ON SAINT THURIBIUS,
BISHOP OF LE MANS IN GAUL.
4TH CENTURY.
PrefaceThuribius, Bishop of Le Mans, in Gaul (St.)
BY G. H.
Le Mans, a large city in the third Lyonese province, holds the first place after its metropolis of Tours, Le Mans situated at the confluence of the rivers Sarthe and Huisne, and has very many of its Bishops who, numbered among the Saints, obtain their veneration through the circuit of the year. Of these, the first four were these: The first Bishops Saints, of these Thuribius is 2: Julian, Thuribius, Pavacius, and Liborius. Among the later Bishops is Saint Aldric, some of whose Acts, translated from the French idiom, we gave on January 7, but others, very long and carefully composed by his disciples, we have obtained some years ago, to be published sometime in the Supplement to January. In these Acts is the most ancient memory of the first Bishops which it has hitherto been permitted us to observe, with a certain indication of Ecclesiastical cult: and from these we excerpt these things.
[2] "In the year of the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ 838, in the year 838 in the 1st Indiction, in the 25th year of the Empire of the Lord Louis the Pious the Emperor, Aldric, venerable Bishop of the aforesaid city, discovered certain bodies of Saints, which in very deserted churches were being neglected, as to divine offices and lights and the rest of divine worship, which together with the counsel of his Fellow-priests he fittingly and reasonably placed in the bosom of the church of his See, and in the construction of the older altar of the same church: that is, the Body of Saint Julian, Bishop and first Preacher of the aforesaid city; their bodies translated and of Saint Thuribius, successor of the aforesaid Bishop Julian; and of Saint Pavacius, third Bishop of the said city and an excellent Preacher, ... and part of the Body of Saint Liborius, fourth Bishop of the aforesaid city and excellent Confessor. The aforesaid Bodies of the Saints also, in the church, which the aforesaid Aldric, Bishop of the aforesaid city, solemnly consecrated in honor of the Lord Savior, and of the holy Mother of God Mary, in the Cathedral Church: and of the holy Martyrs Gervase and Protase, or of Saint Stephen, and likewise in the veneration of all Saints; and in the construction of the older altar of the same church mentioned, he solemnly and fittingly and orderly placed the aforesaid Bodies of the Saints, as was prefixed, with this intention, that there the offices and lights and the other things pertaining to divine worship and to the honor of the Saints might be had fully, and afterwards wherever the necessity of constructing monasteries should demand, he might individually place the aforesaid bodies in each monastery: so that from their memories, and the open intercessions of the elders, divine worship might grow, and the praise of God be multiplied for the better and in many ways, as is proven to have been done in later times, the Lord granting." Thus there, and with some things interposed it is said, in the year 840 the body of Saint Pavacius was solemnly translated, whether some relics of Saint Thuribius were translated to Paderborn: and the right arm of Saint Liborius into the church of Saint Savior. Already before, in the 24th year of the reign of Louis, A.D. 837, the body — that is, the principal part of the body of Saint Liborius — had been translated to Paderborn in Westphalia. To this Body some Relics of Saints Thuribius and Pavacius seem to have been joined, so that on that account Wernerus Rolevinck, in book 3 On the Situation and Customs of the Westphalians chapter 8, Grevenus in the Auctarium of Usuard on July 24, with the author of the manuscript Florary and the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in 1490, have written that their Bodies were also translated to Paderborn.
[3] In the same ninth century of Christ flourished Usuard, a monk of Paris, and Ado, Bishop of Lyons, his memory in the Martyrologies on April 16. who both composed Martyrologies, but without mention of the aforesaid Bishops of Le Mans, because their Acts either were not yet composed, or at least did not commonly exist, and their veneration was retained especially among the people of Le Mans. It was afterwards inscribed in other Martyrologies, but in place of Thuribius, with the letters inverted, the name Tiburtius is written. So the ancient manuscript Martyrology, which we have in our possession, written six hundred years ago; and another of the Carmelite Order, which was brought from Frankfurt to Cologne, and written nearly four hundred years ago, in which these things are read: "On the same day the birthday of Saint Tiburtius, Bishop and Confessor of the city of Le Mans." The same is contained in the manuscript Florary, and in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed in 1490, in the Auctarium also of Grevenus to Usuard printed in 1515 and 1521, in Maurolycus and Felicius. But under the name of Saint Thuribius he is celebrated by Ferrarius in the general Catalog, and by Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology, with a long encomium drawn from the Acts. The same Saint Thuribius was also referred by Ferrarius to April 14, April 14, because his Acts, translated into French by Pierre Viel, are referred to the said April 14. But with Saint Pavacius he is celebrated on July 24, and in the manuscript Florary both are first ascribed to Paderborn, because some of their Relics, as we have already said, are said to have been brought there: at Le Mans they are assigned in the cited Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed, and in the Auctarium of Grevenus to Usuard, in which his memory is again on August 25. and August 25. Some chapel of the same Saint Thuribius is seen in the church of Saint John of Ascis in the Deanery of Beaumont.
