Wicterp

ON SAINT WICTERP,

BISHOP OF AUGSBURG,

AND BLESSED HERLUCA THE VIRGIN.

YEARS 654 AND ABOUT 1142.

Wicterp, Bishop of Augsburg in Germany (Saint)

Herluca, Virgin, in Germany (Blessed)

By G. H.

Matthew Rader, volume 1 of Bavaria Sancta

page 49, in an illustrious picture exhibits

Saint Wicterp, Bishop of Augsburg,

and Blessed Herluca the Virgin;

and then subjoins a splendid eulogy of each,

in the earlier title calling Saint

Wicterp, "cultivator of Eptaticum," in which place near his sacred

relics Blessed Herluca is attested to have lived for about

thirty-six years, They are referred together by Rader. in his Life below n. 13 by Paul of Bernried,

who lived with her, and for more than twenty years

explored and investigated signs of her sanctity, and in the third year

of her deposition brought them into notice of posterity: Life of Blessed Herluca

as he himself declares in the Prologue. In chapter three of this Life, according

to our division, are indicated various apparitions

and benefits granted by Saints Laurence and Wicterp to Blessed Herluca;

on which occasion, in chapter four and last, Acts of Saint Wicterp from that

various things are indicated of the life and translation of Saint Wicterp: where Paul the writer

complains that he found nothing written about Saint Wicterp, except

what is written in the Life of Saint Magnus or Magnoald; and the Life of Saint Magnus, and

this, from the manuscripts of the monastery of Saint Magnus at the foot of the bridge

at Regensburg, Henry Canisius published in volume 1 of Antiqua Lectio,

where the author is prefixed as Theodore, a monk of Saint Gall and

disciple of Saint Magnus, but interpolated by posterity. The Life of Saint

Magnus is extant in Goldast, but emended and distinguished by Ermenric,

monk of Ellwangen.

We on January 16 gave the Life of Saint Tozzo Bishop

of Augsburg and successor of Saint Wicterp, with other collected pieces. taken from the said Acts of Saint

Magnus; where we have said much about the writers of the Life,

which our successors will be able to derive more broadly on September 6,

when Saint Magnus is venerated. But before indicating things from the Acts of Blessed Herluca

and Saint Magnus, there must be premised from various sources what Saint

Wicterp did, chiefly before the Augsburg Pontificate.

[2] Saint Magnus is handed down in the Acts to have died on the 8th day before the Ides of

September, Saint Wicterp died in the year 651, about the ninth hour of that very Lord's day,

in the year 655, when, with Cycle of the Sun 20 and Dominical letter

D, the said day September 6 fell on a Lord's day;

since in the same year or just before, Saint Wicterp the Bishop had died

on the 14th day before the Kalends of May,

as the Life of Saint Magnus indicates, and the day of death is confirmed

below by Paul in number 51, April 18 Gaspar Bruschius in the Bishops

of Augsburg, Peter Cratepolius On the Saints of Germany, the Author

of the eulogies to the images of the Augsburg Vindelic Saints

expressed in bronze tablets in the year 1601, whether that was

Mark Welser or another, and the before-mentioned Matthew

Rader, and others. But Bernardus Hartsfelder, in the Basilica of Saints

Ulrich and Afra, as if offering something indubitable,

asserts that the day of death is noted 16 (for 14)

before the Kalends of May. not April 16 or 8, Antonius Monchiacenus

Demochares, in On the Divine Sacrifice of the Mass, setting forth Bishops

of Augsburg, gives from the aforementioned Bruschius a eulogy of Saint

Wicterp, and where he asserts that he died on April 18,

he himself or certainly the copyist wrote "died on April 8";

and citing Demochares just mentioned, Arnold Wion referred

the death to April 8, and following him Dorganius,

Menardus, Ferrarius; indeed, what is more wonderful,

Bucelinus, preferring to snatch the errors of modern outsiders

rather than the antiquity of domestic sources. Whether however Saint Wicterp

was a monk before the Episcopate, will be inquired below.

[3] Rader joined Blessed Herluca to Saint Wicterp; and therefore

(and because the day of her Natal is not expressed, Blessed Herluca proposed on April 18, others likewise

referred her to this day April 18. Among these is

our Heribert Rosweyde, who in 1626 published

the Lives of the Holy Virgins who cultivated the sacred and chaste celibacy

in the world, to which is appended the life and image

of Herluca the Virgin, and everywhere she is honored with the title of Saint;

as he also did the same in the Legend of the Saints reprinted in Flemish

in 1629, in which, after the death of Rosweyde often reprinted,

the same Life is read. Also published at Lille

in Flanders was the Menology of Virgins in the French

language, in 1645, in which on the same 18th of

April the author Francis Lahier referred the Life of Herluca

the Virgin, adding to her the title of Saint, and marking her death on this

18th of April. The same Ferrarius in his General Catalog,

citing monuments of the Church of Augsburg, thus

refers on this day: "At Augsburg memory of Blessed Herulia (rather

Herluca) Virgin." The same things from Ferrarius are reported by

Arturus a Monasterio in the Sacred Gynaeceum: who referred Herluca,

as distinct from Herulia, before on March 18 in the first place

with these words: "In Bavaria of Saint Herluca Virgin,

who burned with the gift of prayer and tears, and March 18"

and afterwards in the Notations narrates much from her Life by Paul

of Bernried and Matthew Rader. Paul of Bernried

everywhere writes Herluca without any title, but in n. 1

of the Life he calls her "most blessed Virgin Herluca," in the Prologue

"Blessed Herluca the Virgin," in n. 36 of the Life "Saint

Herluca." By the ancients she is called Saint and Blessed. Rader in Bavaria Sancta

proposes her as Blessed Herluca, but in part 3 of the Viridarium Sanctorum chapter 3 on

Blind Saints n. 11 as Saint Herluca.

We prefer to give her only the title of Blessed: if, however, anyone

judges that greater honor is owed her, to him we do not wish to oppose.

As regards the age of Blessed Herluca, she flourished

in the end of the 11th century, and a great part of the 12th century. She had been

long called away from the vanity of the world, and trained in the spiritual life,

before she came to Eptaticum; where she lived for

about thirty-six continuous years, and afterwards in the place of Bernried

persevered until her death. The only character of time

seems indicated in the Prologue, when Waltharius Bishop

of Ravenna (who died in the year 1144) as a Saint

and decorated with miracles is compared with Herluca, died about the year 1142.

then in the third year of her deposition deceased: so that she seems

at least after the year 1142 to have migrated from the living.

[4] Of the place Eptaticum, in which Saint Wicterp was buried,

and Blessed Herluca long stayed, Charles Stengel in his Commentary

on Saint Wicterp writes these things: "Long I investigated, The place Eptaticum,

whether the place, Eptaticum, called in the Life of Saint

Magnus and Blessed Herluca, still existed: I found a village

now is called Eppach. Concerning a church the case was not so clear.

