ON ST. MARINUS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR,
IN THE MONASTERY OF ST. PETER OF BESALÚ,
Of the diocese of Gerona in Catalonia.
CommentaryMarinus, bishop and confessor, in the diocese of Gerona in Catalonia (St.)
J. P.
The Reverend Father Fr. Antonio Domenec, of the Order of Friars Preachers, in his General History of the Saints and of the men illustrious for sanctity in the principality of Catalonia, written in the Spanish tongue, treating from folio 54 verso of St. Evidius the martyr, St. Marinus, bishop and confessor, and St. Patronus — whose sacred bodies the monastery of St. Peter of Besalú, of the Order of St. Benedict, in the bishopric of Gerona, holds with great veneration — describes at some length the foundation of that monastery, made in the year of the Lord 977, and likewise the donations and favors which were granted to it. The place On the origin of this monastery one may also consult Yepes in the General Chronicle of the Order of St. Benedict, volume 5, at the year of Christ 977: where these holy bodies are also treated. But in the appendix to the same volume, in which are given the documents designated in it, the twenty-first scriptura, as it is called, which is there found, concerning the foundation of this monastery confirmed by Pope Benedict VII, calls it of Bisulduno. We, however, have above given it the name of Besalú, in conformity with the form used by us in volume II of the month of June, on the XIII day of the same month, page 680; where we treated of St. Evidius the martyr just now praised.
[2] But those things which are found in the same place in our work concerning the cult of this martyr and the manner of the public veneration; also, on the same occasion, prove the public veneration of St. Marinus; since the matter treated is expressly of the six bodies of Saints resting in the church of the aforementioned monastery, among whom is ours, of whom we here treat. Domenec affirms that the feast of St. Marinus falls on the XIX day of August; and that he is read of in the said monastery as a bishop and confessor; and further, that on the day sacred to him and in the Octave, Mass and the divine Office are said in the same way as is done for St. Evidius. The Collect, expressing the names of the holy martyrs Primus and Felicianus, Concordius and Evidius, Marinus and Patronus, you have in the volume cited: in which also there was treatment of the preservation, visitation or inspection, and indulgences of these same sacred pledges. Add from Domenec that all the bones of St. Marinus were found, but fewer of St. Patronus: likewise that the Saints of whom we spoke above are shown painted on the chief altar, and our Saint indeed with episcopal insignia. Which thing perhaps gave occasion to the monks of Besalú to venerate him as a bishop; we too, however, have above attributed this title to him, although in so great obscurity of his affairs we do not know whether it ought to be attributed to him, after the example of others who hold him for such.
[3] Ferrarius's mistake. Ferrarius, in his New Catalogue of the Saints, that is, of those who are not in the Roman Martyrology, on this XIX day of August announces him thus: At Besalú near Gerona, of St. Marinus, bishop, and patron of that place. Ferrarius manifestly errs, because he takes the proper name Patronus for an appellative or titular word, as is clear from what has been said; and therefore he is deservedly corrected by Tamayo in his notes on this day. Domenec, concerning the bodies of the holy Evidius, Marinus, and Patronus, brought to the monastery of Besalú, affirms that God without doubt there confers, through their intercession, great benefits upon those who piously invoke them. Take these few things about St. Marinus, reader, in good part.