Mercurialis

ON SAINT MERCURIALIS

BISHOP OF FORLÌ IN ITALY.

Mercurialis, Bishop of Forlì, in Italy (Saint)

BHL Number: 5032

By D. P.

CHAPTER I.

Cult, age, Life written and examined.

The ancient and noble city of Flaminia, which today is called Romandiola, is Forum-Livii, between Faenza and Cesena; imbued with Christian sacred rites from the very first beginnings of the nascent Religion. Whether the first Bishop of Forlì, Whether and what Bishops it had before Saint Mercurialis, whose cult on this day is most celebrated in the city and throughout the whole diocese, is unknown. The illustrious virtue of the living man first made him known to posterity, as did the frequent miracles at the sepulchre of the dead, so that first over it was erected a church, dedicated to Saint Stephen; then rose an Abbey, now with the temple itself called of Saint Mercurialis, and handed over to the Vallombrosan monks with parochial right. There under the high altar for a long time rested the chest, guardian of the sacred body; concerning whose inspection the following monument engraved on stone, and inserted in the writings of the public Archives, exhibits the latest and most accurate writer of the History of Forlì, Paolo Bonoli, under whose guidance we visited and surveyed all the sacred places of the city, while we had passage from Forlì to Rome in the year 1660. Of that monument these are the words:

[2] died in the year 156, "In the year of the Lord 1232, in the time of Pope Gregory and the Emperor Frederick, on the 11th of the Kalends of September, this chest was opened by Lord Albert the Bishop and Peter the Abbot, and this body of Blessed Mercurialis was exposed for fifteen days for all to see. In the said chest was found a leaden plate containing what follows below: 'In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Here rests the body of Blessed Mercurialis, Bishop of Forlì. But his death was the day before the Kalends of May, 156.'" Hence arose an ambiguous dispute among the people of Forlì about the age of this holy Bishop, or another of the same name? some asserting the leaden plate to have been corrupted or worn away by age, and this from mere prejudice, not from the faith of an eyewitness inspection; others asserting that there were several Mercurialises, of one of whom, very ancient, this body and feast are, but of another are the Acts of the Life, which are in circulation. This as a very insipid thing is rightly refuted by the aforesaid historiographer of Forlì: for who would believe that of him whose Acts were preserved, no other memory would have been preserved either in the ecclesiastical office or in the honor of his body or relics.

[3] What credit does the leaden plate have, I indeed very strongly agree with the most erudite writer of the Ecclesiastical Annals, Baronius, that more credit should be given to that leaden plate than to any popular traditions, and to the writings of the middle age, whether Legends or Chronicles, built upon them after the course of many centuries. For although the vulgar Christian Era is neither accurate, nor was used in the first centuries; yet after it once prevailed and was everywhere received, the deeds of earlier times began to be reckoned by it. Which following, the engraver of that plate can be believed also to have had some argument of so great antiquity, whereby he should attribute Saint Mercurialis to the second century. Nor should you say, as some say, that two or three marks of the hundred-number were worn away by age: for they could not have failed to notice

the gap of the missing letters, those who so carefully transcribed its very text, if they had truly detected anything of that kind. Certainly they ought not be presumed to have erred in transcribing, until it is proved by more evident proof. I shall more easily believe that the author of the plate, because he knew no Bishop older than Mercurialis, and was persuaded that the Bishopric of Forlì was among the more ancient, established under Alexander, Sixtus, Telesphorus, believed him, as he thought, the first Bishop, to have died earlier.