[4] And let these things about the cult and veneration of Saint Thuribius suffice: now some things must be premised concerning his Acts. And first, there exists a booklet, whose title is, The Life drawn out by Morell from ancient codices, "Nomenclature or Golden Legend of the Pontiffs of Le Mans, by Jean Morell of Laval, Doctor of Theology of the University of Paris and Canon of Le Mans, from the most ancient codices of the Cathedral Church of Le Mans, long stored in the archives of the aforesaid Church, faithfully digested into a compendium in the year of the Lord 1572." This compendium on Saint Thuribius we give in the first place: because we judge that the said codices, from which it was extracted, were easily written five hundred years ago, and are cited in the Register of the Pontifical Church of Le Mans: in which the last Bishop is Geoffrey of Laon, who died in 1255. In this Register very few things are reported about Saint Thuribius, and the reader is referred at the end to another schedule, cited in the Pontifical Register. in which his Life is contained, inserted, and for that reason omitted. We give another Life transmitted to us in the year 1644 by Sir Antoine Corvaiser of Courteilles, Questor of Capital Matters at Le Mans. This Life is drawn from a manuscript codex of the Abbey of Beaulieu near Le Mans, Another submitted at Le Mans by the zeal and labor of R. F. Claude Perrochel, Superior of the said monastery, whose brother Francis Perrochel in the year 1645 was made Bishop of Boulogne. The same Life we found in the library of the Most Serene Christina, Queen of Sweden, in the manuscript codex marked number 863. In this Life, number 13, is cited a Schedule on his remaining virtues, both in life and after death, whose loss we bear sorrowfully: and found in the manuscript of the Queen of Sweden. in the same place is also alleged a booklet, which "was written on the Acts of the Pontiffs, of the aforesaid Cenomanic Church in the city living unto God": which therefore we also prefix, judging it to be, or at least a compendium of the said booklet. From this booklet a Life was composed in French by Pierre Viel, and inserted in the History of the Lives of the Saints, at Lyons in 1593, and afterwards frequently printed. In the same language the aforementioned Corvaiser and Jean Bondonnet wrote Histories or Lives of the Bishops of Le Mans: The Life published in French. of which Jean de Launoy treats in his dissertation, in which it is shown what can be probably established about the epoch of the first Bishop of Le Mans.
[5] A great and difficult controversy is stirred up, at what time and in what century of Christ the first Bishops sat at Le Mans, and by which Roman Pontiffs they are judged to have been sent. Saint Thuribius does not seem to have sat under Pagan Emperors, Love of antiquity, by which particular nations study to prevail over others, is implanted in many, and on account of this affection many wish that Saints Julian the Bishop, Thuribius the Presbyter, and Pavacius the Deacon, his successors in the Bishopric, were sent together to Le Mans by Saint Peter the Apostle or Saint Clement: others relegate them to the times of the Emperors Decius or Gordian, as though they had been sent to this city by Saint Fabian or Saint Sixtus II the Pontiffs, and these have for themselves
as patron the monk Lethaldus, who around the beginning of the 11th century wrote the Life of Saint Julian which we published on the 27th day, and joined Saint Julian by his own conjecture with Gatianus of Tours, Trophimus of Arles, and others enumerated by Gregory of Tours in book 1, Chronicle of the Franks, chapter 28. But Gatianus, surviving until the year 300, converted few, and could not erect any basilica on account of the severe animadversion of the pagans against the Christians, and therefore after his death the Bishopric ceased for 37 years, until finally Lidorius, second Bishop of Tours created about the year 337, erected the first basilica at Tours, though in which year of his Bishopric is not certain. But since Saint Thuribius is said in the earlier Life to have built four monasteries, and to have consecrated 38 other churches, to have ordained 89 Presbyters, but in the 4th Christian century 50 Deacons, 40 Subdeacons, we in no way doubt that these things should be referred to the fourth century of Christ: in which he was succeeded also by Saint Pavacius, the third Bishop, to whom a certain man from the region of Angers, dangerously ill from having swallowed a serpent, fled, with his successors Pavacius, having been previously warned when he spent the night in the city of Angers in the church of Saint John the Baptist: but these things indicate that the times of the Christians were quiet, and under the first Bishop of Angers, Defensor, who was present at the election of Saint Martin as Bishop of Tours in the year 371. Pavacius was succeeded by Saint Liborius, fourth Bishop of Le Mans, whom Saint Martin visited when sick, stood by the dying man, and celebrated the funeral rites of the dead. and Liborius.
LIFE
From the manuscript Collection of Jean Morell.
Thuribius, Bishop of Le Mans, in Gaul (St.)
FROM JEAN MORELL.
[1] From Archdeacon to Bishop, Blessed Thuribius, a Roman by birth, distinguished by the splendor of his ancestry, a man of consummate sanctity, was ordained Archpriest by the Roman Pontiff a ... and set out with Blessed Julian b by divine prompting to the city of Le Mans. After whose death he was elected Bishop in the aforesaid city, and in the older church was consecrated Pontiff: whom the divine Julian, before giving up his soul, by the inspiration of God, had foreseen, chosen, and acclaimed as to be raised to the Pontifical Chair: since he knew there was nothing lacking in him for pastoral care, nothing for fullness of justice, nothing finally for integrity of doctrine. Nor did divine grace fail him when raised to the Pontifical dignity: by which he both instructed the people committed to him with spiritual eloquence, and formed them by life-giving examples. For when in the time of his Episcopate a great and bloody persecution had arisen against the orthodox religion, in persecution he protects his own: he opposed himself as a wall for the house of Israel, and met the raging wolf, as a good shepherd ready to lay down his life for his sheep, keeping pastoral watch, lest the sheep committed to him be devoured by the teeth of the raging beasts. Among these contests, however, and the teeth of raging beasts, the Confessor of Christ remained immovable. Nor did the Lord Thuribius cease, nor did any time pass empty, in which he did not either minister to the people like Martha, or pray for the people like Mary. And that he might have a good testimony from those who were without, he strove to do nothing other than what he preached. Wonderful was his gentleness toward those who afflicted him, wonderful his compassion toward the afflicted: gentle, and constant in his purposes his remission of injuries done to him always preceded the setting of the sun. His words, indeed, a certain careful discretion weighed; and among the blandishments and threats of the powerful he remained immovable; so that neither could he be broken by the former, nor ever overcome by the latter.
