ON SAINT PASCHASIUS RATBERTUS,
ABBOT OF CORBIE IN GAUL.
IN THE YEAR 851
PrefacePaschasius Ratbertus, Abbot of Corbie, in Gaul (St.)
G. H.
Charles du Fresne, Lord of Cange, Counsellor of the Most Christian King, erudite man and most known for his published books, for his affection toward our studies transmitted various things to us, and among others excerpts from a Ms. Corbie Martyrology in which are these things on the 6th of the Kalends of May. Sacred cult April 26, "The birthday of St. Richarius. At Corbie the monastery the deposition of St. Ratbert, Abbot and Confessor." These things Hugo Menardus thus augmented in his Benedictine Martyrology: "At Corbie in Gaul, the deposition of St. Radbert Paschasius the Abbot, a man of great sanctity and learning." Then in the Notes Menard published, from Ms. Corbie monuments, the Life of the same Saint which we give; from which a greater eulogy Gabriel Bucelinus formed in the Benedictine Menology. Andreas Saussay in the Supplement of the Gallican Martyrology has these things: "In the Corbie monastery is held today the celebration of the deposition of St. Ratbert Paschasius the Abbot, whose epinicia in this Martyrology are inscribed on the fourth of the Nones of January."
[2] January 2, On the said second of January is venerated St. Adalard Abbot of Corbie, after whose eulogy (which perhaps then he was ignorant of his natal day) Saussay had said: "Likewise at Corbie in Amiens, the deposition of St. Paschasius, Abbot of that monastery and Confessor, who wrote the Life of the aforesaid St. Adalard, and having obtained his place, most nearly imitated his sanctity by the distinguished ornaments of virtues and by the merits of pious works. He, made Abbot of that famous asceterium, by word no less than by example profited the flock he ruled, nor did he only show forth to the committed assembly the splendor of doctrine and piety, but also illumined the whole Church of Christ wondrously with the glory of both gifts. Indeed adorned with heavenly wisdom, and nobly instructed in Greek and Latin speech, he refuted the error of the false monk Bertram, against whom he published a distinguished book concerning the adorable Sacrament of the altar, in which clearly and lucidly he demonstrated the truth of the Lord's Body and Blood in the mystery of the Eucharist, and faithfully defended the majesty and dignity of such a Sacrament even against future heresies. For which reason and he is held as a prophetic writer by posterity, because almost two hundred years before it was born he extinguished the Berengarian heresy. Adorned with these religious trophies and other glorious heaps of merits, having completed the stadium of mortality, called to the company of the Saints, with a happy outcome he obtained the palm of eternal blessedness."
[3] The same Saussay in the Supplement for the 12th of July thus writes: "On the same day, at Corbie in Amiens, the elevation and translation of St. Ratbert Paschasius, Abbot of that monastery, and July 12 on account of the translation made in the 11th century. as distinguished defender of the mystery of the Eucharist." On the said day in the before-mentioned Ms. Corbie Martyrology these things are read: "On the 4th of the Ides of July. At old Corbie the elevation of the body of St. Ratbert Paschasius the Confessor." That translation was made in the eleventh century of Christ by Wido the Bishop of Amiens, and Fulco the Abbot of Corbie: who in the Sainte-Marthes is reported to have presided from the year 1048 to the year 1097. But Wido was Bishop at least from the year 1059 to the year 1074.
[4] his praise in St. Gerard Abbot of Silva-Major, St. Gerard Abbot of Silva-Major, in the Prologue to the Life of St. Adelard published by us on the 2nd of January, enumerates at number 2 the illustrious disciples of this one, and among other things thus writes: "Ratbertus also Paschasius, Abbot of the same place, who published a luminous book on the Body and Blood of the Lord, merited his fatherhood by his worthy sonship: with whose body also with the relics Corbie is illustrated: who different, different merits of different sanctity in Christ have attained. But what he was and how great, in a certain epistle Herigerus Abbot of Lobbes attests, who at that time among the wise was held wisest." But we grieve that we could not obtain that epistle. Herigerus flourished in the 11th century of Christ, dying in the year 1007.
