ON SAINT MARK, BISHOP, AND HIS TWO PRESBYTERS,
MARTYRS AT ATINA IN CAMPANIA.
A.D. 82
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Mark, Bishop, Martyr at Atina in Italy (Saint)
His Two Presbyters, Martyrs at Atina in Italy (Saints)
By D. P.
§ I. The life, passion, and burial of the saint; the discovery of his body after nearly a thousand years.
[1] Atinum, or Atina, once an episcopal city, now a town remarkable only for the fame of its ancient celebrity, lies at the foot of the Apennines in Campania. From here it faces Sora on one side and Cassino on the other, at an interval of nearly eight miles on either side, and at about twice that distance it has Venafrum as its neighbor. Vainly and falsely does it boast Saturn, the most ancient of the gods, as its founder, A disciple of Saint Peter and that he was buried there. But it truly glories that the light of the Christian faith, among the first of Italy, was brought to it by Saint Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and that once it had received Mark, Peter's disciple, as its Bishop, that faith so took root that it was never afterwards extinguished, although the city itself, having suffered frequent ruin and desolation, at last under Eugenius III lost its episcopal dignity. There exists in Ferdinando Ughelli, Italia Sacra, volume I, at the end, a Chronicle of this city, carried down to the year 1356 with no small diligence, and brief enough, noting only the chief events. Before we proceed to the cult and the illustration of the Acts, it will be useful to excerpt from it a summary of matters concerning Saint Mark, omitting however the compendium of the Life (which is treated below). After which, in the explication of history comprising the times of the first persecution, this is read concerning his martyrdom.
[2] Cletus presided over the Roman Church for 12 years, 1 month, Made a martyr under Domitian and 11 days. In his time Mark, Bishop of Atina, a disciple of Blessed Peter the Apostle, was put to death by Maximus, Governor of all Campania, in the 63rd year after the Passion of the Lord, on the 4th day before the Kalends of May. This year, derived from the most ancient Acts, according to the Pontifical chronology set forth before the first volume of this month, would be the year 82 of the common era; and of this year's April, it corresponds only to the 7th month of Domitian, who began to reign on the Ides of September and, after giving the people hope that he would maintain clemency, quickly revived the persecution begun by Nero.
Then, having narrated the order of the interrogation and torments, the Chronicle continues: And hastily buried by the faithful "At last, together with his two Presbyters, with whom he had been presented before the judge, he was led outside the city to a place in the fields, near the monument which is called Imperial; and there, having severed their heads from their bodies, they left them unburied. But the faithful, who remained hidden within the city, going out by night, laid the body of Blessed Mark the Martyr apart from his head, and placed the other two in one tomb; and so they remained where they had been laid until the times of Blessed Pope Silvester." So the Chronicle, drawing from the ancient Acts, which do not distinguish the first burial of the saint's body, done in haste, from a second and more orderly one, which it soon indicates was carried out by Saint Mark's successor Fulgentius. He held the see for 31 years, More fittingly reinterred by his successor Fulgentius 7 months, and 28 days, and buried the bodies of Saints Nicander and Marcian, beheaded under the same Governor Maximus between Atina and Venafrum on June 17, beside the body of Christ's Martyr Mark, setting up there a small dwelling. For it was his concern to rebury the body of Blessed Mark the Martyr more carefully, and to lay the head separately from the body, certainly after the death of Domitian, which occurred in the year 96, and after his acts had been rescinded by the Senate: by which some peace was granted to the newly planted Churches, allowing them to conduct their affairs more freely and in better order.
[3] After Fulgentius had died, Hilarius, Urban, and Lucius held the See of Atina until Pope Eleutherius, who, created (as we have shown) commonly in the year 171, in the 6th year of his pontificate ordained in the city of Atina Bishop Salomon, The Acts of the Passion written by Salomon, Bishop of Atina, around the year 190 who held the see for 36 years, 10 months, and 25 days. Being a Roman by nation, he held the summit of his priesthood more eloquently than the other prelates; and he composed the deeds of the holy Martyrs Nicander and Marcian and of Mark the Prelate. Since these appeared to have been less elegantly composed in the 11th century (perhaps because the negligence of copying scribes had filled them with solecisms and errors), the Archbishop of Capua (to be named below) was asked to restore the Acts of Saint Mark to purer Latin; which was done in such a way that those ancient Acts continued to be read in the church, as the sermon of John the Bishop on Mark, composed around the year 1090, proves, in which the very words of the ancient Acts are cited. And the author of the Chronicle appears to have had exactly the same, and from them to have drawn the aforesaid compendium: which therefore will be useful to us for illustrating in more than one place the more recently arranged Acts. After this sat at Atina Demetrius and Saint Carus, of whose martyrdom we shall treat on the following day; then Vigilantius and Prudentius, consecrated under the title of martyrdom on the 1st day of this same month, as we have seen.
[4] The church built by Bishop Maximus around the year 330 Finally Pope Miltiades, in the year of Christ 314, the last of his pontificate, ordained in the city of Atina Bishop Maximus, who held the see for 25 years, 5 months, and 10 days. In his time a church was built in honor of the Blessed Mary ever Virgin and of Blessed Mark, Martyr and Bishop, in that place which is called Pes-silicis, near the monument called Imperial, by the road which is called "of the monuments," with great stones, various marbles, and lofty columns; 163 feet long, 42 feet wide, having around it a wall of lofty stones. In it he placed the body of the aforesaid Martyr Mark beneath the high altar, in a certain marble sepulcher, with a stone inscription bearing the name of Christ's Martyr. He also placed his head separately from the body, in a little glass vessel, together with the nails, Which served as his cathedral in a corner of that same basilica on the western side. Afterwards Pope Julius, in the first year of his pontificate, which was the year of Christ 337, ordained in the city of Atina Bishop Eugenius, who held the see for 31 years, 9 months, and 16 days. In his time an ark was built, in which rest the bodies of Saints Nicander and Marcian, next to the major church on the northern side. Thus far the Chronicle. And presently, treating of Eugenius's successor Romanus, it speaks again of the aforesaid church of Saint Mary or the Major; and adds that what is now called the church of Saint Bartholomew the Apostle, situated in the place called Pes-silicis, is where Blessed Mark received his martyrdom and for a long time rested; and here also was the bishopric.
[5] The city restored around the year 630 The author goes on to narrate how the city, utterly destroyed in the times of the Emperor Arcadius, was restored under the pontificate of Leo I, that is, around the middle of the fifth century; and how the people of Atina, fortifying it, built in the citadel a church of Saint Mary and beside it an episcopal residence, the former site remaining in its ruins. After a little more than a hundred years, the city and church were destroyed again, and rose again around the year 630; and a Bishop was given to the place. And when in the year 968 the bishopric of Capua was raised to an archbishopric, the church of Atina was subjected to it along with other suffragans. In this church in the year 1034 Adenulf, the third Archbishop, appointed as bishop Leo, a most religious man and beloved by God, who lived in the episcopate for twenty-eight years, namely until the year of Christ 1062. I said he was created in the year 1034. In 1034 Bishop Leo is given For although the History of the Discovery of Saint Mark seems to delay its beginnings by a decade, this is more likely a scribal error than the author's. For since Leo is said to have been instituted in the time of the Emperor Conrad, who died in the year 1039, it is clear that there is an error in the number; but the cause of error was provided by the year 1046, in which the finding of the body of Saint Mark was noted. And because in the history of the said discovery the matter is so told that there does not appear to have been much time between Leo's consecration and the discovery itself, the scribe presumed to write the number XL in both places. That this is an obvious error will easily appear from the Chronicle, according to which, in the time of this Leo, the church of Saint Mary was built in the temple of Saturn; in his time also the body of Christ's Martyr Mark was found, which had lain hidden in the episcopal residence of Atina, namely the old and desolate one, beneath the high altar,
already likewise destroyed. Who restored and dedicated the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary Because of the miracles wrought in the place—of which the history speaks—Leo himself afterwards dedicated the altar in honor of Saint Bartholomew, beside the bodies of Saints Nicander and Marcian; or more truly, he had dedicated it beforehand. Indeed, when the body of Saint Mark was found, the altar was already standing—not over the body itself (of which no thought had even been given), but beside it and near the burial-place of the said Saints, which perhaps was then empty, the bodies having been translated to Venafrum during the time of desolation, a matter that may be examined on June 17. Here it is enough to note And into it he brought the body of Saint Mark in 1046 that the construction of the cathedral church must not be presumed to have been begun at the very start of his episcopate and completed in a single year—which however would have to be said if Leo, ordained in 1044, had in 1046 transferred the body of Saint Mark into the said church, already completed.
[6] Now when the church had been founded and blessed and restored by Leo, out of the resources he then appeared to have, in that same church he built chambers in which he and his successors might dwell, beside the major church on the western side. Meanwhile, in the year 1046, on the 6th day before the Kalends of August, the body of Saint Mark was found and brought into the episcopal residence, that is, the new cathedral. Then Leo turned his mind to establishing canonical discipline in the same place, And there he instituted the Congregation of Canons Regular and determined in his mind that the clerics of Atina should assemble together willingly and voluntarily at the church of Saint Mary, and present the divine service unanimously to the Lord, in honor of the holy Mother of God and in reverence for the body of the most blessed Martyr Mark, Bishop of the city of Atina. Having therefore called together all the clerics, along with the most illustrious Count Lando and the Advocate Bernard, together with all the people of the city, he took care to disclose to them all his will's decision and the purpose he had conceived in his mind. And it seemed right to all that the clerics, wandering about in various places and always occupied with secular cares and concerns, could not exercise themselves in the divine service as is fitting. Accordingly, the clerics having held counsel, some of them, neither unwilling nor compelled, devoted themselves to the service of the church with free heart and sincere will, namely: Theoto, Angelus, Joannes, Almundus, Albertus, Joannes, Leo, Benedictus, Petrus, and Joannes, presbyters; and Benedictus, archdeacon; and Gregorius and Marcus, primicerii; Dominicus and Atinus. All these, offering reasonable service to God, that they might walk together in the house of the Lord by consent, humbly offered themselves together with all their goods at the altar of the holy Mother of God.
