ON SAINT HUGH
Abbot of Bonnevaux, of the Cistercian Order, in Gaul.
IN THE TWELFTH CENTURY.
PrefaceHugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux, of the Cistercian Order, in Gaul (St.)
G. H.
The Abbey of Bonnevaux of the Cistercian Order, in the Dauphiné and the Diocese of Vienne, was built by Guido, Archbishop, then Roman Pontiff, called Callistus II; and its first Abbot was given, St. Hugh a novice, known to St. Bernard. John of Lyon, who afterwards was Bishop of Valence, lived to about the year 1147. Who was substituted for him at that time is not clear. Among the later Abbots was Bernard, writer of the Life of Saint Bernard; and there was also Saint Hugh, of whom we now treat: whom the Acts indicate was cured in an illness by Saint Bernard, when he was still dwelling in the monastery of Maceriae, near Beaune, in the diocese of Châlons, built about the year 1132. Among the letters of Saint Bernard there exists the three hundred fifty-first, addressed to Hugh the novice (who is indicated in the preset title to be this man) where these things are said about his noble mind: "A noble and delicate youth has conquered the malign one, has spurned the world, has exposed his body, has renounced the affections of kinsmen, has leapt over the ready snares of riches… The wisdom of our Hugh is not of the earth, but of heaven… Let not the harshness of the Order terrify his tender age." These things and others Bernard, who died holily on August 20, in the year 1153. The Abbot composed a peace in the year 1177, After whose death in the following year, Frederick Barbarossa received at Rome from Adrian IV the name of Emperor. During his reign flourished the same Hugh, now made Abbot of Bonnevaux, and reconciled peace between the said Emperor and Alexander III, in the year 1177; but how long he lived afterwards is not clear.
[2] His Acts from a MS of Bödeken, We have obtained some acts of him from a noteworthy parchment Passional MS of the monastery of Bödeken, of the Regular Canons in Westphalia and the diocese of Paderborn. These were inserted in the Lives of the Saints of the month of December at folio 257 with this title: "Of Saint Hugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux." By Vincent of Beauvais, Vincent of Beauvais, who flourished in the next century, in the year 1256 departed from life, having obtained the same deeds, published them in book 29 of the Mirror of History, chapters 33 and following, with scarcely a word changed; only since before he had treated of Emperor Frederick, he begins with this formula, "At that time": in place of which the MS has, "In the times of the first Emperor Frederick." In both places the end is missing, in which perhaps the illness, death, burial, and miracles following afterwards were treated. Caesarius, older than Vincent, testifies in his own time that Hugh had begun to shine with miracles, By Peter de Natalibus, according to Manrique, on the year 1183, chapter 3, number 4. Peter de Natalibus, who finished his Catalogue of Saints in the year 1371, when in book 4, chapter 22 he had treated of Saint Hugh, Bishop of Grenoble, subjoined in his wonted way in chapter 23 a compendium of the Life, abridged from Vincent, with this title: "Of Saint Hugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux": and under the end added these things: "After many marks of his sanctity, the holy Abbot Hugh in the monastery of Bonnevaux paid the debt of humanity, and was buried there."
Following afterwards Saint Antoninus, Bishop of Florence, By Saint Antoninus, taken from life in the year 1459, described the earlier Acts from Vincent, omitting a few things.
