Paternus

ON SAINT PATERNUS, BISHOP,

OF VANNES IN BRITTANY.

ABOUT THE YEAR 560.

Paternus, Bishop of Vannes in Brittany (St.)

G. H.

William Camden, in his Britannia, in treating of Ceredigion or the County of Cardigan, asserts that it is the third region of the Dimetae, and is believed to have been called Ceretica from a certain King Carataco, but that the town of Cardigan near the river Tivy afterwards gave it its name. Thence toward the north are discharged into the Irish sea, at a quite neighboring place, the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol, where is also the most populous town of the whole county, Aberystwyth. Episcopate and church of St. Paternus in Wales "Adjacent to this," he says, "is Llanbadarn Fawr, that is, the Shrine of Paternus the Great, who, of Armorican origin, ruled the church of the Ceretici (as his Life has it) by feeding them, and fed them by ruling them. To his memory posterity has here consecrated a temple and an Episcopal see. But the Bishopric, as Roger Hoveden writes, because the parishioners had killed their pastor, long ago fell into disuse." So Camden. That same Life of St. Paternus cited here Ussher, in On the Origins of the British Churches, page 529, asserts he saw in the Cotton library: Life formerly written: but on page 527 he reports that the Life of St. Paternus, described, is in the Sanctilogium of Britain by John of Tynemouth, and from there in John Capgrave's Nova Legenda Angliae, from which we give it here, illustrated with necessary notes. There lived with St. Paternus in the same Wales St. David, Archbishop of Menevia, in the neighboring province of Pembrokeshire, familiar acquaintance with Sts. David and Teilo: to which is contiguous the province of Carmarthen, and then toward Cornwall the County of Glamorgan, in which St. Teilo was Bishop of Llandaff, another close friend of St. Paternus. St. David is venerated on the Kalends of March, and St. Teilo on February 9, in the Life of each of whom we have lamented that many things from common report, but falsely, seem to have been added by later writers. Some similar things have been inserted also in this Life, but perhaps fewer.

[2] The church dedicated to the said St. Paternus is mentioned by Giraldus Silvester in his Itinerary of Wales book 2 chapter 4, John Speed in the Theater of the Empire of Great Britain book 2 chapter 9, Sacred cult on April 15 among the English. Nicholas Harpsfield in his Ecclesiastical History of the English in the first six centuries, chapter 28, where he has an illustrious epitome of the Life, and asserts that he died on the 17th day before the Kalends of May, which day of his death all the Acts to be reviewed below, written in England, also assign. Other English writers follow, and among them Jerome Porter in his Flowers of the Saints of England, citing John the Englishman, whom we judge to be the same as John of Tynemouth. Richard Whitford in his Martyrology printed in English at London in the year 1506, and John Wilson in the second edition of the English Martyrology, citing whom Michael Alford in the Index of Saints of England appended after volume 3 of his English History, think that St. Paternus flourished about the year 1366. Meanwhile, because St. Paternus was both born in Brittany and returned to it and was made Bishop of the city of Vannes there; therefore Albert le Grand in his treatise On the Saints of Brittany, published in the year 1587, published some Life of him, but perhaps corrupted by many little fables, and on April 16 among the Armoricans, and assigns April 16 as the day of his death and veneration; on which day the Breviaries of the city of Vannes and of Quimper of the earlier edition report him to have died. For in the edition of the Proper of Saints of this Church of the year 1642, the Office is said to have been removed, as not pertaining to the diocese. August du Paz, in his History of Brittany, under the Bishops of Vannes, took the same day April 16 for his death, and in view of these things, at the Acts of Sts. David and Teilo, we noted, with Ferrari in the General Catalogue, April 16 also for St. Paternus. On the said day is venerated St. Paternus Bishop of Avranches, on which St. Paternus of Avranches is venerated. in Lower Normandy, bordering on Brittany, so that the Armoricans seem on this account to have adopted the 16th rather: and on the contrary, the deposition of St. Paternus the Bishop, namely of Avranches, and of Scubulio the Abbot, in the Lucca copy of the Hieronymian Martyrology, formerly augmented at Fontenelle in Normandy, is commemorated on this April 15: whence we gather that it was an easy occasion of erring from April 15 to April 16. He is furthermore venerated for the translation of his body on May 21 with an office under a semi-double rite, and then Ferrari mentions him in the General Catalogue.