[7] To these, and to all who should follow in their footsteps, Leo granted many privileges Establishing it with privileges and lands and some estates by a diploma, which is extant at the end of the Chronicle of Atina, either added by the writer or by Ughelli. It is given (as the title reads) in the year 1056 from the Incarnation of Christ, in the month of July, in the 8th indiction, while Lord Pope Victor, Supreme and Universal Pontiff, was residing in the city of Rome, and while the most pious Emperor Conrad* was ruling, and while Archbishop Adenulf was governing the church of Capua. Here you will readily forgive the scribe for having presumed to change or supply the name of the Emperor. For one might suspect that it was erased by someone who had more zeal than learning, who thought that the one who was reigning in the said year was Henry—the same Henry who, at the age of five, succeeded his father who had just died, and who on account of schism and rebellion against the Church lived almost always excommunicated, and that the name of so wicked a man was judged unworthy to be read in the foundation of its Order, and so was blotted out; In the year 1055 and that the one who transcribed it at the end of the Chronicle seized upon the name Conrad, which he remembered having read in the ordination of Leo. Moreover, considering the number of the indiction and comparing it with the year of Christ, you will understand that the people of Atina were accustomed in that age to anticipate the common reckoning of the year by nine months, as we have demonstrated of the Tuscans and Umbrians, and that therefore the year here must be taken as 1055. The same must be said of the years to be noted below, whenever the months added run past March, so that the beginning of this institution at Atina fell in the very beginnings of Pope Victor II, created on April 13, which the Chronicle of Atina also confirms, saying, "In the time of Pope Victor II, the Congregation of Atina was founded in the church of Saint Mary."
[8] These then were those times—shall I call them happy, or unhappy?—in which, the clergy of almost all Italy being entangled in the vices of simony and concubinage, Which, like other such congregations elsewhere, an unfailing light began to emerge from such great darkness, namely the Order of Canons Regular; if not then first instituted, certainly then first reduced to that form which constitutes it a singular Order in the Church, for the reformation of the entire clergy. For then God raised up the spirit of John, Bishop of Lucca, through whom he gathered men separated from the corrupt mass of the clergy, desirous of a holier discipline, to live in one church under a canonical rule; and by his example he stirred other bishops also to attempt the same, among whom Leo was one, as appears from what has been said. And applying no sparing hand to bringing the work once begun to perfection, he also made a dormitory for the Canons, a refectory for the use of the brothers, and a kitchen with a bakery. These men, walking in newness of spirit, in no way failed the industry of their cultivator; but their young vine spread so grateful an odor throughout all Campania that the aforementioned Adenulf, Archbishop of Capua, Soon shone with signal fame of virtue being asked by them to polish the Passion of Saint Mark, could not satisfy himself in gathering from Sacred Scripture similitudes by which to illustrate their extraordinary virtue. This the most praiseworthy prelate did near the end of his mortal life, which Ughelli affirms and proves took place before the year 1059.
Footnote* rather Henry.
§ II. The translation and cult of Saint Mark: certain fictions about him rejected.
[9] While his own church is being built, the Head is found The body of Saint Mark, found in 1046, had been deposited in the cathedral church, as we have seen, and there in the year 1055 it was honored, until the Saint, demanding a church of his own, ordered the bishop to be warned concerning the matter. The bishop, executing this command and urging the work to be quickly completed, was rewarded by the Saint for the pious efforts of the people of Atina by the presentation of his Head, which had long been missed, having been separated from the body. Meanwhile a deadly drought was scorching the fields; but the same Saint promised to remove it by a bountiful gift of rain, as soon as his Relics should be brought into the new temple. This was therefore quickly done, and the new church of Saint Mark was dedicated on the 3rd day before the Nones of October, And into it he is brought with the body the zeal of the people, kindled, granting no delay to the Bishop, who had designated a longer time for completing the work and had resolved to celebrate the dedication in the following year, on the recurring anniversary of the discovery of the body, on the 16th day before the Kalends of August. Since the dedications of churches are customarily celebrated on Sundays according to the rite of the Roman Church, from the very concurrence of the aforementioned day with a Sunday it will be easy to determine that the dedication of the new church took place in the year 1063, whose Sunday letter was E. But, you will say, if Leo was ordained Bishop of Atina in the year of Christ 1033, and held the see for only twenty-eight years, as is written at length in the Chronicle of Ughelli, then surely he must have already been dead. I admit it; but since that Chronicle, in composing the years of the first Bishops of Atina alongside the years of the Roman Pontiffs, so inverts and disorders the order of the latter that even when corrected it scarcely seems capable of becoming tolerable to Ughelli, there is no reason for us to cleave anxiously to the numbers noted therein, if at any time a clearer reason compels us to turn aside, as here has been compelled by the death of the Emperor Conrad, and now by the evident proof of the Congregation of Canons Regular founded in the year 1055, and of the Translation and Dedication made after it on the 3rd day before the Nones of October, on a Sunday. It will therefore be permitted to correct the manifest error, and read thirty-eight for twenty-eight, and thus to keep Leo alive until the year 1071. For concerning his successor Palumbo we know nothing else from the Chronicle, except that he was ordained in the time of the Emperor Henry—where the title Emperor must still be received indulgently, since Henry did not assume the imperial crown before the year 1084.
[10] The history of the discovery and translation written, Having observed these things, I come to the history of the Discovery and Translation, which Ferdinando Ughelli, having had it transcribed from a most ancient manuscript of Monte Cassino written in Lombardic letters, gave to us at Rome, together with the Life composed by Adenulf, with the hymns of the proper office, and verses describing the said discovery; likewise with the Sermon of Boniface, Bishop of Atina around the year 470, in praise of the holy Martyrs Mark, Nicander, and Marcian; and with two other sermons of the aforementioned Leo for the feast of Saint Mark and for the Octave day; and with a fourth sermon of John, likewise Bishop of Atina around the year 1074. All of which had then recently been published by him in the 6th volume of Italia Sacra, where he treats of the Bishops of Atina. But I am not pleased By the aforesaid Bishop Leo that the aforementioned history of the Discovery and Translation is said to have been edited by Lord Leo, venerable Bishop of Atina. For to one reading it more carefully, it appears that not only is the author someone else, but such a one as wrote after Leo's death, indeed after not a few years had elapsed, while nevertheless the Presbyter to whom the head of Saint Mark had been revealed was still living and everywhere narrating what he had seen, and therefore within the 70th year or at least the 80th year of the eleventh century. For that Presbyter, when the revelation was made to him in the year 1062, is noted to have been elderly; and the vision is reported as he himself hitherto narrates it. But concerning Leo it is said: "A certain one ordained Bishop there, But some years after his death solicitous about restoring the churches of his bishopric, when he visited the diocese, came to the place; where, while by his command the church of Saint Bartholomew was being cleansed, the body of Saint Mark was found." And when the sequence of the dedication made had been set forth, the author denies that it should be passed over in silence "what in this city the merciful Lord has deigned to work beside the most venerable pledges in the present year," and another thing performed in a monk of Cassino when the earlier miracle was being written.
[11] Therefore, after the Life written by Adenulf (which, also excerpted from a Capuan manuscript, Silvester Ayozza had sent us in the year 1644), omitting the Antiphons, By some other inhabitant of Atina hymns, responsories, and prayers of the proper office (the hymns, however, may be read in Ughelli), we give the history just mentioned, but without the author's name, which could have been Leo—and perhaps the Leo mentioned above among the first Canons of the Congregation of Atina—but could not have been Leo Bishop of Atina. But if a Bishop must be admitted, the author is rather Palumbo here,
who, ordained after Leo in the time of the Emperor Henry, Then the distichs, wrongly attributed to Adenulf of Capua held the see for 15 years, as is written in the Chronicle. After the history will be placed distichs composed on the discovery; for we do not believe they are by Adenulf himself, nor even by Leo (of whom however it is read in the Chronicle that in the greater church, when a ciborium had been constructed over the high altar, he took care to adorn it with verses around the work itself), but by someone even younger, who either from popular tradition or from more certain information added to the discovery certain circumstances almost contrary to the historical account, and at least passed over in this one—which, I believe, would by no means have occurred if the distichs had been written and approved before the history was composed.
[12] Peter the Deacon, Chartulary and Librarian of Monte Cassino, wrote a booklet on illustrious men of Cassino, Who is said to have written many things about Saint Mark at the end of which someone else (I know not who) added an eulogy of Peter himself as chapter 47, enumerating all those things which Peter transcribed with his own hand, partly composed by others, partly by himself, and partly composed by others and augmented or illustrated by himself. Baronius, in the Notes to the Roman Martyrology, not understanding this threefold distinction of Peter's writings, citing wrongly chapter 44 for 47, speaks as if Peter had composed all the things thus far mentioned about Saint Mark, alleging no one else who wrote about Saint Mark. Ughelli speaks of the same Life, Translation, and Miracles, written by Peter the Deacon, as distinct from the Life which Adenulf edited and from the translation which he wrongly imputes to Bishop Leo; and what is more remarkable, he expressly adds, "all of which still exist in manuscript with me, hitherto unedited." Meanwhile, publishing himself what had hitherto been unedited, he brings nothing forward under the name of Peter the Deacon, nor does he appear to have had anything which he could have referred to under that name. For, all the manuscripts of this kind in his possession having been scrutinized—at his own request, and with his willingness that they should be given to us—we found nothing of the sort. Only those things which we partly give here and partly can be read in volume 1 of Italia Sacra.
[13] Still, let us hear the eulogy of Peter himself. "In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1127, He only transcribed what had been composed by others in the 21st year of his age, he was sent into exile. While he was in that very exile… he transcribed for Abbot Oderisius the Passion of Blessed Mark and his companions… and many Lives of Saints subsequently noted there. He also added to the history of Blessed Mark the destruction and restoration of the city of Atina… He wrote out the Translation of Blessed Mark in the city of Atina and his miracles; he composed the chant of Blessed Mark, and of Saints Nicander and Marcian." These things seem to be understood thus: that Peter, exiled at Capua, where Count Adenulf then presided, transcribed into one codex the Passions of Saints Mark, Nicander, and Marcian—Mark's, indeed, by Adenulf; that of Marcian and Nicander by someone (perhaps by the same Adenulf) restored to a more elegant Latin—and joined to them in his own style an appendix on the destruction and restoration of Atina. And again, he wrote the Translation and miracles of the same Saint Mark in another codex, adding to them a Chant composed by himself about the same Saint. Other writings of others Furthermore, at the request of this same Peter Deacon and Librarian (as is said in chapter 43), Peter, Subdeacon of the Roman Church, adorned with verses the Passion of Blessed Mark, which to this day lie hidden or have perished. Finally, on the testimony of Ughelli and Ferrarius, Peter Paul Florus of Urbino composed a Life and Passion of Mark which was published at Rome in 1599. We have not seen it, nor do Ughelli and Ferrarius appear to have esteemed it highly, showing by pointing out only one thing: that in assigning the year of the martyrdom accomplished under Domitian, he transferred the number, which in the ancient Acts was noted with respect to the Passion of Christ, to the Incarnation of the same Christ—a signal error.