Eminent certain men, perhaps passing there, inquired

the same place, when in the Life of Saint Wicterp they had read;

but testified they had found nothing of this title. At length I came upon a peasant,

whom examining more diligently, whether any church

under the title of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Laurence existed;

he replied: 'In the village of Eppach there is no church

of this title, although it has two; but

at a journey of one hour not far from the Lech river,

in a place entirely solitary and uncultivated, there survives

a small chapel altogether of this title.' By which answer

I came entirely to this opinion, that I let myself be persuaded

this was the very church, with which Blessed Wicterp is read to have been

delighted, where also afterwards Herluca led her life." Thus Stengel. Rader

adds that Eptaticum was the estate of Saint Wicterp, situated between Schongau

and Landsberg, or, as is handed down in the Life of Saint Magnus,

Saint Wicterp the Bishop said to Magnus himself, "Well is this

place called Eptaticum, because it stands in the middle between

the monastery of Saint Afra, which is at Augsburg, and your cell,

either the Jaws of Julius or the town of Fussen,"

namely on each side hepta, that is seven Swabian common miles

or ten Gallic, distant.

[3] and Beronica or Bernried. Another place, illustrated by the last dwelling,

death, and burial of Blessed Herluca, is Beronica or Bernried,

above Munich about fifteen miles,

near Lake Verr, commonly Wurmsee, where

a monastery of Canons Regular of Saint Augustine

was founded in honor of Saint Martin by Otto Count

of Vallay, with his wife Adelhaid, there buried with

his brother and sister. The foundation was confirmed

by Pope Callixtus II, on the day before the Ides of November, in the year

of his Pontificate 4, of Christ 1122. In this newly founded monastery

Paul, Canon of the Church of Regensburg,

driven into exile by the schismatic Emperor Henry,

took the habit of the Order of Canons Regular,

and wrote the Life of Saint Gregory Pope

VII, to be illustrated by us on May 25: then

the deeds of Blessed Herluca the Virgin which we give here.

For she also, expelled from Eptaticum, came here, lived, and

dying wished to be buried in the Bernried or Beronica monastery,

whose tomb is still seen in

the middle of the church, as Wiguleus Hund has it in the Metropolis

of Salzburg, volume 2 of On the Monasteries of Bavaria p.

149 and following: some of which John Aventinus touches on

in book 5 of the Annals of the Bavarians.

LIFE OF SAINT WICTERP

Collected from various sources.

Wicterp, Bishop of Augsburg, in Germany (Saint)

Herluca, Virgin, in Germany (Blessed)

By G. H.

CHAPTER I.

Things done before the Episcopate of Augsburg.

[1] Those seem least of all to stray from the truth who

would say that nothing can be known of the deeds of Saint Wicterp, Nothing certain is held about things done before the Episcopate:

before he was promoted to the Pontifical See;

indeed of things done in the Episcopate only

can be known what is contained in the Acts of Saint Magnus: and thus

Paul rightly said in the Life of Blessed Herluca, that he had in no way

received any other mention of him by hearing or reading.

These things notwithstanding, what has been thought by others, we judge

that necessary things should be indicated. The most ancient mention of him

is in Gaspar Bruschius both in the Catalog of the Bishops

of Augsburg, published with other Bishops of the Province of Mainz

in 1549, and in the First Century

of the principal monasteries of Germany, published two years later.

This author therefore writes thus in the Catalog of the Bishops

of Augsburg: "Saint Victerbus, to others Victerpus,

first monk and teacher of monks, by Bruschius he is said to have been monk and Abbot of Ellwangen

afterwards Abbot of the Elefancense monastery, founded by

a certain Hariolf Bishop of Langres; finally

chosen Bishop of Augsburg by Pippin King of the Gauls.

He presided there laudably and with the greatest

zeal for promoting and amplifying Christian piety,

for sixteen years. To this Victerpus came Saint

Magnus, disciple of Saint Gall, asking of him leave

and power to build for himself and his disciples a monastery,

which at the expense of King Pippin by the help of this Bishop he built magnificently

at the river Lech in the jaws of the Alps of Swabia;

whence Faucense, and still today with little changed word, the

Fussen monastery and town, it is commonly called. Victerbus died

on the 18th of April, died in the year 752 of the year from the birth of Christ

752. He consecrated the temples of the monasteries Kempten,

Saint Magnus, and Benedict of Benediktbeuern." Thus there. In which

Hariolf of Langres is said to be the founder of the monastery,

in which Saint Victerp was Abbot. About this Bishop James

Vignier has this, in the Epitome of the Langres Chronicle page

51: "Among the Langres, to the most wicked prodigal Pastor

was substituted the faithful and prudent and frugal steward Erlulf,

or Herulf, Hariolf was the founder of Ellwangen otherwise Hariolf, by nation

German, begotten from the Dukes of Swabia and the family of the Counts

of Ellwangen, and formerly educated with the younger

Clerics among the monks. This man was dear to Carloman,

administering Burgundy with Austrasia about the year

769, still Bishop of Langres in the year 769, and also to Charlemagne

his brother: in which year Herulf presented himself to the Lateran Council,

one of twelve selected Bishops of the Gauls,

and sat not there last. But

loving solitude, after a few years he withdrew into the Ellwangen

monastery of his fraternal domain, and to Arnulf,

either brother or nephew, resigned the pastoral staff.

He seems to have been the author of the fraternity

or association, which then was among the Canons

of Langres and Saint Gall, of which we in its place."

Thus far Vignier. Bruschius, treating of the monastery of Ellwangen,

or Elefancense, asserts it was founded in 764

by Hariolf Bishop of Langres, first Abbot

of his monastery. He was succeeded by the second Victerbus, made

also Bishop of Augsburg. He died in the year of the Lord

752. That is, twelve years before the monastery itself

was founded. But suppose he was there the second

Abbot, named Wicterp, he is plainly other than the Bishop of Augsburg,

and more than a whole century younger. Of him in the epitaph

of Hariolf, without any mention of the Episcopate, these things

are read:

In this tomb are closed the bones of Prelate Hariolf,

Who founded this place by his own right. Therefore it is another Victerpus, 2nd Abbot of Ellwangen.

He raised it happily through many years,

And piously to Victerp left the work of honor.

Behold! he who still in the year 770 was Bishop of Langres,

afterwards for many years ruled the monastery, for which the Victerbus substituted

perhaps should be said to have died in the year 802. perhaps died in the year 802.

[2] Elsewhere Bruschius himself corrects this error, when, treating

of the Abbey of Saint Gall, he says it began to be founded in the year

630, Saint Gall is said by Bruschius to have died in the year 640, and that Saint Gall himself died in the year 640. But

three years having passed after his death, when his tomb had been

violated and broken by impious Dukes, but restored by Boso Bishop

of Constance; there departed thence Saint Magnus

and Theodore; and receiving as guide of their journey Saint Tozzo,

later successor of Saint Wicterp in the Episcopate of Augsburg,

passing through Bregenz they came to Kempten; and there,

leaving Theodore behind, Saints Magnus and Tozzo came to Eptaticum

to Saint Wicterp, then Bishop of Augsburg. Three years after, Saint Magnus departed

The year was by the calculation of Bruschius 643 or the following. The rest

will be set forth from the Life of Saint Magnus in the next chapter. But

let those words of Bruschius be removed from the deeds of Saint Wicterp,

that he was first a monk, to Saint Wicterp: and teacher of monks,

afterwards Abbot of the Elefancense monastery, founded by

a certain Hariolf of Langres, and that these be attributed

to some Victerbus, one hundred forty or more

years younger.