[5] James Sirmond published all the works of St. Paschasius Ratbertus with the Cramoisy press in the year 1618, and prefixed to them a Life of him composed by himself, which we give in the first place. In its beginning he plainly disagrees with Menard, whether he was instructed in the monastery of Soissons. in that the latter wants him instructed among the sacred Virgins of Soissons, under Theodrada the Abbess: whom Menard reports only received him into the monastery, when his brother St. Adelard was in exile on the island of Heri, by order of Louis the Pious the Emperor. At which time St. Paschasius would have been a Corbie monk, and indeed of mature age, and composed the book on the Body and Blood of Christ, in which under the name of Arsenius he is said to understand St. Adelard. The same Menard judges that a Life of St. Richarius, first Centulensian Abbot, was composed by Ratbert, which he adds to have in manuscript from the Centulensian monastery, and in it reports that in chapter 10 these words are had. The Life of St. Richarius was not written by him: "How therefore from then and thereafter with what austerity Blessed Richarius led his life, and how strongly he mortified his members, the present narrative of the little work testifies, by the reverend men Ratbert the Abbot and also Alcuin Albinus studiously composed." Thus he: we also have the same Life from the Centulensian MS. and various others, but very inept and gathered by a stupid impostor: who not sufficiently mindful of his own lies, mixes as if cohering the deeds of two centuries, as we said more fully above at the Acts of St. Richarius.
[6] Engelmodus to others Agelmodus, familiar to the Saint of whom we treat, mention of him in others. and surviving about twenty years, before Hildebold (who in the year 876 was at the synod of Pontigon) Bishop of Soissons, composed a panegyric poem in praise of St. Radbert, but very obscure; which the benevolent reader will find in the mentioned Sirmond after the Life of him published. To St. Radbert three epistles were written by Lupus Abbot of Ferrière, namely the fifty-fourth and two following. Ludovicus Cellotius, in the History of Gottschalk Predestinarian, has many things pertaining to the life and doctrine of St. Paschasius Ratbert, chiefly in the opuscule 7
of the Miscellaneous Appendix from page 548, which the Reader, lover of truth and of sincere doctrine against the impure errors of the Sacramentarians, will not turn over without fruit; as Philip Labbe well warns in volume 2 of the historical dissertation on the Ecclesiastical Writers, where he gathers many things about Paschasius Ratbert on page 155 and following.
[7] He himself, a most humble man, lest anything about his life be written by his disciples, gave a last command against it: Summaries of Life. which was observed with such religion, that not even posterity after two hundred years, to whom such a prohibition did not pertain, dared either about his Life, according to the relation of the elders; or about the miracles, growing in their time, to commit anything to letters: and therefore we are forced to be content with the double synopsis of the life, most recently composed by Sirmond and Menard, of which above mention has been made.
LIFE
By James Sirmond S. J.
Paschasius Ratbertus, Abbot of Corbie, in Gaul (St.)
BY SIRMOND
[1] To Paschasius Radbert the first rudiments of Christian training were among the sacred virgins of Soissons; by whose care and zeal as a little boy he was educated, when their monastery presided Theodrada, Abbess of royal stock, kinswoman of Charlemagne. A monk under the Abbots St. Adalard and Wala, Entering the monastic life thence in the Corbie monastery, as master and guide of holier discipline he had St. Adalard the Abbot, brother of the same Theodrada and of Count Wala, who also afterwards became a monk and succeeded Adalard as Abbot. There therefore having obtained a flourishing palaestra suitable for his studies, since he was of excellent genius and character, wondrous progress in letters and in every kind of virtues he made: he expounds sacred Scripture, of which one is witnessed by the public disputations, in which in the assembly of the Brothers he expounded the sacred Scriptures; and many books filled with various learning, which he wrote: the other is declared by the votes, by which finally as Abbot he was declared by his own, third after Wala, with the greatest approbation.
