Leo IX

ON SAINT LEO IX.

ROMAN PONTIFF,

A.D. 1054.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY

Leo IX, Roman Pontiff (St.)

BY G. H.

§ I. Various written Acts: Sacred Veneration: Relics.

The eleventh century of Christ was illustrated by the doctrine and sanctity of Pope Leo IX, before the Roman Pontificate Bishop of Toul under the Metropolitan See of Trier in Belgica Prima, St. Leo IX called Bruno, sprung from the most noble Dapsburg family in Alsace. His deeds, distinguished into two books, were written by Wibert, Life written by Wibert his Archdeacon, his Archdeacon among the people of Toul, who in the Prologue prefaces that he transcribes concerning so great a Prelate not things heard so much as seen, for the edification of very many; inasmuch as his benignity deigned to assist him more familiarly and continuously. Which the author wants to be understood concerning things done by him before the Roman Pontificate in his youth and the Episcopate of Toul, and indicated in the prior book; which he wrote while he himself was still living in the Roman Pontificate, wishing then to leave to the Romans things that were to be written, which afterwards the Roman Pope did. But with his counsel changed, afterwards he set them forth in the second book. This Life Jacques Sirmond first published from Mss. in the Paris press in the year 1615. published by Sirmond, We give it augmented and emended in several places from a double Ms. codex, one received from the Imperial monastery of St. Maximinus near Trier, another transmitted from elsewhere, and here collated with a Ms. and perhaps from the library of the monastery of St. Hubert in the Ardennes: where we know it is extant. Molanus in his Notes to Usuard's Martyrology indicates, at Geraardsbergen at St. Adrian there is a Life of his, by a contemporary in two books.

[2] Another, and indeed an eyewitness, accurately described, how St. Leo prepared himself for a happy death in the last triduum: History of disposition toward death, and of miracles, and adds illustrious and plainly wonderful miracles, which within six weeks from his passage more than seventy were performed at his sepulcher at Rome. We give these things described by us at Florence in the year 1661 from the codex of the most illustrious Senator Carlo Strozzi, marked num. 690. fol. 201: given from Mss. and in the title it was added that these were taken from a Collection of Ms. Offices. But more miracles were in the Ms. of St. Hubert, once transmitted to us by Dom Romuald Hancart Prior of the said monastery, which we publish thence, and toward the end we supply some from the aforesaid Ms. Ferdinando Ughelli in tome VIII of Italia Sacra, among the Archbishops of Benevento page 129, from a Beneventan Codex, written in Lombard letters, published the same things about deeds in the triduum before death, and some miracles, and Ughelli's Italia sacra: but more contracted, and here and there amplified with another phrase, which the benevolent Reader will be able to find there. Yet from the said tome of Ughelli we give, the things which are contained there about the church of St. Leo at Benevento, erected after his death, and some miracles performed there: several of which we append from the said Strozzi codex. We took care to have a certain compendium extracted from these described at Rome, made by Peter Calo, which we omit.

[3] Among his familiars and faithful friends St. Leo had Hildebrand, afterwards Supreme Pontiff, and called Gregory VII, Another Life written by St. Bruno Bishop of Segni. who presided over the Church from the year 1073 until the year 1085, in which he died on May 25, inscribed on the said day in the Roman Martyrology. From this holy Pontiff he received some things, which Desiderius Abbot of Cassino, afterwards Pope Victor III, published in book 3 of Dialogues. Likewise St. Bruno of Asti, Bishop of Segni, wrote a certain Life of St. Leo IX, printed at Venice in the year 1651 among his other works: which lest the mass swell up, we here omit, since only a few things are indicated as taken from the Acts, or received from St. Gregory VII, of which we make mention in the Notes. Anselm monk of Rheims (as Sigebert indicates De Scriptoribus Ecclesiasticis chapter 153) wrote an itinerary of the ninth Pope Leo from Rome into Gaul, and the Itinerary by Anselm of Rheims for this chiefly that he might notify, with how much authority he celebrated a Synod at Rheims or in other cities: with what justice and subtlety he examined ecclesiastical causes: with what discretion he corrected those sinning: how the virtue of God cooperated with him. These are all published in the tomes of the Councils under the title of the Council of Rheims held in the year 1049, from which we insert some things, the rest being omitted since they can be read there. We do not review other things, and commonly known chronicles, or other treatises, which mentioned him. We make mention of some in their own places.

[4] Sacred veneration began with the pious death of St. Leo, on account of the multiplied miracles which soon happened: sacred veneration begun from death, among which is reviewed the lamp at his tomb on the sixth day after his death kindled by divine fire, and in the following month a wax candle taken from his tomb twice spontaneously lit. And not only at Rome but at Benevento he was soon in veneration, where a church was begun to be built in his honor, and his annual feast to be publicly promulgated, and he is devoutly venerated. That his feast was celebrated in the Church of Segni, St. Bruno Bishop of Segni testifies. His memory is also inscribed in ancient Martyrologies; of which one of Usuard, inscribed in Mss. Martyrologies, but augmented at Rheims, whence Molanus published his own, in which toward the end in ancient character these things were added on April 19: On the same day at the Church of St. Peter at Rome, the deposition of Lord Pope Leo the ninth, who dedicated the Church of Bl. Remigius. The earlier part of which eulogy is attached to the Ms. Martyrology of Ado of the monastery of St. Lawrence at Liège. In the Brussels Ms. of St. Gudila these things are had: On the same day of St. Leo the ninth Pope and Confessor: who first Bishop of Toul promoted to the Papacy by Emperor Henry, having a conscience from this resigned: and again duly elected, after a laudable life is buried in the church of St. Peter, and printed, shining with miracles. His memory is celebrated in the Roman Ms. of Duke Altemps, and the Ms. Florarium of the Saints, likewise in Bellinus printed at Paris in the year 1521, Maurolycus, Galesinius, Molanus, Saussay, Canisius, and with these in today's Roman Martyrology in these words: At Rome St. Pope Leo the ninth, distinguished by the praise of virtues and miracles. The same is reported in the Natalia of the Canonical Saints by Constantine Ghini: He is enumerated among the Benedictine monks by Wion, Dorganius, Bucelinus, Menardus. But the latter marvels in book 1 of Observations that no mention of the monasticism of this St. Leo is made in his Life, also to the Benedictines: and excuses that this could have been passed over, like many other things; which pertain to the life of this Pontiff, which however can be found in other historians: But he does not indicate which. Arnold Wion alleges Trithemius in the Chronicle of Hirsau, and Brother Francis Yvanez, a Spanish Benedictine monk, in the Epitome of Illustrious Men of the Order of St. Benedict. But the authority of these wavers: because the Acts before the Episcopate, accurately indicated by Wibert, suggest otherwise. Meanwhile we wish him to the Benedictine Order, inserted in Breviaries. that at least they should venerate him as a singular benefactor, as the monks of Rheims of St. Remigius rightly venerate him and indeed with an office of twelve Lessons. The people of Toul celebrate his feast throughout the whole diocese with a solemn office under a double rite: whose Breviary we have printed in the year 1535. The Romans in the Vatican Basilica of St. Peter also perform his feast on this day with a double office, with the Gloria and Credo prescribed in the Mass, because they still possess his sacred body.

[5] He was once buried, as he himself had disposed, near the altar of the blessed Pontiff Gregory before the doors of the church, Body in the Vatican basilica as Wibert hands down at the end of the Life. But a Roman Canon of the same basilica, who lived in the preceding century, in the description of the Vatican basilica asserts these things: Pope Leo the ninth rests within the church of Bl. Peter, in a marble column near the Ravennate gate: concerning whom there are among us many and great miracles. This man established the privilege of the Canons of Bl. Peter for the confirmation of their Churches. Lucius Saccus in the historical description of the city of Sessa (which is situated between Capua and Gaeta in Campania) reports in chapter 7 that the Body of St. Pope Leo the ninth was found under Paul V in the year 1608 without one arm, arm at Sessa: which is preserved at Sessa, and then was shown in the Congregation of Cardinals a letter, by which it was established by ancient and indubitable tradition that the said arm was preserved at Sinuessa. That there are also some relics of this Leo at Bologna in the church of St. Stephen, Masini hands down in Bologna perlustrata. particles at Bologna That the sacred bodies of four Pope Leos of Rome were shown on the Kalends of August in the year 1580, and again on May 25 of the year 1608, was said on April 11, in the Life of St. Leo the Great page 21.

§ II. Reckoning of time, Acts in the first year in the Roman Pontificate. Some controversies decided.

[6] St. Leo was born on June 21 in the year 1002; at five years old to be instructed he was handed over to Berthold Bishop of Toul, and then to his successor Herimann. Born in the year 1002, Thence translated to the court of Emperor Conrad, and made a Deacon, in the year 1025 he led the soldiery of Toul into Lombardy. In the following year 1026, absent, he was elected Bishop of Toul, returning from Italy he came to Toul on the day of Christ's Ascension, he becomes Bishop in the year 1026, consecrated on the 9th day of September. And these things are certain and indubitable from the Acts themselves. But with him holily directing the Episcopate of Toul, the Roman Pontiffs were John XIX, then Benedict IX: with whom driven from the Apostolic See, and the schism of Sylvester III composed, Gregory VI was made Pope in the year 1044. But with these three deposed, Clement II, before Bishop of Bamberg, was elected in the year 1046: in which year with the following year 1047 having died, Benedict IX sat again: against whom was elected Damasus II, before Bishop of Brixen, consecrated in the year 1048, on July 17: but when he had sat for 23 days, was extinguished, as is believed, by poison. designated Pope at Worms in the year 1048, After him in the same year our Bishop of Toul, then called Bruno, was designated in the Council of Worms, who when he had celebrated the Nativity of Christ at Toul, on December 27 undertook the journey through Germany, when at Augsburg of the Vindelici he heard the harmonic modulation resound with an Angelic voice. Thence hastening the journey, on account of the flooding of waters, he was compelled to halt with his retinue for seven days: and yet in that winter time he arrived at Rome, perhaps toward the end of January or the beginning of February of the year 1049, At Rome he is elected in the year 1049, February 2. if (as is said by Anselm in the Itinerary) he was distinguished with the infulae of Pontifical dignity at the Hypapante of the Lord, or the feast of the Purification of the Mother of God, then with solemn rite enthroned on February 12 the first Sunday of Lent, as Wibert hands down in his Acts. he is crowned February 12.

[7] Here some controversy arises with Otto of Freising

and others who have followed him, he was not then at Cluny. as though St. Leo, destined for the See of Bl. Peter, having assumed the Pontifical purple, had made his journey through Gaul, and at Cluny having been rebuked by Hildebrand, having laid aside the purple, had assumed the habit of a pilgrim, and leading Hildebrand with him, had come to Rome. Otto of Freising was a whole century younger, having died in the year 1158. Therefore Wibert, an eyewitness, is more to be believed, who asserts that at Toul, having taken the pilgrim habit, he undertook the Roman journey, and at the city of Augsburg was refreshed with angelic modulation: nor was there intermediate time which could be attributed to a Cluniac journey. St. Bruno Bishop of Segni writes that Hildebrand was present at Worms, at the very designation of St. Leo to the Supreme Pontificate: In those days, he says, there was there a certain Roman monk, He took Hildebrand as companion at Worms named Hildebrand, a youth of noble character, of clear genius, and of holy religion. Therefore the blessed Bishop called him to himself, and asked him that he should together return to Rome … And then the Bishop coming to Rome, brought with him the aforesaid monk, much in this very thing serving Bl. Peter, that he was leading back with him that man, by whose counsel and wisdom the Roman Church was sometime to be ruled and governed. For this is Pope Gregory the Seventh, etc. The Life of this holy Pontiff was written by Paul of Bernried, a contemporary author, and in it he hands down that he made some delay of time at the court of Emperor Henry: he adds then that Pope Leo IX, venerating the prudence and sanctity of this laudable man from the heart, and embracing his counsels in all things: and that this concord of theirs bore much fruit in the Lord's field by eradicating thorns: meanwhile that the same was ordained Subdeacon by the same Pope, he creates him Subdeacon at Rome. and was appointed over the monastery of St. Paul, miserably desolated. Afterwards the spiritual farmer, namely the Holy Pope Leo, then Archdeacon: considering and admiring the much fruit of this branch, because it itself remained in Christ and Christ in it; dilated in him the mansion of Christ, through the imposition of the Levitical Order; and that it might bear more fruit for the Roman Church, he instituted him Archdeacon. So he there. From all which we gather that St. Leo was not at Cluny on the said journey, nor had led Hildebrand from there, but from the court of the Emperor; nor that by his admonition, having laid aside the purple at Cluny, he had assumed the habit of a pilgrim, which he had received from the beginning of the journey. Hildebrand was at first reluctant to the invitation, objecting that not according to Canonical institution, but through secular and royal power he was seizing the Roman Church. But Leo, as he was by nature simple and most mild, patiently satisfied him, with reason given about all things as he had wished. Thus Bruno.

[8] The second controversy is taken from the Chronicle of Cassino of Leo Marsicanus Bishop of Ostia, he did not in this year go to Mount Gargano: who died in the year 1115, who writes book 2 chapter 81 that St. Leo the Pontiff, in the same year in which he was ordained, for the sake of prayer sought Mount Gargano. But that this happened in the following year will appear below. The author here seems to have begun the years from Easter, and thus to have begun also the first year of St. Leo, and this supposed, consequently accurately attributed individual things to their years, as we shall show below. But, as Anselm in his Itinerary teaches, he completed at Rome the fasts of Lenten time, and celebrated the following solemnities of the Lord's resurrection. Besides Hermann Contractus, who was a monk of Reichenau in the same year in which St. Leo died, namely 1054, writes these things: Ordained in Lent, he received the name of Leo the ninth. Who at the next Easter consecrated with the blessing of Abbot Udalric, he consecrates the Abbot of Reichenau: Provisor of the Reichenau monastery, coming to Rome; and by his authority confirmed and renewed the privileges of the same monastery, anciently handed down by the Apostolic See, Indiction II, on the 7th day before the Kalends of April, that is the day before Palm Sunday; therefore he did not celebrate this Palm festivity in the said year at Monte Cassino, which was assumed from Leo Marsicanus: but, as will be said below, in the following year.

[9] The same Pope, says Hermann Contractus, in the week after the White, that is after the Sunday in White, celebrated a Synod with the Bishops of Italy at Rome. he celebrates Councils at Rome, Namely, as Wibert explains below, against the Simoniacs, and he deposed such Bishops; likewise he prescribed the use of tithes, and dissolved incestuous marriages. Bl. Peter Damian also hands down various things about this Synod in a letter to Henry Bishop of Ravenna, which is alleged in Baronius and in the tomes of the Councils. Then according to the same Hermann, the same Pope in the week of Pentecost congregated another Synod at Pavia, and thence through Mount Jupiter with many of the Romans came into Transalpine parts: and at Vercelli, and first, as Anselm writes in the Itinerary, he approached the Emperor, remaining in the Saxon region: who both came to Cologne on the Rhine on the birthday of the Apostles Peter and Paul: he approaches the Emperor in Saxony, is at Cologne June 29, and there St. Leo granted various privileges to Archbishop Herimann; and to Abbot Herimar of the Rheims monastery of St. Remigius, there met by him, he promised that he would come to Rheims on the solemnity of St. Michael the Archangel, and celebrate the sacred of Masses in the church of Bl. Mary. But the feast of the glorious Father Remigius he assigns to the elevation of his precious body; and the subsequent day to the consecration of the basilica, the other three following to the celebration of the Synod. Moreover the Pope departing from Cologne, came to Toul on the Exaltation of the holy Cross: at Toul September 14, thence he ordered the Bishops and Abbots of the surrounding regions with letters of his authority to be commanded, that on the fixed day they should come to meet him for celebrating a Synod in the basilica of the aforesaid Apostle of the Franks…

[10] At last the Lord Pope, having departed from the city of the Leuci, undertook the journey leading to the city of Rheims; on the vigil of St. Michael he came to the Curmolensian villa: but on the following day he reached Saint Remigius, accompanied by three Archbishops, at Rheims September 29. namely of Trier, Lyons, Besançon, and other honorable men: among whom was John Bishop of Portus, and Peter Deacon of the Roman Church and Prefect of the same City. In the courtyard of the basilica a most decent procession is disposed, with three Bishops, namely of Senlis, Angers, Nevers, going before the orders long arranged, and bearing the text of the Gospel with holy water and the odor of spices. September 30 he celebrates in the church of St. Mary: Thus they receive the Pope coming with worthy modulation: who, having completed the prayer, gladdened those standing by with the Apostolic benediction, and thence is led to the walls of the city. There the Rheims Clergy, with their Archbishop and other Bishops going to meet him, accompanies him as far as the church of St. Mary. There, girded with Sacerdotal insignia, he proceeded to celebrate the solemnities of Masses. On the following day he returned to St. Remigius, about to celebrate the imminent solemnity of so great a Father on the morrow. On which day about the third hour, girded with Sacerdotal infulae, October 1 he raises the body of St. Remigius: he proceeds to the sepulcher of the glorious Father Remigius, with censers and crosses, with four Archbishops joined to him, namely of Rheims, Trier, Lyons, Besançon with certain others, but also the Abbot of the very place, and Lord Hugh venerable Father of the Cluny monastery, and many of that Order. With whom, a litany having been made … he moved the bier of the Saint a little from its place: and when it had been fittingly disposed, with the aforesaid Archbishops and Abbots, with shoulders placed under, he devoutly weeping lifted it up … With him placed in the church of the holy Mother of God above the altar of the holy Cross, the Archbishop of Besançon celebrated the solemnities of Masses from the festivity of the same glorious Father.

[11] With the course of the day meanwhile elapsed, night follows: but in the morning the Lord Pope, having convoked the Bishops, within the secluded part of the monastery to be dedicated, delegated individual altars to each to be consecrated, October 2 he dedicates the church: and the same Pontiff celebrated the solemnities of Masses from the festivity of dedication. The Gospel having been read, ascending the pulpit he made a sermon of exhortation to the surrounding people, discoursing many useful things from the sanctification of that temple: he ordered that day to be famous through the confines of the Bishopric of Rheims… He also established that at the altar, which he had consecrated in honor of the Apostles Peter and Paul and Clement and Christopher the Martyrs and the glorious Confessor Remigius, the sacrosanct mysteries should not be performed indiscriminately by any, as hitherto: but according to the custom of the Roman church only seven more worthy Priests should be deputed to this office. Then, the divine Offices having been explained, with the Apostolic benediction sanctifying the people he dismissed them. But on the other day, which is the fifth day before the Nones of October, October 3 he celebrates the Council, twenty Bishops gathered in the aforementioned basilica, with almost fifty Abbots and many others of the Ecclesiastical order… With whom seated, Peter, Deacon of the holy Roman Church, arose, setting forth about what things a sermon was to be had in the Synod: namely about many illicit things, that is, about the Simoniac heresy; about ecclesiastical ministries and altars, which were held by laymen; about the wicked customs, which by them in the courtyards of churches were received; about incestuous marriages, and those who leaving legitimate wives became again entangled in adulterine marriages; about monks and Clerics, withdrawing from the holy proposal and habit: likewise about Clerics, pursuing worldly military service; about robberies and unjust seizures of the poor; about the Sodomitical vice and certain heresies, which had sprouted up in the same parts. Thus far excerpted from the Itinerary written by Anselm, or the Council of Rheims; the rest can be read there, and what pertains to the elevation of the body of St. Remigius and the dedication of the Church, will be elucidated on the Kalends of October. About the Simoniacs then deposed Wibert treats below. and approaches Mainz:

[12] That from Rheims he set out for Metz, consecrated the basilica of St. Arnulph, and composed responsories on St. Gorgonius the Martyr, and then celebrated a Council at Mainz, Wibert hands down in his Acts. Adam of Bremen in book 3 of Ecclesiastical History chapter 31 calls it a general Synod, held with the Lord Apostolic presiding, and Emperor Henry, he celebrates another Council: with Bishops Bardo of Mainz, Eberhard of Trier, Herman of Cologne, Adalbert of Hamburg, Engelhard of Magdeburg and other Priests of the Provinces. In that Council a certain Bishop of Speyer, named Sibico, upon whom the crime of adultery was imposed, was purged by the examination of the Sacrifice. Besides many things there were sanctioned for the utility of the Church: above which the Simoniac heresy, and the nefarious marriages of Priests were perpetually condemned by the holograph hand of the Synod. Hermann Contractus asserts that the Synod was of forty Bishops. At Reichenau he dedicates a Church. Thence that St. Leo went to Alemannia, and at Reichenau kept the feast of St. Clement and the Sunday before Advent on the 6th day before the Kalends of December. Wibert adds that there he dedicated a Church in honor of the life-giving Cross, he is at Verona December 25, and during the solemnities of Masses freed a demoniac. Thence, according to Hermann, passing through Augsburg and Bavaria, he celebrated the birthday of the Lord at Verona.

§ III. Deeds in the year 1050 and 1051.

[13] In the year 1050 In the year of Christ 1050 having returned to Rome, he restored a broken cup; he celebrates the Council of Siponto, sought Apulia, and at Benevento healed a sick woman; and in the Council of Siponto near Mount Gargano deposed two Archbishops: which Wibert sets forth in the Acts. Here above we said should be referred, what Leo of Ostia

writes in book 2 of the Cassino Chronicle chapter 81, he seeks Mount Gargano, and they are these. The holy Pontiff Leo, in the same year in which he was ordained, for the sake of prayer sought Mount Gargano in the Siponto diocese. Thence returning, on the very feast of Palms, to this monastery very devoutly he came; he stays at Cassino April 8, and most reverently received by the Brethren, on the same day he solemnly celebrated Mass: and eating in the refectory with the Brethren, after dinner he came into the Chapter: where giving the greatest thanks to the Brethren for so honorific a reception, and promising always to exalt that monastery according to his strength, he dedicates churches April 9. he descended. On the next day solemnly dedicating the church of St. Maurice at the island which is called Limara, built by the same Abbot, and of St. Salvator in the territory of Atina, he returned to Rome. To whom the Abbot, having set out, took honorably a privilege from him, according to the custom of his predecessors: in which the same holy Pontiff granted by Apostolic authority the use of sandals and of the Dalmatic and gloves in the principal festivities, he grants privileges to the Cassino monks, both to him and to all who should be promoted in this monastery regularly, for the honorableness of this holy place. At which time also the same Apostolic handed over to the already named Abbot with all his rights the monastery of holy Jerusalem, which is called Sessorian, situated within the Roman city: and making a privilege for him thence, reserved for himself only the consecration of the Abbot (whom however the Cassino Abbot should elect). This Cassino Abbot was Richerius, Bavarian by nation, whom they hand down to have formerly been Abbot among the people of Liège, dear to Emperor Conrad, to have come to Cassino in his company, and in his presence to have been elected Abbot in the year 1038, to have died in the year 1055, on the 3rd day before the Ides of December. in the Council held at Rome after Easter,

[14] Therefore the Lord Pope Leo returning to Rome, says Hermann Contractus, after Easter likewise gathered a Synod at Rome, where, according to Wibert's testimony, he determined that Gerard, formerly Prelate of his own See, namely of the Leuci or of Toul, he enrolls Gerard Bishop of Toul among the Saints: should be counted in the number of Saints. Secondly, as Bl. Lanfranc, who was present at the said Council, writes, in the Commentary against Berengarius on the Body and Blood of the Lord chapter 5, when Leo was presiding over the Synod, and there sat with him a not small multitude of Bishops, Abbots, and of diverse Order from diverse regions of religious persons … the sentence of damnation was pronounced against Berengarius, he condemns Berengarius, depriving him of the communion of the holy Church, whom he was striving to deprive of the holy communion of the Lord's body. Then when Bl. Lanfranc had expounded his faith, it pleased all, displeased none. Third, as Baronius observes from the written Chronicle of Andrew Dandulus at this year num. 3, he grants privileges to the Patriarch of Grado, Pope Leo decreed the Pallium to Dominicus Patriarch of Venice (rather, of Grado) and granted him the privilege, that he might carry the Cross before him, and approved the Patriarchal See, and wrote to the Bishops of the province of Venice and Istria, that they should obey him as their Primate, and reverence him. But Ughelli in tome 5 of Italia Sacra writes that all these things were accomplished in the Council of Vercelli, held still in this year, in which he says that the said Patriarch Dominicus was present.

