Restitutus
Acta Sanctorum, May 29
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-29/restitutus.html
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ON SAINT RESTITUTUS

ROMAN MARTYR.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On the monuments and acts of the Martyrdom; under whom this was endured, and to which Martyrologies inscribed?

Restitutus, Roman Martyr (St.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Strabo, in book five of the Geographical Matters near the middle, [in the Sabine town of Eretum a church of the Saint:] describes
the region of the Sabines, and
near the end has these things: There is laid out
through the Sabines the Salarian way, not
long, into which the Nomentan way
falls, by Eretum a village of the Sabines
above the Tiber,
beginning from the Colline gate. That Eretum, now
called Monte-Rotondo, is today a celebrated and populous
town, subject to the jurisdiction of the Barberini family,
distant from Rome twelve miles,
Athanasius Kircher teaches in his Latium on page 222.
That in this town of Eretum there stands the Ancient Church of S.
Restitutus the Martyr, of whom we here treat; and that in the neighboring
district, by the Nomentan way, [his crypt by the Nomentan way:] there is moreover seen the very
crypt, in which his venerable body had
remained hidden, until under Hadrian
the Pope, removed, not far from the basilica of S. Mary
Major, near the church of S. Andrew in Aurisaurium
it was translated, Paul Aringhus teaches in book 4 of Subterranean Rome,
chapter 24; Where he treats of the celebrated cemetery, named with the title
of this S. Restitutus. But afterward that the church
of S. Andrew in Aurisaurium, near the basilica of Holy Mary
Major, was situated, he widely proves from tablets
written in the year MCCLXXVIII, and from a diploma
of Pope Urban IV issued in the year MCCLXI, [The body at Rome at S. Andrew in Aurisaurium.] and from
the epistles of Pope Clement IV, and Pope Nicholas IV,
all which he asserts to be extant in the archives of the Vatican Basilica, or of the Church
of S. Mary Major. He adds finally, that this church of S.
Andrew in Aurisaurium still entire,
though destined for profane uses, persists; which
of old Pope Simplicius solemnly dedicated to God in honor of S. Andrew,
the verses engraved there in mosaic
work, which still are read, openly
teach and inculcate. Those verses can be read
in Ciacconius: who adds, that in the mosaic indeed, the images of Christ
and S. Andrew and the other Apostles are seen;
but in the walls, partly in tessellated partly in vermiculate
work, are beheld beasts of various kinds, slain and to be slain by Diana the huntress and
the Hippocentaurs, and therefore that church
is called by some S. Andrew in barbaris.
I should rather wish to know whether there still survives an altar, under which it could be
believed that the body of S. Restitutus still lies hidden; worthy indeed,
that thence it be translated into some Basilica; or whether
it was already of old removed thence, the altars
which had been there being utterly destroyed: certainly there is none of the Roman basilicas
to which Octavius Pancirolius ascribes such a treasure.

[2] The Acts of the martyrdom, plainly written gravely and most worthy of faith,
as they are in an old codex of S. Mary Major, [The Acts from Mss.]
we found among the Fathers of the Congregation of the Oratory in the collection
of Gallonius, in the volume marked with the letters C. D., and thence we here give them.
Other Acts also of the same S. Restitutus the now-praised
Aringhus had from a codex of the Vatican library, whence
he edited the last part concerning his decapitation and Burial in the
Nomentan way, and added what was lacking in the prior
Acts concerning the translation to the church of S. Andrew in Aurisaurium,
which from there at num. 7 we adjoin. An abridgment of the same Acts
Philip Ferrarius has in the Catalogue of the Saints
of Italy, indicating an old Ms. of the church of S. Mary
Major, and then notes these things: The cited Ms. for Hermogenian
has Hermo, (nay Hermogenes)
and for Prefect has President, (nay once also
calls him Prefect): But we, he says, following Baronius,
have so written. The words of Baronius, at this XXIX day in
the Roman Martyrology, are these: The Acts of his martyrdom
are had in a written codex of S. Mary Major, called
at the Manger, in which it is narrated that he suffered under
Diocletian the Emperor, [Whether he is rightly said to have suffered] and condemned by Hermogenian
the Praetorian Prefect, concerning whom consult the volume
second of the Annals. Their beginning is:
Under Diocletian and Maximian the Augusti &c. The place
in the Annals is had at the year 301, num. 18 & 19;
from the Acts of S. Sabinus, Bishop (as he calls him) of Spoleto, to be given
on XXX December.

