Senorina

ON SAINT SENORINA, VIRGIN,

ABBESS OF BASTO IN PORTUGAL OF THE ORDER OF SAINT BENEDICT.

IN THE YEAR 982

Senorina the Virgin, Abbess of Basto, in Portugal (Saint)

G. H.

This most noble and most holy Virgin flourished in the tenth century of Christ, born about the year 924, and died in the year 982, on this April 22: on which day in the Portuguese Martyrology, printed at Coimbra in 1592, she is mentioned in these words: "Between the rivers Douro and Minho, in the parochial church of Saint Senorina of Basto, where there was anciently a monastery, The church of Saint Senorina, the feast of Saint Senorina the Virgin is celebrated; who was noble by lineage, and of the Benedictine profession, in which order she lived fifty years, feast, an example of great sanctity, famous for the virtue of miracles in life and after death. Her sacred body is preserved in the said church at the right side of the main altar." relics:

We give her Life, as we can, from an ancient MS. Legendary of Coimbra of the monastery of Holy Cross, Life written previously printed by Tamayo Salazar in the Spanish Martyrology; which Antonio Yepes published in Spanish in volume 5 of the Benedictine Chronicle at the year 977, in Portuguese Ludovicus de Angelis in the Portuguese Viridarium chapter 55, and George Cardoso in the Portuguese Hagiology on this day, but abridged, as it stands in Latin divided into four Lessons in the monastic Breviary of the Order of Saint Benedict of the kingdoms of Portugal printed at Coimbra in the year 1607, and in Menardus in the Notes to his Martyrology on the next day, and elsewhere in other Portuguese writers, cited both by others and by Tamayo Salazar, whom we would willingly believe to have added nothing of his own or changed in the context, but to have set forth unchanged the very words of the ancient Legendary; were we not acquainted by daily experience with the slight trust of the man in this genre; not bad indeed, but yet weak, and little suited to the plan of our writing; since those things which either by others or by himself being persuaded he believed to be true, built on novel conjectures, he has inserted into the lives, not only those which he compiled from various sources; but also into those which he professes to have received from ancient MSS.: and he has for the most part changed the ancient phrasing, as he will also judge him now to have done, who will have learned to know him from his writings. But this said here, we wish to hold for all those things which we have so far inserted from his work or shall insert into ours: and we ask those in whose possession the ancient monuments themselves are, to take care to transcribe them for us word for word and send them, to be published with better trust.

LIFE

Edited by Tamayo Salazar

From the MS. Legendary of Coimbra.

Senorina the Virgin, Abbess of Basto, in Portugal (Saint)

BHL Number: 7580

FROM TAMAYO.

[1] Senorina, born of the most noble birth of the Sousas, Begotten of illustrious parents, had as father ^a Hufus Hufes, Count of Belfajal or Belfajer, and Lord of the territory of Vieira and Basto, between the rivers Minho and Douro, of the diocese of Braga, and Soerius Belfajal as grandfather; but as mother Tharasia, sister of Count Gonsalvus Soarius, a strenuous soldier, who often brought help to the Kings of León. But Tharasia departed from life, leaving her daughter Senorina as an infant girl, almost at the breast: hence the grief of her father Hufus was gravely troubled both by his wife's death and by his daughter's bereavement. But that Hufus might meet such misfortunes, he chose Godina, Abbess in the monastery of Saint John of Vieira, of the Benedictine Order, she is given to Godina the Abbess to be nourished, the little girl's aunt, a woman illustrious by the gift of prudence, and conspicuous by the nobility of her family, and, what is stronger, sublime by the sanctity of her life, to take care of Senorina's education; both the bonds of the connection of both's blood coming together, and the services of the most holy Abbess favoring for such a task of education, even in foreign virgins. Nor did the Count's choice deceive his mind, because blessed Godina, having received the little girl with her nurse, so supplied the necessities of assistance to both, that after the time of infancy the sacred little Virgin displayed the diligence of the most holy Abbess to all beholders. she is educated religiously, When therefore she had come to the age of discretion, Godina determined to form the virgin by strong supports of virtues, in word and deed, so that she might be worthy to be held the temple of the Holy Spirit, and therefore, with fear and love of God going before, she took care to bring her to the highest peak of perfection. Hence she would fill nearly the whole part of the week with fasts, clothed with haircloth she would bridle the tinder of her tender flesh, and also macerate herself with disciplines, and she happily spent the rest of her time either in prayer or in the hearing of heavenly words.