[14] Cult at Atina Concerning the cult—and indeed a most solemn cult—of Saint Mark among the people of Atina, there can be no doubt, since a proper Office is extant, and the sermons of which we have spoken. Indeed, that the feast was double—one of the passion on this April 28, the other of the discovery on July 17—is sufficiently known from the same. That this cult extended to neighboring churches, say Venafrum, Sora, and Cassino—who would dare affirm it? when not even at Capua (whose Archbishop Adenulf labored over those things which still to this day are preserved among the monuments of that Church, namely the Life and proper Office)—when, I say, not even at Capua does it find a place in the four Calendars which, written for the use of that city, Michael Monachus long ago inserted into his Sanctuarium Capuanum. The first of foreigners, Cardinal Baronius, revising the Roman Martyrology, ordered the memory of Saint Mark to be made by the whole Church with these words: "At Atina, of Saint Mark, who, ordained Bishop by Blessed Peter the Apostle, His name in the Roman Martyrology first preached the Gospel to the Aequicoli (among whom is Sora, the homeland of Baronius), and in the persecution of Domitian under the Governor Maximus received the crown of martyrdom." Ferrarius followed the authority of Baronius, or rather of the Church of Atina, in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, weaving a certain compendium of the Life. The two Presbyters, companions of the martyrdom, we added on the authority of the Chronicle of Atina, as supported by the account of the old Acts, although Adenulf does not mention them in the Life polished by him. For the fact that no mention is now made of them in sacred rites we judge to have happened only because all the devotion of the Atinenses cleaved to Saint Mark, and thus the companions came into oblivion the more easily because the tomb in which they were buried together was not revealed or sought by anyone.
[15] Saint Mark is attributed to Spain He who, under the name of Julian Peter, invented the Adversaria, teeming with the most open lies, having read in the Menology of the Greeks which Sirletus compiled and Canisius published these words on the preceding day, April 27: "On the same day, Saints Aristarchus, Mark, and Zeno. These three were among the Seventy… Mark is the one whom they commonly called John, of whom Luke makes mention in the Acts of the Apostles; he was a Bishop appointed by the Apostles in Bibliopolis"—having read this, I say, and again the next day finding in the Roman Martyrology Mark, Bishop of Atina, commemorated in the words just quoted, he seized upon the occasion of "Bibliopolis" (not so far removed from the name Bilbilis) to engender a monster, on whose dissection posterity—defenders of his fictions—would labor in vain. Tamayo in the Notes to his Hispanic Martyrology discusses and reports the opinions of all. The words of Pseudo-Julian, n. 2, are these: "The holy memory of Mark, surnamed John, still flourished, who, accompanying Peter and Paul, preached at Bilbilis in Celtiberia, again elsewhere, and afterwards, being ordained Bishop at Rome by Peter the Apostle, was sent to Atina in the land of the Aequicoli, On the occasion of Mark the cousin of Saint Barnabas and preaching there, suffered in the persecution of Domitian under Maximus." So he writes. Tamayo, intending to show by how many interlinear glosses these words labor, brings the matter to this point: that he attempts to prove that on the one hand the Greeks are to be blamed for, proposing to themselves to follow the authority of Dorotheus (so often rejected by Baronius), having believed Mark, who is also called John, to have been Bishop of Byblos (for he contends that this is entirely fictitious, and it can be examined on September 27); and on the other that the text of Julian is corrupted, because it confounded Mark, converted at Atina by Saint Peter (as is read in his proper Acts), with that companion of Saint Paul. He concludes at last that it must be read: "the memory of Mark, who accompanying Peter, after Paul to the Spains, preached at Bilbilis," etc. And thus he contends that all these things must be held as the sheerest truth, nor can it be doubted, having inspected the accounts of Don Diego Porto-Carrero and Rodrigo de Acuña, who without examination translated the whole ecphrasis of Julian into their own idioms.
[16] These last words of Tamayo concern another place in Pseudo-Julian about the same Mark, n. 390, where, fearing to appear too little learned in sacred letters Whose body they wish to have been translated to Braga unless he showed that he had known that Mark, surnamed John, was a cousin of Saint Barnabas the Apostle (which Baronius asserts with many arguments), and not wishing to pass up the occasion of gratifying the people of Braga—hitherto better ignorant of which Saint Mark was venerated among them—he rewove the aforesaid passage, and first inserted into it that about the kinship with Saint Barnabas; then added this clause in favor of the people of Braga: "He suffered on April 27; whose body was afterwards translated to Braga in Spain, which I saw and venerated with my lord Archbishop Bernard, who tarried there some months." Tamayo from Acuña, chapter 23, adorns the same fiction with these words: "The venerable body of Saint Mark was thence translated to Braga, where in a most ancient chapel dedicated to his name at the Campo dos Remedios, it lies most fittingly in a jasper sarcophagus. In the same place God imparts many benefits to men through the intercession of so great a Martyr. There the pledges of the holy Prelate are visited with the concourse of the inhabitants of Entre-os-Rios, are honored with gifts, and are venerated and worshipped with all their hearts. The dust taken from the ground of the sarcophagus is a medicine for various ailments. Next to the chapel a hospice is to be seen. There is a street in the city called Saint Mark's Street, because through it one comes to the oratory from which it took its name. At what time this translation was made is unknown, either by the negligence of writers or by the frailty of the years." So he writes.
[17] Where the body of another Saint Mark, Confessor, is kept. But since the Chronicle of Atina does not mention this translation, and since the Spanish writers themselves, however much they have searched, confess that they find nothing in their monuments concerning the time when it was made, we cannot believe that the body which Pseudo-Julian, around the year 1110, pretends that he saw at Braga with his Archbishop of Toledo, is the same as that which was found at Atina in 1046 and, 15 years later, was brought into a new temple built there for that purpose. For who would persuade himself that the Atinenses, still having their own Bishop, having so joyfully found the dearest pledge of their first Apostle and Bishop, and having so generously honored it with a new Basilica, either deprived themselves of it by giving it to others, or deserved to be deprived of it by force and fraud by guarding it negligently? And how could the author of the Chronicle of Atina have been ignorant of so signal a munificence or loss on their part? Or if he knew it, how did he not believe this too ought to be noted—he who tried to teach accurately everything about Saint Mark, as we saw at the beginning of this Commentary? It must therefore be said that this is the body of some other Saint Mark. Certainly Antonio Vasconcellos, in his description of Lusitania, calls the Saint Mark who is venerated at Braga a Confessor, whereas the one who was Bishop of Atina died a Martyr. His words on p. 521, n. 3, are these: "In the temple of Braga which takes its name from Saint Mark, is situated a Confessor of the same name, who flourished there, and when he had died elsewhere, was translated to that place, where both the fame of his sanctity and
shines forth in miracles." Finally, the Spanish writers rather appear to be ignorant whose Saint Mark's body is that which is kept at Braga. For Augustine de Castro, Archbishop of Braga, in the letter which he gave in the year 1594 to Clement VIII, writes thus: "In this hospice, dedicated to Saint Mark, we venerate the relics of a certain Saint Mark."
ACTS
By Adenulf, Archbishop of Capua.
From the Cassino and Capuan MSS., collated with Ughelli's edition.
Mark, Bishop, Martyr at Atina in Italy (Saint)
His Two Presbyters, Martyrs at Atina in Italy (Saints). BHL Number: 5298
BY ADENULF, FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS.
DEDICATORY LETTER.
To those following the discipline of the Eternal King, to all the most holy Brothers in Christ, To the Clergy of Atina exercising the angelic life in the church of the holy Mother of God, Adenulf, Archbishop of the See of Capua, wishing happily to earn a white stone from the Lord Jesus Christ.
[1] Gathered wondrously in the unity of faith, you take for yourselves the pattern of holiness; who himself a saint and fleeing the darkness of the land of Egypt, with a spiritual song resounding on your lips, you hasten as swiftly as happily to the land of promise. Ascending with unbending step onto the mountain of God, Horeb, you behold with a happy eye the back of the Lord; where, as Moses leads you nobly onward, walking with the people by the royal way, you turn aside neither to the left nor to the right, but with an unwavering course you effectively teach him to be brought into the homeland. Imitating the sacred footsteps of the ancient Fathers, And rightly instructing his people you follow with pious religious regard, as is your duty, the doctrine both of the Patriarchs and of the Prophets, who, digging wells of Scriptures in the desert, the trackless and waterless place, have handed down to you a wondrous example in their Acts; because in an overabundance of waters they spiritually unsealed bountifully-flowing fountains of divine knowledge. You have in your hearts living water, springing up into life, by whose abundance you water the whole earth; and that the minds of the faithful may shine through you, you bring from thence the finest gold.
[2] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of acquisition. Jesus Christ, teacher and guest alike, dwells in your home, whom you strive to serve with Martha and, loving his chaste words with Mary, to hear. Preceding them with the best examples Sitting at the mouth of the cave with Elijah, you await the whistle of a gentle breeze, which by the ineffable inspiration of the heart calls and invites you to the glory of the heavenly homeland. A double portion of his spirit has remained upon you, since you have seen him ascending with Elisha; whence also the sons of the Prophets follow you with Elisha, because the faithful people are invited with pious regard of charity to the doctrine of your honor and religion. Around your teaching is an impregnable wall, and the right hand of Christ protects you, who polishes your minds from all soiled filth and illumines them by the inspiration of his immense grace.
[3] Now at last you walk through the streets of Jerusalem, which are paved with pure gold, And rightly honoring the Saints with the odor of virtues; and, setting your feet in the nourishing footprints of the holy Fathers, you solemnly celebrate and recall both their lives and passions. Loving the three special kinds of virtues, at midnight you approach the friend, and with the greatest urgency of prayers, indeed with extreme importunity, you ask of him the three evangelical loaves. For those who wondrously executed the precepts of Jesus Christ, you honor and venerate with such devotion of mind that you seem always to be both companions in passion, and conspicuous in them by the splendor of virtues. The precious blood of the Martyrs gleams among you, whose most blessed patronage exalts and amplifies the honor of your city, and protects and defends you amid adversities, and gladdens and adorns you amid prosperity. The savage fury of the persecutors, when it had destroyed many of the Saints far and wide by the sword, made the most blessed Mark specially your Martyr; Saint Mark chiefly and made him glorious in the most noble city of Atina by the shedding of blood and the palm of martyrdom.