[4] The age and time of the engraved plate cannot be defined by us: yet I would dare to affirm that it was engraved when the body of Saint Mercurialis was deposited from the old sepulchre into this marble chest, engraved in the 8th or 9th century? and that so long ago, that no memory of that translation remained among posterity in the 13th century. Perhaps when the church was raised to the title of parish, and that which before was called of Saint Stephen was restored under the appellation of Saint Mercurialis: which it will be allowed to opine was done in the 8th or 9th century. At the same time I shall judge that in the walls of the temple itself were depicted those things which popular memory preserved about the wondrous deeds of Saint Mercurialis. Then also seem to have been made pictures, For the author of the Life sent from the writings of the Vallombrosan monks to Antony Gallonius at Rome, and communicated to us by the Fathers of the Oratory, was ancient, who seems to have written before the foundation of the Abbey in that place, and indeed before the 11th century of Christ. He indeed, using the example of Prudentius, who described the martyrdom of Saint Cassianus in verse, as he had seen it painted: "We also," he says, from which, already faded, the Life was taken, before the 11th century, "zealously making inquiry into the deeds of the Saints, came to the tomb of Blessed Mercurialis, Confessor and Bishop of Forlì; and there, inquiring into his actions, we were able to investigate nothing from the inhabitants of that place, except certain very worn painted images of his actions: but as they reported, many courses of time having passed, the Acts of the aforesaid Bishop had been taken away from them," namely when the barbarians were wasting Italy, and plundered or consumed with fire the sacred places, especially those which, placed outside the cities, were not enclosed within the circle of walls.

[5] but it gives no indication of time, Now let us see what those pictures could have exhibited, and what must have been added to them either from the proper conjecture of the author or from popular narration, to weave some history of the Life. In the first place occurs the punishment of a certain Judge, taking the sacred Eucharist with the same blasphemous mouth with which he had denied Christ present under it, performed before Saint Mercurialis and others. That the Judge, whom the picture represented, was a Judge of Rimini, a despiser of the Christian religion, must be taken from popular opinion; who, lest he be anonymous, opportunely the well-known Taurus is supplied, Prefect of Rimini under Constantius the Arian, who brought force upon the Fathers gathered at the Council of Rimini, before they were separated; and craftily led them to receive the confession of Ursacius and Valens, subtly concocted, as if Catholic: on which account he was very ill spoken of among all Catholics, and therefore seemed fit to whom the aforesaid blasphemy and condign death should be attributed. but only the occasion for many conjectures. This presumed, the author of the Life pursues his conjecture: "There were present by chance," he says, "also other most celebrated Bishops, Rufillus of Forlimpopoli, Leo of San Leo, Marinus, Gaudentius and Geminianus": whose ages to wish to reconcile, perhaps for the sake of one, seems to me a useless effort: meanwhile what this author said by bare conjecture, others, taking as certain, forced posterity, who would defend these things, to twist themselves in every direction. Another picture (for that there were more of them, than those narrated in the Life, cannot be gathered) showed two Bishops dragging a huge dragon bound with their priestly stoles to a well, and a blind man illuminated by Saint Gratus the Deacon. Of the two Bishops, that the one was Saint Mercurialis was not doubted, that the other was Saint Rufillus, Bishop of the neighboring city of Forlimpopoli, the consensus of the people of Forlimpopoli bade one believe, reporting the same from any Acts whatever of their own Patron Saint.

[6] the rest began to be said so many centuries after Besides these two, there is nothing in the Life that can be said to be taken from pictures, the rest, expanded in a rhetorical manner, contribute nothing to historical faith. But those things which after the Life was written were added to the history of Saint Mercurialis, through the Vallombrosan monks, these have not even any foundation in the tradition received then when the Life was being written; and indeed all things are unworthy which should be laid down as the foundation of a chronology to be established. For if up to the 10th or 11th century, nothing was known about Saint Mercurialis, except what the people saw in pictures and narrated from them; but if the author of the Life embraced all this and much more, supplying from his own invention the defect of the picture and tradition: what credit can be held by other things added so long after? When therefore it is said that Saint Mercurialis was an Armenian by nation, that he brought from Jerusalem the Relics, in which the church of Forlì glories; that he was present at the Council of Rimini, which was convened under Constantius in the year 359, they do not seem to merit any credit, that he went as legate to Athanaric, King of the Goths, for the citizens carried off into captivity, which could not have been done before the year 403. These things, I say, and other similar ones, when they are said, we shall ask by what author they are taught to be true, which for so many centuries were unknown, nor even then were yet heard, when the author of the Life gathered into one whatever in any way was narrated about the Saint. The same of Saint Ruphillus of Forlimpopoli, whose feast is celebrated on August 21, one should take as said, insofar as he is believed to have been ordained Bishop by Saint Silvester. That this namely began to be believed by conjecture, equally as the other things already related about Saint Mercurialis. For of that one there exists no ancient Life, and if anything was once written, it is credible to have been abolished by the barbarians.

