Bononius

ON ST. BONONIUS, ABBOT AND PRIEST OF THE ORDER OF ST. BENEDICT,

IN THE MONASTERY OF LUCEDIO IN PIEDMONT,

In the year MXXVI.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

His cult, the copies of his Life, other authors.

Bononius, abbot and priest, in the monastery of Lucedio in Piedmont (St.)

BY J. P.

The situation of the monastery of Lucedio, in which St. Bononius or Bolonius died, we shall describe more fully below. The Saint's country; Bologna, the capital of Aemilia, most noble among the cities of Italy, gave him birth and taught him the rudiments of the monastic life. There Wion and Menard announce him; but Dorganius without a place. The Roman Martyrology records him thus: At Bologna, of St. Bononius the abbot. And the holy Man's cult is most ancient. For an altar over the holy Abbot's tomb, some days after his death, Arderic, venerable bishop of the church of Vercelli, judged should be erected and dedicated, as will be said in the Life, number 8; who nevertheless upon this matter went to Rome, and from Pope John (of that name the XVIII, called XIX) obtained apostolic authority for this, and returning thence … erected and consecrated the altar.

[2] To this without doubt Francesco Agostino della Chiesa looked, his cult when in the Chronological History of the Piedmontese Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church, Archbishops, Bishops, and Abbots he records this of the Saint, page 288: He was numbered among the Saints by Pope John XX. But Baronius corrects this error in his Notes on the Roman Martyrology: But, he says, if (as his Acts have it) the proof of his cult was made a little after his death, it must have been done by John XIX: for John XX (called XXI) was created Pontiff long after, namely in the thirteenth century, being raised to the chair of Peter in the year 1276 and dying in 1277, as may be seen in the Compendium of the Deeds of the Roman Pontiffs in François Pagi, volume 3, from page 423, and elsewhere. Into the same error falls Ferrarius, to be cited below. Celso Falcone, of whom afterward, wrongly writes that he was declared a possessor of beatitude by Pope John XIII.

[3] In Mabillon, in the Acts of the Saints of the Order of St. Benedict, sixth century, sacred part 1, from page 266, this is written of the Saint's cult and place: The body of St. Bononius is venerated in the monastery of Lucedio near Crescentino, a notable castle of the diocese of Vercelli, situated between the Po and the Dora, now given the title of St. Januarius, formerly of St. Michael: whose origin Francesco Agostino della Chiesa in chapter 33 of the Piedmontese Chronology refers to the time of the principate of Aripert, king of the Lombards, that is, to the year DCCXII. The place passed from the black monks to the white Cistercians, and from these to a few secular clerics. Nearly the same has Lubin in the Notice of the Abbeys of Italy, where he observes that the abbey of Lucedio belongs today to the diocese of Casale, which was taken out of that of Vercelli. He says that it is situated in the territory of Montferrat above the river Gardina, and gave its name to the town of St. Januarius, which by occasion of the monastery was gradually built. I have not been unwilling to transcribe these things hither from the said hagiographer at somewhat greater length, on the occasion of the sacred body which he attests is venerated there. But we have many other things at hand about the public cult of St. Bononius. Our Papebroch, among other things of which he treats in his manuscript Return from Italy to Belgium, page 233, makes mention of a shoulder-blade of St. Bononius at Vercelli among the Fathers Preachers.

[4] The most eminent lord Prospero Lambertini, who now happily presides over the chair of St. Peter, in various in his Work On the Beatification of the Servants of God and the Canonization of the Blessed, book 2, chapter 18, page 150, says: In the litanies according to the Eusebian rite the name of that Saint was invoked; as even today it is invoked on the second day of the Rogations in the litanies which are recited by the clergy of Vercelli: nay more, in a certain village of the diocese of Ivrea, whose name is Settimo Rottaro, a parish church has been dedicated to God in honor of that Saint, and in it on the XXX day of August an Office of the common is recited, just as is also done among us of Bologna …; for the granting of which proper Office indeed, God permitting, it is our intention to make petition to the congregation of sacred rites. In the Appendix to the aforesaid book, page 625, he sets down the proper Office of St. Bononius, which was formerly recited in the church of Vercelli, and which he had indicated on the page 150 just cited that he had received from the most eminent Cardinal Ferrero, bishop of Vercelli; where also he speaks of the recitation … of it omitted in the year MDLXXV, at which time in that same church the Eusebian rite ceased: although even now many things about it are related in the proper lessons of the Office of St. Peter, bishop of Vercelli.

[5] illustrated from documents In the Appendix therefore just designated, after this title, Extracts from the archive of the Eusebian cathedral of Vercelli concerning St. Bolonius, or Bononius, abbot of Lucedio, this is subjoined: In an ancient Antiphonary, in which the deeds of St. Eusebius are read, marked with musical notes, after the antiphon of St. Bartholomew the apostle there is the antiphon of St. Bolonius, as follows … "O shepherd distinguished for merits and worthy of praise, Bolonius, at the entreaty of thy people come to their aid with clement loving-kindness, that the people crying to thee may find thee a loving patron and a true intercessor for them with the Lord in every peril." Then from an ancient Missal according to the Eusebian rite under the day XXX of August the praised Cardinal Lambertini recites the following: Rubric: Of St. Bolonius the confessor. Collect. O God, author and founder of the world, who hast consecrated this present day by the passing of blessed Bolonius in his glorious festival: grant us, we beseech thee, that we may obtain the help of thy loving-kindness by the suffrages of him in whose yearly celebration we exult with devout services. Through our Lord, etc.