[3] We have, but with another beginning, the Acts of S. Sabinus from
the Mss. Roman, [Under Hermogenian the Prefect,] Fulda, Metz, Beaufont, nay also Neapolitan
of Monte-Oliveto, and in them we read thus: Maximian
being Augustus, on the day XV Kalends of May in the Circus
maximus, the Sextus Venetus being sent in winning, the greater part
cried out, saying: Let the Christians be removed, and let pleasure
stand. It was said twelve times. By the head of Augustus,
let there be no Christians. But while Hermogenian
the Prefect of the City was waiting, again they cried out ten times:
If, Augustus, thou conquer, ask out our voices from the Prefect.
Then Hermogenian the Prefect of the City made known
the voices of the Pagans. At the same time Maximian
Augustus commanded that all should assemble in the Capitol.
And the assembly was made in the Capitol X Kalends
of May. Now an innumerable multitude of people
was there. In this manner therefore the Augustus addresses
the people, saying: Men of the assembly and religious of our
times, it seems worthy to us, that through your intimation your intimation the religion of our times
may be increased: yet let the conscript Fathers grant the faculty,
that wherever Christians shall be found, they be held
by the Prefect of the City or by his Office, and let them sacrifice
to the gods. And all departed saying with one voice;
Augustus, mayest thou conquer and flourish with the gods; Then, certain things
being related, it is added: Then Maximian Augustus,
filled with joy, [concerning whom in his rescript Maximian Aug.] commanded authorities to be directed to a certain
Venustian, Augustalis of Tuscany; saying:
Victor Maximian Augustus, perpetual Triumphator,
Emperor, to father Venustian Augustalis of Tuscany.
Know that the suggestion of our father Hermogenian
the Prefect of the City has come clear: because a just petition
ought not to be hidden, lest our age and our
promulgation be injured: and therefore we admonish,
that wheresoever the name of Christians shall be heard
worshipping superstition, either let them be compelled to sacrifice
to the gods, or certainly let them perish by punishments, stripped
of their goods and associated to be applied to the tributes of the treasury:
Farewell, given on the day before the Kalends of May. To these is subjoined
the apprehension of S. Sabinus: who being brought before Venustian,
and afflicted with various torments, and Venustian being converted, under
Lucius the Tribune was crowned with martyrdom. But Baronius at the said
year 301, num. 19, the rescript of Maximian related, subjoins:
This is the same Hermogenian, under whom is read also to have suffered
at Rome Restitutus, whose Acts of martyrdom
are had. Thus there. The times indeed agree well enough;
but yet, granting that S. Restitutus, in the time when Hermogenian
was Praetorian Prefect, suffered; [or rather under Hermogenes the President?]
there could yet have been a President of justice diverse from him, called Hermogenes,
such as in the Acts of S. Sabinus were Venustian
and Lucius.

[4] [The name in the calendars.] Furthermore the memory of S. Restitutus the Martyr is in all
the Latin Calendars here and there. For in the most ancient apograph of the
Hieronymian Martyrology, the Echternach one, and the Ms.
Reichenau one, at this XXIX of May these few things are read:
At Rome of Restitutus. To which ineptly, in other apographs of the same
Hieronymian Martyrology, was inserted the Aurelian way,
in place of the Nomentan way or at least the Salarian;
which, because the Acts here and there were not extant, Usuard followed,
Ado, Notker, and others more recent with the present
Roman Martyrology, where these things also are read: On the fourth Kalends
of June at Rome, on the Aurelian way the birthday of S. Restitutus
the Martyr. Below in the Acts the body is said, on the Nomentan way
buried or delivered to burial, on
the day VI Kalends of June; But the characters of the numbers
being inverted, it can easily be read IV Kalends of June:
it cannot equally easily be excused, that in place of the Nomentan way
the Aurelian way was written. For they are very far distant from each other;
namely that one from the Viminal gate, today S. Agnes, tending toward
the North; this one from the Aurelian gate, near
the mole of Hadrian, now the Castle of S. Angelo, extended toward the West.
Therefore in his Notes on the Hieronymian Martyrology Francis
Maria Florentinius judges,
that it is allowed to doubt whether it be the same Restitutus: which
I shall rather think is to be ascribed to the drowsiness of the amanuenses.
That some Relics of S. Restitutus the Martyr are preserved at Bologna,
among the Carmelite Fathers and the Theatines, indicates in
Bologna Surveyed Masinus: but that they are of the same of whom we here
treat, by what argument shall we persuade?

ACTA

From an old Roman Ms. of the Basilica of S. Mary Major.

Restitutus, Roman Martyr (St.)

BHL Number: 7197

FROM THE MSS.