[15] he also seems to have set out for Venice and other places: In the Strozzi Ms. indicated above, St. Leo Pope, pious and gentle, is said to have come for the sake of prayer to Venice to St. Mark Apostle and Evangelist. For according to Hermann Contractus, after the Council held at Rome, proceeding beyond Rome, he subjected some Princes of the places and cities both to himself and to the Emperor by oath, and excommunicated the Beneventans still rebelling … But in the autumn the Lord Pope gathered a Synod at Vercelli, and suspended from his office Hansrid the Archbishop, on account of a certain contention between the Ravenna and Roman Churches. Leo himself, September 1 he holds a Council at Vercelli: in a letter to the Princes of Britain, writes that that Council would be on the Kalends of September: and indicates that in the month of September the Synod was celebrated at Vercelli with the Pontiff presiding, the Lanfranc before mentioned being present; and the same confirms Guitmund, Archbishop of Aversa in book 1 On the Truth of the Eucharist. Soon, he says, with these things being heard, about Berengarius and those adhering to him, the Catholic men gravely moved and bearing it intolerably, with the Lord Pope Leo of most blessed memory presiding by himself in person, hold a Council at Vercelli. There (the words are Lanfranc's) in the hearing of all, he condemns the book of John Scotus, and the doctrine of Berengarius: who had come together there from various parts of this world, the book of John Scotus on the Eucharist was read and damned: the sentence of Berengarius was exposed and damned: the faith of the holy Church was heard, and with the concordant sense of all confirmed. From this sentence St. Leo never departed in all his Councils, either those at which he himself exhibited his presence, or which through his Legates he instituted to be congregated in diverse provinces.

[16] At Toul he raises the body of St. Gerard Bishop. With these things done, says Hermann Contractus, he visited Gaul and his own Episcopate, the city of the Leuci: and what Wibert indicates, with the highest reverence he translated the holy limbs of Gerard Bishop of Toul. We shall illustrate the Life of this holy Bishop on April 23. Then St. Leo led with him from the monastery of St. Mansuetus among the people of Toul Humbert, a man, says Lanfranc chapter 2, religious, he leads Humbert with him: most perseveringly decorated with Christian faith and most holy works, most learned in the science of divine and secular letters, and ordained him Archbishop to preach the word of God to the Sicilians, but afterwards the holy Roman Church established him for itself as Prelate, Cardinal. There is in the diocese of Toul Mount Romaric in Vogesum, not far from the bank of the Moselle, where St. Romaric built a monastery of Nuns under the rule of St. Columbanus: there, says the same Lanfranc epistle 13, he dedicates the church of Remiremont, St. Leo, Supreme Pontiff of the Roman See, in his own presence dedicated the church of Remiremont, and completed all those things which the order had required to be done before Mass, without a chasuble. John Ruerus in the first part of the Vogesine Antiquities book 4 chapter 12 asserts, He canonizes SS. Romaric with Amatus and Adelphus: that Pope Leo the ninth, when he had created Odo as Primicerius of the Toul Church, with all honor, solemnity, and reverence inscribed to the Catalog of the holy Confessors Romaric, Amatus, and Adelphus. Their bodies had formerly under Louis the Pious been raised and translated to the altar, and afterwards deposited in a place indicated by St. Romaric appearing: which will be more broadly discussed on their natal days, on which they are venerated, St. Adelphus on September 11, St. Amatus on the 13th of the same month, and St. Romaric on December 8. At the same time also he dedicated the church of St. Arnulph at Metz, as the Senonian Chronicle has book 2 chapter 18.

[17] But since St. Leo remained in Transalpine and German regions until the month of February of the following year, many of those things seem to have been accomplished, which John Trithemius in the Hirsau Chronicle at this year 1050 touches in these words: he consecrates various churches in Germany; This most sacred Pope Leo the ninth did many good things in Germany, consecrated churches and chapels and altars in diverse places beyond number in his own person; and what many little Pontiffs today blush to do, to which however they are bound by reason of office, the Supreme Pontiff, not bound, did not despise to do. Thus Trithemius, who at the said year 1050 broadly describes the approach of St. Leo to Count Adalbert of Calw, At Hirsau he raises the body of St. Aurelius the Bishop: Advocate of the Hirsau monastery, when the body of St. Aurelius the Bishop of Armenia, which had formerly been carried from Rome, when the monastery was being built, and had been hidden under the earth in the Norman persecution, was sought by the command of the said Pope, and was found in a subterranean chamber. Besides since the Hirsau Abbey had been vacant from the year 1002, he orders goods restored, St. Leo ordered the Count to restore the monks, and return all things taken from the monastery. Which may be more broadly discussed at the Life of St. Aurelius, either on May 25, the day on which he ended his life, or August 25 on which his body had formerly been deposited there, or on another day assigned to his cult: after whom St. Leo IX, for such illustrious benefits bestowed, is venerated as the other Patron of the said monastery.

[18] Then a certain council was held at Augsburg of the Vindelici, to which the above-mentioned Hunfrid Archbishop having been summoned, in the presence of the Emperor and other Pontiffs, by Pope Leo who had suspended him from his office, was absolved: he is at Augsburg February 2 of the year 1051. which Hermann Contractus indicates was done on the fourth day before the Nones of February, on the very feast of the Purification: adding that they departed from each other charitably, and the Pope returned to Rome: where during the sacred solemnities of Masses on the day of Easter he freed a woman possessed. After Easter at Rome in a Synod he excommunicates the Bishop of Vercelli. After Easter he gathered a Synod at Rome: where among other things he excommunicated Gregory Bishop of Vercelli, absent and unknowing, on account of adultery committed with a certain widow the bride of his uncle, and perpetual perjuries: whom however not much afterwards coming to Rome, and promising satisfaction, he restored to his former office. Thus Hermann. It is believed to have been then established, what Peter Damian in the letter to Cunibert Bishop of Turin, inserted in opusculum 18 dissertation 2 chapter 7, he expels prostitutes, thus alleges: in plainly a full Synod Pope Leo of holy memory established, that whatever damnable women should be found within the Roman walls prostituted to Priests, from then on should be adjudged as maidservants of the Lateran palace. Placed at Rome also he elected Primicerius Odo as his own successor to the Holy See of the Leuci, as Wibert writes in the Acts.

[19] He is at Cassino June 29 To this year pertain the things which Leo of Ostia in book 2 of the Cassino Chronicle chapter 84 reports in these words: In the following year the aforesaid Pontiff again came to the monastery, and on the morrow and on the other day of the Apostles Peter and Paul solemnly celebrated Masses. And since that day was a Sabbath, entering in at the command of the Brethren, he washed the feet of twelve monks: and he himself in turn washed by them, entered also into the refectory with them to drink together. Behold the feast of SS. Peter and Paul on the Sabbath day, which happened in this year 1051, with Dominical letter F. which confirms the things said above by us. Thence he proceeded to Benevento, then at Benevento, and benignly absolved the city from the excommunication of his predecessor. Rather in the very preceding year he is narrated by Hermann Contractus to have excommunicated the Beneventans still rebelling. He seems in the same journey to have set out for the monastery of Subiaco, and the monastery being found without a Rector, and at Subiaco: he was saddened: and with a Council held in the same monastery he ordained Humbert, brought from France. He called to himself the people of Subiaco, whose monuments of charters requiring, he noted as most false, and a great part of them before himself caused to be burned with fire. Therefore by Pontifical precept he confirmed the monastery of Subiaco and the whole Abbey. Which things from the ancient Chronicle of the same monastery Baronius reports at this year num. 6. At Rome July 22. The same Pope with Apostolic letters, signed on the 11th day before the Kalends of August

in the third year of his Pontificate, Indiction IV, and sent to John Archbishop of Salerno, confirmed the Metropolitan rights of the same church.

[20] In this same year St. Edward King of England, peace having been made with Count Godwin, about to set out for Rome from his vow, on account of the Nobles of the kingdom resisting him, consulted St. Leo the Pontiff; he dispenses in the vow of St. Edward King of England, who dispensed in the vow, and enjoined other pious works in these words: We command you under the name of holy obedience and penance, that the expenses, which you had prepared for that journey, you give out to the poor, and that you either establish a new monastery of monks in honor of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles, or emend and enlarge an old one, and establish sufficient victuals for the Brethren from your revenues: so that while they assiduously praise God there, both to the Saints glory may be increased, and to you indulgence. The rest can be read in what we published on the Life of St. Edward January 5, chapters 2 and 3.

§ IV. Deeds in the year 1052 and 1053. Happy death in the year 1054.

[21] In the year 1052 he approaches Capua, Benevento, and Salerno, In the year of Christ 1052, the fourth of his Pontificate, St. Leo again undertook various journeys, and first Leo of Ostia seems to indicate in the cited chapter 84: In the next year likewise coming to Capua, he again proceeded to Benevento, thence to Salerno: thence that he might drive out the Normans, he approached the Emperor about to ask for the aid of soldiers. Another reason of his journey afterwards undertaken toward Germany is suggested by Wibert in the Acts, namely that he might reconcile Emperor Henry and Andrew King of Hungary who were dissenting. set out into Germany, for Hungarian peace, Sigebert in his Chronicle at this year has these things: The King of the Hungarians dissents from the Emperor: for reconciling whom Pope Leo came to the Emperor, but with friends of discord disturbing, it was in vain. Meanwhile many things were performed in this journey by St. Leo. [At Regensburg October 7 he issues a diploma about the body of St. Dionysius the Areopagite,] For at Regensburg on the Nones of October in the fourth year of his Pontificate, he published a diploma about the Body of St. Dionysius the Areopagite existing there, inscribed to the King of the Franks and other Prelates and subjects of the same kingdom. This is an arduous controversy agitated by many, especially by those, who wish this same Dionysius to be the Areopagite, who made Apostle of the Parisians, there with SS. Eleutherius and Rusticus was crowned with martyrdom. Others assert this Dionysius the Areopagite was at Athens crowned with martyrdom on October 3; and Dionysius Bishop of the Parisians, almost two hundred years later, killed at Paris on October 9 with SS. Eleutherius and Rusticus; and his body to be there in the monastery of St. Denis: to which also Pope Innocent III in the year 1215 sent the body of St. Dionysius Bishop of the Corinthians, as we said at his Life on April 13. The rest can be had from the letter of St. Leo, and will be further examined on October 3 and 11.

[22] Only from Wiguleus Hund in book 1 of the Salzburg Metropolis, in Gebhard III Bishop of Regensburg, we report these things: Under him Pope Leo the ninth, summoned by Andrew King of Hungary for constructing peace with Emperor Henry III, came to Regensburg, and reported St. Wolfgang into the number of the Divines, He enrolls among the Saints Wolfgang and Erhard Bishops: similarly also St. Erhard, and also the bones of Bl. Dionysius (about which for a long time it was doubted, whether they were held in the church of St. Emmeram) he saw, handled, and confirmed by Apostolic diploma, which is there preserved, with Emperor Henry present, Gebhard Bishop of Regensburg, and many other Bishops and Cardinals, nay even with the Legates of the Parisians present approved and confirmed. Likewise the church of St. Emmeram, he consecrates the church of St. Emmeram, recently devastated by fire, with the western crypt he consecrated: he ordered the paneling at the top of the same church to be made at his own expense; but also the chapel of Simon and Jude Thaddaeus, above the vault contiguous to the Chapter, in the same city he consecrated. Conrad of Montpellier, in the Life of St. Erhard published by us chapter 2, confirms that Leo IX translated the body of Bl. Erhard, in the times of Emperor Henry III, in the year of the Lord 1052. St. Emmeram is venerated September 22, and St. Wolfgang October 31, both Bishops of Regensburg. But Hund proceeds. But when Pope Leo set out from Regensburg to Nuremberg, the Counts of Schwarzenburg meeting him ask him, and from afar the chapel of the Holy Cross of Prugdorff: that a certain chapel in honor of the holy Cross, which today is called Prugdorff, he might dedicate. The holy Father consecrates the chapel seen from afar. But when the grumbling interpellators thought themselves to be mocked by this distant consecration; and urged that he should consecrate the chapel in person; Go, says the most blessed Father, and unless you find all the signs of a consecrated Church, I will come, and will consecrate your little chapel in person. But when they had found all things complete, praising God they acquiesced. The monuments of its occurrence are still extant to this day. Thus far Wiguleus Hund, all which things Andreas Brunner in part 2 of the Bavarian Annals adorned in his more elegant style.

[23] Then between the Apostolic himself and the Emperor an exchange was made concerning Benevento and the Bamberg Episcopate, Leo of Ostia asserts in the cited place, [December 25 he receives Benevento in exchange for Bamberg, Fulda, and other places in Germany:] and Hermann Contractus more broadly pursues, in these words: The Emperor with the Lord Pope and many Bishops and Princes kept the Nativity of the Lord at Worms; where when the Pope, as he had long begun, had demanded back from the Emperor the Abbey of Fulda, and several other places and monasteries, which are reported to have been anciently given to St. Peter: at last the Emperor handed over to him through exchange several places pertaining to his own right in Transalpine parts, for Cisalpine ones. He adds what we reported above from Leo of Ostia, and they are these: And when the same Pope had much complained about the violences and injuries of the Normans, who against his will by force held the possessions of St. Peter, he leads out an enlisted soldiery in the year 1053 to drive these from there also, the Emperor gave him auxiliaries … For eliminating their nefarious and inextricable crimes from those parts, and freeing the natives from them, the Lord Pope intending, with the highest charity departs from the Emperor, about to return to Rome. The year 1053 had then begun. But many Teutons followed him, partly at the command of their Lords, partly induced by the hope of gain: many also wicked and insolent, and for various misdeeds driven from their country. All whom he both from the excessive compassion of his accustomed mercy, and also because their work seemed needed for the imminent war, clemently and gratefully received. February 2 he is at Augsburg, Therefore passing through Alemannia he kept the Purification of St. Mary at Augsburg, and the Quinquagesima at Mantua, and with a tumult arisen there some of his own killed, February 21 at Mantua, within the days of Lent he came to Rome. Thus there: Quinquagesima Sunday in the said year 1053 fell on February 21: when he had decided to hold a Council at Mantua, but it was disturbed by the faction of certain ones, Wibert writes in the Acts. Hippolytus Donesmundi in book 3 of the History of Mantua page 203 describes this approach of Pope Leo, as though about to adore in person the sacred blood of Christ, which is there preserved, and having tried in vain to obtain it to be taken to Rome, the people having turned to sedition for retaining it praised their zeal; and dedicated the new church of St. Andrew, he dedicates the church of St. Andrew although not fully completed, and with a small particle of the precious treasure taken (which he brought to Rome to the church of St. John Lateran) deposited the rest with the body of St. Longinus the Martyr in a place prepared for it. he deposits the body of St. Longinus and the Blood of Christ: About the body of St. Longinus, found with the sacred gore of Christ at Mantua, we treated on March 15 on the Acts of both Longinus §3.

[24] That at Rome after Easter a Synod was again held Hermann Contractus affirms: but concerning what matter he does not indicate. after Easter he holds a Synod at Rome: Certainly not, as in the tomes of the Councils is printed, concerning the Canonization of St. Gerard Bishop of Toul, which was done in the year 1050, nor again concerning the Primacy of the Patriarch of Grado, which in the same year 1050 either at Rome or Vercelli was done we showed above from Baronius and Ughelli. perhaps because of the heresy of the Fermentaceans. We should rather think it was gathered on account of the Heresy of the Fermentaceans, which then had arisen Wibert writes, and asserts a most illustrious booklet was written against that heresy by St. Leo: which is in the tomes of Councils the first letter, distinguished into 41 chapters. He also directed to Constantinople as Apocrisiaries of the holy Roman See, Humbert then Bishop of Silva Candida, Frederic afterwards Cardinal of the S.R.E. then Chancellor, he approaches Cassino: and Peter Bishop of the Amalfitans. Then from Rome he came to Cassino, and there caused the monastery of St. Stephen, situated above Terracina, to be restored, as Leo of Ostia hands down more broadly chapter 87.

[25] Afterwards Pope Leo moved an army against the Normans (the words are those of Hermann Contractus). And when those asking for peace promised subjection and service to him; and said that those things which they, unjustly usurping to themselves, had previously invaded, by his grace and favor they wished to retain; and the Pope denying this, that he might both demand back the possessions of St. Peter seized by injury, and order them to yield the place wrongfully pervaded; they, because they far exceeded in number, as though refusing an unjust thing proposed to them, declared that they would rather go to meet war, his army defeated by the Normans June 18, and defend with arms the fatherland acquired with arms, or meet it with death. And thus on the 14th day before the Kalends of July engaging in a strong battle, in the first line they were almost conquered by the Teutons: but with reinforcing troops from ambushes surrounding ours, with the Italians quickly turning their backs, with the Teutons for the most part, but not without vengeance falling, by the hidden judgment of God; whether because to so great a Priest rather a spiritual, than a carnal battle for fleeting things became him; or because he was leading with him against likewise wicked men to be attacked many nefarious men, flowing to him for impunity of crimes or greedy gain, or with divine justice for other causes which it itself knows punishing ours, although too bloody a victory the enemies obtained, and the Lord Pope himself he is led by the enemies to Benevento, besieged by them in a certain fortress, when from the already attacked fortification, compelled by necessity, he had restored the communion to them previously forbidden, received by them, was led back to Benevento with honor: and there was detained for some time, and not permitted to return, namely by the people of Benevento. For according to Leo of Ostia, Humfred Count of the Normans approached the Pontiff, and receiving him in his faith with all his men led him to Benevento, promising that whenever he should dispose to go to Rome, he himself would lead him as far as Capua. The same Pope entered Benevento in the month of June, on the vigil of St. John the Baptist: June 23, thence he departs in the year 1054 March 12. and remained there until the twelfth day of the month of March: and there having become infirm, the aforesaid Count being called, by him he was led as far as Capua. There delayed for twelve days, at last the Abbot of Cassino, his companion on his journey, having been summoned,

he returned to Rome: he dies at Rome: shines with miracles: and there after a few days rested. At whose tomb God at that time performed many signs. Thus Leo of Ostia. Hermann Contractus, who survived St. Leo by only a few months, in the end of his Chronicle adds: that he is remembered to have shone with miracles.

[26] Desiderius Abbot of Cassino, Cardinal by title of S. Croce, then created Supreme Pontiff in the year 1086 and called Victor III, offers this testimony about him: Leo a man through all things Apostolic, sprung from royal stock, endowed with wisdom, conspicuous in religion, and most learned in all Ecclesiastical doctrine, and who (as it is written) began to invoke the name of the Lord, whom a Pontiff perfect in all things, I also saw, and merited to have his familiarity: often also, while he was celebrating Masses in the church, I stood with him at the divine altar clothed in sacred vestments, and read the Gospel to him: by whom all ecclesiastical studies were renewed and restored, and a new light seemed to rise over the world. Gen. 4:26 He, often calling a Sacerdotal Council, removed Priests, Deacons, and the other Clerics not regularly ordained, and in their places appointed those who could worthily minister to the worship of the true and highest God. Daily also through himself and through his disciples sent everywhere preaching to the peoples in letters and words, showed the way of the Lord: who always walking by the Apostolic way, imitated also the Apostolic men in miracles. Thus Desiderius, from whom we shall report some miracles below. But we conclude this preliminary Commentary with these words of Leo of Ostia: This holy Pontiff, among the innumerable marks of his goodness, at night he visits the basilica of St. Peter. as long as he remained at Rome, every day three days a week from the Lateran church to St. Peter, in private habit and with bare feet, with two or three Clerics, at night proceeded singing psalms and praying.

LIFE

By Wibert his Archdeacon.

From Mss. codices of St. Maximinus and St. Hubert collated with the edition of Jacques Sirmond.

Leo IX, Roman Pontiff (St.)

BHL Number: 4818

BY WIBERT.

PROLOGUE.

[1] With Pontiff Herimann having entered the way of all flesh, there succeeded the venerable Bruno, a man marvelously decorated by the Lord with the prerogative of such merits and elegance of morals: who although now appears almost the last in the catalog of Pontifical departure, Concerning St. Leo yet first shone out from the privilege of the supreme Pontificate; and like the morning star the last in the station of heaven, but nearer to the sun came forth, while after a long series of predecessors, with his Priesthood he illustrated the city of Toul, rather the whole world of Christians, and showed the true sun near to himself, by driving away the fog of errors, with the vivacity of his brilliance. Nor does he incur prejudice from posterity, who before the ages is divinely destined in a fixed time: for the immutable Divinity, to which all things done and to be done are present at once, so disposes the alternations of mutable things, that it feels nothing late or out of order in the order of things. For, let the rest meanwhile be kept silent, the redemption most necessary for the human race is proved to have been exhibited at the end of the ages; and he who labored more than all, Paul, after all the Apostles is called by the Lord from heaven, whence also he is found to have called himself an abortive. But lest we delay here longer, let the pen be returned to the undertaken business, that concerning so great a Prelate not things heard, so much as things seen may be transcribed for the edification of many. the author writes things seen by himself. Since his kindness deigned to have my littleness continually assisting him with his familiars, whence my zeal effected, that I could through myself recognize many things worthy of imitation about him: also some things by the relation of truthful and weighty persons, of which some I barely touch upon on the surface, some also knowingly I pass over, while he still lives, lest either I be longer than just, or be marked with the eulogy of a flatterer; or, because he still lives, be attacked by that proverb of Solomon: Praise not a man in his life. Eccl. 11:30 But since we have proposed to praise in him the gifts of God, which are praiseworthy even in a pagan; we do not praise the man, but him from whom and through whom every man coming into this world is illuminated, that either he may think, say, or work good things. But do we testify so great a Prelate to have ever lived or to live without sin in this wretched life, which is indeed the whole a temptation, which cannot happen to an infant of one day? But those whose zeal is to proclaim the divine virtues impressed on some man for the utility of others, are unwilling to uncover the sins of the man, which already have been covered by God, to his reproach. Hence it is that the Israelites by the command of God carried off from Egypt gold and silver formed into vessels, but what had been shaped into idols they left entirely. Whence from his very beginning let our speech now begin, in which we shall believe ourselves to have succeeded very much, if we shall transmit to posterity in some part in whatever style those things only which he laudably did in the Pontificate of the Leuci. But it will be for the wise and especially the Romans, if what the same Roman Pope himself did, they shall not ungratefully transmit to the faithful page of the Catholic Church.

BOOK ONE

CHAPTER I. The lineage, birth, literary studies of St. Leo.

