Armagilus

ON ST. ARMAGILUS, CONFESSOR,

IN BRITTANY OF ARMORICA IN GAUL.

IN THE YEAR 552.

Armagilus, confessor, in Brittany of Armorica (St.)

BHL Number: 0679

BY J. B. S.

The name of this holy Armagilus is uttered in more than one way, since the Gallo-Britons commonly inflect it St. Armel Known rather from the Offices and Arzel, as the villages named from him prove, Plaermel and Ploarzel, which is to say the Parish of Armagilus, Parish of Armel, and Parish of Arzel; whence it is easy to conjecture in how great veneration he was once held, since villages and towns are named from him even today as from a singular patron. Nor did his famous cult stop there, but was widely spread through all Armorica, or at least Lesser Britain, as is manifestly shown by the Offices not only of Rennes, Vannes, and others, but also of Saint-Malo, from whose church's most ancient Breviary we shall transcribe, keeping the order of the whole Office, those things which we have been able to find handed down concerning St. Armagilus; not following the Legend-writer Albert Le Grand, who everywhere amplifies many things at his own pleasure, as has so often been shown in this Work.

[2] In the Office already cited he is placed on the XXIII of August: not rightly, I think, than from the Martyrologies since in the margin of our manuscript it is most expressly noted that his memory is had in the Calendar on this XVI of August, on which day he died, and is still honored both in the village of the diocese of Rennes where he ended his life, called from him St. Armel, and in the town of Ploërmel, which in Latin is to be called Plebs Armagili, Plou Armel, commonly Bloërmel, in the diocese of Saint-Malo. And these testimonies abundantly attest his cult, although his memory is marked in no ancient Martyrologies. Saussay himself, the encomiast of the Saints, speaks of him on this day more briefly than usual, announcing him thus: At Saint-Malo, of St. Armagilus the confessor, illustrious for the merits of great virtues. A little differently Castellan: In Brittany near Rennes, of St. Armagilus the confessor, who had dwelt at Paris for seven whole years, occupied in continual exercises of piety. Nor do I know of other Martyrologies which make mention of him.

[3] Le Cointe in his Ecclesiastical History of the Franks might have unfolded the Saint's Life and deeds somewhat more fully; he is praised by Le Cointe. but perhaps fearing that what is circulated concerning him might be less solid, he embraced all things in few words in volume 1, at the year 520, number XVI, in these words: Armelus or Arzelus, born in Britain about the year 482, was raised through the ecclesiastical grades to the honor of the presbyterate; then, kindled with zeal for the monastic life, he undertook a journey into Armorica, and built an oratory in the territory of Léon, where today is the parish of St. Arzel, commonly Plou Arsel. There he remained until the death of Count Rigualdus; but afterwards, fearing the tyranny of Comorrus, he went to King Childebert and Count Idual, by whom he was honorably received on account of the fame of the virtues which God deigned to work through him. Consult his Life in the Armorica Sancta.

[4] That Life I judge to be either the same as, or like to, the French one of Albert already cited, The Life from the Breviary of Saint-Malo. which I should not dare to trust, so that accordingly we must have recourse to the aforesaid Office of Saint-Malo alone, which I shall presently subjoin here entire, with the antiphons and responsories which also pursue the order of the Life. Of the Saint's relics there is no treatment in this whole Office, so that it may altogether be supposed that they are still most devoutly honored in the place where they were first laid, although some portions may perhaps have been translated elsewhere. Certainly in our appendix to the Life of St. Pavacius, volume V of July, page 545, relics of the holy Armagilus and Liborius are said to have been found in a certain bag; which it may suffice to have noted here, as I promised there that I would do. That the Saint was most celebrated for very many miracles, not only in his Life but also after his death, though this is not clearly expressed in the Office, Albert is witness, from whom we also learn that the church of the Parish of Armagilus (Ploërmel) in the diocese of Saint-Malo, consecrated to his name, is even today frequented with a great concourse of people.

[5] His native country is disputed by no one: for St. Armagilus is of the number of those who, as Lobineau shows in his History of Brittany, volume 1, vied with one another in passing over from Greater Britain into Armorica, enumerating in a long series at the end of the second book those zealous preachers, and notably at page 76, number 210, confirming what we have already said of the Saint. There is like agreement concerning his age, namely that he was born in the year 482, and after many labors undertaken for the sake of propagating religion, made an end of his most holy Life in the year 552. Lastly it might be asked whether he is truly to be called abbot, from which title we have abstained. Some will have a monastery founded by him: certainly I do not deny that he had disciples or companions of his own nation, and perhaps others; and if these suffice for an abbey properly so called, I shall readily allow him also to be named abbot. Behold now the promised Office,

From an old Breviary according to the use of the church of Saint-Malo, printed at Paris by John Higman in the year 1489, from that part which is entitled the Summer Sanctoral.

Of St. Armagilus the Confessor.

In the First Nocturn. Antiphon: Blessed Armagilus drew his birth, sprung of a glorious lineage in Greater Britain. Psalms from the common of one Confessor. Antiphon: A man of great learning, a vessel of all purity, he grew daily from good to better. Antiphon: A constant worshipper of Christ, ordained presbyter, he fought bravely against all vices.

[6] Passing from England into Brittany Lesson I. St. Armagilus, pondering the Lord's saying, namely, He that renounceth not all that he possesseth cannot be My disciple, chose rather to leave his parents and his other friends and all that he had, than to go against the Lord's precepts. But do thou. ℞. While yet a boy pursuing the studies of the schools, he wrought the first beginnings of his virtues. ℣. From a companion whom cold and fevers oppressed, they departed at the mere touch of his cloak. He wrought, etc.