[7] Moreover, I wish nothing else to be concluded from what has been said, than that the time is unknown in which Saints Mercurialis and Ruphillus lived; nor ought those to be heard even, who introduce two or even three Mercurialises, to uphold the authority of those things which came forth so late. Yet I would not wish to assert that in that very year which the leaden tablet notes, Saint Mercurialis died: nay, I would not unwillingly allow a whole century or even two to be added; Yet the Saint seems to have flourished in the 4th century. because each Bishop is said to have suffered nothing from the gentiles for the cause of faith, but to have defended its purity against heretics, each in his own very adjoining diocese: which could be true, even if either both or either were absent from the Council of Rimini. Yet those heretics could not have been Arians, as popular tradition holds, unless at least the Saints lived in the 4th century: but it was easy to substitute for some unknown heresy one certain and most famous: whence I do not firmly adhere to this argument which others take from the age of the Arians. Nay, I would rather understand that very picture of the dragon, overcome and abolished by each Bishop, of a spiritual rather than a corporal dragon; and I would believe that the first authors of it wished to express nothing other than that the pestilence of some heresy, caught in the borders of each diocese producing havoc in many souls, was extinguished by each with shared works and counsels.

[8] With these precautions and annotations to be added afterwards, we shall give only that Life of which we have spoken above. Paolo Bonoli seems to make Saint Peter Damian the author of it and to call it a Sermon on Saint Mercurialis: for under his name, with the very words which are read here, he exhibits the whole history of the matter done with the Judge of Rimini, and the last three lines of this life. But because Paolo then produces some other things, and the narration concerning the dragon, as if from the same Saint, not only greatly different in words but in the very substance of the matter from that which is here set forth, and such as we have set forth on March 20 no. 3, treating of Saints Gratus the Deacon and Marcellus the Subdeacon of Saint Mercurialis: therefore we judge that Paolo had something different from this life, written under the name of that Saint, into which this very life is somewhat woven, is its author Saint Peter Damian? but not the whole. Moreover in the sermon on Saint Rufillus of Forlimpopoli, which is found with us in manuscript and in Ughelli vol. 2 col. 637 is published under the name of Saint Peter Damian, the manner of derivation and of style, less historical and more turned to morals, is found, than in this simple, albeit verbose, history: but the narration concerning the dragon which is woven into the same, clearly as to the matter agrees with the text of this life, not however with that which we said on March 20 is read with us. Wherefore I cannot securely attribute this to Saint Peter Damian, other more recent things are omitted. nor do I dare to ascribe the life to him, although his age is such that he could have written a Life of this kind, before the place was handed over to the Vallombrosans: before, I say; for if the place had had monks, these rather than the rude inhabitants he would have thought should be questioned. Ughelli in the same volume col. 615 adduces from the manuscript Annals of Forlì of Bernardino Paolucci a passage about things done by Saint Mercurialis in Spain with King Alaric: which I am not inclined even to refute; and perhaps that Bernardino lived only in this century. Wherefore we pass over him and any other things written about Saint Mercurialis; and with these also another Life, which about the year 1580, 210 years having elapsed after the body of Saint Rufillus was raised by Giovanni Numai Bishop of Sarsina, was written by some monk of Forlì, not unlearned, in the Abbey of Saint Mercurialis, which, found among the collections of Antonius Gallonius, we had transcribed at Rome: for enough is now clear from what has been said, that nothing of solid authority was before the writer, except the former Life, which meanwhile how little solidity it has we have already explained. Some synopsis of the Life is found in Peter de Natalibus book 10 chapter 107, containing only that about the enclosed dragon which we have already said: another, more ample, is published in Philip Ferrarius, which Tamayo gave, reformed according to his own judgment, as will be said below.

CHAPTER II.

Translations of the body, and miracles recounted, fictions rejected.

