Martyrs

ON THE HOLY MARTYRS.

VICTOR, FELIX, ALSO VICTOR, CARISIA, AUFIDIA, JUDITH, EMERIA,

ALSO VICTOR, ACUTA, FAUSTINA, HILARIANUS, VICTORIANA, SATURNINA, GAVINA,

HEDENTUS, FORTUNA, VICTORIA, PRIMA, GAIANUS, VALENTINA, FORTUNATA,

POSTUMUS, FAUSTINUS, MAJORICUS, VENUSTUS, MASSUNUS, PROCESSA, SECUNDIANUS,

IMPORTUNA, QUINTIANUS, PETRUS, TASSUS, CASSERICUS, MAPPARICUS, VENERIA,

BONEFACIA, QUINTUS, FLORIANA, VICTORINA, DEMORUS, GAUDOLA, ALSO VICTORINA,

CRISPINUS, POSSINUS, ALSO FELIX, DONATUS, LABORUS, MASILLO, GAIANUS,

FARERUS, QUINTUS, ROGATUS, MAXENTIUS, NINNA, VIRTUNIA, VALERIA, TIRONIUS,

MATRONA, CITINUS, FLORIANUS, HERENEUS, FORTUNATUS, FAUSTINUS, GAVINUS, HERINUS,

PAPPALICUS, PRIMUS, CASSUS, SECUNDUS, CELERINUS, HIEREMIA, FLAVIUS, MACROBIUS,

MARCELLINUS, MAXIMUS, BAFRODITUS, AUGUSTIANUS, NITICUS AND LXV OTHERS, ALSO

GAIANUS AND XX COMPANIONS, AND MANY OTHERS,

AT MILAN IN INSUBRIA.

UNDER MAXIMIAN

Victor, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Felix, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victor, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Carisia, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Aufidia, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Iudith, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Emeria, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Hedentus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Fortuna, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victoria, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Prima, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Gaianus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Valentina, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Fortunata, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Postumus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Faustinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Majoricus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Venustus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Massunus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Processa, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Secundianus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Importuna, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Quintianus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Petrus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Tassus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Cassericus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Mapparicus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Ninna, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Virtunia, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Valeria, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Tironius, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Matrona, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Citinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Floricinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Hereneus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Fortunatus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Faustinus another, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Gauinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Herenus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Papalicus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Primus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victor, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Acuta, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Faustina, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Hilarianus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victoriana, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Saturnina, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Gavina, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Veneria, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Bonefacia, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Quintus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Floriana, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victorina, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Demorus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Gaudola, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Victorina another, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Crispinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Possinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Felix another, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Donatus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Laborus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Masilla, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Gajanus another, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Farerus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Quintus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Rogatus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Maxentius, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Cassus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Secundus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Celerinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Hieremia, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Flavius, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Macrobius, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Marcellinus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Maximus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Bafroditus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Augustianus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Niticus, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

Another LXV, Martyrs, at Milan; Gajanus the third, Martyr, at Milan (S.)

XX Companions and others, Martyrs, at Milan.

By G. H.

[1] Saint Ambrose, who flourished in the fourth century of Christ, Doctor of the Church and Bishop of Milan, in his sermon for the feast of SS. Nazarius and Celsus the Martyrs, asserts that other cities exult, if they are protected with the relics of even one Martyr. But the city of Milan possesses peoples of Martyrs; At Milan peoples of martyrs: which we give here, or certainly some signal number of them. Therefore let the land of Milan today rejoice, nurse of heavenly soldiers, and fertile parent of so many virtues: rightly and out of duty by the children of the parent church the insignia of these blessed Martyrs are celebrated. For the immense piety of our God wills the merits of those to be our suffrages: and at the same time, while He commends to us the true faith by the hard contest of martyrdom, the affliction of those who went before, He makes the instruction of those who come after. Them He examines, that He may instruct us: them He grinds, that He may acquire us: and their tortures He wills to be our advancements. Rightly therefore we cultivate them, who fight by their own perils, and serve as soldiers for our advantages. These and other things to his Milanese people S. Ambrose. The time of martyrdom of these athletes we judge, among whom many under the Emperor Maximian. when the Emperor Maximian held the Seat of his Empire at Milan. For, as in the Acts of the martyrdom of S. Victor the Moor, to be illustrated on day VIII of May, is indicated, while the impious Maximian Emperor reigned, in the city of Milan there flourished a great persecution of Christians. Of whom on this VI of May in the most ancient copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology of Echternach, written almost a thousand years ago, the following are referred in this manner.

[2] At Milan, of Victor, Felix, also Victor, Calricia, Affidia, Juthid, Emeria, also Victor, Names expressed in the Echternach MS Acuta, Faustina, Hilarianus, Victoriana, Saturnina, Gavina, Hedentus, Furtuna, Victuria, Prima, Gaianus, Valentina, Fortunata, Postumus, Faustinus, Majoricus, Venustus, Massunus, Processa, Secundianus, Inportuna, Quintianus, Petrus, Tassus, Cassericus, Mapparicus, Venera, Bonefacia, Quintus, Floriana, Victorina, Demorus, Gaudola, also Victorina, Crispinus, Possinus, also Felix, Donatus, Laborus, Masilla, Gaianus, Farerus, also Quintus, Rogatus, Maxentius, Ninna, Virtunia, Valeria, Tironius, Matrona, Citinus, Florianus, Hereneus, Fortunatus, Faustinus, Gavinus, Herenus, Pappalicus, Primus, Secundus, Cassus, Celerinus, Hieremia, Flavius, Macrobius, Marcellinus, Maximus, Bafroditus, Agustinianus, Niticus, and LXV others, also Gaianus and XX others. Behold the syllabus of LXXIX Martyrs, expressed by their own names: about whom, with some variation however, treat three other copies of the same Hieronymian Martyrology, namely Corbie printed at Paris, the Luccan edited by Florentinius, and MS. Blumianus.