[2] Whence it came to pass that he bore undaunted the infestations of a certain Gajanus, a pagan. Whose wife, converts Savina, Savina by name, having received Christian sanctity in baptism at the preaching of blessed Thuribius: although her husband bore this most grievously, yet she herself was eager now to hear the saving doctrine, now to be present at the divine offices. As she was returning from there, as she was wont, servants ran to meet her, announcing that her husband was sitting at the doors of the church, both blind and deaf. Learning this, heals Gajanus, her husband made blind and deaf she cast herself at the knees of the Pontiff, lamented her husband's misfortunes, besought him with profuse tears, that he would deign, though undeserving, to honor him with his coming and aid him with his intervention. Nor did the man of God delay to hear the beseeching woman, bending his knee, by his sacred prayers he restored both sight and hearing to Gajanus. And this was conferred upon an unbelieving husband through a faithful wife.
[3] But Gajanus, acknowledging the benefit of God and of Thuribius His servant, conceived a desire for the Christian religion, and in such words, penitent and confessing that he had been justly punished by God, opens both the affection of his mind and the cause of his blindness: "One, most blessed Father, one and true is God, to whom, with the superstition of idols cast away, Christian devotion renders due service. He created all and governs all: the gods of the nations are demons, afflicting their worshippers with the same torments with which they themselves are tormented. c When indeed my wife Savina, by sounder counsel, detested this madness, I was grieved, I confess, and I resolved to investigate why she frequently went to the church of Christ, with what pursuits she was engaged there. Then having insolently entered the oratory, while I insulted the divine mysteries, I deserved both to lose my sight and to be condemned with loss of hearing. I know and confess that your God heard you, whom you preach to have endured the ignominy of death and the cross, even for me. He mercifully blinded me, that He might enlighten me; took away my hearing, that thus He might rouse me to hearing the truth. To His mercy therefore I owe it, that I abominate error, that I embrace truth, that being weak I have recovered, that being dead I have risen. Happy am I, I say, if I deserve to be numbered among those sons of adoption who are to reign, upon whom perennial inheritance smiles, for whom perpetual riches are reserved, baptizes with 412 of his household, whom eternal joys beguile." With these words he hastened to baptism, as devoted to the Christian religion as Saint Paul, as much more as he had before raved against it with greater madness: he also demanded that his household be renewed with the Sacrament of regeneration. So, with 412 baptized, the Church of Christ was multiplied both in number and merit by their examples.
[4] d Moreover, his house, which he had built with sumptuous buildings above the river Anisola, he handed over to the holy Bishop, beseeching with devoted affection that it might be consecrated as the Lord's oratory, he consecrates his house as the church of Saint Peter, where the faithful people gathering might deserve both to be instructed with saving admonitions and to be present at the sacred offices. It was done, therefore, as the recruit of Christ asked, and his house was exchanged into a church, and consecrated in the honor and name of Blessed Peter, Prince of the Apostles. Expenses too were provided, and certain revenues arranged which might suffice the Clerics appointed there both for the divine office and for food, and be enough for clothing. and endows it with revenues. Not unmindful of this deed, the Christian succession called the aforesaid place Casa-Gajani.
[5] e There was in the same region a noble and wealthy woman, who, having lost her bodily strength, was suffering from a long-lasting ailment: heals with sent blessings the sick family, her servants also were afflicted with similar maladies. When she had heard that the holy Bishop Thuribius was present, she sent messengers to him, asking with weeping affection that he would deign to receive the blessing of her eulogies — that is, of her little gifts. Nor did the man of God delay to hear the beseeching woman: sending remnants of food (which the boys were accustomed to keep for similar uses), he provided both for the family and the mistress: for at their tasting, not only the matron, but also her whole house deserved to be restored to former health. Moreover, a certain man who had become blind by his own fault, Julius by name, he is illustrious with miracles, was healed by him, and a mute woman, and a blind girl. So, his abundance of miracles being dispersed or spread abroad everywhere, those oppressed by various languors are brought to the blessed Bishop, who all obtained complete safety.