[2] Therefore the reverend Bruno so retained the noble line of both parents, that from his very forefathers and above, whoever could come to our knowledge, either held the reins of Kingdom or Empire, or bore the infulae next to Kings and Emperors. He was born in the sweet borders of ^a Alsace, with Hugh as father, Heilewide as mother: His father Hugh. whose religiousness was accustomed to open the mouths of many to the praise of God. And his father, Teutonic by nation, cousin of Emperor ^b Conrad, most eloquent in his native tongue and in Latin; his mother also Latin, equally skilled in both languages: whose ^c fathers and grandfathers from their first character with arms and spirits beyond measure strongly crushed the battle lines resisting them, their ancestors renowned in war, defending themselves and their own parts; and toward old age, having cast off all pride of lineage and luxury of the world, put on the humility and poverty of Christ, giving their patrimonies to Churches, building monasteries in their own and from their own estates: and so at last perfectly having followed Christ, they took the monastic habit: they also denied themselves; and the foolish wisdom of the world entirely set aside, with every contrition of heart submitted themselves to the wise foolishness of God and the monastic habit, and passed away with a laudable end through all things. For among many things, which they distributed scattered to the divine temples, ^d two monasteries they instituted from their estates, namely Hesse in honor of Bl. Martin the Pontiff, they built 2 monasteries, and also another monastery ^e for the veneration of St. Cyriacus the Martyr: nay also they greatly enlarged ^f the Lutensian monastery with their patrimonies. Whose devotion having imitated Count Hugh the chief one, and his most devoted wife, the parents indeed of the aforesaid Lord Bruno, constructed a monastery most fit for a remote life, ^g Woffenheim, near their noble castle called ^h Engesheim, Hugh another of nuns, from the tithes of their estates: in which at present a congregation of nuns exists, for the veneration and glory of the kindly and most victorious Cross.

[3] These two at last exhibited such and so honest a conversation to all, that also Ecclesiastical persons and those functioning in diverse grades, from Bishops to laymen, perceived something in them imitable to themselves. For that we may now be silent about their manifold watchfulness toward God, whether they had integrally rendered the tithing of their things, ⁱ under the judgment of cold water, they were scrutinizing. Through whom when omnipotent God had decreed to destine a Prelate for His Church, to the pregnant mother what kind and how great an offspring she bore in her womb, He deigned to show beforehand. For on a certain night a man in a religious habit appeared to her through a vision, St. Leo, the mother being instructed through a vision, and taught her that she had conceived a male offspring and one great before God, and ordered him to be named Bruno. he is born June 21 in the year 1002, Who on the eleventh day before the Kalends of July, namely in the year from the humanized Word of God one thousand two, Indiction fifteen, when he was brought forth into this light, wonderful to say, his whole little body was found ^k marked as with the stigmata of little crosses. By the novelty of which thing the mother being stirred, and made more certain by the promise of the prior vision, beyond her custom permitted him to be nourished with no other milk than her own. Whom weaned at the fitting time, she handed over to ^l Berthold Bishop of the holy Toul Church, five years old, he is handed over to Berthold Bishop of Toul to be instructed: to be freely brought up and imbued with the studies of letters. Who indeed Berthold, a follower of genuine honesty more admirable than his predecessors, ennobled the city of Toul with the sons of nobles, greatly enlarged its treasures and honor in various ways, decorated it with many buildings, filled it with persons of literary exercise, restored the rule of monasteries internally and externally.

[4] Therefore such a fit man having gratefully received the aforesaid little child, both caused him to be instructed in letters and in all honesty befitting free-born boys. he thrives freely: In whom with the daily increments of the little body, there grew the excellent character of the mind, which commended him before his other companions to all. For as the most learned father Jerome testifies, soft wax and easy to be formed, by a certain natural tractability it was divinely formed, even if the hand of the external artisan had ceased. Whence with heavenly grace going before and following, he was provoking the benevolence of all to himself, because they perceived nothing of loftiness in him, from the excellence of royal stock and riches, as well as of form and wit, by which the carnal are wont to swell beyond measure, and soon to subside. For he was affable to all, even the lowest, cheerful in aspect and address; most obedient, not only to those greater and equals, but also to those lesser to him.

[5] His colleagues indeed, although older than he, were two Adalberos his kinsmen: of whom the former was snatched from here by an immature death, namely the son of Duke ^m Theodoric, but the other the brother of Duke ⁿ Hezilo, and the son of Frederic the eminent Prince, under the master of the schools, established as master of his little nephew Bruno, with Adalbero, because at that time he was held as knowledgeable: who afterwards to the Bishopric of the city of Metz, taken up by the vow of Clergy and people rather than his own, shone as a man especially to be proclaimed in this time of ours. For from the beginning desirous of pleasing God alone, beyond his age and health, he began to crucify his flesh with its vices and concupiscences; so fervent with the fire of divinity, that from the very rudiments of Christian tirocinium he was thought most perfect. an excellent youth, Finally that in the presence we be silent about his great celibacy, about his dove-like innocence, about serpentine prudence, about discreet severity, and about mature gravity, in his tender character; he so affected himself with fasts and vigils, that the saying of Bl. Job can even historically be said: My bone has cleaved to my skin, with my flesh consumed. Job 19:20

[6] Therefore bound to such a colleague with indivisibly twin affection, the distinguished boy Bruno was pursuing

the literary gymnasium, he progresses in studies and morals. and they were mutually rejoicing with each other about their liberality. To whom although crowds of noble boys adhered, these two themselves nevertheless stood out before all their companions, both in the capacity of liberal studies and in the excellence of honest morals. For as first befits the untrained, having gone through the trivium of the arts, they shone not only in prose and meter; but also forensic controversies, grasped with the sharp and lively eye of the mind, they diligently expedited or removed: finally by natural genius tracing through the quadrivium they tasted it, and were not at all of little worth in it also, as the following things shall in part indicate. Therefore when those boys were being educated together in the same place, the mother of Lord Bruno is taught by a dream of this kind about the future promotion of her son. For she was seeing, as it were, herself entering from the Pontifical chamber the venerable basilica of the most blessed Protomartyr of Christ Stephen, and ^o Prelate Gerard of holy memory, glorified in life and after death by miracles, divinely coming to meet her, and loosing from his own neck the orarium, which is commonly called stole, and placing it on her sleeve. Which heavenly event was predestining her son as successor not so much to his See, as to his good zeal. For when reverend Bruno is counted the fifth from Lord Gerard, he seems to have been preelected by him alone, and not by any of his followers, since by God's assent he imitated him before them. But because the pious dispensation of omnipotent God is accustomed to mix with his gifts scourges and tribulations (as we know happened to blessed Job, and the Apostle Paul, and to almost all the elect), it seems worth saying, how in the entry of his puberty he was imperiled, and soon with heavenly remedy approaching was saved.

ANNOTATIONS

CHAPTER II. Health divinely conferred from a dangerous illness: Court life with the Emperor, military life in the Lombard expedition.

[7] When he had already obtained a neck more free than usual from the scholarly yoke, he was many times visiting the dwelling of his parents, delighted not so much by natural affection, as by their religious conversation, and the most free disposition of his house in soldiers and household. Therefore at a certain summer time, while he was staying with them according to custom at their noble castle called Eginisheim, with a certain Sabbath night coming, he was sleeping in the most pleasant bedroom. On his right cheek that venomous frog, which is called a toad or bufo, climbed up, and fixing one from its forefeet on his cheek, Sleeping he is wounded by a toad: the other under his lip, and from its hind feet the first behind his ear, the second under his chin, it began to suck and bind him fiercely. Awakened by which pain, he perceived the noxious weight of a horrible animal pressing on his face. Therefore astonished by so great and so new a peril, he quickly snatched himself from the bed, and not enduring the immoderate torture, with a blow of the palm balanced behind his ear knocked that venomous creature onto his own bed, fearing lest if he tried to take out the middle grasped with his hand, it would creep more sharply. Then that wicked one, although in its fall upon the bed it made the sound of being crushed, yet to climb again on the head-cushion, as he himself watched, did not delay: for the lunar rays then illuminated the whole interior of the bedroom. Nor delay, the throng of servants, aroused by the sudden cry of their beloved Lord, ran up, brought a lamp with them, but that pestiferous animal at their entrance appeared nowhere. It is sought here and there with the most diligent investigation of the domestics, but with all the furniture of the bedroom overturned and searched, it was by no means found. But whether that had been true or imaginary, it left nevertheless true wounds and true pains: by which having swollen his whole face, throat, and chest, he was afflicted to a certain degree to the despair of recovering health. Both his parents and all his own were miserably distressed about this for two full months, he labors with a grave illness, suspecting that a funeral was already to be carried out, and with continuous sighs and tears awaited that lugubrious pomp of obsequies.

[8] But benign Jesus, accustomed to succor desperate affairs, suddenly consoled his parents with his more than full health; and mindful of his Church to be relieved through him according to his purpose. For when he had already for two months not been able to rise from the bed by himself; and now with the excess of illness growing, had remained for eight days without speech; at last on a certain day, with eyes opened, lying on his back, as he was reclining, awake, he gazed as though a luminous ladder was raised from his very cot by itself, and passing through the window at his feet was extended as far as heaven, from St. Benedict appearing, and through it a certain old man of exceedingly great brightness and venerable grey hair descended in monastic habit, whose right hand bore a conspicuous cross on a long pole. Who when he came to the sick one, held the ladder with his left hand, but with his right he first placed that cross on his mouth, then signed the very places of swelling, and drew out the uncooked rottenness of all the poison behind his ear; and immediately returning the way he had come, he is healed: dismissed the sick one, finding himself better. And then without delay he addressed his Cleric Adalbero, then only sitting by his little bed, and through him with the desired news restrained his whole paternal house from long lamentations. But after some days with all poison cast out behind his right ear, the skin of that pustule broken, healthy and unhurt he escaped, under the greatest miracle and joy of all. Who, as even now among admonitory conversations is accustomed to recount such an evident mercy of God recognized over himself to his most familiar ones; professes that in the aforesaid ecstasy he instantly recognized the most blessed Father of monks Benedict more clearly than light, from the quality of countenance and habit; of whose body he so far commemorates the accidental recognition, as though he still has it before the eyes of the flesh. Moreover those who shall read what follows, will indeed cease to marvel, that he was restored to health rather through St. Benedict, afterwards much devoted to the monastic order, than through any other of the Saints: where with the wheel of speech rolling, they shall be able to consider from a few things, with how great zeal of pious love he burned toward the institution and correction of Monks. a

[9] He obeys Herimann Bishop of Toul: Hence therefore, with Lord Berthold his foster-father departing, he did not refuse equally to obey his successor Herimann: as if he seemed always to have before the eyes of the mind that saying of blessed Pope Gregory: Let him not dare to preside, who has not learned to be subject; nor let him command obedience to his subjects, which he has not known to show to Prelates. He indeed was at that time compassionate to those suffering adversity, especially to the venerable cenobites of the venerable man ^b Aper, he suffers with afflicted monks: against whom the most insolent tongues of flatterers and envious ones were instigating beyond measure the mind of the aforesaid Prelate. Now he was opposing himself as a wall for them, as much as he could: now, which alone he could, he was weeping with those weeping. Also by his striving authority and industry, in the state, which he had received from the fit and earlier Prelates, he helps the Canons of St. Stephen: the canonical institution and prebend most integrally remained under Herimann, within the cloisters of the most blessed Levite and ^c Protomartyr Stephen.

[10] But since all things have a time, according as the Establisher of time disposes, yet without time, who through certain alien things leads his own to his own; he lives with Emperor Conrad. it happened that the excellent youth was assigned by his parents and kinsmen to the glorious Emperor Conrad, his cousin, to be educated in his court, and to serve in the basilica. Where with not many days having passed, he obtained perfectly the benevolence of all the courtiers; inasmuch as the herald of his conversation and prudence, the honor of stock and form, showed him gracious: dear to the courtiers whence when many Brunos were equally called there by them, this one however was called Bonus (Good)

Bruno by way of distinction. Which prerogative daily augmenting, without envy of his companions, he claimed for himself, that both he fitted himself to lesser ones by a certain reasonable condescension, and agreed with greater ones in all things by liberal dignity.

[11] Besides by unique and ^d fatherly affection he was so beloved by the Augustus and Augusta, and by the Augusti themselves. that also in their most secret counsels he was gratefully admitted, and his sentence was reverently and sweetly awaited, and pronounced was received without hesitation. Whom when daily they deliberated, and unceasingly strove to raise him with the greatest honor, and, that I may say openly, to present with a Bishopric beyond measure enriched with temporal abundance; he already forewarned by the irreprehensible and golden pen of Lord Gregory, began to hold this altogether suspect, before the most ample Church lest it be imputed to him divinely, as though a gift for service: from which neither fatigue of body nor annulment of household things could recall some of his associates because of the hope of some advancement. Whence since he was neither allowed to depart from the Imperial side, nor did it please him to serve in such a way; in his mind with only God conscious and witness he proposed, that if with his good pleasure he should be invited to the rule of even the poorest Church, he would more eagerly approach it, he prefers to preside over a most poor one. than if royal Majesty should impel him by some carnal affection to the dignity of supreme power and enrichment. Which indeed is to be held so much the more admirable in youthful levity; as it is more rarely apprehended even in senile gravity. But now it seems worth saying, how this one, desirous of being humbled for God, was little by little wonderfully exalted by him: as in the book of Kings through the Prophet it is testified, Those that glorify me I will glorify, but those who despise me shall be ignoble. 1 Kings 2:30

[12] Therefore in the twenty-third year of his age, when he had already entered the second week of adolescence, and the one thousand twenty-fifth year from the Word of God the Father Incarnate was running out; In the year 1025 into Lombardy in place of his Pontiff Herimann, in the expedition of the aforesaid Emperor Conrad, against Lombardy and chiefly against Milan then rebelling, the illustrious Bruno set out, distinguished by the Levitical office. For with that Prelate of his weighed down by years and illnesses, he leads the soldiery of Toul: he himself undertook to lead the auxiliary troops of soldiers coming from Toul to the Emperor, with the pleasure of the same Bishop and of the Augustus: yet with the oath of his own rank in all things preserved. In that arrangement of secular military service, he so suddenly appeared sagacious and provident, as if he had hitherto been exercised only in matters of this kind. He was measuring camps for his men, disposing stations with watches, sagacious in all things, administered expenses and stipends in suitable places and hours, with sober sufficiency distributed prepared meals to individuals of his men: whom he was thus caring to order through assignments and offices suitable to each, that only for themselves each noble and private should need to be solicitous. Whose solicitude certainly was both protection for his own, and dejection for the enemies, and worthy praise for himself: thus ruling his men by counsel and urging them by precept, through the same he was prosperously accomplishing, what was expedient in common for himself and for the public expedition. Whence it came to pass, that by rendering what are Caesar's to Caesar, and to God what are God's, through his Apostle commanding, that every soul be subject to the higher powers, since there is no power except from himself, through another matter he merited as quickly as possible to reach his own. Rom. 13:1 And because he faithfully and prudently served external things, he was fully remunerated with interior things, so that set over many things, both he might cling more loftily to his Founder, and sympathize more deeply with his neighbor.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III. Election as Bishop of Toul. Assent of the Emperor at last obtained.

[13] Then with the year one thousand twenty-six from the Humanity of the Son of God pressing on, In the year 1026 with the Bishop of Toul dead, he is elected by concordant vote: Herimann Prelate of the Leuci was withdrawn from the hospice of the flesh, when in Lenten time he died at Cologne on some estate of his. Immediately the Clergy and people, bereft of a provider, united with concordant vow and the same sentence, ask for Bruno, long desired by them and continually loved, with consonant and continuous voices.

[14] Hence impatient of all postponement, deprecatory and contestatory letters about their so unanimous election they direct to the Emperor. Of whose, to speak compendiously, this was the cause. After the premised reverence of due salutation, they set forth the very contrite tragedy of their calamity, and he is sought by the Emperor: saying that they were being attacked and disturbed on every side by almost daily depredations or contentions, inasmuch as established in the borders of three kingdoms, namely in the borders of his empire, in which they were laboring so much more sharply from enemies, as the spaces of lands further away kept them away from his presence. Besides that their city was continually being demanded back by the Kings of the Franks, by various and many machinations: to which loss of the commonwealth, and to his own, and to the vexation of his own, if he should deign to obstruct, let him destine to them a Pastor noble and wise as much as possible, whose strenuousness and industry could drive back from them the hostile fury of enemies. For whose investigation indeed he would not have to labor much, since by the unanimity of Clergy and people as elect, near his Imperial majesty was held kinsman Bruno, beloved by God and good men: because this one most known to himself, inasmuch as his own pupil, and among them and by them learned in the science of liberal letters, conversed without complaint, and through individual grades of the Church regularly advanced to the Levitical order; this one not only the urban with their suburbans, but also all surrounding neighboring peoples demanded, and the fellow-provincial Bishops. Therefore let him concede to them, with the good pleasure of God and himself, this one or none: since they had at hand that decree of blessed Pope Celestine: Let each one have the fruit of his military service in the Church, in which through all offices he has transacted his age: let him by no means creep into another's stipends, nor dare to claim for himself the reward owed to another. Let there be to Clerics the faculty of resisting, if they see themselves to be burdened, and what they know is brought in against them crosswise, let them not fear to refuse: who if not the owed reward, at least should have free judgment about him, who is to rule them. And that of Lord Leo the illustrious Doctor. Let no one be ordained to those unwilling and not asking, lest the city either contemn or hate a Bishop not desired, and become less religious than is fitting, to which it was not allowed to have whom it wished. Against so evident and Canonical authority if earthly power could inflict violence on them; yet it would not be able at any time to turn their benevolence from this their elect. At last therefore by their unanimous and heartfelt prayer let his Imperial Serenity be moved, and in this part let the utility of the Church of God be attended to more, than that which according to the world his consanguinity was treating of to raise him more loftily.

[15] Meanwhile special letters were directed to Lord Bruno, and he is invited by letter, which were striving to plead the desire or business of all the Clergy, Abbots, and all the congregations and the whole people of the diocese of Toul in such a way; that having been widowed of a Pastor they had concordantly chosen him alone for themselves, and were demanding from the Emperor; for the fear of the Omnipotent equally and love, that he in no way disturb them from this. And that he should not abhor their poverty, of which hitherto he had been well conscious; they were beseeching him through him, who though he was rich, was made poor for us: nor that because they, vile and abject, preferred the person of so great proclamation and so great nobility, and envied the greater cities worthy of their merit, should he count to injury to himself because of any arrogance, which they had not yet perceived in him, on account of him who humbled himself for us even unto death. Let it be allowed for them to enjoy the fruit of their own labor, and in turn to be nourished by their foster-son: because according to the Apostle, the laboring husbandman must first partake of the fruits. 1 Cor. 9:7 For it would be consequent, that the Church, which had merited to educate such a one, should also merit such a Pastor for itself when bereft: who also according to the modicum divinely granted to mortals, could say that special thing of the good and supreme Pastor: I know mine own, and mine own know me. John 10:14 But let it not escape them, that the piety of the earthly Prince was deliberating, by reason of consanguinity and of his pleasing conversation, to lead him to greater things: and so if he should judge them to be heard crying after him, with continuous prayers henceforth let them knock at the bounty of the heavenly Emperor, that he may heap up for him heavenly and earthly honor: but if he thought them to be despised, because secularly he was panting for the peak of more eminent dignity; divine equity, the avenger of their contempt, would so come upon him, that neither to that which he was intending, nor to any other honor, should he ever ascend.

[16] With these syllables therefore received by Lord Notbert, then a monk of laudable life, but formerly Canon of the holy Protomartyr Stephen, and Liethard still indeed a Canon, who before their companions of the journey had been designated as eager and unwearied executors of so great and such a cause by the Clergy and people; with much and varied heat of cares both were affected, namely the Emperor and Lord Bruno dearest to him. And the Emperor indeed, although he rejoiced that the love, various attempts and obstacles of the Emperor, which toward the same venerable Bruno he possessed pure and genuine, by the due consideration of affinity and of his strenuousness, was commended and approved by the praises or testimony of many; yet was not mediocrely saddened, because his desire, by which he was seeking a more lofty temporal dignity for him, he perceived to be impeded. He feared lest he offend God, if he should oppose so unanimous a vow of his Church: he grieved, if to so great a person he should not respond according to merits. What do I here stick in many words? Caught in such fluctuation of mind, through Legates, directed from his side, he tried with all devices thence to recall the intention of the already often-mentioned Lord Bruno; now by commemorating the very frequent conflicts and depopulations of that Church, and now by exaggerating its poverty beyond measure; now because that city placed in the extreme borders of his Empire, either never or most rarely was estimated worthy of the Emperor's diversorium; now because he could not bear with even mind that the same his nephew, most dear to him in all things, should be separated from himself by so great a space of lands. Therefore let him spare himself, and consult both his own utility and quiet, and the will and perturbation of the Emperor loving him from the marrow: rather with deaf ear let him pass by those, who weighed their own necessity or consolation more than his salvation and honor; especially to whom he himself was urgently foreseeing a dignity worthy of his race and merit. But because there are many counsels in the heart of a man, but the will of the Lord shall be done, as Solomon says, the syllables destined for him were affecting the mind of Lord Bruno, he rejects them, subject to God, far otherwise.

the peoples of the Church: by whose unanimous and humble invitation, he perceived himself to be invited to humble things by the very Master of humility, who refused to become King of men, and voluntarily came to the cross: nor unmindful of that earlier resolution of his, by which he preferred always, content with all humility, vileness, and extremity, to serve Christ, than to be temporally exalted with any corruption of entire conscience, that is with any venality, which triple form he had learned from the sayings of Bl. Gregory, namely by the hand, by service, by favor. Prov. 19:21

[17] Perceiving therefore that by these three followers of ambitious venality Ecclesiastical dignities were too much confounded and undermined, nor could anyone easily be found immune from any of these, he believed nothing safer for himself, than to assent to a popular election, drawing him to humble or adverse things; and to resist the Imperial suggestion, content with election to a lowlier Bishopric: inciting to great or prosperous ones. Finally it is praiseworthy for anyone to decline prosperous things for God: but it is established to be much more laudable to offer oneself spontaneously to adverse things. Hence it is that Moses called divinely to the principate makes excuse, and with himself put aside asks for another, saying, I beseech thee, Lord, send him whom thou wilt send; and Isaiah, to the ignominy of nakedness and manifold suffering, not by name designated, voluntarily offers himself by crying out: Behold me, send me. Ex. 4:13 Kindled therefore by these and other incitements of virtues, and filled with the oil of divine grace, he was scattering the flame of right intention so much the more eagerly, as he was impelled more sharply by the blasts of carnal affections: and it came about that that dissuading breeze coming from Caesar and his court, rather augmented and fostered, than put to sleep or extinguished the fire of divine sacrifice of a devoted mind on the altar.

[18] Therefore gratefully embracing that sentence of blessed Peter, by which he says, Be humbled under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of visitation, with the bonds of all delay broken, he obtains the assent of the Emperor. to the Emperor still dissuading he offered the syllables sent to him from the Clergy and peoples, yet with mouth suffused with ingenuous (so to speak) virginal modesty. 1 Pet. 3:6 But the most illustrious Prince taught by the tenor of the letters, was moved to tears, and with most copious tears bearing witness externally, made openly known how much he held him internally. At last with some silence interposed, he loosed his tongue to speech in this: My sentence about your honor, my sweetest nephew, already long deliberated, I see assaulted by supernal sentence, indeed overcome: to which I am compelled by giving my hands, as I owe, to give suffrage; since not without ruin of both of us and of many can I longer resist. Let the piety of the Omnipotent now be with you in this, who knows better what is expedient for both of us and all. To me therefore it now pleases, what it is not permitted to avoid. Yet you content with the grace of God, by which alone you are believed pre-elected to the regimen of that Church, by no manner of venality, neither of my wife, nor of any mortals, procure affections to your party, lest hence from you through all the sheep to be entrusted to you creep the mark of this simoniacal heresy. For without doubt he who began the good work in you will complete it as quickly as possible. Ps. 54:23 On his gratuitous piety cast your thought; and he himself will nourish you, according to the truthful promise of his divinity's sentence. But concerning the solace of our counsel and help, however much that may be, do not become in any way doubtful: because above all of your order, I shall always be solicitous for the prospering of your affair, whom both the unwearied labor of your faithful service commends to us, and the mutual kinship affection of ancestral proximity. Only endeavor to serve the Omnipotent faithfully, and strive to augment the character of good morals, which in you is praised from the cradles. With these and other words strengthened from the royal sweetness the venerable Bruno spontaneously submitted himself to the laborious burden, trusting in the Lord alone: inasmuch as he knew himself to be called not to the joys of prosperity, but to the perils of grave labors to be endured.

