Albertus

ON ST. ALBERTUS, BISHOP OF MONTE-CORVINO IN APULIA.

YEAR 1127

Albertus, Bishop of Monte-Corvino in Apulia (St.)

BY AUTHOR D. P.

After John XIII the Roman Pontiff ordered the church

of Benevento to be Metropolitan,

not only were several from among the old Bishoprics subjected

to it, Life written by Richard his successor. but also new ones on the occasion

of the instituting of suffragan Prelates increased their

number. Thus in the eleventh century were adorned with the Episcopal title

Vulturaria, a mountain city of the Further Principality, and another

city then for the first time founded and called Monte-Corvino: the dignity

of both of which titles now in the sole Vulturarian conjunction remains united,

also polished by Alexander, likewise Bishop, from the year 1433. The Bishopric of Monte-Corvino

the Saint, of whom we are intending to treat, Albertus, first

and alone filled up with celestial honors. Richard,

elected there not long after him, wrote his Life: which Alexander

Gerardinus, Prelate of Vulturaria and Monte-Corvino, polished

with a more brilliant style, a man famous for many published and written

monuments, before he set out for the West Indies, about to rule the city

of St. Domingo, with whose Episcopal title.

[2] The deeds and praises of this Alexander from the writings of Onuphrius Gerardinus

Ferdinand Ughelli first published, is given from MS. in tome 7

of Italy sacred, testifying that the same wrote the lives of his predecessor Bishops:

and among these this one of St. Albertus, which as he received from

the autograph itself, so he liberally handed down to us, in the same

7 tome already printed. Hence therefore we give it. But we omit

the hymns, to be recited in Sapphic meter at Vespers, Matins

and Lauds; which Ughelli writes are of the same Alexander,

and we do not doubt: with the hymns of the proper office omitted. since we understand he elaborated diverse little works

also in verse, and indeed in Sapphic the Life

of St. Benedict. Here it suffices to indicate that in those hymns is contained

the sum of the Life written in prose, and by the same the ecclesiastical

cult of St. Albertus is brilliantly proved, and indeed

and there most decently preserved, we hold for certain;

since the city of Monte-Corvino is now lying leveled to the ground,

and nothing of it remains at this time,

except certain traces of the Episcopal church and walls,

Ughelli says, treating of the Bishops of Vulturaria.

[3] he died not in the year 1037 The year in which St. Albertus died, the one thousand

thirty-seventh, the faulty transcription showed to us and to Ughelli;

and indeed disturbed the whole order of the Corvinian Bishops,

but posed no small difficulty to us: the solution of which before

we undertake, it must be shown clearly, that year conflicts with all

the characters expressed in the Life of St. Albertus.

Let the first be the year of the founding of the city on Monte-Corvino, which

Alexander prefaces was in his time the 463rd year.

Alexander died septuagenarian in the year 1525, born therefore

in the year 1455: Bishop he is said to have been created about the year

1496, but to have written the Life of St. Albertus in the year 1499.

since Monte-Corvino was not yet a City, So that, though it is very unlikely,

we concede namely, that Alexander counted 463 years from the founding

of the city to the year of his birth, it would have had its beginning

only in the year 992; how

then could Albertus, who came into the city already founded only

as a five-year-old, have died in the year 1037 from long-lasting

old-age blindness? But if you lead those 463 years to the time

of the written Life (as the common manner of men's speaking

and the greatest probability persuades must be done), only

in the year 1036 would Monte-Corvino have begun to have the form

of a city.

[4] Another character, convincing that the Saint did not die

in the year 1033, and the Normans recently brought into Italy; is taken from his very birth from a noble stock

of the Normans. Now the first from that nation, forty in number,

who having completed the Jerusalem pilgrimage, landed at Salerno,

and wondrously freeing the city from a Saracen siege

so much won to themselves the minds of Prince Guamerius and of the nobles,

that by common counsel legates were sent to their own

with gifts, by which that people might be not so much invited

as drawn into Italy against the Saracens; the first, I say,

those forty, with Leo of Ostia then living and

attesting it after about sixteen years, came in the year 1003.