[6] He is also said to have built four monasteries, one in a village, by name f Buxiolum upon the river Mayenne g, in honor of Saint John; another upon the river Jouanne h; a third in the village of i Diablentum; the fourth, for gaining souls to God, upon the river Anisola k, in Casa-Gajani, he establishes 4 monasteries where he both found living l fountains and planted the most fruitful vineyards, and in the church there built by him, he established a Priest named Tyrrus, with other Clerics, and commanded them to serve the Lord: from which he willed a rent to be paid annually to the mother church of the city (which had been consecrated by Blessed Julian in honor of Saint Mary Mother of God and Blessed Peter the Apostle), for the lighting of the aforesaid church, four pounds of oil, and three of wax; and of wine and bread, for the use of the Clerics and the poor, one triens or four denarii: for a triens is the third part of an as or a solidus, as a quadrans is the fourth part. He also consecrated other churches, m thirty-eight in his diocese in various places, from which he decreed to be paid to the mother church over which he presided within the city, for maintaining or feeding the lamps, certain pounds of wax and oil, and to the custodians of the same church, for adorning it, certain trientes: consecrates 38 churches, namely, from the village of Mortianus, two greater pounds of wax and three of oil; from Asinaria, one pound of wax and two pounds of oil and one triens; from Concilia, one pound of wax, two pounds of oil, and one triens; from Aurionnum, one pound of wax, two pounds of oil, and one triens, and n so of the rest. He also made seventeen ordinations o: 89 Presbyters, 50 Deacons, ordains the Clergy, 40 Subdeacons, and many others of the remaining grades.
[7] He sat as Bishop of Le Mans for five years, six months, and sixteen days [p] ... who after many labors, after five years of Episcopate, died April 16. and having suffered manifold persecutions, fell asleep in the Lord on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of May [q], and was honorably buried by his disciples beyond the river Sarthe, in the church of the Apostles. By the intercession of this holy Confessor of the Lord, Thuribius, may the Lord deliver us from all evils, and grant us eternal blessedness. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
p. These words were inserted in the time of Antoninus Pius, about the year of the Lord 145, intruded by later hands.
q. Added in the Register: "who as is reported ended his life by martyrdom."
ANOTHER LIFE.
From two manuscript codices.
Thuribius, Bishop of Le Mans, in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 8346, 8347
FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
CHAPTER I.
Arrival at Le Mans. Episcopate. Conversion of Gajanus and others.
[1] At that time after the death of Saint Julian, the first Bishop of the city of Le Mans, and Saint Thuribius having been subrogated in his place and set in his See and ordained, by the merit of his Roman nobility and his dignity as Archpriest, with the vigor of Christianity now increasing and spreading itself everywhere, at the instigation of the ancient enemy, Saint Thuribius from a Roman philosopher became a Christian, and by the persuasion of malevolent men, and the oppression of the good by the wicked, a certain persecution arose in the church of the Christians and raged against the Christians. a Seeing these things, the aforesaid Saint Thuribius, who indeed had first been a philosopher, but afterwards a disciple of Christ, and directed from the Apostolic See as an aid to Saint Julian for preaching, and being by God's will his companion and helper, Archpriest of Saint Julian and his successor in the Episcopate. was ordained Archpriest, and after the departure of Blessed Julian was subrogated in his See and people and ordained Bishop. Who, seeing the persecution and the trembling spirits of some Christians, exhorted them, saying, Rouses the faithful to act bravely: "Dearest Brothers, our elders have endured various torments, that a safe state might come to us of the Church; how much more should we, sluggish and negligent, bear adversities with equanimity, and raise up the state of the holy Church of God, and with His help firmly persist in the faith of Christ: for our Lord Jesus Christ himself suffered for the salvation of the Church, and his Apostles by suffering raised her up, and manfully kept the faith. Nothing therefore should be feared, nothing toiled for, except that we live with justice, and, what is more glorious, die for justice."
[2] The aforesaid Saint Thuribius was therefore a venerable man, and distinguished by Roman nobility, and wisely instructed in the doctrine of the Apostles b, and prudently taught, and nobly conducted from infancy. He was noble indeed in lineage, excels in virtues, but nobler in faith; in worldly dignity distinguished among his own, but foremost in the grace of divine gifts; meek in humility, solicitous in charity, assiduous in long-suffering, strong in patience; and so in the strength of all virtues he prevailed, that his speech was always seasoned with salt. He was an excellent Shepherd and a preeminent Doctor: he despised this world, that he might find the eternal kingdom. He despised earthly praises, and rejected royal gifts and the honor of princes, that loving the court of Christ he might enter it. He penetrated the realms of the heavens with thousands of Saints, rejoicing; the Shepherd of the sheep bore fruits upon his shoulders. So the pious Bishop and Doctor was generous and humble; who, since he was of the seed of the saints, was comely in affability, prompt to gather, efficacious in work, diligently brought to the Savior in gift all things committed to him by God, above all his own.