CHAPTER IV. Sudden perils in departing from Italy. Enthronement and Ordination as Bishop.

[19] Therefore having obtained the gift of Pontifical elevation, he left in no small sorrow the kinsmen of court power, who always relied on his salutary counsels, and whose causes he was diligently procuring by strenuous interventions: and although they were congratulating him on the height of honor attributed; yet they were grieving for themselves, because they lacked the very sweet solace of his mess-mate familiarity and speech. But having accepted from the Imperial majesty the leave of departing, new tidings of adversity are brought to him in the very preparation of the journey, namely that unless he precaution himself he would suffer snares from the Lombard natives, who through that very time were still rebelling with proud hearts against the Augustus. For on those days by chance the royal army was attacking ^a Orba, a town of the Milanese, warned of the snares of the Lombards, because there the apostates of infidelity, denying subjection to the Emperor, were lurking. Therefore he is admonished by his familiars to take care to avert the snares of these, asserting that it would be more useful to seek another way however longer, than incautiously for the shortness of the way to fall into their hands. But he, free from fear according to that Solomonic saying, The just man is like a confident lion, without terror, fortified with the shield of faith, adorned with the breastplate of justice and the helmet of the hope of salvation, thus speaks to those dissuading him from the right way. Prov. 28:1 Let us commit all the care of our salvation to the hands of the Omnipotent, because no one can harm him, he nobly responds, whom divine protection has wished to defend. But if he shall have destined me to purify me from the dross of sins by the fire of tribulation, I do not refuse to commit myself to the will of the pious artisan for being formed, since the figment ought not to say crying out to him who has formed him, Why hast thou made me thus? Let us walk the royal way without diverting, and whatever the supernal arbiter shall have foreseen for us, let us suffer with willing mind.

[20] Having therefore sagaciously exhorted his own with such admonishment, he was continuing the begun journey, already secure of heavenly help. But he who was a vessel of humility dedicated to God, lest he be marked with the cautery of pride, if he entirely refused to use the counsel of his familiars; partly obeys their will, namely that from the flock of companions with a few separated he should go before them on the journey by one day. Meanwhile in almost all the hidden parts of the mansions of the Lombards snares were hidden, he happily escapes. where there was hope that he for the cause of refreshing his body would have to stay overnight, and especially at the city of ^b Ivrea the fraudulences of snares of this kind are prepared. But he, as has been said, with a few, that is, not more than five companions, with the heat of the sun already fervent from the axis of the sky, entering through the middle of the same city, so securely, by God's assenting grace, passed through all the populous frequency of that city, that no one inconvenienced his way even in addressing, nor did the necessity of addressing another befall him. But now with the sphere of the sun irradiating the waves of the Ocean, with the companions of Ivrea having been captured, his following companions left behind enter the city, and soon from all the hiding places of snares there is a running up, and as a prey long sought by dogs they are violently snatched; in the faces of all only Bruno is sought, but whom the virtue of Christ had rescued, among all only Bruno by no means is found. For the whole space of night there is inquiry about him, whether he has passed or is coming, but no reason of truth publishes his deed. Suspicion arises, that he had already passed on: to pursue whom swift riders are directed. But the beloved Prelate, had already come to the outermost borders of Italy, and had entered the place which is called ad ^c Camera, where by wonderful counsel divine providence frees him. For his few companions, weary from the long journey, had decided to sit there to recover: But he presaging in mind, alone content with one, passes through the gates of Camera, about to wait for his companions refreshed by a little rest. But when he had been drawn from them within the space of two bowshots, suddenly the aforesaid pursuers come with panting course, find his weary companions now reclining, and snatched they quickly lead back to Ivrea by the backward journey, hoping that they had found the long sought prey, whom God by a jocose miracle wished in a certain manner to deceive. Therefore by such counsel divine virtue defrauded the wickedness of the evil of their own hope; whom he all receives back, and freed his faithful one from their rage, to whom also soon all his things untouched he restored safe, through the assistance of his kinswoman, the niece of ^d Rodulph King of the Jurensians, wife of his own brother named Gerard, a most strenuous and elegant soldier.

[21] Therefore with an auspicious course he pursues the begun journey, in all the cities to be passed through he is applaudingly received on the way: by his own citizens gapingly astonished at desire for him he is favorably awaited. he comes to Toul, And at length on the Lord's day of the Ascension ^e on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of June received with inexplicable joy of all, with all the primates of Belgic Gaul being present elected and praised, by his cousin Lord ^f Theodoric Prelate of the Metz people, he is Pontifically enthroned. he is enthroned. And he, knowing himself to have to be in the house of God a lamp, not under the concealing bushel, but placed upon the resplendent candelabrum; with solicitous vigilance soon strove to bring forth the fire of divine religion, with which he had always glowed, and he was ardently kindling his subjects in the zeal of supernal virtue with words and examples. And as is said in the secular example, The more the fire is covered with covers the more it burns, so the fervor of heavenly love long shut up in him began to blaze, as one who from the good character of infancy was accustomed to grow hot by the inspiration of Christ. Therefore his sagacious study he turned above all things to propagating the monastic religion, which besides the monastery of the holy Confessor of Christ Aper in all his diocese, already (alas!) had for a long time grown cold: he restores monastic discipline: for the Prelates of the Medianensian ^g and of the monastery of St. ^h Mansuetus, who, laying aside zeal for the souls committed to them, thought themselves established in the sole dominion of externals, he deposed at the very beginning of his election, and committed them to Lord venerable Widric, then at that time Provost of the aforesaid monastery of Bl. Aper; by whose provision and skillful industry the monastic order, as is still in the open, in the same places grew hot again fervently.

[22] But the victorious King Conrad, having heard by spreading fame of his laudable deeds, daily burned more and more toward him with affections of full love, presaging him to be a faithful vessel for reforming the norm of sacred religion, and for augmenting the already failing Roman Commonwealth. And since by pressing causes until the following Easter he had deferred the Imperial benediction to be given to him by the Lord Apostolic at Rome; in the same way also bound to him with the bonds of perfect love he had ordered the Episcopal ordination of him to be deferred, [he does not wish, at the coronation of the Emperor, to be ordained Bishop by the Pope,] that at the same time and together in the basilica both might receive from the same Vicar of the key-bearer of heaven the consecration of the predestined office. But that aforenamed Bruno dear to God, guardian of true humility and most observant of the precepts of Divine authority, knowing that this earthly honor conferred on him from the Augustus was gnawing at some with an envious tooth, because the Archbishop of Trier by the production of a certain privilege of his was desiring to resist this Royal will; this our one soon approached the King with earnest entreaty, that he should desist from such an attempt; asserting that he would more willingly

lack the honor of this blessing, than remain in the future in the disagreement of any contradiction against anyone.

[23] Scarcely therefore and with the greatest and most difficult labor compelling the Lord Augustus to come to his senses from that will, but from the Archbishop of Trier, and returning to Belgic Gaul by his sweet permission, from Lord Archbishop of Trier ⁱ Poppo, he humbly sought the Pontifical blessing; and among themselves they fixed the time for this holy ordination to be performed. Therefore they come to Trier, the accustomed order of consecration is inquired after: where a harsh scruple of a question longer intricates the whole affair to be accomplished, so that with all labor imperfect the already said sweet Father frustrated returns home. For by the aforementioned Archbishop a certain privilege is promulgated, he refuses to utter a difficult vow. in which this superfluous and impossible law by no one to be kept was contained, namely that each of his Suffragans to be ordained by him, should first under the testimony of divine presence promise, that in all things to be done he would have him as counsel, and with every exception removed, nothing outside his precept either to wish, as a certain servant, or to presume to do. Therefore mindful of divine Scripture the faithful Bruno: Because unfaithful and foolish promise displeases God, in every way refuses to be the sponsor of this incongruous reason, lest through the effect of impossibility he incur the offense of lying. Eccl. 5:3 But for a long space this kind of litigation alternately persisted: and it happened that our often-mentioned Father with the matter unfinished returned from Trier. which being mitigated through the Emperor, Which being known, Conrad Augustus of divine memory quickly summoned both to his palace at Worms, and by his authority insisting, at last the demonstration of just reason conquered the Archbishop, and he ceded from the superfluous vow of profession which he unjustly was exacting, he only required to be promised to him by him, that in conducting Ecclesiastical matters, he would use the authority of his counsel. Therefore with this promise accepted, on the fifth day before the Ides of September, he is ordained September 9. with the highest congratulation of all, the holy ordination takes place, and at last both inviolably continued in the solidity of perfect friendship. But we have touched upon this so expressly for this reason, that we might clearly lay open what kind of humility this man was of, and for avoiding the blemish of lying, as far as is possible for a man, how cautious he was.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER V. Various deeds and things endured in the Episcopate. Virtues and death of his mother.

[23] Therefore returning to his own See, he is received with the joyful dance of all: and soon since his devotion toward the holy and glorious Aper was greater, he placed the Lord Widric already mentioned, a man of religious life and conversation, under the name of Abbot over the same monastery, he appoints Widric as Abbot: by the will and request of ^a Lord William at those times the venerable Father of that place himself: whose holy fame is memorable this side of the sea through all the borders of the world. By the solace of this Prelate the aforesaid father Widric sweated not a little in augmenting the decor of his monastery: which already almost falling he began to rebuild from the foundations, to whom the same Pontiff by his largesse contributed a supplement of thirty pounds. he donates 30 pounds to him: The same also he chose as Abbot over the aforenamed Abbeys of Mediano and of Saint Mansuetus, to which, for augmenting in them the state of holy religion, he assigned some churches. Nay also in the monastery of Portus suavis, begun by his predecessor from Pontifical stipends, but by him with zealous labor adorned with buildings and expenses to a nicety, he builds dwellings for nuns: he established a devoted congregation of nuns, and appointed a certain one of noble stock and laudable life, by name Berzenna, as Mother of that company: by whose pressing solicitude the fervor of divine service there grew by flourishing, and by the help of divine grace, in long generations afterward by growing it will flourish.

[24] There was also in him a wonderful and honest elegance of morals, he excels in marvelous courtesy of manners, so that with the splendid beauty of body (which the munificence of the Omnipotent conferred on him above all of that time) whatever he did pleased the minds of all, whatever he said delighted the hearts of all with the intimate effect of love. With serpentine shrewdness dove-like simplicity was so powerful in him, that by the prudent of this world he seemed superior to all in prudence, and by the divinely wise was wonderfully cultivated for the innocence of a pure mind. He abounded with such charity of largesse, in piety toward the poor, that distributing almost all things indiscreetly, in the wealth of others he often happened to be in need. On the virtue of alms above all things and beyond all things he sweated, nor for any secular impediment did he omit any day, that every morning he himself in person did not serve the throng of the poor, and by the example of Christ washing their feet gave them sufficient food. in contrition of heart, He overflowed wonderfully with the devotion of a contrite heart, and the compunction of tearful groans; so that nothing of secret prayer, no sacrifice of divine office did he present to the supernal countenance, without immediately irrigating face and breast with a river of tears. With such a holocaust he was assiduously sacrificing himself to the sight of Divine majesty, knowing most certainly, that a contrite spirit is a sacrifice pleasing to God. in skill of arts and Music, The wisdom of divine and human arts shone most amply in him, and he especially delighted in the skill of the art of music, in which he could not only be equaled to ancient authors, but even surpassed some of them in melody-making sweetness. For composing Responsories in veneration of the glorious Martyr Cyriacus and ^b of Holy Hidulph Archbishop of Trier, and also of Bl. Odilia the Virgin, and of the venerable Apostle of the English Gregory the Doctor, with wonderful beauty he amplified the praises of divine service. in humility and patience. The gift of humility also and patience so shone in him, that if perhaps he rebuked one of his subjects for the harm of his fault, and as is wont to happen, that one moved by the gall of impatience hurled many insults of reproaches at the rebuking Prelate; this one for the injuries of words repaid not blows, but tears in condolence.

[25] Therefore perceiving him shining by these and other good acts, the adversary of the human race strives to oppose his pious religion in every way. And although he cannot deviate him from the straight path in any respect, yet through his satellites he strives to deter him from his holy purpose by the darts of temptations and adversities. He endures envious men For some chiefs of this land, seeing him to shine with the light of wisdom, and envying him prevailing above all in disposing the counsels of the kingdom with the Imperial majesty; while with the courtiers, whom all he had bound to himself with excessive love, they cannot contrive snares against him; with foreigners against him they handle the artful machinations of cunning. Thus they stir up Odo, Count of the neighboring Frankish Commarchy, against the blessed Prelate, and Count Odo as adversary, and with manifold effort of adversities they labor to cast him down from the stability of Imperial faith. You would see faith in Bruno alone contending manfully against the frauds of many, with marvelous patience bearing equably the darts of many enemies, with heartfelt compassion grieving for the losses of his subjects, with affectionate charity most easily forgiving the enemies themselves. But it is not necessary to review what motions of wars, what devastations of the Church committed to him, plunders, fires he endured; while the grace of the Omnipotent deigned to impose a quick end to all his rivals, rooted in wickedness, and wished to relieve his faithful servant with pious consolation through a vision. For when he was still constricted with the anguishes of adversities, on a certain night wearied with labors of manifold solicitudes, turning over the misery of the people subject to him, and tearfully imputing it to his own crimes, he falls asleep; and sees in a dream someone of angelic face presenting to him a sphere, shining above the splendor of the sun, he is refreshed by a nocturnal vision: which seemed to retain in itself the machine of the whole world, in which also specially two men of illustrious form were shown to him. Whose names when he desired to learn, a voice of this kind came to his ears: You should know these to be Mary Magdalene, and Bishop Galienus, in whose fellowship you shall rejoice to enjoy in the future. And when joyfully receiving the same sphere with his hands, he wished to place it in his bosom; he was awakened from sleep prescient of future things. Nor is it wonderful that this man was foretold to be a companion of Blessed Mary, since equal affection of love toward God, and continuous flowing of tears as of fountain waters, rendered him a participant in her merits. But although it is still unknown to us, who that Galienus was, yet there is no doubt that he is of great merit, whom the divine voice equaled to a man of so great praise.

[26] Odo having been killed Which vision was followed by the effective consolation of divine grace, with the aforesaid Count Odo, through the warlike Duke of our fatherland ^c Gozilo, basely handed over to death; and with peace restored through this blessed Prelate, he reconciles peace for Lorraine: not only to the kingdom of Lorraine, but also to adjacent provinces, with Christ's assenting vote. For with his wisdom, embassy and counsel intervening, the kingdom of Austrasia was joined and corroborated to the Roman Empire, he joins the kingdom of Austrasia to the Empire: which for a long time from the origin had been held by Rodulph King of the Jurensian Burgundy: and the same already said Pontiff was directed as Legate, for peace concord between the aforementioned Conrad Prince of the Romans and Robert ^d King of France. How honestly he completed which legation, France is witness: which even now reports as though new, he confirms peace between the Emperor and the King of the Franks. how much wisdom shone in him, what humility, what finally efficacy in all things begun; how becoming he was in the habit of mind and body, how suitable in presenting the words of the legation: whom all received as a father with excessive love, whom all cultivated as a Saint with highest veneration. Thus with such firmness he established peace and concord between both kingdoms, that as long as the aforementioned Princes lived with their sons succeeding them, ^e both Henrys, no one, by however fraudulent art, could sow discord between the two kingdoms.

[27] But the envious enemy of the human race, weighing that he could not through his satellites weaken his pious devotion

to turn him aside from the right path, rising up against him by himself by divine permission, burdens him with excessive languor of body, long sick with a difficult illness, continuously for the space of a year. The whole mournful multitude of the people was present, despairing of his health: also a band of physicians was present, augmenting the pain with despairing words: tears were wetting the faces of all, to him himself also hope of life had now failed. Then admonished by divine instinct, he orders himself to be carried at the nocturnal hour before the altar of St. Blase, before the altar of St. Blase he is healed. confident that by his worthy merits he would most quickly be freed from the present distress. Therefore there rapt in ecstasy, I do not say through sleep, which had altogether fled from him, he sees as it were St. Blase, stepping forth from the altar, visiting him, and compassionately inquiring the mode of his languor; and with all his languishing inward parts open, as though he himself were gazing upon them, washing them with merciful hand, and refreshing them with medicine; and with all things restored to their place, returning by the way he had come. Having returned from which ecstasy, safe rising from his bed, he calls those standing around, joyfully opens up the vision which he had seen, and as the aforementioned Martyr had ordered, the responsory: Who is the great God as our God? he sings along with those present in the voice of jubilation, and with the nocturnal offices completed, eager on his own feet returned home.

[28] But since the pen hurries to engrave greater things, it seems fitting that it briefly relate something worthy of memory about his mother. For how great was her sincerity of devotion, how great to the last quadrans her largesse of alms, how long her persistence in divine prayers, vigils, and fasts, his mother holy, how long-suffering her repentance in the maceration of flesh, it is not easy to express in words, since the end itself, in which every praise is safely sung, has manifestly shown. For the quantity of her body had grown in such corpulence from the abundance of superfluous humor, that scarcely could she be borne in a carriage, where the opportunity reminded her. Which weight of gravity since it seemed to her intolerable, many times with poured out tears she implored the grace of Christ, that just as the womb of one mother brought her forth into the world; so by the arms of one woman she might be able to be committed to the earthly sepulcher. Whose voice the East from on high heard: for with long maceration of languor she was so at last attenuated, attenuated from languor, that with almost all the humor of flesh dried up, only bones holding themselves together with skin and sinews seemed alone to cohere. she distributes her things to the poor, Therefore coming to the extreme goal of life, with all things distributed which she herself by herself, apart from her husband's revenues, from her own funds by expending for the uses of the poor had daily gathered, with sacred Unction and the participation of life-giving Communion fortified, she is fortified with the last Sacraments, she lay for a long time without life-breath and without any vital breath, with the whole household wailing, with the throngs of the poor, widows, and orphans. Who suddenly having taken up her spirit returning, and ordering the confused clamor of those weeping to be settled, orders all to be expelled from the house, and only ^f Regelwide Abbess of the monastery of the holy Cross with her own husband she retains. Who with weeping wondering, what she meant, she says: Mourn me not as though about to die, since now the most pious Mother of God Mary was with me, she is visited by St. Mary, who consoling me with sweetest affability, promised that I would live with her eternally; and in everlasting glory would happily co-reign. One thing therefore, O most loving husband, I supplicantly ask of you, that you not bear with troubled mind the words of my petition, which I am about to say. And when he, ignorant of the future, joyfully promised that he would fulfill whatever she might command of ready will, she says: I pray, that just as naked I came forth from my mother's womb; so naked the womb of the earth in the tomb may receive me, and whatever of ornament you had prepared for my being co-buried, she asks to be buried without ornament. strive faithfully to distribute to the uses of the poor. To which petition; although unwilling, the aforesaid husband agreed: and with the highest eagerness of mind having put off the man, he delivered her to burial in the manner she had determined. But I have so zealously reported these things, that it may be clear to present and future, of how great faith and devotion this woman was, and how fervent in the largesse of alms. But it seems fitting here to fix the anchor of our ship, that breathing a little, with armaments repaired, we may be able effectively to cross the begun sea.

ANNOTATIONS.

BOOK TWO

CHAPTER I.

Preliminary disposition to the Roman Pontificate: denomination at Worms.

[1] About to pursue the burden of the work undertaken, with Christ's favor assenting, and about to show how the blessed man came to the Apostolic dignity, and what things there befell him, indeed what things the Lord wished to effect through him and in his times, it seems opportune to show the preceding causes pertaining to this, and to notify how the supernal grace revealed to him things to come. There was in him the highest devotion to visit the Supreme Pontiff and the first key-bearer of heaven with an annual return, Every year he visits the thresholds of the Apostles, and for the sheep entrusted to him by God to implore his aid with suppliant prayer. Therefore at a certain time having undertaken the accustomed journey, with a company of Clerics accompanying him, as well as laymen surpassing the number of five hundred, who for the dignity of his merits, affability, sanctity, were following his retinue undivided; a dire plague rose up against all, from the corruption of the Italian air, so that there was no hope to any infected with this corruption of deferring death to the morrow. But the man of the Lord, he heals his companions infected by the pestilent plague. immoderately sorrowing over the affliction of the crowd accompanying him, found a quick remedy with divine grace preceding. For of the Saints, whose relics he was carrying with him with his own hand dipped in wine, and especially of the joints of St. Aper, to whom he more devoutly commended himself; whoever had tasted a draught of this kind in however small a quantity, soon he was recovering, however great a languor had invaded him, if only he had been able to taste the flavor of that liquor. He himself also almost daily on the whole journey by offering the victim of the divine Sacrament; and among the solemnities of Masses admonishing the peoples standing by to the correction of morals and penance, animated all with pious exhortations to grasp the supreme things, and freed them from the article of imminent death by holy prayers. Therefore through the whole interval of the night the crowd of companions and natives, whose necessity it concerned, were celebrating vigils with lamps at his lodging, and in the morning through the merits of the Saints, with his assenting vote, were bearing back complete health. Therefore with these causes most quickly spread through all parts of the Roman province, the man of the Lord was cultivated with highest veneration, and love for him was thoroughly impressed on the hearts of all: which he seeing was not extolled by human air, but unceasingly was proclaiming the magnificence of Christ.

[2] About to sleep he commends himself to the Saints, But this was his assiduous custom, that about to commit his limbs to nocturnal rest, he would more attentively commend himself to the relics of the Saints; and absolved from secular cares, in holy contemplation he relaxed his mind; and in that very meditation, received the sleep necessary to the body. Therefore in this pious intention on a certain night having fallen asleep, through a vision he was led to the principal Church of the Wangions: where he gazes as though an infinite multitude of white-clad ones was standing, the greater part of whom seemed to be of Priests, among whom he recognized one formerly familiar to him, he seems to give communion to those dead in the service of St. Peter, Bezelinus the Archdeacon, who his companion on the Roman journey had put off the man. Whom asking what that great multitude was, he heard that all these had ended worldly life in the service of the prince of the Apostles. About this marveling within himself, as though Bl. Peter the key-bearer of the heavens came up, and said that that multitude was to participate in holy Communion by his hands. Whom clothed as a bishop the same Bl. Peter with the Protomartyr Stephen led to the altar of the aforesaid church, with ineffable melody of song, and with the sacred offices performed, all from his hands were receiving the life-giving gift. and from him to receive 5 golden chalices; It had also seemed to him, that after the holy communion St. Peter himself would confer ^a five golden chalices on him: but to another following him three, but to a third he would give one chalice. These things therefore relating to his familiars, wondered what they might portend, but what their outcome was, in what follows in its place will be said.

