ON SAINT FRUCTUOSUS
ARCHBISHOP OF BRAGA, AND FOUNDER OF MANY MONASTERIES.
A.D. 665.
PrefaceFructuosus, Archbishop of Braga, and founder of many monasteries (St.)
G. H.
Among the leading men of Spain who flourished in the 7th century of the Christian era, Saint Fructuosus is rightly to be reckoned, who, besides very many monasteries built by him, and a double Rule prescribed to them, was promoted from Bishop of Dumio to Archbishop of Braga, He is made Archbishop of Braga in 656 in the year of Christ 656; which is the one chronological mark we have of his age, in the tenth Council of Toledo, held on the Kalends of December, in the Spanish Era 694. For there the assembled Bishops, after Potamius had been deposed as guilty of some crime, before he was Bishop of Dumio. add these things: "Then by the common election of all of us we establish the venerable Fructuosus, Bishop of the Church of Dumio, to hold the rule of the Church of Braga; so that, assuming the whole metropolitan of the province of Galicia, and all its Bishops and peoples of its convention, and all the care of souls to be governed by the Church of Braga, he may so arrange and preserve it, that both he may glorify our Lord for the rectitude of his work, and afford us joy concerning the safety of his Church." These things there. How long he lived in that dignity, Rodrigo da Cunha, Archbishop of that very Church, who wrote two volumes in Portuguese on the Bishops of Braga, and another Latin treatise on the Primacy of the Church of Braga in all Spain, could have collected from the ancient monuments of the Church of Braga, to which he appends a Catalog of the Bishops, in which it is said: "Forty-first Saint Fructuosus, dies in the year 665. and illustrious for miracles and sanctity, died in the year 665, and his Feast is venerated on the 16th day of April." His successors are placed: Quiricus, afterwards of Toledo; and Leodisius, who presided over the 4th Council of Braga in the year 675. In what year he was consecrated Bishop of Dumio is not clear, since only this, that he held that Bishopric, is indicated by the words of the Council of Toledo already reported. Dumio is a monastery near Braga, built by Saint Martin, thence called of Dumio (of whom he himself was the first Abbot and Bishop), and raised in his honor into an Episcopal See, as we have said more fully on March 20 in his Life, and on the Kalends of March in the Life of Saint Rudesind, also Bishop of Dumio, §3, where are enumerated these successors of Saint Martin: John, Benjamin, Germanus, Pimenius, Recimirus, Aucanchimarus, Saint Fructuosus, Vincent: about whom and the other successors consult da Cunha, first part of the Ecclesiastical History of Braga, chapter 88.
[2] Prudentius de Sandoval published the Life of Saint Fructuosus, at the end of his book On the Foundations of the Ancient Monasteries of Spain, Sandoval published the Life received from the parchments of the monastery of Saint Peter of Arlanza, written in the year of Christ 912; which Tamayo de Salazar on this April 16, and d'Achery and Mabillon in the 2nd century On the Acts of the Saints of the Order of Saint Benedict, have reprinted, complaining that it is crowded with errors almost without number, but filled with errors: partly from the fault of the scribes, partly from the Barbarism of the Author himself. we give it from the Braga manuscript, Another copy of this Life was sent to us from Portugal, much more correct, as it exists in the Braga parchments of the monastery of Saint Fructuosus himself, which now is said to belong to the Religious of Piety; and there were prefixed the insignia of Jaime de Sousa Archbishop of Braga: whom Rodrigo da Cunha calls "a renowned man, the restorer of this city," and says died in the year 1532, having sat for 25 years; so that it seems that life was approved by his authority, or came into the said monastery by his gift. Ambrosio Morales, in book 12 of the Spanish Chronicle, chapter 35, writes that he received the Life of Saint Fructuosus from the ancient Sanctoral of the distinguished monastery of Carracedo of the Cistercian Order in the territory of El Bierzo, of which it is treated below in the Life. was it written by Abbot Valerius? And this Life was joined with the works of Valerius the Abbot, whence he conjectures it was written by him: which conjecture Sandoval adopted, not in his preface before this Life, but in the description of the monastery of Saint Peter of the Mount, in the said territory of El Bierzo built by Saint Fructuosus. Tamayo de Salazar followed him, and in doubt Jean Mabillon; because, he says, "between this Life and the Fragment of the Sermon of Saint Valerius himself, in the Concord of Rules chapter 2 §7 reported, there seems to be some diversity of style." We treated of Valerius on February 25 among those passed over, because we were not sufficiently informed of his public veneration: as we still are not by the things Mabillon wrote, weaving some elogy of him on page 1042, where from Gennadius this is said: "Distinguished in merits, Blessed Fructuosus, after he founded the Complutensian monastery under the name of Saint Peter, made an Oratory in this place with small work; after whom, not unequal in merits, holy Valerius enlarged the work of the Church." Perhaps indeed "the holy work" is to be read. Mabillon adds that in the cited Concord of Rules is prefixed a title "Of the Sayings of Saint Valerius on the kind of monks": which again may have been added by the scribes. Finally, he admits that he too is ignorant whether his memory is venerated with any celebration. In the same way we do not immediately assent that this is the author of the Life of Saint Fructuosus, at least the author was contemporary. since his name is not found affixed in any autographs. Whoever, however, is the author, he was contemporary; as one who adduces as witnesses the disciples of Saint Fructuosus, Benenatus, Julian, and Cassian, from whom he received the material of the matter to be narrated.
[3] We add the history of the Translation of the most sacred bodies of Saint Fructuosus, and of Saints Silvester and Cucuphas the Martyrs, History of the translation to Compostela from a manuscript and of Saint Susanna the Virgin and Martyr, from the city of Braga to Compostela, made in the year 1102, written by Hugo, Archdeacon of Compostela, who was present at this pious robbery (as he calls it), the chief helper to Jacob the Bishop. This we received sent from Spain, and divided into lessons to be recited at Matins. Tamayo de Salazar, from an old manuscript Breviary of Compostela, written on vellum tablets, on December 16 published some Acts of the translation, but much contracted from the earlier ones here to be given. Rodrigo da Cunha inserted them in Portuguese in the second part of the Ecclesiastical History of the Bishops of Braga, chapter 5.
[4] The ecclesiastical veneration of Saint Fructuosus is moreover preserved by the ancient Breviaries of the Spanish Churches: Veneration from ancient Breviaries. of which Tamayo de Salazar cites the Braga, Toledo, Compostela, and Seville Breviaries. We have the Évora Breviary, printed in 1548, in which, among the nine lessons, this is handed down, not observed by others: "From the number of his disciples, let it not be tedious to mention John the Monk, afterwards Bishop of Gerona, a man in his time comparable to the greatest, whether we wish to consider the elegance of his language both Greek and Latin, or his erudition in the sacred Scriptures, or the sanctity of his morals and life, or his labors for the Catholic faith against the Arians." These things there. The Burgos Breviary also, published in 1502, prescribes on this day the office of Saint Thuribius the Bishop, with the Commemoration of Saint Fructuosus the Bishop. Of the same, on this day under a Semidouble rite; but on December 16, on account of the translation of the body, under a Double rite, an Office is prescribed in the proper Feasts of the diocese of Compostela, printed in the year 1596. and Martyrologies. In the Roman Martyrology these things are read: "At Braga in Lusitania, Saint Fructuosus the Bishop." Constantino Ghini inscribed him in the Natales of the Holy Canons; and among the Saints of the Order of Saint Benedict he is reckoned by Wion and many others.
