ON ST. WINEBAUD ABBOT,
AT TROYES IN GAUL.
AROUND A.D. 620.
PrefaceWinebaud, Abbot, at Troyes in Gaul (Saint)
G. H.
Nicolas Camusat in his Promptuary of sacred antiquities of the diocese of Troyes, among other illustrious monuments and Acts of the Saints, Life formerly written. published from p. 288, from ancient MS. Codices, the Life of Saint Winebaud, Abbot of the monastery of Saint Lupus, then constituted in the suburb of the city of Troyes. This Life, distinguished and illustrated in our manner, we give, written in a simple enough style but veracious: which Benedictus Gononus published in a style contracted of his own in book 2 on the Lives of the Fathers of the West, p. 97, and Nicolas Des-Guerrois translated into the French language in the Ecclesiastical History of Troyes, especially for the year 622, and finally Simon Martin in the Sacred Relics of the desert, p. 278 and following. Age. This holy Abbot flourished in that dignity around the year 580, and departed from life around the year 620, as we gather from the Acts themselves by probable conjectures.
[2] His monastery dedicated to Saint Mary When Saint Lupus Bishop of Troyes was flourishing in the fifth century of Christ, the aforementioned monastery already existed, but was dedicated to the Virgin Mary Mother of God, as the ancient Acts of the same Saint Lupus to be published on July 29 have, and Camusat confirms in his Notes on this Life. At which time also in the neighboring diocese of Langres was built the monastery of Réome, as is clear from the Life of Saint John the first Abbot, illustrated on January 28; and Romanus and Lupicinus, brothers and Abbots in the monasteries of the Jura, excelled in the holiness of life, concerning whom we treated on February 28 and March 21. then dedicated to Saint Lupus of Troyes Since the aforesaid Saint Lupus, buried in the basilica of the said monastery, became famous for many miracles, it began to be called the monastery of Saint Lupus, which persisted until the year 892, destroyed in the year 892 when it was burned and destroyed by the Normans. The Clergy and monks of the said monastery foreseeing this disaster sought safer places, carrying with them the relics of Saints Lupus and Winebaud, and after the Norman assault subsided, returning, they built a church within the walls of the city under the same name of Saint Lupus, long governed under the auspices of the Canons: who around the year 1135 adopted the norm of the Augustinian rule, restored within the city. Gerard being elected Abbot, taken up from the Prior of Saint Martin, to whom succeeded Eurardus; then Guiterus: under whom the sacred bones of Saint Winebaud were deposited in a new chest. The history of this matter Camusat thus narrates on p. 300. Relics of Saint Winebaud adorned in the year 1180. "In the year 1609 I asked the custodians of the sacred relics of Saint Winebaud, the Religious of the said monastery of Saint Lupus, to permit the chest, into which the relics themselves are placed, to be opened and closed again, which they readily granted. When it was opened, there were found bones, reverently placed in the same reliquary, covered with silver plates, which also the silver images of the twelve Apostles finely made surround on every side: on which some Latin verses were also incised: of which these two alone remain whole.
In the year one thousand one hundred and eighty, Under Bishop Matthew, I am made under Father Guiterus."
Concerning Matthew, who was the 57th Bishop of Troyes, consult the Sainte-Marthes in tome 3 of Gallia Christiana p. 1081.
[3] In the suburban place, where Saint Winebaud had been Abbot, afterwards a small chapel was built sacred to Saint Martin, arm in the chapel of Saint Martin. in which the other arm of Saint Winebaud is reported to be reverently preserved by the above-indicated Des-Guerrois; who asserts that a place eight leagues distant from Troyes, near the village of Saint-Pierre de Boursenay, is famous for the hermitic life of Saint Winebaud: where, as Camusat testifies on p. 300, "There is a Priory, distinguished by the name of the same Saint Winebaud, which depends on the monastery of Saint Lupus: where a fountain gushing with very limpid waters waters the sanctuary of the Priory: in which many, burning with febrile heat, after saluting with prayers and vows the same Saint Winebaud invoked, wash themselves, and are restored from their disease by his assistance: as happened four hundred years ago to Warner, Lord of Triagnel: who himself, not unmindful of so great a benefit, wished it to be attested to all posterity, by a literary monument conceived in this form of words.