[3] Of the same kind we think, unless more accurately proved, are

those things which, with Charles Stengel cited in the margin, Whether he was Bishop of Neuburg?

are added to the said Abbot of Elefancense in Rader in Bavaria

Sancta: "And since," he says, "that Abbot bore himself

more modestly the higher he had ascended, fame did not cease

to celebrate his name, until it set him in the chair

of Bishop of Neuburg, to show forth a public

lamp of holier life to the world for an example." But who

is this Pontificate of Neuburg? Is it

he who in the city of Meissen-Naumburg, after the year

of Christ one thousand, from the see of Zeitz erected in the tenth century,

was transferred? If another place of this name was honored with a

Pontifical see, they wish with us that others also be taught.

But Rader proceeding, "Nor is this the end of the honors," he says;

"in the imperial city of the Vindelici, Augsburg,

the supreme See of the Prelate, as the eye of Germany, Other things are handed down that he did at Augsburg,

virtue assigned to him...who as soon as he had entered

his Pontificate, began from the extirpation of the Arian pestilence

still raging widely through the world, and permitted himself

no portion of rest, until he should abolish

the most foul plague from his sheep. Indeed also

the sacred temple of Saint Afra, through the devastations of the Huns

having almost suffered a second conflagration, not yet

given a city, but situated outside the walls, he restored

to its former or even greater splendor.

For religious men he erected asceteria, some

from the foundations, some he restored, some he initiated." Thus there;

and these are things which Charles Stengel, buried in the long darkness

of the ages, called back into light: but we should wish

them to be confirmed by the authority of ancient writers. Hence

we proceed to those things which in the Life of Saint Magnus are handed down about

Wicterp, interpolated in various places ineptly by posterity, and perhaps

by those who were ignorant that before King Pippin and father

of Charlemagne, other Princes existed by the name of Pippin,

and attributed to him things which under Blessed Pippin the Duke, his

great-grandfather, happened: whose Acts we have given on February 21.

CHAPTER II.

Saints Magnus and Tozzo received. The churches of Waldenhofen and Fussen dedicated.

Taken from the Acts of Saint Magnus.

[4] Blessed Magnus set out from Kempten, having received

with him as companion and guide of his journey Tozzo

the Presbyter, leaving with Theodore the blind man

who had received his sight. Saint Wicterp staying at Eptaticum, So the journey begun and the river crossed,

he went by a straight path, as the guide led him;

and so they came to a place called Eptaticum,

and found there the Bishop of the holy Vindelic Church named

Wicterp. Tozzo then, because of the acquaintance he had with

the Bishop, preceded Blessed Magnus, and came

to the aforesaid Bishop, and related to him everything

about the holy man that he had seen and heard. From Saint Tozzo he understands the virtues of Saint Magnus:

The aforesaid Bishop asked of what region he was.

And the Presbyter answered: "Lord, as I have heard from Theodore,

who is now left at Kempten, he is sprung

from the province of Ireland." When the Bishop heard of

his good fame, he received him kindly, and

began to speak with him, and with honor to cherish him,

and he tarried with him a few days, inquiring of him

daily about Blessed Columban and Gall, and about

their journeys and conversation and end of their life,

and about the virtues which they did. Then he asked

him where his will was to proceed.

Blessed Magnus, answering, said: "By the Lord's disposal I am directed

to the place which is called Fauces, where near

are the springs of the Julian Alps, wishing to begin the Fauces monastery and where

the dragon was, who by command of Bishop Narcissus was killed

by the devil: that by the Lord's assent, whatever

good I can build there, I may do. Now therefore

let your paternity decide, how your will

is for me to act, since at your command with ready

mind I ought to act, as the Lord has revealed to me

through your mouth. I, now old and aged, desire

in my last time to visit that place, and

prepare it for serving God, following the example

of my Lords Columban and Gall." He puts forward the difficulty: To these things

Wicterp the Bishop answered: "That place is very

narrow and uninhabitable, and already various wild beasts

dwell there, that is stags, many boars, very many bears,

and because of their multitude Lord

Pippin holds that forest for his hunting.

Also very many worms and of diverse kinds

dwell there." Blessed Magnus, taking at once the beginnings of a good

pastor, said: "Father, such ministry had

my Masters Columban and Gall: and

when they came to such places, our Lord Jesus

Christ drove out from those places diverse kinds of beasts

and worms through their prayers. Similarly

I shall believe that God's mercy will not permit

them to remain in that place when I come." To the departing man he gives provisions and guides: Then

Wicterp the Bishop acquiesced in his words, and

gave him solaces of food, supplying him with companion of the journey

Tozzo the Presbyter, and guides of the journey, who

should lead him to the place destined to him by God...

[5] With prayer made, they came along the way beside the Lech

river, to a fair place, which had no ^b

name: it was a good plain. Blessed Magnus

the Deacon had hanging on his neck a Cross,

in which were contained Relics of the blessed Mother of God

Mary, and of the wood of the holy Cross, and

of the holy Martyrs Maurice and his companions, and also

of the blessed Confessors Columban and Gall. At Waldenhofen,

He therefore found above the aforesaid river a very

honorable and fair place, and in the place a standing tree

a very beautiful fruit-bearing tree; and he suspended the little Cross

on the tree, and called Tozzo the Presbyter,

and they prostrated themselves together before

the little Cross in prayer... With the prayer finished,

they began to build the foundation, and they built a church. and built

a church. When it was built, they invited Wicterp

the Bishop, that he should come and dedicate it to the Lord and

to Saint Mary. The aforesaid Bishop came therefore

to that place, marveling greatly how they could

come there except by the grace of God: He dedicates it in honor of Saint Mary, and Saint Florian, of the Mother of God Mary, and of Saint

Florian ^c the Martyr of Christ; and thus they began to administer

the divine offices in praise of Christ in that place.

When the fame of the virtues, which the Lord through the merits

of his blessed Confessor deigned to show to those piously asking,

far and wide charmed the ears of the peoples around;

they began from every quarter to run eagerly

with devotion to ask the suffrages of so great a Father,

and to call that same place in memory of its dignity

the Cell of Saint Magnus, and to amplify it with

manifold gifts of substance or possessions.

And when the things conferred by this largess of the faithful had grown;

the blessed man withdrew because of the multitude

of peoples; and went on to the neighboring places, which are called

Fauces; that he might build there a familiar place

by the Lord's assent for himself to remain;

leaving, and another at Fauces in honor of the Holy Savior, the aforesaid Presbyter Tozzo in

the church to keep the people who would come there...

Blessed Magnus with the Presbyter Tozzo returned

to the aforesaid place, and there they began to build

a very small oracle: and Wicterp the Bishop was summoned

by Tozzo, and dedicated the oratory

in honor and under the name of the Holy Savior.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

Tolls for Saint Magnus obtained from Blessed Pippin the Duke: Church of Kempten dedicated: death of Saint Wicterp and Saint Magnus.

Excerpts from the Acts of Saint Magnus.

[6] He gives Clerics to Saint Magnus: Therefore when the fame of the virtues through the merits

of his Confessor, which the Lord deigned to show in that place,

had been made known to the venerable Bishop, he commended certain

religious Clerics in memory of his discipleship: who, kindled

with divine love, offering their service to the praise of Christ, day

and night, at hours and moments, by his command they administered.