[5] He built very many monasteries, of which ten are mentioned in his Acts; but sixteen are numbered by Tamayo de Salazar in his Spanish Martyrology on this day. He prescribed a proper Rule, and indeed a double one, to his subjects, printed from ancient monuments by Luke Holstenius: of which Egbert Archbishop of York mentions in the exceptions of the canons contained in the Collection of the British Councils of Henry Spelman, at the year 750 chapter 67; Burchard Bishop of Worms in book 11 of the Decrees chapter 33; and most frequently Benedict, Abbot of Aniane, in the Concord of Rules published by Hugo Menard; who wrongly judged it was published by two authors of the name Fructuosus. Jean Mabillon learnedly refutes him, and in the Preface to the first volume thinks that it can be gathered that Benedictine laws were observed among the Spaniards from the earlier Rule of Saint Fructuosus, in which chapter 8 he thus defines obedience: "Obedience is a precept of the rule, that even in impossible things it should be shown and held in work and affection even unto death, namely as Christ was made obedient to the Father unto death": and that in the other or common Rule, some things are similar to those in the Rule of the most holy Benedict, of whom no mention is made. I leave the judgment to others, since Mabillon himself confesses that a somewhat more explicit mention of the Benedictine Rule offers itself in the 8th century among the Spaniards. We wish that these and all others could be ascribed to the Benedictine Order: yet we do not dare to do it ourselves unless suitable arguments are at hand for proving it; which if they sometimes fail us, we frankly confess, we do not fear that we may seem to fair estimators of things to diminish the honor of that most holy Order; which we especially study, and by our works confer no small luster, no one can deny, except one who has scorned to read these works of ours, or has undertaken to read them preoccupied by some other affection than is fair. Just as the Benedictines ascribe such men to their own, so Antonio a Purificatione in the Monastic Chronology printed at Lisbon in 1642 says that Saint Fructuosus was of the Order of Saint Augustine: but neither proves it.
LIFE By a Contemporary
From the Braga manuscript and Sandoval.
Fructuosus, Archbishop of Braga, and founder of many monasteries (St.)
BHL Number: 3194
BY A CONTEMPORARY AUTHOR FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
TITLE.
Here begins the life or memorial of the wonders which God, in reward of the good service of the most holy Bishop Fructuosus, appointed for the salvation to strengthen the faith of believers.
PROLOGUE.
After the new brightness of heavenly truth illumined the ancient darkness of the world, that from the Roman See, the first Chair of the holy Church, the flashing immensity of the dogmas of the Catholic faith might glow red; The exercises of Saints Isidore and Fructuosus are compared, and from the Eastern province of Egypt most excellent examples of sacred religion might shine forth, and the extremity of this small western region might be illumined; divine piety illumined two lamps of special brightness, namely Isidore, the most reverend man, Bishop of Seville, and the most blessed Fructuosus, from infancy spotless and just. For the former, shining with the brightness of his mouth and having obtained the distinguished sophistical art of industry, propounded the splendid doctrines of the Romans: but this one, in the purpose of the most holy religion, with the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,
kindled with flame, so exercised in all spiritual things, shone forth perfect in all holy works, that he easily equalled himself in merits to the ancient Fathers of the Thebaid. The former instructed the whole of Spain outwardly by the industry of the active life: but this one, by the skill of the contemplative life, gleaming with quivering brightness, illumined the inmost secrets of hearts. The former, shining with distinguished eloquence, was brilliant in books of edification: but this one, flashing with the summit of virtues, left an example of holy religion, and with harmless step followed the footsteps of our preceding Lord and Savior: whose ineffable wonders of virtues are so great, that our sluggishness cannot name them; as much as I have learned by faithful narrative, I shall briefly touch on a few concerning the beginning and end of his life.
CHAPTER I.
Royal descent, pious education, five monasteries built.
[2] This Blessed Fructuosus, sprung from a most illustrious royal progeny, of royal birth, offspring of the most sublime summit and Duke of the army of Spain, while still a little boy dwelling under his parents, it happened that one time his father, having him with him, was requiring the accounts of his flocks among the valleys of the mountains of the territory of El Bierzo a. His father was describing the flocks and discussing the accounts of the shepherds: but this little boy, as a boy he plans to build a monastery: inspired by the Lord, was weighing suitable places for the building of a monastery, and keeping it within himself, disclosed it to no one. b After the death of his parents, casting off the secular habit and having his head tonsured, when he had received the beginnings of religion, he handed himself over to be instructed in spiritual disciplines by the most holy man Conatius the Bishop. Ordained Cleric he is taught by Bishop Conatius. And when he had dwelt some time under his rule, it happened that one day, having entered the possession of the Church, the c boys going before him, when they had prepared him a lodging for staying; a certain one of the d boarders of his school, coming up, asked, saying: patiently he bears being cast out of his dwelling, "Who has occupied this dwelling?" They answered: "Fructuosus." At once, frustrated by insane temerity, he ordered his bundle to be thrown outside and to be prepared for himself there. Which he patiently enduring, was silent. But when in the silence of midnight all were resting, God avenging the injury: suddenly that very lodging, a fire coming from the wrath of the Lord's fury, kindled: since within that same dwelling no fire was at all kept, as was customary. By the right judgment of the Lord, indeed; that the same lodging which the one swollen in the type of pride had usurped, at the prayer of the holy Adolescent, he deserted with huge disturbance and the tribulation of loss.