[4] You honor therefore your Martyr, and celebrate him the more eagerly the more eagerly you burn in the love of Christ. His passion, written in a ruder style You compel me by the authority of powerful prayer—me, the unskilled in my simplicity—to treat the history of his venerable passion (which was formerly less skillfully composed by certain men) by composing it again; and by violent exaction you enjoin upon the smallness of my ignorance to unfold in a more elegant style that which the immense eloquence of philosophers should have set forth concerning the constancy of so great a Martyr. Pious indeed is the will of what you command, He asks that it be written more elegantly and laudable by all is what you request; but unless you support me by your prayers, I shall fail in the way before I reach the homeland by a straight course. Yet trusting in him who, lest it should fail in the way, fed the crowd in the desert by the grace of his bounty, and taught his disciples in a level place that they might teach others, I shall undertake the work which you command, and I shall strive to fulfill in all things the will of your petition. And what you ask with an upright regard of consideration, I shall take the utmost care to commit to execution according to the power of my abilities, and, though with barren eloquence, yet with a truthful account and a fertile mind.
[5] Which the author undertakes, bringing nothing new We therefore generally admonish all in the Lord and ask that they, reading his passion and deeds, perceive with all the intention of the mind the triumph and victory of the most sacred Martyr, and how he ascended crowned to the ethereal kingdoms; and having cast off every scruple of doubt, let them faithfully believe it. For let no one reckon that I am introducing a new plantation of martyrdom into the Church of Jesus Christ: because this Martyr is ancient; not rude or novel, but of the fruitful progeny of the primitive nascent Church—the most blessed Mark was one among the first of the first disciples, as the history, God granting, will narrate in what follows. Now therefore, all recalling the votive solemnities of this Martyr, we entreat you, as we ought, with benign zeal of piety, that both the love of Christ may ever burn in you, and that through the devotion conceived in the mind of his most invincible soldier there may also shine forth, as we believe and hope, both the special honor of your church and the impregnable guardian of the whole city.
FootnotesPrinted in Ughelli, these same words, sprinkled with some errors, read thus: a Educante. b Eliminat. c Conspicuus. d Omnino. e Frigescat.
All these, rendering a less suitable sense, we attribute to the unskillfulness of the copyists, and have restored to a better sense with slight alteration, in the first three places following the Capuan MS., which in the last two has the same errors as Ughelli.
PROLOGUE.
[6] The ineffable clemency of the supreme Godhead wondrously dedicated the sacrosanct Church, The wonderful power of the Holy Spirit in the preaching of the Apostles which has neither spot nor wrinkle in its body; and as it is glorious, so also fruitful in all holy effects, it filled with the inundation of its bounty the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit coming upon the Apostles, and directed them to evangelize all nations. Wonderful grace of piety! Wonderful and signal the prevailing efficacy of holy virtues! For in miracles power shone forth, and in the power of virtues the pious vigor of the Church grew. For precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints, who indeed, the more ardently they fight in the stadium, the more happily they live in the kingdom. They truly live, who give life to the dead, and through the whole circle of the globe abound in unutterable signs on earth, and in heavenly glory sparkle forever like morning stars.
[7] And the torments of the Martyrs God our Savior showed a prosperous way to his Martyrs, that they might both shed their blood for him, and obtain eternal glory with him or rather, meritoriously earning it for themselves, receive it from the one who presides on the heavenly throne. For he himself, who is glorious in his Saints and wonderful in majesty, makes his Martyrs glorious and patient amid chains and torments; and declares them in holy deeds wondrously efficacious and powerful. The life of the Saints shines upon us as in a mirror, whom, assuredly, if we most devoutly venerate on earth, we shall have as chief intercessors in heaven. Finally, the palm of most sacred martyrdom reddens the more loftily in the blessed shedding of blood, the more eagerly it burns in the abundant love of Jesus Christ. It plainly appears that among the spiritual gifts the blood of the Saints reddens like fire, and their life in action shines like the whiteness of lilies. The eternal and unchangeable providence of the undivided Trinity, precious stones being set in, adorns them with a golden crown; and the King of Kings, And by their heavenly reward granting his gifts from above to holy offerings, enriches them with a most benign recompense. For the Saints, having experienced mockeries and blows, chains and prisons besides, at last conquered kingdoms through faith; nor failing in their sufferings, by obtaining victory over the enemy of the human race, on account of the inestimable happiness of their immense hope, they happily tasted the chalice of passion. Retaining in their minds the fervor of extraordinary charity, they conceived in their minds a spiritual love. For those whom mother Church nourished as little ones with milk—after, coming to fullness of age, they had taken solid food and drunk likewise a spiritual cup—at last, drenched in their happy blood, divine clemency led them forth to the kingdom of beauty, and, as conquerors returning from the contest as soldiers, received them with solemnity and joy into the mansion of eternal glory.
[8] Of whose victorious and shining company we have found one of the primitive sons of the Church, Among whom the illustrious Saint Mark the most blessed Mark, to have been Bishop of the city of Atina: who certainly shines forth more exalted in signs as, more happily among the ancient Fathers, eloquent and ready, he declared to the unbelieving people in his words the kingdom of God to be near. For this glorious Martyr and Bishop, shining with a purple diadem, enriches with the highest grace of honor the church of Atina, as though wondrously acquired by the very blood of Christ, and illumines it more fully, glorifying it with the rays of virtues. Rendering the city in all respects illustrious, he cherishes and protects it by his patronage; and defending it, makes it illustrious and exalts it. Of this most sacred Martyr's passion therefore, To write whose Acts as is more fully contained in the above letter, having been asked unanimously by the Brothers and gently compelled, with the Lord's consent we have undertaken to describe it with the due readiness of devotion. Wherefore we beseech with the greatest urgency of prayers, that by their intercessions we may, together with our sighs, prevail to obtain the patronage of the most holy Martyr—they who compelled my ignorance to write those things in which uncircumcised lips and a wholly polluted tongue fall, stammering, and in falling fail. Finally, with suppliant vow we request the intercession of that most holy Mark, The author asks the help of pious prayers that he who is called lofty in name may make us humble and eloquent in the discourse of his praise. For it is esteemed just and worthy by the faithful that we, writing, and you, reading, should request in heaven the holy aid of him whose praises we most devoutly recall on earth. Let whoever will therefore read, and cast far from his mind all doubt; for, with all cloud of ambiguity driven away, we narrate the most serene history of this Saint.
CHAPTER I.
The lineage, religion, baptism, preaching, and episcopate of Saint Mark.
[9] The most blessed Mark, therefore, a Galilean sprung from Galilean parents, not yet reborn by the waters of baptism but happily to be purpled with the diadem of sacred martyrdom, A Jew by nation and religion from the bursting dawn of his earliest age walked in the confidence of extraordinary simplicity and observed the ceremonies of paternal traditions. For he was happy in the Mosaic institution, and was to be happier still in the wondrous doctrine of the apostolic faith. For, as was clear to all openly, he considered within himself with faithful vow in his mind that which afterwards he more gloriously showed in action. Coming by divine providence from the borders of Galilee, Setting out for Atina after long perils of seas and lands, at last in the city of Atina he ended the course of his journey, and there a kindly host received him in a noble lodging. Which city, as noble from antiquity, was also pleasant with the flower of good customs; and although it was still clouded by the darkness of paganism, yet by the magnificence of its loftiness it shone most eminent among other cities. Having entered this city, then, the most blessed Mark—the future illustrious champion of Christ—attached himself to a certain Palatianus, an eminent and noble man, who together with his wife Aureliana received him into his house quite kindly and attentively, and, as it pleased the divine will, kept him with himself. This man, as he was illustrious by nobility, was likewise very rich in possessions and no less distinguished in the love of hospitality; He lodges with a noble pagan but he was a gentile and served idols. Yet the merciful and compassionate Lord, whose compassions have neither beginning nor end, looked upon this man's house with the grace of his goodness in a wondrous and inestimable manner, and decreed to visit Palatianus with his wife Aureliana—just as he had once visited the centurion Cornelius—with the apostolic presence.
[10] The only-begotten Son of the Eternal Father, after Jesus Christ our Lord had glorified the form of our servitude assumed from the womb of the immaculate Virgin and wondrously placed it at the Father's right hand, Saint Peter, about to go to Rome, comes to the same place illumined with the grace of the Holy Spirit those apostles whom he had left on earth, and sent them through the provinces of the whole world to preach the Gospel. The Prince of the Apostles and Keybearer of the heavenly kingdom, most blessed Peter, after he had consecrated the throne of his pontificate at Antioch a with an immense gift, resolved, at the Lord's bidding, to betake himself to Rome, b the most eminent of all cities. Setting out from Antioch, the Apostle entrusted himself to the waves of the sea; and with a prosperous breeze blowing, the unconquerable standard-bearer sought with the banner of Jesus Christ the longed-for harbor. At length, on his way to Rome, he turned aside to the city of Atina, that the most valiant athlete of Christ might first visit it, in which he would acquire Mark as his disciple, through whom he would both rescue the city from the servitude of demons and call it to the worship of the true faith. He came therefore as a heavenly messenger sent by God; he entered the house of Palatianus, and there found Mark the Galilean. And when, inspired by the Holy Spirit, the Apostle had recognized him to be a stranger, he began to test him with many words: and he inquired more attentively who he was, whence he came, and what name he bore. To whom he, addressing him in simple speech, gave a response of this kind: "My name, venerable Father, is Mark. From the cradle I am a native of the province of Galilee. Having given the account of his life and origin I remain in these parts as an exile and stranger, and consume my life in the wretched calamity of wandering. But the paternal traditions day and night I watch over with diligent care; the statute of the sacred Law, given from heaven by God through his servant Moses to the Israelite people, I observe with faithful devotion; and the Author of all things and the Life-giver of all the living I confess with the upright reason of my heart, and approve and confirm with the sure assertion of my mouth."