[3] Flourishing with these and very many such flowers, he deserved to please God and good men, but did not refuse to displease the wicked and unbelieving. Whence it came to pass that Saint Thuribius, the second Bishop of the See of Le Mans, did not fear the fury of a certain Gajanus, a pagan, of a bitter mind and undisciplined impiety. converts and baptizes Savina, Gajanus justly indignant, For by the doctrine of the aforesaid holy man Thuribius, the wife of the said Gajanus had been converted to the Lord, Savina by name, and gave diligent service to God. Then her husband, led by zeal, laid an ambush for his wife hastening to the church: and when the aforementioned Savina had entered the church (which Saint Thuribius had long ago consecrated in the Labricinensian c district, where at that time the aforesaid Saint Thuribius, worthily performing the Pontifical ministry, was converting many to Christ), the aforementioned Gajanus followed through another entrance, and began to act more curiously, listening and observing what was being done there. But when, after the prayer of the said Saint Thuribius had been poured forth, the people answered "Amen," the said Gajanus was immediately made blind, so that he could neither hear nor see. He was very rich, and had many possessions; him he suddenly makes blind and dumb, and, having much of his own, so strongly did he bear himself among his country people that he was regarded as their leader: as the place still shows, which above the river Anisola, by the name given it by the inhabitants of the same place down to the present day, with many buildings and walls showing it, is called Casa-Gajani. Then indeed, as has been said, having been made deaf and blind, on account of his unspeakable and unlawful deeds, he said to his servants: "Take me quickly in your hands, and cast me out of this Church; for my eyes have been made blind, and my ears deaf, so that I can neither hear nor see at all." But his boys were going round with him through the whole church, and amid the multitude of men and women praying, they could not arrive at the entrance through which they had entered: so it was done, from the Church wandering through servants, that while they turned their circle into error, and turned around again and again, they came with the said Lord of theirs Gajanus to the aforesaid mistress of his, Savina, where she was beseeching the Lord. When she saw her servants going thus around the church with their master, sending a boy, she began to inquire what this was, that these servants were going around with their master. To whom the servants answered, saying: "Our master wished to see in silence what it was not lawful for him to see, and desired to hear secretly that which was another's: and not only has he been made blind, but also deaf. This being done, he commanded us to cast him out; but to us, as the matter itself makes clear, it is in no way granted to go out of this church." When her devout wife, the aforesaid Savina, had learned this from the little servants, she cast herself down in prayer, and with tears asked of God, that her husband might thereupon be permitted to go out, and turning to the boys who were with him, said to them: "Go and give your hand to your master, and brought home at the prayers of Savina, and lead him to the house: but I, not forsaking the prayer begun, shall take care to offer my victim to the Lord." And when the mysteries were ended, she prayed, that her husband might be healed and converted to the Lord. And when the boys had departed, giving a hand to their master, as Savina had commanded them, going out, by the merits of Savina, not of their master, they came to the house. And returning, they announced to their mistress Savina, that in the aforesaid Gajanus their master, the aforesaid blindness was lasting, and that he could hear nothing at all.
[4] Then the often-mentioned devout mistress Savina, with earnest prayers begged the Lord with tears, that the divine mercy might assist her husband. So, when the most holy and divine mysteries had been performed, and the offices accomplished, the aforementioned Savina, beloved of God, cast herself at the feet of Saint Thuribius, Saint Thuribius, saying that her husband, the aforesaid Gajanus, desiring impudently to know the secrets of our Lord Jesus Christ, had been punished with the loss of hearing and sight. Then Saint Thuribius, bursting into tears, began to pray, exhorting all who were present, that together they might ask the Lord at the requested prayers of others, that he might restore both hearing and sight to Savina's husband. So Saint Thuribius, trusting in God, after prayer, proceeded with the said Savina to her said husband Gajanus, and found him indeed with eyes open but seeing nothing, nor hearing any sound of speech. And while the whole household was noisy with sorrowful wailing, and Gajanus heard nothing at all, Saint Thuribius, lifting his eyes to heaven, began thus to obtain pardon for him, saying: having made prayer "Lord Jesus Christ, who gave the keys of the heavenly kingdom to your Apostle Peter, and to him and his successors and the other successors and disciples holding the Pontifical rule, the power of binding and loosing, and of closing and opening, saying: 'Whatsoever you open shall be opened, and whatsoever you close shall be closed': command that the ears and eyes of this man be opened: for you said: 'Whatsoever you shall ask
the office of the Presbyterate, with Saint Pavacius the Deacon, to reveal the grace of Christ to the people of Le Mans, as we have received from the ancients, was given as companion and helper to Saint Julian by the Bishop of the city of Rome." Thus Lethaldus, writing around the year 1020.
p. These words were inserted in the time of Antoninus Pius, about the year of the Lord 145, intruded by later hands.
q. Added in the Register: "who as it is reported ended his life by martyrdom."
ANOTHER LIFE.
From two manuscript codices.
Thuribius, Bishop of Le Mans, in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 8346, 8347
FROM MANUSCRIPTS.
CHAPTER I.
Coming to Le Mans. Episcopate. Conversion of Gajanus and others.
[1] At that time, after the death of Saint Julian, first Bishop of the city of Le Mans, and Saint Thuribius having been subrogated in his place and set in his See and ordained, by the merit of his Roman nobility and of his dignity as Archpriest, with the vigor of Christianity now growing and spreading itself everywhere; at the instigation of the ancient enemy, Saint Thuribius, from Roman philosopher became a Christian, and with malevolent men persuading and oppressing the good with the wicked, a certain persecution arises in the church of the Christians and rages against the Christians. a Seeing these things, the aforesaid Saint Thuribius, who indeed at first had been a philosopher, but afterwards became a disciple of Christ and directed from the Apostolic See as a helper to Saint Julian for preaching, and being by God's will his companion and helper, Archpriest of Saint Julian and successor in the Episcopate. was ordained Archpriest, and after the departure of Blessed Julian was subrogated in his see and people and ordained Bishop. Who, seeing the persecution and the fearful spirits of some Christians, exhorted them, saying: Rouses the faithful to act bravely: "Dearest Brothers, our elders endured various torments that a safe state of the Church might come to us; how much more ought we, sluggish and negligent, with equanimity to sustain adversities, and to raise up the state of the holy Church of God, and firmly to persist in the faith of Christ with His help: for our Lord Jesus Christ himself suffered for the salvation of the Church, and his Apostles by suffering raised her up, and manfully kept the faith. Nothing therefore is to be feared, and nothing toiled for, except that we live with justice, and, what is more glorious, die for justice."