But the legation had no effect, before the year 1019;

in which, Rudolph the Norman, with a few of his own having fled from his country

to Pope Benedict, and directed to the Beneventans,

troublesome to Italy than the Saracens had been: the fame of which

victory being brought into Gaul, moved Count Richard,

that a very great multitude of Normans, with their wives

and children prepared for the journey, not only should he not impede

but also should compel to go in aid of Rudolph, and there

to fix a new colony of the people, at which time, Albertus (if the year

of death were not faulty) ought to have been not far from

octogenarian.

[5] Therefore I think that in the autograph for the year of death was written

in numeral letters the year 1127 where some drowsy one

instead of C read and transcribed X, but 1127, and extending the numbers at length,

the one thousand thirty-seventh. Now this

being posited, we think the series of Corbinian Bishops should be so ordered,

that from those successor was of Adeodatus, whose names are had, the first to sit was Adeodatus;

and in the year 1059 he was present at the Roman Council,

summoned by the order of Nicholas II, as Ughelli testifies, not without

To Adeodatus mediately or immediately succeeded Beatus,

to Beatus Albertus: about the 10th year of the founding of the city brought there as a boy

with his parent, if he was more than ninety when he died.

To St. Albertus Crescentius, an iniquitous man, predecessor of Peter, given to the blind old man not

so much as Coadjutor as persecutor, as long as he lived, and therefore

not predeceasing him (as Ughelli writes, with the words of the Acts

not sufficiently weighed), but surviving him by a very short time.

With whom removed from life Peter succeeded, named here in no. 12,

and contemporary with Roger, King of Sicily ruling from the year 1102 to

1154; contemporary also with Raus, Bishop of Vulturaria,

extinct about the year 1129, so that the very miracle, by which Raus

is read to have been saved, immediately after St. Albertus's

death, with the memory of his merits still fresh, happened.

[6] after whom Richard, contemporary of Peter of Benevento, These can be excellently confirmed from the age of Peter of Benevento,

Archbishop, by whose exhortation Richard composed

the Life of St. Albertus, as Alexander prefaces. This

Peter (with Ughelli himself approving, and with the public instrument which

Vipera produced agreeing) held the Metropolitan see

in the year 1148 and (as the same Ughelli against Vipera

proves by the authority of a bull, from Pope Anastasius in Indiction

I of the Pontificate in the 4th year, given to the same Peter)

was still among the living in the year 1153: so that Richard, contemporary with him,

could not have immediately succeeded Albertus a hundred years before;

as Ughelli wrote, unmindful of ages to be compared among

themselves. Add, that with the Episcopal series so

constituted, that Richard followed Peter the Corvinian Bishop,

nothing whatsoever will be in this whole Life, which

Alexander received from elsewhere than from the first author Richard;

having promised in the Exordium, not a supplement, but only a more lucid

style. But Richard could have been immediately succeeded by

Rofridus, present in the year 1179 at the Lateran Council;

and him indeed Ursus, and finally in the year 1221 a certain Raus,

distinct from the above-mentioned Vulturarian: after whom for the remainder

of the 13th century the gap-filled catalogue of the Corbinian Bishops

fails in Ughelli: nor have we so far found from elsewhere,

whom between Raus and Rogerius, flourishing in the year 1310,

we can place.

LIFE

By Alexander Bishop of Vulturaria

From the MS. of Ferdinand Ughelli.

Albertus Bishop of Monte-Corvino in Apulia (St.)

BHL Number: 0231

BY ALEXANDER, BISHOP, FROM MS.

[1] I Alexander Gerardinus a Bishop, least of all

Bishops and faithful of God,

when I was traversing my diocese, and gathering the Lives of the superior Pontiffs

my elders; I discovered

that most holy Albertus, of the noble stock of the Normans,

had led his life uncultivated; although at the urging

of the most ample Peter, Archbishop of Benevento, Richard

Bishop of Monte-Corvino composed it.