[9] Cardinal Baronius, revising the Roman Martyrology, Is May 23 the day of the first Translation? from a certain ancient manuscript, as he says, wrote these words on May 23: "On the same day of Saint Mercurialis the Bishop." The same, before him, Bellini of Padua, Greven the Carthusian, Maurolycus, and Molanus had found added to certain copies of Usuard: but none of them drew this to the Forliviensian. First Baronius did it in his Notes: whom we do not however contradict in this, knowing how often it happens either that the true birthday is obscured by the greater solemnity of a later Translation; or in some Ms. the day of Translation is noted, the Birthday being passed by. Meanwhile we judge it more advisable to treat of Saint Mercurialis on the present day, on which his feast is held at Forlì. But if it is not the birthday, but of the Translation, it is namely of that Translation which above

we said was made long before the year 1000, perhaps in the 8th or 9th century. 2. done in 1232, August 22. Of the second (if indeed it can be called a Translation) done on August 22 in the year 1232, we have treated above. Paolo Bonoli writes that present at this action, besides the Bishop of Forlì, were Matthew the Armenian Archbishop, three other Archbishops, and four Bishops, with several Abbots. Baronius adds that in the year of the Lord 1576 Lord Anthony Jannottus, Bishop of Forlì, found the body stored in a marble chest, covered with silk. And Paolo Bonoli asserts that this silk was found so whole, as if it had been new.

[10] The same Paolo notes a Translation of the body, by which from the high altar, the marble Chest being left there, 3. in the year 1576. the body was carried away to a new chapel, magnificently erected by Hieronymus Mercurialis, a famous Philosopher and Physician. Now this Hieronymus's most erudite work On the Gymnastic Art (to be silent about others), recently most elegantly reprinted by our friend Andreas Frisius of Amsterdam, when it first appeared at Venice in the year 1569, it would not be unreasonable to judge that the inspection indicated by Baronius, and the Translation marked by Paolo, are the same, done in the year 1576. At which time also one bone of the arm is believed to have been translated to the Cathedral church of the Holy Cross, Various Relics placed separately. where it is now magnificently kept: and other particles to other churches of Forlì. Then also, or perhaps much earlier, the head of Saint Mercurialis was separated from the rest of the body, that, enclosed in a silver statue, it might adorn the public processions, especially on his feast day, which formerly with public and free Fairs, lasting a whole month, was celebrated, writes the oft-praised Paolo: from whom also take the following miracle.

[11] In the year 1080, when the Emperor Henry was leading an army against Gregory VII into Italy, Soldiers violating the Saint's asylum are punished, and was filling all Flaminia with the terror of his arms; very many of the inhabitants of Forlì, could not bring within the city the herds and flocks, were keeping them in the Gottonium suburb and cemetery of Saint Mercurialis, committing themselves and their things to his custody and protection. But Guelfo, one of the Imperial tribunes, having no respect for his name, gave his soldiers leave to slaughter for the refreshment of their bodies as many animals as they wished. Whoever tasted the roasted or boiled meats from these, with mouth horribly distorted, paid the penalty for their rash impiety, especially the Duke himself, who had burst out into blasphemous words against the Saint. Recognizing therefore his fault, by nods and such other signs as he could, he commanded that the damage inflicted be compensated in ready money to the Lords, and soon he saw his own and his soldiers' faces restored to their former composure. Thus he: but the author I praised above of the last-written Life thus concludes the same:

[12] "What miracles followed the holy Bishop after his death, it would be long to recount: for he healed paralytics, and many feverish and sick ones: but above others that one is not to be omitted, by which in the person of one most wicked man God the most high showed with what swift vengeance he pursues the blasphemies cast against his own. To Rome was migrating to the threshold of the most holy Peter a line of pilgrims, who passing through this way, as soon as they entered our square, those first who were leading the line, to salute the body of Blessed Mercurialis with the grace of piety and religion, turning from the straight way, diverted their road to his temple. One of these, who was riding on a horse, having asked what this was, understands, 'We are going to the crossroad of Blessed Mercurialis.' Who, with mouth as well as mind most foul: 'By this name,' he said, 'I call one of my oxen.' another blasphemer against the Saint The unspeakable word brought forth from a most impure mouth, at the same time opens both heaven and earth: heaven, indeed, because it was heard by him to whom nothing is hidden; but earth, because by his permission for the punishment of the foul speech, the horse of the blasphemer, as though the earth had opened beneath his feet, immediately fell, and so cast forth the body of its rider that with its legs broken it left him half-alive. he is chastised, his legs broken under the fall of his horse, His comrades carry him out; and he who before had despised the most holy body and name, and had refused to turn his journey to visit it, is himself, likening to one dead, carried in by his companions to the same temple: and Saint Mercurialis having been besought, the prayers were heard in heaven. For that blessed man had learned from his teacher Christ the Savior, to intercede also for his persecutors. but brought to the tomb he is healed. For his bones being consolidated, that despiser was at once gifted with health, and from a despiser of miracles made a proclaimer, returned unharmed to his own."