[3] Among the Carthusians of Cologne there flourished in the same century Hermann Greven, who died in the year 1480: who, following the example of Peter de Natalibus, His name in the Martyrologies. on the Kalends of April has these words: "On the same day of Hugh of good memory, Abbot of Bonnevaux, of the Cistercian Order": to which is added in the German Martyrology of Canisius, "Who was plainly a holy man, and by the command of God composed peace between the Pope and the Emperor." The same is mentioned by Witford, Maurolycus, Felicius, and Ferrarius. He is also inscribed in the monastic Martyrologies, and so have Wion and Menardus: "On the same day of Saint Hugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux, of the Cistercian Order, a disciple of Saint Bernard." Bucelinus treats of him at greater length, and Saussajus in the Gallican Martyrology, likewise Chrysostom Henriquez in the Menologium, who in book 2 of the Fasciculus of Saints of the Cistercian Order, distinction 2, leads out his life in seven chapters; and inserts many things about the origin of the solemnity of the Crown of Thorns, which he hands down that Blessed Hugh took care to have introduced into the Order. But Angelo Manrique in the Cistercian Annals, on the year 1183, chapter 3, numbers 2 and 3, calls into doubt and impugns the history of the festivity of the Crown of Thorns: who then in number 4 asserts that Hugh, within a short time after his death numbered among the Saints, An Ecclesiastical Office, was celebrated with a proper Office, not only in the house of Bonnevaux itself, but throughout the whole Order, which even today is circulated in the ancient Breviaries. He then adds a hymn which contains the series of his Life, which we here subjoin, but with the presumed license of conjecture, cleansed of some faults which are noted in the margin, An ancient Hymn. because otherwise some fitting sense could not be elicited.
[4] "The excellent Master, the seal of Godhead, Hugh—Valence gives him, a mirror of the worthy life. Enjoying alone this grace, she produces Hugh the little flower, The warfare of Châteauneuf, first centurion of the divine camp. Thereafter the prophetic Hugh from infancy seeks his uncle: The Church of Lyon furnishes the pasture of doctrine.
This monastery reaped a handful of such great fruit; Burgundy draws to itself Hugh the servant of Christ. Truly full of Cistercian purity, the title In the house of Maceriae Hugh undergoes the vestibule: The Pastors give counsels: the Chapter of Leoncel, By firm concord of the Brothers, offers Hugh the staff. So the great men provide this reckoning for Bonnevaux, Taking for themselves from the Daughter, Hugh's rudder. Let us pray that from his country may he send a little stream of graces, By which his worthy presence continually shows a miracle."
[5] The daughter monastery of Bonnevaux, then (as the Cistercians say), was the House of Maceriae, which the Poet turns as Domus Muratoria: and in it Hugh is indicated to have taken the religious habit, when it is said that he there underwent the title of the vestibule. The monastery of Leoncel (where the gathered Chapter offered Hugh the Abbatial staff), commonly Our Lady of Lyncell, or according to Sainte-Marthe, Léoncel in Dauphiné, pertains to the diocese of Valence, and is of the Cistercian line, founded in the year 1137, according to the Chronological Index of Abbeys of the Cistercian Order, from the acquaintance of the same Abbeys published by Gaspar Jongelinck.
Annotationsotherwise Mysterium exuviae* ("Mystery of the spoils").
otherwise Mysterium hoc nescit* ("This mystery knows not").
otherwise Gratum* ("Welcome").
LIFE
From a MS of Bödeken and Vincent of Beauvais.
Hugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux, of the Cistercian Order, in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 0000
FROM MSS.
[1] Made a monk at Maceriae In the times of the first Emperor Frederick, there flourished with much grace of sanctity the venerable Hugh, Abbot of Bonnevaux: who as a youth, leaving the world, was converted in a house of the Cistercian Order, which is called Maceriae, and began to live very religiously. After this, being much tempted, he thought of returning to the world. Thinking these things, he entered the temple, and prayed with tears, he is comforted in his vocation by the Blessed Virgin: and with bent knees stretched his hands to heaven: and he saw above the altar the Mother of mercy, clothed in light as with a garment: and it seemed to him that he saw Jesus her son beside her, and how he had been announced by the Angel, and born of the Virgin and announced to the shepherds, and how he was circumcised, and taken by the Jews, and scourged, and mocked, and crucified, and how he rose again on the third day, and after forty days ascended into heaven. And when he saw all these things, Our Lady said to him: "Act manfully, and let your heart take courage in the Lord: and be certain that from now on you will not be struck by such temptations."