[3] After these things, returning to the aforesaid place of solitude, he builds the Compultense monastery: that devotion which once as a little child he had chosen, now perfected he fulfilled. For building the Compultense e monastery, according to divine precepts reserving nothing for himself, bringing all his wealth there, he enriched it most abundantly: and with converts eagerly hastening both from his own family and from various parts of Spain, he filled it most abundantly with a throng of monks. And because, as it is written, envy of the enemy always follows holiness, and malice wars against goodness; immediately an envious man, the wicked husband of his sister, impelled by the goads of the ancient enemy, prostrate before the King, arising, stole his mind, against the invader of his endowment so that the same part of the inheritance should be taken from the holy Monastery, and given to him as though for carrying on a public expedition. When this became known to this most blessed man, he straightway removed the veils of the church, and stripped the holy altars, clothed them in sackcloth, and wrote and directed to him a letter of confusion and rebuke and of the Lord's threat: and turned himself to fasts and mourning and tears and prolonged prayer. with prayers and penance he acts before God: While thus he was acting, immediately that rival of the Saints and adversary of the good work, struck by divine vengeance, quickly ended his life: and so it came to pass that he who sought to take away the offerings of the Saints, himself cruelly departed from this world without children, and prevails, him being extinguished: and left his wealth to strangers, and himself bore with him only perdition. f
[4] This Most Holy man, confirming all the regular order, and establishing the Father of the monastery with great rigor of strictness; with the Father of the monastery established, because the rumor of the glory of his sanctity had spread through all regions, when he was suffering frequent disturbance from the multitude of diverse visitors; fleeing human praise and favor, he went out from the congregation; and with bare feet penetrated wooded, very dense, rough, and rocky places; he departs into rough places: through caves and rocks, devoting himself to tripled fasts and multiplied prayers and vigils. It happened, indeed, that at a certain time, when on the steps of a certain rock, clad in a skin of goat hides, he was praying earnestly; a certain archer coming up, lying in wait for hunting, seeing him prostrate upon one step of the rock in prayer, thinking there was game on the rock, by a hunter's shot he is kept unharmed: drew his bow. And while he was balancing the bow to release the arrow, divine providence more urgently raised his hands with prayer to heaven. He, understanding it was a man, held back the stroke. After this, he showed himself to him, reporting all these things: but the most blessed man asked him to make this manifest to no one.
[5] he builds the Rufanense monastery, After this, finally in a most vast and narrow solitude remote from the world, in the borders of high mountains, building the Rufanense monastery g, by the holy altar he shut himself in a narrow and tiny prison-cell. And when he had rested there some time, the whole congregation of the Compultense Monastery went out, and coming violently, cast him out from that cloister, and led him back to the former place. At length going out again, between the borders of the territory of El Bierzo and the province of Galicia, he built the Visumense monastery h. Visumense and Peonense Afterwards on the other side of Galicia, on the seashore, he built the Peonense i monastery.
[6] When he had much desire of sailing on the sea, in a distant sea-way he found a not large island; where desiring with God's help to found a monastery, entering an island of the sea, the sailors going out to land left the little boat by which he had crossed carelessly untied: and while he was toiling intently with his disciples under a certain rock, to bring forth sweet water; the work completed, when they wished to cross back, by the enemy's impulse and the storms rolling, the boat snatched by storms they see that very little boat cast into the distant channel of the sea among the waves. And when all his disciples, having made for themselves the despair of the difficulty, were pressed down with heavy sorrow; he himself, having made prayer, in so distant a peril of the sea, cast himself alone. But they with doubled grief and wailing most bitterly cried out, walking upon the sea, both dreading his peril and lamenting their own destruction. And when by reason of too great distance he was hidden from their eyes, and they were falling into complete despair; after the space of many hours, looking afar off, they see that same little boat gradually approaching. he brings it back. When it came nearer, they see him sitting in it: and with joy and the highest gladness receiving him returning, they crossed back with exultation. Returning to this same island (in which the envious and wicked enemy had once tried to hinder him, beginning the commencement of a holy work), with God's help he builds a holy monastery, in that island he founds a monastery; and dedicating it with his customary exercise, strenuously leaves it fortified.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
His various virtues and pilgrimages. Miracles performed.
[7] He draws many to the monastic life. As the report of his extraordinary sanctity grew more widespread, many suitable and noble persons, even from the Palace, leaving the service of the King, thirstily took refuge in his most sacred discipline. Of whom very many under the Lord's guidance ascended to Pontifical honor: among whom one, having obtained skill in sophistical understanding, a Theodiselus by name, with the Lord's help and with the aid of the often-mentioned most blessed man, in a most hidden solitude, and Theodiselus founder of the Castro-Leonis monastery: in a place called Castrum-leonis, built an excellent monastery, and remained in it until the end of his life. So the aforesaid most blessed Fructuosus showed himself dear to the Lord from his earliest age. After these things, having despised the enticements of the world, all the wealth of his excellent patrimony he distributed to the holy Churches and his freedmen and the poor; then going to the places of the desert, he founded very many monasteries, in which he dedicated many souls of monks to the Lord through good conversation and holy discipline. But he himself, when he had established there the mode of right life for all dwelling by the cenobial rite, and had dwelt there some time, avoiding the frequent throngs of people, sought the most hidden places of the wilderness; he seeks hiding-places for himself: and he sought to hide himself in leafy and secret groves, so that now in highest places, now in densest forests, now even in rocks which are passable only to wild goats, hiding secretly, he might be seen not by human but by divine eyes.
[8] But while by the Lord's help the same holy man was passing life irreproachably, and many diligently sought him by frequent visitation and did not find him; the same man is said to have had tame in the monastery black and small birds, which in common speech the crowd calls b jackdaws; which with unceasing flight through various parts of the forests, flitting about, sought him; he is betrayed by the jackdaws. until, having found him, they revealed his holy hiding places to all inquirers by their chattering voices and made them known to all.
Then all would hasten to that man with great joy. Finally, as we said above, he often shone with many signs of miracles, and frequently gleamed with marvelous work of virtues, with divine help. he shines with miracles: From which sacred virtues, with the Lord's help, I shall now begin to speak something.
[9] For one day, as is reported, a crowd of hunters with dogs was pursuing a young doe: and already the little beast, overcome by much space, when it saw death threatening it on all sides from the widely-extending fields, so that already it was nearly being seized by the dogs themselves and torn by their fierce bites, the man of God was also carrying out his journey unknown to the hunters. he preserves the doe taken from the hunters: That little beast, when it saw no refuge anywhere for itself, as soon as it saw the man of God, at once asked defense from him. And immediately, to obtain the aids of life, without delay entered under the amphibalum of the same man of God. Whom he at once defended from all persecution of wicked men: soon also he ordered the dogs to be driven off, and led her to the monastery as she came willingly with him. From that day, as is said, she was made so tame, that wherever he went, no one could separate her from his footsteps: but if she were even a little removed from him, she would never cease to bleat or cry out, until she saw him again. he has her as his companion and following: Indeed she was of such meekness, that coming frequently to his bed she would lie at his feet. He often ordered her to be dismissed into the forest adjacent to the monastery: but she, not unmindful of so great a benefit, despised the pleasant forest which had nourished her, and quickly ran back to the presence of her liberator: to such an extent indeed that if he had gone anywhere, she would pursue him by his footsteps through long space of the way until she found him. And when this had been going on a very long time, the fame of so great a virtue began to spread far and wide in that place. But because the ancient enemy, where he sees the good shining to glory, from there he drags the perverse through envy to punishment; a certain youth, blown upon by a spirit of madness, indeed rather set aflame with the fire of envy, in the absence of the most holy man, killed that little beast with the bites of dogs. But when after some days the most holy man had returned to the monastery, the youth who had killed her, he carefully asked what was the reason that his doe or deer did not then meet him as usual. To whom it was at once told, that while she was in the pastures of the forests, going out, that boy coming killed her. Who soon, bending his knees in the sight of the Lord with the greatest sorrow, cast himself upon the pavement. But by the will of God, the most severe vengeance of divine majesty did not delay to bring punishment immediately. That very youth, immediately seized by a grave languor of fevers, struck with a grave fever he heals: soon began to beg him through messengers, that he would pray for him to the Lord, lest, according to his most wicked temerity struck by divine vengeance, he should end his life by a cruel passing. But he at once going to him, implored the Lord's mercy, and placed his hand upon him: and immediately not only restored to the sick man his former bodily health, but also healed the infirmities of his soul by holy prayer.