[11] When the holy Apostle had received from his mouth these and similar words, he rejoiced with immense joy, and gave thanks to the Creator of all, Jesus Christ. Instructed concerning the coming of Christ and his new Law Making hence the beginning of his preaching, the disciple of Jesus Christ, that he might renew the old man in Mark, began to instruct him with sacred teaching and to call him to the font of regeneration. For by the grace of purification he was eager to render to his Lord the skin worn out by age, made splendid with newness; and what had been overspread with the blackness of blindness, he strove to render white with the pious splendor of virtues. And beginning, as is read in the Gospel, from Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to him the Scriptures; and running through the whole sequence of the Old Testament in many ways, with honey-flowing mouth he reported to him the mystical statements uttered concerning the Son of God. Luke 24:27 The man of the Lord related how the first man, deceived by diabolic fraud, had been justly expelled by God's judgment from the delightfulness of paradise and cast into the dreadful land of cursing; and how that disobedient one was exposed to all anguish and tribulation, wretched above all. Nor did he pass over that, as wickedness grew upon the earth, lest iniquity should proceed further, the pious and merciful Lord appointed that the guilt of the human race should be both c chastised by the water of the flood, and that purified man should be brought back to the grace of the true faith by a new most sacred wave of regeneration. For thus, discussing all things, he shook them out: first, how the utterances of the Law moved in its doctrine; then he would hasten back to the prophecies of the Patriarchs and Prophets.
[12] Thus at last that most blessed one, to whom neither flesh nor blood had revealed the divine mysteries, but the Father who is in heaven, promulgated the spiritual gifts of his doctrine and instructed his kindly hearer in the confession of the true faith, He is baptized until he had happily summoned him to the font of Jesus Christ; and, as the eminent founder on the cornerstone, he established the incorruptible rock by a wondrous teaching. For within the house of the aforementioned Palatianus he instructed him by catechizing him in the apostolic manner, and thus more fully instructed him in the Lord's precepts, and regenerated him in the grace of the Holy Spirit by the sacred water of baptism; and the kindly master taught him all the commandments of the divine Law. Thus the new disciple, called to the worship of the true faith, began to cleave to the sacred footsteps of his master, and strove to adorn with pious deeds the immaculate life he had renewed through water and spirit. Finally, the Apostle, desiring to complete the journey he had begun, took Mark as the foster-son of his instruction, and tested him in all his labors with worthy experience. Departing together from the city of Atina, and preaching the word of truth and faith through the various lodging-places, at last they came to the walls of the city of Rome, and set the course of their journey among the gentile peoples.
[13] And setting out with him for Rome Mark, therefore, most ready in faith, strove in every way to perceive with full keenness of mind the words which proceeded from the Apostle's mouth, and to store them diligently in the sanctuary of his breast. The man of the Lord also acted in such a way as both to know the doctrine of truth and to adorn that which was known with holy works. And he shone in signs and miracles, he who was mighty and wondrous in the efficacy of virtues; and him whom divine grace illumined with the splendor of its gift, the operation of extraordinary sanctity presented as praiseworthy and conspicuous to all. He took care to retain within himself the apostolic teachings in such a manner He serves as a companion of evangelical preaching there that he faithfully poured forth the office of preaching to others, and incited them with continual exhortations to the glory of eternal happiness. Thus he was dear and acceptable to the Apostle, because in sacred deeds he burned with honesty of morals, and not as a raw novice in the faith, but as a distinguished soldier and best contender, he opposed himself as an impregnable wall against the fiery darts of the raging enemy. As he was formed not mediocrely in the discipline of all holiness, so he seemed kindled with the fire of the Holy Spirit. He beheld the obscene sacrifices of the pagans, and did not cease to correct their detestable madness with kindly affection; for to this end, by soothing the ears of the unbelieving people, he bent them, that he brought up to the joys of heaven a countless multitude of them, wondrously marked with the title of Christianity. Great was the skill of his solicitude, that the multitude of believers should have one heart and one soul; nor should what agreed in the pure unity of faith depart from the truth. For he never ceased to instruct others also in those rudiments which he had learned from his Master; and the word of his preaching daily received increase of virtue and grace.
[14] These and similar things the kindly master beheld in his disciple Mark, And is consecrated Bishop of the city of Atina and with happy reflection, noting the divine grace shining in him, filled with immense alacrity of heart, he understood more fully that he was reserved for greater things; in which he was in no way disappointed. Not unmindful of the city of Atina which he had once left, the Apostle raised Mark to the summit of the pontificate with the highest honor, and adorned him with worthy insignia. The man of the Lord, therefore, having attained the dignity of bishop and happily exalted to a higher grade, with what virtues he shone forth, and what and how great signs the Lord wrought through him, is clear to all brighter than light: for by the cooperation of divine clemency he shines to this day with countless prodigies of virtues, and the celebrated devotion to him in his servants gleams more fully through all things. But now let us return to the thread of our narration, and strive to commit to letters with diligent care in what order he visited the city of Atina. Finally, signs and miracles flashing in the most blessed Mark, so great an efficacy of healings shone forth in him in a short time, that—heavenly grace attending him—many of the citizens, cleansed and cured from various and diverse afflictions, were wondrously restored to their former health, and all unanimously with their own mouths proclaimed the great deeds of Almighty God in their confessions.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Miracles wrought, an oratory and priests consecrated, pagans converted, martyrdom, burial.
[15] Meanwhile, with so many signs celebrated in the city of Rome, With miracles wrought the miracles which divine grace daily declared through the servant of God came to the notice of his Master, which the devout hearer laid up quite kindly in the secret chamber of his breast. For out of bodies that were possessed he cast out demons by the word of his authority, cleansed lepers, healed paralytics, gave sight to the blind, raised the dead, so that that evangelical saying of the Savior rightly applied to him by right: "My Father worketh until now, and I work" John 5:17; 14:12. And again in another place the Lord says: "He that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do
and greater than these shall he do." The Apostle, therefore, seeing that the one whom he had once received to be raised in the bosom of the Church was more thoroughly learned in the discipline of Faith and vigorously instructed in all the Sacraments, And his faith being tested began with fitting deliberation to arrange how he ought to send him back to the city of Atina. And the Master, not slow, took care immediately to commit this to execution. Without delay, he summoned him as soon as possible, set before him all his instructions, and inquired with a most subtle examination in all things according to the apostolic decretal sanction which he had handed down to him. But when he had perceived and understood that he was thoroughly imbued and most accurately informed in the edicts of the sacred Law, he rendered immense thanks to God, the author of all good things. Then, committing to him the Lord's sheep to govern, by the authority of his apostolate, with fitting moderation, he granted him the power he had received from the Lord Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, and by equal tradition made him a partaker of the Holy Spirit to bind and loose.
[16] Thus at last, the apostolic blessing having been asked and received, Setting out for Atina now certain of attaining the grace of eternal happiness, joyfully he set out on his journey; and leaving the City, he at once began the office of preaching. And wondrous is the clemency of the supreme Deity! So great was the efficacy of signs that accompanied him, that through the several cities, through the neighboring stations, or wherever the servant of God betook himself, the word of faith increasing in his mouth, Healing the sick along the way as many as were held by various infirmities, when prayers were poured out to the Lord, at his nod received their former health; and their voices loosed, the due praises of Christ resounded through the mouths of all. At last, approaching the city which he had long ago left—which had been assigned to him by lot for preaching—not very far from the walls of the city, he halted his journey at a village called a Septa-Jani, and there rested a while. There, having found a golden and silver idol, And the idol overthrown he soon reduced it to dust with due execrations and destroyed and trampled it; and the man of the Lord, making a prosperous journey thence, illumined with the beauty of all sanctity, entered the city of Atina.
[17] Having entered this city, the man of God sought with his former visitation the house of Palatianus, which he had formerly left; He turns aside to his former host to whom, uttering the customary word of greeting, he blessed it with apostolic speech. When he had inquired with diligent examination concerning the covenant of his former love, he learned that his wife had already paid the debt of all flesh. To this, the man of the Lord, consoling him with gentle exhortations, began to make him a beginning of preaching; and showed with most evident expression how the state of this world, together with life and all delights, would perish and fall. He said plainly that every single thing subject to human eyes is entirely vain and fleeting, and must be wholly renounced by all the faithful. He affirmed with great insistence that the invisible things of God are true and altogether eternal, Whom by the preaching of the Gospel and are to be closed by no end whatsoever. "For these things," he said, "the sacred mysteries bestow upon those believing with undefiled faith; these no less manifest to you the hidden judgments; these restore the integrity of the true peace of angels and of men; and what is more excellent than the rest, they represent to us ineffably the majesty of the divine loftiness in an inestimable manner, and declare the knowledge of him with clear reason."
[18] When Palatianus had received these things with astonished mind, and was not a little stupefied within himself, And exhortation he began with silent thoughts to ponder and turn over with himself what might be the rule of this new institution which would bring forth such things of his reason. When the man of the Lord saw him long hesitating and noticed his changed countenance, he said: "The thoughts of your mind disturb you, dearest friend; the secrets of your soul are moved by those things which are inserted in divine codices. Be steadfast, son, in words, prudent in speech, henceforth believing in our promises; because him whom you once received as a guest by the grace of hospitality, you have now deserved to receive as the enlightener of your soul. For the Lord Jesus Christ, who has regarded the wishes of your petition with his customary piety, has directed me to this, who wishes all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth, who has called us into his marvelous light, that, leaving the darkness of all idols, tested and accepted in faith, you may approach the brightness of the eternal light, purified by faithful vow, so that, reborn by the wave of sacred Baptism, you may worthily deserve to receive the unfading crown." What more? What should Palatianus do at these things? He wished indeed to answer reason, but by no means dared to contradict the speaker; because within himself he conceived the word of truth, and supremely desired to enjoy the prize of eternal happiness: for him whom the inspiration of a heavenly gift called to the worship of faith, the fury of the bloody enemy could not assail.
[19] At last he consents to the words of salvation, obeys the faithful admonitions; Brought away from the worship of idols, he baptizes him with 57 others and earnestly asks to be healed of the maladies which he had contracted in idol worship through the long vanity of the times. Faith is then given, belief is applied, the decree of confession is set forth, and a three-day fast is declared. When these things had been duly performed and celebrated, on the third day the Bishop with his intimate friend proceeds to the font, blesses the water of Baptism, anoints the man with the liquor of sacred Chrism, and, the man confessing with all integrity of faith his belief, regenerated him in the sacred wave of Baptism, whom also he himself received from the font. On the same day, by the cooperation of the grace of the Holy Spirit, fifty-seven persons of both sexes and ages were baptized with him. Finally, the temple of idols b which the same Palatianus had next to his house, the multitude of all the simulacra having been heaped together and broken, in honor of his most holy master, c namely the Prince of the Apostles, And dedicating the purified shrine to Saint Peter the holy Bishop venerably consecrated as a temple to Jesus Christ God: in which church he ordained seven priests and as many deacons, where day and night, continually offering divine vows, he most devoutly celebrated the holy mysteries of God. Priests and deacons being ordained there But also he took care to instruct many dwelling round about, gathered frequently with unanimous will, in the sacred teachings of the faith; and them, diligently instructed in the rule of Christian institution, he enlightened through the regeneration of water. Not many times later, Palatianus, persisting in holy confession of faith, continually occupied with fasts and prayers in the aforementioned basilica of Blessed Peter, d received his sleep in the Lord; and the seal of faith which he had received in Christ, receiving the prize of heavenly recompense from the same, he presented with faithful vow.