[3] At another time also likewise to him through the rest of sleep it seemed, that the person of a certain deformed old woman was importunately pressing him and as a familiar, at another time a deformed old woman, but yet was asking to be joined to him with sincere colloquy. Who was seen of such horrid face, torn clothes, shaggy and foully erect hair, that scarcely anything of human form was recognized in her. By the horror of whose deformity very much struck, he wished greatly to avoid her: but she so much the more strove to press upon him. By which importunity moved the man of the Lord, imprinted on her face the sign of the Cross: [by the sign of the Cross he seemed to render her beautiful, and restore her to life] and she falling down to the earth as though dead, rose up again into admirable beauty. Awakened from the terror of which vision, he rose to the nocturnal vigils: and again in the admiration of this matter committed his limbs to sleep. To whom it seemed in dreams to be present the venerable Abbot ^b Odilo, whom he as though asked to portend to him what the signification of this vision was. Who most joyful answered him with such an oracle: Blessed are you, and you have freed her soul from death. That these are not feigned the suitable testimony of men and venerable ones proves; namely of Lord Walter Dean of the cloister of the Leuci, and also of his intimate co-secretary Warnehar, who assert that they heard such things related by him with tears, and what they might signify they greatly wondered. Nor does it seem incredible, that such things were shown to him from the highest divinity: when frequent nocturnal sighs in bed, and frequent beatings of the breast, and his bed often found by truthful chamberlains wet with tears, show him to have been worthy of divine vision. To no one is it doubtful, what the vision of the aforementioned woman signifies, he is admonished to restore beauty to the Church; whoever reads the almost similar dream of Constantine the Great for restoring the city of Byzantium. For it is certain that the Ecclesiastical beauty, indeed the Christian religion, had horribly ^c wasted away through various parts of the world; and through him, with Christ's assisting aid, had been led back to its pristine honor.

[4] Meanwhile at the city of the Wangions, before the presence of the glorious Henry the second Augustus of the Romans, In the council of Worms, there is a not small gathering of Pontiffs and the other Chiefs. Among whom this one worthy of Christ

Prelate is called: inasmuch as without his counsel nothing great was disposed within the Imperial court. And suddenly, he is elected Pope: with him suspecting nothing of the sort, he is elected by all for taking on the burden of the Apostolic honor. Which office with humility advising for a very long time refusing, while more and more he is compelled, he begged for a three-day space of consulting: in which, devoting himself to fasts and prayers, he remained entirely without food and drink. And when again he was goaded to the fulfillment of obedience, spontaneously before all he made his confession; trying as it were by a certain enormity of his crimes; to change the common election. But who could recount his flood of tears, which he emitted in public confession, which stirred even the affections of all to excessive tears? Whence with one mouth of all this pious voice resounded, God forbid, frustrated in his resistance he admits the burden that the son of such great tears should perish. Therefore seeing that in no way could he escape the Imperial precept, and the common desire of all; compelled he undertook the enjoined office, in the presence of the Legates of the Romans, on this condition, ^d if he should hear that there was the common consent of all the Clergy and Roman people without dissent. under the consent of the Clergy and people of Rome, And thus returning to his own See, namely of the Leuci, with the highest devotion he celebrated the Lord's Nativity there, with the co-essence of four Pontiffs, ^e namely of Hugh of the city of the Italians Pisa, Legate of the Romans, and ^f Everard Archbishop of Trier, and also of Adalbero of Metz, and ^g of Theodoric Prelate of Verdun.

[5] ^h Thence, with humility as mistress, against the custom of all Apostolics, in the habit of a pilgrim he goes to Rome, having taken the pilgrim habit, he undertook the Roman journey, untiringly devoting himself to sacred prayers and divine contemplation, intent not so much on the cure of the things committed to him, as on the care of souls with excessive solicitude. In which meditation near the city of Augsburg ⁱ suspended, he merited divine consolation, when in a revelation he heard resounding with angelic voice a harmonic modulation, most sweetly consonant, in meditation he hears angelic melody, Saith the Lord, I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction: ye shall call upon me and I shall hear you, and I shall bring back your captivity from all places. Encouraged by which pious consolation, and now more certain of supernal help, he undertakes to complete the begun journey: and as befitted a person of such merit, he is accompanied with an infinite multitude coming up from every direction. Among whom a certain handmaid of God of religious life adheres to him, who admonishes him with such words from divine precept: he is admonished about what to say at the entrance of the Church of St. Peter As soon as you shall have placed the first footsteps within the doors of the Church of the Prince of the Apostles, do not be unmindful to use these divine words: Peace to this house, and to all dwelling in it: which Lord's command he both humbly received, and devoutly fulfilled. Therefore he came with such a retinue upon the river ^k Teronem, which by growing had so exceeded its own bed, that for seven days he was compelled to make all the people delay there. But the man of the Lord sad over the affliction of the people long waiting with him, invokes heavenly aid, he halts the overflowing river, and begins the benediction of the church of St. John constructed nearby. But before the divine office of the begun consecration was finished, the river was so mitigated with its waves sent down, that soon it provided a safe passage for all passing through: which the whole multitude present affirmed to have happened through the merits of this blessed man.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

Election and coronation as Pontiff.

[6] He enters Rome with bare feet: Therefore strengthened by the breath of the Omnipotent he approaches Rome, to whom the whole city prepares to go to meet him with a hymn-singing concert: but he himself a pedestrian from the long journey walks with bare feet, and inclines his mind more to devotion of mind and flood of tears, than to the delight of praises. But who could recount his affection of contrite heart in devoted prayer? Who the sighs and groans? Who finally could recount the continuous flowing of tears as of streams, since to no one's thought is it penetrable, much less effable in words? Therefore after he had for a very long time so sacrificed himself to Christ at the altar of his heart, a living, holy victim, pleasing to God; he begins also to bring forth to the Clergy and people standing by the divine exhortation, with which he was most abundantly flowing. The Imperial election about himself for so laborious an office with a brief little speech he promulgates; he indicates the Imperial election: he demands that they disclose their will (whatever it may be toward him): he says that the election of Clergy and people by Canonical authority goes before the disposition of others: he asks for a Canonical one: he affirms that he will return with grateful mind to his homeland, unless his election is made with the common praise of all: he shows that he has come compelled to undertake so great a burden. And when he saw the unanimous acclamation of all; to the correction of life, he repeats the begun exhortation, he suppliantly asks for the prayer and absolution of all. Therefore with divine grace favoring, with all applauding he is consecrated; and on the Lord's Day of the beginning of Lent, the day before the Ides of February, is enthroned in the Apostolic Chair. he is enthroned February 12.

[7] But what a fervor of devotion toward the service of the Omnipotent grew in him, with what vigor of diligence he shone in disposing Ecclesiastical affairs, who could briefly explain, since almost not the whole world suffices for narrating these things? But I think it is not to be hidden under the key of silence, how great indulgence, by his worthy prayers, divine mercy conferred on Hugh his own brother. For already long before his election to the Apostolate he had put off the man, and this blessed one going to Rome for the cause of the aforesaid ordination had come to Populeium. Where the aforementioned brother of the same appeared through a vision to a certain Cleric of good testimony, and begged his support from the Lord Apostolic with suppliant prayer. Since it seemed to the memorable Cleric that the aforementioned Hugh, in a place filled with ineffable pleasantness, was sitting with many rejoicing together with him on a chariot-seat, but without a footstool kept his feet hanging down to the bottom. Whom when the aforesaid Cleric inquired about the quality of his state, he was answering that things were well with him in all, except that he laboriously hung down with not firm feet. He also asked that the same Cleric entreat his brother this blessed one, going to the Apostolic consecration, that at the entrance of the doors of the Church of the Prince of the Apostles he should remember him, saying that by his prayers divine piety would grant him indulgence. Which vision the aforesaid Cleric reported to the holy Pontiff, and animated him to implore the grace of Christ for the salvation of his brother. by his prayers he transcribes him to heaven: Who afterwards appearing through a vision to the same Lord Apostolic joyful, rendered innumerable thanks; because by his merits the supernal clemency had absolved him from all labors.

[8] Therefore this man most devoted to God, having imitated the morals and life of Leo the Great, by whose name also he had been distinguished, nay more having followed the Lion of the Tribe of Judah according to his ability, became an example of living well to all; he assumes the name of Leo, a burning and shining lamp, not under the bushel, but upon the candelabrum stood forth; and as true salt of the earth, poured into the minds of all the seasoning of supernal wisdom. But although with the gems of all virtues he adorned the diadem of Christ, yet these shone more splendidly in him, mercy and patience; quick in giving indulgence toward the delinquent; with wonderful compassion weeping over those confessing their own crimes; he excels in patience and mercy, in the largesse of alms even to his own need, imprudently bestowing all things. But since there is wont to come to all those pressing on with divine service a goad of adversity, namely divine testing, which shows of what fervor toward God is the affection of each mind; this venerable Father, while in the beginning of his coming he lingers at Rome, is gripped with some pain of distress and grief. For coming there, he had found nothing of the Pontifical supplies: for already all that he had brought with him were consumed in domestic uses, indeed in the bestowal of alms, distributed. The full purses carried by all his companions had failed: he consoles the need of his own, there was no hope of any help, unless they should sell their own clothes at the lowest price, and by some secret art flee the most benign Father and return to their homeland. Whose counsel the blessed man resisted, sagaciously admonishing them to trust in divine solace: but yet from the innermost things he was sympathizing with their affliction with merciful affection. But with the day pressing, on which all his companions had disposed secretly to withdraw, behold legates of the nobles of the province of Benevento are present; he receives gifts from the people of Benevento, bearing gifts suitable to the Apostolic dignity, suppliantly demanding to merit his benediction and consolation. Whom the Prelate worthy of God: received as befitted his honor, he strengthened with sacred benediction, not so much joyful over the offering of gifts, as giving thanks to God for the devotion of the faithful. Then turning to those present, formerly from excessive anxiety not trusting; he at once inveighs against them with charitable rebuke, and exhorts them never more to despair or distrust of God's mercy.

[9] ^b From then on the fame of the blessed man is spread through peoples, and to the ends of the world and all nations his rumor traverses, he is praised by all, the glory of Christ is everywhere proclaimed in

his admirable servant, the name of Pope Leo resounds everywhere in the world with consonant mouth. Nor is it to be wondered that rational creature resounds in his praise, when even irrational animals (wonderful to say) by proclaiming his name formed human voice. For as it is told by truthful reporters, not without prodigies. at Benevento a cock with frequent voice was repeating his name, and about to emit its natural sound, with all wondering, was sounding out "Pope Leo". ^c It is also said that in those times in the borders of Apulia there was a dog, who by barking was accustomed to cry out in human words, "My God". Nor is it incredible, that a brute animal in that region invoked God's mercy in whatever way, when it is certain that the Christian religion had there almost entirely perished, and the inhabitants of that homeland were subject to alien power, so that to the invocation of supernal aid they might at least be roused by the voice of an irrational beast.

[10] He consoles those coming to the thresholds of the Apostles: Therefore with the fame of his eminent praise everywhere spread, beyond custom it was animating many to visit the thresholds of the highest Prince of the Apostles: who all were refreshed by his consolation, and strengthened by his blessing. But if to any the impossibility of enjoying his presence was opposed, with faith they were directing their own gifts to him, about to receive from him the largesse of the Apostolic benediction. He also had as customary with other good acts; that if anything was offered to his feet in the Apostolic manner, he suffered nothing to be spent for his own uses or those of his men, he spends what is offered on the uses of the poor: but lavished all on the needs of the poor. Therefore among the many who were seeking to visit his presence, the King ^d of Denmark sent him a parrot bird as a gift, in which a certain divine grace appeared, with admirable virtue. For although some birds learn to form human words with hunger as mistress; this one however (as is told) with no one compelling it, for the whole journey, while it was being brought to the Lord Prelate, was crying back, "I go to the Pope". ^e And as soon as it was presented to him, with no one teaching, with sweet-sounding voice, it cried out "Pope Leo". he is refreshed by the parrot saying Pope Leo, If at any time also this venerable Pastor, wearied by external disposition, withdrew to a secret chamber, or perchance some sadness constricted his mind afflicted with excessive cares; this bird was frequently at hand as a relief of his sickness, and harmoniously and concisely, sounding out "Pope Leo", excited the strength of his mind. Nor should it seem reprehensible to anyone, that this just man in his own consolation used the modulation of this bird, since we read that blessed Augustine, inconsolably lamenting over the death of his mother, employed for himself a musical melody for the relief of grief; and that Holy Antony granted to the monastic rigor some small relaxation at a certain time.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

Various Councils held: and other deeds done in the year 1049.

[11] But how great diligence in preserving Catholic law he employed, he gathers a Council at Rome, in the first ^a Roman Council, which with many Bishops sitting together he held, he demonstrated: where he corroborated by living voice the statutes of the four principal Synods, and confirmed the decrees of all his predecessor Pontiffs to be held: He also damned the Simoniacal heresy, which had already invaded some parts of the world; against the Simoniacs, and in the same Council he deposed certain Bishops, whom the aforesaid heresy had stained with the mark of its wickedness. In which Council what happened is not fitting to be silent about, where Christ deigned by his grace to strengthen his authority. For the Bishop of ^b Sutri, accused guilty of the same fault, wished unjustly to excuse himself, with false witnesses produced: with one of them being punished by sudden death: but about to take the oath, he was suddenly struck by God; and carried out among their hands, not long after was taken from human affairs. With all hearing this, excessive fear was struck upon them, lest anyone in his presence should be impelled by human shame to false judgment. He also restored to the Churches the tithes to be given by all Christians, of which there was not even mention in Apulia and through certain ends of the world. he prescribes the use of tithes: The sales of altars under anathema he prohibited; but he established that the parts of tithes, pertaining to the Bishop, each Prelate should either retain for himself, or should give to whomever he wished: but he should grant the part pertaining to the altar freely to the proper Pastor of the Church. The incestuous marriages of consanguineous persons, he dissolves incestuous marriages: in many parts of the world indiscriminately held, he dissolved; and separated many nobles, bound by this base knot. Many other chapters of the canons he also strove to renew, which, lest they beget fastidiousness, we here refrain from reciting.

[12] Sweating in these holy studies, he seeks again the ancient ^c homeland, and is received at Cologne by the most noble and most reverend Archbishop of the whole nation, Herimann: seeking his homeland, at whose request Lord Pope granted this privilege to the see of the Church of Cologne, he grants privileges to Herimann Archbishop of Cologne: that at the altar of St. Peter ^d seven Cardinal Priests should daily celebrate the divine office in sandals. He also gave him the office ^e of Chancellor of the holy Roman See, and to his successors, granting him the Church of St. John before the Latin gate. Hence he is invited by Herimar, Abbot of the venerable monastery of St. Remigius Pontiff of the people of Rheims, to consecrate the Church rebuilt in his honor: at Rheims he consecrates the church: where it is not easy to say, how great a multitude from the ends of the earth, of Spaniards, Britons, Franks, ^f English, came to visit his presence.

[13] In which frequency, there was also present a not small company of Pontiffs, he is visited by many, with whom came the venerable Archbishop ^g of the Chrysopolitans ^h Hugh, lovable to God and men, before all of pleasant eloquence and affability: to whom in restoring the things of his Church no one of his predecessors or successors is comparable, in the Council he deposes Simoniacs: in whom the virtue of Christ then appeared admirable. For the glorious Apostolic there, with a Council of Bishops held, deposed certain ones infected with simoniacal heresy from the office unjustly taken up. ⁱ Among whom Hugh Bishop of Langres, infamous with many and horrible accusations, was called to render an account: who sought the aforesaid Archbishop of the Chrysopolitans, as most eloquent, with the patron of one of these being punished, as his advocate and spokesman. He therefore compelled by the Lord Apostolic, undertook to speak his cause: but he suddenly became dumb before the presence of all: so that truly it might be clear, that God did not wish the tongue of so great a Pontiff to be defiled by false excuses of true crimes. Therefore Hugh of Langres, terrified by this miracle, at night, fearing the judgment of the Council, fled. But with all afflicted and weeping over the misfortune of the Archbishop present, the Lord Apostolic with highest contrition of heart turned to Christ, by his holy prayers loosed his impeded tongue. But on the morrow in the synod the same Bishop being asked for, and not being found to be present, with the sentence read, he was called a third time. Then the Bishop of Besançon rose, and how the same guilty one, trying to defend him, had become dumb, he made known before all. Which hearing, the Lord Pope ascribed this miracle to the merits of Bl. Remigius: and rising with all who were present, he gave thanks to God, then to Lord Saint Remigius with great psalmody. and with both doing penance, Afterwards however the aforesaid Bishop of Langres, compelled by divine instinct, returned to the Lord Pope, and with huge tears publicly confessing his crimes, undertook voluntary penance; and going to Rome on bare feet, from the same our pious Pastor merited absolution: and in returning afflicted with excessive fastings, and maceration of body, in good perseverance he left the present life. he consecrates the altar of St. Arnulph at Metz:

[14] Thence returning through the city of the Metz people, at the request of the venerable Abbot ^k Warin he there consecrated the basilica of the holy Pontiff Arnulph; having been asked by Lord Sigifrid ^l Abbot of Gorze, he composed in veneration of the glorious Martyr ^m Gorgonius the sweet-sounding melody of nocturnal responsories. he composes Responsories on St. Gorgonius, Hence he held a general Council at Mainz; in which the Prelate of Speyer Sibicho accused of criminal guilt, he celebrates a Council at Mainz, wished to purge himself by the terrific sacrament of the Lord's Body: but as is told his jaw remained twisted with paralysis, as long as he led the space of the present life. with the sacrilegious man divinely punished: Which I have therefore wished here briefly to note, that it may become known to the hearers, how horrible it is even with secure conscience to approach a judgment of this kind, with sacred Scripture saying, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Heb. 10:31

[15] At Reichenau he dedicates a church, At last Lord Pope at Reichenau in honor of the life-giving Cross dedicated a Church, where divine piety in his own servant showed his grace wonderfully. For among the sacred solemnities of Masses there is brought a demoniac bound with chains, who could scarcely be restrained by the multitude; and possessed by alien violence, he frees a demoniac. emitting horrid screeches, shouts and howls, was overcoming the hymn-singing harmony of all the Clergy with his dire voices. Therefore the servant of Christ, about to begin the sacred Canon, not able to bear such disquiet, as about to direct his whole mind to God, from a distance having made the sign of the Cross, commanded silence with his hand; and faster than said the demon was silent; and the man released from chains, safe, with all wondering, returned to his own home.

ANNOTATIONS

Apostolic See Librarian and Chancellor, and of Lord Hermann Archbishop and Archchancellor of Cologne, in the third year of Lord Pope Leo IX, Indiction IV. He presided from the year 1037 until 1055. Concerning the office and dignity of Chancellor Angelus de Nuce treats in his Notes to chapter 87 of book 2 of the Cassino Chronicle.

CHAPTER IV.

Deeds done in the year 1050 and the following. Various journeys undertaken.

[16] Therefore returning to Rome, he gladdened the people sorrowful over his long absence: returning to Rome, where supernal grace publicized his wonderful merit to all. For the aforesaid Herimar, Abbot of the Monastery of St. Remigius Pontiff of the people of Rheims, had offered him a certain cup of precious ^a marble as a memorial, which the holy man for the charity of the giver had established to be kept for his own uses: he restores a broken cup to integrity, but at a certain time a minister about to give him drink, had found it by chance broken into many parts. Whose particles the elect of the Lord ordered to be brought to him in whatever number they were, and suspecting nothing of the sort about to happen, he placed them in their place as though delighting, and said joyfully to those standing by: The majesty of the Omnipotent is able to restore these fractures to their former integrity. Which having been said, immediately the parts were consolidated, so that in memory of the deed the sign of the fracture, like the subtlest hair, appeared everywhere around: but what was more marvelous, nothing of the liquid placed within was flowing out. There is present a suitable witness ^b of this matter, the venerable Hugh already named Archbishop of Chrysopolis, who with tears testifies that he was present, and rejoices that with devoted theft he took that vessel from the holy man.

[17] About to procure peace and the augmentation of religion he seeks Apulia: But always mindful of the office committed to him by God, as a faithful and prudent servant, dispensing the measure of wheat in time, he took the journey about to traverse the borders of Apulia, that he might repair the Christian religion, which there seemed almost to have perished: and especially being eager to compose concord between the inhabitants of the region and the Normans, whom long before the Princes of the kingdom had received as helpers against foreign nations, but now unwillingly endured as most savage tyrants and devastators of the homeland. Therefore solicitously intent on this holy work he came to Benevento, ^c where delaying for some time, to a certain sick woman with divine grace going before he offered vital aid. he heals a sick woman For for nearly fifteen years worn out with long languor, from her own bed, unless carried by the hands of others, she could not go out: so all her limbs were dissolved with the illness of paralysis. To whom it was shown through revelation, that from the water with which the blessed Pastor had washed his sacred hands after the celebration of Masses she should drink, and without delay she would recover health. Which having been obtained and with faithful hope drunk, on the morrow safe she approached the sacred solemnities of Masses, about to give thanks to God and the holy Pontiff. Therefore the venerable Prelate fervent with the zeal of holy religion, with a Council held at ^d Siponto, deposed two from the office of Archbishopric, in the Council of Siponto he deposes 2 Archbishops: who had taken on the holy ministry with price, by vice of elation one seeking to excel the other. Thence ^e with step retraced he returned to Rome, where admonished by supernal revelation he determined that Bl. Gerard, formerly Prelate of his See, namely of the Leuci, At Rome he enrolls Gerard Bishop of Toul among the Saints: was to be counted in the number of Saints. ^f And in the same year returning to his homeland, he translated his holy limbs with the highest glory. All of which things are clearly set forth in his life and miracles. ^g

[18] But there was in this man of God no small struggle against the invaders of the things of the holy Roman See; and especially against the Bishop of Ravenna, filled with the spirit of contumacy and rebellion: to whom some of the Palatines favored, [those contumacious against St. Leo are divinely punished, with the death of the Bishop of Freising,] envying the glory of the Lord Apostolic. Whose head in the fostering of discord was ^h Nizo Bishop ⁱ of Freising, upon whom divine virtue deigned to show this horrid vengeance. For sent to Italy for the Imperial responses he came to Ravenna, and in favor of the Ravennate began to bring forth detractory words against this Blessed one: among which, with his finger drawn under his throat, he burst out into these blasphemies: Let this throat be cut off with a sword, unless I shall have him deposed from the honor of the Apostolate. Which having been said, in the same moment intolerable pain of the throat invaded him, and impenitent on the third day he met death. and of the Archbishop of the Ravennates, But the Archbishop of the Ravennates on account of his incorrigible presumption was anathematized by the holy Pope. And therefore called to Augsburg by Imperial command, with justice having returned what he had perversely invaded, he was compelled to seek absolution. Who although with contumacious heart prostrate before the feet of the Saint, and the whole company of present Pontiffs asking absolution for him, the blessed man said: According to his devotion may the Omnipotent grant him absolution of all crimes. But he rising, when still swollen with pride he was smiling derisively; the venerable Pastor dissolved in tears, said secretly to those standing around, Alas! dead is that wretched one. Nor delay: he is seized with languor, and scarcely carried back to his homeland, of life and the honor with which he was swollen, is quickly ^k deprived.

[19] At Rome he frees a possessed woman, But the magnificent Pastor revisiting the Roman See, while he was about to celebrate the oblation of the divine Sacrament in Paschal solemnities at St. Lawrence; amid the sacred solemnities of Masses they offered him a certain woman, who full of a demon had lost her sound mind. Whom seeing unceasingly raging, and not bearing the roaring of those around, and her being dragged bound, on the contrary with the standard of the Cross raised, he ordered all to stand at a distance; but the unclean invader soon left her, and with sound mind safe she returned to her own things. But solicitous about the salvation of souls, first specially committed to him, placed at Rome he chose the venerable Primicerius ^l Odo as successor to himself of the holy See of the Leuci, he elects Odo Bishop of Toul, and to substitute him for himself to the Imperial Majesty he directed his own Legate. For on account of the honesty of good morals, and the fervor of holy religion, and the devotion of pious devotion and intention, he judged him worthy of this office; and embracing him with fatherly affection, called him his own son. He also hoped, that by his prudence, with which he abundantly prevailed in divine and human things, whatever might be less fully accomplished in the augmentation of his earliest See could be completed. Which also now for the most part is done, with Christ's assenting vote, and as we truly believe daily his holy devotion toward God will grow. But now we think we should desist from his praises, lest we be marked with the mark of elation: at the end, more securely will it be sung.