When therefore what things were needful were left to the venerable Father

for those dwelling there, the aforesaid Bishop Wicterp set out

to the glorious Duke Pippin, he sets out to Blessed Pippin:

carrying with him the letter of Blessed Columban which

he directed to Clothar, for the holy men Gall and

Magnus, settled in his kingdom, that he should kindly

cherish them for love of the Lord, and give them familiar

places, as would be opportune, from his bounty.

But this Clothar could by no means fulfill,

because of the infestations of diverse enemies of God...

When, however, the glorious Prince had received the letter,

he began diligently to inquire, of what sort that place was,

which the aforesaid Bishop had asked for. Then the Duke,

by name Gunzo, from the provinces Augustensis and Rhaetia,

answering said: "Truly, Lord, that place

is indeed slight in resources, but best, if the impediment

of worms were absent, for hunting: because there many

stags, does and fawns, and diverse ibexes dwell,

also a very great multitude of bears and wolves."

Then the Bishop began to narrate the virtues

of the blessed man, he indicates the virtues of Saint Magnus, how with the Lord's help he killed the dragon,

and the other virtues which the Lord through his merits

and prayers in those places deigned to show, and how

that place was cleansed from worms. Hearing these things

the glorious Duke Pippin, moved much

in mind said: "In truth I have discovered that, although

the place is so slight in resources, yet by

the merits of so great a man, it will be famous with

celebrated rumor, as we have heard now that the place is

where the body of Blessed Gall is seen to rest." He inquired therefore

of the aforesaid Gunzo, how in the nearby places

he could find tributaries from the same region, who

should annually bring tolls to the royal revenues.

And he found in that nearby place a region, which is called

* Keltinstein, to pay him in all things annually tributes.

Among other gifts of his munificence, which he imparted to the blessed man,

he gave him all that whole forest with the march,

and had a confirmation in his letter written, and

tolls of one hundred and thirteen, which from the aforesaid region

should be brought annually; that for the memory of his

benefits they might perpetually remain there... With these things

Wicterp the Bishop adorned with solaces and exalted with honors,

with excellent gifts distributed to Blessed Magnus from Duke Pippin, returning, he confirms the Order of the Canonical life:

joyfully returned to his native country, handing over to the blessed man those things with

all diligence; and giving him the power, that in the place

committed to him, to supplement the vigils of Blessed Mary

and Saint Afra, he might institute the whole order of canonical life.

From that time the place itself, from the blessed man Magnus

receiving the beginning of holiness, augmented

however and exalted by the Bishops of Augsburg, the name

of Christ to this day does not cease laudably to dilate.

[7] With these things tasted beforehand, Theodore, who was staying

at the castle of Kempten, began to hasten to those parts,

and narrated the innumerable things he had suffered from the pagan

Hilargaugensians; but yet that he had built a small

church on the shore of the Iller, which he asked that from

Wicterp the Bishop he might obtain, that proceeding there,

he might consecrate that basilica to the Lord in honor of Saint

Mary his Mother. They both came to the place, he receives Saint Magnus and Theodore at Eptaticum: which is called Eptaticum;

and they found there the above-written Bishop sitting and praying

in his oratory. Therefore as they were presented in his sight,

Blessed Magnus the Abbot narrated to him about Theodore,

how with great labor he had built a church

in the place of Kempten; and how he besought

that he himself should go there and dedicate that church to the Lord.

Hearing these things the venerable Bishop, answering

said to them: "I shall first tell you what, when you came, I was

thinking: and thus in fitting time, with the Lord's assent,

I shall set out. Truly, dearest Father Magnus, now

sitting here I was thinking, that since Almighty God

already has you so magnified in that place through many

of his miracles, He wishes to consecrate Saint Magnus priest. I should summon you at the next coming, for the fast

of the solemnity of the seventh month, and to the dignity of priesthood,

with divine grace favoring, promote you." With head bent down,

Blessed Magnus said: "Why do you assert this objection, Father?

I see myself to stink with the squalors of my sins

and with shameful deeds. Therefore my life is not

such, that your lovable paternity can promote me to such

dignity. Do not therefore cast away our petition for sins:

but roused by the Lord's commands, begin a salutary journey,

and open the way of truth to those desiring it. Afterwards to me, an unworthy servant of God,

when it shall please your paternity, grant according

to the gift of your kindness, lest I seem to refuse what

the Lord has ordained upon his servant." And as

he said this, both, Wicterp the Bishop

and Theodore, saw a most splendid crown adhering

to his head, in the manner of a wheel shining around the sun

in the clouds. He sees a splendid crown above his head Continually rising up he embraced

him, and kissing his eyes and his mouth, said:

"Almighty God, who through the power of his majesty

in you has deigned to show such virtue, that for

his love you have left your country, and kept his

precepts; may he himself make you keep and exalt

the place destined to you by God, with the cooperating grace

of the Holy Spirit being with you." Theodore answered: "Amen."

To these things again the Bishop said: "Well is this

place called Eptaticum, since it stands in the middle between

the monastery of Saint Afra and your cell: He disposes of Eptaticum as his inheritance: therefore know, that

through my departure this inheritance I wish to remain

to Saint Mary and to Saint Afra: that as a kind of

mediator this place itself may be to our successors,

between your monastery and the city of the holy Augsburg

Church."

[8] These things said, the venerable Bishop rose, and

set out to the castle of Kempten: Blessed Magnus

went down with him, he dedicates the church of Kempten: Theodore likewise accompanying them,

and they came to the castle. With a multitude of people

convened on the solemn day of the dedication

of the Church, the venerable man Bishop with the sweetness of his preaching

refreshed the hearts of the eager; and so at his command

Blessed Magnus, afterwards spoke as he had directed, with so great

light of wisdom clothed the hearts of the peoples,

that with highest joy he was heard, and with ineffable veneration

was adorned by the order of all. Staying there two days

with giving of thanks, and the people armed with the blessing

of so great a Father, and by the Bishop honored with

the kiss of peace, they returned to their own places, the venerable Bishop

and the most holy Abbot, leaving Theodore

to guard the Church of Kempten. Blessed

Magnus, after receiving the Sacerdotal Blessing,

taught the people, and converted them to the faith of Christ...

And the Lord through the merits of so great a man deigned to exalt

and spread that place. He dies on April 18, With Wicterp the Bishop

dead, on the 13th day before the Kalends of May, Tozzo,

through the election of Blessed Magnus, was led to the honor

of the Pontificate in his last days. Blessed

Father Magnus began to grow ill, and languish

with the infirmity of fevers, and laboring for thirteen days,

on the holy Lord's day and on the 8th day before the Ides of September, and Saint Magnus on September 6 on the Lord's day.

commending himself to the Lord and to the venerable Pontiff

Tozzo, in good old age, about the ninth hour

of that Lord's day, he gave up his holy soul to God,

freed from the prison of this life.

Note: alternatively Gestinstein, obtains tolls for him.

CHAPTER IV.

Burial, discovery, translation to Augsburg of the sacred body.

