ON THE HOLY ROMAN MARTYRS
FAUSTINUS, TIMOTHY, VENUSTUS, CASTUS, EMELIUS, COTTUS, ROGATUS, ALBINUS,
ROGATIANUS, MAXENTIUS, FELIX, JANUARIUS, CONCESSUS, CASTUS, EMELIUS, PLASSUS.
From the Martyrology of S. Jerome and others.
CommentaryFaustinus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Timothy, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Venustus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Castus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Emelius, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Cottus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Rogatus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Albinus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Rogatianus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Maxentius, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Felix, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Januarius, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Concessus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Castus II, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Emelius II, Martyr at Rome (S.)
Plassus, Martyr at Rome (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
[1] The ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology from these Martyrs begin this day, and most perfectly beyond the rest the Ms. Blumianus, in which these things are had: 16 Martyrs in the ancient Fasti, At Rome the natal day of the Saints Faustinus, Timothy, Venustus, Castus, Emelius, Cottus, Rogatus, Albinus, Rogatianus, Maxentius, Felix, Januarius, Concessus, likewise Castus, likewise Emelius, Plassus. Behold sixteen names of Martyrs, whom together on this day to have suffered thus indicates the ancient Ms. of the Queen of Sweden esteemed by Holstenius: At Rome the natal day of the Saints Faustinus, Timothy, Venustus, with thirteen others: whom together by their names we have expressed. Next comes the Ms. Corbeian printed at Paris, in which the former names agree, but toward the end thus is read: of Concessus, likewise Castus, likewise Plassus, when it ought to be read: of Concessus, likewise Castus, likewise Emelius, Plassus, since the name of Plassus is not repeated, but as above we saw, the name of Emelius, which also is repeated in the Ms. Epternacensian: in which these Martyrs are attributed to Africa, and the names of Januarius and Concessus are lacking. In the Ms. Lucensian, they are attributed to Rome: but by some stupor of the copyists from the first Emelius, there Emilus, even to the second Emelius ten are lacking names. Thus far the more ancient manuscripts of these sixteen Martyrs, from whom we separate SS. Castus Aemilius who suffered in Africa, and were praised by S. Cyprian as above related: on whose account however it seems the occasion was seized of attributing these to Africa. We leave to the judgment of the readers, whether any of them, on account of Castus and Aemilius who suffered in Africa, are here to be omitted.
[2] Today's Roman Martyrology from the three first Martyrs, three first in others. in the said Ms. of the Queen of Sweden named, this day also begins with these words: At Rome of the Holy Martyrs Faustinus, Timothy and Venustus. In the notes are cited Bede, Usuard, Ado and others more recent. But nothing of these Saints hand down Bede, Usuard, and Ado in their genuine Martyrologies. Notker has these things: At Rome the nativity of SS. Faustinus, Timothy, Venustus with their companions. But the mention of companions being left out the aforesaid three are attributed to Rome in the Mss. Roman of Cardinal Barberini and Trier of S. Maximinus, and in the Martyrology printed under the name of Bede: likewise by Greven, Canisius and Galesinius. To the same is added Castus in the Mss. Casinensian and Altempsian: but Mantissus in the Ms. Pragensian, perhaps in place of Maxentius. Bellinus of Padua has these things toward the end: At Rome of the Saints Faustinus and Timothy: which same things in the first place are handed down in the Mss. Augustan of S. Udalric, or two. and Parisian of Labbé, and to others are joined in various Martyrologies under the name of Usuard augmented, likewise by Maurolycus Felicius, Molanus and others. In the Appendix to Ado these things are read: At Rome the natal day of SS. Faustinus and Timothy and and others: of whom in the Mss. Richenovian and Rhinovian are indicated the names of Emilus and Maxentius; in the Aquisgranensian, of Maxentius, Felix, Emelius: and in these to Africa they are attributed: and Faustus in place of Faustinus in some is said. In the Ms. Casinensian SS. Faustinus and Timothy are referred on May XXIII. In the Calendar of the Breviary of Mainz printed in the year 1495 and 1505 there is at this XXII of May the memory of S. Faustinus the Martyr.
[3] Philip Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy printed about the year MDCXIII, refers SS. Faustinus, Timothy and Venustus who suffered at Rome, but adds that it is altogether unknown under what Emperor and by what kind of death. Which seems to have scented Pseudo-Julian Peter, while these things in the Chronicle num. 208, he hands down: There flourishes at Rome the memory of S. Venustus, Vicar of Spain, Whether S. Venustus was a Spaniard? afterward (as it is believed) recognized as a Christian, was slain on May XXII. The same in the Adversaria num. 150 these things adds: S. Venustus, who suffered at Rome, when he had performed many public offices, on May XXII, of whom elsewhere I made mention, is believed, called Pub. Baebius Venustus, and to have been an Oretanian, who built a bridge in honor of the temple of B. Mary, the order of the Oretanians asking, that there might lie open an access to the temple. That to a certain Venustus by Julian was committed the Vicariate of Spain hands down Ammianus Marcellinus in Julian book 32. But the rest we believe affixed to him until they be better proved; and most of all, what added Tamayo Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology, that the said Venustus with Faustinus and Timothy at Rome for the faith of Christ apprehended, to the laurel of martyrdom manfully hastened.
[4] Whether the relics of S. Timothy are at Bologna, Masini in Bononia perlustrata at this XXII of May hands down, that there are kept in the church of S. Dominic some relics of S. Timothy the Martyr. But by what argument it is conjectured to be of this Timothy, of whom we have already treated, does not appear, Nor more certainly our elders here at Antwerp, in the Litanies of the Saints whose Relics in the church of the Professed House of the Society of Jesus are kept, and of S. Venustus at Antwerp? when among them they had found a particle of S. Venustus, in the last line, where to each his day of cult is assigned, ascribed this XXII of May.