African Martyrs

ON THE HOLY AFRICAN MARTYRS,

QUINTUS, LUCIUS, JULIANUS, MONTANA, JANUARIA, EMELIA, NONNA, ALMERIDA,

ASTUS, BASILEUS, BISHOP, VICTORIUS, FIRMUS, MONTANUS, JULIANUS, VICTORICUS,

FIDELIUS, DONATUS, NICIA, FAUSTUS, TIMOTHEUS, SILVANUS, AND FOCIUS.

From the Martyrology of S. Jerome.

Quintus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Lucius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Julianus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Montana, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Januaria, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Emelia, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Nonna, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Almerida, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Astus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Basileus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Victorius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Firmus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Montanus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Julianus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Victoricus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Fidelius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Donatus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Nicia, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Faustus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Timotheus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Silvanus, Martyr in Africa (S.)

Focius, Martyr in Africa (S.)

BY G. H.

This illustrious class of African Martyrs

is celebrated by the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian

Martyrology. Of these the Corbeian, printed at Paris,

proposes them in this order and manner: Martyrs from the Fasti of S. Jerome

"In Africa of Quintus, Lucius, Julianus, Montana, Januaria,

Emelia, Nonna, Almeridus, Astus, Basileus the Bishop,

Victurus, Firmus, Montanus, Julianus, Victuricus, Fidelis,

Donatus, Nicia, Faustus, Timotheus, Silvanus, Focius."

Thus there, of which the last two are lacking in other apographs,

and in place of "Almeridi" in the Epternacensian and Lucensian is "Almerida,"

as in these and the Blumian is "Victori" in place of "Victuri": and

so for "Victurici" is in the Lucensian and Blumian "Victorici,"

and for "Niciæ" is in the Epternacensian "Nicæ." And thus far from

the Hieronymian Martyrology.

[2] and others. Notker thus reports some: "In Africa of Quintus and

Lucius and many others." That these two suffered in Africa

is handed down besides the Florarium Sanctorum, by the Manuscript Roman

of Cardinal Barberini, the Trier of S. Maximinus, the Cologne

of S. Mary at the Steps, the Liège of S. Lambert and S. Laurence,

the Reichenau and Richenovian: in which (but with others interposed)

are added the names of Julianus, Felix, Montanus, Januaria.

In the Cassinian are the names of Quintus and Faustus: in the Supplement

of Greven to Usuard, of Lucius, Quintus, Montanus, and

others. In the Manuscripts of Tournai and Lætiensian, of Julianus the Martyr,

who in the Atrebatensian Manuscript is called Julius the Martyr. And

with the field "Africa" omitted, the memory is celebrated in the Manuscript of Aachen

and the Calendar of Lucca of Quintus and Lucius. In the Manuscript

of the Vatican of S. Peter mention is made of these three, Quintus, Lucius,

Januarius, in others as above of Januaria: in the Manuscript of Prague of Lucius and

Quintinus; and in the Augsburg of Quintus, Lucius, Julianus, Firmus,

Faustus. Who are also reported in the Parisian Manuscript of Labbe,

with Africa as their arena.

[3] Galesinius tries to adorn them with this elogium: "In Africa,

of the blessed Martyrs Quintius, Lucius, and Julianus. Whether they suffered in the Vandalic persecution These in

the Vandalic persecution, with contests bravely undertaken for the Catholic

piety, as the strongest soldiers of God

are given crowns for victory." Thus there, which thence

were added to the third edition of the Germanic Martyrology

written by Canisius. Galesinius cites some Manuscript, nor do we doubt

but that in it he found three named Martyrs, Quintus,

Lucius, and Julianus, and they ascribed to Africa,

just as we also have already brought them forth from so many Martyrologies: but Galesinius

(which we have observed elsewhere) by his conjecture transferred them

to the Vandalic persecution, of which Victor

of Utica, indicated by him, treats: although in him such martyrdom

is not described, indeed nor are the names found. Therefore

we judge that they suffered under ethnic Emperors, and so

could be inserted into the Martyrology of S. Jerome, as we have deduced from four

of its apographs. Baronius, too credulous of Galesinius

as elsewhere often, attempted to apply some

remedy: and in place of "Quintius" assumed "Quintianus," and

inserted these things into the Roman Martyrology: "In Africa of the holy

Martyrs Quintianus, Lucius, and Julianus, who suffering in

the Vandalic persecution, merited eternal crowns."

Then he annotates, that Quintianus was Bishop of Sicca

in Africa, in the time of Hunneric King of the Vandals,

of whom Victor On the Vandalic Persecution in book 2.

[4] In the Manuscript Codex of the Queen of Sweden and printed by Holsten among

the Animadversions on the Roman Martyrology, and elsewhere attributed to Caesarea. in the place

of Africa is set forth Caesarea in this manner: "In Caesarea of Lucius,

Julianus, Felix, with ten others." Where Felix, above produced from

the Manuscript of Reichenau also, seems intruded in place of Fidelis

or another.