AUGUST. VOLUME TWO. THE FIFTH DAY.

THE SAINTS WHO ARE VENERATED ON THE NONES OF AUGUST.

St. Memmius, Confessor, Bishop of Châlons in Gaul.

St. Poma, Virgin, his sister.

St. Jonius, Priest and Martyr, at Castres in Gaul.

St. Emygdius, Bishop and Martyr, at Ascoli in Piceno.

St. Afra, Martyr, at Augsburg.

St. Afer, Martyr, in the same place.

Other Martyrs, in the same place.

St. Cassian, Bishop and Confessor, at Autun in Gaul.

The Twenty-three Holy Martyrs at Rome.

St. Eusignius, Martyr, at Antioch.

St. Cantidius, Martyr, in Egypt.

St. Cantidianus, Martyr, in Egypt.

St. Sobel, Martyr, in Egypt.

St. Irenaeus, Martyr, at Axiopolis.

St. Heraclas, Martyr, at Axiopolis.

St. Dasius, Martyr, at Axiopolis.

St. Florian, Martyr.

St. Philistinus, Martyr.

St. Paris, Bishop and Confessor, at Teano in Italy.

St. Nonna, mother of St. Gregory Nazianzen.

St. Viator, Confessor, near Orléans in Gaul.

St. Oswald, King and Martyr, in England.

St. Venantius, Bishop and Confessor, at Viviers in Occitan Gaul.

St. Abel, Bishop and Confessor, in the monastery of Lobbes in Hainaut.

St. Margaret, Widow, at San Severino in Piceno in Italy.

PASSED OVER AND DEFERRED TO OTHER DAYS.

"St. Fabius, archbishop of Rome, is consummated by the sword"; as the great printed Menaea of the Greeks relate, which sing two little verses to him. Him whom the Menaea call Fabius the Latins call Fabian; according to what was said on the day 20 January, page 252; on which treatment of him is given there with us together with the Roman Martyrology. See therefore the day 20 January.

St. Alto, the illustrious abbot in Upper Bavaria, Dempster noted somewhere on this day, claiming him for the Scots. See what Bollandus learnedly disputed about him and his homeland, 9 February.

Of the opening of the reliquary of St. Silvinus made on this day, treatment is given at his feast, 17 February.

St. Gregory of Nyssa, for I know not what reason, is marked on this day in our Usuard of Brussels. Treatment has long since been given of him on the day on which he is truly venerated, 9 March.

Ferrarius, announcing St. Laudus, martyr of Orta, on this day, and adding "of whom on the third day before the Nones of May," shows sufficiently that treatment of him had already been given abundantly; as see 5 May.

The relics of St. Rottadis are recorded on this day at the Acts of St. Silvinus, 17 February: treatment of her has been given on 22 June.

St. Hidulf, bishop of Trier, was wrongly transferred hither by Camerarius. We treated of him at sufficient length on 11 July.

The reception of the relics of St. Libert, as it is related to have been made on this day, in the commentary on the Acts of St. Silvinus, 17 February. See his own Acts on the day 14 July.

The arrival of St. Lewina at Bergues is marked by Molanus. See what has been said of that Saint at the day 20 July.

St. Dominic, the most celebrated Patriarch of the sacred Order of the Reverend Preaching Fathers, various Usuardine auctaria announce with emulous zeal on this day, as being the very day on which his festivity was formerly celebrated, drawn back from the day of his death, which was the 6th of the month, being impeded by the feast of the Transfiguration. But the solemnity of St. Mary of the Snows having in due course prevailed, he is now venerated, by the Apostolic ordinance of Pope Paul IV, on the preceding day, on which you have his Acts illustrated at length, diligently and accurately, 4 August.

"Among the Santones, of St. Fredulf, confessor, illustrious in life for the splendour of great virtues, and after death for the brilliance of many signs." Saussay's present-day announcement is vague enough, on which Castellanus shed not a whit of light the day before, in these equally obscure words: "In Saintonge, of St. Fredulf (Frion), confessor." I long and much sought, both among the Santones and elsewhere, to obtain something more distinct about this Saint; until a certain Frodulf (Vron) occurred by chance in the Life of St. Mederic, in saeculum 3 of the Acta of the Order of St. Benedict, volume 1, page 12, of whom these few things are recorded; namely, that at the compulsion, or rather the exhortation, of Frodulf, a man of wonderful holiness, whom he himself had received with his most holy hands from the font and had raised to the summit of all perfection, St. Mederic set out for Paris. On which Mabillon notes in this manner: "St. Frodulf, commonly St. Frou, Flodulfe, is venerated with a solemn feast on 21 April (formerly the 22nd, which is the day of his death) at Paris in the church of St. Mederic, in which his skull with two vertebrae and a rib is kept; the other parts are held in a certain little town of Burgundy, not far from which is seen a small oratory where St. Frodulf is recorded to have been buried." If the same Saint is treated of in both places, I do not see why he is relegated by Saussay and Castellanus to the Santones. For the rest, however the matter stands, some fuller information is needed, either that we may treat of him on 29 August with St. Mederic (as the French Legendist noted in the index of his work), or that the whole question be deferred to the Supplement of April, on the 21st day of which Mabillon said he is venerated, or, as it is in the Spiritual Kalendar of Paris, on the 22nd.