[6] set forth: Secret. Almighty everlasting God, who hast exalted thy blessed priest and confessor Bolonius both by the office of priesthood and by the gift of faith, grant to thy suppliants that whatever has been contracted in us by the contagion of sin may be loosed by his intercession for us. Through our Lord, etc. Postcommunion. Hear us, O Lord, holy Father, almighty eternal God, and by the merits of thy blessed priest and confessor Bolonius guard this people with thy accustomed compassion, preserve them with thy kindness, save them with thy loving-kindness, that they may be joined in the eternal fatherland to the patron in whose feast they here exult. Through, etc. In the same place, page 626, are produced the proper lessons about our holy Abbot from a most ancient codex marked Breviary according to the use of the church of Vercelli, which the same most eminent author says he read in the Eusebian Breviary printed at Venice in the year MDIV with the privilege of the canons of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, as they are there subjoined by him. On page 627 are given the proper lessons of St. Peter, bishop of Vercelli, in which the deeds of St. Bononius are inserted. The XIII day of February, page 719, may be consulted, on which we treated of St. Peter. Further, the deeds of St. Bononius will be sufficiently described in his Life and Miracles. There are various copies of these, of which an account must now be given.

[7] The copies of the Life collated: His Life, which is found in Surius on the XXX day of August, as also the Miracles, are not of the original style, which has been somewhat changed, as is wont to be done elsewhere in that Work. The Saint's Life also

is found in the most eminent Lambertini from page 613, and is marked as extracted from the archive of the chapter of the cathedral of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, in a very ancient codex … written by hand on parchment, with this opening: Blessed Bononius therefore was born at Bologna, and there from boyhood, etc. And the end is this: The same aforesaid pontiff went to Rome, and from the lord [] John, supreme Pontiff and universal Pope, obtained apostolic authority; and returning thence, with the greatest favor and the joy of the whole people, erected and consecrated the altar, etc. Which agrees with the copy published in Mabillon. The Miracles also, which the same most eminent Cardinal published from an ancient manuscript parchment codex, are similar to Mabillon's narrative. We have now collated the said copies of the Life and of the miracles, and have noted various readings, some of which out of many we shall assign. There is another transcript of the Life among us, which is marked as taken from a parchment manuscript of Cardinal Barberini, f. 250. It has a prologue. It begins thus: The talents of little men cannot comprehend the exposition of great matters.* But nothing occurs in it which needs to be observed. There follows the history of the Life, which narrates things like the copies just designated in Cardinal Lambertini and Mabillon, but without those miracles which they published.

[8] Let us now hear the observations which are found in the same Mabillon, page 266, in these words: observations The two following little books, one on the life, the other on the miracles of St. Bononius the abbot, were written by a certain anonymous monk of Lucedio, who betrays his own age in the book on the miracles in more than one place. For at number 7 (which in our edition is 9) he says that his mother was healed by St. Bononius while he was still alive; and at number 10 (with us 11) he brings himself forward as a witness of the miracle related, which happened in the very year of that holy Man's death. Compare number 18 (with us 19). To these may be added this from the prologue to the miracles, to commend the writer's credibility: What I relate, he says, many things I myself have seen; and what were not seen by me, I have heard from truthful and faithful men, confirmed by the testimony of many. I could wish that he had appended a more distinct notion of places, persons, and years to the miracles wrought after the Saint's death. Nevertheless what that writer narrates of the things done by the Saint in the East is set forth in a manner so wondrous and so little probable that it cannot obtain much credit among the learned. In the observations already assigned there follows this: These two little books were first drawn out, but with the style changed, by Surius, from a manuscript codex of the monastery of St. Stephen at Bologna, that most noble city of Italy, which is called Jerusalem, on the Life in Mabillon: other writers. formerly of the black monks, now of the Cistercians. The same, received from the same source, we have restored to the original style.

[9] That codex, containing many other lives, has this clause at the end: In the year from the Lord's Incarnation one thousand one hundred and eighty, in the abbacy of the lord Landulf, a most discerning abbot, to be loved by God and men, most widely known by fame — namely in the XVIII year of his abbacy, on the Friday which followed on the fourth day after the feast of St. Martin the bishop — this book was completed in the monastery of the most blessed proto-martyr Stephen of the city of Bologna, which is called Jerusalem, and added to the treasures of the library of the said monastery. Which indeed we wish to come to the knowledge of all men, etc. Further, our Saint is praised by Sigonio in book 2 On the Bishops of Bologna, under Frugerius; of his Life Celso Falcone wrote in Italian in the Historical Memoirs of Bologna, book 2, from page 117, and in Latin Ferrarius in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy on the XXX of August. These are the things of which I had to forewarn the reader. The rest will be said in the Annotations to the Life published by Mabillon, which we shall give, and shall divide in our usual manner into chapters, headings, and numbers.

. Read Langobardorum*. . Mabillon, Domno*.

LIFE

By an anonymous monk of Lucedio, contemporary with the Saint,

Published from a Bologna manuscript codex in Mabillon among the Acts of the Saints of his Order, sixth century, part 1, from page 267, which we have collated with other copies.

His country, monastic life, journeys through the East profitable to very many; the abbatial dignity; his death; the altar over his sepulcher.

Bononius, abbot and priest, in the monastery of Lucedio in Piedmont (St.)

BHL Number: 1421

By an Anonymous writer.