Therefore, with the great love, by which toward the great Father Albertus

I am driven, I have determined to write it in a more lucid style.

[2] In the four hundred sixty-third year from

our time b, when the illustrious city of Monte-Corvino

was being founded, with the fame of the abundance divulged everywhere, A boy led to Monte-Corvino, very many

peoples came together to inhabit it: among whom when

from the town of Planisium c very many came, John,

father of Albertus, betook himself also there, with Albertus his little boy

of five years. Who taking the beginning from

the work of piety, built the church of St. Nicholas, which we now see

demolished, on the very border of Monte-Corvino and Lucera.

and instructed in letters, But when he handed over his son Albertus to be imbued

with literary discipline, you would see the divine work

shining in him: since from the first time

he avoided the commerce of women, and had youth and

the rest of his age occupied in fasting, in the adornment of temples,

and continual prayer to God, and

showed himself as the common father of the poor.

[3] With the Blessed Bishop dead, two days before the nativity

of the Lord, the Clergy, people and d Count, he is created Bishop; who at that time

had that province, by common vote chose Albertus

as pastor of his country, fleeing and refusing

to undertake such a burden. But when he was compelled by force, he did not wish

to be consecrated before he raised his temple, small and uncultivated,

to the honor of God high and celebrated.

Then with the fame of sanctity growing daily, e the Duke of Apulia

and the other nobles to confess their crimes

began eagerly to flock to him. he loses his sight: And lastly,

when with prayers, fastings, assiduous weeping and great

meditation before God he attenuated his body; the light

of his eyes he lost.

[4] At which time manifest miracles began to appear in him.

For on a certain day, when according to his custom before

the door of the curia he was sitting, for one thirsting water is turned into wine, at a time of summer exceedingly

burdensome; and he felt someone passing by that place;

having asked who he was, after he heard him to be

the servant of John Limi, having inquired whence he came;

when he said he was bringing water from the fountain, he asked for a little

water. Which when he handed in a vessel, and Most Holy

Albertus applied to his mouth, by God's great wonder

it was at once changed into wine. Wherefore when Albertus wished

to drink, he said, My son, why have you deceived me? I was asking

for water, you have given wine. The servant marveling at the great thing,

with a great oath affirmed, that he had given pure only

water; and therefore, when he gave water again,

it was again changed into wine. By which miracle

the great name of Albertus began to be.

[5] invoked he frees a captive, And a little afterwards when William Count f of Rotellum,

was torturing a certain captive with heavy fetter and harsh prison,

and he was not sufficient for so great a labor; the name

of Albertus he began to invoke with a loud voice: whom on the following

night he saw coming in sleep and saying:

Arise, and go from here. Who when he awoke, and

it seemed that command had been real; for a long time he was stupefied,

then on another night, when he appeared again,

he began to ask who he was: who replied he

was Albertus, Bishop of Monte-Corvino, who

was telling him to go from there. Which thing when he tried in vain,

he thought the dream was vain. And at length,

when on the third night he came, he said, that he

was so fatigued by that labor, that he would not return again.

Soon amid speaking unexpectedly he seized him,

and beyond Termulas left him at a place neighboring Monte-Corvino

among the vineyards. Who in the morning afterwards

when he went to Albertus, and with a wondrous kind of praise

pursuing him was giving thanks, because by his

power he had at last escaped from the harsh prison; Most

Holy Albertus replied. Do not ascribe this to me, son,

but to the immortal God, who with wondrous power raises

the crushed and frees those bound. Which miracles Lemarchus

g, Archbishop of the Beneventan see, heard from

Desiderius and Albinus, who of venerable grey hair were aged,

and had seen these things; when according to the custom of an Archbishop

he was visiting Monte-Corvino, and with great zeal from every quarter

was inquiring into the miracles of Albertus.