[2] The aforesaid Saint Thuribius was therefore a venerable man, and distinguished by Roman nobility, and wisely instructed by the doctrine of the Apostles b, and prudently taught, and nobly behaved from infancy. He was indeed noble in birth, excels in virtues, but nobler in faith; distinguished among his own in worldly dignity, but foremost in the grace of divine gifts; meek in humility, solicitous in charity, assiduous in long-suffering, strong in patience; and he so prevailed in the strength of all virtues, that his speech was always seasoned with salt. He was an excellent Shepherd and a preeminent Doctor: he despised this world, that he might find the eternal kingdom. He despised earthly praises, and rejected royal gifts and the honor of princes, that loving the court of Christ he might enter it. He penetrated the realms of the heavens with thousands of Saints, joyful; the Shepherd of the sheep, rejoicing, bore fruits upon his shoulders. So the pious Bishop and Doctor was generous and humble; who, since he was of the stock of the saints, was comely in affability, prompt to gather, effective in work, and diligently brought to the Savior in gift all things committed to him by God, above all his own.
[3] Flourishing with these and very many such flowers, he deserved to please God and good men, but did not refuse to displease the wicked and unbelieving. Whence it came to pass that Saint Thuribius, the second Bishop of the See of Le Mans, did not fear the fury of a certain pagan Gajanus, of a bitter mind and undisciplined impiety. converts and baptizes Savina, Gajanus justly indignant, For by the teaching of the aforesaid holy man Thuribius, the wife of the said Gajanus, converted to the Lord, Savina by name, gave diligent service to God. Then her husband, led by zeal, laid an ambush for his wife hastening to the church: and when the said Savina had entered the church (which Saint Thuribius had long before consecrated in the Labricinensian c district, where at that time the aforesaid Saint Thuribius, worthily performing his Pontifical ministry, was converting many to Christ), the aforementioned Gajanus, following through another entrance, began to act more inquisitively, listening and watching what was being done there. But when, after the prayer of the said Saint Thuribius was poured forth, the people answered "Amen," the said Gajanus was immediately made blind, so that he could neither hear nor see. He was very rich, and had many possessions; him he suddenly makes blind and dumb, and, having much of his own, he so strongly bore himself among his country folk, that he was regarded as a leader: as the place still shows, which above the river Anisola, by the inhabitants of the same place down to the present day, with many buildings and walls showing, is called Casa-Gajani. Then indeed, as has been said, made deaf and blind, on account of his aforesaid wicked and unlawful actions, he said to his servants: "Take me quickly in your hands, and cast me out of this Church; for my eyes have been made blind, and my ears deaf, so that I cannot hear or see at all." But his boys were going round with him through the whole church, and among the multitude of men and women praying, they could not arrive at the entrance through which they had entered: so it came to pass, wandering out of the Church through the servants, that while they turned their circle into error, and went round again and again, they came with their said master Gajanus to his aforesaid mistress Savina, where she was beseeching the Lord. When she saw her servants thus going round the church with their master, sending a boy, she began to ask what this was, that these servants were going around with their master. To whom the servants answered, saying: "Our master wished to see in silence what it was not lawful for him to see, and desired to hear secretly what was another's; and not only has he been made blind, but also deaf. This being done, he commanded us to cast him out; but to us, as the matter itself makes clear, it is in no way granted to go out of this church." When his devout wife, the aforesaid Savina, had learned this from the little servants, she cast herself down in prayer, and with tears asked God that her husband might thereupon be permitted to go out, and turning to the boys who were with him, said to them, "Go and give your hand to your master, at Savina's prayers brought home, and lead him home: but I, not forsaking my begun prayer, shall take care to offer my victim to the Lord." And when the mysteries were ended, she prayed that her husband might be healed and converted to the Lord. And when the boys had gone, giving a hand to their master, as Savina had commanded, going out, by the merits of Savina, not of their master, they came home. And returning, they announced to their mistress Savina, that in the said Gajanus their master the said blindness was lasting, and he could hear nothing at all.