[13] Tamayo de Salazar, having read in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy in Ferrarius, rash assertion of the Saint's journey to Spain, that "Saint Mercurialis, having gone to Spain, when he had cured the King of an incurable disease, led back all the captives of Forlì, whom the Visigoths had carried off as captives into Spain"; thinking nothing should delay him from enrolling him also among the Patrons of Spain, fabricated new Acts, and brought them forth on May 23, fabulous Acts are built up, augmenting the matter read in Ferrarius in this manner: "Having cured the King, he went through the regions of all Spain, and with wondrous efficacy preached the Catholic truth to the peoples fallen into the Arian error of the Goths; and led innumerable men to the confession of the Nicene Synod: until, having returned to the Court, all the captives of Forlì and the neighboring ones, whom the Goths had carried from the devastation of Attila into Spain, he received through the liberality of the King. Afterwards, when the holy Pontiff had presided over his Church for some years, on April 30 he rested in peace, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ 456." Thus through hands grow conjectures, not to say fables, while anyone presumes to add from his own what makes for his purpose.

[14] Those who had referred the age of Saint Mercurialis to the times of the Goths invading Italy, by which he is delayed to the times of Attila, and had made the same to be present at the devastation of the Huns under Attila, consequently judged that they had to make him do something for the redemption of the captives; whom rather insipidly they said had been led off to Spain, confusing the Ostrogoths with the Visigoths. Yet the Forlì writers understand this thus, that the Bishop supplicated in Italy for the captives, and effected that they should be recalled from Spain. Tamayo clung to the words of Ferrarius: and seeing that even this would not be enough to enroll Saint Mercurialis in the Hispanic Martyrology, he added the title of "notable teacher throughout all Spain": and he is invented to have preached the faith to all the Spanish, "from which," he says, "being held among us in great veneration, he is to be judged as it were a new Apostle of Spain." Meanwhile he brings forth no indication or argument of that veneration: but heaps up many things about the Kings and wars of the Goths, nothing making to the matter.

[15] Namely, to his own industry alone this new Patron of Spain was owed, those who patched together the chronicles of Pseudo-Dexter and his followers having no part in him. a wonder that he is not also said to have been born there. But if these also, to claim this Saint Mercurialis for their own, had applied their minds; I fear that they would have thought Ferrarius needed correction in that he makes him Armenian by birth; whom they perhaps would have preferred to be believed born at Almería (so the Saracens named the city formerly called Urci), that he might be more entirely Hispanic; with this presumption, namely, that a gloss of a more recent copyist, explaining "Urcum" to be Almería, passed into the text, and gave the Italians, knowing Armenia better than Almería, occasion to corrupt the name. But let us pass over dreams; and let us bring forth the Life, which alone contains that little which about the Saint could be known from pictures and traditions; that it may be clear on what no foundation the rest have been superimposed, which others laboriously weigh, and try to explain from the vices of the history.

CHAPTER III.

Life sketched in the most ancient pictures.

From a Ms. of Forlì in the Vallicellana Library.

FROM MS.