[10] Another miracle of the highest patience we have also learned, a certain faithful man narrating, who reported to us that the aforesaid kindly man on a certain day, while he was going with other companions of his journey through places contiguous to the city of c Egitania, and was seeking the excellent city of d Mérida of the province of Lusitania, for desire of the excellent Virgin e Eulalia, he makes a pilgrimage to Saint Eulalia: that there he might pay the sacred vows of his mind with the most sacred affections of his heart, with sweet-flowing prayers poured out in the sight of God, and having received the effects of his petition through the abundant piety of the Lord Jesus Christ, hastening to the island which is situated in the territory of Cadiz, with God's help he might arrive. But, as we said above, while in the parts of Egitania he was making his way; it happened that all those who were going in the company of the most blessed man went a little ahead: he himself however remaining behind, in the secret place hidden in the depths of groves and dense forests, for a little while he was engaged in prayer. While he lay prostrate on the ground, praying in a forest the ancient enemy, always envious of all good things, forthwith led to the place where the man of God was praying a certain rustic and common man, in a fury; who when he had seen the man of God from a distance, and had seen him alone in vile attire, with bare and unshod feet among the bushes; as a rustic mind has it, despising him because of the vileness of his garb, trusting in the temerity of insanity he came close to the same man; and thinking him a fugitive, provoked him with more insolent words of abuse: and without delay that same rustic, he is met with insults and blows by a rustic: petulantly with many insulting words reviled him. But when the man of God answering with tranquil mind said: "Plainly I am not a fugitive." And the other on the contrary declared he was in every way a fugitive, he was so roused by the instigation of the devil, that with the bar which he was carrying in his hands, he beat him with blows. And when the man of God patiently bore it, and the other did not cease to strike; whom seized by the devil as soon as he made the sign of the Cross to him, immediately the demon dashed him on the ground, and made him fall supine before the feet of the holy man, and, raging, tore him until he made him cruelly bloody, wrapped in his own blood. But the holy man of God at once prayed, he heals: and restored him to his former health without any difficulty.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER III.
Later miracles: three monasteries built.
[11] Now therefore not ancient but modern, not old but new, not feigned by any vain tales, but miracles declared by the judgment of truth, which by the narration of the venerable man Benenatus the Presbyter, just as they were truly performed, we have learned, and we shall briefly note in the series of this little page, as they have been brought to us, with all zeal for the truth. Finally the aforesaid most faithful man related, saying: "When from the Province of Lusitania with the most holy man Fructuosus I was going to the province of Baetica, and rainy airs showed immense and continuous rains, as being the time of winter, for almost many days without ceasing, and from the multitude of rains the rivers had excessively swollen; it happened one day that a little boy with a horse, His codices plunged into water, who was carrying the codices of the man of God himself, while he strove to cross with the rest of his companions, fell into the deepest flood of the river, and with the books themselves was plunged into the hardest abyss of the whirlpools. At length, with God's help, rescued from the peril of the waters, he deserved to reach the bank, though drenched, unharmed. But the same man of God a little after them, on his own foot, as was always his custom, without the aid of a vehicle was hastening along. And when he had come to his companions, it was told him that all his codices had fallen into the water. But he, in nothing at all disturbed, he recovers them intact: with a serene face and cheerful countenance without any sadness, ordered them to be thrown out of the bags and presented to him. But he found them so dry, that as though the river's liquid had in no way touched them, nor could the moisture have made them even slightly damp."
[12] Another wonderful deed also, which I learned from the same man's report, I ought not to conceal in silence. One day the most blessed Fructuosus himself, for the sake of fulfilling his devotion, from the city of Seville set out by boat to the Basilica of a Jerome: and when there he had devoutly paid the vows of his desire, with the Lord's assent; the sailors themselves, who had steered the ship through long spaces of the deep, wearied from the labor of navigation, said not only that they had no strength to steer the ship, but also that the last part of the day was already remaining, and began to complain. To whom he said: the boat with the oars taken up "I beseech you to take a little food for refreshment; and because you are tired, rest at least a little, while I too complete the course of my office: for I also ask this, that you take up the oars of this ship, and thus sleep a little." They immediately obeying, and removing the oars of the little boat according to his command, or even falling asleep, immediately the most holy man praying, by praying he sends it to the other bank: and fulfilling the sacred office with his Brothers, no man touching the ship, but with God's hand alone steering, quickly passed to the farther bank of the river. The sailors, suddenly awakened, brought superfluous complaints to the same man, saying: "Let us now cross, for through the darkness of night we cannot sail well." To whom he said: "Do not, O little sons, tire yourselves, because without your labor the Lord has already brought us where we desired." When they had risen, and had seen themselves to be on the other part of the river, astonished and disturbed, they marveled what God had done.
[13] He also related another thing which he affirmed to be true in every way, saying: "On a certain Sunday, when rains were inestimably stormy, the same most holy man was going from the city of Seville to the island which is situated in the territory of Cadiz. When many citizens of the said city or even the Bishop of that city eagerly wished to detain him there; that since it was the Lord's day, about to depart from Seville into the territory of Cadiz, or certainly because the weather was not temperate, if not longer, at least until after Mass, he would consent to stay there; he is said to have answered thus: 'Do not, I beseech, detain me, for the Lord has directed my way: but if you are concerned for my injury, and fear anything from this rain, most certainly know, he predicts future fair weather: that today there will be no more rain than until the second hour of the day.' Which they all who were present saw to be so: and after he at the second hour boarded the ship, the rain immediately ceased: and until the fourth day, as long as he was approaching the place to which he was going, it did not rain; but for three days, as he had foretold, there was much tranquility. Whence we can know that it did not rain so long as the holy man, sailing to the designated place, should arrive."
[14] He builds a monastery among the people of Cadiz, And when with the Lord's aid he had entered the said island of Cadiz, from the other side, as a sun rising to illumine Spain; he built a holy monastery with the Lord's help, and instructed it in the customary rudiments of the regular exercise by the cenobial rite. Finally, in a hidden, vast solitude remote from worldly habitation, he founded with God's help a remarkable monastery of wonderful size and excellence,
a monastery; another called Nonense and because it is distant nine miles from the seashore, he gave it the name Nonum. There (as I have learned from the faithful narration of the religious man Julian the Presbyter, who grew up from a little child in that same monastery, and shall briefly relate) this most glorious and incomparable man, radiant with the example of his shining merits, so kindled the souls of peoples with the fire of faith, that with a throng of converts running together in crowds from everywhere, an immense choir was being formed, with the multitude of those running to him impeded by an edict. had not the Dukes of the army of the province and its surroundings cried out on every side to the borders of the Kingdom, that this should be somewhat checked, as though he were a thief of the seed, and there would be no one to go out on public expedition, if such an innumerable army of monks had to be gathered: so that not only the minds of men but also of women were being inflamed. And since in that same place of the holy congregation there was no access for women to enter, I shall relate in order how the congregation of maidens was made.