[3] As regards the time of his life, he seems to have been born toward the end of the fifth century, The time of his life indicated. about the year 490 or a little later; and in the year of Christ 516 to have gone into Greater Britain, and, making an excursion into Ireland, to have returned the following year; and there to have remained until about the year 540, and then, returning to Brittany, finally about the year 560 to have met his last day. The reasons by which we are moved we give below in the notes. Hence we gather that he was not at the Council of Vannes among the Armoricans celebrated about the year 465 by St. Perpetuus of Tours in the ordination of some bishop of Vannes. Namely, because among the Fathers of that Council, next to St. Perpetuus, some Paternus Bishop signed, but without doubt of another See; this being unknown, men have commonly believed that it was this St. Paternus, whose father, by a very probable reason, could not yet have been born. Then if some Paternus had been ordained Bishop at that time, his name would not straightway have been placed before the other Bishops, who were much older. Concerning the Third Council of Paris, at which before his death, about the year 559, he could have been present, we treat below. Albert le Grand puts off his death to the year 590, but assigns no cause for his statement. proved from the time of Sts. David and Teilo. That St. David, Archbishop of Menevia, a close friend of St. Paternus, died in the year 544; and that St. Teilo, Bishop of Llandaff, another companion in life, departed about the year 560, we proved in the Life of each: so that Paternus does not seem to have lived long beyond that year. Ussher, from the Life of Sulgenus written in verse by his own son, on pages 90 and 528 gives some verses concerning St. Paternus, which we here append, and they are as follows.

Northward from this place is a lofty metropolis, An encomium once written. Where the holy Bishop Paternus rightly led An outstanding life, through thrice seven years. Seeing all that is of this world as vain and slippery, With his whole mind stretching toward the heavenly powers, He vowed to serve Christ forever. And also chastising his holy body with mortification, Always persisting strongly in unwearied labor, Praying, fasting, keeping vigil, weeping, groaning: Giving food to the hungry, and relief to those in chains, Opening entrance to guests, drink to the thirsty, Care to the sick, to the naked in pity clothing, Doing all things prudently, he accomplished all things mightily: And so he merited to ascend to the shining kingdom, Where all the Saints are blessed with wondrous splendor.

LIFE

From the Sanctilogium of Britain by John of Tynemouth, published in the Legend of John Capgrave.

Paternus, Bishop of Vannes in Brittany (St.)

BHL Number: 6481

BY JOHN OF TYNEMOUTH.

CHAPTER I.

His birth, life in Britain before the episcopate.

[1] Paternus, moreover, the holy Bishop, forsaking his earthly inheritance, and loving exile, Born in Lesser Britain, desired to be made heir of the supreme heavenly kingdom: who by race was Armorican, that is, born of Lesser Britain, and of parents begotten of a noble stock, namely Petran his father, and his mother from Guean: who having come together once ^a, begot St. Paternus, his parents afterward living in continence, and afterwards to the everlasting service of God, remaining in chastity, they submitted themselves. For Petran, immediately deserting Lesser Britain, went to Ireland: and pleased God by great abstinence of life and virtues. For the nativity of St. Paternus appeared gracious, through whom his father was made a Saint, and his mother, a handmaid of Christ, led a religious life. ^c But Paternus, becoming a youth, asked his mother he desires to imitate his father living holily in Ireland. what father he had had: was he alive or not? or, if he was alive, where was he? and why was he staying elsewhere, and not rather remaining on his own inheritance? To whom his mother, weeping, answered: "Your father indeed lives, but more for God than for the world: but he departed hence to Ireland, where he fasts, prays, keeps vigils, meditates, ^d kneels before the most high Lord." Then the youth ^e said: "In what better way, then, can a son live, than by the imitation of a good father? For if the father be a King, the son desires to imitate him in ruling. Therefore I shall die, unless I follow after my father, by the paths which he chose."

[2] At that time also a choir ecclesiastical of monks, forsaking Lesser Britain, Sailing to Britain, was planning to seek the shores of Greater Britain: ^f stirred by this report, the boy Paternus hastened to go with them. ^g And so all being gathered together for sailing, Paternus, soon compelled, is made leader of the company: for his cousins, ^h seeing him hastening to the height of perfection, said: "Since the Lord," they said, "has perfected you in morals, it is fitting that you should preside over the people as an example of a better life." And so ⁱ eight hundred and forty-seven monks, he is chosen Rector by 847 monks: choosing Paternus as their leader and following him, by a prosperous voyage reach the shores of the greater island of Britain. The Saint began with the Saints a place in the church called ^k Mauritania, and having built there a monastery with a Steward, Provost, and Deacon, he established: he founds a church and having blessed the Brethren, he sailed to Ireland; and having visited his father and consoled him, they gave thanks to God. He visits his father in Ireland: ^l There were then in Ireland two ^m Kings, who, a dispute having arisen between them, were in great discord. Devastations occurred, plunder was seized, houses burned, wars broke out, and, many being slain by the sword, the land desolate was reduced to a wilderness. At length the merciful arbiter of the world, pitying them with his wonted providence, He reconciles the dissenting Kings: sent the cause of unhoped-for peace through his Angel to the Bishop of a certain city, saying: "Unless each army shall have seen the face of the holy man, lately come from Britain, the evil-disposed Kings to

one another never can be reconciled." Messengers being sent at once, they honorably summon Paternus; and the army being assembled, Paternus is placed in their midst: and behold, by the grace of his face, the discords of the Kings being utterly driven away, between both provinces peace and unity are perpetually confirmed. These things having been duly accomplished, all, as with one mouth, bless God in his servant Paternus.