[Brought before Hermogenes the President:] Under Diocletian and Maximian the Augusti
Emperors, against the Christians
too great a tempest had arisen. Then
a certain man was apprehended, called
Restitutus, a man certainly most prudent
and elegant; and led, by soldiers
to Hermogenes the President, administering
Rome, and they said to him: This man we found persuading
many, and teaching, that the religion of our
gods which we worship is vain, and their names
superfluous and frail, and he preaches some Christian
sect I know not what. Then the President said to him: Whose
thou seemest to be, or of what race thou art, declare to me.
The man of God answered: A citizen indeed I am Roman,
and born of noble race: but if thou requirest my carnal
name, I am called Restitutus; but if according to
my faith, I am a Christian. Hermogenes the Prefect
said: [he confesses himself a Christian:] Hast thou not heard the command of our Lords
the Princes? B. Restitutus answered.
What have they commanded thee? The President said: That whosoever
shall not have sacrificed to the omnipotent gods, with diverse
and various punishments be punished. B. Restitutus answered:
I have known the precepts of my Emperor the Lord
Jesus Christ; but he who shall have denied him, and his necks
to most vain stones shall have inclined, with eternal
punishments shall perish. The President said: Let these words
cease, and approach; sacrifice to the gods, most reverend and conservators
of the Republic, and thou shalt be a friend of our
Princes: but if not, thou shalt be tortured with many torments.
B. Restitutus answered: I am already prepared,
to offer myself as a sacrifice to the Lord.

[2] Then the President indignant commanded, that with stones
his jaws be broken, saying: Some things for other things
answer not. [beaten he feels not pain:] And when the soldiers long struck him
strongly, B. Restitutus says to the President; From these who
strike me, who are thy soldiers, I feel no pain
in my members. The President said: Of what dignity dost thou
seem to be? B. Restitutus answered: For the love and
fear of my Lord Jesus Christ I despised the militia
within the palace: and now to the heavenly King
I am eager to serve an everlasting militia. The President said:
I grieve over thy most pleasing youth:
approach and sacrifice to the most invincible gods, that with great
remuneration thou mayest receive thy militia, at the same time also
mayest obtain a most illustrious dignity. B. Restitutus
answered: I have not lost my militia: for an earthly
dignity is taken from the earth, but a heavenly dignity
subsists in perpetual eternity. Then the President angry
commanded him to be stripped, [he rejoices though scourged with sinews] and his sides and
whole body to be lacerated with raw sinews. And when they had stripped
him, striking him exceedingly, B. Restitutus was cheerful;
and rejoicing, as though he suffered nothing, prayed saying,
I fear not evils, since thou art with me, Lord.
And he said to the President: Most unhappy and enemy of God, behold
how great things the Lord bestows on those who love him: where are
thy threats and horrible torments? Withdraw from thy
most wicked sect, and begin to worship God our Lord,
who thus frees his worshippers: forsake
the most vain gods, who are wood, iron, lead,
and sculptured stones, [and with leaded scourges:] which can show neither to themselves any solace,
nor to their worshippers. But the President
filled with fury, commanded him to be struck with leaded scourges. And when
they long struck him, and he felt nothing, he commanded him to be raised,
and afterward to him raised up said: Wretch, why dost thou wish
to lose thy life with the violently-slain. B. Restitutus answered:
Now thou and thy Princes, and all
who worship deaf and dumb images, among the violently-slain
are reckoned, because blind in heart and eyes you know not
the Lord the creator of all.

[3] [shut up in prison,] Then the President commanded him to be received into prison, and
with most strong iron caused his whole body to be bound,
and commanded that no one should enter to him. And when
the soldiers had led him into prison, they did
as the President had commanded them; and with chains they bound
his whole body. There were there in that very prison shut up
persons many in number, who seeing B. Restitutus,
asked him, saying: We ask thee, man of God,
pray for us to thy Lord, that through thee some
goods we may merit: we who for so long a time here by hunger
fail, and our flesh is putrefied from the stripes
and the weight of iron, and there is none who succors us.
Hearing these things B. Restitutus groaned with tears, [a prayer being poured forth,]
and said to the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ,
Son of the living and true God, who through the womb of B. Mary
the Virgin to the earth to descend, and us to visit didst deign;
who saidst, Ask and it shall be given you;
hear me in this hour invoking thy holy name,
that the power of thy name may appear, that
all may know, that thou art truly the Son of the living
and true God, for whom I suffer all these things. [Luke 11:9.] Break, Lord,
and loose all these chains, [he looses the chains of his fellow captives,] with which they
are bound. And when he had completed his prayer, suddenly
there was an earthquake in the prison, and a vast light flashed,
and a most sweet odor exceedingly breathed, and broken
were all the chains and shattered, and the door of the prison
was thrown open. Then those persons all,
seeing that all their chains were dissolved and shattered,
came with tears, and for
joy prostrated themselves at the feet of B. Restitutus, giving thanks
to God. To whom he said: Behold how great things
the Lord bestows on those who love him with a pure mind and
heart: for behold in his servants he will console.
Let each one go whither he will, or if anyone wishes
to save his soul, let him remain here with me, [and he dismisses them.]
because the Lord has visited us sitting in darkness
and the shadow of death. But going out, all together from
the prison departed, each one in flight all night;
and those who seemed to be infirm, themselves with most healthy courses
went before, magnifying the Lord.
Morning being made, the guards raising themselves, not knowing what
had been done, found the prison wholly open,
and in the prison none other, except B. Restitutus
prostrate in prayer. But the jailers running
to the house of the President, announced to him, saying:
Not only has Restitutus opened the prisons,
but also has dissolved all the chains, and they are shattered;
and we know not whither the persons departed, who
were with him.