[20] Now therefore let us return to the order of the narration. For three years having passed, In the space of 3 years he converts 5000 men the holy Bishop by his preaching having now brought nearly five thousand men and women to the religion of faith, daily strengthened the Church in the Lord, and encouraged them by paternal exhortations that they might reap fruit in holy deeds. But behold, the head of all wicked men, the devil, came upon them—he who, once envying the happiness of one man, cast down the first-formed from the delightfulness of paradise by malignant suggestions. He began to attack the Church of Jesus Christ with crafty cunning, and in his satellites was threatening what he was wickedly planning to carry out. For a certain Maximus by name, holding the office of governor of all Campania, [And at last to Maximus who raged against the Christians in place of Nero and Domitian] being one of the devil's parasites, came in fury to the city of Atina. He, taking up the seat of the plague of his savagery from the most cruel Caesar Nero, so pursued in all things the savagery of his Emperor's tyranny that he shamelessly set himself to the killing of the Saints and slew many with beastly cruelty. And when at last the Emperor Domitian succeeded e with imperial authority, this man was exercising the wickedness of his impiety. At that same time, when in the city of Atina he was compelling and inciting all to the worship or ceremonies of idols, f the word of preaching of the most blessed Mark was shining forth: for so great was the power of his signs, that the opinion of his sacred doctrine was spread everywhere and published by pious report through the mouths of all. This assuredly could not lie hidden.
[21] The fame of the most holy Pontiff had reached the ears of that most wicked Governor, and the word of his preaching had become known to him. At these things, having found out by the report of many, inflamed with excessive fire of fury, Brought forward and struck with a blow he immediately ordered him to be summoned. When the most blessed Pontiff had been brought before the most wicked judge and had shown him no favorable reverence (as is customary), forthwith, at the mad judge's nod, one of the bystanders, tightening his fist, struck the Pontiff heavily on the lips, and more bitterly reproved him with a shameless face as undisciplined and contumacious. To whom the Saint, with the gentlest address, as was his extraordinary simplicity, replied: "What swelling or arrogance do you reprove in a simple old man? What have the softness of my insults done to you? What do you rebuke in me, which you do not even know how to consider by reason in yourself? Giving a gentle response For these are the teachings of our Master; these are the chief instruments of the holy virtues; this is the highest doctrine of holiness of our Christ: that we should offer the other cheek to him who strikes us, and that no curse should proceed from our mouth, and that we should pray for those who persecute and slander us. Such examples of virtues Christ our God left to us, and gave us lessons of humility." At this, the arbiter of iniquity, moved with great fury, looking at him with a grim face, said: "By what daring, most wretched man, by what madness, by what boldness of rashness, placed before us, are you not ashamed to utter such words? Or perhaps in foolish simplicity, or, what is more certainly found, consumed by extreme old age, are you wearied with intemperate madness of the head?" And to all the bystanders he said: "The laws of Roman authority decree, and imperial letters have newly decreed, that wherever followers of this way should be found, they should straightway be punished without any hearing: this you know full well, this has come to your ears by frequent report." And the Saint said a few words to these: "The Roman Princes do not know, Governor, that for the state of the republic the servants of Jesus Christ God appeal to the author of all things, the common Lord, that he may daily increase and extend his kingdom, and daily progress in virtues; for if they would weigh this with any reason, they would agree together with us, and cautiously and providently keep themselves from such vain superstitions."
[22] Condemned to prison and hunger, he is refreshed by God Then the judge ordered him to be handed over to prison custody and decreed him to be worn out by the starvation of hunger. But Almighty God, who does not abandon those who hope in him, visited him wondrously with angelic consolation and fed him with heavenly refreshment. When seven days had passed, the said tyrant ordered the judicial seat to be prepared for him, and sitting with more than usual splendor, commanded the Saint to be presented to him. When he had been presented by the officials, with no delay intervening, with no word of greeting, immediately the minister of the devil, the enemy of eternal salvation, ordered him to be stripped and beaten with clubs until his beaters should grow weary. Then beaten with cudgels And while he was being beaten for a very long time, he gave thanks to Almighty God, saying:
"O God, I give you thanks, who make me, unworthy and wretched, a partaker of your gift, and through your most blessed Apostle Peter command the gates of the eternal kingdom to be unbarred to me."
[23] These things having been so performed, the Governor betook himself to the palace, and ordered the Saint to be again thrust back into prison. At the dawn of the following day, the arbiter of wickedness directed that a tribunal be prepared for him in the amphitheater of the city. And scorched with flames But before he came to the court, he decided in his counsel that, having dismissed his retinue, the condemned man who was held captive and bound in the affliction of the prison should be visited by the wise men of the city; and if indeed he had decided to offer libations to his God, whom he calls Christ, rather than to the gods and goddesses, then, before being brought into his presence, he should be tortured for a long time, and grievously burned with flames applied to his sides, and then be presented to his judgment. When this had been done, and they had by no means been able by any persuasions of words or by threats of punishments or tortures to recall the Saint from the purpose of his sanctity, with the terrible mass of torments applied to him, as had been ordered, he was at last presented to the judge. And when what had been said and done had been reported to him in order by the officers, straightway the judge of iniquity pronounced a cruel sentence against him, saying: "We order that Mark the Christian, whom we have found a despiser of our gods, and know to have irrevocably deviated from the Roman ceremonies and sanctions alike, having had very many tortures applied to him as is fitting, and very sharp nails also fixed in his brain, at last undergo a capital sentence."
[24] And again beaten with scourges Seized therefore and immediately bound by the executors of perfidy, he was led not far from the city into a level place; where, when he was being grievously beaten with many scourges, his body stretched out on the ground, he asked a little permission to pray. With great insistence of prayers having obtained this, with his knees bent to the ground and his arms lifted to heaven, wholly suffused with tears, he poured out prayers of this kind to the Lord: "Lord Jesus Christ, who ineffably proceeded from the bosom of the Father, and, by the cooperating power of the Holy Spirit, mercifully descended into the womb of the most holy Virgin, that you might restore the lost world and recall man by the shedding of your most holy blood to your grace and to the concord of the Angels; be present now, I pray, to my tears and groans, Having made his prayer attend propitiously and be placated. Look upon me your servant, most merciful God, and upon the flock committed to me, unworthy; and by the intervention of your most blessed disciple, my master, for the article of my impending passion, deign to impart to me heavenly recompense. Do not forget, most pious Lord, those also whom I have until now guarded under the protection of my governance; but, aided and raised by my intercessions in the sight of your most glorious Majesty, may they receive through you the blessed lot of eternal happiness. But I add this also to my petitions: that you may guard this city with your most kindly protection; and bestow here and forever eternal joys on all who worthily celebrate my memory." And he concluded: g "Amen."
[25] Then, having withdrawn a little from the place, he surrendered himself into the hands of his enemies h. They, as they were swift and eager to accomplish the crime, immediately taking him, dashed him against the rocks of the ground, i He is put to death with nails fixed in his head and, as they had been ordered, fixing very sharp nails into his brain and forehead k, severed his most holy head from the body. But the faithful, who remained hidden within the city, going by night, received with the greatest veneration the most holy body of the Martyr; and with hymns and praises buried him in the place where he had been beheaded. But his head, which had been placed far from the body, And his head buried separately by the faithful they found by diligent searching, which not without a certain art they placed apart from the body. The most blessed Martyr and Bishop Mark suffered in the 63rd l year after the most holy Passion of the Lord, on the 4th day before the Kalends of May, in the time of Emperor Domitian. But Christ our Lord, who is always glorious and exalted in his faithful, in the place where the Martyr is buried and crowned with the glory of passion, to this present day does not cease to bestow benefits on those asking in his name, to the praise and glory of his name; who is glorious in his Saints and wonderful in Majesty, living and reigning with God the Father and with the Holy Spirit for infinite ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
HISTORY
Of the Discovery and Translation of the Body,
From the Cassino MS.
Mark, Bishop, Martyr at Atina in Italy (Saint)
His Two Presbyters, Martyrs at Atina in Italy (Saints). BHL Numbers: 5299, 5300
FROM THE MS.
CHAPTER I.
The temple of the Saint erected and destroyed: those stabling beasts there punished: the body and head found.
[1] Dearest Brothers, let us humbly ask the grace of the Holy Spirit, so that, filled with his sweetness, we may not unfittingly deliver a discourse on the discovery of the body of the most blessed Mark. The most blessed Mark, therefore, was Bishop of Atina while Domitian Caesar was reigning. In his times, by order of Proconsul Maximus, After being slain for the Faith a temple is built nails being fixed into his head with force, at last, struck on the neck with the blow of a sword, he gloriously attained the palm of martyrdom, and was happily buried on the border of the said city. The Christians who were then present, with great zeal, built a basilica in his honor, which, after a long time (as its ancient walls show), was laid waste and brought to the ground by wicked men. Which afterwards destroyed When it had remained thus for much time, country people began to place their beasts, horses, and donkeys there at night. But the Almighty Lord wondrously avenged the injury to Mark, his beloved servant.
[2] Travelers stopping there with beasts It happened that travelers were passing there, and in the same place, next to the tomb, not knowing that the venerable body of the most holy Mark rested there, they wished to place their horses. But a certain holy woman opposed them with loud cries, saying: "Do not, Brothers, do not lodge in this holy place, lest some evil befall you; for we have often seen the mighty deeds of God done in this most holy place." But they, holding these words for nothing, stayed there that very night, and in the morning, mocking her words, began to set out on their way. They lose them by a wretched chance the next day But before they had gone as far as the flight of an arrow, they began to repent of the deed: for one of their horses fell to the ground dead; the other, before completing a furlong, perished on the road itself—thus the all-powerful Lord avenging the injury to his beloved Martyr Mark.