[2] With these scents of Senorina's virtues thus spread through the bounds of that region, her fame came to the ears of a noble and well-born young man; by which, wantonly enticed, the youth took care to apply all his work that to the hearing of the most beautiful virgin, She is chosen for marriage by a noble man. the spark of his burning love might come, so that he might join her to himself in marriage. When the blessed Virgin knew this, with a steadfast mind, she ordered the youth to be notified that he should draw back from his purpose. But since love is incurable, from the very fact that he heard the signification of the Virgin's contempt, with the force of his fury multiplied more long, into a stubborn affection of desperation, his gentle desire of will with a tenacious grasp he converted. But because in vain the solicitude of the burning young man was wasting the continuous lapse of time, taking counsel for himself, he is compelled to approach Count Hufus, the Virgin's parent: to whom with tears arisen, by the father solicited, with ardent affections, with meteoric prayers and the sighs of a lover, he revealed all the accidents of his love; from him demanding that he deign to grant his most loved daughter to him in marriage. The Count wondering at the distress of the most noble youth, and considering his dowries illustrious from origin and splendid from nature, kindly dismissed him, that he might give himself a pause of time; promising that he would speak to his daughter, with a good omen, that she might hasten to the bond of marriage. The strenuous Count wiped the tears of the troubled youth with prudent consolation, who commending his safety to the Count, departed much consoled from his presence. Then the Count, ^b ascending into the monastery, ordering Senorina to be summoned, with human and sweet words proposed with prudent brevity the marriage to the nobleman; she is asked: adding with how great heat of love, with how great illustration of blood, he pursued their affection. The sacred Virgin heard the father's proposal, to whom with such constancy beyond her age she answered: "I have received the Lord Our Jesus Christ as my Spouse, whom to despise is base, whose embraces to disturb is wicked: therefore, in the disturbance of the Spouse of my soul, to admit another, she herself conquers, is unjust; so that neither the father's urging, nor the youth's appetite, nor the wealth of the world, nor the vain nobility will be able to separate me from the marriage of Christ my Spouse, loving, noble, and rich." The father was silent, hearing the words of the blessed Virgin, uttered with a vehement spirit of fervor: and that he might bring her holy purpose to perfection, he invited her; promising the Virgin that further about this or another marriage to be sought, he would never negotiate.

[3] This obedience of Count Hufus, by which he conformed himself with his daughter's pleasure, so grateful did the Virgin's Spouse receive, that on the following night he was busy to applaud the Count's resignation: therefore in sleep he sent him an Angel, to report God's consent, and to command that immediately Senorina receive the monastic religion. Obeying the decree of such inspiration, when day came the Count went to the monastery: and to Godina the Abbess and to Senorina his daughter recounting God's pleasure, and the oracle uttered by the angelic voice, he destined the sacred virgin immediately to put on the habit of the Benedictine Order. and she takes up the habit of the Order: With this done, with exceedingly great joy of all, Senorina laying her hand to the plow, so grew in perfection that she stood not only as an example but as an admiration to all the other holy nuns. She read attentively the acts of the Martyrs, in whose study and in the weighing of eternal torments day and night she would run on, with such a shower of tears, that she both burned in the desire of martyrdom, and labored with all her strength in the avoiding of eternal pains. she pants after martyrdom: This anxiety therefore of will toward martyrdom so thinned the frame of her body, especially because the state of enclosure forbade the purpose, that she fell into a melancholic sickness. When Blessed Godina had recognized the cause, with that prudential sanctity and monastic diligence with which she was endowed, she visited the sick Virgin, and among other things in place of consolation speaks these words: "Dearest sister, this monastic life of ours, if it is received in its severity, what else is it but true martyrdom? For if

you weigh the deeds of the Martyrs, you shall see in us a martyrdom more prolonged than in them. They undertook a temporal, we a continuous contest: their affections were attracted, those of ours without doubt were voluntarily offered by resignation happily. Therefore if you desire, most beloved daughter, to fulfill martyrdom; you are in the wrestling-ring, as a contender present in the dust you lie, come now and against the attendants, the three enemies of the soul, exercise the arms of defense as a strenuous fighter. Here you will find crosses and stakes, which you should overcome: here wheels, pulleys, and presses, which you should conquer; here racks, fiddles, catastas, which you should press down; here finally other kinds of instruments of tortures, which you should suppress, without doubt you will find. Why therefore do you presume to seek another martyrdom? Fulfill God's will, and you shall enjoy every blessing." The sacred Virgin, supported by these counsels, she pursues the exercises of the Order: joyful in consolation and fortified by protection, was busily seeking that new propitiation of contest in various exercises of penance; in the continuation of which she so completed the end of life, that sometimes she was reputed everywhere a Martyr.

[4] In these times the most holy Godina, Abbess of the monastery, Senorina's aunt, and the teacher of her good nature, put off the temporal life, and happily found the eternal one, laden with the burden of virtues. In her place also by merit Senorina, with the suffrages of the holy nuns coming together, she is elected Abbess, succeeded. In the burden of this office, the sacred Mother so bore herself, that she deviated not in the smallest apex from the weight of ancient severity. There was in her a wonderful grace of miracles: she is famous for miracles, for often she turned water into wine, drove storms from the threshing floors, and performed other prodigies by her prayers. She transferred the monastery from the place Vieira to Basto, where when the Virgins were suffering want of bread, with the prayer of the holy Abbess intervening, God soon satisfied the hungry. What more? When once the Abbess was making a journey near Carrazedo, with some companions of the sacred Congregation, Virgins, by prayer she drives away frogs: and in a pleasant place had decided to recite the divine office, her devotion was so hindered by the hoarse noise of frogs, that in prayer she could not persist even in the smallest degree. Then Senorina, arranging to put to sleep the chattering voices of the troublesome animals, commanded them not to make noise for the future: which came to pass, for thereafter no ^c entoma (insect) of this kind is seen in that boundary.

