ON SAINT CRISPOLUS
MARTYR IN NUMIDIA.
From the same Hieronymian Martyrology.
CommentaryCrispolus, Martyr in Numidia (S.)
G. H.
The mentioned most ancient apograph of the Hieronymian Martyrology, which by the people of Echternach is now diligently kept, in the third place indicates these things: In Numidia of Crispolus. The apographs of Lucca and of Blume: In Numidia the Birthday of S. Crispulus. In the old Ms. of the Queen of Sweden edited by Holstenius these things are had: At Nicomedia of S. Crispolus, At Caesarea of Cappadocia of Cyrillus. Which in the apograph of Corbie thus mutilated are set forth: At Nicomedia of S. Cyrillus. Of this we shall treat soon. More pleasing is Numidia, in the older monuments assigned. Every arena being omitted, the name of Crispolus is mentioned in the Mss. Aix-la-Chapelle and Paris of Labbe, and Cripolus in the Augsburg Ms. of S. Udalric, and the supplement of Greven to Usuard. Of another Crispolus, with Gabinus in Sardinia having suffered, we shall treat on the following day.
ON SS. CYRILLUS, CARELLUS, PRIMOLUS, FINODUS, VENUSTUS, GISSINUS, ALEXANDER, TREDENTHEUS, JOCUNDUS,
MARTYRS AT CAESAREA IN CAPPADOCIA.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
On the cult and passion of S. Cyrillus, separately known, and the names of the others in the Hieronymian Martyrology.
Cyrillus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Carellus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Primolus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Finodus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Venustus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Gissinus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Alexander, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Tredentheus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
Jocundus, Martyr at Caesarea in Cappadocia (S.)
BHL Number: 2068
G. H.
Caesarea, in Cappadocia a region of Asia, supplies us several holy Martyrs, S. Cyrillus placed separately, and on this day first Cyrillus; then with others interposed, four others, whom together we conjoin. And first the Apograph of Echternach thus has it: In Caesarea of Cappadocia of Cyrillus; as also is read in the Ms. of the Queen of Sweden by Holstenius esteemed. The words are interposed, the Birthday of the Saint, in the apographs of Lucca and of Blume. In the apograph of Corbie that to Nicomedia by error was ascribed S. Cyrillus we already said. Florus in the Mss. Tournai of S. Martin, and Arras of the Cathedral Church relates these things: At Caesarea the passion of S. Cyrillus, who for the faith of Christ the losses of death freely undertook. The former also are read in the Ms. of Liessies.
[2] Of the other Martyrs there having suffered these things are read in the Ms. of Echternach: then with Six others. Likewise in Cappadocia of Carillus, Primolus, Venodus, Venustus, Gissinus, Alexander Mart. Which with one added thus more accurately are read in the Ms. of Blume: In Caesarea of Cappadocia of Carellus, Primolus, Finodus, Venustus, Tredentheus. The same are in the apograph of Lucca, but in place of Carellus, with letters contracted and changed, is read Carchus. In the Ms. of Corbie printed at Paris, with one yet added, these are had: In Caesarea of Cappadocia of Carellus, Primulus, Finodus, Venustus, Tredentheus, Jocundus. In the Mss. Roman of Cardinal Barberini, Trier of S. Maximinus, Liège of S. Laurentius, and the Ms. Florarium, of three Martyrs these are related: In Caesarea of Cappadocia the Birthday of SS. Cyrillus, Primolus, and Venustus. The same, but the arena of the martyrdom being omitted, are indicated in the Mss. Prague, and Augsburg of S. Udalric; but at the end, in place of Primulus, contractedly is read Primus. So also the names of Cyrillus and Primius are set forth in the Mss. Aix-la-Chapelle and Paris of Labbe. He who in these Mss. is Cyrillus, affords occasion of asking, whether he be that one, who alone at the beginning had been placed, or whether in place of Carellus or Carillus he is substituted: of which matter let the resolution remain with the Reader. Gissinus and Alexander are only in the Echternach one.
