ON SAINT ALPINIANUS, PRESBYTER IN AQUITAINE.
3rd Century
PrefaceAlpinianus, Presbyter in Aquitaine (Saint)
D. P.
It has commonly been believed by very many that Saint Martial, the first herald of the Christian Law through Aquitaine, At what time did he convert Aquitaine to the Faith together with Saint Martial? was sent thither by Saint Peter, the prince of the Apostles. But we shall show on June 30, in his Life, that this is almost an invention of those who, seeking for I know not what glory in sacred things, so that they may appear above others in the antiquity of their received Faith, wish to have it domestic to them from the very times of the Apostles. Those seem to us to think more correctly to whom the first apostle and bishop of Limoges is believed to have come to Aquitaine about the year 250, for which time Gregory of Tours, History, book 1, chapter 28, the most learned Bosquet, Bishop of Montpellier, book 1 of The History of the Gallican Church, and the Dissertation of Jean Cordes inserted in the same history, and many others to be discussed more fully by us on the said day. We therefore refer Saint Alpinianus, because he was the helper and companion of Saint Martial in preaching the Christian law, to about the year 250.
[2] Office and synopsis of the Life in the Breviary of Limoges. His cult, with Office in the Breviary of Limoges, is assigned to April 27: on which day, following the Florarium Sanctorum written about two hundred years ago, Saussay in his Gallican Martyrology and its Supplement treats of him: although in the index, which he affixes to the entire work, he assigns him to the 26th: Cult on April 26 and 27. on which day also he is said to have died in the Moissac manuscript, and in that which was printed in tom. 2 of the New Library by Philippe Labbe: while the Breviary of Limoges in the meantime attributes his death to the 27th day. In the Hagiologium Franco-Galliae, excerpted from the ancient Martyrology of the Abbey of Saint Lawrence of Bourges, which in tom. 2 likewise June 3. of the New Library the same Philippe Labbe published, he is commemorated on the day before the Kalends of July in these words: "At the city of Limoges, of Saint Martial the Bishop, with two presbyters, Alpinianus, Stratodinianus, for Austriclinianus (who however is venerated on October 15), whose life shone exceedingly with miracles." He is also said to have been inscribed by the Council of Limoges of the year 1031 in ancient Martyrologies with the title of Apostle, but it is not added for what day. The synopsis of his Life from the Breviary of Limoges of the year 1626 is this: "Alpinianus, having set out from Rome into Gaul, attached himself as assiduous companion to Blessed Martial in the various labors and perils which he underwent for the propagation of the faith. After the departure of the most holy Apostle, not forgetful of the things which he had received from so great a master, he piously and religiously passed the rest of his life. Sanctity proved by miracles, Miracles confirmed his sanctity; for he restored to former health a certain man whose one hand had withered, he freed another vexed by a demon, he strengthened the steps of three lame men, he restored to life a dead infant. Finally, when he had learned by revelation from Saint Martial that death was at hand, having prayed every good thing for his associates, and having consoled the same mourners, with eyes and hands intent upon heaven, on the fifth day before the Kalends of May, he flew away to the seats of the Blessed."
[3] Another elogium we have in the Moissac manuscript, which is not worth giving here, Life dug out from manuscripts by Labbe. since it is a mere epitome of that Life which our Philippe Labbe found in several manuscript codices after the Life of Saint Martial, joined to it under this preface: "Meanwhile since, according to the possibility of our capacity, we have spoken of Blessed Martial's service toward the Lord, or of what miracles he has since performed in him, in the place where he now rests; we have judged it worthy to say at least a little about Blessed Alpinianus, who clung to him incessantly, worthy of commemoration." This Life he inserted in tom. 2 of his New Library, among the Lives of Saints pertaining to Aquitaine; whence we transfer it here. The Moissac manuscript in addition adds these things concerning the burial of the holy man, which followed the interval of many centuries: "After long times, namely in the year from the Incarnation 805, Raymond, a most religious Count of Limoges, built a certain monastery called Rofiacum; and he begged the reverend Dodo, Translation to the Rofiacum monastery, Abbot of the monastery of Saint Sabinus, that he would instruct the inhabitants of his monastery in regular observances. When this was done, Abbot Dodo, having consulted with the aforesaid Count, with hymns and praises of God, honorably carried the body of Blessed Alpinianus from Limoges to Rofiacum."