[5] Therefore ^d blessed Rodesindus was most dear to the sacred Virgin, both because of the bond of kinship, and because of the piety of sanctity, which were the cause that sometimes the blessed man enjoyed the conversations of Senorina. It happened, however, that at a set time Rodesindus went to the monastery, inasmuch as he might visit and consult the sacred Abbess, she is visited by Saint Rodesindus, and learn something from her by consulting: when both joyfully went to their conversation, and were speaking to one another of spiritual things; two workmen, who were sweeping the roof of the monastery, deceitfully twisted the conversations of the Saints into the worst part. Scarcely had rashness arisen in their hearts, she resuscitates the dead: when a band of demons entered their bodies, which twisting the wretched workmen, dashed them headlong from the roof into the peristyle, so that the men, crushed into parts, immediately belched out their souls pitifully. Which misfortune Rodesindus and the Abbess beholding, by the prayers of both, and by the imposition of the holy Abbot's hands, both one and the other workman, with the admiration of the spectators, received life with God having mercy.

[6] At last, after some years had passed, when Senorina was one day with her sacred Virgins fulfilling in choir the office of Compline with full devotion, sweetest harmonies in the region of the air were heard by all with great joy of soul: and when the assembly of Virgins did not understand them, after the Office had been ended, they came to their Mother, that she might seek the cause from the Abbess for the melody of those singing. Who opened to them the most happy reason about the death of ^e Rodesindus, translated into heaven by the bands of Angels. Then the sacred Virgins marking the hour and the day, She knows of the death of Saint Rodesindus. afterwards found the apex of truth. With these and other illustrations of holy works the most holy Virgin came to the last limit of life. For on a certain day while she persisted in prayer, she heard this most sweet voice: "Come, my chosen one, Dead, because the King has desired your beauty." Hearing which, she immediately fortified herself for the way, and having devoutly received the Sacraments, and her daughters being instructed in the love and fear of God, that pure spirit passed over to eternal joys with a peaceful slumber, on April 22, in the year of Christ 982, she is illustrated by miracles: when she was 58 years old. Her body, buried next to the remains of Sts. Gervasius and Godina in the church of the monastery, we know daily performs innumerable miracles: so that the sick obtain health, the possessed liberty, the disabled regain their hands, the lame their feet, the deaf their ears, and the blind their eyes. When ^f Pelagius, Pontiff of the Church of Braga, had heard of these, moved with curiosity, proposing to approach her tomb and behold her sacred pledges, the body is raised, he went to the monastery: in whose presence, when now he had determined to open the sarcophagus, a man blind from birth received the rays of the visible light by the Virgin's intercession. Then the Prelate, desisting from his purpose, and believing the miracles, raised the holy Virgin into a higher reliquary, ^g engraving on it this Epitaph in marble:

"Here Senorina, the bride of Christ and full of faith, with an epitaph attached: / who living then breathed innumerable odors, / and dying still now breathes many for ages. / She was born (as they recount) of illustrious blood, / but more illustrious she was called for the web of life. / Recognizing her companies of virtues, she is herself enrolled among the Saints: / Prelate Pelagius, vowing, placed the gracious one on the Tablets: / Who also inscribed this verse on the covering of the stone. In the Era 1168."

Among the other memorable miracles performed by the blessed Virgin, that one is reckoned as celebrated by all, which ^h Sancho, the first of this name King of Portugal, the son of the King is healed. obtained for the safety of Alfonso his firstborn son. For when he was reckoned sick at the last limit of his life, the father Sancho came to the monastery to obtain the safety of the Prince. Who, when he devoutly performed a nine-day vow, happily obtained safety for Alfonso: by the grace of whose help being bound, he offered very many gifts to the monastery; our Lord Jesus Christ providing, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

DIPLOMA OF THE DONATION OF KING SANCHO.

"In the name of the holy and undivided Trinity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit. I King Lord Sancho, Privilege of King Sancho I. mindful of the human condition and of the chance of mortals; having traveled through certain parts of my kingdom for the sake of prayer, I came to the place where the body of the most blessed Virgin Senorina rests: in which, pouring out our prayers to the Lord God as is fitting, I struck the Virgin herself with groans and sighs, that she herself from the Lord God might by her prayers obtain safety for my son Lord Alfonso the King. Having said which, I promised that I would erect stones of fortification, which they call Cautum, around the place of the most holy Virgin, if the safety sought should follow the prayer: for the danger of death was imminent; but by the prayers of the glorious Virgin it was driven away. Therefore, the boundary of the place having been considered, I walked around those places with my feet, and as I saw fitting, I ordered stones to be raised through the hands of Lord Gonçalvo Menendo, who then was Prince. The first stone was raised where into Basto that rivulet of Moses enters."