[3] At another time, as was reported to me by certain faithful, Others daring the same when some men of Calabria came late to the aforesaid place with asses laden with merchandise, and sought a lodging to turn aside into, a certain venerable woman said to them: "Dearest ones, do not place your asses in this place, for it is a holy place: for if you dare, you will not be able to pass hence without loss." They, inebriated with their own madness, said to her: "Then we are dead, if we cannot guard our own asses." And when night had now fully come, placing themselves, and putting their asses in the middle, although they acted boldly, yet suspicious lest they be seized by wolves or robbers, they set a fruitless watch, not knowing the Scripture which says: "What the wicked one fears shall come upon him." Prov. 10:24 Being seized by sleep and made as if dead, An ass is seized by a wolf a wolf coming from the other side, entering into their midst, dragged off and killed an ass. A similar miracle comes to my memory, reported by the same ones who reported the earlier. For on a certain day, likewise in the same place, at sunset a man coming with his ass, seeking a lodging, turned aside; and though he was repelled by the aforesaid woman not to turn aside, forthwith he lodged with his ass, and tied his own foot together with the foot of the ass, and gave himself immediately to the ground for the sake of resting. And his own to another by robbers Then robbers passing by found him sleeping as if dead, and inciting each other to evil, immediately cutting the rope, stole his ass from him. He, waking up from sleep, found the loss, and departed sadly from the place.
[4] The temple restored The said men began to fear the place and reverently to cease from the injury. Wherefore the citizens, having held a council, strove to restore the same church, and, having called the Bishop a who was then present, they had an altar dedicated there in honor of the most blessed Apostle Bartholomew, not knowing that the body of the venerable Martyr Mark rested there: in whose honor, as I judge, it had previously been blessed. Therefore in the time
in which the most pious Emperor Conrad was reigning, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation one thousand and thirty-fourth b, by divine favor, a certain one was ordained Bishop there, solicitous for restoring the churches of his bishopric, which had been desolated by wicked and evil men. And while he was traveling from place to place for the sake of visiting them, he at length came to c the episcopal residence d of the most ancient city of Atina; and entering the aforesaid church, which stands in the suburbs of the said city, examining it, he found before the holy altar a heap of stones which had made a pile from the breaking of the walls, and it was very displeasing to his own eyes and those of others.
[5] Then, summoning a certain Presbyter to himself and assigning him the place, he commanded, saying: "Take this place, my son, and clean it diligently." The Presbyter, taking the place delegated to him, began devoutly to clean it; and while he was digging around the altar, His epitaph is found he found a stone inscription, and though broken, bearing the name of Mark, Christ's Martyr. When the Bishop saw it, he exclaimed, saying: "O great Martyr, show us unworthy ones your holy pledges." Then turning to the Lord, with all his heart he began most devoutly to entreat in these words: "I beg, Lord, I beg you, that you deign to show us sinners the tomb of your beloved Martyr Mark. For I hope and faithfully believe that here rests the body of the Martyr Mark, whose name this inscription shows us." These things having been done, he straightway returned to his own dwelling, and with the most ardent desire passed that same night sleepless. In the morning, he ordered, as if by divine command, two Presbyters to go and dig before the altar until he himself should come down there. For there was in him no small doubt, because many bodies of men lay there, and he could not remove from himself the rancor of doubt: whence he began to strike the Lord with prayers that he might deign to show him what he was devoutly seeking.
[6] The Presbyters, going to the right side of the altar of Saint Bartholomew, began to dig. The Bishop, following them, found them laboring in vain; and looking at them, took up a mattock, and with his own hand began to dig; and when he was wearied with labor, he returned it to them. And it happened that while they were digging, they came to the tomb And the body without a head in which the body of the holy Martyr Mark rested; and filled with an intense fragrance, they cried out, saying:
"Arise, kindly Father, for what you seek, behold, is held."
Who, immediately arising from the place and prostrate on the ground, praised the almighty Lord in these words:
"Grace on high to you, you who rule the walls of the world, Whatever you desire, when you will, is done without delay."
Rejoicing also and exulting exceedingly at so great a patron granted to him, he collected the holy pledges. But he was not so glad about the whole body as he was sad about the head, because it was not there. It was Saturday at about the eleventh hour; and although he forbade that it should be disclosed to anyone, yet the whole city was suddenly filled with the report.
[7] He began to wash the holy pledges diligently with his own hands and to place them in a reliquary; and the same night, appointing clerics, Which is washed with water he ordered them to remain watching all night in hymns and spiritual songs, so that in the morning he might bear it with praise and glory to the episcopal seat e of the same city. But the Presbyter who had first found the stone inscription (of whom we have made mention above) was then so severely afflicted with infirmity that he despaired of life. When he heard this, he immediately sent to him, asking that he would deign to send him some of the water with which he had washed the holy pledges, that he might deserve to receive a remedy from it. In the morning, then, the Bishop, rising, admonished the people that they should come down together with him, and with all honor transfer the most holy body of Mark to the aforesaid church. Clad in sacred vestments, together with the Ministers who were present, with censers and f wax tapers, and with every ecclesiastical display, men and women, boys and girls, with lighted candles g, and the Litany having been begun, he proceeded to the place; and the body having been lifted thence and placed in a litter, singing the praises of the Lord, he came to the city. Drinking of which, a certain man is freed from a deadly illness But before he entered the episcopal residence, that Presbyter whom we mentioned above as being almost dead, came out safe and sound with lighted candles to meet the holy body, praising and blessing the Creator of all. The Bishop, giving immense thanks to the Lord God, the Redeemer of all, entered the episcopal residence of the same most ancient city, and placed the venerable body in the confession of the Mother of God, waiting until Almighty God should deign to show him the place which would please him as fitting to choose for depositing the venerable Relics.
[8] But a certain woman departing with part of the Relics is stopped by God On the same day on which the holy body of Mark was lifted, it happened that a certain nun was passing by, and while she was hastening to go further, as she heard this event, she turned aside to the same place; and while she was prostrating herself to adore the holy sepulcher, she looked up; and behold, a small particle of the Relics lying in the middle, which she stealthily lifted, and rejoicing with great joy, wished to carry it off with her. When she was not far from the church, before she reached the ford h of the river, so great a fear seized her that she could neither turn back nor go forward. Remembering the Relics of the holy Martyr, she immediately took the silk veil which covered her head; and wrapping the holy pledges in it, she sent them back to the body, and soon, as if released from bonds, completed the journey she had begun. Thereupon the Bishop began vehemently to hesitate what to do about it, or in what place to lay him, or whether to build a house of his own for him. And while he was considering these things, The Saint orders a temple to be built for him the beloved of the Lord, Mark, appeared in a dream to a certain religious woman, saying: "Go and tell the Bishop to consider diligently and weigh my honor openly: because the house from which he has now taken my body was built wonderfully for the sake of my honor. Wherefore I seek my own temple; and if he should neglect to do this, let him know that he will be subject to danger this very year." When this was heard, the Bishop was frightened, and had no doubt about the vision: for that very God-fearing woman, who had seen it, affirmed it with a terrible oath. Having consulted with his own, in the place where he had appeared to her, he at once began to lay foundations to complete the work. But not without a divine prompting did he complete it more quickly than he had reckoned. For if God had granted him the means, as he had hoped, perhaps today the limbs would not have the head.
[9] And his head to be sought How the head of the most glorious Martyr Mark was found must not be passed over in silence. For one night, to a certain aged Presbyter sleeping, as he himself hitherto narrates, a voice came saying: "Arise and do not sleep." He, awakened, thought he was being called by his companion who dwelt with him in the place i; and when he asked why, and no one answered him, he fell asleep again, and not yet sleeping openly, again the voice was heard saying to him: "Do not be so lazy; arise and seek a treasure in the corner of this basilica." The Presbyter, astonished and wondering, began to consider the vision with himself. But before he rose from his bed, a similar third voice was heard, commanding him to rise immediately and no longer to doubt the vision. Then the Presbyter, made joyful, thinking he would more certainly find money, rose in haste; and taking an iron tool suitable for cutting brambles, came as if by divine direction to the place; and cut away the brambles with which the place was covered, and in that very corner found a small chest in the manner of a casket; Which when found which he immediately opened, and found in it the head of the most glorious Martyr Mark, together with the nails fixed in it, with which the impious had tortured him. And although he did not find what he had hoped for, yet, rejoicing with great joy, he came exulting to the Bishop and related all that he had seen. And the Bishop was filled with such great joy, that, if he had found ten thousand talents of gold, he would not have been made so happy, as over this head of the holy Martyr. And although this vision did not more certainly declare the name of that Athlete of the Lord, yet he affirmed that this was the head of the most holy Martyr, reserved by God's providence, lest the body should be laid without a head. When the year was completed, the church in his honor was finished, and the head joined to the body, It is laid with the body at Atina in the new basilica and with the highest reverence solemnly dedicated on the 3rd day before the Nones of October. He also wrote a stone inscription, as the earlier one, and placed it by the place, running thus:
"Here the great Martyr Mark rests in body, Which, God granting, behold Leo enshrined, Bishop of Atina: this stone will be a witness to him also."
Now it was found on the 16th day before the Kalends of August, in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1046.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAPTER II.
Certain miracles wrought after the body was found.
[10] There was then an immense drought over the land, so that very many of the people believed the end of the world was at hand; He frees the region of Atina from a great drought because fires and a great fog had invaded the whole world; for the grass of the field had failed, all things green were burning. In this very danger, the beloved of the Lord, Mark, appeared to a certain holy woman, with a beautiful countenance, long and fair
of body, with white beard and hair, and said to her: "Arise and tell the Bishop: Why does he keep our body so long above the ground? Behold, a house has already been prepared for me; why does he delay? Does he not see that the people are endangered by drought? Let him know for certain that if my body is returned to the earth, at once by the Lord's favor water shall water all the land." In the morning, then, the woman arose and told what she had seen. But he began to hesitate what to do (for he had decreed from the day on which the body had been found to dedicate the basilica); for the people had faithfully rushed upon him, saying: "We will no longer believe you, if you delay these benefits promised to us by God." But the nun affirmed with an oath: "Keep me in custody, and return the holy body to burial; and if on the third day you do not have rain, without delay cut off my head." Convinced, therefore, both by the woman's assertions and by the people's rebukes, on the fourth day he himself with some of the people fasted, and when it was evening, only those knowing the place, he more secretly buried the body, and announced to the whole people the day of consecration. And it happened that that day passed; and as the woman had promised, on another day Almighty God granted, for the honor of his beloved Martyr, so great a rain that suddenly the whole land was filled most abundantly with water. At this the whole city rejoiced, because what it had hoped for, it held without delay.
