ON THE HOLY MARTYRS GERMANUS, CÆLESTINUS, FELIX, CETINUS, URBANUS, BELLICUS AND PRIVATA.
CommentaryGermanus, Martyr (St.) Cælestinus, Martyr (St.) Felix, Martyr (St.) Cetinus, Martyr (St.) Urbanus, Martyr (St.) Bellicus, Martyr (St.) Privata, Martyr (St.)
G. H.
The most ancient transcript of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which received from the men of Echternach we have hitherto used, thus auspicates this day: VI Nones of May, of Germanus, Cælestinus, Felix, Cettinus, Urbanus, Bellicus, Privata. The same are read in three other transcripts of the same Martyrology, except that in the Lucca one the name of Germanus is wanting, and in place of Privata is written Privatus: then variously are written the names Cettinus, Cetinus, Cætinus and Ceticus, and Bellicus, Bellacus, Bellapus and Hellacus. Of these various ones in other MSS. are reported. Of the first three, namely Germanus, Cælestinus and Felix, Their names in the ancient Martyrologies. the memory is celebrated in the MS. of the Queen of Sweden praised by Holstenius. In the MSS. of Prague, and the double Liège of St. Lambert and St. Lawrence, is indicated the birthday of SS. Germanus, Cælestinus, Urbanus and Privata. The same are in the MS. Florarium, but Privatus is written. Likewise in the MS. Barberini, but Germanus being omitted; and in the MS. of Trier of St. Maximinus, but Privata being omitted; and Orbanus, in place of Urbanus, written. But others, of whom we shall soon treat, being intermixed are inserted in the MS. of Rheinau the names of Germanus, Cælestinus, Felix, Urbanus, and besides in the Reichenau Bellacus, Privata. In the MS. of Augsburg of St. Udalric these are handed down: of Germanus, Cælestinus, Privatus, Felix, to which in the Paris one communicated to us by Labbe is added Cetinus. In the MS. of Tallaght are the names of Cælestinus, Germanus, Urbanus, Bellicus, Privata. Thus far the illustrious memory of these Martyrs in so various MSS. is contained without the palestra or place of martyrdom. Of the other Germanus, Cælestinus and Santinus suffering at Alexandria below we shall treat. Likewise of Germanus and Cælestinus attributed to Rome in the following class. The name of St. Bellicus is inscribed in the ancient Calendar before the MS. works of St. Isidore, preserved at Rome among the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory.
[2] The relics of some St. Cælestinus at Bologna. Paulus Masinus in his survey of Bologna writes on this day, that at Bologna in the Church of St. Francis there is the head and part of the arm of St. Cælestinus Martyr, likewise some relics are with the Nuns of St. Helena. We received also ourselves an authentic testimony, when we were at Bologna in the year MDCLX, that with the said Franciscans with an Ecclesiastical office under a double rite St. Cælestinus martyr was venerated on account of the aforesaid relics, which there we venerated. But they seem to have assumed this day, because in the Roman Martyrology there is noted some Cælestinus suffering at Rome with two others soon to be named: which we cannot prove; and although we could, not on that account would we think it consequent, of another, that of Calepio. that of precisely him who is commemorated on this day, the Relics are at Bologna. Similarly diverse from this we think to be him, whose body, in the year MDCLXXV, on May XVIII, by Pontifical mandate from Gaspare of the title of St. Sylvester at the head of the H. R. C. Cardinal Priest of Carpineo, his Vicar general, John Paul Count of Calepio received, together with the relics of the holy Martyrs of Christ Liberalis, Angelus, Castus, Severianus, Perpetua, Victorina, Pontianus, to be placed in the church of the Visitation of B. Mary de Begnanga, situated in the commune of Calepio of the diocese of Bergamo. Yet of him I wished here to make mention, both because I judge for his worship in the aforesaid church to have been assumed this day, on which some Cælestinus is found in the Roman Martyrology, though by error, ascribed: both because it deserves it the piety of the Count himself and of the men of Calepio, who to us the instruments of the public acts of that translation under Notarial faith caused to be communicated: from which it is established, that that body was received from the Roman cemetery of St. Calixtus, and together with it was found the stone which is kept, with the inscription CÆLESTINUS and a martyr's palm sculpted. Of Cælestinus the Spanish Consul, who under Julian the apostate is presumed to have suffered, below we shall treat.