[15] A certain most sacred Virgin, Benedicta by name, sprung from a noble family, and betrothed to b a Gardingus of the King, To Virgin Benedicta, kindled by the fire of faith and the flame of love of holy religion, secretly fleeing her parents, entered alone the various deserted places of the wilderness: and thus wandering through pathless and unknown places, at length by God's guidance she approached the holy congregation of the monastery. fleeing to him through messengers, Not daring, however, to approach, but staying far off in the desert, she suggested through messengers to the most holy man of God, that he would free the wandering sheep from the jaws of wolves, and direct her to the way of salvation, and instruct her soul seeking the Lord with spiritual disciplines, that she might receive this from the Lord who carried the lost sheep on his shoulders. he prepares a cell: Hearing these things, he gave immense thanks to almighty God, and ordered a small little dwelling to be made for her in that desert forest. And as the aforesaid man related, because none of the elders dared approach her, but each of us little ones in his turn showed her letters and ministered to her necessities: and he causes food to be brought by little ones: and with much adjuration he urged, that no food should ever be brought to her, unless when the most blessed man, though it were midnight, was refreshed; and sanctified by him, it should be sent to her. She thus being diligently intent on spiritual studies, when her fame had been laudably spread through various lands, such ardor of desire inflamed the other daughters of various men; other virgins coming that an excellent throng of maidens eagerly flowed together from everywhere, so that within a short space of time the number of eighty was completed in the congregation of the holy Virgins, for whom in that solitude after his accustomed manner he built a monastery. So great kindly sanctity flourished in both sexes, and excellent fame of perfections grew, he builds a monastery. that men with their sons turned themselves to the holy congregation of monks, and their matrons with their daughters joined themselves to the holy fellowship of maidens.
[16] But the bridegroom of the aforesaid Virgin Benedicta, with sorrow and great grief lamentably sent against her, laboring with the envy of the faithless enemy, suggested to the King: and thus from the presence of the King raised up a judge, Benedicta is in vain sought by her bridegroom. who should examine the truth of judgment between them, a Count named Angelas, who came to the monastery of Virgins girded with royal authority. When the Provost of the Virgins was compelled to separate the aforesaid Virgin from the congregation and present her, to see how she would answer the bridegroom; when she had been violently brought out, thus turning her eyes to heaven, reciting within herself, she persisted in such a way that she would not see his face at all. And when he urged against her; thus, by the Lord's grace filled with the Holy Spirit, she concluded him in few words, so that he had nothing further to say to her. Then the judge himself said: "Let her serve the Lord, and seek another wife for yourself." After this, divine piety ordered the same most holy Virgin within a short space of time to depart from this world. c and first of all dies. So it came to pass by the ineffable choice of the Lord, that she who in holy conversation had preceded the choir of all those holy Virgins, should precede them also in the holy calling to the supernal glory of the kingdom of heaven, through him who lives and reigns unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER IV.
Journey to the East impeded. The Bracarensian Episcopate. Monasteries and temples built. Death, Miracles.
[17] When the most blessed Fructuosus, by the flashing example of his most excellent holiness, had illumined all Spain with splendor-flowing clarity, He produces abundant fruit in the church. and through the individual congregations of monks of various regions, in the likeness of his own harmless heart, had nourished bands of perfect disciples; so much he profited in them that even today, when the most recently converted in the order are succeeded by the holy departed, his ancient examples flourish as though present, and to the end of the world the fruit of his work may sprout, and his glorious memory be always renewed, and in the kingdom of heaven the abundant bands of his flock are daily multiplied.
[18] But after he had brought all the devotion of his holy work, with the supporting aid of supernal virtue, to the highest perfection, an immense fire of holy desire kindled him, that occupying a part of the East he might undertake a new pilgrimage. And when he had secretly discussed these things with a few of his chosen disciples, and had prepared a ship for his conveyance, about to seek the East secretly, which with all preparation he might board and cross to the East; betrayed by one deceitful disciple, he could not obtain the approach of departure. Why say more? When these things were being done, it came to the hearing of the King of that time. he is impeded by the King, Therefore, fearing, the King and all the prudent men familiarly attending him, lest such a light should desert Spain; ordered him to be seized without any trouble or disturbance, and brought to him. And when they had brought him, with great fear they guarded him, by night (as is reported) locking the door of the dwelling in which he remained with chains and bars sent from without and various hard bolts; and the guards themselves moreover remained there. and in vain guarded. And when in the silence of midnight they awoke, they saw the bolts cast far off and the doors opened. But he, praying through the holy churches, beseeched the piety of the Lord in security.
[19] After this, even unwilling, against his will, depressed by the grief of languor, unwilling he is made Metropolitan, utterly resisting, he was ordained Pontiff on the Metropolitan See by the gift of God. Therefore, having received so great an honor, he did not lay aside his former way of life; but persisting in the same habit, in the same customary rigor of abstinence, he completed the remaining time of his life in the distribution of alms and the building of monasteries. Again between the city of Braga and the Dumiense monastery, on the top of a moderate mountain, b he builds a monastery. he built a remarkable monastery where his holy body was buried. And such was his intention in the building of holy churches, as I have learned from the report of the man of God, Cassian the Abbot, his first disciple; that when long before he had foreknown his holy death to be imminent, and he had begun many works of building, the close of his present life drawing near, he builds various churches: he was working not only during daytime without ceasing, but also in the nocturnal hours, with lamps lit, he persisted in the same work, lest departing from this world he might leave a holy work unfinished. And so, aided by divine help, all things which he had faithfully begun he diligently completed, and faithfully dedicated.
[20] But when the term of his end was drawing near, he was seized with fever: and when for some days he was held by the force of fevers, seized with fever, one day calculating the time from which his end had been long foretold him; he found that this day was at hand on which he was to depart from this world. And so he announced it to those standing by. But while all were weeping, he alone exulted, because without doubt he knew that he was hastening to the heavenly and eternal glory. They asked him if he feared death; he answered: "I do not fear it at all: for I know that, although a sinner, I am walking to the presence of my Lord." After this he ordered himself to be carried to the church, and when he had already set all things of his house in order, having one remaining little servant of his, by name c Dicendarius, who had served him well from his childhood, he makes Abbot of the monastery of Turonium he ordered him to be called, and laying his hand upon him ordained him Abbot in the excellent d Turonium Monastery. So, finally, having received penance legitimately, he did not go forth from the church, but there lay prostrate before the holy altar, through the space of that day and night. But as the twilight of light arose, stretching forth his hands in prayer, he delivered his spotless and holy spirit into the hands of the Lord, who crowns his Saints by good confession: to whom is virtue, honor, glory, power, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
[21] At the most sacred sepulcher of his holy body, signs of virtue persist for all who come: for the sick are healed there, and demons are put to flight, the sepulcher is illustrious with miracles. and whoever grieving asks his invincible help, immediately obtains from the Lord the full fruit of his petition; by the granting of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
TRANSLATION of Saint Fructuosus and others to Compostela.
