CONCERNING THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS ROMULUS, ACUTUS, PINNARIUS, MARULUS, SUCCESSUS, MISIA, MATUTINA, DONATUS, SUCCESSA, ALEXANDER, SOLUTOR, AND SATURNINUS.
CommentaryRomulus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Acutus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Pinnarius, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Marulus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Successus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Misia, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Matutina, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Donatus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Successa, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Alexander, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Solutor, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
Saturninus, Martyr in Africa (Saint)
[1] Romulus is recorded as the leader and standard-bearer of these holy athletes crowned in Africa for the faith of Christ in the ancient manuscript Martyrologies: Romulus, those of the Cathedral Church of Arras, the monastery of St. Martin at Tournai, and the monastery of St. Maximin at Trier. Donatus is assigned as his companion in the Vatican manuscript of St. Peter's, Donatus, Saturninus, and Saturninus is added to them in the Monte Cassino manuscript and the Benevento manuscript, which is preserved in the Vatican Library under the number 5949, both codices being written in Lombard script. But to the aforesaid Romulus are joined these two companions, Marolus and Successus, in the Barberini, Prague, and other manuscripts of St. Maximin, Marolus, Successus, and in the Additions of Greven to Usuard: in which, as if there were a separate class of Martyrs from these, without place assigned, a commemoration is made of Agutus, Missia, Acutus, Missia, and Romolus. In the Prague manuscript the same names are read more distorted: Agittus, Missia, Romelus. But with the place indicated, and a fourth added, they are reported thus in the Augsburg manuscript of St. Ulrich: "In Africa: Romulus, Acutus, Missia, Solutor." The same four are in the Paris manuscript of Labbe, Solutor, but "Agatha" and "Salutor" are written. In the Rhine manuscript the following is found: "In Africa: Maurolus, Acutus," to which in the Reichenau manuscript is added: "Romulus, Successus, Missia, Donatus, Alexander, Solutor." The Altemps manuscript indicates these: "In Africa: Romulus, Alexander, Acutus, Morulus, Successa, Matutina, Donatus, Saturninus." In Notker this class is enumerated thus: Successa, Matutina, "In Africa: Romulus, Acutius, Maurulus, Pinnarius, Missia, Matutina, and others. Likewise Donatus, Saturninus, and Martianus": Pinnarius, of these, Martianus is the Bishop of Tortona, about whom we treat on this day among those Passed Over and Deferred to Other Days. Finally, the copies of the ancient Martyrology of St. Jerome report the same, and the Lucca copy in this manner: "In Africa: Romulus, Acutus, Marolus, Pinnarius, Successa, Missia, Matutina, Donatus, Saturninus." In the Blume copy, Pinnarius and Successus are read. In the Corbie copy printed at Paris: "Marobus, Successus, twelve in all. Misia." The rest agree. In the manuscript of the Queen of Sweden, praised by Luke Holstenius, the following is found: "In Africa, the birthday of Saints Romulus, Acutus, and ten others." These are set forth as twelve in all by our most ancient copy of St. Jerome's Martyrology in these words: "In Africa: Romulus, Acutus, Pinnarius, Maurolus, Successa, Misia, Matutina, Dotus, Successus, Alexander, Solutor, Saturninus." In the Tamlacht manuscript these names are found: "Acutus, Pinnarius, Successus, Romulus, Miria, Misia, Successa, Mariolus, Matutina, Dotus, Alexander, Saturninus, Donatus, and twelve others." Indeed, we have already said twelve in all, and we judge that the names Miria and Misia, as well as Dotus and Donatus, indicate the same Martyr, and the name Solutor is missing.
[2] These things had to be carefully set out so that the controversy which arises on the occasion of certain Martyrs occurring again on the following day Rogatus and Successus again reported on March 28. might be more easily resolved. Rabanus would seem to have led the way, unless it is rather judged an error of copyists: for in his Martyrology it is thus printed: "The sixth before the Kalends. At Jerusalem, the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. The fifth before the Kalends. In Africa, the birthday of Rogatus, Successus." But those words seem to be placed after the Resurrection, and then the other day should be subjoined: "The fifth before the Kalends. At Caesarea, etc.," as most ancient Martyrologies begin that day. On both days the genuine Bede is silent, but the Martyrology hitherto published under his name has the following for the twenty-eighth day of March, or the fifth before the Kalends of April: "In Africa, the birthday of Rogatus, Successus, and sixteen others." Rabanus had separated these sixteen and deferred them to the end of that day, as had our ancient copy of the Martyrology of St. Jerome, in which however only thirteen are counted.
[3] In the Richenberg manuscript they are said to be seventeen. Galesinius, citing Bede and a manuscript codex, has the following: "In Africa, of Saints Rogatus and Successus and sixteen others." The same, transcribed from there, is read in the present Roman Martyrology. Baronius adds in the Notes that the African Bishops Rogatus and Successus are read in the Synodical letter to Pope Cornelius, found in Cyprian, epistle 54. Also extant is epistle 82 of Cyprian to Successus concerning the persecution stirred up by the Emperor Valerian. But he prudently adds that he does not dare affirm whether they are the same of whom we are now treating, who are nowhere called Bishops. In the Reichenau and Rhine manuscripts the following is found for the said twenty-eighth day: "In Africa: Rogata, Successus, and Dorotheus." But Dorotheus pertains to that day, and in place of Rogata the Ado manuscript of the Queen of Sweden more correctly reads "St. Rogatus, who suffered in Africa." Another St. Rogatus is celebrated on the same day among the Martyrs crowned at Caesarea in Palestine.