testimony confirmed in the year 1179. I, Warner of Triagnel, wish it to be made known to all, both present and future, that the Canons of Saint Lupus of Troyes, dwelling at Saint Winebaud, used to pay me three modii of oats annually for protection, from their own. But when I had for a long time been vehemently afflicted with quartan fever, and with difficulty, on account of excessive weakness, brought in a four-horse carriage to the fountain of Blessed Winebaud, having been bathed there three days, wholly freed from the fever by the merits and intercessions of the blessed Confessor, I donated one modius of the said grain in thanksgiving to Jesus Christ to the same church in perpetual alms. Enacted in the year 1179."
[4] referred to December 18 by Trithemius, This Saint Winebaud, even by this sole title, that he was an Abbot, Trithemius ascribed to the illustrious men of the Benedictine Order book [*] chapter 67 in these words: "Winebald Abbot of the monastery of Saint Lupus of Troyes, a learned and holy man, was in great esteem with King Lothair, who held Burgundy. He was also very familiar and beloved by Blessed Lupus Bishop of Sens, and reconciled him to the offended King. He flourished in the year of the Lord 620, whose feast is celebrated on December 15 recte 18." Trithemius is followed by Wion and Dorganius in the monastic Martyrologies: on which day Saint Wunibald Abbot of Heidenheim died whom Ferrarius wrongly cited, refers to Saint Wunibald Abbot of Heidenheim in Germany, brother of Saints Willibald and Walburga, whom on December 18 we have said died, on February 7 in the Life of Saint Richard the father no. 9. About the same also on this day Saussay treats.
[5] on April 6 he is commemorated by others. But because Saint Winebaud is said below in the Life to have died on the eighth day before the Ides of April, he is referred to on this day, but with a more distorted name, in the Carmelite MS. preserved at Cologne and the MS. Florarium of Saints, likewise in the Cologne Martyrology printed in the year 1490, and in Greven and Molanus in the Appendix to Usuard: and he is called "Wermebandus Abbot": whom Wion and Dorganius followed. Ferrarius, ascribes both "Wermebandus Abbot" and "Guinebaldus Confessor," as distinct, to Troyes: whom Maurolycus calls "Wermebaldus." Menard more correctly names him Winebaud, as also do Saussay and Bucelinus, who have excerpted longer encomia from the Life. It is strange that the same is not referred to by Constantinus Ghinius in the Nativities of the Canonical Saints, since that monastery of Saint Lupus had been of the Order of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine for five hundred years. In a very ancient MS. Martyrology of the Church of Reims of Saints Timothy and Apollinaris, he is thus commemorated: "At Troyes, Saint Winebaud, Presbyter and Confessor." Ferrarius inscribed him again under the name of Vanebottus in his Catalogue on the 16th day of April. John Mabillon in the Index of Omitted Saints in the second Benedictine century refers to Saint Winebaud, and not affixing an asterisk, rejects him from the true Benedictines. The festivity of Saint Winebaud, for the greater convenience of the people flocking, is celebrated on the 2nd Sunday after Easter, as we received from a letter written from Troyes by the Rev. D. Cousinet in the year 1663.
LIFE
From the Tricassine Promptuary of Camusat.
Winebaud, Abbot, at Troyes in Gaul (Saint)
BHL Number: 8949
FROM CAMUSAT.
