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.
CommentaryQuintus, 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.