Theodoric, bishop of Cambrai, translated to Magdeburg in Saxony, Ferrarius roundly places among the Saints on this day, citing Molanus, where, however, Molanus studiously abstains from the title of Saint or Blessed, simply narrating the occurrence by which the body was carried into Saxony. Miraeus in the Fasti dares a little more, when he gives the title of the Blessed both to this Theodoric and to John his successor, which I for my part do not sufficiently see can so far be granted them. Castellanus deservedly calls both Venerable, nor do we judge that we can dare anything further.

John, bishop of Cambrai, the immediate successor of the former, as I have said, also noted by Ferrarius; nor does he seem up to now to have been honoured with the honours of the Saints.

Dom Bernard of Venice, at Benevento in the monastery of St. Sophia, Ghini marked on this day among his Canons regular, who died in the year MDCVI, adorning him with a long and remarkable eulogy, yet in such a way that he confesses that he has not yet been honoured with any honours of the Saints.

A Christina Bollandus found somewhere on this day; which she may be among the several of the same name, I wish to be informed.

Olbert, abbot, is announced to us on this day by a Benedictine Kalendar; others better enter him on 14 July, on which day treatment was given of him at greater length among the Passed Over.

"On the same day, the deposition of St. Ebroin, archbishop of Bourges, confessor of St. Charles the Great," is the singular announcement of our Ms. Florarium of the Saints. This Ebroin is known in the series of the bishops of Bourges, the forty-second in order, but about his sanctity or cult there is deep silence everywhere.

"Of Bl. William, abbot, in the monastery of Villers in Brabant," Menard expressly writes on this day, recording in his Observations quite wonderful things about him, of which not a trace occurs in Henriquez and Chalemot. That he was a distinguished and venerable man I shall readily grant; to dare to insert him among the Saints, greater authority is needed.

Theoderic, monk of Hevervachc, is entered on this day in the Kalendar of the sacred Cistercian Order, and so as a Saint. Chalemot explains the place more distinctly on this very day: "In Germany, in the monastery of Eberbach, blessed Theoderic, monk, remarkable for piety, comely in purity, outstanding in religion, illustrious in sanctity, etc." Henriquez makes no mention of this Theoderic, nor indeed is it established from elsewhere that his memory is celebrated with the honours of the Saints.

Hildegund of the same Order, also a nun in Germany, not indeed in the Kalendar, but in Henriquez and Chalemot, is proclaimed as Blessed. We wish to be informed about a true cult.

The Descent of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Cîteaux, and the change of habit from black to white under abbot Alberic in the year MCI, is marked in the Kalendar already mentioned and in Henriquez. Let it suffice to make mention of it here.

"At Valence in France, the dedication of the cathedral church," is the announcement of Ferrarius alone.

Gerard, of the Premonstratensian Order, first abbot of Berne, Chrysostom Vander Sterre enters among the Saints on this day in his Natales, where he expressly calls him Blessed. That he was an excellent Master and a most holy man I shall easily grant: but I seek more certain indications of a true cult.

Achia, who is also otherwise called Echea, Ethehea and Lalloca, seems to be referred, at 6 February, where St. Mel is treated of, to this day, or to 15 January. I find nothing elsewhere that I can bring forward about her cult or deeds.

Rethna, Ruthena, Rathnata or Rathnota is named in the Acts of St. Ita, virgin, on 15 January; and there in the notations it is added: "She is said to be venerated on 5 August." I should like something more solid and certain, so that treatment of her could be given here.