[6] he is troubled by Crescentius his Vicar Then with old age progressing in length, on account of the light

of his eyes lost, you would see him have the divine

spirit and foretell the future. For when the Clergy,

people and Count of the province, on account of his old age and blindness,

gave him as Governor Crescentius a Priest,

and he wished that the life of Albertus would be brief; Albertus

said to him: Crescentius, I affirm to you that shortly you will be a Bishop h:

yet you will have all things adverse in that office.

Which indeed by a miracle of God was true afterwards,

when the impious man committed the life of the most holy Albertus to boys,

friends, and evil men: who by the deceit

of demons now were leading him through cliffs and rough places

of mountains, so that he frequently fell; now

great voices over his aged head they were sending forth; now

they were throwing his shoes and garments into the fire.

Often with great laughter throwing water on the most holy face

they were saying; O Lord, it is raining, cover yourself: great

rains are now pouring forth. Nay also when he slept in the midst

of July and August's heat, they put very many cicadas near the head

of the most holy man. All which things he with the most equable mind

by tolerating was praying God, that He should wish to render no evil

for that matter. But at length the divine vengeance appeared,

and by the manifest judgment of the eternal God some of them

by harsh exile, some by cruel death, and some by poverty

and harsh prison wretchedly died.

[7] and at last most piously he dies, And when at last God wished to free Albertus from that labor,

at once the whole city far and wide was moved by the fame

of Albertus dying. So when men, women and boys

came running to him with great weeping, they began to proclaim

with a loud voice: O our guardian; O public

parent of all! O salvation! O defense! O public

and private hope of our country! what shall we do hereafter?

Behold, Father Albertus, that liberty which we have

while you are alive, with you now dying we lose.

Then he with his body already deprived of strength, with a joyful countenance,

opening his once-loved lips to his people blessed them,

and saying that it would be the last speech

which he would make to his people, he taught them to live piously and justly;

and with his body now languishing, blessing again;

he departed from life as if sleeping, on the Nones of April i in the one thousand

one hundred twenty-seventh year from the birth

of our Redeemer.

[8] The funeral is honored by a miracle, Then on the following day, when the most holy body

with great weeping of all was being borne to the sepulchre, they saw

man, which filled all the air far and wide. And then

Russus, a man of approved faith and sanctity, who

thought that his eyes had grown dim, with the smoke now vanishing

together with the sacrifice, began with a loud voice to give thanks

to the immortal God, who at that time opened such

wondrous works. And a little afterwards a great crowd of sick people

was seen going to the tomb, and by a manifest miracle of Albertus

returning with health.

[9] a contracted woman is loosed, Among the others soon after his departure, the fame

of the holy man moved Basilica, a woman of Alife,

to seek Monte-Corvino, who for two years at

member whole: And when she disclosed to her host, that she

was going to that city with a taper according to custom, to see

the holy sepulchre; the host brought the matter to the Bishop:

who desiring to do a thing pleasing to the people, first

gave thanks to the eternal and immortal God, who

in that age opened wondrous works to the people: then

he caused that woman to be led before the sepulchre. Who

when she was praying day and night with tears poured out, by chance

it happened on the day on which the miracle occurred, that the Lord

and the people of the city were convening in that temple to

conduct public business of the country: when suddenly they heard the woman

rendering with loud voice praises both to God and

to B. Albertus: nay also very many clearly perceived, the broken

bones returning to the ancient state of the members.

Wherefore with the whole city running to the temple with great

joy, she publicly confessed, that by divine revelation

she had come to the tomb.

[10] A little afterwards a certain Benedict from Bicari l a town,

which is at the eighth milestone from thence, a paralytic and mute is healed, when with grave

and long sickness in his whole body he labored, and with use of hands

and feet lost he was now also losing the speech of his tongue;

to the temple of St. Albertus he caused himself

to be led. Where when for a whole week in vain he had prayed,

with great anger he withdrew from there, reporting that by Albertus's

aid all rejoiced, but he was withdrawing without the aid:

and in that manner he entered by night the temple of the town of Serra.