[11] But we omitted a great and stupendous miracle which the almighty God deigned to work on the same day b, when the Bishop was still handling the holy Relics with his hands. He restored a withered hand For when a certain young man with a withered hand came up, and cast himself into the midst of the people standing around, seeing that the Bishop was giving to the sick to drink the water with which the sacred Relics had been washed, he too began with full faith and devout mind to ask that he would deign to give him some for the remedy of his health. He, immediately, having taken a small vessel, blessed it and gave it to him to drink. But as soon as it was brought to his mouth, by divine favor his hand was immediately restored whole, and removed the drained vessel from his own mouth. Seeing so great a miracle and marveling, all began to glorify the omnipotence of the Savior, who has deigned to work so great miracles in these last days for the confirmation of the minds of the faithful.
[12] In this very year c, what the merciful Lord has deigned to work in this city beside his most venerable pledges must not be passed over in silence. A demon from a possessed woman For when a certain craftsman's daughter was made mad by the ancient enemy, so that in the place where she stood she did not even recognize her own mother; immediately her mother, when she learned of it, hurried from the field where she had sent her to pasture the oxen, and ran with her to the episcopal residence, and informed the Bishop who was present. When he saw her miserably transformed by the envy of the ancient enemy, he said to her: "O woman, I do not know what I should do for you, but as one who has obtained mercy, I offer counsel for recovering your daughter's health. Take her, therefore; and immediately, in the trust of our Savior Jesus Christ, cast her before the sacred tomb of his glorious Martyr. For I trust and believe with confidence that through his sacred help and intercession your daughter will be healed of this infestation." She, as soon as she heard this, strengthened by his oracle, taking her by the hand and leading her into the church with full faith and devout confidence, cast her weeping before the sacred tomb, praying to the Lord. It was then the third d hour of the day; and she remained in this prayer almost until the fifth hour, and a sacrifice being offered to God for her, she was made whole by the Lord's help, and together with her mother, who had come to the episcopal residence in great anguish and grief, returned to her own home with joy and gladness.
[13] And he drives away a headache Finally, when this miracle was being written to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ and the praises of his beloved Martyr Mark, and the astonished soul was wondering at these virtues, a certain Monk of good e memory of the monastery of Saint Benedict, devoutly taking the noted miracle from my hands, beseeching the prayers of this most holy Martyr that he might deign to help him and take away the pain of his head, with which he was often tortured; and placing the stylus which he had read over both parts of his head, lifting himself up in suppliant prayer, he said: "Come, venerable Martyr, help me praying, and for your honor take away the pain of my head." And when he had most devoutly said this, immediately, by the Lord's bountiful clemency, the pain departed from his head; and soon rejoicing, he hastened back to us and related how great a mercy God had done him through the merits of his beloved servant; and prostrate on the ground, with hands raised to heaven, he began with great exultation to praise the Lord and his Martyr.
[14] Let us therefore rejoice, dearest Brothers, and with all our strength be glad, exult and delight in the Lord, for whose love this most glorious Martyr Mark bore the punishment of death; He should be invoked not only because of miracles and let us glory not so much in miracles as in his most sweet patronage; in whom, when with the love of our devotion we place our hope and trust, without doubt, protected by his holy intercession from great dangers, we shall rejoice, delivered here and in the future. Regarding signs and prodigies, no one should always wonder: since not only the holy, but also sinners can do them in the name of the Lord. Whence in the Gospel on the day of judgment they will say: "Lord, did we not cast out demons in your name, and do many signs?" To whom the Lord will say: "Depart from me, workers of iniquity, for I know you not." Matt. 7:22 For the Blessed Gregory also in sacred speech reports that signs have been given even to unbelievers. Therefore, if signs are granted to unbelievers, why do we faithful marvel at signs and miracles, But also holiness and not rather trust in holiness? For where signs are lacking, the aids of holiness are present.
[15] Therefore, dearest ones, with all confidence and the whole devotion of mind prostrate on the ground, let us ask of this holy Martyr pardon from the Lord; so that by his sacred merits we may deserve to obtain, if we ask with the whole heart and faithful mind, what we request for our salvation, the Lord saying: "If you shall ask anything of the Father in my name, it shall be given to you." John 16:23 Let us therefore seek help from him who is mighty and whose name is holy, and who glorifies his Martyrs forever; that by their merits, he may constantly deliver us from impending dangers. With great confidence For we know and unhesitatingly believe that if anyone knocks with lukewarm prayers, whatever he asks for his salvation, he will obtain without doubt; as he himself has deigned to promise his faithful: for he says: "If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you should say to this mountain, Remove from hence, and it would remove. And if you do not hesitate in faith, whatever you ask, without doubt you shall obtain it." Luke 17:6 There are indeed some who ask with lukewarm faith, and therefore do not deserve to receive what they seek; and there are others who ask with such most ardent faith as if they had God present, and spoke mouth to mouth. These therefore deserve to be heard and obtain the effect of their prayer. I therefore exhort you, dearest ones, to implore the help of this holy Martyr Mark, that together with us we may rejoice in his patronage, so that we, whose praises of sanctity we constantly extol on earth, may deserve to have his fellowship in heaven, with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, for infinite ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
VERSES
On the same discovery and translation.
From the aforesaid manuscript.
[16] Let the joyful assembly sing, rejoicing in the body of Mark, How this day has been glorified. Leo, Bishop of Atina, held the rights a of the see When thus the clod was enriched with his sacred body. Leo, Bishop of Atina, admonished to seek the body of Saint Mark A certain Roman came to the city of Atina, Seeking the Bishop: he finds him, speaks to him. "A Martyr to be honored, Mark by name, has sent me, To make known to you what he showed me [b]. Before the burial which is said to be [c] of the Martyr Nicander You will find the blessed bones of the man." Thereupon the Bishop, joyful, came here and sought the tomb; The man showed it: a great heap of stones it was. The stones are lifted; one stone revealed an inscription, Among the ruins of the temple with his epitaph They begin to see the name: it was Mark. The Father ordered the Presbyters to dig the earth there: He began, grew weary; the Presbyters dig. While thus they strive, while each is burdened with labor, They came to the tomb: and the tomb is opened. He finds it A sweet fragrance issues forth: the Father wished these things to be hidden, But rumor fills the people, and the whole crowd rushes in. Then indeed a great cry is raised to the stars: The people, Father, and Clergy glorify the Lord. It was evening; the Father washes the bones and lays them in a casket: Night falls upon the land, each returns to his home. And solemnly leads them to Atina In the morning the clergy rush forth, the Nobles, and mighty souls, Man, boy, and old man, bride, three-year-old, old woman. The pontifical mitre worthily covers the Bishop, And the Clergy are clad in sacred vestments. They take up the body, the whole chorus applauding, They place it on their shoulders, and take up the way. The earth resounds with their feet, the cry strikes the golden stars: Voice and hands bring joy and applause. Thus all proceed to the hall of the Mother of Christ, Here they wish, O Mark, to place your body. Where, immobile, it is honored in a newly built temple
But it pleased you not, nor did they accomplish what they wished, And the Martyr's bones desire a house of their own. Before Pedem-silicis [d] the body stood: whence it could not Be moved, fear began to seize them all. Then all vow to build for him his own seat [e]: And so they bear the bones to the places they desire. Whence to the highest Father, the Son, with the Holy Spirit, Be everlasting glory, praise, honor, and dominion. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS.
MIRACLE
From the Italian MS. of Bartolomeo Chioccarelli.
Mark, Bishop, Martyr at Atina in Italy (Saint) His Two Presbyters, Martyrs at Atina in Italy (Saints)
[17] With wolves raging and drought worsening As the devotion of the people of Atina toward their holy Patron grew languid with the passage of time, it pleased divine providence to rouse the same again by a certain stupendous miracle. Throughout Campania and all Basilicata there grew so great a multitude of wolves that they made the roads everywhere unsafe; and to this evil had been added another no lighter, namely a great lack of rain; from which a scarcity of grain arose, adding hunger to those already laboring with thirst. Then the glorious Saint Mark, having pity on his citizens, appeared to a certain pious priest, announcing that this scourge of God sent because of the people's sins could be turned away through penance; and so he should go to the Bishop of Atina and tell him to keep usurers from entering the church until, repenting and restoring their unjustly gained goods, they should deserve to be reconciled to it; for the stench of this sin, ascending before the tribunal of God, continually provoked vengeance. He should also excommunicate clerics infected with the same stain; Saint Mark appearing orders the vigil of his feast to be piously observed and with the scandals removed, he should exhort the people to penance and declare a fast on the eve of his feast. Then he added: "Lift up your eyes and see." The Priest saw the holy Bishop raised up into the air, so that he seemed to place one foot on one and the other on the other of the mountains which overshadow the city; and behind him he heard the horrible howling roar of wolves. When the Priest asked what this was, the Saint replied that this was the harsh fury of the wolves migrating from the territory of Atina at the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Patroness of Atina. At last the Priest asked who he himself was who was speaking to him, and the Saint replied: "I am Mark, your Bishop, Protector of this city, sent by God to announce these things to you": and with this said, he disappeared. And with that done the calamity ceases Then the Priest narrated all in order to the Bishop, and he in turn expounded to the Clergy and people: and all, having given thanks to their Protector for so singular a benefit, carried his precepts into execution; and they decreed that the Vigil of the coming festivity should be kept with fasting, prayers, and good works; which they did. Therefore that very night, between the Vigil and the feast, a most copious rain drenched the whole territory of Atina, the neighboring places round about remaining in their dryness. The fame of this event, quickly spread, summoned all the neighbors to Atina, that they themselves might each obtain the same grace for their own fields at the venerable sepulcher, to the glory of God and his servant Saint Mark.
[18] Thus far the Italian Life in manuscript, together with other Lives of the same kind of the Patrons of Atina, from the Neapolitan Codex of the illustrious and learned Bartolomeo Chioccarelli, Jurisconsult, from whose erudite pen Naples has the Catalog or history of its Bishops, published in the year 1643; and whose abundance in such sacred books our Beatillus testified, Around the year 1100 sending the aforesaid Lives transcribed in his own hand in the year 1638. But although no mark of time accompanies this miracle, yet since it must have occurred after the church of Saint Mark had been built and his feast was already known among the people, and all those things we have published above had been written; and since it occurred while Atina still had its own proper Bishops (which it ceased to have around the year 1150, as was said); it follows that the grace we have narrated was wrought not long before or after the beginning of the twelfth century.