[9] The body buried at Eptaticum and honored, The sacred body of Saint Wicterp the Bishop was buried in

Eptaticum, his inherited place, and there his sacred memory

was preserved. From the first place of burial, after the year nine hundred,

the body was transferred behind the altar of Saint Laurence;

then by Henry Bishop of Augsburg about

980 brought back to his own oratory, afterwards

it shone with miracles. Then Hermann the Presbyter, for sacrilege

committed in the books of Saint Wicterp, deprived of the light of his eyes,

by his merits received sight; and Blessed Herluca, refreshed by the frequent visitation

of Saint Wicterp, called back from the world, was stirred to virtue.

Translated to Augsburg. These are all read in the subjoined Life of Blessed Herluca

chapters 3 and 4, according to the division we made,

and there can be read.

[10] The sacred body of Saint Wicterp was afterwards brought to Augsburg

of the Vindelici: which in the year of Christ 1489

Gabriel Bucelinus teaches was placed in the sacristy of the most illustrious monastery

of Saints Ulrich and Afra, and in the temple of Saint Ulrich it is exposed, in his eulogy on this

holy Bishop for April 8. Bernardus Hertfelder,

Prior of the said monastery, published in 1627 a book

on the Basilica of Saints Ulrich and Afra, and in

part 2 p. 62 represents the Altar of the Sacristy, conspicuous

with eight sacred bodies of Martyrs and four bodies of Confessor Pontiffs;

among whom in the first place placed on the right side is seen the body

of Saint Wicterp, except the head, which is exhibited intact separately

with a Pontifical mitre, distinguished artistically by many pearls of gold and

gems, which, out of her affection toward the Saints the Patrons of the said

temple, the noble and illustrious matron,

Lady Veronica Fugger, Baroness of Birchberg

and Weissenhorn, Lady of Weldon, had made, as the said

Hertfelder testifies on p. 89. We in 1660 at Augsburg

venerated the sacred relics of this Church and the most ornate altar of the said sacristy,

and in the library found an ancient

Martyrology, which we often cite, we copied for ourselves,

and here for their benevolent affection we give the very greatest

thanks to the most religious monks.

LIFE OF BLESSED HERLUCA

By Paul of Bernried the Presbyter, an eyewitness.

Wicterp, Bishop of Augsburg, in Germany (Saint)

Herluca, Virgin, in Germany (Blessed)

BHL Number: 3835

BY PAUL

PROLOGUE.

To the little flock of the Beronica monastery Paul,

Brother, unworthy to be called Presbyter, to be magnified by the collection of good things

and glorified by their virtues.

It is more than twenty years, most beloved, that my

mind, bound by a vow to write, Paul explored the Life of Blessed Herluca for 20 years,

began to explore and investigate certain signs

of holiness in the conversation of Blessed Herluca the Virgin;

which so far kept and collected in my heart,

now at last, in the third year from her deposition,

I wish to bring forth into the notice of her posterity; first

indeed for the commendation of divine grace, and in the third year after her death he writes this. second

for the consolation of your charity. For we wish

to praise the soul of Herluca, not in herself, but in the Lord;

and to make joyful the meek, of whom you too are,

who are about to hear these things. I call God of all

grace to witness, that never did I know such gifts

of his in any of women ^a. Hence this word has been often used

between me and Gebehard my foster-son,

that we never tasted God more sweetly from

the mouth of a man, than from the mouth of Waltharius ^b Archbishop of Ravenna;

never from the mouth of a woman, than from the mouth

of Herluca. Truly of a Pontiff, though holy

and decorated with miracles, trained nevertheless

in human studies, it is not so much to be wondered at; but in a woman

altogether not knowing letters, the miracle of divine inspiration

was much more evident.

But now I begin the journey proposed. ^c

NOTES.

CHAPTER I.

Place of birth. Conversion to the spiritual life. Departure to Eptaticum.

Born in Swabia near the feast of Saint John the Baptist. Therefore the most blessed Virgin Herluca, sprung from the stock of the Alamanni,

or Swabians, had her natal day on the sixth feria near the Nativity

of Saint John the Baptist; which shrewd alluders said had happened

in presignification of her future

parsimony, namely because of the time of abstinence. called from the vanity of the world by a triple illness.

[2] But when she had reached the years of puberty, she willingly wanted

to enter the ways of the world: but, thanks be to God, she was held back

by the strong hand. For broken by a grave and long bodily

illness, in suffering indeed she judged her adolescence

and pleasure to be vain: but finally recovering she again began to conform

to the lovers of this world. Again more harshly prostrated, more slowly indeed,

but yet in the hope of vanity she rose again.

A third time struck with blindness of both eyes,

and touched by the finger of God, she perfectly changed her mind and her garment.

[3] By the merits of Saint Cyriacus invoked she receives sight: After this, admonished in a vision, that for the restoration

of one eye she should send a wax circle to the shrine

of the precious Martyr Cyriacus ^a, she complied,

and obtained the sharpest sight, persevering to the end;

wonderful in this, that it did not yield either to very many tears,

or to the most subtle labors of works.

[4] She helps the little poor infants: From then she began to have solicitude for infants,

for mothers and nurses, in washing their heads and

sewing their clothes, and supplying other necessities.

[5] With Adelheid the Countess passing the night in prayer Adelheid, wife of Manegold the Count Palatine, of

the castle which is called Moropolis, a very religious woman,

as follower of her sisters chosen

Virgins of Christ, of whom one was Wielica, the other was called

Hiltiburgis, whose wonderful glory after death

was also shown to Blessed Herluca divinely. This woman, I say,

took Herluca as a help in

passing the night in the prayer of God. She overcomes the terrors of the devil: On a certain night therefore

the malignant spirit, wishing to cast fear upon them, and

mock the sacred vigils, clothed in foul shape, as befitted him,

extinguished the light, which was the only one in the oratory;

which when Herluca had relit, again he blew it out.

But with them pressing more vehemently upon prayer,

the enemy sorrowing that he was conquered, departing with such a crash

moved the castle, so that it was feared it would be utterly overthrown;

and certain seculars awakened by the sudden sound

and very astonished, conferred various opinions both

on that night and on the following day about the unusual

shaking. Now the holy watchers dissimulated that

they knew anything about it, although Herluca had received a sign

of a dangerous swelling on her face, from the malignant

spirit's breath.

[6] As at another time cast into a stream. Similarly a few years before even at Beronica

it happened to her: when in her custom anticipating

the Canonical vigils, she sought the church alone;

she was thrust by the same accursed one into a mill-stream, either then

or at another time.

[7] At another time for a denarius set aside: At one time also the same adversary upbraided her,

that she had made her treasury in a hole

of the wall: where certainly she had put only one denarius,

which she had accepted in charity from a certain matron.

[8] She is rebuked by Saint Felicitas for a slight lie: A more acceptable reproach was made to her by ^b Saint Felicitas,

the mother of seven sons, for a certain lie,

though pious: by which namely she had protected a certain handmaid

from the wrath of her mistress. "Ill," she said, "have you done,

polluting your lips with any kind of lie. For

abstention from man alone does not suffice for a virgin, unless, as far as

she can understand, she is willing to be abstinent from all lies.

For, where truth is corrupted, bodily integrity

is not much valued."