[1] The praise of holy works and virtues, truly increased, shines out in the paths of light; that perfection may not lack deeds, and that the pious people may not omit its order, but that it may be laid open by a manifest reason. The most holy man Winebaud, a native of a Nogent, a village of the diocese of the city of Troyes, was born of not lowly origin. Born at Nogent, For his father and mother were of Roman stock, but excelled the highest degree with the greatest liberality, and destined their son to be instructed in letters, who also with the utmost swiftness obtains wisdom, which is the gift of God; and presently attains the grace of the Holy Spirit, and being consecrated to God, he becomes a Cleric, since he feared the uncertain and falling chances of worldly frailty, he received the burden of the clerical office, and the divine fountain so infused into him the regular norm, that in a small cell he led a solitary life. When therefore he was spending the night in prayer and fasting and the singing of psalms and vigils, the holy man celebrated the divine offices frequently, not idly but becomingly, through the sacred mysteries through which was also shown an access to the fullness of his primitive virtue, it is more glorious to say. Now there arises for me the matter to be spoken of so great and such a man: who, truly most blessed, and he practices abstinence. from boyhood, at the Lord's inspiration, imposed on himself such bridles of continence with regard to abstinence either from more delicate food or the gluttony of flesh, that the little boy did not now demand more than to be fed with a single morsel of milk.
[2] When now the cattle, set free, were in their pastures, and the animals were pasturing on the victuals of the grasses, a certain (as they say) thief in a neighboring little field, by name b Honorius, attempted to steal a calf of his mother. a thief, carrying off a calf Then he, anxious what to do, as a terrible wild beast leapt out, grasped the neck of the calf with his arms, and more swiftly bound his mouth, so that the lowing of the calf might not be heard: the animal bound with iron, and moreover squeezed by blows, he separated from its mother, and placed it at his own house where he was hiding. Immediately having seized an axe, cannot kill it turning his right hand at the head, he wished to kill it, the most wretched man thinking that it could not be taken from him: at his back an Angelic hand held the haft. being hindered by an Angel: The increase of strength profited nothing, since in no way could he by any force do it damage. Often through three days the criminal thief performed this office, and at length was seized by a demon. seized by a demon, he utters a bellow: His human voice was changed into the voice of a beast, and they ran together, but his bellows penetrated to the stars. The calf with its bonds gnawed through and broken hastened unhurt to its mother; and the robber, crowded by dire burnings, came bloody to the Priest: and when he stood near the cell of the holy man, shaking his head frequently, he made inarticulate bleatings. Hearing these things the most blessed Winebaud, by Saint Winebaud, opened the door of his cell, and placed the sign of the Cross on his mouth; and embracing his neck, binding with his arms, he breathed into his mouth, and out of the bellow a tranquil voice returned. To whom the gentle man said: "I correct you with mild chastisement, corrected, he is dismissed. that you should no more be bold in being harmful to anyone; but if you will not, you will endure both here and in the future grave penal torments. Let what is yours suffice you in justice: use these if you wish to conduct your goods with a vital benefit and swiftly"; and chastised and mitigated, he permitted him to go to his own.
[3] The most blessed man c Gallomagnus, Bishop of the city of Troyes, hearing the fame of Blessed Winebaud, he himself summoned to the Bishop of Troyes: which was openly being spread among the people, at once with haste directed the most reverend Lector to the venerable man, whom the tertian fever with its grievous incommodities was pressing. The holy man Winebaud, fearing inwardly, and thinking that the greatness of the Pontiff would not permit him to return to his own, said: "My brother, I dare not refuse the Pontiff's command, if his holiness would permit me his servant to return to my own [d] cell." Finally by most confident merit he came to him, to whom it was not unknown by prayer to retain the favor of Saint Lupus: and when the force of heat and cold by sudden onset was more often shaking the limbs of the Lector, He frees his Lector from fever. thence bending his knee to prayer, prostrating himself to the ground, he shone forth with the virtue of excellent faith, and obtained the most salutary medicine. When the Pontiff saw the Lector snatched from the force of fevers by the virtue of Saint Winebaud, he said to the venerable man: "If your kindness permits, I shall not cease to speak to you. It is necessary for us, holy man, that you not desert this city, and that you dispose to pray for your own sheep." But the most blessed man said to him: "I do not dare to refuse the admonitions of Saint Paul, who says, 'Whoever resists the power, resists the ordinance of God.'" Rom. 13:2 The holy Pontiff asked that he would deign to be advanced to the basilica of e Saint Lupus, to serve his holiness with continuous prayers.