He is born at Bologna, where, having become a monk Blessed Bononius ^a therefore was born at Bologna ^b, and there from boyhood made himself over to the divine service under the monastic habit. Amid whose childish playthings very many tokens of virtues shone forth; who from his earliest age, meditating what he was to be, since he had read that the whole life of a wise man is a meditation of death, died daily to the world that he might live to Christ. The four cardinal virtues he knew must be sought after by the assertions of the scriptures — prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance — so bound to one another and mutually cohering that he who has not one lacks them all. All of which the venerable Man so possessed that nevertheless he was eminent in each. The world and the things that are in the world he set behind him, he clung to the Lord, despised secular judgments, and always strove to recall to memory that apostolic sentence: If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

[2] he shines with virtues: various And when for some years in that same city, in the monastery of St. Stephen the Proto-martyr ^c, he had crucified his flesh and had grown to perfection of age and of manners, emulating the better gifts, he entered upon a more excellent life. He went out from his land and his kindred and his father's house, and beyond the seas chose a retreat of solitude near Babylon ^d. There with the bridle of a harder and beyond measure more continent life he thoroughly tamed his body, and, a triumphant contender, fought back against all the enticements of the flesh ^e. His fame therefore of good odor being fragrant through all Egypt ^f, the princes of Egypt and the better part of the people began to embrace him with wondrous affection, so far that they gave him the choice of doing what he would. And when they did this frequently, the holy father Bononius, rejoicing, gave thanks to God, through whom barbarian ferocity was stilled and, turned to gentleness, fell silent. Moreover, that amid the savagery of the barbarians he might remain undaunted for accomplishing the works of Christians. And so he laid the first spiritual foundation of his virtues by laboring for the repair of the churches destroyed by the barbarian devastation. There he repaired very many monasteries, in which he appointed abbots and monks ^g, whose life he ordered according to the rule of St. Benedict.

[3] He passed from place to place, he sowed the word of God; through the East, and very profitable the faith of believers increased, for whose instruction, flashing with many miraculous signs, he drew others to the faith, and like a field of good ground produced fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, and thirtyfold. And when on a certain day, having gone aboard a ship with the merchants of that region, he was making for Alexandria ^h, the sea being suddenly troubled by a violent and inescapable storm, all, set in such peril and having no hope of escape, cried out, saying: Servant of God, behold we perish miserably and thou with us: but according to thy preaching we believe thy Lord to be such that if thou prayest to him he will free thee and us with thee: and being freed we vow that, receiving from thee the sacrament of baptism, we will altogether follow and perfectly believe in him. At his prayer suddenly the violent commotion of the sea, being stilled, gave way ⁱ, and the ship, directed by God, entered the harbor of Alexandria with a happy course as they had wished; and immediately, to those snatched from the ship and from the hand of death by God's ministering, the oft-to-be-remembered Man of God delivered the sacraments of baptism. Through all Alexandria the report of his blessed repute sounded, because through him the Lord showed there many signs of virtues. And lest human favor, as often happens, should smear his mind with the stain of insolence, he secretly left the place; and seeking again the former solitude of Babylon, he gave himself to vigils, fastings, prayers, and all holy works; he showed the ways of life to very many; and that he might gain all, the just Man became all things to all. He did not seek flattery through power, nor did he in disdain spurn the proud and insolent, mindful of that invective by which the Lord threatened the seducers of the people, saying: Woe to you that sew cushions and pillows under every elbow to catch souls. Behold, I will tear them from your arms, that you may no more catch flying souls. Him neither prosperity could exalt nor adversity bow down. He supported the poor, he admonished the rich to do good. He had no soft couches, but was accustomed to rest upon the hard ground with a hair-shirt thrown over it and a stone set under his head — if that is to be called rest which he continued day and night with unceasing prayers, and mortified his limbs according to that word of David: I will wash my bed every night, I will water my couch with my tears.

[4] At that same time through all Egypt there was great mourning, he undertakes journeys: the tumult of a most grievous sedition had grown, and, a battle being fought among them, very many of the Egyptians fell; and many Romans perished; and, the triumph not turning out happily for the Christians, many more were led into captivity. Among them was Peter ^k, the venerable bishop of Vercelli of divine memory, bound and thrust into prison, who, compelled by extreme necessity, most cautiously inquired whether he might perhaps find some Christian in that region, on whose counsel relying he hoped to be freed, and unceasingly for this sighed pitiably to the Lord. But because it is certain, nay most certain, that God does not forsake those who hope in him, by the Lord's revealing he learned that holy Bononius was there. Whom he most devoutly summoned to himself, and made known in order the cause of his captivity and misery and that of the rest. Finally he asked that he would condescend ^l out of mercy to himself and to the others: namely that, released from the bonds of the pagans, they might come forth from so very hard a captivity and return to their native land, with God and holy Bononius for guide. Then the most holy Father gave a price to the masters of the prison, and received leisure to enter and console the captives.

[5] he frees captives: When on a certain day the king of Babylon was walking with great pleasantness through an orchard planted with the trees from which balsam is poured, his more favored household servants, God inspiring them, agreeing together by a certain rule of concord, as suppliants asked that same king that he would yield to the wishes of holy Bononius — namely that he would hand over to him the Christian captives released from the bonds of prison, and would clemently grant them leave to return to their country with that same most blessed worshipper of God. Then the king, moved by the prayers of his wife and household, yielded to the wishes of holy Bononius ^m. Therefore holy Bononius, having gone aboard a ship, came to Jerusalem, and passing thence into Mount Sinai [n] chose it as the place of his dwelling: that, as Moses had once there received the law of God, in that same place Christ's Confessor might obtain the grace of the Holy Spirit. Then he came to Constantinople. Then the guards of the ships, seeing so great a multitude of captives, taking fright, supposed that the ambushes of enemies had been prepared against them, and, notaries [*] being sent to the palace, by imperial edict

all were seized and given over to the custody of prison. And when the worshippers of God of that city learned, from his showing, the cause of their deliverance, they used their efforts with the imperial power that those unjustly seized might be released and might happily return to their country by the course begun. To whose prayers the imperial power assented: for it released them all, having been brought out of prison, and, enriching them from the treasury of the empire, mercifully restored them to the ship in which they had come, with all things of which they had need. Thence with joy each returned to his own home. Peter, bishop of Vercelli, was by right restored to his former see, and there presided for many years.

