CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS FIDELIS, FELIX, AND TWENTY OTHERS IN AFRICA.
CommentaryFidelis, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Felix, Martyr in Africa (S.)
Twenty other Martyrs in Africa (SS.)
[1] We conjoin these two Martyrs who suffered in Africa, though they are separated by most authorities, because the twenty companions are sometimes assigned to one, sometimes to the other, and indeed one seems even to be substituted for the other. The controversy will have to be settled from the Martyrological records themselves (for no Acts survive). First, very ancient Martyrologies record the feast of Fidelis alone, who suffered in Africa without companions, S. Fidelis, such as those of S. Jerome in the four copies commonly cited by us, as well as the Cassinese, Altempsian, Barberinian, Rhinaugiense, Rhinoviense, of S. Cyriacus, of S. Maximinus, and many others. In the Corbeiense one reads: "In Africa, the feast of Fidelis Magnus." But whether "Magnus" is an epithet of S. Fidelis or a companion in martyrdom is not clear from the silence of the others.
Rabanus lists him with companions thus: "On the tenth day before the Kalends of April, with 20 companions, in Africa, Fidelis and twenty others." Notker has the same. But with Fidelis omitted, S. Felix is substituted in his place, and indeed without companions, in the manuscript Martyrology of Queen Christina of Sweden, from which Holstenius chiefly published his Observations on the Roman Martyrology, S. Felix, likewise in the manuscripts of Augsburg of S. Ulrich, the Labbaeanum, the Brussels manuscript of S. Gudula, and the printed German edition of Canisius. The genuine Bede is lacking, but the Martyrology which exists under his name adds companions thus: "In Africa, the feast of Felix and twenty others." In the manuscript Calendar of the Church of Aquileia, the commemoration of Felix and twenty others is also proposed. Are these the same 20? In today's Roman Martyrology, mention is made of all of them thus: "In Africa, S. Fidelis the Martyr. Likewise S. Felix and twenty others." And in the Notes, Fidelis is said to be restored from the manuscripts, and Felix is given from Bede -- namely the printed edition -- and from Wandelbert, who thus joins him with others:
"Felix here adorns the tenth day, and Theodore with Julian, worthy of being celebrated with the distinguished praise of virtues."
Of the companions, Theodore of Antioch and Julian of Caesarea, we shall treat separately. Various conjunction with other Martyrs. In the manuscript Florarium and Ado of S. Lawrence near Liege, this conjunction is given: "In Africa, the Blessed Fidelis the Martyr. On the same day, of the holy Martyrs Felix, Julian, Caesareus, and many other Martyrs." Of Caesareus, who in other sources is called Caesarea, we shall treat below. Maurolycus has this: "At Carthage in Africa, of the holy Martyrs Fidelis and Victorianus": the latter is called Victorinus by Felicius, and is joined with Fidelis. But this pertains to another class of African Martyrs to be given below. Galesinius is silent about S. Fidelis, and places Felix before others to be assigned to various classes. Grevenus in his additions to Usuard has this: "In Africa, the Blessed Fidelis the Martyr. Likewise Primiolus, Felix." This is a companion to be joined to the Martyrs of Caesarea: to whom and to others Felix is joined in the Prague manuscript. In the third Tamlachtense manuscript, the name of Felix is found, and on the day before, of Felix and fourteen others. On the same day, Fidelis is joined to S. Saturninus and other Africans in the Cassinese manuscript and in Maurolycus and Felicius. Masini in his survey of Bologna reports under this day S. Felix the Martyr, because various relics of his are preserved in the church of S. Francis: but whence could it be established that they belong to this Felix?