[4] As to the time of the aforesaid Translation, it seems altogether that an error has crept into the figures, in the year 845. of which one fell out, so that instead of "the eight hundred and fifth year" should be read "the eight hundred and forty-fifth." For Adémar, monk of Saint Eparchius, in that chronicle which Philippe Labbe inserted in tom. 2 of the New Library, says that Louis the Pious, after the death of Pepin, when the troubles of the Aquitanians had been calmed, in the year 839 appointed Ratherius as Count at Limoges: and then in the same place in the year 841 Raymond is called Count. But again it cannot be doubted whether "fifth" should be read as "fiftieth": for Dodo, Abbot of Saint Savinus, summoned by Raymond to organize the Rofiacum monastery, before this year, namely in the year 848, was transferred from the monastery of Saint Savinus, which is in Poitou above the Gartempe river, to rule the monastery of Saint Martial at Limoges. Further, the Rofiacum monastery, commonly Rofec, is situated in Berry on the river Crausia.
[5] Saussay is the authority in the Supplement on the 5th day before the Kalends of May, that the body of Saint Alpinianus was long ago translated from the bosom of the Church of Limoges to the town of Castrum-Sarracenum, and after the year 1176 to Castrum Sarracenum. commonly called Castelsarrasin, and situated in Aquitaine between the Tarn and Garonne. When this was done we have been unable so far to learn. It is altogether necessary to make this translation much later than the Rofiacum one: for it is established from the Chronicle of Geoffrey, Prior of Vigeois, in tom. 2 of the New Library of Philippe Labbe, that the body of Saint Alpinianus, which had first been brought from Limoges to the monastery of Rofiacum, remained there at least until the year 1174 or 1176. For about those times Isembertus Escoblart is written, from Prior of the said monastery afterward made Abbot of Saint Martial at Limoges, to have built Rofiacum from the foundations after its destruction, and to have composed the shrine of Saint Alpinianus in new and marvelous work. The words of the Chronicle are these: "These were the sons of Ramnulphus Escoblart, a nobleman of the castle of Rofec, which is in Berry. Their brothers were Silvester and William, and also that Gaudin who built the castle of Ramafort with outstanding probity. This Isembertus, from his early age a monk of Saint Martial, built from the foundations the monastery of Rofec, of which he was Prior, without gain made through the Churches, enclosed the vineyard with a limestone wall, composed the shrine of Saint Alpinianus with marvelous work."
LIFE
Found in various manuscripts after the Life of Saint Martial.
Alpinianus, Presbyter in Aquitaine (Saint)
BHL Number: 0308
FROM A MANUSCRIPT.
[1] Saint Martial, therefore, having in all things true knowledge of the sanctity of the excellent man Alpinianus, loved him with the dearest affection, whom he saw above others following sacred institutions. An outstanding imitator of Saint Martial, He rejoiced therefore to have taught a good imitator, one who would profit many believers, if after his own death he should appoint him a teacher of the good Word: since, worthy of imitation, holy Alpinianus, trampling on the desires of the deceiving world, and according to the voice of the Apostle "seeking the things that are above, not the things that are on earth," assiduous executor of good deeds, meditated on the institutions of the heavenly commandments. For, self-sufficient in worldly things, he so rejected the abundance of daily food and clothing that he not only abstained from unlawful things, but took precaution even against the lawful. O truly praiseworthy abstinence, which, denying itself permitted things, by the example of its own institution, coerces from lawful things even those wandering in sins.
[2] he shines with virtues, Blessed Alpinianus, therefore, leading a life conspicuous with every ornament of holiness, supported by the brightness of noble deeds, had the magnificence of his virtue spread abroad in every direction. Whence the ineffable clemency of the Holy Trinity, which before the beginning of the world foreknew all things, to empty this world of infidelity, from the very beginnings of sacred Scripture irradiated his breast with the illumination of true splendor. With this light David had been clothed by infusion, when he contemplated the largesse of the divine gift saying: and with miracles: "God is wonderful in His saints": for the majesty of the almighty Lord, through this Blessed Alpinianus of whom we speak, preselecting the unwearied worker of His marvels for those desiring to ascend the height of the clearly-seen kingdom, deigned to restore to lost health those laboring under the hindrance both of soul and also of body.