[9] Which being avoided by miracle is confirmed in another. It seems opportune to introduce here a little narration

from Herluca herself, about a certain virgin altogether

not wishing to lie. Her brother therefore, being assaulted

one day by enemies, was compelled to flee

into a house, which happened to be placed next to his sister.

But they, led by opinion rather than vision, came to

the same sister, and asked her if the man running before them

had entered there. But she, not wishing to lie even for her

brother's danger, said: "He entered"; and they, exulting

in their wicked hope, entered to destroy

him. But with Christ, who is the Truth, being propitious, and honoring

his own love in the protection of the brother, although they perceived

all things except him, they were divinely prevented

from not only harming him, but even looking at him.

[10] She sees the glory of Adelheid and her sister: Nor is this to be passed over, which Herluca herself

narrated, that in spirit she saw the said Adelheid, wife of the Palatine

Count, dwelling indeed in a pleasant region,

but far differing in brightness from that virginal

sister of hers whom we indicated: for

a little cloud seemed to cover her habitation,

to signify the passed worldly

conversation.

[11] At that time Herluca had most approved monitors of her sacred purpose,

namely Blessed ^c William, Abbot and father

of the monastery of Hirschau; She has illustrious men as monitors

and his disciple ^d Theocarius, whom we know after

the ^e Abbey of Saint George illustrated

and learning, and whom after

his death we have learned to have shone with ^g miracles, buried at Cluny.

For she still dwelt in their crossroads beyond

the Danube.

[12] She comes to Eptaticum: But after she had accompanied her noble ^h foster-children Rutbert

and Hadiwigis, she came to the bank

of the Lech river to a place of great antiquity, which is called

in the patronages of the most blessed Levite ^k Laurence,

whose church is there, and of Saint Wicterp, once Bishop

of Augsburg, whose body there in the Oratory

of the holy Mother of God Mary placed beneath the altar

rests; so that, with her aforesaid foster-parents returning to their own,

she in no way consented to return with them.

Her carnal patrons were angry indeed, and nothing further

was being disposed of sustenance: but the spiritual consoler

Wicterp appearing, flattered her, saying:

"Remain here with me, daughter, and I, whatever might offend you,

will remove."

[13] There she stayed 36 years. The aforesaid William the Abbot had also given her

counsel, that in whatever place she might

experience divine sweetness more, in it she should make

the longest stay of dwelling. Following such guides,

therefore, she continued her habitation at Eptaticum

for about thirty-six years.

NOTES.

CHAPTER II.

Life of Blessed Herluca from the arrival of Douda up to her death. The virtues and visions of both. The death of a certain Judith.

[14] She receives Douda as companion, God first associated with her a native woman,

by name Douda, of most excellent piety,

and rival in chastity, being niece and disciple of the

Reitenbuch hermit Sigebod. For

when as a virgin she had come to him to be instructed with salutary

monitions, he indeed said that he wished, so far as

possible, that she should remain in virginity; but, because he hardly

hoped this would be tolerated by her relatives, said he gave her counsel

to abstain for seven years continually from

marital intercourse, from when she should first feel herself pregnant.

For, when she perceived that she had happily conceived a daughter, by name Charopolis,

mother of Charopolis devoted Virgin of Christ, who now round

the tomb of her spiritual mother Herluca walks tearfully day and night,

she fulfilled the seven-year continence, with her husband's consent:

and again joined to him, after she detected in her womb the burden

of her son, by name Walter, and Walter, she no longer returned, as is believed,

to the couch of her spouse.

[15] The perpetuity of her chastity was first helped by the husband's false

suspicion of the crime of incestuous adultery; whose

purging was followed by such a long infirmity of the same

man, afterwards perpetually chaste: that the time of being far from his embraces easily

could be known.

[16] She therefore, divinely summoned in comfort of the abandoned Herluca,

so strictly embraced her with the arms

of charity, that she bestowed on her the sincere affection of a mother,

and the name of daughter with wondrous sweetness.

[17] Douda foretold she would die sooner than Herluca If ever Herluca wished to wear harsher clothing

next to the flesh, sparing her, Douda

adapted it rather to her own chastisements, and predicted

that she would use such things in due time, that she herself

would die long before her; which indeed so happened.

[18] But though in many things she manifestly had the spirit

of prophecy, and the death of her brother, for example, in the death of her brother Adalbert

of Reitenbuch, who when in good health had departed from her,

according to her presage, died in the next

week from this life, in this we think

her piety willingly and prudently deceived, but she is false in predicting her daughter's death: that

she said her daughter would survive Herluca, namely so that

she should not excessively torment her with long foreknowledge

of her own desolation.

[19] Since we often heard Herluca saying this was so,

we did not think her prophesying,

but wishing: for we never saw her except desiring to be dissolved,

and to be with Christ.

[20] In such great patience the most meek Douda possessed

her soul, that at times she seemed to be Herluca's

teacher. For, what is pleasant to relate,

while one day Herluca had come out of the church, modestly corrects Herluca, and disturbed by cold

showed a less serene face, indeed was scattering the firebrands found

in the hearth here and there as though angry;

she received her with her accustomed kind words, saying:

"Where have you been, daughter, and whence do you come?" "In the church," she said, "I have been,

and thence I come." She replied: "I do not believe it: for, if you had

been there, and come from there, you would have brought back sweeter fruit

of prayer."

[21] She is marked with false accusations: It grieves me, and I am ashamed to say, with how great accusations

the great innocence of Douda was attacked; all of which,

as medicines of the soul, with stupendous equanimity

she bore. Yet, because for true crimes Richard the Presbyter

of Eptaticum is to be gravely marked as noted below,

let this be said for the crown of Douda's endurance,

that he was falsely said to have frequented fornication

with so holy a woman.

we made such mention, that namely our Lord Jesus Christ,

marking his incontinence, Herluca taught by Christ appearing

appeared to Herluca watching and perhaps sitting alone in

a small room, in clear day with wounds flowing with blood;

and saying nothing after momentary

standing he vanished. Blessed Bishop Wicterp had followed him;

who staying a little longer, asked

her, saying: "Have you shuddered at the bloody wounds

of the Savior?" "Truly," she said, "I have shuddered." He said: "Do you

not wish to see him thus ever?" She is taught not to hear the Mass of a wicked priest. She answered: "I do not wish,

Lord." "Then do not," he said, "henceforth hear the Mass

of Richard the Presbyter."

[23] After these things, however, the same Priest was so improved,

by the continued rebukes and reproaches

of Herluca, that in his end he gave great thanks to her

for the hope of his liberation.

[24] ^b I shall not hesitate to repeat here that which is

commemorated in the deeds of the aforenamed Pope, She sees the soul of an evil priest borne to hell: that

on a certain day, with Lady Hadewiga present,

while Herluca was perhaps looking out through a window, suddenly

striking her breast, she said: "Woe, woe, woe, that

a man was ever created." At which the Lady said:

"Indeed, what is the matter?" "The soul," she said, "of Adalbert the Presbyter

of ^c Rota is being led with great violence of demons

to torments." When the mistress did not wish this to be so;

"Let someone be sent," said Herluca, "and let it be tested." It was sent, and

it was proved that his end agreed with the vision.

[25] She sees the torments of hell: That she also once saw

the torments of Tartarus, I gathered from this, that she said for certain,

no fire among those below was more burning than the fire of excommunication.

[26] and the joys of heaven: Moreover that she foresaw something of heavenly gladness,

her most fervent desire shows.

I heard her invoke God as witness, that never had she found

any Martyr's passion so atrocious,

but she would willingly suffer it, on condition that she would be dissolved

and be with Christ.

[27] She has the grace of winning souls: But how great grace in converting and winning

souls for God she had, no speech can explain.

The above-said Rudbert, Hadewiga's husband,

at last himself, through her frequent exhortations,

with his wife converted to celibate life, did not hesitate to affirm,

that never besides holy Mary, had any

woman been so useful to him and his own,

as Herluca.

[28] She is helped by heavenly beings in inducing Judith to keep her Virginity, The same Rudbert had a most beautiful daughter,

by name Judith, who on this occasion was converted

to the purpose of preserving virginity. When

Herluca had long flattered her, that she should keep herself immaculate

from this world and marry Christ,

but she had made no reply to her pleasure; it happened

that after the Septuagesima Vespers, in which many

are accustomed to dismiss the Alleluia, with all having gone out, these

two remained in the church, and heard the sweet-sounding

songs of the blessed spirits, nonetheless with Alleluia:

about which the girl exultantly ran out to announce it

to Lady Hadewiga, that she also should hasten to become

a partaker of the heavenly harmony. But she said: "Whence

could I a sinner be made worthy of such a lordly ^d hearing?

You rather, daughter, quickly return, and with blessed

ears diligently perceive the jubilations of the Saints."

Why more? While the heavenly modulations were ending,

likewise ended also the earthly desires of happy Judith, and ready

to leave every beauty of the world, and to love the Holy

of Holies with all her heart, she said to Herluca: "O Herluca,

whatever you henceforth wish and command, most willingly I shall do."

[29] Who at last But Hadewiga delaying her desire for

the change of her habit, they came to the most pious

and most religious widow, by name Douda, whose son

was Ulrich of Corninga, a man of respectable lineage,

strength, and stature; this woman therefore knowing

the virginal affection, conceived from the sweetness

of the heavenly melody, said: "Do not, daughter,

be concerned that Hadewiga has delayed to give you the sacred

changing garment: for I will clothe you with a very good woolen tunic."

[30] Receives the sacred veil from Ulrich Bishop of Passau: By which soon Judith not long after was fortified with the sacred

veil by the venerable ^e Ulrich Bishop of Passau,

then lodging at Reitenbuch, and declining ^f the Henrician

persecution, in the same year and up to death

she fell sick. And when both she

and another virgin, by name Luikardis, who

was Herluca's niece, with their languor increasing, lay

in their little beds; a pleasant altercation was heard between them

about priority of migrating to the heavenly kingdoms.

For each put forward some cause why

she should go before her companion.

[31] Dead, appears glorious to Herluca Meanwhile Judith, having died, in the cemetery of the monastery,

which is called ^g Fountain of Wessini, was buried, and

thence appeared to Herluca with great glory.

[32] At length she once asked her, if there lived any

future equal to her in such brightness. similar to a certain Agnes: "She lives," she said,

"Agnes, of Count Otto of Daninga, enclosed in the Admont

Convent of Virgins."

[33] The present festivity of the Epiphany reminds me to repeat the revelation

made on the Epiphany, which

also today speaking to the people I have commemorated, and after

the known passing of Herluca I have destined to be written

to Charopolis. When Douda, of happy memory,

mother of Charopolis, was still alive; she and Herluca

on the most holy night of the Epiphany once

passed the whole night in prayers. Herluca learns from Saint Laurence that her brother is in heaven. Then indeed the most blessed Levite

Laurence, with splendid face, with shining garment, with a great

multitude of Saints entering into the Oratory

of the Mother of God and of Saint Wicterp the Confessor,

approached Herluca, and kindly to her said: "Do not,

daughter, henceforth be solicitous about the soul of Baldebert

your father: for helped by your prayers, he enjoys

perpetual light." After this they began among themselves with pious humility

to contend, and neither to herself, but each to the other

to attribute the merit of the vision.

NOTES.

CHAPTER III.

Benefits bestowed on Blessed Herluca by Saints Laurence and Wicterp. Acquaintance and affection for Paul the Writer.

FROM A MANUSCRIPT.

[34] Douda dies. From then Douda began to foresee and with every endeavor

of piety to forearm her end; which

found her most ready on the next feast of Saint Matthew the Apostle, thanks be to God.

[35] Benefits collected from Saint Laurence: It pleases, however, to collect into one place the benefits

of the aforenamed Martyr that come to memory,

and only those which seem to pertain to the present matter;

so that if perhaps this little work come into the hands

of the Roman Collector, since a few years ago

placed at Rome, I promised to add to the collection, he may have

at hand the collection of my promise. For there was

then in the Veranian field, where namely the body of the most illustrious

Martyr rests, a certain new collector

and writer of his benefits, which in modern

times he had learned to have happened in various parts

of the world.

[36] He leads Herluca to sacred communion. Therefore Saint Laurence showed such great familiarity

to Saint Herluca, that she said she rarely received the Sacraments of the Lord's Body and Blood without his apparition and leading.

Of this saying, however, the first occasion was given in a place,

which is called ^a Berga, where lately many and great Relics he found,

and to the desert Henry ^b Provost of Bureburg transported,

with the consent of Otto ^c

defender of both habitations. For his father Adalbert,

Iringopolitanus, had flourished vehemently in the grace

of the fourth Henry, long reigning most wickedly because of the sins

of the people; therefore with Bishops and Abbots it was possible for him

to obtain whatever he asked. By such a great collector

that place was not moderately enriched with the ashes

and bones of Saints.

[37] Led there by charity to care for the burial,

of Gepa, sister of Cunrad the hermit, reluctantly then absent,

who was the author of the Bureburg cell, the aforesaid

Henry and Lady Bertha mother of Otto

came together. I also, Paul, and Gebehard

my foster-son, received with great joy

the most sweet Herluca who came to meet us: who since

she was not only saddened for the handling of the funeral,

but also for the feast of Saint James, which then was at hand,

rejoiced with spiritual gladness with us, was present at the

celebration of the Masses, which was performed in veneration of the same

Apostle. And when it came to the Canon, she began to see

a shining multitude of just spirits,

so that she perceived not only the church, but even its roof

and atrium were filled, and saw that some were seated in

priestly vestments.

[38] And these things she took care to confide to Arnold

of Paulostatum, a religious and noble man, through whom

I also came to know, intending to commend to him the person

of one addicted to the derogations of many:

but to me nothing of these things, but only this as I was leaving her,

as if for viaticum she related, in the feast of Saint James: that both on that day and many times

before she had Blessed Laurence as leader in sacred communion.

[39] With the same guide she once in spirit traversed

whatever there is of temples at Rome.

[40] Herluca foreknows the coming of Paul the writer. Once when I was staying more than a whole year

with the venerable Sigebot, then Presbyter of Eptaticum, afterwards

Provost of Beronica; after my second visitation

she began to foreknow in the night, and

predict to her companions the first thing in the morning, as often

as I was about to cross the Lech, and come to her

in the day. For my host still dwelt on the Noric

bank of the river, because in that bank he suffered

less from the importunities of comers.