[4] At the same f time Audericus, Abbot of the said basilica, died: after whose death the holy praise of the Brothers with one voice acclaimed to the aforesaid Apostolic man, that they might deserve to obtain as Abbot before their own eyes the venerable Winebaud, whom in the degree of Levitic or Sacerdotal honor by a sacred blessing he had raised to the highest pinnacle. The blessed Pontiff seeing these things, He is ordained Abbot: that by God's nod one will was proclaiming in the people, said to all who unanimously persisted in his love: "O most holy men, this Winebaud whom you acclaim, by the nod of the supernal Arbiter and with the will of both sexes, we agree and ordain him for you as Abbot." The ordination having been received, the Abbot said to the Brothers: "Be comforted and fear not: let charity in you remain unshaken, that perfection may not lack service." The blessed man therefore, chosen by God, in continuous prayers and fasts constantly gave himself to pleasing goodness.
[5] fasting strictly It is worth recounting his virtues, because in him there was such abstinence, that he kept the forty-day fast up until sleep, and placed his neck subject to the yoke, that in the enclosure of his cell, with his limbs entirely weary, he cast himself upon the ground: for through the whole week he did not exhibit himself more abundant food than three modest loaves, and sleeping hard which he did not divide more than three fistfuls of flour each day, so that by the repeated number he might indicate the Holy Trinity. And when the most blessed Winebaud Abbot would come out of his cell on the birthdays of the Saints, with a cheerful face and bright speech he strengthened the Brothers. These however wondered and feared him in all things, that for so many days he endured such hunger, that half a bread he had to eat, and the whole parts that remained stayed, which his appetite had not consumed. The praise of parsimony grew for the better with the palm of triumph and fame among the people: because the merciful God ministered vital food even to his athlete. He remains in robust health. Greater strength grew in him by abstinence, than if his belly often satisfied with copious viands were filled: but the most holy man, vigilant in wisdom, prudent and simple, gentle in peace-making, did not pass over the saying of the Gospel, and held the cleverness of the serpent: because he also guarded his Head, which is Christ, that he might prudently avoid the snares of the devil; and held the simplicity of the dove, that with wonderful humility he might not perpetrate evils in this world. The most atrocious enemy always seeks an entry as a serpent, to deceive the souls of the innocent, that he may strike them by the snare by which he seduced Eve and her companion.
[6] A certain woman of the village of g Arceii, when on a holy Sunday her co-godfather came to visit her, who had spiritually regenerated her son from the sacred font, urgently she and her husband begged that he enter their house; for whom swiftly preparing seats, A woman foully avaricious they sat together. But when the loquacious woman, the spark of her own avarice having enflamed her, anticipated presumptuously her husband's conversation, so that what she had conceived in her mind she might utter wickedly with her mouth: "With indissoluble bond of faith," she said, "I bind myself to you: if I had cider or wine of Falernus, I would give you a cup": she who nevertheless had closed little flasks full in her chamber. He, full of faith, believed: and returned. Immediately the false-speaker by God's nod was struck with a serpentine dart. For when on the aforesaid holy day after these things she was washing and combing the head of her son, the fingers stuck with a hand tightened, and she pierced her palm with her bite, so that the utmost tip of her h teeth appeared: because she whom a whole week had not sufficed, incautious polluted the nourishing day. grievously punished And when she was now foreseeing sudden death before her eyes, with a great voice with wailing she cried out: "Woe is me! who shall come to my help, since I appear condemned by God's judgment?" Thence stricken with sadness, remembering the virtues of the holy man Winebaud, whose fame pervaded the provinces, most reverently with the utmost haste coming to him, as if to her own physician she asked for aid. But when the most blessed Abbot had most promptly prostrated himself to prayer, and was kissing the thresholds of Saint Lupus with his own lips, and tears were flowing from his eyes; divine mercy was not far from him: to serving whom continuously, he did not fail to be present. The prayer completed, by prayers and the sign of the Cross heals, taking the hand of the woman, he placed on it the sign of the Cross, and the fingers (which were joined in the flesh, and as if stakes) moving them one by one, and plucked them from the hand, recalling them to their pristine use, he sent her most healthy back to her lodging.
