ON ST. SEVERUS, BISHOP OF AVRANCHES, IN GAUL.
Sixth Century.
Preliminary Commentary.
Severus, Bishop of Avranches, at Rouen in Gaul (St.)
By I. B.
[1] Some have supposed -- without any certain testimony -- that the St. Severus whose relics are preserved in the Metropolitan basilica of Rouen and whose feast is kept on the Kalends of February St. Severus is venerated at Rouen, was a Bishop of that city. For Demochares in chapter 20 of his work "On the Divine Sacrifice" lists him in fourth place with these words: "Severus succeeded in 325" -- namely, to Avitianus, who subscribed to the Council of Arles under the consuls Volusianus and Anianus, in the year of Christ 314. Natalis Taillepied of the Order of Friars Minor, in his Compendium of the Antiquities of Rouen, chapter 16, gives slightly more, but no better attested: "To St. Avidianus in the archbishopric succeeded St. Severus in 325. He administered that office, to which he had been divinely called, in a holy manner. A parish church in the suburbs beyond the bridge bears his name, and in the great basilica of the Blessed Virgin his body is reverently preserved, placed in a notable reliquary." After him Jean Chenu of Bourges: "Severus succeeded in 325. He flourished for fifteen years, in the time of Constantine and Constantius, under Pope Mark and Julius." Finally Claude Robert: "IV. St. Severus, 325, distinct from the one of Ravenna and of Avranches. He has a suburban church of his own name."
[2] The Church of Rouen objects, as we shall show below, not a Bishop of that city, and does not acknowledge the Severus it venerates as having been its own Bishop. And formerly, as is clear from the Breviary published in 1587, it believed the one it venerated to be the Bishop of Ravenna, and recited eight readings about his Life, since his name appeared in all the Martyrologies. But now the readings of the second nocturn are about St. Severus of Avranches, but of Avranches: with the old prayer retained, which fits both but better the one of Ravenna. It reads thus: "O God, who wondrously raised Blessed Severus to the dignity of the priestly office; grant, we beseech Thee, that by his intercession we may advance by degrees to the heights of the virtues and attain to the fellowship of his exaltation."
[3] This Severus, therefore, was Bishop of Avranches, situated in the same province of Rouen, at the borders of Armorican Brittany. when he lived? At what time he lived, or under what Kings, the Life does not reveal. It only indicates that at that time there were still pagans in the district of Coutances, and that they were hostile to Christians, though they did not punish them with death and torment. Whence we conjecture that he lived around the time of Clovis I or his sons, and perhaps sat before St. Paternus, between Nepus (or Nepos), who subscribed to the First Council of Orleans, and Perpetuus, who subscribed to the Second Council of Orleans in 533 -- at about which time SS. Paternus and Scupilio were leading the eremitical life in those parts, while the superstitions of the pagans were still flourishing, as is clear from the Life of St. Paternus on April 16.
[4] We received the Life of St. Severus from our Frederick Flouet, from an ancient codex of the monastery of St. Severus, whence is the Life? when was it written? which is situated in the diocese of Coutances, not far from the river Vire. At what time its author lived is not entirely clear; for in chapter 2, number 5, speaking of the oak that had grown from St. Severus's staff, he writes: "Even today, when it has fallen, decayed with age, and the trunk lies on the ground rotting, no one presumes to cut it with an axe, nor to strip its bark by hand." And in chapter 1, number 2, about the holm-oak frequented by the pagans of Corbecenus for profane sacrifices: "Though it has fallen, consumed by the passage of much time and the fury of the winds, there still survive very many who profess to have seen it, and that the holm-oak which still remains has grown from its root." But in chapter 6, number 21: "The day of his death, though it is less well known, since..." -- "it is nevertheless commemorated on the day before the Nones of July, namely the day on which the relics were brought from Rouen to this place." This, however, occurred under William, who was created Archbishop of Rouen from being Abbot of Caen in 1079 and died in 1110. Therefore both trees must have stood for about six hundred years, unless someone says that these last details were added later to the Life, which had been written before the incursion of the Danes. The interpolator of the Life and the writer of the Translation are not the same person, however, the Translation is by another, since the former writes that the relics were brought from Rouen on the day before the Nones of July, and the latter on the fourth day before the Nones of February. The former, however, seems to have been a member of the monastery of St. Severus, since he writes that they were brought "to this place"; perhaps the latter was as well.