[20] There was also in him no small fervor in augmenting the Commonwealth. Therefore the Princes of Hungary, lately dissenting from the Roman Empire, he had approached with manifold legates, that they should not refuse with accustomed subjection to pay the ancient tributes to the Emperor: that he might reconcile the dissenting Hungarians to the Empire, which they had also consented to, if indulgence were granted to them for past offenses. Wherefore admonished by holy piety he was compelled a third time to seek again the ancient homeland, and for the pity of the guilty, he seeks Germany, who had moved war against the Empire, to seek the Imperial ears with persuasive prayers. But because by the faction of certain Courtiers, who were envying the happy acts of the holy man, the ears of the Augustus were closed to the prayers of the Lord Apostolic; therefore the Roman Commonwealth lost the subjection of the kingdom of Hungary, and still grieves that the borderlands are devastated by plunders and fires.

[21] In a vision he recognizes adverse things impending, But while solicitously laboring for the peace of the kingdom he delayed there for some time, divine predestination wished to reveal to him in dreams, what was portended to him to come. For it seemed to him that standing on high he was receiving his familiars fleeing to him from peril, and having enclosed them in his pluvial garment, which is called a Cappa, he saw his garments stained with their blood. Made certain by which vision, with sorrow to come for him and his men, as wheat to be stored in the Lord's granary, he prepares to sustain the temptation. Therefore returning into Italy, in the Council of Mantua he is impeded by a stirred up tumult, he determined to hold a Council at Mantua: which the faction of certain Pontiffs, fearing the severity of his just judgment, disturbed. For their familiars, fosterers of crimes, moved a sudden tumult against the familiars of the Lord Apostolic, standing securely before the basilica in which the public Council was being held; so that the holy man was compelled to rise from the middle of the session, and to proceed before the gate to quiet the noise. Whose presence not revering, hateful to God, the more and more pertinacious in wickedness, they strove to stab to death before his very eyes those unarmed fleeing to him, and to repel them from the doors of the Church that there they might be safe, so that the impetus of arrows and stones flew around the ears and mouth of the same Saint, and wounded some desiring to be defended by his garment. Which tumult being with difficulty calmed, compelled the begun rigor of the Council to be left imperfect. he absolves the author of the sedition. But on the morrow all the instigators of this sedition to be condemned by severe examination, by the most pious Father were absolved with merciful indulgence, lest he seem for the cause of vengeance to exercise asperity of judgment on them.

[22] It also seems unworthy to shut away under late oblivion, what is reported to have happened memorably in his times for divine praise at ⁿ Narni: of which matter all from the least to the greatest of that city are said to have been eyewitnesses. For two years before the venerable Pope here celebrated the Lord's Nativity, it happened on a certain day many were seen passing near the walls of Narni, in summer time that an infinite multitude had passage near those same walls: by the terror of which all the people astonished ascended the walls, as if for the defense of the city about to be taken. Which multitude filled an infinite space of land, as much as human sight could comprehend, and with swift step was running toward the East. But all were seen of wonderful whiteness of habit, and venerable in face and in the grayness of head,

almost of like quality of form in beauty. Which miracle rendered all watching from the walls of the city stupefied, and did not cease to run by from the first morning until the ninth hour. But with the sun declining, that admirable multitude began little by little to grow rare. And one of those watching from the wall, more confident than the rest, dared to go out, and standing near with trembling, was watching, if he could recognize any of them. Then among the last he sees a certain one, formerly familiar to him, a citizen of the same city, a man of good testimony and devoted mind, he understands the dead to circle the holy places. who had not long before run out the end of the present life: whom calling with divine adjuration by name, he called to himself, and demanded that what that great multitude was be made manifest to him. To whom he says: Although you are unworthy to know divine mysteries, yet you should know us sinful souls, still unworthy to possess the joys of the heavenly kingdom, in place of penitence continually to circuit the holy places, and now coming from the greater monastery of St. Martin, to journey to the monastery of the blessed Mother of God Mary at ^o Farfa. Which having been said he disappeared, and left him exhausted with excessive terror, for indeed he languished in bed for a whole year, and reported these same things to the Lord Apostolic with his own mouth.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER V.

The Heresy of the Fermentaceans repressed.

[23] In that time the heresy of the Fermentaceans arose, Against the heretical writings of the Fermentaceans, which calumniates the holy Roman See, indeed the whole Latin and Western Church, for offering life-giving sacrifice to God from unleavened bread. Which calumny also Bishops Michael of Constantinople and Leo ^b of Achrida published in writing, ^a perseveringly breathing out pestiferous ^c mephitic vapors against the holy and Apostolic faith. This calumny indeed, published in Greek speech, and directed to John ^d Bishop of Trani for the beating of all the Latins, when it had been shown at Trani to Brother ^e Humbert Bishop of the holy Church of Silva Candida, was translated into Latin by his zeal, and brought to Lord Pope Leo the ninth. he writes a booklet: Therefore the glorious Apostolic composed a most illustrious booklet, against the already said presumptions and excessive vanities of theirs, trying to lead them to the way of truth: but afterwards he condemned them uncorrected with Ecclesiastical anathema. The aforesaid Brother Humbert also published against their putrid writings a response in the manner of a ^f Dialogue, he condemns the uncorrected: written by him in Latin at the time of his Apocrisariate at Constantinople: and by the command of the religious and orthodox Emperor ^g Constantine Monomachus published in Greek, under the names of the Constantinopolitan and the Roman, in the year of the Lord one thousand fifty-four.

[24] Lord Frederic also, then Chancellor, afterwards elected by God as Apostolic of the Roman See, invectively responded to certain objections, through his Apocrisaries sent to Constantinople, which Niceta a monk of Constantinople, also called Pectoratus, had published against the Latin Church: which booklet he had titled On Unleavened Bread, on the Sabbath, and on the marriages of Priests. Which invective translated from Latin was publicly recited before the aforesaid Emperor, and the same Niceta was compelled to damn and ⁱ burn his writings: Niceta damning his writings with a disputation held in the monastery of Studius in the city of Constantinople. For the glorious Apostolic had directed to Constantinople the Apocrisaries of the holy Roman See, namely the aforesaid Humbert and ^k Peter Archbishop of the Amalfitans, also Frederic then Deacon and Chancellor. ^l From whom Niceta, receiving a perfect solution of his propositions, again spontaneously anathematized all things said and done or attempted against the first and Apostolic see, and he receives him into communion. and so received by them into communion, became their familiar friend. But with Michael the Constantinopolitan Bishop avoiding their presence and colloquy, and persevering in his folly, the aforesaid messengers of the Lord Apostolic approached the Church of holy Sophia; he excommunicates Michael the obstinate Patriarch: and having complained about his obstinacy, with the Clergy customarily prepared for Masses, at ^m the third hour of the day of ⁿ Sabbath they placed the charter of excommunication under the principal altar, under the eyes of the present Clergy and people. Thence soon going out they also shook off the dust of their feet in witness against them, according to the saying of the Gospel, proclaiming, Let God see and judge. Hence with Churches of the Latins ordained within Constantinople itself, and with all anathematized who henceforth should communicate from the hand of a Greek, reviling the Roman sacrifice; having received the permission of the orthodox Emperor, in the kiss of peace with Imperial gifts conferred on St. Peter and themselves, they eagerly returned. Therefore the Emperor being moved against Michael, because he had refused to come to the Council in his presence and that of the messengers of the Lord Apostolic, indeed had incited the sedition of the populace against him; friends and relations of his, deprived of honors, he expelled from the palace, and against him to the end retained grave wrath.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER VI.

Disaster inflicted on the companions of St. Leo: they held as Martyrs, his penance and miracles.

[25] He seeks Apulia: Meanwhile the most pious Pastor, solicitous for the sheep entrusted to him by God, and compassionating with clement affection the unheard affliction of the Apulian nation; with some retinue gathered, again moved the journey toward Benevento, striving in every way to mitigate the most savage impetus of the Normans. It is not for us to expend with tearful words, what happened to him on this journey: while he himself in a brief writing to the Constantinopolitan Emperor intimated all things. For he says among other things.

[26] With that solicitude, by which I owe to watch over all Churches, seeing the undisciplined and alien nation of the Normans, he deplores the savagery of the Normans, with cruel and unheard rage and with more than pagan impiety rise up against the Churches of God, to slaughter Christians everywhere, and some to afflict with new and horrible tortures to the fainting of the soul: to spare neither infant, nor feminine fragility with any respect of humanity; nor to have any distinction between sacred and profane; to despoil the basilicas of the Saints, burn them, and destroy them even to the ground; very often I rebuked, admonished, implored, preached, insisted opportunely and importunely, announced the terror of divine and human vengeance of his perversity. But since, as a certain Wise man says, No one can correct, whom God has despised, and, A fool is not corrected with words; his malice so remained obstinate and hardened, that from day to day he added worse to worst. Whence not only wishing to expend exterior goods for the liberation of the sheep of Christ, but preferring himself to be expended, it seemed to me in testimony of their wickedness nothing so expedient for the repression of contumacy, as that human defense should be drawn from every side: hearing from the Apostle, That Princes do not bear the sword without cause, but are ministers of God, avengers in wrath on every one doing evil; and because Princes are not a terror to the good work but to the evil, and Kings and Princes sent by God for the vengeance of evildoers. Rom. 13:4 Supported therefore by a retinue, such as the brevity of time, and his retinue and imminent necessity allowed, with the glorious Duke and Master Argyrius,

your most faithful man, I thought colloquy and counsel should be sought; not that I wished the destruction of any of the Normans or of any men or treated of death, but that at least by human terror they should come to their senses, who do not in the least fear divine judgments. Meanwhile with us trying to break their pertinacity by salutary admonition, oppressed by them: and with them on the contrary promising all subjection feignedly, with sudden impetus they attacked our retinue, but even now they grieve rather than rejoice over their own victory. For as your piety took care to write to our consolation; for that presumption of theirs they expect for themselves greater indignation to come shortly, after that which they experienced, the diminution of their company. We also trusting that divine help will be with us, and that human will not be lacking, shall not fail from this our intention of freeing Christendom; nor shall we give rest to our times, except with the rest of the holy Church in peril. And these things indeed the Lord Apostolic.

[27] Therefore the worst nation of the Normans, with the slaughter of the household of the gentlest Pope accomplished, not without great detriment to their own, attacks the town called Civitatula, where the same Blessed one, ignorant of what had been done, was awaiting his delaying retinue. Who when he saw the imminent enemies, and understood what had happened to his own; he passes through the midst of the enemies: with that company of Clerics which remained to him, seized the begun journey toward Benevento, and with all the enemies astonished, as a confident Lion without terror he passed through the midst of them. ^b Therefore pondering such admirable confidence, with minds changed, they were converted to his compliance, whose footprints kissing, they were demanding for themselves unmerited indulgence. To whom the holy man speaking a few words for the time, with them serving, took care to procure the funerals of the slain honorably, burying them in a neighboring church, ruined from ancient time. And because ^c for the love of Christ and the liberation of the afflicted nation they had wished to undergo devoted death, he has the slain honorably buried, with manifold revelations he showed them by divine grace to rejoice perpetually in the heavenly kingdom: for they themselves in diverse ways showed themselves to the faithful of Christ, saying that they were not to be mourned with funeral exequies, as Martyrs held, indeed in supernal glory joined to the holy Martyrs. From the same also their killers over them rebuilt a basilica with beautiful work, and with an assembly of those serving God there gathered, and shining with miracles, the most omnipotent virtue of God works through them many marks of miracles. But the most ferocious nation of the Normans terrified by these deeds, with cruelty laid aside, thenceforth treated more amicably as fellow-countrymen the peoples with whom it cohabited, and to the venerable Pope as long as he lived faithfully served in all subjection.

[28] But the eminent Pastor coming to ^d Benevento, with those very Normans even unbidden accompanying him serviceably through the whole journey, he comes to Benevento, delayed there for no small space of a year, exercising himself in holy virtues, in patience, vigils, fasts and prayers. For he shunned all softness of bed: but with hair shirt taken to his flesh, he sleeps hard, and reclining on a rug of the earth as a bed, with a stone placed at his head, in nocturnal hours he took a little sleep, he reads the Psalter by night and day, and the remaining space of the night with the singing of the whole Psalter, and with innumerable bending of knees he ran through: also going through the same Psalter on individual days, with the offering of the divine Sacrifice, he untiringly passed through the course of manifold prayers. in his fifties he learns Greek: That also was admirable in him, that being beyond fifty he served with such zeal, that for reading divine Scriptures he was learning the Greek language. And because with the bowels of piety and mercy, he feeds the poor: beyond what can be believed, he was overflowing, an innumerable multitude of the poor were untiringly running to his largesse, to whom without discretion he was ministering necessary things.

[29] Thus persisting in these pious acts, while one evening all his household had withdrawn for nocturnal sleep, he himself with a lamp going before with a boy was walking through the empty space of his Palace, and he saw lying in a corner a leper, the leper lifted onto his own shoulders, with torn rags and covered with ulcers, wasting with lurid rottenness: who pressed with excessive illness was not able to move his step, and scarcely was able to bring forth words from his exhausted body. To whom the venerable Father on bent knees for a long time familiarly spoke, and wrapped in his own clothes, on his own shoulders he brought him to the bed, which had been prepared for himself in the Pontifical manner: he places in his own bed: and with the doors barred within, and the servant sleeping, he himself insisted on the accustomed psalmody in the neighboring oratory. At last after a long hour, according to his usual custom about to lie on the ground he returned, whom sought he does not find: the leper whom he had placed on the raised couch he did not find in the least, he asks the awakened boy whither the poor man had gone. He astonished goes around all the corners of the house, solicitously tries the approaches of the doors, but finding all barred, returns with highest astonishment. Therefore the Lord Apostolic stupefied by this deed gives his weary limbs to soporific rest, he wishes the miracle concealed: and seeing something divine in dreams, in the morning with terrifying adjuration orders the boy, that to no one as long as he lived should he in any way open what had happened. I believe that Christ appeared to him in dreams, as to Bl. Martin the Pontiff, clothed in his garments; or, like ^e Martyrius the Monk, he saw the leper leaping up from his arms ascending to heaven: and for the cause of humility, lest the virtue of pride creep upon him from human praise, he wished this miracle to lie hidden: yet not without reason he ordered such a deed to be concealed under such great threatening.

[30] Again on a certain day there alone with one Cleric he was insisting on the exercise of holy psalmody: when behold a certain peasant, leading with him his insane daughter had come: whom he was exclaiming with sighs was often tortured by a very bad demon, and with tears and groans was demanding that by his merits she be freed. To whose prayers the pious Father for a longer time striving to contradict, ordered him to implore the suffrages of the Saints, he frees a possessed woman, of whom innumerable relics were contained there, with suppliant vow. But the peasant obstinate in his purpose, indeed established in the stability of solid faith, said he would not depart from there, until he should merit divine help by his benediction. Therefore the holy man, conquered by his importunity, blessed a grain of salt found nearby, and cast it into the girl's mouth with the invocation of the divine name; and soon with the demon expelled with purulent blood, the joyful father returned home with his safe daughter. Many admirable things could be reported about this Saint, but it must yield to the studious reader; or the incredulous hearer, and therefore briefly commemorating his passage, let us impose an end to the begun work.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER VII.

Illness, death, burial.

[31] Therefore with the course of the good contest consummated, he was burning daily with more abundant desire of supernal beatitude, and as though with Paul he were saying, he celebrates Mass for the dead more often: the world is crucified to me, and I to the world, so thoroughly he was caring to renounce the cares of this life, that still placed in the body he seemed to exercise the blessed life of Angelic conversation. Gal. 6:14 For the rest of the dead also to the celebration of the incorrupt Sacraments he was watching more frequently than usual: and although this labor had been principal to him during the whole time of his dwelling, yet with more fervent zeal and with a more copious number of vows he was insisting on such a glorious work around the day of his death. And since the providence of divinity, both by indulging and by scourging, works the salvation of those obeying, he falls into illness: to the heaping up of virtue he so scourged him with saving affliction, that with the desire for all food lost, the pain of the creeping disease compelled him to continue, what he once used to exercise spontaneously, the fasts, with only a cup of water providing sustenance to his withered body.

[32] Meanwhile with the cycle of the year run out the ^a anniversary day of his ordination was at hand, on which accustomed more devoutly every year he was insisting on pious prayers to Christ. On the anniversary of his ordination Therefore although the growing distress of languor had already weakened the inward parts of the body wearied by divine works; yet strengthened by the Holy Spirit, by whom the whole course of his life was being directed, he celebrates his last at Benevento, performing the solemnities of Masses on that day with the honor of Apostolic dignity, he gladdened the Beneventans, with whom he then was staying, with joy of gracious affability. And this was the last service in divine Sacraments, in which he had always shown himself worthy. But being certified about the term of his calling, he had himself ^b carried to Rome by a litter vehicle. In which journey divinity so reconciled him not only his own, he is carried back to Rome, but also those who lately had been enemies; that an abundant band of Normans, whom we above reported long to have had discord with this man, he is led by the Normans: with the most sincere devotion of whole mind anticipated one another in his service. And it befitted indeed the strongest defender of the Christian religion, that about to approach the Palaces of his King Christ he should be led with a noble triumph of victory, namely with the tamed multitude of enemies now subjugated going before. Therefore delaying a little in the Lateran Palace, from the Lateran Palace, he was awaiting what the most clement disposition of the internal judge might decide about him.

[33] But blessed Peter, not unmindful of the long sweat, by which this memorable man had been helper to him in ruling the sheepfold of the Church, decided to join him to himself more closely; inasmuch as about to be a participant in the magnificent honor and glory, which by the preceding grace of the supreme Pastor he imparted to the Roman Church. Therefore he was taught by divine revelation, taught by revelation, that the dissolution of flesh would not otherwise remain for him, except in the places near the Oratory of Bl. Peter. And without delay, rejoicing over such a vision, and understanding himself to be visited by the mercy of divine regard, carried by litter again he entered the Oratory of Bl. Peter. he is carried to the Oratory of St. Peter, ^c There from the innermost bottom of his heart with tears flowing, stretching out to God a pure mind with his hands, for a very long time he invoked the clemency of the Lord with secret prayers. Then carried to the neighboring house of the Episcopate, he was visited by a frequency of faithful ones, flowing to him by the grace of highest love. Whose pious consideration, weighing that he was not to be retained longer in the prison of the body, decreed that since more throngs of Bishops, Abbots, and of the other faithful had flowed together, with them present he should be anointed with the liquor of sacred oil. he is fortified with the last Sacraments:

[34] By which deed made cheerful everywhere and fortified with the communion of the Lord's body and blood, in the Teutonic language, as those who were present have testified, he spoke with God in such a prayer: he commits himself to God, Merciful Lord, Redeemer of all, only salvation, if you judge it expedient to the eyes of your majesty, that I may still serve the common utility of your peoples; may I merit (I pray) by the swift medicine of your visitation to escape the trouble of the present illness: but if your divinity's providence deliberates anything else, I pray, Lord, that as quickly as possible it be granted me to go out of the dwelling-places of this body. Having finished his prayers, looking at those standing by,

he gave thanks to each for the service shown to him: and composing his weary limbs for rest, he reported himself to feel the pain more tolerably than usual. The multitude of surrounding faithful believed, and he dies at the hour predicted by himself: that soon he would lay down the spoils of the flesh: and with sighing sobs they were loosing fitting obsequies for the departing soul. Whose voices the blessed man suppressing said, This, which is now being done, defer to the third hour of the morrow's day, awaiting what may please the omnipotence of God about me. Therefore with more watchful affection on the next day at the third hour there was present a copious crowd of the faithful, and around the ninth hour his spirit loosed from the flesh, seeking the heavens, they conduct with most devoted commendation.

[35] But with the multitude of all the Roman people overflowing, his exequies were celebrated with the highest honor: and as he himself had disposed, he was buried near the altar of the blessed Pontiff Gregory, he is buried near the altar of St. Gregory. before the doors of the church. And rightly in the beauty of burial he stands joined to him, whom in divine religion and the restoration of the holy Church he faithfully imitated: whose life and sanctity someone in a short distich thus pursued:

Victorious Rome grieves, widowed of the ninth Leo: Scarcely from many will she have such a Father.

But this magnificent man was taken from the labors of this life, fifty years old, in the year of the Lord's incarnation one thousand fifty-four ^d, the twenty-eighth ^e of his Episcopate of Toul, but the sixth of his Apostolate: died in the year 1054, 6 of his See, for indeed he sat at Rome five years, with two months and nine days added, the vision fulfilled which we above reported concerning the revelation of the chalices. For the five chalices conferred on him by blessed Peter, signified the quinquennial space of his life: the remaining three, the triennium of his successor Victor: the one following, the course of one year in the Apostolate of Frederic of blessed memory. But since there still remain very many things to say, the miracles which by divine piety are done at his tomb, we leave to the Romans to engrave, he shines with miracles: in whose presence they are daily shown. It is ours to entreat his merits with devoted prayers, that the bowels of piety and mercy, with which in the present life he abounded, he is invoked by the writer, now placed in the supernal glory he may deign to open to us: so that by his holy intercession with the bonds of our crimes broken, we may merit to be participants of the supernal glory, with him assenting who in his Saints works wonders, from whom also is sung praise to himself and the giving of thanks in the ages of ages. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS

HISTORY OF THE DEATH AND MIRACLES

Collected from the Strozzi, Hubertine, and Beneventan Mss.

Leo IX, Roman Pontiff (St.)

BHL Number: 4819, 4820, 4821

FROM MSS.

PROLOGUE.

[1] In the year one thousand fifty-four of our Lord Jesus Christ, Indiction VII, on the thirteenth day before the Kalends of May, let us exult in the deposition of our Blessed Father Pope Leo IX, with Henry the Emperor son of Emperor Conrad reigning at Rome. ^a To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the memory of Bl. Pope Leo, let us strive to make known this labor of the contest, which we saw with our eyes, all the Priests and Deacons and all the Catholics of the Holy Roman Church. Often we saw in his life great largesse, The Author writes things seen by himself. or distribution of alms to poor citizens and pilgrims, so that all the treasures of the Church and all that he could have, he distributed for the greatest part to widows, orphans and those fearing God. Therefore the perfidy of the Romans stirred up murmur and wars against him: for as an unconquerable wall of his Church the Lord raised him against the demented heretics, many had been catechized by this man in literary studies. This beneficent Prelate Leo smoothly flattered the humble, this one constricting the necks of the proud, this one to detractors of his life providing necessary sustenance, preaching virginity, defending chaste marriages, extolling the glorious contests of virtues, accusing the lapse to Clerics, and depravity to monks, also where the matter required with the sweetest variety mixed in examples of the Gentiles: but yet this was not of his will, but, so to speak, of the gravest necessity, so that he might prove those things which by the holy Prophets before the ages were predicted, as much in the tongues or letters of Greeks as of Latins, and of other nations; truly unfolding all, adorning all, and through the kinds of disputation always going equally. When truly we shall have said the Catholic knowledge of that man; sound doctrine, wherever he converses in place, remains firm with the stability of faith. ^b For we have excerpted these few things from his life, but more let us leave to the skill of the masters; and about his wonders, which we saw, let us faithfully teach.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER I.

The last acts and admonitions of St. Leo: most pious death.