[4] Then the often-mentioned devout mistress Savina, with earnest prayers and tears begged the Lord, that the divine mercy might assist her husband. So, when the most holy and divine mysteries had been performed and the offices accomplished, the aforementioned Savina, beloved of God, cast herself at the feet of Saint Thuribius, Saint Thuribius, saying that her husband, the aforesaid Gajanus, wishing impudently to know the secret things of our Lord Jesus Christ, had been punished with the loss of hearing and sight. Then Saint Thuribius, bursting into tears, began to pray, exhorting all who were present, that together they might ask the Lord asking the prayers of others, that He might restore both hearing and sight to Savina's husband. So Saint Thuribius, trusting in God, after prayer proceeded with the said Savina to her said husband Gajanus, and found him with eyes indeed open but seeing nothing, nor hearing any sound of speech. And while the whole household was noisy with mournful wailing, and Gajanus heard nothing at all, Saint Thuribius, lifting his eyes to heaven, began thus to obtain pardon for him, saying: prayer having been made "Lord Jesus Christ, who gave the keys of the heavenly kingdom to your Apostle Peter, and to him and his successors and the rest of his successors and disciples holding the Pontifical rule, the power of binding and loosing, and of closing and opening, saying: 'Whatsoever you shall open, shall be opened, and whatsoever you shall close, shall be closed'; do you command that the ears and eyes of this man be opened: for you said: 'Whatsoever you shall ask
believing, you shall receive, and your promise endures unto the ages of ages.'" Matthew 16:19, Matthew 18:19 But when all answered, heals: "Amen," immediately the eyes and ears of Gajanus were opened: and seeing Saint Thuribius, fearing him greatly, and being made out of his mind, he knew not what he was doing. And Saint Thuribius said in the presence of all who were standing by and greatly marveling at his actions and words: "Now shall be fulfilled what was said through the venerable Blessed Paul the Apostle: 'The unbelieving husband shall be sanctified through the faithful wife.' 1 Corinthians 7:14" And Blessed Turibius taught him all things which seemed to pertain to the edification of the soul.
[5] So when these things had been duly performed, the aforesaid pagan Gajanus believed in the Lord, and being penitent and embracing the faith, and was strengthened. And he began to prostrate himself at the knees and feet of Saint Thuribius, saying: "I give thanks to the true and almighty God, who blinded me that I might see; and took away my hearing, that I might hear the truth, which in ignorance I mocked. And I thought that to be false, which is true; and I considered that to be true, which is false; I thought darkness was light, and reckoned light to be darkness: and I praise and magnify Him by whom my sense has been cleansed from the filth of idols. For now I truly acknowledge that the demons deceive men, so that those who do not believe in the Lord Christ are dominated by the deaf and mute stones and other creatures. And I am now ashamed to say what I previously worshipped and what has hitherto dominated me." Then before all, he said: "Thus are all of you who do not believe in the God of Thuribius, and our Lord Jesus Christ." after the offering of his possessions for the church, With Gajanus asserting these and similar things, there was great joy on that day. When he had said these things, he fell again at the feet of the said Saint Thuribius, and in the sight of all, praying, he said: "Most holy Father, accept my house, which I have built above the little river Anisola, with all my furniture, and make there a church for converting the unbelievers and gaining souls for God. Moreover, accept all my other possessions, in which also make churches, and build the other things which pertain to divine worship: and permit me and my wife to serve God your God together with you." And he solemnly handed over all the aforesaid to Saint Thuribius and to the Mother Church of Le Mans, and confirmed it by the stipulation of conscription, the delegation of his own law, and the subscription of witnesses. So Saint Thuribius did as he had begged, and in his aforesaid possessions built and dedicated churches; and in the said house of his which he had above the little river Anisola, which he also loved more than the rest, built and dedicated a church in the honor of Saint Peter; and there founded a little monastery, and nobly ordained it in the honor of Saint Peter and all the Apostles, and gathered there servants of God leading a common life and living holily. Which place is still called Casa-Gajani on account of his dwelling and nobility. baptizes with 412 others. So the said Gajanus believed with his whole house, and at the next Easter following was baptized by Saint Thuribius (as has been said) in the aforesaid little monastery of his own, above the aforementioned little river Anisola, built and dedicated in honor of Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles. And those who were baptized from his house were counted — men together with women and infants of either sex — to the number of four hundred and twelve. Through this Gajanus many nobles, many illustrious persons, and his friends were converted.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Various miracles performed. Death, burial.
[6] The aforesaid Saint Thuribius, therefore, filled with the doctrine of truth, and imbued with the abundant richness of his own, inculcates great trust toward God: was placable and amiable to all who came to him. Oh, how imitable was the example of virtue in the blessed man, in whose actions not even in his walking could anything be reprehended: for he was assiduous in abstinence, continual in sobriety, given to vigils, assiduous in preaching to those coming to the faith, and to those already believing: for he said: "When you were unbelievers, the light of truth was given to you; how much more, to believers, shall all things you ask now be given? The divine clemency is always ready for you, and multiplies the gift of its grace upon each one the more, the more the mind receives the standard of increased faith." But one day, when the aforesaid Saint Thuribius was going again to visit the aforesaid Brother Gajanus, now well-living in the said little monastery, wonderfully amplifying divine worship and preaching Christ through all things, what happened must not be passed over in silence.
[7] There was a certain woman who had many riches and possessions, but was suffering an exceedingly severe illness along with her people: an entire household afflicted with various ailments for they were so weak that no one could help another. She was admonished in dreams to go to the often-mentioned Saint Thuribius, and by him to be cured of her infirmities. But by reason of her great weakness, she was not at all able to go: yet, moved by faith and love of the Saint, she sent her messenger, ordering him to go quickly to the said holy man, and to ask him to send her his eulogies. This she believed by faith, as afterwards she learned by fact: that from tasting his eulogies she believed she would be healed. The servant whom the Mistress had commanded went: and coming to the said Saint Thuribius, beseeching him, he said: "My mistress, holy man and good Shepherd, sending blessings he heals, is very ill, and beseeches and asks you, that she may deserve to receive your eulogies, because by them she believes she will receive health." And the holy man, moved with mercy, sent of his food and drink: of which having been tasted a little, the said mother of the family gave thanks to God that she deserved to receive a taste of the goods of so great a man. Then, steadfast in faithful mind, she also commanded something to be given from them for her household to taste. These things being accomplished, by the merits of Saint Thuribius, she with all her household received health; which matter was plain to all. Afterwards she herself coming with her whole household and relatives, for all their goods, for the merits of the said Saint Thuribius, vowed and entrusted themselves to the Church of God committed to him, and afterwards lived many years.