[5] His feast day, as is said in chapter 6, number 21, is unknown. He is celebrated at Rouen with the double office on February 1; his feast day is February 1; on which day his relics were perhaps brought there under Duke Richard I and Archbishop Robert. Richard I succeeded William, who was slain by the Flemish, on December 18, 942, and died in 996. Robert, his son, Archbishop of Rouen, died in 1037. elsewhere July 7. The Church of Avranches, however, celebrates the feast of St. Severus with the double office of the second class on July 7; and on that day Saussay has a notable encomium of him in which he has briefly embraced his whole life. But on February 1, the Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard have this about him: "Likewise Blessed Severus, Bishop and Confessor, whose body is reverently shown to the people on this day in the Metropolitan basilica of Blessed Mary at Rouen." his name in the Martyrologies. Molanus and Canisius have nearly the same, and Saussay at greater length, though he correctly calls him Severus. More briefly Galesini: "At Rouen, St. Severus, Bishop and Confessor." The same, however, like Ferrarius, considers in his Notes that he was Bishop of Rouen; as does Ghini, writing thus: "At Rouen, St. Severus, Bishop and Confessor, who, ordained fourth Bishop there in the year of the Lord 325, sat for sixteen years; whose body is deposited in a venerable reliquary in the Metropolitan basilica of Blessed Mary, and is reverently shown to the people on this day."
[6] Some relics of St. Severus and of St. Sinerius, likewise Bishop of Avranches, relics sent to Paris, who is venerated on September 18, were sent by the Archbishop of Rouen and the Canons to Paris, to the most pious King Louis XII, in 1639. We received a copy of the public document drawn up on that matter from the same Frederick Flouet.
[7] Of Blessed Aegidius and another anonymous Saint buried in the same church of St. Severus, the feast of Blessed Aegidius, his disciple, and of another Saint, is unknown, we have found the name nowhere in the Martyrologies. That they were long since counted in the number of Saints may be gathered from the history of the Translation, chapter 2, number 6, where the following is found: "The tombs of two Saints lay on either side: one of Blessed Aegidius, formerly a disciple and co-worker in God's work, and another of another Saint, whose name, though unknown, has his merit nevertheless manifested by God." In the Life, chapter 4, number 14, where the discourse is about St. Severus's disciples, the following is read about Aegidius: "Among these a certain man, Aegidius by name, a venerable man, was prominent, who was the companion and chief co-worker of the blessed man in his holy purpose; and following the footsteps of his Teacher in all things, he strove to be subject to the teaching of heavenly discipline." One might perhaps wonder whether this Aegidius is the one who, as Bishop of the Church of Avranches, subscribed to the Fifth Council of Orleans.
LIFE BY AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR
From an ancient MS. of the Monastery of St. Severus.
Severus, Bishop of Avranches, at Rouen in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 7668
By an Anonymous Author. From MSS.
CHAPTER I
The Birth of St. Severus. The Care of the Mares.
[1] The venerable man Severus was born in the territory of Coutances, of freeborn but not wealthy parents. Nor, however, did the absence of riches prejudice their purity; St. Severus born of humble parents, for it is not earthly riches but the love of the heavenly homeland that makes people truly rich. Yet a sufficient supply for this life was not lacking to them, from which they gave little to themselves and more to the poor of Christ. but devout and generous to the poor: So great a charity for Christ burned in them that generosity was always present outwardly, and even voluntary poverty was not absent. They begot a son named Severus, whom they raised in the fear of God and, once raised, gave over to serve a certain head of a household named Corbecenus, who was still a pagan.