[41] In two such visitations of mine

I remember that Herluca was made joyful by visions and addresses,

not only of Blessed Laurence and Wicterp: she indicates the visitation of Saint Mary and Saints Laurence and Wicterp: but

also of the glorious Mother of God Mary,

and that she heard certain things consigned to oblivion, certain things

to be veiled in silence because of weak minds. Nevertheless

from then she began vehemently to love me a sinner,

as she swore, in Christ, and to trust none

of mortals more than me with her secrets,

making much of this, that by the advent of blindness and deafness,

she was in no way defrauded of the sweetness of so great

revelations.

[42] I already noticed long ago, that, unknown to her,

this was the reason of so great her love for me, from the hidden instigation of the divinity, she loves him as one who will write her life: because above all

I was to declare her holiness. Such

a presignification of charity existed toward Sulpicius Severus

in Blessed Martin, toward Adalbert of Regensburg

the Enclosed in the modern ^e Ulrich, Provost of the Cluniac

adherence among the Swabians, of whom one

gave prayer, matter, and expense for composing

the life of his beloved.

[43] For him she receives an answer from Saints Laurence and Wicterp: On the third visitation to Herluca with me proceeded

Gebehard my foster-son, already associated with me at home and abroad

for five years, and with her at once, as though foreseen in spirit,

he found grace:

he came however against my will, because

I was entertaining a plan of separation. For I

was very burdened by the molestations of the Regensburg

Clerics, who held me, as the author

of their annoyances, in hatred, on account of irreproachable

life and truthful tongue. With difficulty therefore and late

having obtained solitary meeting with Herluca I asked

her, that by her prayers she should inquire for me the divine

will. But she, praying more vigilantly, suddenly

saw Blessed Laurence approaching her, with Blessed Wicterp accompanying,

and heard him saying: "I do not yet wish

you to give the counsel of departure." That Blessed

Laurence had said this, was hidden from me until the fourteenth

year.

[44] ^f For then, when both the aforesaid society, by the persecution of Henry V expelled from Regensburg, Herluca and Paul meet together at Bernried, and Herluca

shaken from Eptaticum by the furies of wicked peasants,

met at Beronica; and I, pondering again,

that she had firmly dissuaded me from the aforenoted

disjunction, and had given no reason, I besought

her, until the expression of the aforesaid vision;

and she of her own accord narrated what I subjoin.

[45] While she was perhaps praying for a certain familiar of hers,

placed in adversities, again she receives an answer from Saint Laurence. that the more quickly God might mercifully

rescue him from this world, appearing to her Blessed

Laurence added: "It behooves him first to suffer greater things."

[46] and Saint Wicterp: On the next day again, as she was praying, appeared the often-

said Wicterp the Bishop; and as if explaining

what the day before Blessed Laurence had said, presented the image

of the pre-signified man suffering such things as

are read of ^g James Intercisus, and are related

of Thiemo Bishop of Salzburg, each of whom

is said to have been cut limb from limb:

the former ^h in ancient times; the latter in modern.

NOTES.

CHAPTER IV.

Life and translation of Saint Wicterp.

[47] Now our pen is to be turned singly

to Blessed Wicterp, Saint Wicterp ordains Saint Magnus Presbyter, if perhaps I may be able to compensate

for some negligence of the elders. For from

the days of Saint Magnus the Confessor, whom the same Prelate

at Eptaticum first saw crowned with heavenly light,

and shortly after there gratefully ordained a

Presbyter, in no way have we received mention of him by

hearing or reading, until the times

of Saint Herluca, except for the translation, which

elders, who had seen it, used to so relate to Herluca.

[48] ^b Henry Bishop of Augsburg, indicting

a three-day fast, His body deposited at Eptaticum, gathered a very great multitude

of Clerics, monks, and laics:

and coming to Eptaticum with Crosses and Relics

of the Saints, opened the Blessed Pontiff's tomb; but

the body not being found, he was much saddened. At length

inquiry having been held, one was found who said

he suspected it had been secretly taken away by a certain

Presbyter of bad conscience, for the offense

trembling at such great holiness, and placed behind the altar

of Saint Laurence: because he himself as a little boy

had one night followed his father the bailiff and the same

Presbyter, and had heard such a thing being plotted.

[49] It cannot be carried away during the day: But when through this inquiry the aforenamed

Prelate had most joyfully found his ancient predecessor,

and began to lead him toward Augsburg,

suddenly he was fixed with such weight, that he could not

at all be moved by so great a multitude as was present.

For he did not wish to desert his ancient familia

of comital presence solace: although it, while he lived of his own,

he transferred into the dominion of the holy

Mother of God Mary.

[50] Which the translator also noting, led him back

to Eptaticum, veiled in his oratory: the miracle of heaviness converted

into a miracle, and brought him into the Oratory, which

the aforenoted wretched Presbyter had profaned with abominable

pollution, and therefore had taken out the holy body,

and placed it in a stone vessel, whose use had been accommodated

to baptism; over which constructing and dedicating that altar,

he sanctified the whole house with due purification.

[51] Therefore, associated with the number of Saints, the blessed

Prelate Wicterp, He is placed beneath the altar, placed as beneath the altar, according to the Apocalypse

of Blessed John the Evangelist, with the Martyrs

of Christ, yet, because of the humbleness of the place,

and the unskillfulness of the priesthood, has not yet been worthily glorified. Apoc. 6:9

For some have not even known his day

of deposition to this day, when it is openly read in the life

of Saint Magnus, that he died on the fourteenth day before the Kalends

of May.

[52] From this unskillfulness or carelessness I think it proceeded,

that Hartmann the Presbyter of Eptaticum, for the books of Saint Wicterp taken away made blind, and also

Provost of the Canons of Saint Maurice at Augsburg,

feared not to commit sacrilege in the books of Blessed Wicterp,

whence he happened also to lose the light of his eyes.

But on this matter great mercy of God

and great merit of the holy Pontiff shone forth: he is illumined by his merits: for although he could neither restore nor recompense the alienated volumes,

yet when with a repentant heart and tearful eyes,

he had made satisfaction to God and to his Confessor by supplication,

in the presence of Herluca he received his sight

and gave thanks.

[53] On another occasion Blessed Wicterp rebuked Herluca herself

in a vision, Herluca rebuked by him in a vision: because having experienced a natural

infirmity, though very rare and brief,

she had entered the sanctuary, although sent by

Lady Hadewiga, for I know not what matter: and imposed

on her before entering the Oratory three recitations of the Lord's

Prayer, and as many genuflections.

[54] For a similar offense Blessed Alto more severely

took vengeance on one of his Virgins, from whom the monastery of Alton ^e

takes its name; nor undeservedly. For when he had

threatened her through a nocturnal vision, that at such

a time she should not enter the choir, if she wished to

escape the judgment of vengeance, found disobedient after the first,

and, unless I am mistaken, the second admonition, ^f she was sent

into outer darkness, pertaining only to this life.

[55] From these things it can be conjectured that the Answer of Blessed

Pope Gregory to Augustine concerning infirmity

was not a general rule of the whole Church, but

a special mercy for the nation of the English alone in its newly

received Christianity. Book 12 of the Register, epistle 32

NOTES.