[2] After this he began to afflict himself with excessive abstinences, so much so that he seemed almost to lose his sense and memory. in illness cured by St. Bernard, Meanwhile Saint Bernard, who still survived then, came to him by the providence of God: and ordered him to be sent to the infirmary: and also that vigils be sung to him each night, before the other sick men, so that afterwards he might be able to sleep sufficiently: and that he should have general license to speak where he wished. And so, by the mercy of God, in a short time he recovered. He is made Abbot. Then religion began to ferment greatly in him: nor long after he was made Abbot of Bonnevaux.
[3] Under this holy man there was a certain young novice, very fervent in his beginnings: He frees a tempted novice, who afterwards, being much tempted, thought of returning to the world: and confessed this temptation to the Abbot: who began to urge him to remain, but accomplished nothing. Then the Abbot said: "Son, have mercy on your soul by pleasing God, lest you lose the glory prepared for you: for I promise you, and I establish myself as guarantor of this promise, that if you remain, you will be the eternal companion of the holy Angels." Comforted by these words in the Lord, he persisted, and afterwards lived most excellently. Who two years before he died and visited by St. Job, labored under a most grievous infirmity: to comfort whom Saint Job was sent, with the greatest brightness, by which the whole infirmary was filled; "I," he said, "am Job, whom the Father of mercies and God of all consolation has sent to console you. As I was patient in such an infirmity, so shall you be: and therefore you will flourish with me in my glory, and tomorrow you will be with me, he sees in glory. and will reap what you sowed": which also was done. Not long after, he appeared to his Abbot in great glory, rendering him thanks, because through his admonition he had persisted in the Order. a
[4] Under the same holy man there were made novices one Cleric and one knight, treacherous and deceitful, who in the same year had betrayed and destroyed two castles. Of two novices, one perishing, Now to this knight sleeping it seemed in a vision of the night that he fell into a well, so deep that he would spend three days in falling before he reached the bottom. When he had related this to the holy Father, he interpreted the well as the abyss of hell, into which he would fall if he left the Order: and therefore he warned him to remain. But he would not, but departed: and when he had departed, on the third day he was killed by his enemies. The Cleric likewise being overcome, he confirms the other with a promised vision of the B.V. confessed his temptation to the Abbot. Whom consoling, the Abbot promised that, if he remained, the Queen of the world would come for his soul, and lead him into her rest: which also was done. For on the day before he died, Our Lady appeared to him, saying she was coming for him, who on the morrow would be in eternal rest: and so it happened. b
[5] On the Annunciation of Blessed Mary, when the same Abbot was rousing the Brothers for vigils, he saw the devil, having seen the devil among the Brothers, standing in the middle of the choir in a horrible form, so much so that the Abbot himself fell from fear: who having risen signed himself, and went to his seat. On the morrow the Abbot narrated in Chapter what he had seen, and said, that someone of the Brothers was in criminal sin, on account of whom the devil had come. Hearing which, all feared: but he, who was guilty, disguised his conscience. On the next morrow again the Abbot said, he reveals for whose sin this was happening. that the devil was still among them. And then the Brothers confessed, and received each discipline, praying the Lord to reveal the conscience of the guilty one to the Abbot: which also was done. Then the Abbot drew the guilty one aside, and told him his sin. Hearing which, he fell at his feet, asking pardon to be given to him, and penance according to the will of the Abbot to be imposed. Which being done, the devil appeared no more.
[6] In a certain daughter of Bonnevaux, a certain Abbot, noble by birth, A detractor divinely punished but degenerate in morals, was for worthy reasons deposed by this holy man, and another more worthy was substituted in his place. And when, after this had been done, Hugh was departing, a certain garrulous man, familiar of the deposed one, began to detract from him and publicly to say, that he had deposed him more out of envy than out of justice. Hearing which, Hugh, with hands stretched to heaven, prayed God to manifest that he had done these things with pure and right intention. he heals by prayers. And at once that garrulous man, becoming insane, began to run through the whole court of the Abbey, and to eat the dung of the pigs which were there. Seeing which, the holy man, having mercy on him, prayed for him, and he was healed.