By Hugo the Archdeacon of Compostela.
From ancient parchments.
Fructuosus, Archbishop of Braga, and founder of many monasteries (St.)
BHL Number: 3195
BY HUGO FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
[1] In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1102, the venerable Father a Diego, Bishop by divine grace of the Church of Saint James of the See of Compostela, Diego Bishop of Compostela, in the second year of his Episcopate, decreed to visit the churches, cells, and properties which are known to be of the right of the Compostelan church in the Portuguese region, as is fitting. For it pertains to a good Pastor, that he should provide for both the exterior and interior goods of his church: and if he find in them any injury or disorder, by his providence restore and set them in order. So, having taken with him the greater persons of his church, he directed his journey to the Portuguese province, as he had planned. And when he had approached the city which is called Braga, he sent his messenger beforehand to the Archbishop of that city, to announce his coming. setting out for Braga, That Archbishop, Giraldus by name, a prudent and religious man, hearing that the Bishop of Saint James was coming to his city, was filled with great joy: and gathering all his Clerics, by Archbishop Giraldus and Clergy with the citizens and other ornaments of his church, going out to meet him, received the Bishop of Compostela in procession with great veneration: and with the Clergy singing, he himself, holding him by the right hand, led him into his church. After the celebration of Mass, the Archbishop, honorably accompanying the Bishop to the table of refreshment, and after refreshment also to his own chamber, he is received in procession: offered him his own lodging, and went himself to another place to stay. So that day the Bishop of Saint James remained with the Archbishop of Braga. On the following day, having greeted the brothers of that church and been strengthened with blessing, the aforesaid Bishop came to the church of Saint Victor, of which the half of the right is said to belong to the city of Braga, accompanied by the Archbishop, and was received as lord in his royal palace.
[2] Meanwhile, as he went about, visiting his churches and celebrating the solemnities of Masses in them, with intimate affection he groaned at the many bodies of Saints which through them, half-buried, lacked due honor; and with the zeal of piety he turned over in his pious breast, what afterwards with divine aid he fulfilled. he finds the bodies of the Saints without due honor, For with fervent zeal he was devising how he might extract the precious pearls from inconvenient places, and carry them to the city of Compostela. So having summoned his own familiar Clerics, tried in counsel, what and how he wished to do about it, he disclosed, saying: "Dearest brothers, you know that we came to these parts for this reason, that if anything in these churches or properties were destroyed or disordered, our presence might restore and set it in order, and change what was ill-placed into a better state. Now, however, it does not escape our diligence, and he desires to transfer them to Compostela: that many inconvenient things are found in them. For you see many bodies of Saints, venerated with no cult, but bare and exposed to public sight, lying here and there, and you do not ignore that they lack due veneration. If therefore your prudence advises us, we shall take care to amend this: and we shall take care to transfer certain bodies of precious Saints, to whom no cult is shown here, to the Compostelan See: yet it will be necessary to do this secretly, lest perhaps the undisciplined people of this land, despoiled of so great a treasure, should stir up against us a sudden sedition: and so we should lament that we tried in vain what we dare to try." When his Clerics had approved this counsel, as those who asserted that counsel sprung from divine inspiration ought not to be rejected; the venerable man the Bishop, filled with the greatest joy of mind, answered and said: "May the Lord Jesus Christ, on whose mercy we rely, by his piety fulfill what we desire; and deign to bring the devotion of our purpose to a good end."
[3] Then entering the church of Saint Victor, and there celebrating Mass, he commanded digging to the right side of the altar: where a marble chest, wonderfully and finely fashioned, was soon found under the earth: which, when they had opened in the presence of the Lord Bishop, he extracts from the church of Saint Victor they found two silver caskets inside. The aforesaid Bishop, receiving them with great awe, with the name of the Lord glorified, with psalms and prayers unsealed them: in one of which he revealed relics of our Lord and Savior; in the other the bones of many Saints. Therefore, closed and firmly sealed, he handed them to his faithful Clerics to be guarded. On another day he went to the church of Blessed Susanna Virgin and Martyr, relics of the Savior and of many Saints; which is not far distant from the church of Saint Victor, and celebrated Mass with the greatest devotion. But having celebrated the Mass, as he was adorned with sacred vestments, he approached with trembling soul to the Mausoleum of Saints Cucuphas and Silvester the Martyrs, reposing in the same church: and their glorious bodies, from the church of Saint Susanna wrapped in clean linen, he secretly took from inconvenient sarcophagi; and with great reverence, the bodies of Saints Cucuphas, Silvester through suitable and faithful ministers, the others being ignorant, caused them to be brought to his chamber and faithfully guarded. When he had also come to the sepulcher of Saint Susanna the Virgin, he received her venerable body with sighs and tears, sighing, and secretly handed it to be guarded with the others. Moreover, the man of God, knowing that it had been granted by divine piety and Saint Susanna; that through him the bodies of Saints were to be honored, undertook to transfer in similar manner the glorious dust of the body of Blessed Fructuosus the Confessor and Bishop, from the church of Saint Fructuosus his body and to place it in convenient places. After two days they came to the church of Blessed Fructuosus, and there he solemnly celebrated Mass. When Mass was finished, clad in sacred vestments he approached his sepulcher. But because Saint Fructuosus was the defender and Patron of that region, with greater fear, from his own church which he himself still living in the flesh had built, with a pious theft he took him away, and having taken, committed him to his faithful guardians for safekeeping. And although this deed was hidden from all, except the Clerics privy to this counsel, the following night the Bishop could not sleep securely: for he feared to lose what he rejoiced to have with him.
[4] But when, morning being made, he knew that what he had done had not been made public; he departs to the villa of Cornelianum: carrying his hidden treasure with joy and gladness, to a certain villa of Saint James, which is called c Corneliana, as though entering on flight, hastening he returned. At Corneliana, a rumor of the people struck the Pontifical ears, reporting that an unworthy crime was being committed by the Bishop of Saint James, who was trying to transfer the Saints taken from the Portuguese land, the defenders and patrons of the homeland, to his own city. Hearing which, the man of highest prudence and excellent piety, fearing that by some occasion or violence he might lose the precious burden, committed the bodies of the Saints to a certain faithful Archdeacon of his, he has the sacred bodies secretly brought to Tuy, and instructed him in wise words how he should bring them through hidden paths to the city of d Tuy. So the Pontiff remaining at Corneliana, the Archdeacon, making his journey according to his instruction, prosperously arrived at the river Miño, which flows beside Tuy. The river indeed before this had raged with the most fierce storms for three days, so that it could not be crossed by any ships. But after the bodies of the Saints had been placed on the bank of the river, the Miño providing a pleasing passage; the river seemed to have sensed their reverence. For, the harsh severity of the breeze being removed, and the intemperance of the air vanishing, the river is said to have offered such ease of crossing to the Saints being transferred, as the swiftness of its water could supply; which with the waves calmed was borne with such great tranquility, that not even a small wave of fluctuation disturbed it. So the Saints transferred through the tranquility of the river they placed in the monastery of Saint Bartholomew, which is situated in the suburb of the city of Tuy, and deposited in the monastery of Saint Bartholomew, Therefore the Archdeacon, leaving with them a certain Deacon, a Canon of Saint James the Apostle, for faithful custody and administration, returned to the Bishop at Corneliana: and reported to him whatever had happened in the journey, and where he had left the Saints of God. Then the Deacon, who we have said had been appointed guardian, by the command of the Pontiff devoutly brought the aforesaid Saints to the church of Saint Peter of Cella, which Blessed Fructuosus had built. then in the church of Saint Peter of Cella, There indeed for ten days, awaiting the Bishop, he showed them due veneration.
