ON SAINT ROSULA
MARTYR OF FILASIA.
CommentaryRosula, Martyr of Filasia (S.)
G. H.
To S. Simplicius we subjoin S. Rosula, because she is set down by some as having suffered with him in Sardinia. So James Pinto in the above-cited Little Digression on the Martyrs of Sardinia. He relied on the authority of Galesinius, Are they to be joined to SS. Simplicius, Diocletianus and Florentius? who in his Martyrology on the XVI day of May writes thus: In Sardinia of the holy Simplicius the Presbyter, Diocletianus, Florentius and Rosula. By Galesinius and Pinto is cited the Martyrology of Bede, that namely which is printed under the name of Bede: in which these things are read: In Sardinia the birthday of Simplicius the Presbyter, and of Saint Rosula, and of the Saints Diocletianus and Florentius. Besides there are alleged the deeds of S. Anthimus in Surius on the XI day of May, which we give entire and in the original style. In these at number 6 is described the martyrdom of SS. Sisinnius, Diocletianus and Florentius, whom we showed to have suffered at Osimo in Picenum. But Galesinius and the Author of the Martyrology supposititiously under the name of Bede seem, in place of Sisinnius, to have read the name of Simplicius. Then with these Simplicius is called a Presbyter, whom the Sardinians will have to have been a Bishop.
[2] But these things being dismissed, of S. Rosula we inquire what is to be thought. B. Rabanus the Archbishop of Mainz in his Martyrology has these things on this XV of May. The Ides. She is said to have suffered at Filasia. At Sirmium the birthday of Timothy and VI Virgins, and in Sardinia the birthday of Simplicius the Presbyter, and in the Filasian city of Rosula. Where equally Rosula is distinguished from Simplicius, as the latter from Timothy. But it remains to inquire about the Filasian city, where it was situated: because in the old and modern maps of Sardinia no trace of it is found. There is Filesia at the river Ister in Wallachia, which to the ancients, Lazius being witness, would have been Triphulum. Why may this derivative not be reckoned from Phila, which to Stephanus is a city of Macedonia at the river Peneus? There is also Philae, an Episcopal city of the second Thebaid. There is also Filea or Philea, a promontory of Thrace on the shore of the Euxine Sea. There are other places almost synonymous with these, so that it is difficult to pronounce anything certain. Greven in the Auctarium of Usuard, the contest being omitted, mentions Rosula and four other Virgins. Greven Canisius follows, and, this being cited, Arturus in the Sacred Gynaeceum and Ferrarius in the Notes, judging her to be venerated somewhere in Germany. Are 4 Virgins to be joined? But the four Virgins who are joined are by others said to be seven, who suffered at Sirmium with S. Timothy, of whom we treated above.