Jovinianus

ON ST. JOVINIANUS, LECTOR,

MARTYR AT AUXERRE IN GAUL.

Cent. III

Jovinianus, Lector, Martyr at Auxerre in Gaul (S.)

G. H.

[1] Among the Apostolic men, who by the command of Pope Sixtus II being sent into Gaul, announced the Gospel of Christ to the Auxerrians, were S. Peregrinus, held to be the first Bishop of the said city, whose Acts we illustrate on the day XVI of this month of May; S. Corcodemus the Deacon, of whom we have treated on the preceding day IV May; and S. Jovinianus the Lector and Martyr, on this day V of May reported in the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, Sacred Cult. and in the Lucensian and Blumian with these words: At Auxerre the passion of S. Juvenianus, Lector and Martyr. In the MS. Corbeian printed at Paris is read Juvinianus; but what differs more in the Epternacensis, Julianus. But we judge that this is a σφάλμα (slip) of the copyists. Usuard has these things: At Auxerre the passion of S. Jovinianus, Lector and Martyr. Similar things are read in Rabanus and Ado, and in very many MSS. Martyrologies of the best note; but the name, variously distorted, is written Jovinianus, Juvinianus, Juvenianus, Jovianus, Vivinianus, Vivianus, Romanus. His cult is also assigned in the ancient Breviaries of the Church of Auxerre.

[2] Some larger encomium we find in the ancient Martyrology of the Queen of Sweden, which we have judged to have pertained to the Fuldensian or some neighboring Church around the Rhine. There in the first place it is reported with these words: Encomium from the Martyrologies. At Auxerre the passion of S. Juvinianus, Lector and Martyr, who with B. Peregrinus the Bishop and Martyr, by the command of Pope Sixtus, coming to Auxerre; since he was a man eloquent in all things, and excellently learned in the divine Scriptures; while he stoutly resisted the superstitions of the Pagans, was seized; and persevering in the confession of Christ, was killed by them. Written in the passion of S. Peregrinus. These things there, which are read plainly the same in the MS. Ado of the Church of the Morini and of the Liège monastery of S. Lawrence, but the name is written Jovinianus and Jovianus. Another encomium and excerpted from that already related is read in the Martyrology of Galesinius, and the same variously enlarged in the Gallican Martyrology of Saussay, and by both is called Jovianus. The rest in the Acts

of S. Peregrinus are read, Another from him: Jovianus the Deacon. in which among his companions is assigned Jovianus the Deacon, and another from him Jovinianus the Lector and Martyr, of whom we now treat. In the Acts of S. Germanus Bishop of Auxerre, on the day XXXI of July, are reported two Subdeacons Alexander and Jovianus, and also Jovinianus the Lector. We have set these things forth more amply on the preceding day in the encomium of S. Carcodemus, from which it seems to be gathered that all were buried in the church of S. Amator. Notker on this day writes thus: At Auxerre the passion of S. Jovianus the Confessor: which whether it ought to be understood of Jovianus the Subdeacon, could be inquired.

[3] How long S. Jovinianus the Lector lived at Auxerre, and in what year he suffered, Relics perhaps at Bologna? is not clear. Masinus in the Bononia perlustrata on this V May relates that some relics of S. Jovinianus the Martyr are preserved at Bologna in the church of S. Francis among the Conventual Friars. But that they are of this Lector will not easily be demonstrated: more easily someone will suspect that they were brought from the Roman crypts, equally as many others, which we saw there in great number and in best order arranged in the year MDCLX, the Guardian promising that he would have authentic documents about them transcribed for us. But this has been neglected hitherto, although we have once and again taken care that it be sought from his successors. If hereafter described they be transmitted, it will be possible to treat of all together on some day of one out of the whole number of a more principal Saint, or rather on the anniversary day of the common translation, which we equally desire to be indicated to us with the Acts of the matter then transacted.