CONCERNING THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS VICTOR, SATURNINUS, SOLUTOR, AND TWELVE COMPANIONS.
CommentaryVictor, Martyr in Africa (St.)
Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (St.)
Solutor, Martyr in Africa (St.)
Twelve companions, Martyrs in Africa (SS.)
These holy athletes are mentioned on this day in the triple copy of the Martyrology of St. Jerome: the Lucca, Blume, and our very ancient copies, also in the Roman manuscripts of Cardinal Barberini and Duke Altemps, and in Bellinus according to the usage of the Roman Curia, reprinted at Paris in the year 1521, everywhere with these words: In Africa, of Victor, Saturninus, Solutor, and twelve others. The manuscript Martyrology of the Queen of Sweden, cited by Holstein in his Observations on the Roman Martyrology, has thus: In Africa, of Victor and fourteen others, and rightly, because Saturninus and Solutor are passed over in silence. The Corbie manuscript of St. Jerome printed at Paris has: In Africa, of Pictor, Saturninus, Solutor, and fourteen others. We judge with the other seven listed Martyrologies that the name of Victor should be retained, and the number of others should be reduced to twelve. In the Prague manuscript Victor alone is mentioned, but joined to others. In the Tamlacht manuscript, mixed with others, is the memory of Saturninus, Salvator, Victorinus, Victor, and fourteen others, and those who are listed above as twelve others are joined to Timothy, and Salvator is read for Solutor, and Victorinus is either to be taken for Victor, or referred to the following day.