[7] The happy death of two Brothers In the house of Bonnevaux there was a certain fervent monk, who, though weak in body, yet always kept the community: at last he fell into paralysis, and long languished in the infirmary. There also was the master of novices, John by name, sick unto death: to whom a certain Brother served, named Benedict: to whom John said: "Do you hear what I hear?" And he: "I hear nothing: what do you hear?" "I," he said, "hear the voices of Angels chanting psalms, as the voices of many harpers, who have come for the pious soul of our paralytic, and tomorrow I shall follow him. But hasten to strike the board, because his soul is greatly hastening to depart." Then Brother Benedict went to see how the paralytic was faring, and saw him now heavily panting. He therefore ran to strike the board: and before the Brothers were gathered, the paralytic departed, and on the morrow John. c
[8] A certain servant of the Cellarer was sick unto death, A penitent absolved under reservation. and confessed his sins to a monk, the Confessor of the poor: and told him a certain sin, which that monk feared to receive: and he enjoined the sick man to confess this to the Abbot: which he agreed to, if he lived. But the Abbot was then not present, but on the road; in the meantime, however, that servant died. But the Abbot when he had returned from the road after Compline, and was sitting on his bed wishing to unshoe himself, saw that dead man ascending the stairs of the dormitory. Who coming to him, fell at his feet, asking pardon, and humbly asking that he hear his confession, saying he was sent to him for this reason. And he confessed with such abundance of tears, that the Abbot also was moved to tears: Hugh after death fully absolves: and they both wept, so that the sleeve of his cowl was wetted. After the absolution, the dead man humbly asked the Abbot to pray for him, because he was in great torments. And while the Abbot wished to try by touch, whether he was in body or in spirit; he disappeared. On the morrow he asked the Confessor of the poor, whether the dead man had confessed such a crime to him. Who answered: "Yes: but how do you know it?" "From his mouth," he said, "I heard it."
[9] A certain young monk in the same house had recently died, whose mother, afterwards having seen the Abbot, he reveals the salvation of another who had died: began anxiously to weep over her son. Whom consoling, he said: "Do not weep, be certain that your son is in great glory: and I know how he lived, and how holily." Hearing which, his mother received consolation. Not long after, when the same Abbot was praying, that monk appeared to him with a most radiant countenance, and greeted him. Whom the Abbot recognizing, said: "How are you, my son?" Who said: "Well, Lord, as you see." d
[10] A certain lay brother from another house, on account of his fault, had been sent to Bonnevaux, where he fell sick unto death. But the Abbot visiting him asked him to confess securely the sin from which he was sick: in vain he dissuades one about to receive communion unworthily: which he had never wished to confess, nor even to his own Abbot. But he denied everything, and asked that the Body of the Lord be given to him. But Abbot Hugh urged him not to presume to receive the Body of the Lord, unless he had well confessed. But he, saying he had well confessed, insisted that the Body of the Lord be brought to him. Which when the Priest had brought, and placed in his mouth; he at once began to cry out, "What shall I do, wretch? what shall I do?" Then the Priest took from him the Body of the Lord, which he held above his tongue: and at once he expired.
[11] Once also when the Abbot was sick he entered the infirmary, and saw a dove whiter than snow upon the shoulder of the monk infirmarian: he is divinely warned to compose peace. when the monk wished to seize it, it came flying to the Abbot, and entered his bosom: and afterwards went out through the opening of the Abbot's tunic, saying to him in human words: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, prepare yourself, prepare yourself, prepare yourself: St. Bernard commands you, that you go to make peace between the Pope and the Emperor of Germany." Who having received this holy admonition, e afterwards made peace between them. f