Where when he had spent the night, he saw most holy Albertus

coming in sleep and saying: Why, brother,

do you walk sad and grieving? when those things which are of God's will

are by no means in your will. But rise: by this

infirmity you will no longer be burdened. Who at once awakening,

found himself sound in his whole body; and so returning

to the temple of Albertus, with great joy of all long

in that city he remained. And at almost the same time another

miracle was done with Bishop Richard present.

[11] an energumen woman is freed, When innumerable throngs of women and men

were flocking there, and many miracles were daily being done,

it happened that a certain woman, by name Mary,

by the hidden judgment of God was occupied by a demon, who

with her husband Albert was living both in good name and

great love. In so great a matter the husband was stupefied,

the neighbors wondered, kinsmen grieved; but she

with a horrible voice was raging, was twisting her face, gnashing

her teeth, striking her breasts; and with a grim gaze

looking upon each, was tearing her face, clothes and her whole body.

Wherefore the husband, when in vain he had implored the help

of physicians, came to the temple of St. Albertus:

where with his wife set before the sepulchre, when

he believed that she ought to become milder, she being made more angry,

for three whole days barking in the manner of dogs, horrible

inhuman voices, unheard wailings, and horrendous

growlings with the whole people amazed she sent forth. At last

when the husband in no way withdrew from there, but

determined to stay there the whole time and to invoke the Holy

Trinity, the spirit unable any longer

to stay in her, at once threw her to the ground: where

with belly, breasts, and the whole chest made swollen,

an immense spirit, changed into a lurid poison,

with great labor she vomited out. By which miracle

Bishop Richard and the people moved appointed

up to the ninth day to pray for her, with a portion

of citizens distinguished, who by night should guard her.

But on a certain night, when they slept a little,

the whole temple, and one with great force seized

her: whom when it was lifting from the earth, they awakened

and stupid at last with great labor freed her.

Wherefore Bishop Richard, having called John m, Bishop of Vulturaria

and a venerable man, to counsel,

when they had discovered the error of the woman, enjoined her

to cross to the holy Sepulchre in the East.

Which journey indeed she completed with great joy,

and returning to the temple of Albertus, shortly there died.

[12] those endangered at sea Another miracle also must by no means

now be passed over, confirmed by a certain letter

of the venerable Raus, Bishop of Vulturaria, to the venerable

Peter, Bishop of Monte-Corvino, to the clergy and

people of the city written. When Raus by Roger, the most glorious King

of Sicily, was called to Palermo, and from Salerno to the nearby

parts of n Balnearia, which are places near the Pharo

came; a great storm having arisen he asked the sailors, that

they enter the port of Balnearia. Which thing when they were trying

to do, with the wind rising to immense proportions, through

the midst of the seas they were cast with great peril.

Wherefore the Bishop, much more moved than before,

began to publicly promise all the goods which he had, if

they should touch land. Then the sailors with great weeping

replied, that they were lost: and with a wind arisen between

the West and the North, are miraculously brought to port: by a certain miracle

through most narrow cliffs they escaped. Then through the narrows

of the Pharo as they were being carried, nor did they have any hope of

safety, with all the multitude despairing, Raus began

to invoke the name of St. Albertus. And at once

he saw a man clothed in white raiment, of honorable appearance

and joyful countenance, coming to him, saying: I am here,

whom you call: I am Albertus. Wherefore when

Raus rolled himself at his holy feet, Albertus raising

him up, said, Be of great courage, Raus my son; the port

immediately you shall touch, and by God's great mercy,

between going and returning, all things favorable

shall be for you. And when he had said these things, at once he vanished.

