ON SS. CRESCENTIANUS AND VICTOR AND ROSULA AND GENERALIS, MARTYRS IN AFRICA,
From the Martyrologies.
CommentaryCrescentianus, Martyr in Africa. (S.)
Victor, Martyr in Africa. (S.)
Rosula, Martyr in Africa. (S.)
Generalis, Martyr in Africa. (S.)
J. S.
These four martyrs recorded in the Calendars, Ado of Vienne in his Martyrology, after he had at this day commended St. Cyprian with a lengthy eulogy, subjoins these words: But there are reported to have suffered with blessed Cyprian Crescentianus, Victor, Rosula, and Generalis. Some doubt whether these words are really Ado's. I should readily believe them to be Ado's, since Usuard seems to have taken them thence, who has it thus: There are reported to have suffered with him (Cyprian) Crescentianus, Victor, Rosula, and Generalis. Notker affirms the matter more strongly in these words: But there suffered with him (Cyprian) Crescentianus, Auctor [*], Rosula, and Generalis. The same I find in the manuscript Florarium of the Saints, and in other more recent writers. Baronius in the Roman Martyrology speaks in such a way as not to affirm that these Martyrs suffered together with St. Cyprian, but in the same place. I transfer his words hither: There suffered also in the same place the holy martyrs Crescentianus, Victor, Rosula, and Generalis.
[2] seem to have suffered in Africa, not however with St. Cyprian. Nevertheless in the Annals at the year 261, num. 47, he clearly agrees with the aforesaid Martyrologies, writing thus: That on the day on which St. Cyprian suffered at Carthage, on the same day and in the same place four holy martyrs, Crescentianus, Victor, Rosula, and Generalis, underwent martyrdom, the ecclesiastical records testify. For so greatly did the hearts of the faithful grow hot at the martyrdom of Cyprian, that all wished to die together with him and to be crowned alike. These last words are indeed true, and therefore it is probable that the aforesaid Martyrs suffered in Africa not long after St. Cyprian. Nevertheless the Martyrologies alleged do not seem to suffice for us to believe that they were St. Cyprian's Companions, or that they suffered on the same day and in the same place. For there are given two Acts of the martyrdom of St. Cyprian, and those most faithfully written, in which no mention of his Companions is found. For which cause we have thought that these should neither be given together with St. Cyprian, nor be fixed to any certain place or year, being ready gladly to change our judgment, if anything more certain be brought forward beyond expectation.
Annotata* read Victor