[4] [rebuked by the President,] But the President disturbed commanded him to be presented to him.
And when they had brought him into the midst, the President
said: How long do thy maleficies prevail, and
thou blasphemest the names of our gods, that thou sufferest
nothing? so that thou hast reckoned all punishments for nothing,
and hast dissolved the chains of all, and the murderers
and assassins, for their crimes consigned to custody,
hast made go off in flight. Tell me, if anyone
commanded thee such things. B. Restitutus said. Ascribe not
to maleficies those things which the Lord, to the praise and glory
of his name, deigns to bestow on his servant. Then the President
said to him: Now approach and sacrifice to the gods, that
thou mayest be able to escape the gravest torments; [he mocks the idols,] which strongly
will lacerate thee. S. Restitutus answered: To what gods
dost thou compel me to sacrifice? To these perhaps who by men
were hewn with iron, and are known to be without sense,
and who also by the eternal fire together with those who worship
them are devoured, and shall be devoured. Disturbed,
the President said: The injuries of the gods, like mine, now
any more I cannot bear. And he says to the soldiers:
Lead him into the Capitol to the shrine of Jove, that
he may sacrifice: but if he shall have despised to sacrifice, we command
him to undergo the capital sentence. The soldiers therefore
taking him, led him to the shrine of Jove
the eternal, that there he might offer sacrifices.
Where seeing B. Restitutus the images without intellect and sense,
says to the soldiers. Question those wretched gods, that they may speak, and tell me what they do. These and other things
subjoining against the gods of the gentiles, [b] the soldiers were compelling him
to sacrifice: and he being unwilling to assent to them, [he is beheaded.]
they bound his hands behind his back, and beheaded him
outside the Capitol: and dragging him out they cast him
beside the arch [c] of Triumph, at the Palm, that by dogs
he might be consumed.

[5] But a certain Justa, a matron, a religious woman,
came by night with some Ecclesiastical men
and a few Christians, [The body, buried by Justa the matron,] on account of the impiety of the Pagans:
and with her servants gathered the body of B.
Restitutus; and went into her house near the Meta-sudans,
and there with spices his holy body
laid up, and wrapped it in linen of Byblos,
and placed it by night on her [d] pavone, that she might carry it
into her estate on the Nomentan way. And while
she went, she sent to the Bishop set in the same way,
by name Stephen: that with the Presbyters,
and Deacons, and other Clerics, together with the servants
of God and the Sacred Virgins, they should assemble together with
the faithful Christians, that in the forum they might await them.
But in the morning still at dawn they arrived with the holy
body, and with hymns and praises led
the holy body in the sixteenth milestone,
into the estate of the aforesaid matron Justa the venerable
woman, in a crypt in the lower parts: and there
to a most worthy burial gave it, on the day [f] sixth
of the Kalends of June, [it shone with miracles.] and made there mourning for
seven days. But the necessary expenses the aforementioned
Justa from her own procured and ministered.
At the same time also many, who were held
by demons with various infirmities, through the neighboring
places in the city [g] of Nomentum, daily coming
to the tomb of B. Restitutus the Martyr, returned healed
to their own, with great joy praising and blessing
the Lord, who lives and reigns unto the ages of
ages. Amen.

[7] [h] But B. Restitutus rested there until
the times of Pope Hadrian, and so it came to pass, that
the blessed Martyr himself revealed himself. Then those men
to whom this was intimated, raised him thence,
and buried him near the Church of S. Andrew
in Aurisaurium: Where the benefits of our Lord
Jesus Christ are bestowed, until the present
day.

ANNOTATIONS.



to be passed at the slope of the Capitoline mount, and from here onward for those going through
the cow-field, through the Arch of Titus one goes to its Amphitheatre,
near which is the Meta sudans, soon below to be named, concerning which Alexander Donatus in book 3 of Old Rome chapter 6 says, The Meta sudans,
they set before the arch of Constantine and the Amphitheatre, a fountain for those,
who frequented the games, very convenient for extinguishing thirst, with an image of Jove
standing out, which we have expressed on coins. It survives even today half-protected, without image and fountain, beside what is commonly called the Colosseum, as they represent it in an icon of the Roman ruins.