[2] On April 17 sick he exhorts the Bishops and others: On the fifteenth day before the Kalends of May, when he was long wasting in body from a grave illness, on the same Lord's Day ^a the fifteenth after Easter, he called all the Bishops and Clerics to himself, and thus spoke to them, saying: Hear, my Brothers and Coepiscopi, for the Lord has called me from this life. ^b But be mindful of the Evangelical word saying: Watch because you do not know at what hour your Lord shall come. Matt. 25:13 For I ask you, most dear ones, that you look upon me, and consider how the flowers of this world quickly wither. in a vision he is invited by his slain companions For unhappy I, who unworthy have taken on the honor of the Apostle Peter, now as to the parts of the body am almost reduced to nothing. For so to me is obscured this present world, as though I already dwelt in a most obscure house: because in this night in a vision I saw that world to which I am about to go; and I seem as though I no longer dwell in this age, but rather in that which in a vision I foresaw; for which I am fearing and exceedingly afraid. For I saw many things which I was afraid to see. Yet I rejoiced in our Brothers, who fighting in Apulia for God were slain. For I saw them ^c in the number of the Martyrs, and their garments shining like gold; all holding palm branches in their hands, full of unfading flowers, and with loud voice calling me saying: Come, stay with us, because through you we possess this glory. Hence from another part responding to one another I heard another voice: By no means, but on the third day he will be in our fellowship: he foreknows himself to die on the third day: because this is his place, and his seat happily prepared stands among us. But if you do not believe my vision, test what I said. If I shall remain more than three days in this age, let this vision be deemed empty and vain: and if on the announced day I shall pass, whatever I say is to be kept by you. Now let each one go to his own place, and at dawn breaking come to me. With many withdrawing to their own houses according to his precept, certain ones stood with him through the whole night: from whom it is said and wonderfully testified, that the whole of that night, placed in such a burden of illness, he led wakeful, and prostrate on the ground for the flock committed to him remained in prayer.

[3] April 18 carried to the church, With morning made, with all the Clergy coming and all the Roman people, he ordered them to lead him to his marble tomb in the church: which done, he ordered the bed, on which he was lying, to be sent into the church. But the Romans seeing his tomb to be carried to the church, rushed in with one accord going to the Lateran palace that they might despoil it, as was their custom: but such was the merit and virtue of the most blessed Leo, that not one could proceed, nor enter within the palace. Seeing these things, all confused and terrified with fear, with great shame they returned. Meanwhile the most blessed Pontiff, when he had ordered his couch to be carried into the church of St. Peter, having convoked all the faithful who were present, ordered them to sit and with attentive ears to hear his precepts. Who sitting with utmost silence, he said ^d: Brothers and fellow-servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, he gives salutary admonitions to those present, be mindful of the precepts of God, and walk in good acts, while you still have light. For I command that no one presume to buy a villa or vineyard or land, or any thing pertaining to the rule of the holy Church for the purpose of holding by possession to his own use: he who shall presume to do this, without doubt will incur the wrath of the eternal judge. Likewise I command that the use of swearing be blotted out from your heart: for you are known to have incurred many perjuries, which I for God's sake have released to you, although you again fell into the same. Besides I charge you all, that you do not mingle with your consanguineous women. Likewise I command that to men coming from almost all parts to pray to God and his Apostle, for their own and all Christians' salvation, no one show hindrance: I also command that of all the fruits of the earth which God shall have given you, and of the animals, you give the first-fruits to him; unless you shall do such things, you cannot be saved.

[4] Saying these and similar things to the people, he called near himself all the Bishops and Clerics, with whom making a true confession and having turned thence toward the East, lying on his little bed he gazed at the holy Cross, he pours forth various prayers, and drenched with tears prayed for a very long time; and remitting the sins of those, who canonically had been bound by him, he absolved them: rather also all the others; If you shall keep, he said, what I have commanded you, let indulgence be given you for past evils. And saying these things again he looked to heaven, and thus prayed: Lord Jesus Christ, good Pastor, who through your Gospel ^e yesterday deigned to say: I am the good shepherd, who for my sheep lay down my life,

You pious Shepherd descended from heaven, and overshadowed Bl. Mary with the Holy Spirit, and him whom the whole world cannot contain wonderfully dwelt in her womb alone, and put on the servile form for us sinners, and chose twelve Apostles, to whom you granted the proper license of binding and loosing, and made Peter the Apostle the foundation of the Church, saying to him: Whatsoever you shall bind on earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose on earth, shall be loosed in heaven. Matt. 16:19 You, Lord, said: Ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened to you; therefore I beseech your clemency and ask, that to me, whom you wished unworthy to reside on his most holy chair, chiefly for the state of the Church, you may deign to grant my petition with accustomed piety. Matt. 7:7 For I ask that you keep your Holy Catholic Church, spread through the whole world; grant her peace; from visible and invisible enemies protect her and defend her, and drive away all the depravity of heretics and perfidy from her. I also entreat your clemency, that to your faithful ones our brothers, who for defending the holy Catholic and Apostolic Church have poured out their blood, you grant absolution of all sins, and order them to be associated in the number of those, who for your name have laid down their souls; that all the faithful may know, that you are the faithful remunerator of all good things. I also implore, conversion of heretics and the excommunicated: immense God, your clemency, that all depravity of infidels or heretics you break, that they may know you to be the true God Jesus Christ. I also beseech your piety, that of all, who have been anathematized or excommunicated, the bonds and sins you may deign to absolve, and make them to be truly converted to your truth, that they may know that I acted not conquered by envy, but to confirm the truth of faith, and let your most pious blessing be shown upon them. Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your Apostles: Into whatever house or city you shall enter, say, Peace be to this house; I ask your piety, peace to the regions in which he was, that to whatever city or province I have walked, you grant peace and concord to those who for your peace and blessing received me, and in your name did obedience to me. Luke 9:4 For you said: Who receives you receives me, and who receives me, receives him who sent me. Matt. 10:40 Lord, who not by my merits, but by your piety, made me Vicar of your Apostle Peter, and gave the power of binding and loosing; deign to bless the servants and handmaidens of the whole province, through which I have walked: and those whom I have seen with my eyes and bodily blessed, let them be spiritually filled and you may deign to absolve them from all sins, and make fruitful in them the preaching which I preached to them: and command the perfidy of the Jews or heretics to come to their senses, and deign to convert them through the whole world to you and to fulfill your will: and to all provinces and cities, through which your servant has walked, give fullness of wheat, wine, and oil, that they may know that I walked in your name, as you commanded the Apostles: Go into all the world, preach the Gospel to every creature. Mark 16:14 I indeed walked in your command, taught, besought, rebuked. You know; all were done faithfully: but because you are a pious father, deign to convert all your adversaries to your piety, that they may know you to be the true God, who are blessed through the ages of ages. Then all who were there responded, Amen.

[5] In that hour such a great odor proceeding from the altar of St. Peter the Apostle filled the whole church, that no one of men thought it was other than the pleasant odor of Paradise. This done he ordered a golden cup to be brought to him, ^f full of bread and wine. Which having been brought, he ate of it as much as he could take in his mouth, and ordered it to be given to the Bishops present, who similarly eating from it gave it to all standing by; and for the conversion of Simoniacs: This thus performed he raised his eyes to heaven, and prayed secretly for as long as the space of one hour: and after raising his voice, mildly he said: Great God, Redeemer of the human race, who through your Apostles Peter and Paul commanded the perfidy of Simon to fall from on high with your name invoked: as you deigned to hear them, so deign to hear me your servant, and convert to yourself Theophylact and Gregory and Peter who in almost the whole world have solidified the Simoniac heresy: and so make them know the way of truth, that they may leave behind their error, and to you, most gentle Lord, approaching the tomb, return. For you promised saying: I do not wish the death of the sinner but that he be converted and live: recall them from error, you who converted Paul the persecutor; convert them, that they may know you the true God Father, Son and Holy Spirit: and all standing around responded, Amen. And again he said to those standing by: Go sons each to your own home, and at the first hour of tomorrow's day return to me. And soon he rose from the little bed, on which he was lying: and went to the tomb prepared for him; and leaning over it with tears said: See, Brothers, from such great riches and honors, how small and vile a little dwelling we await: for I so far filled with such great riches, and decorated with dignities, of all these I await only this marble, which you see. he professes the future resurrection, And raising his hand with the sign of the holy Cross he signed it: Blessed are you among stones, who not by my dignity but by the mercy of God, have been worthy to be associated with me: receive me with joy, and at the time of retribution present me on the couch of resurrection. For I believe that my Redeemer lives, and on the last day from the earth I am to rise, and in my flesh I shall see God my Savior. And this he said weeping.

[6] He passes the night in prayer: ^g And returning to his little bed, he blessed all who were there: of whom some returned to their own homes, some persevering with him afterwards reported to us, that they had heard him persevering through the whole night in great prayers, and had publicly heard him praying: Lord God of hosts, look upon me your servant, and hear my prayer, and deign through your grace to hear all praying to you in truth: grant that your preaching may not be empty to all hearing it, but show your truth in us; and where your name has been invoked through me your servant, deign to hear those who invoke from whatever tribulation they shall have cried: and if there shall be any of the faithful who wish to note my anniversary memory, either through churches or through the distribution of alms, deign, Lord, to restore to them a hundredfold, and after this age grant them eternal life. Not for my dignity, but for your goodness I ask this; for you said: Ask and you shall receive. Matt. 7:7 I ask unceasingly that I may be heard by you, so that to you may you give grace to the faithful. I knock that you may open your doors to me. I do not seek according to my merit, but according to your piety: I do not knock according to my justice, but according to your great mercy. I do not ask that my name be exalted, who have not merited such gifts: but that you may deign to exalt the Apostolic See, for your name Lord, who are blessed through the ages of ages. Amen.

[7] He is visited by SS. Peter and Paul: But on the following night certain religious men saw a not dissimilar vision, two men clad in most white garments standing before the little bed of the aforementioned Pontiff, holding a charter in their hands, speaking with him and writing, whom ^h they truly recognized to be the Apostles of Christ Peter and Paul. Seeing this they rose from sleep: and the bells began to be struck at the morning time. And when the day had shone, with all the Bishops, Priests and Deacons gathered, April 19 and all the Clergy and Roman people in the church of Bl. Peter; he rose from the little bed, governed here and there by his two ministers, to the sacred altar of Bl. Peter himself: before which when weeping he had prostrated himself to the ground, he prayed as for the space of one hour: and returning to the little bed ordered silence to be made, admonishing the people in a brief sermon. Hence he fortified his body with the sign of the most glorious Cross of Christ, and with the Bishops called made confession, and having taken the sacred Eucharist and ordered Mass to be sung for him by one of the Bishops: from whom receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, he said: Hear for the Lord's sake, keep silence, perhaps I could on account of weariness take a little sleep: and when he had inclined his head into the bed, for about half an hour he rested: in which quietude he fell asleep in peace. Then one of the Bishops rose and touched him, thinking he was alive: whom when he had known to be deceased, he announced to the other Coepiscopi who were present, that all should pray to the Lord. I am about to say wonderful things, he piously dies, which the Lord has deigned in his own doings. At the hour in which the excellent Prelate commended his soul to Christ, with none of the ministers striking it, the bell sounding of its own accord: by itself the bell of St. Peter began to sound. At which hour namely a certain one named Albert, and five others from the city of Todi attested that they had seen as it were a street adorned with shining palls and shining with innumerable lamps, the soul seen by an Angel, to be led among lamps to heaven, in which his soul was being led by Angels ⁱ to heaven. So great therefore was the quiet at his death through the whole Roman city, that not even the leaves of trees did the air slightly stir. But the most blessed Pope Leo died on the 13th day before the Kalends of May, feria IV, and was buried in peace. For truly God by his piety made pious Leo. But lest the slowness of time seize me, let me approach those things which I am about to say: for these few things we have wiped from his life from many; but about the miracles, which the Lord has deigned through him to show after his passage, let us faithfully teach.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER II.

Miracles after death up to the vigil of the Ascension.

[8] On the day April 20 But on another day after his death, a certain woman from the parts of Tuscany came to the Church of the Blessed Apostle: and when she had begun to ascend through the steps, the demon began to vex her and to cry through her mouth, and to say, O St. Leo, why do you draw me bound with fiery chains? I never harmed you. And when she had been led to his tomb, those standing by began to rebuke the demon and say: Tell, cursed one, how you came here, [the demon confesses from the mouth of a possessed woman how he secretly invades men] or whence have you taken such strength against Christians for vexing. The demon responded: I and those who are with me, are sent to subvert the soul of man, and so long to tempt until we accomplish the fulfillment of our mandates. And when obeying us he consents to serve, his body as our own house we enter, which indeed for much time we dwell secretly. Then some of the Priests said: Tell, wicked one, and when you dwell secretly in man's body, how do you then first harm him. The demon responded: First we begin to put in him sleepiness, laziness and hunger: and while sleeping and being lazy he rests, we acquire the greatest gain. And when we have subjected his whole body to our power, it happens that he goes to church, and mingles with good and Catholic men: whose spiritual eloquence not being able to bear, and openly, excited with wrath we begin to tear his body, because we cannot be hidden any longer. Then said one of the Bishops standing by: I adjure you by him who lives in the ages of ages, that you tell us, if Leo the servant of God and Pope enjoys any power among the Saints. But he with groaning and sighing said: O wicked one, why did you name that adversary of ours and seducer of the whole province, through whom so great a nation has been subverted, and separated from our fellowship; he also daily expels us and constrains us with the bonds of chains, and casts us out of our dwellings: whence wandering and unstable and venal, walking through deserts and unfruitful places, we never find rest in anything. she being dismissed, And the Bishop said: You do not respond to what I asked: but you seem to note other things. And the demon responded. Leo, your Pope and Lord, is truly among the Saints, among whom he obtains a great triumph: who does not cease daily to pursue us, that he may be able to empty our name: through whom today I am to be cast out of this house. With him saying such things, a certain woman responded, among the others of perfidious mind, saying: In the hour in which Pope Leo shall have put demons to flight, I shall be Queen; and all whom he caused to be destroyed by the sword, I shall at once resuscitate. Scarcely had she completed such words, suddenly by the demon she began to be cruelly vexed; but that woman, he invades another blasphemer against St. Leo, who had come from the parts of Tuscany, at the same hour was freed from the demon. Then all the people who were present began to be terrified with fear, crying out with one accord, Holy Leo, spare us because we have acted unjustly.

[9] In that hour two contracted men came to his tomb, having knotted and twisted knees, 2 contracted are healed, whose heels adhered to their buttocks: who coming, returned healed, having no sign of their former infirmity. On the same day at the vesper hour, came a certain man mute and deaf, a mute and deaf man, and having his left side dried, and wholly stained with a certain phantasm; who when he had been carried to the sacred tomb, was loosed from the bonds by which his body was held. Then all began to honor God the author of salvation with continuous praises, who works such wonders through his Holy Pontiff Leo. The Romans therefore seeing such virtues, ran in rivalry with candles and offerings, rejoicing and exulting.

[10] But on another day came a certain man from France, who had his body constricted with an iron girdle, April 21 one constricted with an iron girdle is freed: so that around the body much pus was running down to the ground: which those present seeing stopped up their nostrils for excessive fear and stench, entreating the Lord, that through the merits of St. Leo he would deign to succor that wretched man. Wonderful thing! At once the iron cracked, and with much pus poured out the man was restored utterly to health: at which all rejoicing, began to praise God and his servant St. Pontiff.

[11] In that hour the demon through the mouth of that woman who above had said, In the hour in which Pope Leo shall have put demons to flight, I shall be Queen; and those whom he caused to be destroyed by the sword, I shall resuscitate; began to cry saying: Alas alas! why do we enter and are forced to go out with torments? We did no harm to you Leo, why do you not permit us to rest even for one hour? possessed the day before by a demon, Then the Bishops who were present said: Cursed one, return whence you came here, and go out from her. Who responded: I cannot return whence I went out, because it is sealed: for yesterday I went out from my house, and this one in exchange I received. And the Bishop said: And why do you go out voluntarily from this one? He responded: Because Leo gave her to me to possess yesterday, because of the blasphemies which she spoke against him: but yet he is unstable, and his speeches are not true: yesterday he gave us, and today he will cast us out of this dwelling. Then said the Bishop: And whence do you know that today he will cast out? The demon responded: You saw yesterday, when he loosed a mute tongue, at that hour he proceeded with ^b Mark Bishop of Apulia and with Marcian Bishop ^c of the Frequentine Church to Benevento. The Bishop said: For what cause did they proceed. The demon responded: I do not know, many things about St. Leo but I know that they are in Apulia, where the Normans committed battle against the Saints. The Bishop said: Truly are the Germans holy, who are there killed? The demon says: Thirty and five are sanctified of them, through whom signs and wonders happen in that place, and about those killed in Apulia he spoke, because they came willingly and with fidelity preferred to fight for justice. The others who died there are all in paradise, but because they came unwillingly, they are by no means counted among those. Those thirty-five also came by their own will, and rejoicing gave themselves to death, for the God whom they worshiped: and through them many evils grow against us. The Bishop said: Did those Saints come to Rome? The demon responded: Truly, he said, today they will come with Pope Leo. Some of the Priests said, who were present: And whence shall we know when they come here? Or when shall we be able to know? The demon responded: Quickly now they are near Rome: and when they come I shall no longer be able to stand here. For here are also other brothers of mine; when they come, all with me will seize flight. But you look at the lamp before his image, and you will know the sign of their coming. Then truly according to the demon's word, at about the fourth hour, a great odor was made through the whole church; and those looking at the lamp, saw it ascend near the roof of the church, with which also three lamps seemed to burn. In the very hour the demon began to howl like a wolf, and vexing the woman a little went out from her. she is freed. Then those standing around began to praise God and Bl. Leo his servant. d

[12] On the third day after the burial of Bl. Pope Leo the Ninth, On April 22 two contracted men are healed, two miracles were done at his tomb, namely two men, who had long lain before the doors of the Prince of the Apostles: contracted, through the merit of Bl. Pope Leo they went away erect, and almost the whole city knew this, which had before seen them contracted. A certain woman, and another contracted for 16 years: languishing and contracted for the space of sixteen years, lying on a bed, was carried to his tomb: and because she faithfully believed, she returned thence healed and erect: and this likewise is known to the citizens. But another woman from the Lateran, Stephana by name, wife of a certain Peter, a possessed woman is freed: having a demon, came to his tomb: where vomiting blood and rolling herself, she brought forth three black coals from her mouth: with which also the demon departed, and she with sense received praising God returned.

[13] In the Greater Litany, at his tomb a lamp was lit by divine fire. Nor was this done once, but twice and thrice, April 23 a lamp is lit of its own accord: and all the Roman multitude which on that day flowed to the Church of Bl. Peter saw this. In the Merculana ^e region a certain woman, Rogata by name, having a demon from her infancy, having heard of the miracles came to the tomb: a woman possessed from infancy is freed, where lying she brought forth unclean spirits, namely first a mouse with three heads, second a little frog, third a lizard, fourth a frog, fifth a ^f hornet: and after much effusion of blood, was restored to health, with many witnesses proving it not only by hearing but also by sight. A certain woman, by name Stephania, dwelling across the Tiber, another possessed for a long time: vexed by a demon for a long time, hearing the fame of the blessed Body came, and vomited two coals together with much blood. Which done she was restored to health, and with mind recovered she was seen by all standing by to return free. In the region of ^g Arenula, a certain man dwelt named John, a withered hand is cured: who with nerves contracted, had a withered hand from his mother's womb. He coming to the tomb of the blessed man, brought it back extended and strong.

[14] Two penitents bound with iron are freed: A certain man, coming from distant regions, in penitence bound with iron, stood before the tomb: and while for a long time lying in prayer he was weeping for his committed things, by the gift of Divine piety, the iron, where it had been more solid, cracked. A certain Nun, similarly bound with iron, approached the little place; and in the same way loosed from the iron, blessing the Lord who is wonderful in his Saints, a contracted man is healed, returned safe to her own things. In one day two young men were restored to health, of whom one having his mouth twisted to his right ear, and a withered hand with the whole side: whom his mother by name Mary, wife of John of Orbitanum, weeping carried on her shoulders; but with a double happy miracle, rejoicing she returned with her son, and this one is known to all dwelling at St. Angelo. But the other from infancy deprived of the office of both hands, restored to health, lives by the labors of his hands.

[15] With many standing by a certain mute man received speech, named Guido, born from Casamala. A mute man and 3 contracted A certain boy, Peter by name, received the office of the right hand. A certain boy from the region of the Colosseum, had a withered right hand, with the whole side and foot: whom his mother, Stephania by name, weeping carried to the tomb itself; and he was restored to health with many standing by and seeing. A certain man, Benedict by name, ^h a Phlebotomist, dwelling in the region Septemviis, full of ulcers, full of ulcers, having heard of the miracles came to the tomb; and there through the merit of the blessed Pontiff, was made whole, so that not even a sign of the scar appeared in his flesh. A certain man, Majus by name, from ⁱ Palliano, dwelling across the Tiber, vexed by a demon for fifteen years, possessed for 15 years having heard the fame of the blessed man, came to his tomb, and vomited two ^k blattulae, with much blood, with which also the demon departed. A certain youth, a blind man, a mute man, Franco by name, who had been blind, received the light, nephew of the doorkeeper of St. Mary de Monte acuto. A certain youth from the City of Tivoli, John by name, son of John, mute from his mother's womb, with many standing by received speech.

[16] A certain man Benedict by name, dwelling in the Campus Martius, had a son named Gratian, one contracted in foot, who had a withered left foot. He through the merit of Bl. Leo being restored to health, rejoicing returned with his father. A certain man named Peter, a mute, son of Nuccius the phlebotomist, inhabitant of the same region, mute from his mother's womb, with many standing by received speech. A certain woman from Fallari, vexed by a demon, possessed came to the tomb, and there was freed. ^l A certain woman from Aquapendente, having a withered hand, contracted in hand, having heard of the miracles came to the place, and received the office of her hand. A certain man, born from the Tuscan parts, having a withered hand, through the merit of Bl. Leo was restored. A certain woman, Mary by name, dwelling in the castle of Cornazano, having a withered left hand, came to the tomb: and there was healed. Another woman, Beatrix by name, from the Apulian parts, having a withered right hand, likewise was restored to health. A certain Youth there received sight through the merits of Bl. Leo. A certain woman, Ermengard by name, a blind man, widow of Peter the weaver from Castro vico ^m, having a withered left hand, through the merit of Bl. Pope Leo, with many seeing, 2 women contracted in hand. received the office of her hand.

ANNOTATIONS.

CHAPTER III.

Miracles performed from the Vigil of the Ascension to beyond the Octave of Pentecost.

[17] On May 11 a deaf woman, a blind woman, a possessed woman are healed, On the vigil of the Lord's Ascension, through the intercession of the most blessed Pope Leo, three women were healed: one received her hand, another hearing, another sight. On the vigil of the night of the Lord's Ascension, a certain woman, Berta by name, servant of Peter the artisan, who is called "de Udo," dwelling in the region ^a of Campitello, having a demon, there was freed. On the same night vigil, a woman contracted in both hands: a certain woman whose name we do not know, received healed her both hands, which she bore contracted. Which done a certain miracle happened there wonderfully. A certain John of Civitate, dwelling in the region of Campus Martius, took in his hand a candle lit from the tomb of the same most blessed Pope Leo and extinguished it. Which done, while he was holding it securely extinguished, he suddenly saw it lit. Whom he, believing it had not been well extinguished, again extinguished. And who can investigate the miracles of God? Again it lit itself in his hand. This candle also has been preserved in testimony.