[5] When the Bishop heard that the Saints had now crossed the river Miño, and were placed in a safe place (for this river separates the Portuguese land from Galicia), having prepared all the things that were to be prepared, with public veneration he transfers them toward Compostela: he quickly came to the monastery where the Saints were placed: and taking the Saints from there, now openly, through the villas of Saint James, with great veneration and joy, he began to return to the city of Compostela. When he had come to the villa called Coëgidum, he sent his messengers ahead to the Clergy and people of Compostela, to announce the coming of the Saints to them, and by his command to admonish them how they should be received. The Clergy and people of Compostela therefore, hearing that by divine mercy it had been permitted that the bodies of the Saints should be transferred from Braga to the city of Compostela, greatly rejoiced. with the Clergy and people meeting him, They understood indeed, that both by their merits and intercessions, and by the most pious patronage of Blessed James the Apostle, by whose most holy bodily presence the city of Compostela is illustrated, they were to be freed from all plague or languor and weakness. Going out therefore to meet them with bare feet, the Clergy, followed by the people of the whole city, processed devoutly to the place which is called Miratorium. And when the Bishop had arrived there, and those who had come with him, unshod, had gone before; the Clergy according to his arrangement, adorned with sacred vestments, with bare feet, with crowds coming after them, received the glorious bodies of the Saints: he deposits them in the church of Saint James, and while the Bishop and the Clergy passed on, they bore them into their city with hymns and songs and pious devotion, and placed them in the church of Blessed James the Apostle of the Compostelan See.
[6] But the body of Saint Fructuosus Confessor and Pontiff was placed at the altar of Saint Savior, in the greater crypt of the same church. But after four years had passed, he builds an altar for Saint Fructuosus, it seemed better to the aforesaid Bishop and his Clerics, that to Blessed Fructuosus, whom they had received from his own dwelling, they should make a proper dwelling. So in his honor an altar was built and dedicated, and consecrated by the same Bishop in the left member of the same church, in the e crypt which is between the door which leads to the cloister and the altar of Saint James. There therefore the body of Blessed Fructuosus was placed and deposited, and as in its own seat it rests, glorious with miracles, unto the eternal day. The bodies of the others in various altars he deposits: But the altar of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist received Saint Cucuphas the Martyr: and the body of Saint Silvester the Martyr was deposited under the altar of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, f in the body of the same Church. But Blessed Susanna Virgin and Martyr is honorably placed in the church which is known to have been founded in honor of the holy Sepulcher and of all the Saints, in the place which they used to call "Before the Altar of the sepulchers." g So the bodies of the Saints having been transferred, as was said above,
are governed by right, as is just, he decided to visit. For it pertains to a good Pastor, that he should provide for the outer as well as the inner goods of his church: and if he find any injury or disorder in them, he should by his providence restore and arrange. Therefore, having taken with him the greater persons of his church, he directed his journey to the Portuguese province, as he had planned. And when he had approached the city which is called Braga, he sent his messenger ahead to the Archbishop of that city, to announce his coming. setting out for Braga, That Archbishop, Giraldus by name, a prudent and religious man, hearing that the Bishop of Saint James was coming to his city, was filled with great joy: and gathering all his Clerics, by Archbishop Giraldus and the Clergy with the citizens and the other ornaments of his church, going out to meet him, received the Bishop of Compostela in procession with great veneration: and with the Clergy singing, he himself, holding him by the right hand, led him into his church. After the celebration of Mass, at the table of refreshment, he is received in procession: and after refreshment also to his own chamber, the Archbishop accompanied the Bishop honorably, and offering him his own lodging, went to another dwelling to stay. So on that day the Bishop of Saint James stayed with the Archbishop of Braga. The following day, having greeted the brothers of that church and strengthened them with blessing, the aforesaid Bishop came, accompanied by the Archbishop, to the church of Saint Victor, half of whose right belongs to the city of Braga, and was received as Lord in his royal palace.
[2] Meanwhile, going around, visiting his churches and celebrating the solemnities of Masses in them, he groaned with inmost affection for the many bodies of Saints which through them, half-buried, lacked due honor; and with the zeal of piety he turned over in his pious breast what afterwards, with divine aid, he fulfilled. he finds the bodies of Saints without due honor, For with fervent zeal he was planning how he could extract the precious pearls from inconvenient places, and transport them to the Compostelan city. So having summoned his household Clerics tested in counsel, what and how he wished to do, he disclosed, saying: "Dearest brothers, you know that we came to these parts for this reason: that if anything in these churches or possessions was destroyed or disordered, our presence might restore and arrange, and change what was ill-placed into a better state. Now, however, it does not escape our diligence, and desires to transfer them to Compostela: that inconvenient things are found in them. For you see many bodies of Saints, venerated with no cult, but bare and exposed to public sight, lying here and there, and you are not unaware that they lack due veneration. If therefore your prudence advise us, we shall take care to amend this: and we shall take care to transfer to the Compostelan See certain bodies of precious Saints, to whom no cult is here shown: yet it will be necessary to do this secretly, lest perhaps the undisciplined people of this land, stripped of so great a treasure, should stir up sudden sedition against us: and so we grieve that we tried in vain what we dare attempt." When his Clerics had approved this counsel, as those who asserted it to have arisen from divine inspiration, not to be rejected; the venerable man the Bishop, filled with the greatest joy of mind, answered and said: "May the Lord Jesus Christ, on whose mercy we rely, fulfill by his piety what we desire; and deign to bring the devotion of our purpose to a good end."