[7] A woman named Nonnulla, of the village of Pricciacum,
[8] For the redemption of Saint Lupus After this event, Blessed k Lupus Bishop of the city of Sens is known to have incurred (by I know not what chance) the calumny of King Chlothar, and outside the rite of canonical sentence obtained exile. For the cause of this matter, l his Archdeacon came to the most venerable Abbot, and knelt on his knees, that his holiness would not refuse to beseech the aforesaid King, going to King Chlothar, that the most sacred Church should no longer stand destitute of the protection of its Pastor, nor be held exiled or alien. Wherefore no delay was made for the one requesting, where mercy anticipates the voices of the supplicant. The journey being begun, with divine grace he swiftly undertakes the way. When the holy man was approaching the town of Rouen from afar, and now Phoebus, the day finished, was inclining his course toward the evening; he said to his companions, "Fix, brothers, our little tent, because we are worn out from the journey"; and when the most blessed man had prostrated himself for a little to rest, divine admonition came to the aid of the sick. It was spread about concerning his coming, that in a nearby place the Saint's lodging was had. Meanwhile the parents of a certain little woman rejoiced, he illumines a blind woman, and running together to her who had been deprived of sight, holding her whom they had seized by their own hand, they led her to the illustrious soldier of Christ, and said to him: "Lord, look upon our offspring." The most blessed servant of the Lord, considering the woman to have been condemned by such a case, placed a blessing on her head and eyes and the sign of the holy Cross. Immediately the darkness being removed, the lights become clear: and she who had been led to him by another's office, received whole sight, and on her own feet without doubt returned home.
[9] The girl had not yet gone away from the place, and behold, a certain little man, a native of the said city, at the instigation of the adversary, rabid, turbid, and desperate, as though hoarse with the voices of many barking dogs and fighting with his teeth, and he heals a rabid man. was tearing with his truculent teeth whatever he could catch, even the innocent: whom a huge crowd of men scarcely could suppress, binding his hands with bonds, and his sides fenced with chains, like a most ferocious bull he is dragged to the servant of God. "We are present," they say, "before you, merciful Lord; the adversary has dragged [him] from the way astray, because your servants could scarcely drag him here before you. We implore, Lord, restrain and give rest to the rabid one." He seeing them, felt compassion for the wretched one: and with eyes lifted to heaven, raising both palms on high, he prayed. Immediately seizing the hair on the back of the head, and the stiff neck warming with his embrace, he placed the standard of the Cross on his mouth; he was made safe, and no longer did he appear harmful to them, but unharmed returned to his birthplace.
[10] he obtains from the King the liberation of the captives and of Saint Lupus: Then the most blessed man came to the King at a villa by the name of Alent, not far from the town of Rouen. Who when he had seen him, rejoiced, and received him as an Angel of the Lord and as a heavenly gift. The man of God Winebaud therefore asked, according to the prayer of the Archdeacon, that the guilty who were held by his Dukes or Counts in pits or in prisons, his Highness would deign without any delay, for the sake of the religion of the Saints or for the stability of the kingdom, to absolve. Accordingly m what he asked he obtained: the captives being released, along with Blessed Lupus Pontiff of the Senonese.