[18] On the day of the Lord's Ascension was healed a girl ^b Amata by name: May 12 a girl contracted in feet, blind for 15 years begotten by father Engelbert. They were from the parts of Campania from Rocca de Risa: but she was so contracted that she never walked on her feet. Another girl, Mary by name, daughter of Cica, who dwelt in the region of Arenula, received light, who for fifteen years had not seen. A certain boy born of a rustic father, contracted in side, from the city of Orta, was so contracted, that he did not have one side in his power: but the Lord through the merit of the most holy Pontiff healed him, 2 blind, and with his side received, with his rejoicing father he vowed a vow to him, and returned safe. And it was almost the middle hour of the night; when he wonderfully healed two blind men: one was called Pipo, but the other Adalbert: These were from the city of ^c Lama. And a certain one, Randifius by name, wounded in foot, son of Berard Count of Marsica, who was struck with a lance, and so drawn up, that he could not place one foot on the ground; but with God commanding, contracted in hands and feet, through the merit of the blessed Pontiff he returned whole. A certain girl entirely with hands and feet, was so contracted that she was never able to walk, nor to bring her hand to her mouth; and through the merit of Bl. Leo, received the office of her limbs, and returned whole.

[19] On the day next after the Lord's Ascension, two women who were vexed by an unclean spirit, May 13 2 possessed: through the merit of the holy man, were restored to their pristine health. The Investment of the Pillow, which is a great and unheard miracle, a certain servant of Amantius the Deacon went to wash, which was properly from the bed of the most blessed Pope Leo. From which while she was wringing the water, she held it between her legs, a woman paralytic and full of ulcers, and so the middle part of her body was stupefied, as if she had paralysis. But to this evil another supervened: for she was seen full of ulcers in the same part of the body, and she came to the tomb of Bl. Leo, and returned whole.

[20] May 14 a woman with contracted arm, A certain girl, Rogata by name, daughter of Mary, on the seventh feria with the month of May beginning, on the fourteenth day of the same month, came to his venerable sepulcher, bearing her left arm contracted; and by his holy suffrage obtained the benefit of health, and she was from the castle which is called ^d Stabla. A certain one from the city of Florence, with his servants, came to the tomb of the same most blessed Leo blind; and with divine grace accompanying received light, a blind man, and for great joy which he had thence, he gave those servants their liberty. A certain Roman, Adalbert by name, a blasphemer against St. Leo is freed from a demon, while he was cutting his vineyard with iron, it happened that he did not fear to speak basely of the Lord Apostolic Leo. But that crime did not escape without fault: because the malignant spirit suddenly invaded his body, and began to vex him gravely. But this was done while he was living. But with divine grace favoring, when after his death he came to his sepulcher, through his merit he was healed.

[21] On May 22 a mute, A certain Grimoald by name, from St. Benedict, from Monte Cassino, on the Sunday which is called Pascha ^e Rosata, came to the tomb of the Blessed Pontiff so mute with illness that no one could understand his speech: but with God's grace favoring through the merit of Bl. Leo he received right speech. A certain boy, who was from Verona contracted in both feet, contracted in feet, with God's grace accompanying, through the merit of the blessed man there was healed and returned with his parents. a possessed woman, A certain woman from Aquapendente was snatched from a demon, on the same night which is called of Pascha Rosata. A certain boy, Petrunculus by name, from Siena, contracted in hands and feet, came with his parents to the tomb: for he was contracted in feet and hands. Whom I, when at the request of the Sienese who for his ^f soul had brought him, I had raised at the tomb of the Blessed Pontiff; suddenly with me seeing, before all the people, he received the office of his limbs. A certain Priest Franco by name, from the town of Cora ^g, was vexed for five years, and when on the Lord's Day which is called Pascha Rosata, a possessed man he had been led to the tomb of the same most holy man, at once vomited the demon with blood, falling to the earth dead. And when all the people wished to carry him off, because they saw him lifeless, with divine grace favoring, through the merit of Bl. Leo he returned to life whole, with all the people who were present giving thanks to the Lord and the Saint.

[22] a girl contracted in hands, A certain man Benedict by name, brought his daughter, Bona by name, for the cause of receiving health, to the tomb of the blessed Pontiff, who was contracted in both hands: but with divine grace favoring through the merit of the Blessed Pontiff she received the joys of health. ^h There was in the Marsican villa of Monte, a certain woman from the city of Spoleto long blind: a blind woman, who while she was seeking the sepulcher of the blessed man for the sake of prayer; in the Sabine Bishopric, before she came to the place where his body rests, through the merit of the holy Pontiff received light, and completed the journey she had begun rejoicing. A certain boy from the aforesaid city, having five years, a mute and lame, and from birth lacking walking and speech, led with the help of his parents to the sepulcher of the Saint, through his merit received walking and speech together. another lame man. Likewise another of the same

territory, seven years old, for three years lacked walking of the feet: but when he approached the sepulcher of the Bishop, through his merit he was suddenly raised up. 2 lame men, A certain ⁱ boy, Leo by name, from Monte Cassino, on the same Sunday came so lame that he could by no means walk without two sustaining staffs: but through the merit of the Bl. Pontiff without a leader, with the staffs cast aside, carried back with him health of his limbs. A certain boy, who was drawn up in both feet, with the people watching was wonderfully stretched out: soon he who never walked, began to go running to the chest of St. Peter; and the innumerable multitude who were present, rendered immense praises to the Lord God and St. Leo.

[23] On the thirty-second ^k day of the deposition of the same Pontiff, May 21 a mute; a certain mute from the Bishopric of Castellanum, from a certain parish of the same Bishopric, which is called Graciolum, came to the sepulcher of the already said Pontiff: where in the presence of ^l his Bishop and many who recognized him, he received speech, of which thing witness is the Ordaining Bishop who well recognized him. A certain little monk from Monte Cassino, mute, deaf, blind, and contracted in hand for 9 years named John, was mute and deaf and blind and drawn up in his right hand: and these sufferings he bore in his body for nine years. But when he had heard that the miracles of our most holy Confessor Pope Leo were daily divulged, he vowed a vow to him in his heart, that if the blessed Pope saved him by his prayers, he would come to his tomb with candles. When he had said these things, suddenly with divine grace regarding him, he received the pristine health of his body; and so he appeared healthy as if he had never had these infirmities. But when he saw himself healthy, the vow which he had vowed to the Lord and the most holy Confessor, he fulfilled, and came to his tomb, and gave him praises, and with all the people who were present there rejoicing announced, how God through his Confessor had deigned to give him back his pristine health. A certain Peter by name, from the city of Gaeta, came with his little son John, who had his left side with a withered hand for seven years, at the fame of the most holy Leo with the same son for the cause of receiving health. contracted in hand and side. And when the son was kissing the tomb, and the father was weeping, with divine grace regarding him the boy received pristine health, and rejoicing with his father returned to his own things.

[24] A certain old woman, Mary Marsicana by name, from the castle of Alvus, May 23 2 possessed, was vexed by a demon for thirty years: but on the second feria, which is next to Pentecost, at the ninth hour of the day, she vomited the demon in the manner of a fly. But another woman, Berta by name, from the land of St. Benedict, on the same day and hour vomited the demon with a fetid vomiting: thanks be to God and the most holy Pontiff, who restored her to health.

[25] May 29 a blind man, A certain little one, who for a long time had been blind at the ninth hour on the octave of Pentecost received light: his father was called Arnulf, and he was indeed from the land of St. Benedict. A certain man, Lodoicus by name, from the land of Forcone, drawn up in the knees, with his son who was drawn up in the knees, came to the tomb of the most blessed Confessor: and while they were sitting beside the tomb, with the father praying and weeping, suddenly our most holy Pope conferred on him the gifts of health. Thus he, who was never able to walk without staves, casting them aside, before all the people who were present, from the altar of Bl. Peter began firmly to go running; and he with his father rendered praises to him, who through the merits of Bl. Leo had healed him. On the same day a certain woman, who for a long time had been gravely vexed by a demon, a possessed woman came: who when she kissed the tomb, immediately through the vomiting of blood the ancient enemy deserted the dwelling of her body, and she received health. But she was from the land, which is called ^m Camerino. A certain girl, Laeta by name, who was drawn up in her left hand, with her mother, with God's grace accompanying, came to the tomb: and when she had touched the Saint, suddenly her hand, with hand drawn up, which she had lost through paralysis, she received healed.

[26] There was a certain woman in the city of Rome, who was buying and selling pepper and thyme: a woman on account of a buyer deceived by witchcraft, when a certain simple man had come from the parts of Croatia, he bought from the same woman thyme, which he would bring to the tomb of Bl. Pope Leo. Who being poisoned by the malefices of the woman, gave a denarius, and it seemed to him that he received much: but he received nothing. And when he had gone to the tomb, prostrate in prayer he rose, and sending into his sack his hand to bring out the thyme, he found it having nothing. Then he began to proclaim with great voices saying: O holy Leo, among the Roman heretics you have wished to stay: I if I go into my own home, will speak very much blasphemy about you, unless I be avenged from that evil-doing and wicked woman. On the same day, while that woman was in her porch doing evil business, sending her hand into her sack that she might sell pepper, she found it full of little serpents, by which she brought out her wounded hand. with hand wounded by serpents, Recognizing therefore her guilt, she ran to the tomb of Bl. Leo, before all the people manifesting her misdeeds. Then all who were present, seeing the hand of the woman wholly wounded by serpents, were stupefied, terrified with great fear. But the woman not enduring the pains, cried with great voices: St. Leo most blessed Pope, forgive me wicked, and free me from the torments of these serpents with which I am cruelly crucified. Then he who had bought from her that thyme, seeing this, began to say: You are worthy, most blessed Leo, of great honors, you who protect those coming to you, and constrain the deeds of the wicked: I rejoice indeed in the virtue of your triumph: be not angry, I pray, with me unworthy because I shall have spoken wicked things against you: have mercy on me. But the woman did not cease to cry: St. Leo succor me, have mercy, and free me from these torments which I suffer: for I promise at no time to exercise the worst businesses which I have done. As she was saying these things with tears, and the others who were present together with that simple man praying for her; divine clemency was present, and freed that woman from the plague; who receiving full health, gave that man triple what she had before taken from him: and all who saw and heard this, blessed God and St. Leo his servant.

ANNOTATIONS.

MIRACLES PERFORMED AT BENEVENTO.

Partly from a Beneventan Ms. published by Ferdinand Ughelli in the Beneventan Bishops, partly received from the Strozzi Ms.

Leo IX, Roman Pontiff (St.)

BHL Number: 4822, 4823, 0000

FROM MSS.

UGHELLI'S PREMONITION.

[27] It is not to be passed over, that from Prelate ^a Walderic Leo IX Supreme Pontiff flew to heaven: to whom after his death, when he had shone with many miracles, This History drawn out from a Beneventan Ms.: the Beneventan people built within the walls of the city a church in his name, to the most holy man, and well-deserving of his ^b city, and each year with solemn rite and display they began to celebrate it: on whose account also his miracles, performed in the Beneventan region through his merits, they caused to be consigned to letters. Which when our Celestinus had found written in letters of Lombard in a most ancient codex in the Beneventan library, he faithfully transcribed, and transmitted to me: that for augmenting piety in this place we might present it to readers. Which we gladly did, since in these things some things are contained, which by others, who committed the life of the most holy Pontiff to letters, were omitted. The author is anonymous and a contemporary of Leo.

ANNOTATIONS.

HISTORY OF THE MIRACLES.

[28] With the fame of the miracles of the most blessed Leo long divulged, at Benevento began to be built in his honor a church: so that, whom the Beneventan citizens had seen alive held in prison by the Normans, now dead and enjoying the heavenly spaces, They are healed they might venerate. Meanwhile it happened ^a that a certain Nicholas from the Castle of Molliniana and Berard from the place of Carrara, of whom one with his right arm lost, with his hamstrings and sinews drawn up; but the other having suffered cold and fever even to dysentery; one contracted and one dysenteric when both had caused themselves to be carried to the aforesaid church, which was being constructed at Benevento, immediately by the judgment of all they recovered their health despaired of.

[29] A certain peasant from the town of ^b Ordonum when he was annually devotedly celebrating the feast of Bl. Leo it happened that because of excessive oppression of labors, which in the field

he was bearing, on the Lord's Day, when the feasts are announced to the people, he had not in the least approached the church. But the feast day of St. Leo was on the following ^c fifth feria; which was unknown to the aforesaid peasant. a little boy snatched by a wolf He therefore rising very early in the morning, took with him a little boy, whom he had as his only son, and an axe and digging rake. As soon as he arrived at his field, he set down the aforesaid little boy to the bundle: but he began anxiously to dig. From another part a wolf with open mouth took his little boy, and seized flight. Which the father seeing from afar, began to run after the wolf, shouting these things: with St. Leo invoked he is preserved unharmed O Holy Leo, my Patron, help me now in the present, and return to me my only son. Which he had scarcely spoken, when behold the wolf let go of the boy so unharmed, that in his garments not even a trace of the wolf's teeth appeared, in that part in which the wolf had snatched him. Therefore the peasant returning to the town, told all these things: and sensing that the same day was the anniversary in memory of Bl. Leo, he bound himself by a new vow, solemnly to keep it each year. And thus not only at Benevento, but through the whole shore of Apulia, the name of Leo escaped as most famous: with God so disposing, that he in the same places, in which a few years before with his and the Church's army routed, he himself had been held a captive; afterwards with the fame of his miracles increasing, the same who had stood against him in battle, suppliants and reverent venerated his memory, and more and more showed themselves faithful toward the holy Church, to the praise and glory of the omnipotent God, whose name through all ages be blessed. Amen. ^d

[30] These are the miracles which God wished to be done through the most blessed Leo his servant in Benevento. A certain John by name, from the castle with the name ^e Serra, contracted with headache from a certain occasion, a blind man is healed, namely while he was beating grains of barley in the area, by the flight of one grain of the same fruit into his eye covered with darkness he could not see the light; whom the virtue of God and of St. Pope Leo first at Benevento cured, with the light restored to him. ^f Likewise a certain little boy, contracted in arm, having his arm at the shoulder with nerves stupefied for the space of seven years, coming to the aforesaid church, which was being constructed at Benevento in honor of Bl. Pope Leo, by the mercy of God and his prayers, received his pristine health. But another John from the region of a certain city, with the name ^g Vicus, when he had suffered paralysis, lost the office of his tongue and arms and other limbs, a paralytic, for three years, so that he could not walk, except creeping with stools on the ground: but in the same church he received pristine health. Again another John, from the castle with the name ^h Celone, when against God's law he struck his mother, by divine vengeance losing four toes and two fingers of his hands from the bite of a cancer; wounded in toes and fingers, with the sinews also of his legs contracted (so that not well erect, but with bent knees he walked to Benevento) on the way he was healed.

[31] Likewise a certain woman, with the name Uzancia from Benevento, of a certain Balzanus the Cleric, by chance fell from her bed: but by the ruinous fall her leg was so stupefied, that by no means walking, she lay in bed for three years with illness: bedridden for three years from an injury to her leg who at last when she invoked the help of Bl. Leo, was at once restored, and immediately to the aforesaid place, where the church was being constructed in his honor, she went, and gave thanks to God and Bl. Leo. Also the daughter of a noble woman, for one year lying infirm in bed, so that she could not in any way enter or leave, unless supported by the arms of her own: who, when ⁱ her blood was found and brought with hymns and praises into the Church of the Bishopric, another sick for a whole year: led there and prostrated before the altar of the holy Mother of God, was immediately raised up and walked. A certain boy, Dominic by name, from the castle ^k of Vicari, seized by a demon, came to Benevento led by his mother; a possessed mute, whom so taken from the office of his tongue that he would in no way speak unless he were excessively beaten, and this two or three words no more, the merit of Bl. Leo rendered so healed, that he spoke rightly and expeditely.

[32] From the territory of the city with the name St. Agatha, ^l which is neighboring Benevento, it is narrated that a youth, Nicholas by name, a mute and paralytic, while he inhabited the vineyards with his father and brother after the month of May had passed, suddenly fell to the ground with the office of his tongue lost and all other limbs: which happening the father and brother greatly grieving began to weep: then finding an ass they placed him there and took him home. But on another day using better counsel, again placing him on a bed, they led him to Benevento to the aforenamed church, where by the merits of Bl. Leo he was restored to perfect health, to such a degree that he who had come mute and borne on others' shoulders, speaking the magnificent things of God, healthy and happy with swift step on his own feet returned to his own things, namely the castle whence he had come, ^m with the name Torre-licosi. A certain woman from the region of Murrone ⁿ of the city, vexed by many demons, hearing the rumor of the miracles of Bl. Leo, took up hope (which was not frustrated) that if she came to the already aforesaid basilica, a possessed woman from that demon she would be cured: which also she did: who while she was standing before the altar the demon, which was wont to deceive her, in the shape of a crow flew from her shoulders, and nowhere anymore vexed her: thus with God's grace favoring and the intercession of Bl. Leo she was cured from the demon.

[33] A certain one sprung from the city ^o, Confinia by name, having heard the fame of his signs came with others of the same place to Benevento; a sick man, and through the intercession of Bl. Pope Leo obtained the health which he had lost. A certain one contracted in arm, contracted in arm: when for six days he stayed in the aforesaid church, he was oppressed by sleep: but by the crowd of men he was compelled to flee and to watch. Who well watching rose, and felt divine help attributed to him: for he began to extend his arm, which with contracted nerves he had bound to his neck, and to turn it this way and that; and to do expeditely with it, what he was accustomed. Which when those present saw, they blessed omnipotent God and St. Leo. Again one youth and two girls on the festivity of Bl. Augustine obtained health there: of whom one girl was from the city of Monopoli, [p] the other from the Frequentine city: but the youth from the borders of Apulia, both he and the girl who had been born at Frequentum, for five years had lost the lights of their eyes: but with God's mercy being generous and the intercession of Bl. Leo, both on the same day began to see so as never better: but she who was from Monopoli, having one whole side lost, similarly obtained health through the merits of Bl. Pope Leo. To which spectacle the whole city of Benevento flowed together, having a lost side: and was witness of these three miracles, while in praise of God it resounded hymns and thanksgivings with loud voices.

[34] A certain woman, from the borders of Benevento, having an only daughter, who from infancy lacking the office of hands and feet, could by no means walk with all her nerves contracted or work with her hands. When she had heard the fame of miracles which in the aforesaid church Christ through his servant most holy Leo deigned to work, contracted in hands and feet. placed by her mother on a little ass, was brought there. And when for six days she persevered lying there, and with very many restored to health she obtained no good, she said to her mother: Mother, since our sins surpass the merits of the Saint, let us quickly go from here: for we are unworthy to obtain health from him: whom soon her mother placed on the little ass, and they began to go to their own home. Truly the pious Lord never repels those asking him, and glorifies his Saints in all ways. For when she had prolonged from the church about five stadia, with her mother delaying a little, when she wished the little ass on which she was sitting to pause, the vehicle, which sustained her arm with her hand, fell to the ground: and immediately forgetful of her infirmity, as a healthy man, she gave herself down to the earth after the staff, that she might take it again and sit on the little ass. But when her feet touched the earth, she felt the virtue of Christ to have come upon her to such a degree, that her mother coming found her wholly most healthy, standing beside the little ass on expedited feet and whole body, and with clear voice praising the heavenly physician. Who soon returning to the church of St. Pope Leo, from which they had gone out, openly announced the virtue of the Lord to those meeting them, and there gave thanks and praises to Christ and St. Leo; with the people wondering and praising the very grace and glory and virtue of Christ who as he wishes, so glorifies his Saints everywhere, that they may always merit to obtain the praises of men, and with him without end in heaven among the Angels they may glory. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

than those two, distant from Benevento, yet scarcely less than 40 miles.

p Concerning Frequentina we treated above at num. 11 letter c. Monopoli is also an Episcopal city between Bari and Brindisi at the Adriatic sea.

TWO MIRACLES.

Described by Desiderius Abbot of Cassino, then Pope Victor III.

[35] After the death of the most blessed Pontiff Leo many and great miracles shone at his tomb, and in other places through him, with the Lord granting. Of which, with the rest omitted, I shall subjoin only two, for the sake of edification, as they were related to us by truthful men. ^a Pope Victor, who had succeeded him in the Sacerdotal rule, having heard the fame of his miracles, that through him the Lord worked such things, did not accommodate faith. But because, as the Apostle says, Tongues are for a sign not to the faithful but to the infidels, omnipotent Lord wished to teach him by experience what heard from many he by no means was willing to believe. 1 Cor. 14

[36] A certain Bishop of Chur ^b, whose name has escaped memory, with the above-mentioned Pope Victor coming from Germany, was staying at Rome in his service. He had a boy mute from his mother's womb, a mute born without a tongue, whom for the reward of his soul feeding and clothing, wherever he went, he was accustomed to lead with him, in whose empty mouth not even the trace of a tongue seemed to be. Which Bishop also, from the wonders at the tomb of Bl. Leo, similarly as the Pope, bore an incredulous mind. Therefore when on a certain day to the See of his Bishopric, with permission already received, he had decided to return; entering the church of Bl. Peter the Apostle for the sake of prayer, after he had more intently commended himself to Bl. Peter with his clients, with horses mounted, with the boy forgotten in the same church, to the tomb of St. Leo hastening he was walking along the way, which led him to his homeland, having gone out of the City. And when he was now some distance away from the City, suddenly it came to his memory, that he had left the mute boy in the church of Bl. Peter. Who at once stopped, and sent back some of his servants, by whom the boy was to be brought back. he speaks. Therefore when they had gone out of the basilica of the Prince of the Apostles, they see the boy standing before the tomb of Bl. Leo, and speaking with those standing around. To them therefore wondering, and asking how this had happened to him, the boy says: After my Lord, leaving me in this church, departed, I came here to the sepulcher of Bl. Leo; if perhaps the omnipotent Lord would deign to restore to me by his merits the office of voice, which I lacked. Nor was I defrauded of my vow, which I was seeking with heart: with the tongue growing: but as soon as I lay prostrate a little weeping before his venerable memorial, immediately with voice received speaking, as you yourselves see, I rose. From that day indeed, what is more wonderful, in his mouth the tongue, which had been lacking, began little by little to grow, so that within a few days with full mouth he perfectly received a tongue, and pronounced words without impediment. ^c Finally those who had been sent, took care to lead the boy to the Bishop, and whom he had left silent, with the intercession of Bl. Leo's merits they lead to him speaking. Therefore the Bishop having returned, approached the Roman Pontiff: and showed what the omnipotent Lord had deigned to work through Bl. Leo. From then they themselves began to proclaim his venerable merits to all, who before when others related them did not suffer to hear.

[2] The illustrious man Maximus, citizen of the Roman city, recently related to me about the same venerable Prelate, which I narrate. A certain Bernard of very wicked mind was a soldier, who to the Apostolic See showed himself contrary in all things, in whatever ways he could. But in a war, which was committed by neighbors staying near the City, conspiring with Cadalus Bishop of Parma ^d, who was then trying to invade the Apostolic See, with the soldiers, who were defending the Roman Church, pierced through, by the just judgment of God he died. This man therefore, having heard the fame of the miracles, a soldier blaspheming against St. Leo is punished, which omnipotent God was exhibiting through the merits of Bl. Leo to the faithful peoples; not only did not believe, but even with sacrilegious mouth derided and blasphemed. When at last on a certain day he appeared in the assembly of the people; and discourse about the signs and virtues of Bl. Leo had arisen among them, he began to laugh saying: If he is a Saint, as you say, let him contract my finger. And when he was restrained by those who stood by, that he should not say such things about a holy man; with the assembly dismissed he departed. When behold a dog by chance, which was following him, attacked a sow found in the street. But he, that the pig might not be torn apart, quickly ran, and with his hand thrust in wished to hold the dog: but soon the pig with open mouth bit his finger, and thus from that day all the time he lived having his finger contracted, he could by no means extend it. Whence it came about, that he who had presumed to mock the servant of God, himself with contracted finger was held as a mockery to all. These things said about so great a Father Bl. Leo suffice, because we hasten to narrate the deeds of others.

ANNOTATIONS.