[3] But that the variety may better appear, we have distributed the Martyrs themselves into decades. In the first decade, "Calricia," "Caricia," and "Carica" is written; collated with 3 other Mss. "Affidia" in others is "Aufidia"; as also "Juthid," "Judith"; and "Faustina," in one "Faustinus." In the second decade in the Corbie MS. are read the names of Helariana, Victurianus, Saturninus, Gavinus, Aedentus, Primus. In which, the Lucca and Blumianus agree with the Echternach, but in two in place of "Victuria" is had "Victoria"; and in place of "Furtuna," in these is "Fustuna," in the Corbie "Fortunatus"; unless this be transferred to the third decade, where in Lucca and Blumianus is "Fortunatus," above in Echternach "Fortunata." But in place of "Postumus, Faustinus, Inportuna," in the Corbie is had, "Portumus, Justinus, Inportunus," and for "Massunus" in others is "Massimus, Massus, Marsunus." In the fourth decade "Tassus, Cassericus," in the Corbie is "Tassicassiricus" in one word, where also is missing "Mapparicus," who in others is "Mappalicus." In place of "Venera" in the other three is "Veneria," and "Bonefacia" or "Bonifacia," which in the Echternach seemed to be divided. Then, in place of "Floriana" and "Victorina," in the Corbie alone is read "Florinus" and "Victorinus": and in place of "Demonus" in others is read "Domorus, Domulus," and (which strays much) "Memoria." In the fifth decade for "Gaudola" and "Victorina," in the Corbie is had "Gaudula" and "Victorinus"; in place of "Possinus" is read "Possinnus, Possisinus" and "Possina." The names of "Felix" and "Donatus" are missing in the other three codices. For "Masilla," is read "Massilla" and "Masila": and here ends MS. Blumianus. "Fareri, Faseri, Saferi" are variously expressed. In the sixth decade the names of "Quintus" and "Rogatus" are missing in the Corbie: for "Ninna" and "Virtunia" also "Nina" and "Virtuma" is written: as "Tironi, Tironii" and "Tyronia." After "Citinus" in the Corbie and Lucca is added, "with their companions and the rest of the Saints": and then, in place of "Florianus," is had in the Corbie "Floriana." In the seventh decade in place of "Herenus," in both others is "Herentus"; as also "Cassus, Secundus" with order changed. In the last order "Macrobius, Magrobi" and "Magropi" is written, as also "Bafroditi, Bafrobiti" and "Babrofiti": "Agustinianus, Augustinianus" and "Agatianus." For "Niticus" in Lucca is had "Nicetus": and to these companions are joined LXV, in the Corbie they are LXXIII, in Lucca XLII. But the memory of "Gaianus and XX others," in others is had between the names of "Flavianus" and "Macrobianus": and toward the end in the Corbie alone these are found, "Likewise of Gaianus with LXXII others."

[4] But in the Echternach are one hundred sixty-four Martyrs both eighty-five anonymous, and seventy-nine expressed by their own names. In MS. Corbie are in all two hundred forty-two, but in Lucca one hundred forty-nine: Mention of some in various Martyrologies. to these Codices comes very close MS. Martyrology of the Queen of Sweden, by Lucas Holstenius in his Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology praised, in which these are had: At Milan of Victor, Felix, with one hundred thirty-three others. But MSS. of Arras and Tournai say, "At Milan, the birthday of SS. Victor and Felix." MS. Ado of Liège of S. Lawrence and the MS. Florarium have these: At Milan of Hilarion, Victurio, Saturninus, Victor, Felix. Of these the three first are referred in MSS. of Prague and Trier of S. Maximinus: but Victorianus is in Whitford in the Martyrology written in English. The other two, Victor and Felix, who are held the standard-bearers of all, are mentioned in MSS. of Augsburg of S. Udalricus, Aachen and Paris of Labbe, and in Greven in his Auctarium of Usuard. In MS. Tamlactense are expressed the names of Victor, Felix, Curica, Aufidia, Judith, Emeria, Acuta, Faustina, Marcellus, Maximus, Augustinus, Gaianus, with LXXX others.

[5] We have noted in the preceding class that various of these Martyrs are joined to others, with no place expressed, and so are read in MSS. Centulense, Liège, Lobbes, some joined to Africans, and another of the Queen of Sweden. On the same day of the holy Martyrs Heliodorus, Venustus, Postumus, Maximus, Nicetus with LXXII others. Of these all, as we have already said, look here, except Heliodorus, who is to be numbered among the Africans: in the meantime others, as Africans, are joined to them in the MS. of the Carmelites of Cologne

we indicated there: indeed with varying number the same is read in Usuard with these words: In Africa of the holy Martyrs Heliodorus, Venustus and seventy-five others. But Venustus with the rest belongs to this class. The more recent writers have followed everywhere: which we wished to note carefully, that the same may be further examined by others, and so the truth may shine forth more.