[6] he grows famous on Mount Sinai: is made abbot of Lucedio: seeks Tuscany: Meanwhile the Servant of God had made himself over to the divine law upon Mount Sinai, where he shone with the signs of such great virtues that he filled the whole neighborhood of Jerusalem with the good odor of his most holy repute. Not long after, the abbot of Lucedio in the diocese of Vercelli died ^o; after whose death the aforenamed pontiff Peter, messengers being sent to him, summoned him to himself, and with urgent and irresistible prayers asked him to succeed the deceased abbot, and to govern the place and all who were committed to him according to God. And when he perceived God's will concerning himself, and could no longer resist, being made unwillingly the father of monks, he began there to flash with many virtues. But the ancient enemy, who altogether — as is his way — envies good works, took up the struggle of battle against the holy Pastor, and stirred the monastery with a certain whirlwind of storm. But he, mindful of that evangelical word, If they persecute you in one city, flee into another, humbly avoided the scandal, and departing thence dwelt for a time in the parts of Tuscany [p]; where, a monastery being fully repaired and established according to the law of God and the rule of St. Benedict, as he had been wont to do in all places, he grew famous by the evidence of many signs.

[7] he returns to Lucedio: dies: Meanwhile the disturbance of the former place, being stilled, was quiet; and, the Lord calling him back, he returned to the monastery of Lucedio, that, planted there by the clemency of the heavenly dispensation, he might spread abroad there the branches of a holy manner of life. And when through many courses of years very many tokens of his virtues shone there, that angelic Man ever sought to lie hidden, recalling that word of the Lord: When you have done what I have commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants; what we ought to do, we have done. But when for a long time he labored to build the dwelling of the living God out of sensible stones, and showed himself irreproachable in all things; and the time was now at hand that, God rewarding him, he should receive the prize of his contest, the work being completed he bade farewell [q] and delivered up his spirit to God [r]; after whose death it plainly appeared what and how great he was in life. For at his sepulcher we have known very many sicknesses cured, and day by day we rejoice that the faith of believers is shaped by his merits: as once by the word of holy preaching, so now by the signs of miracles demons are put to flight, the blind are enlightened, the sick of whatever diseases are cured; and, being manifestly sanctified, he has been made equal to the saints in heaven.

[8] After his passing, some days having gone by [s], Arderic [t], venerable bishop of the church of Vercelli [u], an altar erected to him by apostolic authority. enlightened by the divine Spirit, that he might pay due devotion toward so great a Confessor of Christ, most devoutly judged that an altar should be erected and dedicated over his most sacred body. Therefore, the clergy and people of every order and age, and of both sexes, coming together into one, he made an address upon this matter, that by the assent [x] and by the acclamation of the favoring people the beginning of so great a devotion might be established. And so by the wisdom of the most holy pastor and with the applause of the whole flock it was fittingly ordained that, so that his decision and the people's obedience might be ratified, that loving pontiff should for this obtain apostolic authority, which stands above the power of the world [y]; and that both the devotion might be more devout and the commemoration of the most blessed Bononius more famous, the same memorable pontiff went to Rome, and from the lord John [z], supreme Pontiff and universal Pope, obtained apostolic authority; and returning thence, with the greatest favor and the joy of the whole people, he erected and consecrated the altar [aa], with the help of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

ANNOTATIONS.

n. In Arabia Petraea.

p. Tuscia is a region of Italy: of whose situation and division Ferrarius in his Topography and Baudrand may be consulted.

q. The Barberini and Lambertini: he bade farewell to the brethren.

r. Lambertini adds, in the year of the Lord MXXVI. The same year with the day of the 30th of August is found among the miracles with us, number 11.

s. The Barberini agrees, but the Lambertini: After whose passing Arderic, etc.

t. Ughelli, volume 4 of the Italia Sacra, column 1069, says: Arderic, of royal stock, uncle of Adelaide and Otto, bishop of Vercelli, in the year MXXVII, on the day sacred to the Risen Christ, was present at the coronation of the emperor Conrad (surnamed the Salic) under Pope John XX (rather XIX). He then subjoins more in the same place.

u. Vercelli is an episcopal city in Piedmont. St. Jerome in letter 17 of the new edition (otherwise 49), column 23, says: Vercelli, a city of the Ligurians situated not far from the roots of the Alps, once powerful, is now half-ruined with few inhabitants. But what afterward befell it and its diocese, Ughelli, just assigned, narrates at column [ ] and following.

x. So also the Barberini; but the Lambertini, conniventia. Now conhibere is cohibere, as it were CONNIVERE, in Uguccio ASSENTIRI, as may be read in Du Cange's Glossary, where you will find more.

y. The Barberini and Lambertini, all power of the world.

z. Namely of that name the XIX, as was said in the preliminary Commentary.

aa. The Barberini adds: According as Pope John decreed and canonized.

. Perhaps from the collectors of the public revenues*.

MIRACLES.

Bononius, abbot and priest, in the monastery of Lucedio in Piedmont (St.)

BHL Number: 1423

By an Anonymous writer.

THE AUTHOR'S PROLOGUE.

