CONCERNING THE HOLY MARTYRS SECUNDOLUS OR SECUNDUS, VERULUS, FELIX, SATURNINUS, SORECTES, ABATAS, AND THIRTEEN OTHERS IN MAURETANIA.
CommentarySecundolus or Secundus, Martyr in Mauretania (S.)
Verulus, Martyr in Mauretania (S.)
Saturninus, Martyr in Mauretania (S.)
Sorectes or Socretes, Martyr in Mauretania (S.)
Abatas, Martyr in Mauretania (S.)
[1] This last troop of Martyrs of this day is listed in the Martyrology of S. Jerome in these words: In Mauretania, of Secundolus, Verulus, Felix, Saturninus, Sorectes, and thirteen others. In our copy is added Abata, Memory in the sacred records. and Socretis is written, as Soretis in the Lucca codex, in which fifteen others are reported. Notker lists these from them: In Mauretania, of Secundolus, Verulus, Felix, Saturninus, and many others. In the Barberini manuscript, sixteen companions are joined with the same. In the manuscript of Queen Christina of Sweden praised by Holstenius, thus it reads: In Mauretania, of Secundus, Felix, Saturninus, and nineteen others. In the Cologne manuscripts of S. Mary ad Gradus, and of S. Maximinus of Trier, the first three, Secundolus, Felix, Saturninus, with sixteen others are indicated. In the manuscript of S. Martin of Tournai and of Liessies, thus it reads: In Mauretania, the deposition of SS. Verulus, Felix, Saturninus. In the manuscript of S. Martin of Trier, Felix and eleven others are attributed to Mauretania. But with no mention made of Mauretania, Secundulus is commemorated in the Reichenau and Augsburg manuscripts of S. Ulrich, and Secundolus in the Labbé manuscript, and Saturninus in the additions of Greven to Usuard, unless this pertains to the preceding class.
[2] We gave above eight Martyrs who suffered at Caesarea in Palestine, and among them S. Romulus, concerning whom it may be doubted whether, Whether S. Romulus should be joined, as we have more often observed to have happened, he was thence transferred to these Martyrs, or whether another Romulus should be joined to these. Certainly Usuard joins him to S. Secundolus in these words: In Mauretania, the birthday of SS. Romulus and Secundolus, brothers, who suffered for Christ. The former part is read in the Vallicella manuscripts of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome, the Trier manuscript of S. Paulinus, and the Cologne Carmelite manuscript; but with altered phrasing, thus it reads in the Centula manuscript, the Liège manuscript of S. Lambert, and our codex under the name of Bede, and to be established as a brother of Secundolus. and in the manuscript of Ado from Lobbes, Morini, and Queen of Sweden, in these words: On the same day, of SS. Romulus and Secundolus, who suffered for Christ in Mauretania. In these the name of Brothers is omitted. Wandelbert celebrates them in this verse:
Romulus also fills the ninth, and Secundulus equally.
But Wandelbert often comprehends in a single verse Saints who pertain to different regions, cities, or classes. Meanwhile Peter de Natalibus, following, in book 11, chapter 130, number 96, has these: Romulus and Secundolus, Martyrs, suffered in Mauretania for Christ on the ninth day before the Kalends of April.
[3] Some light is added from the ancient manuscript Martyrologies of Cardinal Barberini and the monastery of S. Maximinus, Attributed to Africa elsewhere. while new obscurities seem to be added. In these, therefore, the following is read: In Africa, of Agapitus, Romulus. In Mauretania, of Secundolus, Verulus, Felix, Saturninus, and sixteen others; but "of many others" is read in Notker, who reports the rest in the same manner. We shall treat of S. Agapitus presently, but as attributed to Phrygia, who is nevertheless attributed to Africa by Rabanus. But everywhere without his companion Romulus, who seems to have been wrongly placed after Secundolus by others and added to the Moorish Martyrs. In the present-day Roman Martyrology the following is read: In Mauretania, the birthday of SS. Romulus and Secundus, brothers, who suffered for the faith of Christ. In the Notes is added: Concerning these, Usuard and Wandelbert, although elsewhere Secundolus is read for Secundus. Indeed both call him Secundolus along with the remaining Martyrologies, with only the single one of Queen Christina of Sweden praised by Holstenius excepted.