The dedication of the basilica of St. Mary Major is the present-day announcement inserted into the Hieronymian codices of Lucca and Corbie, which the other codices lack, as well as the chief classics, Ado himself, Usuard, Rabanus and the rest enumerated in our Usuardine preface. The Roman Martyrology marks the feast itself more distinctly in these words: "At Rome on the Esquiline, the dedication of the basilica of St. Mary of the Snows": which festivity is most solemnly celebrated at Rome on this day and in the whole Catholic world, the day, namely, on which snow, falling in a most burning season of the sky, marked out the place for the church which, founded by Pope Liberius, restored by Sixtus III, was most splendidly adorned by other Pontiffs. We refer that festivity, with others of Christ the Lord and of the most blessed Mother of God, to the place where our predecessors long ago promised that treatment of them would be given in a special work.

Clement, of the Order of St. Francis, has a place in Oldoini in the series of others of the same name who adorned the Church with a title of sanctity or of morals. Arthur proclaims him Blessed, in whom the following are also found:

Francis, martyr, among the Manica Kaffirs in the East Indies; Bernard of Fabriano, confessor, at Camerino in Umbria; Stephen Brulifer, confessor, at Bernonium in Armorican Brittany; Evangelist of Perugia, confessor, at Ragusa; Bonna, widow, Tertiary, at Poggibonsi in Etruria: these are honoured with the title of Blessed by Arthur in the Franciscan Martyrology, and the last also in the Gynaeceum.

Hueber abstains from undue titles in the Menologium, where to those already entered he adds two Martyrs in Ethiopia, but anonymous ones. And then Marian of Jescorbo, at Vilna in Poland.

Evangelist Balionius at Ragusa in Illyricum.

Joan of the Baptism at Belvisio in the territory of Piacenza.

Maria Gonzaga, duchess of Mantua, of the third Order.

Of Domenica of Paradiso, an illustrious Virgin of the Order of Preachers, Marchese gives on this day in the Dominican Diarium not only an eulogy but also a Life elaborately adorned. He rightly calls her a Spouse of Christ, abstaining from every title of cult or sanctity.

Camilla Moletti is likewise marked on this day by the same Marchese as a venerable sister of the third Order.

Beatrice of the Five Wounds is added in the Belgian Annus sanctus.

Dominic of St. Mary in the German Viridarium.

The name of St. Erenaeus, Martyr, perhaps Irenaeus, occurs in Possevino in the Kalendar of the Ruthenians, volume 2 of the Apparatus sacer, which is found from page 364. Neither pleases Papebroch in the figured August of the Muscovites, before volume 1 of May, page XXXIX. The memory of St. Irenaeus, martyr, occurs on the 22nd and 23rd days of this month in the great printed Menaea of the Greeks. But who Possevino's is, or where he belongs, we do not know.

Egbert, bishop of York in the eighth century, Ferrarius says he found among the Saints in the English Martyrology and in the Tables of the bishops of York. Not in good faith: for in the first he is not known even by name; in the Tables the title of sanctity is abstained from, just as Baronius too is careful when he speaks of him in the Annals at the year 762.

George, surnamed the Just, a merchant of linen cloth, Molanus in the Natales and Miraeus in the Fasti praise on this day, as one whose memory has been in benediction since the year MCCXCVIII, and whose burial is at Biervliet in the farthest part of Flanders towards Zeeland, in a town surrounded by the sea and today subject to the heretics. I do not know why Castellanus marked him on the third day of this month.

"At Florence, the deposition of blessed James Gerius, hermit of the Camaldolese Order, illustrious for sanctity, at whose passing the voices of angels are related to have been heard." These are the words of Wion on this day, which I should wish confirmed from elsewhere, before I judge that a place among the Saints can be granted to this certainly Venerable Man.

Humbert, bishop of Silva Candida, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, most celebrated in the eleventh century, is rightly said by Bucelinus to have wonderfully adorned the most eminent dignity of the sacred purple with most eminent virtues and merits: but that he lawfully obtained the honours of the Saints, I have not yet found.

The festivity of the Thorn of our Lord Jesus Christ our Ottavio Caietano announces in the Sicilian Martyrology: likewise that of the finding of the image of the Virgin Mother of God at Messina. And then the celebration of another image at Palermo, of which he records several things there.

Stanislaus Hosius, Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church, most celebrated in the sixteenth century, has the thirteenth place in Martin Baronius's series of the Saints and Blessed of that name. On this day indeed he died; but of his cult nothing has become known from elsewhere so far.

Baldric or Balderic, bishop of Utrecht, fifteenth in order, is praised on this day by several, and indeed numbered among the Saints: by others he is said to have died on 6 January. If his cult were established, the recent editors of the sacred Belgium of the United Provinces would not have neglected to indicate it. Gisbert Lappius once wrote to Bollandus that Balderic can be called pious, by no means a saint.