The author excuses his style and commends his credibility. By the grace of our Redeemer, who plainly shows, by the signs of many miracles displayed, that his faithful ones, dead to the world, live and reign with him in the heavens, it appears that there were men by whose zeal and labor the works of the holy Fathers of the Old and New Testament, and the signs of virtues wrought through them from heaven, by which men might be stirred to divine love, were left in writing to posterity. And each of them, since the Holy Spirit breathes where he wills and bestows not all his gifts on one but part on each, according to the capacity of his strength or talent strove to set down, as he was able, few things or many. Therefore, when brethren of wondrous devotion to the Lord asked me with entreaty that I would commit to paper the miracles wrought through holy Bononius while he lived or after his death, and, when I refused, set before me the examples of the aforesaid writers — to the least of whom I in no way dare to compare myself, knowing myself of small learning, but of the greatest hope in the Lord, who makes the tongues of infants eloquent — at last, overcome by their long entreaty, and trusting in their supplications and in the intercessions of so great a Confessor for me with the Lord, presuming upon a task beyond my strength, and not enduring that all should be unknown, I attempt to hand down a few things out of many to human memory: of which, if there were no description, I fear I should share the lot of the slothful man who hides the talent committed to him in the earth; since, as Scripture attests, it is good to conceal the secret of a king, but honorable to praise the works of the Lord. Wherefore I earnestly beg the readers not to be detractors of this work, nor to mark the rusticity of the words, but to believe that what is here contained is true: for of what I relate, many things I myself have seen; and what were not seen by me, I have heard from truthful and faithful men, confirmed by the testimony of many.

ANNOTATION.

CHAPTER I.

Miracles wrought by the Saint while living.

A monk's theft After the nightly hymns and lauds, at the appointed times, it was blessed Bononius's custom to linger in the oratory; where, giving himself to most abundant weeping and to the entreaties of prayers, for the state of God's holy Church and for all the faithful living and dead, as secretly as he was able, not desiring the appetite of human praise, he continually besought the Lord. But at that hour, while these things were being done, a certain brother, by name Lintefrid, a man of great reverence and of advanced age, overcome by covetousness, seeing a fair candle in the candlestick, stole and quenched it, and put it in his bosom. And while he did this, by God's hidden and just judgment he deserved to be struck by an angel. But this was hidden from him at that time, as he felt nothing amiss. But both the taking of the candle and the angel's stroke did not

lie hidden from Bononius, whose pure gaze of mind, every stain ^a being driven off, constantly caught up in ecstasy penetrated heavenly things, since his life was not stained even by a slight rumor. And when morning had come and the first hour of the day was celebrated, and the brethren's conference held according to custom, blessed Bononius sat down in their assembly; and, the things to be said being said, and the things to be corrected being justly and mercifully corrected, as a father his son he gently rebuked the aforesaid brother concerning the stealing of the candle, and commanded him to restore it to the keeper of the church; who, though unwillingly, restored [*] what he had been bidden.

[3] is punished: But when they had gone out thence and each was busied about the tasks enjoined upon him, the Man of God, some of them being summoned to him, with grief ^b disclosed what he had learned had been done in him, saying: My little sons, know that that brother will presently fall sick, and will scarcely escape death from this stroke. Likewise make him a bed in the house of the infirm, and watch over him with great diligence. They, having received and performed the command of him who bade it, meeting the man who was already suffering some ill, made known to him what they had heard from God's Servant and had done. But he, seeing himself not yet burdened with much infirmity, made light of what was reported to him, and ascribed it not to a presage of what was to come but to the foolish talk of friendship; and, his pain growing grievously, so that the Man of God's word might be truthful, he was on that day so bereft of bodily strength that his life was utterly despaired of. And so he remained for many days; and, as he himself was afterward wont to relate, he would never have recovered from that infirmity — and it may without doubt be believed — had not blessed Bononius interceded for him by his merits and prayers.

[4] into wine, from which the Saint wished to abstain, I relate another miracle also, which is exceedingly to be venerated. For while blessed Bononius from his youth at all times crucified his body with its vices and concupiscences, having wholly spurned the four chief foods, namely of flesh, of fats, of eggs, and of cheeses — when he wished to keep his custom of abstinence from wine at the Paschal festival (which he used only on the days on which he received the Eucharist, tasting a very little on account of an upset of the stomach, in a vessel scarcely half filled) — the heavenly clemency did not permit him. For when on the aforesaid day, the mysteries of the divine office being duly celebrated, he had come to the table, the servant according to custom brought him drink in two vessels, wine in one, water in the other. And when he had put that vessel of water to his mouth, the sign of the holy cross being made, he found it turned into wine; and calling the servant he said: Why hast thou not poured me water according to the accustomed usage? Who answering said: Indeed I have, lord father. It is so, said the Man of God: try it, and learn for thyself whether it be water or wine. And he did not delay to drink; and finding the water made wine, struck with amazement he was astounded; and taking the cup he threw the wine outside, and running back to the spring, brought thence other water and gave it to blessed Bononius: which, when he had again put it to his mouth, the sign of the holy cross being made and the name of the Trinity invoked, was found to have the taste of the best unmixed wine.

[5] the water is changed: Then the oft-to-be-remembered Man, as though with angry mind, said: Madman, I bade thee bring me not wine but water. I know, lord Father, I know, said the servant, greatly marveling. I call the Lord to witness that both that time and this I myself went to the spring and drew the water with my own hands and carried it hither to thee. But blessed Bononius, not believing him, ordered other water to be brought again; which also, turned into the best wine, changed into another nature than its own. Seeing which, the blessed Man, whose delight was in the law of God day and night, had the greatest astonishment, and, recognizing God's loving-kindness showing compassion toward him, rendered him worthy thanks. O man truly to be praised in all things and to be extolled with the praises of all good men! For it is written that those who commit unlawful things should sometimes not use lawful things. For he, not unmindful of this precept, that dying daily to the world he might live to God, going beyond this rule, even on the Lord's Resurrection, and not yet on other days, as though he were committing unlawful things, by no means used very many lawful things: especially since on that day pardon is indulgently granted to sinners, and rest is afforded to the souls now loosed from the flesh which for their offenses are appointed to punishment for the sake of purification. Nay, fleeing the favor of men, that this indulgence granted him by God might be hidden from all, he called to himself that same servant, who alone knew of it, and forbade that it should be published abroad until he should depart from among men [*].