Wherefore Raus, coming forth into their midst, proclaimed: Live

with secure mind all who are here: great

miracles have I seen. Nor had he fully narrated them, when

they saw the ship as if flying passing over the highest mountains

of waters, and unexpectedly entering the port. At which

miracle, all who were in the ship came together as one,

and gave innumerable thanks to most holy Albertus. But Raus

returning from Sicily, at once went to the holy sepulchre

of Albertus, received with wondrous joy by the Clergy and people

of Monte-Corvino.

[13] We read, what by no means must be omitted,

that St. Albertus, when above the altar he was holding the host of Christ consecrated,

and was praying with great tears, that

He would signify to him by what things he could acquire salvation

of his soul, and He did not answer; said, My Lord, To Albertus once sacrificing,

I will never dismiss You from my hands, unless previously

You shall have answered. And with Him not answering, he adjured Him.

Who at last answered that these seven things were to be done by him.

First, if every day you feed me, that is, if for the love

of me you shall daily give one obol, more will it

profit your soul and be grateful to me, than if

after death they should offer for you one mountain of gold

that from earth should touch heaven. Second, Christ teaches seven very meritorious acts. more does it avail

to shed one tear every day while you shall live,

than if after death so many tears flowed out for you

that they could make one lake. Third, it

pleases me enough, if on any night from delightful sleep

you shall withdraw yourself, and with whole heart pray to me: which thing

will benefit your soul more, than if at your death ten

thousand men should cross to war for the faith of Christ

in your name. Fourth it will be greatly pleasing to me,

if in a doubtful matter you shall take in good

part all things which by others shall be done and wrought,

and you shall not send forth any murmurs about your neighbor,

and you shall correct him erring between

yourself and him: which certainly will avail more, than if

you should complete a fast of seven years on bread and water.

Fifth; which pleases me more than all, if

with good spirit you shall remit a grave offense to your enemy:

which indeed will be more useful to your soul, than

if going to St. James of Galicia, at each

mile you should find a field full of rods, with which

in such a manner you should beat yourself, that far and wide your blood

in every mile you should pour out. Sixth is, if at every

time you shall esteem yourself less than every creature;

which is true humility, and will profit your soul

more, than if you should sustain many hospitals of the poor,

and should refresh the thirsting and hungry throng of men

every day. Seventh you shall beware, as long as you shall live

to make any judgment with rash mind: which will be pleasing

to me more, than if whole days in prayer you should

pass, and at all times also fast, and all

your goods for the love of God give. You shall strive therefore Albertus, if

you shall desire to obtain my glory, to fulfill these things in mind and

work.

NOTES.

a Alexander is

Bishop created about the year 1496, but always implicated in such great affairs of Kings,

that it is much if even in the first years in his Bishopric

he resided: which he dismissed in the year 1515, and in the year 1520 sailed to India,

dying in the year 1525, a septuagenarian.

1074, in which the latter was killed, and at length he himself also died 1077,

put an end to the Principality, long continued in the Lombard stock, and

yielded place to the Norman Princes.

the Pharo namely (which all things afterwards the nobler name of Apulia

absorbed) as Falco of Benevento has in his chronicle, drawn out for the first 40 years

of that century; which William the Anonymous of Monte Cassino, in a chronicle

embracing almost the whole 12th century, writes died in the year 1126.

by the sea, and the extreme limit of Apulia toward Italy) he is said soon to have been transported, when the captive was freed.

Archbishop, to be placed as mid between Gregorius, still surviving in the year 1142; &

Peter, whom it is established to have begun to sit within the sixth year from then,

is to be established? Nowhere else does his name occur: but indeed that of Rosamundus, who on the side of the Pseudo-pontiff Anacletus, with Gregorius expelled, for some time held that See.

who following his erroneous calculations about Richard, said this one

sat in the very year in which St. Albertus died: more rightly would he have done if the first place

among the Vulturarian Bishops he had left to Arderadus: &

this John he had made one of the successors of Raus to be named shortly, those

whose names are still lacking to fill up a gap of at least

eighty years.