[16] The studies of various Philosophers composed the deeds of the books of annals, as the Gentiles the deeds of kings so that those things which had been done under former times might retain the memory of those following. And this was performed with no mediocre effort, but with every and all striving. For on this account they were earnestly rewarded by the Kings who then presided, adding also that, if the things which were done by them were worthily received, they might enjoy a great fame of future name. These things indeed the Gentiles strove to accomplish, that they might be able to reach the summit of the highest pinnacle. We therefore, who being imbued with divine grace persist, judge that those things ought not to be kept silent which we know are to be for retribution, with the Apostle testifying: "For what a man shall sow, that shall he also reap." Various men sow various seeds and in the future retribution, as each has acted, each shall receive merits. Gal. 6:8 thus it is fitting for Christians to write about the Saints, Wherefore it must be acted upon the more assiduously, so that in the day of examination, before the tribunal of the most equitable Judge, we may be found worthy, that as pleases Him we may receive the crown of perpetual exaltation, to sing the praises of His name. For as we premised, the studies of the Philosophers conferred innumerable volumes for the fame of their name; but we Christ-worshipers do not cease to bring praises to Christ our redeemer, as He grants us the quill of our heart: for as they sought human favors, so for us perpetual fruit must be sought. For he who shall have imparted something to the people for the praise of the supreme King, shall obtain future retribution and perpetual beatitude. not only things seen For to relate the deeds of the Saints is nothing other than to narrate the virtues of God; through which an argument is given to the holy Churches, so that also pastures may be given to the faithful subjects. Whence we believe that there will be for us also salvation of soul, if we shall have been willing to bring forth those things which pertain to the building up of the faithful.

[17] For indeed the ancient Doctors referred not only things seen, but also those which were commonly spoken. Moses the lawgiver, but also things heard. when the maker of all things brought forth the ideas of the world, was not there; and up to his own times what was done, he had not seen; but with the holy Spirit teaching, as is contained in the Pentateuch, he studied to relate them: so others and others, who have composed volumes, not from things seen but from things heard have related deeds. The Evangelical preachers also Mark and Luke, from hearing ^a composed the volumes of the Gospels. After these in the imminent age existed the Catholics of the holy Churches, who related the histories of the holy Martyrs and Confessors. And, and things depicted in images, as we have said before, not only from things seen and commonly heard, but also from depicted images, the famous triumphs of Martyrs exist. For Prudentius, a most erudite man, while he was prostrating himself at the tomb of the venerable Cassianus, and raising himself up was looking at the depicted history of the Martyr; began more studiously to inquire what these things were; and it was related by the guardian, that what he saw was not fable, but history; and so from the images seen, he disclosed his martyrdom ^b to the holy Churches. We also, zealously undertaking an investigation into the deeds of the Saints, how the Acts of Blessed Mercurialis are had came to the tomb of Blessed Mercurialis, Confessor and Bishop of Forlì; and there inquiring into his actions, nothing from its

inhabitants of the place could we inquire, except some very worn painted images of his actions: but, as they reported, many ages ^c of times having been past, the Acts of the aforesaid Bishop had been taken from them. At the urging therefore of the Bishop who was present, and the whole people, with Christ's favor, we have undertaken to bring forth his deeds, as our strength suffices.

[18] Moreover ^d this Most Blessed Bishop Mercurialis, endowed with the grace of God, distinguished by various virtues, was gentle in speech, received by charity, shone with every virtue. He was ^e generous to the needy, a father of orphans, a solace of widows, a consoler of mourners, and was a truthful preacher of the word of God; and what he taught in words, this he fulfilled in works: worthily also he obtained the name of Shepherd, who fed the flock of God committed to him with the bread of instruction. Since he flourished in such virtues, he was venerable to all. It happened at that time that a certain very severe Judge of the city of Rimini, named ^f Taurus, inflicted various crimes on the Christians, The Prefect of Rimini blasphemous against the Eucharist and compared the sacred mysteries of the holy sacrament with those things which had been offered to idols; he said at length that the sacred mysteries, which had been offered by the highest Pontiffs, were sent to the privy, like the most wicked sacrifices of his idols, and through ^g this he brought various insults upon the priests of Christ. Whence it came about that Christians had a great conflict with the gentiles. At this spectacle was present the venerable Bishop Mercurialis, and perhaps also other most celebrated Bishops came there, Rufillus of Forlimpopoli ^h, Leo of San Leo ⁱ, Marinus, Gaudentius ^k, and Geminianus ^l. And when the same wicked Judge persisted in the aforesaid crime, the venerable Bishops of God, protected by the shield of faith, resisted him with a strong arm. But he remained in his begun wickedness; so that he was not afraid to utter such unspeakable things, nor did he venerate the footsteps of Christ as a suppliant: for he asked of the holy Bishops that they should prepare as much as they could the sacred mysteries, which he would consume with his usual food and digest and send to the privy.