[6] Blessed Bononius, being sent on a journey on business of the monastery with his men, was devoutly received into lodging by a certain countryman. a wondrous change in bread: For whom and for his men, when they had been refreshed, night drawing near, and difficulty of lying down in the house arising from its smallness, beds were prepared in the open air; but, showers falling from the sky, they could not rest in them. They entered the house therefore, and each placed himself there as he could. But Christ's servant Bononius gave his holy limbs to rest upon a certain vessel in which bread was wont to be made; in whose honor that vessel, afterward held in veneration, deserved to receive a gift not to be passed over in silence. Thereafter, when bread baked under the ashes was according to custom prepared there, by the working of divine clemency it was very often found leavened without leaven, that it might be implied what and how great was that Man whom it had borne. Seeing which unusual and unheard-of thing, the people of that house began to marvel greatly; but recalling that blessed Bononius had lain there, they did not doubt that it happened by his merits: who, so long as he remained in the flesh, strove not to hide within, but by trading to multiply as much as he could, the money received from his Lord, whence, the reward being received, he deserved to be honored and exalted in heaven and on earth.

[7] There was also a woman full of eagerness for the begetting of children, a woman obtains sons by the Saint's prayers: but for the course of many years a stranger to fruitfulness of offspring; who, medicines being taken for the bearing of a child, conceived and bore in vain, because by God's just judgment forbidding it they could not live long. But she, repenting of her offenses, having heard the holy repute of blessed Bononius, came to him, and as a suppliant falling at his feet made known for what cause she had come. Whom, instructed by his holy admonitions and with a penance enjoined, God's aforesaid Servant took up in his holy prayers, and sent her back with joy to her own home. And as long as she lived, conceiving and bearing, by the merits of the Lord's Confessor she did not lack sons and daughters. Nor is it a wonder if he could obtain such great things and such from the Lord, since he himself had always been a field of good ground, which, receiving the seed, offered the hundredfold fruit.

[8] At a certain time, when it happened that he was making a journey and turned aside in a certain village to a man's house for lodging, he heals another woman with a fever, it was heard by a certain woman suffering from fever that he was there; who, hastening, came thither, and by inquiring found out who was to pour the water on his hands. And when she asked of him the water of his hands (for she knew that very many had obtained soundness by drinking it), it was answered her: This I by no means dare to do, because before him I throw it upon the ground according to custom; but be near while I give him the water, and when I shall have poured it on the ground, stretching out thy sleeve ^c, not as if of set purpose but as by chance, and yet as secretly as thou canst, receive it, and returning home wash and confidently drink that same washing, for without hope of possibility the petition of any desire is empty. And that woman indeed, seen to be not far different from her who, coming behind, touched the Lord's hem, did what had been commanded her; and forthwith she recovered, and the Lord restored to her her former health by the merits of his Servant.

[9] as also the author's mother: Among the other things which I relate, I think that also should not be passed over in silence which happened to my mother by his intercession; who, being subject to chills ^d and laboring greatly therefrom, came to him and strove to commend herself to his prayers: whom that venerable Man, receiving very kindly and graciously, and promising that he would pray to the Lord for her, burst forth into this word: Go, and be feverish no more. For immediately she was better, and very soon recovered perfectly therefrom. At another time also, while that same blessed Man was making a journey, it happened that near a certain castle he turned aside into a certain house to lodge; where, at the time of dark night, so great a brightness of light shone over him that by some dwelling not far off the whole fabric of that house in which he had lain was thought to be consumed with fire. They, rising, went thither with all speed; but, the splendor of the light being taken from their eyes, they found it unburnt. Which brightness, it is doubted by none, was on account of his merits. Nor is it a wonder, since God's Servant himself from boyhood had with all endeavor perfectly cast off the works of darkness, and was excellently clothed with the arms of light and of faith. This same thing after his passing also was frequently and by many seen in the little cell in which, while he lived in the body, he used to lie down. Whence it plainly appears that there holy studies and works well pleasing to God were performed by him.

[10] figs ripened by a miracle. While that same Servant of God at another time was at a certain village in the house of a certain matron, he was asked by her with many prayers that he would deign to dine there; who, seeing the urgency of her entreaties, yielded to her wishes. For the table being set, he sat down to dine. But when the foods which could be had were consumed, he asked whether figs might be had. To whom a certain priest of his, ^a having been sent a little before, as was said, to gather figs for that Servant of God, answered: I went indeed to gather them ^e; but all being diligently looked over and found unripe, I took none ^f. To whom the Man of God said: Go and gather them, and bring them hither to us. And the priest, obeying the holy Man's command, returned to those same fig trees which he had visited, and, as I learned from his own relating, found upon them as many ripe figs as sufficed for the Man of God and for all who were with him. Whence the faith of believers ought at once to be shaped and increased. For the only Son of the most high Father, the Lord of all, granted to his Servant what he himself, seeking fruit on the fig tree, did not show for himself. For he promised to those who believe in him: The works that I do, you shall do, and greater than these. Since we have summarily touched, by writing as we could, upon some of the things which he accomplished while alive, let us, with the Lord's help, turn our pen to recounting those which he did after his passing.

ANNOTATIONS.

. The Lambertini, reddidit*. . Perhaps exueret*.

CHAPTER II.

Miracles wrought by the Saint after his death.

A man bound in chains is freed: In the year therefore of the Lord's Incarnation one thousand and twenty-six, the time of his falling asleep in the Lord drawing near, the angels rejoicing and the people weeping, blessed Bononius on the third of the Kalends of September happily went forth to the Rewarder of all good things, and as an excellent champion received the prize of his contest. When he had died, so at once was the fame of his sanctity spread through the whole province on every side, as if heralds were sent to relate that he had died and that signs were being wrought through him. Hearing which, a certain man bound with strong iron fetters and set in prison-custody with great diligence began to groan and beat his breast with his fists, and to pour out prayers to the Lord with his whole heart's affection. If those things are true, O Christ, he said, which I have learned by hearing about thy servant Bononius, by his merits and intercession, I beseech thee, show mercy to me, that through me, freed from the great pains by which I am tormented, thy name and thy Servant's may be magnified, and this miracle wrought by the power of thy right hand may be made known to all, so that greater things than those which are said to be done at present may be hoped for through his intervention. And when this had long been prayed, being loosed from his chains by God's compassion, and knowing that he had been heard through the supplication of so great a Confessor, he went out without delay; and, taking those same chains, with hurried step he came to the tomb of his most sacred body, and there hung them up, where they remained a long time; and giving thanks to God and to the holy Confessor Bononius, he narrated to us in order how it had befallen him.

[12] And in that same year in which the holy Bononius of God passed from this life to the ineffable glory of the heavens, toothache soothed: a certain brother, to whom he himself had given the habit of holy conversation, was tormented with so sharp a toothache that he even suffered fasting, and days and nights continuously sleepless for the space of two weeks, and, all rest being taken from him, wandered about the circuit of the monastery as if mad. But on a certain night, after much weariness, while laying his head in the lap of the servant of the infirm he took a little sleep, holy Bononius appeared to him; and he, rising quickly, as it seemed to him in his dream, for the honor of so great a Father, rushed forward to kiss his sacred feet; but the venerable Man, taking him kindly by the chin, raised him up. At whose touch straightway all the pain was put to flight, and at the same time that sick brother was roused from the sleep in which he was held. And this being done, he called his attendant, saying: Now indeed by the vision and consolation of holy Bononius I am free from all toothache. And so, health being received, he remained in it all the time of his life.

[13] a woman made fruitful: A certain woman, joined in wedlock from her youth, seeing that neither sons nor daughters were born to her, was together with her husband afflicted with exceeding weariness and grief. And she, that she might lose the barrenness of her womb, while she did many unlawful things which she thought would profit, learned that she labored in vain, in that she attempted to overcome God's will by her sorceries. Being indeed divinely inspired with better counsel, distributing many alms to the poor and persisting in constant entreaties of prayers, she turned herself utterly to the Lord, who alone is the only and true [*] refuge of the wretched. Not long after, while she slept in slumber, she saw in dreams that if she might have and drink of the drippings of rain falling from the house in which the blessed Man had lived, she would not be cheated of her desire. She, being awakened from sleep, did not delay to make the vision known to her husband. For a fitting time coming on, she came with her husband to the monastery of the aforementioned Father, and received of the water which she desired through a certain acquaintance of hers whom she had asked. Which at length being drunk, and she having returned home, after a few days she conceived and bore; and, by the intervening merits of blessed Bononius, she thereafter remained fruitful in offspring of both sexes.

[14] liberty restored to one bound, speech to a dumb man: There was a certain man repenting of fratricide ^a, who had the dagger with which he had slain his brother fixed in an iron ring set rather tightly about his right arm, the skin and flesh already growing over it. He, when he was in the seventh year of his penance, having trodden the thresholds of the churches of many Saints, came on the day of his birthday to where the body of blessed Bononius lies buried. He, weeping and wailing, drawing deep sighs from the depth of his heart, prayed the Lord to be propitious to him by the intercession of so great a Servant of his. And when he had long persisted in prayer and had called holy Bononius the confessor to his aid, Christ's clemency coming to his help, in the presence of a great crowd of men and women the ring was suddenly broken and, entirely severed, fell from his arm; which for a long time hung before his altar for a memorial of this thing. Whence it is given to be understood that in like manner in that same hour he was freed from the guilt of his soul. On that same day also a certain man dumb from infancy received the use of his own speech, and from his mouth much blood fell, which was a sign of the breaking of the bond of his tongue. For these miracles being seen, all, having thence a greater hope and faith in God and a fuller devotion and veneration toward his Confessor, returned with joy to their own homes. These are thy works, Lord Jesus Christ: thus, thus and more wondrously dost thou now magnify as dead him for whom to live was ever thyself, by whom thou wast faithfully magnified while he dwelt in this life, who as a shining lamp did not lie hid under a bushel, but, set upon a candlestick, shone nobly for all in thy house.

[15] But in another year, on the day of his birthday, while very many from many parts of the world flocked to the tomb of his sacred body to adore the Lord, a woman possessed by a demon and, trusting that by his intervention they could be freed from present and future evils, to ask his suffrages, a certain woman vexed by a demon, the churches of very many precious Saints having been sought, and to none of them the driving out of it being granted, was brought thither: whose church as soon as he had entered, the demon, crying out that he was grievously tormented and burned by the prayers of Bononius, cried out unceasingly. And she stayed there three days, and by the holy Confessor's entreaty, in the presence of many, the divine loving-kindness cast the demon out of her as she vomited it forth with blood: and as it fled by compulsion from the creature of God whom it had long possessed, a great noise was made. For it struck a silver crown hanging above his altar, and, the blows being heard and seen, though the striker was not seen, in a wondrous manner it gathered it into one, and yet did not wholly break it apart.