[3] He raises a dead man, At a certain time, when, the office of the sixth hour being finished, he was going out from the church, he met a certain poor woman who, casting her dead son before his feet, begged him with tears that the holy man would raise him up. The man of God Alpinianus, moved by her weeping, casting himself in prayer, and after a little while rising, taking the infant's right hand, restored to life he gave him back to his mother. he cures a withered hand, At another time it happened that a certain man having a withered hand came to Saint Alpinianus, begging to be healed by him: who, running to his usual aids, the church
he sought, and taking from the water which he himself had consecrated, three times he poured it upon the withered hand, and immediately restored it to health. he frees a man possessed, A certain one miserably seized by a demon is brought by his neighbors to Saint Alpinianus: when they, prostrate on the ground, asked him that he would deign to cure the demoniac; making the sign of the Cross on his head, he cast out the enemy of the human race from the possessed man. Nor do I think that miracle is to be passed over in silence which the Lord deigned to show through His servant. he restores gait to three lame men: Three lame men not having the office of walking are brought to the cell of Blessed Alpinianus: whom the holy man looking on with a pious glance, full of mercy and the sweetness of charity, as he was always accustomed to do, turns to prayer: in which he lay imploring the Lord's piety so long, until, having obtained what he had asked, taking each of them by his own hand, he raised them up sound and eager.
[4] Let these few things out of many now suffice, because if we had wished to tell even half of his miracles, we could in no wise have done so. For who can worthily pursue his unfailing zeal for the institutions of the divine commandments? or who can be found eloquent enough to express the unquenchable charity which he had toward all? For he was flourishing in chastity, kindly in hospitality, sweet in speech, he excels in charity. firm in hope, temperate in sobriety, conspicuous in goodness, grounded in humility, and illustrious in the honor of all virtues. He had such compassion on the frailty of sinners that, according to the text of sacred Scripture, conforming himself to all, he desired to gain all for Christ; and warming hearts wounded by sins with the mild medicines of the Scriptures, with every effort he labored benevolently that minds dirty with the filth of vices, having put aside the squalor of lubricity, might be adorned with the grace of the heavenly gift through the increase of purity. He was strong in the vigor both of body and of soul, so that he could truly be called a vessel of the Holy Spirit. Psalmody never ceased from his mouth, except when he took food, or had indulged a little in sleep.
[5] Warned by Saint Martial of his approaching departure, Therefore, as we said, Blessed Alpinianus, the excellent imitator of all holiness, on a certain day, while lying prostrate on the ground he devoted himself to prayer, the most blessed Martial appeared to him, and thus addressed him, saying: "Since, dearest one, with heavenly grace going before, against the snares of the ancient enemy you have fought most eagerly up to this point; now at last, for the exercise of your labors, it has pleased the highest Giver that, leaving behind your fragile body, you should be enriched with the gift of the heavenly joys." Forewarned by these words of the most blessed Martial, the venerable Alpinianus gave the due thanks to the Almighty. But Blessed Martial, while Blessed Alpinianus was still looking on in his bodily prison, with splendor sought heaven. Saint Alpinianus, therefore, calling his companion and the religious Brothers, set forth all things to them in order which he had seen and heard from Saint Martial. When the aforesaid Presbyter Austriclinianus had heard this from Blessed Alpinianus, smitten with exceeding sorrow, Saint Austriclinianus being summoned, he in no way refrained from weeping: for he did not wish so very holy a man to be separated from him, and to lose the sweet friendship of dearest brotherhood. And although he knew for certain that the blessedness of Paradise would receive him in dying, yet he was sad that he would release him bodily, from whom he would never be absent in spirit.
[6] Thus with the sacred fever growing strong through the limbs of Blessed Alpinianus, the heaviness of his joints began to invade his vital organs. But when, as we said above, with faithful voices he saw Saint Austriclinianus and the rest who were present he departs amid the tears of his own, weeping, with most kindly admonition, lest they should be troubled at his departure, he exhorted them; lest what divine disposition had commanded, they should seem to contradict with mournful sorrow. But who, in narrating, could express how great a mourning then invaded the minds of the faithful, when they saw themselves to be deprived of so great a patron? For scarcely could anyone there utter sobbing words, which were broken by the sobbing of tearful lamentations. And when the glorious dissolution was imminent upon the body of the blessed man, finally bidding farewell to all who stood by, he stretched out his eyes and hands to heaven. Finally, leaving behind earthly things entirely, with the Angels applauding him to eternal rest, on the sixth day before the Kalends of May, rejoicing he passed on to Christ.
[7] and after some miracles Accordingly, the washing of the sacred body being completed as is the custom, it is placed upon the bier. But it seemed absurd to us to omit the miracles which the Saint meanwhile wrought. For a certain blind man, to whom light had up to then by no means shone, with the openings of his eyes growing light, obtained the first day of his sight. Several paralytics obtained health, the lame their gait, those vexed by demons their cure, all the lepers cleansing, and those wearied by various infirmities, through the merit of Blessed Alpinianus, he is buried near Saint Martial. before his body was entombed, deserved to receive health. Accordingly the limbs of the most holy Alpinianus were placed near the tomb of his former master Blessed Martial, with our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor, power, and dominion, and eternal majesty, together with the Holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen.