ON ST. RASYPHUS, MARTYR
From the Roman Martyrology.
CommentaryRasyphus, martyr (St.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
Behold another Saint, unknown to the more ancient Fasti, inserted by Baronius into the Roman Martyrology, his guide, as more often happens, Galesinius, on this day, after announcing at Rome Primitiva, thus subjoining; Likewise of St. Rasyphus the martyr: but in the notations boldly asserting, Marked by Galesinius, that these things were taken from a very ancient Roman Martyrology, such as ever existed (besides the Little one illustrated by us), now for nearly a whole hundred years our Elders, having most diligently scrutinized all things, have not yet found. Galesinius would have said something, if some Usuardine codex he had cited, for in some copy of that kind not much dissimilar we found the name added in the Florentine Strozzi codex, but without expression of place: On the same day, of holy Rasipus the martyr, as also Belinus wrote, who perhaps was cited by Galesinius for a very ancient Roman Martyrology. Furthermore, whether this be the same, and indeed suffered at Rome, there is not whence sufficiently certainly to conjecture. For the rest, since by the fault of the amanuenses so many names have of old been corrupted, it is surely nothing wonderful, if here too some drowsiness has intervened.
[2] he is to be distinguished from another. Baronius in his notes deemed it enough to add, concerning whom from old manuscripts, from which also other more recent ones. One Galesinius adduced, Belinus, I suppose, edited long before; what those other Mss. were, we know not. As to the more recent ones, Maurolycus and Felici wrote of Rasipus the martyr, but who mentioned Rasyphus, besides Galesinius alone, hitherto I know none. For if perhaps Baronius wished to adduce Greven hither, he joined things most widely separated; for the Rasyphus concerning whom he treats was a companion of St. Ravennus, in Normandy of Gaul crowned with martyrdom, as soon at length will be declared. What Molanus wished when he mentioned in the earlier edition Rasipus only, in others Rasiphus, is uncertain. Another question could be moved, whether that Rasyphus be the same as St. Rasius, companion of Anastasius, in our appendix to the month of May in volume 7, page 763, concerning whom this only is held, that his sacred body was found in the church of St. Mary ad Martyres; where Panciroli, that same church, or the Rotunda, describing, page 421, rightly abstains from defining anything. But why they are referred to the 13th of May, from this you will understand, that on that day a more solemn festivity of that same church was of old, as there explained you will find.
[3] But what if that same Rasyphus be confused with that Rasius or Raso the bishop, concerning whom the Hieronymian ones treat on the 12th of March, Whether he be not Rasius? and who there to some Innocent is subjoined; at Rome certainly most expressly ascribed? Into that opinion once inclined our Janning, which he left attested in writing: I confess that I, all things weighed, think with Panciroli, that nothing hitherto can be safely defined. Equally frigidly Ferrarius recounted Rasyphus on this day in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy. Of unknown native land, at Rome he suffered, he says, but at what time, or by what kind of punishment is altogether unknown … But that he was not a Roman, but a foreigner, the name itself seems sufficiently to indicate … His body rests in the basilica of St. Mary the Rotunda, as the inscription seems to indicate, although for Rasyphus, Rasius is read. In the annotation he confesses that he found no memory of this Saint except in the Roman Martyrology, Molanus, and Galesinius: for others he had not seen. You may doubt whether he was sufficiently mindful of himself, when he added these words: Nor does his body, that is known, exist anywhere: for I suppose, if Rasyphus be distinguished from Rasius.