[16] Another woman also, when lying in childbirth she was thirsty, restored to health: asked for water, and, forgetting to make the sign of the holy cross, drank it; and so the malignant spirit Fumareth (by which name, being questioned, he declared himself to be called) invaded her: whom, after the purification of her childbirth, being brought to a certain church dedicated in his honor, the demon, being adjured by the priests and the rest of the faithful, prayer having first been made and all the Saints invoked, through the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, compelled and confounded, by the holy Confessor's intervention forsook her, and vanished like smoke — from which he seems to have taken his name — nor did he presume to return to her any more.

[17] In that same church also another miracle is known to have taken place ^b, due reverence for the Saint's church to be venerated with much wonder. There was a certain bailiff of a certain marquis, a man of great cruelty, who, in order to seize something for himself by whatever device, had planned to go to those parts where the church of blessed Bononius is situated. And the men who dwelt there, learning that he was to come thither, fleeing carried whatever movable goods they had to the above-written church. Around which, while many swine were present, and, as is their way, ran about rooting through the church's cemetery, they touched its walls. Whence by a certain contagion they were so stricken in the loins that they utterly lost all strength thereby; and on that day all perished except one sow. And when the countryman whose it was saw that sow wondrously contracted and dying, he vowed a vow to the Lord and to the holy confessor Bononius that if she should recover therefrom, he would offer one of the first which she should bring forth in payment for the service of his church. And the vow being made, presently that sow of his is made whole. These things being told to the bailiff, he did not believe them.

[18] And without delay he at once mounted his horse, and came in haste to learn what he had heard, that he might know it more certainly. wondrously preserved: And at length, these things being seen, compunct with a certain fear and divine love, he entered the church; and he vowed to the Lord and to holy Bononius that he would never do any evil to those dwelling within the bounds of that church, and would thenceforth cease from his wickedness. From which thing it is evidently shown of how great grace and eminence blessed Bononius is with the almighty Lord, who kept his life from all unclean things, whose sacred places he did not suffer unclean swine to touch unpunished — whereby the fierceness of certain men might be lessened, and greater security and protection be granted to those living under his patronage.

[19] The fame of such great miracles being spread far and wide, a certain young man, Adam by name, trusting that he would be freed from his infirmity by the most holy Confessor's merits, the contracted are made upright: is carried thither. For indeed ^d from his very cradle he was so contracted that, his heels cleaving to his buttocks, he moved not by making steps with his soles but by crawling with little stools ^e set under his hands. And at length, lying three days and nights continuously at the step of the altar of the aforementioned and memorable, kindly Confessor, asking his suffrages, he deserved to receive from the Lord what he had desired, by the intercession of his Servant. To whom, in the hour of his cure, the vigor of soundness returning, so great a heat of burning came that he even took off the shirt with which he was clothed and remained naked — and yet it was winter. But health being granted, the excess of heat departed from him; and so, restored to soundness, he remains to this day among us in the same, serving the church of his Healer and giving thanks to God and to him. At that same time another sick man also, Heli by name, advanced in years, condemned by a pitiable and long-continued lot of a dire plague, came. He, lacking the use of both his feet, was accustomed to move by dragging his knees along the ground and holding little stools in his hands. He, approaching the sepulcher of the sacred body of the helping ^f Confessor, asked his help; and, aided by his grace, was granted his former health ^g. And he, still living in the same,

renders praises to God and to holy Bononius himself for his being made upright, and devoutly shows whatever service he can to those who serve his church.

[20] a paralytic On a certain day a certain Countess, by name Waza, wife of the marquis William, attended by many soldiers, had come to pray at the church where the blessed Man's body lies buried. And while she was having Masses celebrated at his altar, and was present there with her people and with many others, a certain beggar, carrying his son on his shoulders, whose foot and hand on the left side had withered with the paralytic disease, came to her and asked of her food for himself and his son. She, unmoved in the bowels of pity, not only gave him nothing, but even, rebuking and exasperated on account of his importunity, ordered him to depart from her, saying: I have not so great an abundance of wealth as could suffice for me and for all who ask of me. For it would be better for you, having asked the suffrage of the holy Confessor himself that he may restore health to your son, to implore the Lord's mercy, who by granting what is asked lays up no less treasure — the Psalmist's proclamation being fulfilled which says: To thee, O Lord, is the poor man left; thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.

[21] is granted health. And that man did not delay to do what he heard. For, taking his son down from his shoulders, he laid him prostrate near the tomb of the sacred body; and, his knees being bent and prayers poured out, at length he ran hastily here and there through the church to ask for alms. Meanwhile, while the father was away, by the help of the kindly Confessor's merits the goodness of the most high God was not slow toward the aforesaid boy; and to him to whom alms were denied there is given, as to the lame man sitting at the temple gate, something dearer than silver and gold, namely the soundness of his limbs. For this miracle being seen, there was a great applause of exultation to the praise and glory of the Creator of all and of his Confessor. And presently, the fame of this deed flying through the ears of all, all run together thither, and among them the boy's father returns; and it is asked what and how it was done. Then the aforesaid countess was not loath to make known to all who asked how the matter stood. And in this way almighty God, who does all things by a wondrous dispensation, willed this miracle to be published to the world, that his Servant might thence be held more venerable and more famous; and because, as Scripture attests, signs are given to unbelievers, that, turning away from unbelief, they may learn that those who hope in the Lord shall not be wanting in any good thing — to whom be praise and glory through all ages of ages.

ANNOTATIONS.

. The Lambertini, who alone is the true and only*.