[3] Paternus, therefore, having bidden his father farewell, went to Britain, and found the Brethren safe: among whom he found ⁿ a certain Nymannaucus by name, lately arrived; He receives him coming to him upon a rock across the sea. who, being unable to live in Lesser Britain after Paternus' departure, came to the seashore, and finding a certain rock, stood upon it and said: "If those things which I meditate are pleasing to the Lord God, and if Paternus, whom I wish to follow, is truly a Saint; let the rock rise and swim upon the waters: let the waves be made solid, let the sea be hardened, lest it sink the stone; and let me be borne safe to St. Paternus." And behold, faster than said, the stone running swiftly over the waves of the sea, by a wonderful voyage brought him all the way to the monastery of the man of God. Then Paternus built monasteries and churches throughout the whole region of Ceredigion, which is called Cardiganshire.

[4] Meanwhile ^o Mailgwn, King of the Northern Britons, came with his army to fight and plunder the Southern Britons: and because he was always a tempter of the Saints, he ordered two robbers to go before him, He receives as a deposit vessels filled with gravel: that they might somehow cunningly test St. Paternus. They, filling certain vessels with gravel, pretend to have brought royal treasures to the Saint; and until the King shall have returned in prosperity, they give orders that these be guarded. The Saint assented, commanded them to be deposited; affirmed that they would be found as they had been left. And so, the King having returned, his enemies being pacified, the robbers, coming and examining the insides of the vessels, lay down the gravel, and cry out that the King's treasures have been stolen secretly, and gravel put in their place. But St. Paternus on the contrary asserted that, as they had been left, so would they be found. Yet they threatened the ruin and depopulation of the whole monastery, if the treasures were not returned. Now before this it had been decreed by the King throughout Britain as though they had been royal treasures, that every lie should be detected by boiling water. Then in fervor of spirit Paternus ordered water in a brazen cauldron to be heated until it boiled; and putting in his hand, he drew it out white and cold, after a little interval of time. The robbers afterward being compelled, He clears himself by the ordeal of boiling water, when they put their hands into the boiling water, their burnt hands declared the malice of their minds. And when, wholly burnt, they had ended their life, the King, stricken blind in his eyes, falls ill, and because of the guilt unjustly committed against St. Paternus, he confesses that he is about to die. Being brought with great difficulty to the man of God, the King, And he heals the King struck blind. groaning and repenting, on bended knees sought pardon; and having received pardon, his eyes and limbs are healed.

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Life in the Episcopate, holy death.

[5] But a heavenly ^a messenger, coming to St. David in ^b the Vale of Rosina, said: "Arise and go to Jerusalem, that there you may receive the Episcopal grade, and add to yourself two worthy companions, namely Paternus and Teilo, who can be promoted to the same Episcopal grade." With Sts. David and Teilo he is ordained Bishop at Jerusalem: Then messengers having been sent to them, they came without delay. Making their journey through barbarous nations, ^c they received the grace of tongues from the Lord, addressing every man in his proper language in which he had been born. Coming at last to the city of Jerusalem, they preached most nobly after the Apostles, against the Jews and a heresy arisen there: for everyone understood them speaking in his own tongue. Afterwards by the imposition of the hand of the ^d Patriarch, they were ordained Bishops, and enriched with gifts: Paternus indeed with a ^e tunic woven of gold and a staff. Returning to their fatherland, they divided Britain into three Episcopates.

[6] When Paternus was resting in the aforesaid church of Mauritania after so many labors, He delivers the tyrant Arthur swallowed up by the earth to the neck: there was roaming the regions on the other side a certain tyrant, by name ^f Arthur: who coming one day to the cell of the holy Bishop, and speaking with him, saw the mentioned tunic, and, pierced with the zeal of envy, asked for it. To whom the Saint said, "This tunic is worthy not of any great man, but only of a Cleric consecrated to God." He, indignant, went out of the monastery, and came back again that he might take it by force. But one of the disciples, seeing him returning in fury, ran to St. Paternus and said: "The tyrant who went out from here before, is returning insulting with fury." Paternus said, "Nay, let the earth swallow him up." On which word immediately the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed Arthur up to the chin. Who, immediately recognizing his guilt, begins to praise God and St. Paternus; until humbly seeking pardon, the earth cast him up again. Then the Saint with a kindly countenance granted pardon to the King, who on bended knees implored forgiveness.

