most ancient Martyrologies: in the Martyrology of S. Jerome in four copies, in Rabanus, in Notker, in the Barberini manuscript, that of Queen Christina of Sweden, and in many under the name of Usuard, the printed edition of Bede, and others, in which the following is contained: Memorial in the ancient calendars, "In Africa, of Saturninus and nine others." In the Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year 1490, there is added: "Martyrs, who were slain for the name of Christ." In today's Roman Martyrology the following is read: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Saturninus and nine others." In a Cassinese manuscript in Lombard characters, a companion is added with these words: "In Africa, of Fidelis, Saturninus, and nine others." The same is also read in Maurolycus and Felicius. various companions wrongly added: But in most other calendars, Fidelis, who suffered in Africa, is referred to the following day. In Hermann Greven's additions to Usuard and in Canisius's German Martyrology, some companion is named: "In Africa, of Saturninus, Dieronus, and eight other Martyrs." But two are added in the Cologne manuscript of S. Mary ad Gradus: "In Africa, of the holy Saturninus, Decronius, Arion, and nine others." In the Aachen Martyrology, without indicating a place or companions, Paul is prefixed—namely the Bishop of Narbonne, about whom we have already treated—but the other two are Martyrs of Sebaste and belong to the following group. In the Tamlacht manuscript, Saturninus and eight companions are reported.
[2] they do not appear to have suffered under the Vandals: Galesinius adds this eulogy: "In Africa, of the holy Martyrs Saturninus and nine companions, who, in the Vandal persecution, having shed their blood for the Catholic faith, bore the palm of a distinguished testimony." In the Notes, Victor, book 1 of the Vandal Persecution, is cited, but the one named there is Saturus, whom we shall celebrate with Galesinius and others on March 29. Then the memory of these ten Martyrs seems to have been inscribed in the Martyrology of S. Jerome before that persecution. Meanwhile, what Galesinius added from his own conjecture was inserted in the second edition of the German Martyrology. Baronius in the Notes to this day writes: "Many of that name are held to have suffered in Africa, no mention of this Saturninus seems to be made in the epistle of S. Celerinus: of whom let us not pass over him concerning whom there is the noble testimony of the Martyr S. Celerinus in his epistle to Lucianus." This is epistle 21 in S. Cyprian, in which near the end the following is found: "The Macarii greet you with their sisters, who rejoice in your flourishing confession, as do all the brethren and Saturninus, who himself also wrestled with the devil, who also bravely confessed the name of Christ, who also there bravely confessed under the punishment of the hooks, who also here earnestly asks and petitions." Where Pamelius observes that there were many Saturnini—Confessors, Martyrs, and Bishops alike—in Africa in the age of Cyprian, and therefore it would be superfluous to divine which one this was; which must be said all the more of this S. Saturninus the Martyr, since he could have been killed in another persecution, when S. Cyprian was no longer alive. We have presented ten similar Martyr Saturnini in Africa in January and February, and others this month. nor does he appear to have been a Bishop. Peter de Natalibus in book 12 of the Catalogue, number 95, has the following: "Saturninus the Bishop and nine other Martyrs suffered in Africa on the eleventh day before the Kalends of April." No mention of his episcopate is made by others.