March 2.
SS. Martyrs, under the Emperor Alexander at Rome, circ. A.D. 219.
SS. Jovinus and Basileus, MM. at Rome, circ. A.D. 258.
SS. Ducius, B.M., Absalom, Largius, Herolus, Primitius, and Januarius, MM. at Cæsarea in Cappadocia.
SS. Paul, Heraclius, Secundola, Januaria, and Luciosa, MM. in the Port of Rome.
S. Simplicius, Pope of Rome, A.D. 483.
S. Joavan, P. at S. Paul de Leon, 6th. cent.
SS. Martyrs, under the Lombards, in Italy, circ. A.D. 579.
S. Ceadda, or Chad, B. of Lichfield, A.D. 672.
S. Willeich, P. at Keiser-werdt, on the Rhine, circ. A.D. 726.
B. Charles the Good, M., Count of Flanders, A.D. 1127.
SS. MARTYRS UNDER ALEXANDER.
(CIRC. A.D. 219.)
Nearly all the Latin Martyrologies commemorate these martyrs, without giving their names. Baronius added to the Roman Martyrology, that they suffered under Ulpian the præfect; this was a conjecture of his, for Ulpian was bitterly hostile to the Christians, and it was under him that S. Martina (Jan. 1st) suffered. Alexander himself, only seventeen when he came to the throne, was of mild disposition, and the reins of government were in the hands of his mother Mamæa, who, with the approbation of the senate, chose sixteen of the wisest and most virtuous senators as a council of state, and at the head of this placed the learned Ulpian, a prudent governor, and severe disciplinarian, who could not brook that certain citizens should worship God in any way than that of the established religion, and looked on Christianity as a dangerous political element in the state, which demanded extirpation.
S. SIMPLICIUS, POPE.
(A.D. 483.)
[Roman Martyrology. Authorities:—Evagrius, Hist. Eccl., and his own letters.]
S. Simplicius was born at Tivoli, and succeeded S. Hilary in the papal throne, in 468. He strongly resisted the Emperor Leo, who desired to elevate the patriarch of Constantinople to the second rank in the Church, above the patriarchs of Antioch and Alexandria. He was also engaged in controversy with Acacius of Constantinople concerning the appointment of Peter Mongus to the see of Alexandria. After having governed the Church in most difficult and stormy times, Simplicius died on March 2nd, in the year 483; and was buried in S. Peter's.