ON ST. DONATIANUS MARTYR AT CIRTHA IN NUMIDIA.
From the Hieronymian Martyrology.
CommentaryDonatianus Martyr, at Cirtha in Numidia (S.)
G. H.
Cirtha or Cirta, metropolis of Numidia, once had several Martyrs, reported by us on the day XXX of April; to whom we judge to be added S. Donatianus the Martyr, although the city Sirtha, Sytha, Sista is written: because the name is among the Africans usurped, and the letters S and C, as in pronunciation before the vowels i or y with very many do not differ, so often in proper names are not sufficiently distinguished. Of this Saint Donatianus then, in the city Sirtha or Cirtha Martyr, treat the ancient apographs of the Hieronymian Martyrology, and with these other ancient MSS. the Roman of Cardinal Barberini, the Trier of S. Maximinus, and the Liège of S. Lawrence under the name of Ado. The same indeed, but with no palaestra indicated, is named in MS. Florarium of Saints, and MSS. Parisiensis of Labbé, Augustanus of S. Udalric, and another of the Church of Prague. By error also, as easily happens, twice Donatiana is written, and once Daciani; but perhaps because of S. Daciana, at Carthage on this day having suffered, as will now be said.