[7] In those days ^g Caradoc enlarged his kingdom beyond the boundaries of Britain, and, coming into Lesser Britain, subjected it to his rule. But the inhabitants of that province, coming to him, said: Returning to Lesser Britain at the King's petition, "Unless you recall Paternus, our countryman, to us from Greater Britain, you will not be able to find us pacific and submissive to you." Then the King, having prosperously crossed the sea, with urgent prayers asked the holy Bishop that he would deign to hasten his steps to the instruction of Lesser Britain and the edification of the people. ^h But the holy Bishop, according to the Apostle's precept, unwilling to resist power, set out thither, ⁱ and patiently endured a great persecution from false brethren. Rom. 13:2. ^k But Samson, Bishop of that province, whom all magnified as preeminent in sanctity, was going about the parishes, establishing a fixed census which the individual churches were to pay to the Metropolitan Church. And when he came to the neighborhoods of the city, near which St. Paternus had founded a monastery, Summoned to St. Samson, he comes: one of Samson's monks said: "Send to the Saint, who lately came from Britain, to prove his humility; and command through the messenger that in whatever state he find him, in that same, without any excuse whatever, he hasten to you." Samson, simply accepting the counsel, sent a messenger. The messenger, coming to the man of God, found him with a boot on one foot, He delivers from demonic possession one possessed because of mockery: the other remaining bare. The servant delivers the message, and Paternus, foreseeing what was to come, proceeded to the Bishop without delay. That malicious monk, the author of the evil counsel, smiles at Paternus half-clothed as to his feet; and immediately, seized by a demon, fell to the ground. Soon Samson, understanding that that monk was the author of temptation against St. Paternus, peacefully greeted him, sought and received pardon. Then Paternus, having expelled the demon, heals the exhausted man. Now St. Samson decreed that, although every Episcopate of the land should render tribute to him, nevertheless the Episcopate of St. Paternus should be free from all homage. And the city of ^l Vannes was the Seat of the Episcopate of St. Paternus.

[8] After this ^m a Synod was gathered, at which he was much harassed by the envious and false brethren, He dies in France on April 15. but peace and unity having finally been confirmed between himself and the Bishops, fearing lest by their intolerance his humility should in any slight way be angered or hurt, leaving that land, he went to the Franks; and on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of May fell asleep in the Lord. For three of his feast days the inhabitants of Lesser Britain festively venerate and observe: He is also venerated on November 1 and June 20. namely, the day on which the aforesaid peace with the Bishops was restored, on the Kalends of November; and the day on which he received the grade of Bishopric, on the 12th day before the Kalends of July; and the day of his death.

[9] ^o But after the death of St. Paternus, a black famine invaded Lesser Britain: for during the space of three years after his passing, neither dew nor rain fell from heaven upon the whole province. At length the inhabitants discovered that St. Paternus, A bone from the relics, afflicted by the injurious and false brethren, had left the land. Taking counsel they proceeded to the place of his burial among the Franks, that they might honorably translate his Relics with them: prayers are made to him, his church, is translated. which when they could in no way accomplish, one of his bones given to them all the army [p] could not carry. All being troubled, and not knowing what to do, there came a certain noble of the city of Vannes, saying thus: "While the holy Father lived, he used to ask

me rather often for my land, that there he might found a church: and so, having denied him his petition while he was alive, this I willingly grant after his death. Let him rise, therefore, take the honor, receive the petition." When this was said, they lift the mentioned bone most lightly from the earth, and carry it with them to their land, and in the honor of his church, built on the land of that rich man, with great honor they lay it.

[10] [q] At a certain time also, while St. Paternus was still alive, when a certain servant of his monastery was visiting the woods, falling among robbers he was killed: on hearing which Paternus went to the wood, He raises to life his murdered servant. and called the servant by his own name, saying: "Answer your master." Then the head, wrenched from the corpse, answered: "Here I am, Lord." With which voice the Bishop came to the place of the response, and seeing the head of the servant severed from the body, lifting his eyes to heaven he blessed the corpse, and the head being suddenly joined to the body, he rose alive. Hearing this, a certain powerful man of that province came to the Bishop, and said: "My men are the malicious murderers of your servant, and lest divine vengeance, through the commotion of your mind, anticipate me, I humbly seek mercy and pardon; and that I may make your mind propitious toward me, I will dedicate to you a portion of my field." To whom St. Paternus, graciously granting pardon, prophesied this: "Before you end your life you will be pleasing to the Lord, and in the cemetery you will merit burial with honor."

NOTES.

p In the said Lessons concerning the whole body then unmoved and afterwards translated, it is said, the air more gently and abundantly dissolving into dews and rains: which grace has remained to this time, when they suffer from drought and heat, and with supplications indicted they invoke Paternus as intercessor.

q The following seems to have been added as an Appendix, of which we read nothing elsewhere, and perhaps was added from popular rumor.