[19] Hearing these things the most blessed Bishops of Christ were made exceedingly sad, fearing to hand over the sacred mysteries to a profane and wicked gentile: but so as not to annul the institutions of the faithful Christians, what the wicked one asked, to his own destruction he obtained. At length counsel being taken the venerable Bishops gave themselves to prayers for a long time, that the clemency of God might be with them, that the cruelty of the cruel Judge might turn, at the prayers of Saint Mercurialis and the others if he should not repent. Therefore ^m raised up from their prayers, they were clothed with sacred garments, which belong to the cult of holy prayers; and each with great sobs and various lamentations celebrate the most sacred offices of Masses: which being performed, again they prostrated themselves in great and continuous prayers, beseeching God that He would deign to help them. Among other things they said thus: "King of all Kings, show Your mercy to us, that all the world may know, that this wicked man defiles Your sacred things. You Almighty God, who granted to Moses Your servant to overcome the cunnings of Pharaoh King of Egypt, and to vanquish the magic mind of the magi, and made the Israelite people pass through the sea with dry foot, and various nations perish beneath his sword, and stripped David Your servant from the innumerable persecutions of Saul, and rescued the three boys from the furnace of the Chaldeans and Daniel from the pit of the lions; hear us, and grant us to exercise the triumph of victory against this wicked and deceitful Judge. You also we beseech, Lord Jesus Christ, who together with the Father and the Holy Spirit cooperating, restored the man blind from his nativity to light, raised Lazarus four days dead and already stinking; that these Your sacred mysteries, which You have commanded us, Your unworthy servants, to deliver to Your faithful for the eating of Your body and blood, may be for this wicked Judge, if he shall not have confessed You, unto perpetual damnation, with the Father cooperating together with You and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever." And when "Amen" had been said by the Christians, the holy Bishops set before the accursed Judge Taurus the sacred mysteries to be eaten.

[20] Then the Judge greedily and rashly began to eat them unto satiety: which done he began to insult the Christians. But the kindly Bishops of Christ, having perfect hope in God, believed that he would soon fall into perpetual damnation. At length, with the insult persisting against the Christians, soon vengeance was, O God, from You. For the Judge then went to the privy, where he lost all his vitals with his intestines: he is visited with a foul death. for the aforesaid privy of the Judge was located over the Adriatic sea, which adjoined the city of Rimini. But when his vitals with the intestines were cast from his sacrilegious body into the sea, they were pronounced by those standing by to be wild beast-like. And he being dead, and remaining in the aforesaid place, then those who were assisting him, came to him, thinking he was occupied with some works. And seeing his body lifeless, and the rays of the sun being pierced through from his mouth ⁿ through the anus, they knew him to have perished; and they took care to bring these things to the holy Fathers. Which foreseen, the holy Fathers gave thanks to God, and proclaimed to all the people for the praise of God: this triumph being performed, each of them returned to their own homes.

[21] But through the town of Cesena Blessed Mercurialis and Rufillus the Bishops, hastening to the city of Forlimpopoli with the other Bishops, Rufillus stopped at his own seat, Mercurialis hastened to come to his own. Then the whole people subject to him, Clerics also and laymen of both sexes, with lights and incense and various praises, received their Bishop and Shepherd with gladness; and the aforesaid Bishop Mercurialis in his long-held See offered praise, and strove to lead to the end the things which he had begun: often meditating that Gospel saying: "He who shall persevere unto the end shall be saved." Matt. 24:30 There are some who in the beginning of their age begin good things, but at the end deviate from the right path: there are also those who at the middle of their age begin well to act, but do not persevere to the end: there are also those who, placed at the very doors of departure, begin rightly, but by feigning, neglect to perfect those things. the constant perseverance of Saint Mercurialis in the pursuit of virtues In all these things the Venerable Mercurialis showed himself more zealously, because in the antepenultimate state he did not deviate from the right path, but by praying, fasting, giving alms, preaching the Gospel truth, sowing peace and concord among his sons, until his end he rightly disposed his state, according to that which the Gospel truth thunders: "Blessed is that servant, whom, when the Lord comes, he shall find watching." Matt. 24:46 This Blessed Bishop Mercurialis also so took care to exercise himself in the second and third watch, that at the Lord's coming He might find him in assiduous vigils. For the first watch is adolescence; the second, youth; the third, old age. There are many who in adolescence are slothful, and in youth desire to exercise themselves in this good; but because they are not worthy, they cannot come. There are also those who in youth defile themselves, and in old age hope to wash themselves; and these also because they are unworthy, do not attain. In old age however some come to their senses, because they cannot fulfill illicit things. There are also those who in this age correct themselves spontaneously; but in the three things which we have premised, Blessed Mercurialis pleased God in all.