[7] he is summoned by King Childebert Lesson II. And by that same spirit by which St. Armagilus landed on the borders of the Britons, Philibert \, king of the Franks, a cherisher of the holy faith, after he had heard the fame of that Saint and of his companions, sent by messengers and took care earnestly to entreat that he would not refuse to come to him. But do thou. ℞. Having wholly dismissed all things that stand in the way of heavenly things, he crossed the sea with his companions into the parts of the Britons. ℞. At the king's prayer he set out into Gaul and was made his confidant.* Of the Britons, etc.

[8] Lesson III. And he, filled with the Holy Spirit,

willingly complied with the royal commands, from whom, departing after six years, and for the space of six years that most pious servant of God dwelt in the king's palace, as a lamb among wolves, that is, among the tyrants of the court. But do thou. ℞. Pleasing to God, welcome to all, the blessed Man made his stay in the royal palace for the space of six years. ℣. Through whom God did many mighty works in Gaul. For the space of six years. Glory, etc.

In the Second Nocturn. Antiphon: He heals a lame man, powerless in all his limbs, who begged his sustenance. Antiphon: The kindly Man restores sight to a weeping blind man who trusted in his help. Antiphon: The Saint's signs being noised abroad, wherever he goes, throngs of the sick are there, laid upon their pallets.

[9] Lesson IV. But in the seventh year, while he was journeying to the church, he heals a paralytic. behold, a certain lame man, utterly enfeebled in all his limbs, casting himself in the way of the most holy Man, was busy to seek the necessary sustenance of the body. Whom the Man of God, beholding him weighed down with so great a calamity, moved with charitable pity, thus addresses: In the name of Jesus Christ crucified, rise quickly, and leaping up, walk. But do thou. ℞. By the king's leave, an oratory being given him in the country of Rennes, he goes in haste with joy. ℞. Where, despising the joys of the world, he shone with divers signs. He goes, etc.

[10] Lesson V. But when the holy Man had come to the district of Rennes, A serpent troublesome to the people a certain serpent of wondrous size had taken possession of a certain mountain of that region, whose flame-belching breath miserably slew with a most bitter death whatever men it could reach. ℞. In a certain village through which he passed, almost the whole people was perishing, and the beasts also, from lack of water. ℞. On hearing which, when he had fixed his staff in the earth, a living spring leapt forth for the people. The people, etc.

[11] Lesson VI. But St. Armagilus, like a warrior, he casts headlong into a river. carrying his stole in his hand, hastened undaunted to approach so great a monster, and straightway the most savage serpent, bowing its head, at the coming of the Man of God became harmless and as it were obedient. And when he had bound its neck close with his stole, he presently strives to make for the brow of the steep mountain, and cast it dead into a certain river. ℞. On a certain day a multitude of the sick, standing before the door of the house, awaited the help of the Saint which they desired. ℣. The kindly Man, moved for them with his wonted pity, sent them away, health being first restored to them all. The multitude, etc.

In the Third Nocturn. Antiphon: Beside the dry land there dwelt a huge serpent, which, when it breathed, gave over to death by its breath the inhabitants of that land. Antiphon: Bowed by the prayer of the people … he bends down as he stoops, binds the monster with his stole, and drowns it in the water. Antiphon: Fearing that his life should be stained by the empty praise of the people, he goes on to lonely Brittany, leaving the country of Rennes.

[12] He shines with new miracles. Lesson VII. And when he flashed everywhere with miracles and virtues, and throngs of the sick followed him wherever they knew him to be, as a merciful physician, there chanced to be present a certain demoniac mingled with the others, who by the mere touch of the straw where the Man of God lay was freed from the demon. ℞. Crossing over to the Britons, sowing the word of God, he baptized many peoples and trod down the idols. ℣. He built sacred houses newly to Jesus Christ, and firmly strengthened the servants of God in the faith. Many peoples, etc.

[13] Warned by an angel Lesson VIII. And when on a certain day the aforesaid Armagilus, feeling some infirmity, entered the monastery alone, and prostrate on the ground in the form of a cross was praying to the Lord, he saw an angel of God saying to him: Armagilus, elect of God, be comforted in the grace of God, for on the second day after the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary thou shalt enter the palaces of the heavens. But do thou. ℞. A certain man having a demon, seeking the Saint's help, felt his aid at the touch of the straw of his bed. ℣. By the touch of his garment a certain woman was healed who had long been wearied by an issue of blood. His aid, etc.

[14] he foretells his death and dies. Lesson IX. Hearing these things, when he had made his prayer he rose, and suffered all the people to enter the church. And when he had performed the divine Office, in the hearing of all he declared his own death; and when the days foretold by the angel had passed, he departed to the Lord. But do thou. ℞. Wherever he went, a company of the sick drew near seeking help, which by his aid departed whole. ℣. By whatever disease the sick were held, they were cured by his healing. Which, etc. Glory, etc. We praise Thee, O God.

[15] Other miracles of the Saint. At Lauds. Antiphon: Illustrious in birth, more illustrious in work, a virgin, he gave help to all beasts and to all men.

Antiphon: On a certain day, feeling himself weighed down with sickness, he enters the oratory to pray to God; straightway an angel is there to console him.

Antiphon: The angel, shining in sweet manner, addresses him: to thee the grace of God is given beyond measure, a place due to thee with the Saints is prepared.

Antiphon: The solemnity of the Mother of the Lord being completed, rendering thy spirit to God, thou shalt enjoy with joy the reward of the Saints, which is thy due.

Antiphon: On the said day, the office of the Mass being rendered and the people instructed with the divine word, foretelling his own death, he renders his Spirit to God.

\ Read Childebertus*.