Marina of St. George, at Palermo in Sicily, of the Order of Minims, is honoured on this day with the title of Blessed by Arthur in the Gynaeceum. I seek someone to inform us about her cult.

Of Migelius, bishop and confessor, I know not whence the additions of the Charterhouse of Brussels to Greven could have made mention; I have so far sought him elsewhere in vain; so that it seems most probable that the name was fashioned by some ignorant person from Migdius, which is found among the Usuardine auctaria; and this in turn cut short from Emygdius, of whom treatment is given on this day in his place. He would do a most welcome service who could bring some light.

Cassinus and Maslininus, or Cassian and Masculinus, are entered in that diverse manner in the printed Catalogues of the Saints of Ireland. Let it be enough to note here that under neither inflection have Saints of this kind become known to us so far.

Viator (in French Bietre), bishop of Bourges, is announced on this day as a Saint by Castellanus, although he is not known even in Saussay himself, nor is he adorned with that title by the Sainte-Marthe brothers or by others, as far as I know. Let the people of Bourges inform us, if they have anything by which his glory can be promoted.

John Feckenham is rightly called by Bucelinus a most valiant athlete of Christ and a most invincible champion of the Catholic faith, so that he deservedly has a place among the Venerable.

St. Urbitius is noted on this day by Ferrarius as bishop and martyr; treatment of him will be given on the following day, 6 August.

St. Sixtus II, martyr, the Usuard of Brussels wrongly entered on this day; he belongs to the following day, 6 August.

St. Hormisdas, Pope, is entered on this day by Notker and also in some Usuardine auctaria; better by others, with the Roman, on the following day, 6 August.

The pre-feast of the metamorphosis of our Lord Jesus Christ Molanus announces on this day. The eve of the transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ is inscribed in the Typicon of St. Sabas: of which matter the great printed Menaea of the Greeks also make mention, and the Slavo-Russian Menologium of Sparwenfeld. Our Ms. Florarium of the Saints, however, has thus at the very beginning of the list: "According to the Ordinary of the church of Liège, the feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ is kept on this day." It is well enough known that it belongs to the following day, 6 August.

Bl. Hathumar, first bishop of Paderborn, on the testimony of Schaten, flew up to heaven on the fifth day before the Ides of August, or the 9th of this month; so that I altogether do not understand why he is entered by Bucelinus on this day. We shall therefore treat of him on 9 August.

St. Justus, bishop of Lyons, noted on this day by Maurolycus, has already more than once been referred to the day on which he is venerated, 2 September.

Of Moses, prince of the Prophets, the Syriac or Chaldaic Kalendar makes mention. He is venerated by the Latins on 4 September.

St. Ulfard or Ulfar seems to have been referred hither by Henschenius in the series of the Passed Over at the day 3 June. He had also spoken of him on 1 June, where St. Clarus is treated of, page 9. Further, when St. Lifard is treated of, also on the day 3 June, page 300, number 8, the question occurs whether this Ulfard, whoever he is, is not to be confused with St. Lifard. It is truly a wonder that he was passed over by Saussay. For my part I am very much mistaken if, from the circumstances in Castellanus, he is not the very Ulfacius whom he enters on 9 September; by which time perhaps that information will be added from which the matter can be more illustrated, 9 September.

Sts. Marcellus and Apultius, for Apuleius, Felicius marks on this day, contrary to the way they are entered in the Roman Martyrology on the day on which treatment of them will have to be given, 7 October.

The dedication or translation of St. Savinus was referred hither from 22 January, under the guidance of Saussay, who has it on this day from the Martyrology of St. Savin in Lavedan, page 1249. The Saint is venerated when treatment of him will have to be given, 9 October.

St. Alberic, bishop of Utrecht, at Susteren in the duchy of Jülich, I know not why Castellanus entered on this day. In the Belgian Fasti he is venerated, and treatment of him will be given, on 14 November.

St. Hilda, the most celebrated abbess in England, by what title Ferrarius places her on this day at Lübeck in Saxony I do not yet sufficiently see. He cites Molanus in the additions, and Canisius. Both wrongly. Canisius treats of her on the 25th of this month, where the same Ferrarius finds her again; who could easily have rested content with that announcement, in which he vainly keeps silent the name of the Saint, since she is truly venerated on that day, namely 17 November.

Of the relics of St. Trudo the commentary on the Acts of St. Silvinus, 17 February, speaks. Treatment of him will be given on 23 November.