[11] Farewell being said, he takes up the journey again, comes to the city of Paris, n and retaining with him only two Presbyters and one Deacon, being expected further on, he permitted the others to depart. After this, he said to the Brothers who remained with him: "Let us pray, and let us not delay, but more secretly let us walk our way": and when he had first reverently gone around the churches of the Saints, returning by prayer he opens the doors of the prison, the fountain and origin of mercy God intimated to him with the regard of piety, that to the condemned in the prison place, the bonds of custody being removed, he should impart the ray of mercy. Wherefore summoning the Presbyter the companion of his journey, he addressed him saying: "Hurry, do not delay: inquire diligently if the keeper of the prison is present." Who going more swiftly, pushing against the doors, found them fastened, and what he learned he reported saying: "Long since, Lord, divine announcement in many places openly announced your coming: the soldiers who guarded have fled, and all the bars of the bound ones are kept closed in silence." Then the Saint said: "Be silent, dearest ones, the place of prayer has come." and from the collapse of the same falling down, And when he had prayed, after a little that prison fell down, and within it struck down none of the condemned, nay also their limbs were all from the fetters and all the bars by divine mystery loosened. After these things he said to his companions: "Let us go now, because God has opened for us the doors of the dungeon." And when they had gone together, they entered to those who had been imprisoned among the stones: he leads out the captives, and they could scarcely extract anyone from the ruin with their hands, because half-dead from hunger and thirst they tottered in all their limbs, and could not govern their step. Thence the holy man gave them bread and drink, and with spirit and soul refreshed, he washed the heads of each with his own hand, and shaved the hair of those who had grown long with time, and paying the price he purchased clothes, commanding that the filth and rags with which they were clothed should be thrown away, he clothed them all again in new garments, saying: "See, my little sons, you have deserved divine absolution, without fear return to your own."
[12] His Pontiff and the holy man Winebaud having returned, and entering o the city of Sens, the exulting people go forth to meet them with hymns and songs. After this as time went on, on [p] a certain day, while Saint Lupus was sitting at table in the city of Sens, through the Holy Spirit he knew that the man of the Lord Winebaud had entered the church of Saint Stephen: then, leaving his meal, cheerfully he goes out to meet him with no one announcing it, and finds Saint Winebaud going between the church of Saint Mary and Saint Stephen, he is drawn by Saint Lupus to a banquet: and the prayer in the aforesaid church being completed, with the kiss of peace given, he led him to his own banquet.
[13] Often in bands the sick flowed together to the cell of the blessed man Winebaud, urgently beseeching, that he should by touch handle their limbs, and lift their grievous burdens from them. But God the true Physician, he heals various sick did not desert his faithful friend for long praying: for immediately where the hand of the Saint touched the infirm, with pristine vigor restored, by the Lord's help, unharmed they returned to their own dwellings. O most illustrious man, whose benignity freed those carrying his staff from sufferings and fevers! While he was still constituted in the body, many seized by demons, and the possessed: with various voices cried out that they were being tormented by his virtues, and when in detail he more diligently applied the rigor of the word, through the standard of the sign of the holy Cross the demons, driven away, left the possessed, like shining vessels: for the most blessed athlete and servant of the Lord, by divine adjuration commanded that the marvellously driven away malign spirits should go to where they would endure flaming torments.
he excels in chastity and other virtues: O how precious a man! in whom no deceit stood, who never lustfully mingled the carnal bed, so that chastity being guarded, the integrity of virginity might remain in him. He had also such mercy in him, that he incessantly bestowed the food of alms to the needy. O most excellent Priest, chastised by fasts, devoted to prayers, a temple of the Lord, a habitation of the Holy Spirit! Let us come therefore to that time, in which he migrated to the Lord. He was translated into the supernal Jerusalem, the Just exulting to have received a colleague full of such faith. The friend of God deserved that, born on earth, he should possess the glory of heaven by virtue which he did not have by nature. The holy man died on the eighth day before the Ides of April. He conquered the world, he dies on April 6. sending his spirit to heaven: he did not lay down the term of life, but changed it. Let us pray that through his intercession the Lord may deign to enlighten his face upon us, by which we may be able through the true word to run the narrow way. Which he himself may deign to grant, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
NOTES.
A fountain is there unsullied and silver with glassy waves.
So Camusat. Concerning this fountain famous for miracles we have treated above.
King Chlothar (after he had obtained the kingdom of Burgundy, King Theoderic having died and his sons having been killed in the year 613) directed into Burgundy; and the iniquity of Medegesilus, who ruling a monastery in the suburb of Saint Remigius, attempted to occupy the place of the holy Bishop, and therefore was killed by the citizens of Sens.
p The same things are plainly narrated in the said Life of Saint Lupus.