[2] In this office how happily he governed, how fair he showed himself to all, Made Abbot he is loved by all, how dear in turn he was to all, is not easy to explain. For since in him many and the greatest virtues shone, chiefly a certain gentleness and meekness of manners, joined with singular prudence and piety, made him lovable to the highest equally as to the lowest; so that not without reason, "to all good men an embraceable Abbot," he seems to have been called by a certain contemporary. Besides, dignity and beauty of face were in him: vivid eyes, rosy color in the face, which befitted virginal modesty and modesty; also venerable whiteness in his hair. Nor was he only in esteem at home or among his own; but outside, with men of all orders, equal grace and esteem, and most of all with Kings and Princes; his rare humility. by whom on account of his distinguished learning and sanctity he was sought, and with no common zeal and honor cultivated. But among so many praises and ornaments of Radbert nothing was more illustrious than the highest modesty and humility of his mind, by which of himself, though he was esteemed as greatest by all, he thought quite modestly. Therefore he was wont to call himself the offscouring of all monks, and the last of Levites: and content with the grade of Deacon, he never aspired to the honor of Priesthood. This contempt of himself, so that he might testify after death also with a singular example, toward the end of his life he is said to have summoned his disciples and decreed, that no one should write anything about his life in letters.
[3] The Corbie monastery he augmented and adorned with many things; he increases the goods of the monastery: and obtained from the Synod of Paris a most ample decree, by which all its rights and privileges, long ago and then most recently granted by various Princes, the Bishops approved, and confirmed with their assent. He was also present at other Synods, which were held more frequently at those times; and by name at that one, in which the cause of Gottschalk at Carisiac was again discussed and condemned.
[4] The monuments of his genius and learning by his written books, as was said, he left very many: he writes on the Body and Blood of Christ, among which best known is the book on the Body and Blood of the Lord, which under the reign of Louis the Pious, when a question had been rashly broached by some about the most holy Sacrament, he composed; and in it he first explained the genuine sense of the Catholic Church in such a way, that he opened the way for others, who afterwards wrote many things on the same argument. in Matthew He expounded the Gospel of Matthew in twelve books: of which the first four he had begun as a monk; the rest, now as Abbot, he added: and the first he addressed to Guntland, monk of St. Richarius at Centula, the rest to all the associates of the same monastery. and Psalm 44. On the 44th Psalm also he composed a notable tract in three books, to the Holy Nuns of the Blessed Mary of Soissons, repaying them the grace of the early education he had drawn from them. The Life of his instructor Adalard, Lives of St. Adalard and others: and likewise of his brother Wala, and the contest of the Holy Martyrs Rufinus and Valerius, when he had found them corrupt and depraved at their Basilicas, at the request of the Clergy of that place, in a more polished style he published and refined. Likewise other things, besides various epistles, not a few he wrote. At last on the Lamentations of Jeremiah five books of manifold exposition, on the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which is believed to be the last work of Radbert, offered as an old man to the old Odilmannus, as is clear from an epistle.
[5] An old man therefore, and now ripe for heaven, he closed his life with a happy exit, on the day, He dies April 26 in the year 851. sacred to the memory of St. Richarius (whom he had always loved with special love), the 6th of the Kalends of May, in the year from Christ's birth 851. Buried first in the church of St. John the Evangelist, in the entrance of the sacristy, he long lay there for nearly two hundred years. Afterwards when at his tomb frequent prodigies of wondrous works and cures were happening, he was translated thence, he shines with miracles: by the authority of the Apostolic See, to the greater Basilica of St. Peter by Wido Bishop of Amiens, and among the relics of Adalard, Precordius, and other Saints, he is translated July 12. so that he might thereafter be in fitting veneration to all, was placed on the 4th of the Ides of July. There is a poem on the praises of St. Radbert by Engelmod Bishop of Soissons.