[22] Meanwhile while Blessed Mercurialis exercised himself in the aforesaid things of the Lord; an unhappy report was brought to him, that a huge dragon ^o was in the way for those passing, who had wounded many passers-by with his own breath. who, hastening to the deadly dragon, At which report the man of God fell into great affliction: for the aforesaid dragon was threatening in the middle of the way between Forlimpopoli and Forlì, through which many had already been killed by his blast. At length counsel being taken, the venerable Father Mercurialis directs his legates to Rufillus, Bishop of the people of Forlimpopoli, that both should meet for the slaying of this dragon; meanwhile from both a prolonged prayer should be made, that the Lord would grant them its destruction. While Rufillus heard these things, he long prostrated himself in prayer; but he tarrying, the venerable Father Mercurialis hastened to come to the combat of the dragon. But while he was running to the aforesaid arena, Marcellus met him, deprived of sight: but because he was occupied in a greater work, Mercurialis could not restore the blind man to sight, but had foretold him to await the coming of the Most Blessed Gratus [p], from whom he could obtain what he was asking. Hearing these things, the blind man awaited the coming of Saint Gratus: he foretells that the blind man will be healed by Saint Gratus The aforesaid Saint Gratus then presided over all the things which the Blessed Bishop Mercurialis held; and when at the command of his Bishop he gave alms, he conferred double on the poor than what had been commanded him. Whence the Lord had conferred on him so great a grace, that in his name he conferred powers. This Saint Gratus also, when he had seen the blind man, traced the sign of the holy Cross on his face, and recalled him to the true light of body and soul: who Marcellus, afterwards made a Christian, was especially devoted in the works of God.

[23] But as we have reported, Blessed Mercurialis strove to approach the combat of the dragon before the coming of Rufillus: which Rufillus took grievously, whence they say that, so that Mercurialis could placate him, he gave him two baptismal churches, namely of Saint Martin which is commonly called "in Lavello," but better "in Lavacro," and of Saint Cassian "in Catasiti" estate. and plunges the dragon itself into a well. For when both had come to the dragon's lair; the dragon, as he saw them, was greatly astonished. Then the Saints stopped up his throat with their stoles, and moved him from the pit of that place; and finding a well, both plunged him into it, and closed his mouth with a great stone, and placed a memorial upon him: for the common inhabitants of the place and the country-dwellers relate concerning that memorial thus, that the aforesaid Bishops fixed the [q] rods which remained over the mouth of the well, and sent the root into the moisture of water, and great trees were made: they also tell that on the Birthday of the Bishop himself the dragon [r] shakes himself in the well.

[14] These things thus composed and determined, the holy Bishops with their offices returned to their own: Mercurialis also the venerable Father, manfully persevered in the work of God begun. For how great virtues, how great signs and wonders the Lord wrought through him, human sense cannot fulfill; and because many ages have now passed, from which these things were done, and no history thence remains, we have been unable to reckon his mighty deeds; how he passed to the starry kingdoms, we will try to narrate to you. Before the day of his departure, he commanded all his church to come to him, and taught it to persist in the right faith, and diligently to exercise the work of God: lest, enticed by the cunning of the ancient enemy, to vain studies and workings

they might be led to empty things; about to die, he exhorts his own to constancy in the faith, but should stand in peace and true love, that they might be able to overcome the devices of the most cunning enemy, nor rapacious wolves be able to tear the Lord's flock with their bites. These and other such discourses completed, peace having been given to all his sons, he lost the vital breath, and penetrated the starry kingdoms, on the second of the Kalends of May. Whose body was diligently embalmed by his sons with spices: and he was buried not far from the city of Forlì, he is buried near the city of Forlì beyond the river [s], in an excellent Mausoleum [t]: where for his praise a basilica has been built, in which his benefits abound, now and forever, through endless ages of ages. Amen.

NOTES.