[3] Then entering the church of Saint Victor, and there celebrating Mass, he commanded digging to the right of the altar: where a marble chest, wondrously and finely made, was soon found under the earth; which, when they had opened in the presence of the Lord Bishop, he extracts from the church of Saint Victor they found inside two silver caskets. The aforesaid Bishop therefore, receiving them with great awe, glorifying the name of the Lord, with psalms and prayers unsealed: in one he showed the relics of our Lord and Savior; in the other, the bones of many Saints. Therefore, closed and firmly sealed, he handed them over to his faithful Clerics to be guarded. On another day he went to the church of Blessed Susanna Virgin and Martyr, the relics of the Savior and of many Saints; which is not far distant from the church of Saint Victor, and with the highest devotion celebrated Mass. But after the Mass was celebrated, as he was clothed in sacred vestments, with trembling soul he approached the Mausoleum of Saints Cucuphas and Silvester the Martyrs, resting in that church: and their glorious bodies, from the church of Saint Susanna wrapped in clean linen, he secretly took from the inconvenient sarcophagi; and with great reverence, the bodies of Saints Cucuphas, Silvester through suitable and faithful ministers, the others being ignorant, caused them to be brought to his chamber and faithfully guarded. When he had come also to the sepulcher of Saint Susanna the Virgin, he received her venerable body with sighing, with groaning and tears, and secretly handed it over to be guarded with the others. Moreover, the man of God, knowing it had been granted by divine piety and Saint Susanna; that through him the bodies of Saints were to be honored, disposed to transfer in similar manner the glorious dust of the body of Blessed Fructuosus the Confessor and Bishop, from the church of Saint Fructuosus his body and to place it in suitable places. After two days they came to the church of Blessed Fructuosus, and there solemnly celebrated Mass. But when Mass was finished, clad in sacred vestments he approached his sepulcher. But because Saint Fructuosus was the defender and Patron of that region, with greater fear he took him, with a pious theft, from his own church, which he himself still living in the flesh had made, and committed him thus taken to his faithful guardians to be kept. And although this deed was hidden from all except the Clerics privy to this plan, nevertheless the following night the Bishop could not sleep securely: for he feared to lose what he was glad to have with him.
[4] But when, morning having come, he knew that what he had done had not been made public; he departs to the villa of Cornelianum: with joy and gladness carrying his hidden treasure, to a certain villa of Saint James which is called [c] Corneliana, as though beginning a flight, hastening he returned. At Corneliana therefore a rumor of the people struck the Pontifical ears, reporting that an unworthy crime was being committed by the Bishop of Saint James, who was attempting to transfer the Saints taken from the Portuguese land, namely the defenders and patrons of the country, to his own city. Which when the man of greatest prudence and excellent piety heard, fearing lest by any occasion or violence he should lose the precious burden, committed the bodies of the Saints to a certain faithful Archdeacon of his, he causes the sacred bodies to be brought secretly to Tuy, and instructed him with wise words how he should bear them through secret paths to the city of [d] Tuy. The Pontiff therefore remaining at Corneliana, the Archdeacon, making his way according to his direction, prosperously arrived at the river Miño, which flows beside Tuy. The river indeed before had raged with such most harsh storms for three days, that it could not be crossed by any boats. But after the bodies of the Saints had been placed upon the bank of the river, the Miño providing a pleasant passage; the river seemed to have felt their reverence. For, with the harshness of the heavy breeze removed, and the intemperance of the air vanishing, the river is said to have shown such ease of crossing for the Saints to be transferred, as the swiftness of its water could minister; which with its waves quieted was borne with such great tranquility, that not even a moderate wave of fluctuation stirred it. Therefore the Saints, transferred through the tranquility of the river, they placed in the monastery of Saint Bartholomew, which is situated in the suburb of the city of Tuy. and deposited in the monastery of Saint Bartholomew, Therefore the Archdeacon, leaving with them a certain Deacon, a Canon of Saint James the Apostle, for faithful custody and administration, returned to the Bishop at Corneliana: and reported to him by way of narration whatever had happened on the journey, and where he had left the Saints of God. Then the Deacon, who we have said was appointed guardian, by the command of the Pontiff religiously bore the aforesaid Saints to the church of Saint Peter of Cella, which Blessed Fructuosus had built. then in the church of Saint Peter of Cella, There indeed for ten days, awaiting the Bishop, he showed them due veneration.
[5] When the Bishop heard that the Saints had now crossed the river Miño, and were placed in a safe place (for this river separates the Portuguese land from Galicia), when all things that were to be prepared had been prepared, with public veneration he transfers them toward Compostela: hastening, he came to the monastery where the Saints had been placed: and taking the Saints from there, now openly, through the villas of Saint James with great veneration and joy, he began to return to the city of Compostela. But when he had come to the villa which is called Coëgidum, he sent his messengers ahead to the Clergy and people of Compostela, to announce the coming of the Saints to them, and to admonish by his command how they ought to be received. The Clergy of Compostela therefore and the people, hearing that by divine mercy it had been permitted that the bodies of the Saints should be transferred from Braga to the Compostelan city, rejoiced greatly. with Clerics and people going out to meet, For they understood that both by their merits and intercessions, and by the most pious patronage of Blessed James the Apostle, by the presence of whose most holy body the Compostelan city is illumined, they were to be freed from every pestilence, or languor, and weakness. Therefore going out to meet them barefoot the Clerics, with the people of the whole city following, processed religiously to the place which is called Miratorium. When the Bishop had arrived there, and those who had come with him, shoeless, had gone before; the Clerics according to his disposition, adorned with sacred vestments, being with bare feet, the crowds coming after them, received the glorious bodies of the Saints: he deposits in the church of Saint James, and with the Bishop passing before and the Clergy, into their city with hymns and songs and pious devotion they brought them, and placed them in the church of Blessed James the Apostle of the Compostelan See.
[6] But the body of Saint Fructuosus the Confessor and Bishop was placed at the altar of Saint Savior, in the greater crypt of that church. Nevertheless, after four years had passed, he builds an altar for Saint Fructuosus, it seemed better again to the aforesaid Bishop and his Clerics, that to Blessed Fructuosus, whom they had received from his own dwelling, they should make a proper dwelling. So in his honor an altar was built and dedicated, and consecrated by the same Bishop in the left arm of the same church, in the [e] crypt which is between the door which leads to the cloister and the altar of Saint James. There therefore the body of Blessed Fructuosus was placed and buried, and as in its own seat it rests, glorious with miracles, unto the eternal day. The bodies of the others in various altars he deposits: But the altar of Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist received Saint Cucuphas the Martyr: and the body of Saint Silvester the Martyr was placed under the altar of the blessed Apostles Peter and Paul, [f] in the body of that Church. But Blessed Susanna Virgin and Martyr in the church, which is known to have been founded in honor of the holy Sepulcher and of all the Saints, in the place which they used to call "Before the Altar of the Sepulchers," is honorably placed and [g] rests. So the bodies of the Saints having been transferred, as was said above,
were placed on the 17th of the Kalends of January.
[7] Hugh, Canon and Archdeacon of that same Compostelan See, was privy to the aforesaid secret, who also in the finding of so great and so precious a treasure, and in the administration of what had been found, was a most faithful counselor and diligent cooperator, This history was written by Archdeacon Hugh, an eyewitness. and was present in body and devout in spirit; lest it should be lulled to sleep in the mist of forgetfulness, he diligently wrote it, and faithfully handed it down in memory to posterity, our Lord Jesus Christ reigning: to whom is honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.