ANOTHER LIFE
From old monuments of Gallic Corbie collected by Hugo Menard.
Paschasius Ratbertus, Abbot of Corbie, in Gaul (St.)
[1] A Roman by nation, a Levite by order, Saint Ratbert Paschasius was a Roman by nation, by dignity a Levite, seventh in the order of Deacons, and of such great humility, that he never wanted to ascend to the highest degree of Priesthood. His sanctity was proclaimed by Herigerus Abbot of Lobbes in a certain epistle. He cleaves to St. Adalard: When moreover St. Adalard Abbot of Corbie was honorably received by Pope Leo at Rome, St. Ratbert admiring his holiness, thereafter clung to him: and following him returning to Gaul, gave himself to be instructed in his discipline in the regular disciplines. Having taken the habit in the Corbie monastery, he strove to imitate with all zeal the virtues of his Master: to which a wholly admirable learning was joined, he writes his Life, as his works attest. For he wrote the Life of St. Adalard his Master, and of Wala the Abbot, brother and successor of the same Adalard: he wrote also a Commentary on the forty-fourth Psalm, in three books divided, to the venerable Theodrada Abbess of St. Mary of Soissons, sister of the aforesaid Fathers Adalard and Wala, and to her nuns, expounding how they ought to cleave to the Beloved himself. and on Psalm 44, Once when making a journey he had come to the basilicas of the Holy Martyrs Rufinus and Valerius, and the Life of SS. Rufinus and Valerius. a codex of the Passion was offered him by the Clerics of that church; and being asked to correct it, he published a new one. In the assembly of the Brothers he often disputed about the divine Scriptures. Wherefore the Brothers won over by the tickling of his doctrine, asked him, and on Matthew, to expound the Evangelist Matthew; which he gladly did, and completed the whole work in twelve books. From these four, while still a monk, he dedicated to Guntuland the monk of St. Richarius at Centula, a very religious man: but the rest, now made Abbot, he dedicated to the monks of the same place most familiar to him. the book on the Eucharist: He wrote the book on the Body and Blood of the Lord, when St. Adalard (whom in the preface of the same book he calls Arsenius) was in exile on the island of Heri; and dedicated it to Placidus, who afterwards was Abbot. The last work and that most excellent is that which on the Lamentations of Jeremiah, now an old man, he composed, and on the Lamentations of Jeremiah, for the old Odilmannus, completed in triple interpretation and five volumes. On account of such great erudition and holiness of life, Isaac the Abbot having died, by the votes and suffrages of all the Brothers he was declared Abbot of Corbie. In which office, An Abbot devoted to studies and humility: although in governing the monks he did diligent work, yet he never intermitted the study of letters: and humility, which from the beginning of his conversion he had cultivated, to the end of his life he held with teeth. For weighed down with age, sensing death impending, with the Brothers gathered to bid farewell, he forbade, from death he wishes nothing to be written about himself: that by anyone his life should be written; and at last fell asleep in Christ on the sixth of the Kalends of May, on the day of St. Richarius, whom he had most greatly loved; He dies April 26, and whose monks, endowed with great religion, he had cultivated with the highest observance. He was buried by his own in the church of St. John the Evangelist, in the middle place before the entrance of the Presbytery. buried in the church of St. John the Evangelist, Afterwards, many years' courses having now passed, under Fulco the Abbot, who eighteenth after him presided over Corbie, very many miracles were done at his tomb. Wherefore by the authority of the Apostolic See, by Wido, translated to the church of St. Peter July 12. Bishop of Amiens, his sacred body, on the fourth of the Ides of July, raised from the earth, was honorably translated to the greater church of St. Peter, so that with the other Saints, Adalard and Precordius, it might be exposed to the people in veneration.