[3] Of the former and solitarily related Cyrillus we have certain Acts in the manner of an epistle, The Acts of S. Cyrillus from the Ms. of Welser written to other Brethren or Faithful elsewhere, from a very old Ms. of Marcus Welser, Patrician of Augsburg; which would that we had found somewhere in the Greek and primitive phrase: for both he who turned it into Latin used a ruder style; and they who copied it, seem to have made it much more barbarous, while they did not sufficiently grasp what they were copying. Yet itself, such as we received the Latin context, receive, moderately smoothed by conjecture, lest wholly thy stomach it turn, so gaping a stammering, until a more sincere exemplar somewhere come forth.
[4] The martyrdom of holy Cyrillus the boy it is not just to keep silent to you, In age a boy, on account of the constancy of his faith but most of all to narrate: for not without the nod of some divine spirit; but (if it is true to say, and most certainly to set forth) with him the Lord was striving, with him faith against the most wicked Judges of Caesarea was contending. For the youthful age of the most blessed Cyrillus much afforded to beholders amazement, but the stability of his faith a wondrous praise of Christ to the sensible … For at all time Christ he was naming, and himself thence to be moved he confessed; and with stripes fixed and with words terrified, neither the threat of words, nor the injury of affliction did he reckon: but he sustained these indeed most willingly; and promptly moreover and some other greater evil he was awaiting. But when there grew in him the spirits which are toward good faith, and he had many emulators who were like to his age; his father disowns him indeed, closing the house to him, and what was in it utterly denied to him. But some in this praised the father and greatly wondered: disowned by his father, [but he as though nothing reckoned to be disowned by his father,] and that small things taking from him, greater and more useful things the faith which was in the Lord provided for him, he said.
[5] Doing these things he provoked to wrath the Judge of Caesarea: and calling him by the ministration of soldiers, in vain solicited by the Judge: and terrifying him at once with the judgments; he saw indeed in the beginning him not to be terrified, [but] at every moment from all trepidation secure to stand, reckoning all moderate things against faith. And, I indulge to thee, says the Judge, O boy, thy faults: thy father remits to thee the offense, into his house receives thee: it is allowed to thee to enjoy thy father's goods, if thou become sober, if to thyself thou give thought. But the most blessed Cyrillus; I rejoice, he said, when for these things I am rebuked: for I before God shall best be received: I delight to be deprived of my house, he is not terrified by death threatened? for I shall inhabit a greater and a better: of my own will I become poor, that I may enjoy eternal riches: a good death I fear not, because a better life I provide for myself. Saying these things with a certain deific virtue, he is ordered to be bound solemnly, as if to be led to death. But up to terror and command that the public ministers do the Judge orders, taking a proof of the boy.
[6] But when neither was the boy reported to have wept, nor fearing the fire, and grieves to have been recalled from it, into which to cast him they threatened, but most readily to death going; again the Judge calls him, animated to teach, and by word to persuade according to his accustomed manner. Thou hast seen, O boy, he says the fire; thou hast seen, O youth, the sword: be sober, that again thou mayest have thy father's house, and fortune … Who answered: Thou hast harmed, O Tyrant, me by recalling; thou hast harmed, and most ill hast done: in vain hast thou kindled the fire, without cause the sword hast sharpened: much greater [is] the house, which to inhabit I hasten: much the riches more excellent: these to receive from the Lord I hasten: more quickly consummate me, and rejoicing he dies. that more quickly I may enjoy. And these hearing the bystanders wept: but the boy blamed the tears of these: and, You ought, he says, to laugh, you ought to delight, you ought [me] to lead rejoicing to suffering. Know you not what city I shall inhabit? know you not what confidence I have? Allow me thus to spend life. Saying these things he went to die. Splendid moreover and notable he was, not only to him, who received his soul; but also to others, who at Caesarea dwelt, himself aiding, who reigns unto the ages of ages.