[8] Thereafter, as the merits and many miracles of the aforesaid holy man grew frequent, those coming to him, weak and lame, he heals various ones, blind and leprous, or who had various injuries, he saved all; and he freed many from infirmities by the will of God; and gave what was necessary, as he was able, to all those asking of him. In the following time, a certain blind man, Julius by name, recalling his own fault, coming to Saint Thuribius, asked the blind man sent back to his own, him to help him. Moved by mercy, he prayed for him, and commanded him to return to his own. But he, returning from him quickly, having obtained pardon, laid off the guilt of his heart, obtained light for his eyes, and, more learned after his blindness, fulfilled the commands of the servant of God; so that from this it was believed he had received the light of the mind rather than of the body.
[9] Again, when at one time he was coming to a certain church in a village called Noviomus, a mute woman from Rennes, for the cause of preaching and confirmation, a certain woman, a citizen of Rennes, was brought into his sight, and was presented to him mute in the oratory. When Saint Thuribius had completed his prayer, immediately the woman broke her long silence, nor could she serve the enemy any longer, for whose liberation Christ the Author had been invoked.
[10] On a certain day, in the city of Le Mans, a certain Presbyter offered to him his maidservant, blind from her birth, beseeching the said Saint to restore her sight: a blind maidservant because, being held by poverty, he testified that he had little consolation. To whom Blessed Thuribius, answering, said: "The Lord will give you aid, Brother, and restore light to your maidservant. But you pray for her, that by your prayers she may be healed, through the prayer of the Priest, for you are a Priest of God." He, by the command of the Saint, prayed to the Lord for her, and after the sign of the Cross was given by Saint Thuribius within the older church of the city, the said maidservant deserved to receive light and to see clearly.
[11] a lame man In the following time, a certain man was so lame within the aforesaid city, that he could not go anywhere by himself, but was carried by others, and coming to him he besought that help be granted him from God. He ordered him to be received by his servants into the common house where the other faithful were received, and in which what was necessary was provided to those in need, and that necessities be provided for him and his bearers, and that he be carried to the church at every hour. All these things were done at the command of the holy man. But on a certain Sunday, while the said lame man was praying within the older church of the same city, and while the aforesaid holy man was celebrating the solemnities of the Masses within the same church, when the consecration of the Body and Blood of the Lord was being performed by the aforesaid Saint Thuribius, his walking was so restored to the said lame man, in the sight of all who were standing by and seeing, in the Mass at the time of consecration. that he could walk as well as other men in good health and strong.
[12] Finally, very often and at daily hours, the faith of the aforesaid holy man was made clear through his works, and his holy life through signs, by various tokens. And so when on one occasion the people gathered in the city of Le Mans with ready mind for teaching and confirmation, among the other infirm whom he was healing by the power of God, a certain Deacon, Lactans by name, offered his nephew to Saint Thuribius, mute and without use of his tongue. Then Saint Thuribius, touching the place of the boy's lips with his hand, could not at all open the tightness [b] of his teeth; the mute with blessed oil, then blessing oil, when he anointed the joint of his jaws, they gave a sound as though fragments of chains had been dashed together; and with the liquid dipped in his mouth, he asked him what he had, why he was silent. Presently the mute boy responded with words, and confessed before all that this had happened on account of his own fault: and so thenceforth he was able to speak, as if he had never been mute.
[13] The rest of his deeds, and the consecrations of Bishops, Churches, Presbyters, and the other ministers, and the acquisition of things, and the construction of monasteries, and the revenues of the churches, and the rest of his actions are written in part in the Deeds of the Pontiffs of the city of Le Mans; unless those things concerning the rest of his virtues, both in life and after death most holily performed, written in a certain schedule
which we have read, which c on account of prolixity and the weariness of the reader and writer we have not inserted. But if anyone desires to know his actions, death, and burial, let him read the booklet piously dies April 16, which was written of the Acts of the Pontiffs of the aforesaid Cenomanic Church in the city living unto God, and in it he will be able to find these things and many others, good and necessary. The aforesaid Saint Thuribius, Bishop, died in the Lord on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of May, and was buried near the said city beyond the river Sarthe, in the church of the Apostles, after death he shines with miracles. where many virtues shine forth by the merits of Saint Thuribius, and there paralytics and lepers are cured, and the possessed are freed, and the blind receive sight; and all necessary things which are asked in faith are there granted, our Lord Jesus Christ aiding, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns unto ages of ages. Amen. d I, Charus, son of Severus, servant of God, have taken care to write in part in this little page this Life of Saint Thuribius, as I have seen and heard and truly learned; but many things still remain to be written concerning him.