[2] That man assigned the boy entrusted to him to the care of his mares; and the boy faithfully kept the trust, and by faithfully keeping it made the herd increase from a small and nearly nothing number to a large one. he guards the mares of a rich but pagan man: Now that same pagan had on the slope of a mountain a certain d estate adjoining his, which is today called Vieux-Chateau, situated on the river Beuvronne; where he frequently gathered, since he was greatly delighted by the nearness of the woods, the pleasantness of the orchards, and the hunting of deer and goats; and there the multitude of his herds was kept, and a vast solitude surrounded those places on every side. And there, with his horsemen and his very numerous household, he stayed at a certain time of year, especially during the hunting and winter seasons. For the surrounding region was subject to his authority -- namely, the districts of Coutances, e Bayeux, and f the valley of the river called the Vire. At other times he hastened to other places. And because, being a pagan, he was still governed by the rites of the pagans, he had in the vicinity of his house a very large holm-oak, dedicated to the worship of demons; at the holm-oak where they sacrifice to the gods: under which he poured the blood of calves and goats immolated to his gods. Though that tree, consumed by the passage of much time and the fury of the winds, has fallen, there still survive very many who profess to have seen it, and that the holm-oak which still remains has grown from its root.
[3] There was situated, at a distance of nearly two miles, a certain small church of Blessed Martin, which is today called "Ad-septem-fratres" (At the Seven Brothers); and another opposite it, built in honor of Blessed Quintinus. To these a few Christians at that time came, not without fear of the pagans, on feast days, he pastures near the church of the Christians: especially Sundays. For the pagans, though they did not g at that time put Christians to death, nevertheless mocked them and, as is accustomed to happen at the hands of the more brutal, when they were found alone, beat them. Thither, therefore, it was the custom of Blessed Severus to come quite often, as if under the pretext of richer pasture; since, being assigned to the care of his herds and intent upon the service of God as time and ability allowed, he strove to obey both his temporal lord and the eternal and true King. Where, frequently sitting on the public road, very merciful, he distributed to passersby who were suffering need all the necessities he had or could obtain.
[4] It happened, however, that one day, when nearly everything he had had been distributed to the poor, and he no longer had anything further to give except only his undergarments, it happened, I say, that a certain old woman passing by asked for alms. The holy man, sympathizing with her need but having nothing to expend, began to be distressed in spirit because he had nothing of his own that he could bestow upon the begging poor woman. When she, more insistently, he gives a mare with its foal to a poor woman, as that sort of people are wont, pressed him to have pity on her, the servant of God happened to turn his eyes toward the herd of mares, and choosing from them one that he judged to be the best, he handed it over with its foal to the petitioning poor woman and ordered her to depart quickly. When she had departed, the matter was reported to the King. The King, angered, ordered the widow to be brought back with the mare, and both to be kept in his own possession. He then summoned his herdsman by a messenger, and ordered him to render an account of the herd of mares committed to his care. They go to the herd; it is divided into groups; the groups are counted; none is found to be missing. The generous kindness of Almighty God brought it about that, though all were present, one was still lacking. Nor was it difficult for God to supply one in place of another -- since what had been before remained, and what was lacking was made new. Therefore the mare with its foal was returned to the widow; and greater trust was placed in the holy shepherd's faithfulness. but the number is divinely supplied. Whence it came about that both the integrity of the trust committed to the holy man of faith remained intact toward his master, and the truth of the gift that had been given was preserved in good faith.
AnnotationsCHAPTER II
The Generosity of St. Severus to the Poor. Miracles.
[5] At another time also, the man of the Lord, Severus, worn out by the great weariness of labor and the burning sun, while wishing to rest briefly on a green turf, stuck into the ground at the head of his resting place the oak staff which he carried in his hand for driving the animals. he sticks a staff in the ground, Having slept a little, anxious about his herd, he quickly rose and found the staff he had stuck in the ground at his head had taken root. which immediately grows into a tree: Growing gradually into a very large tree, it remained for a long time in the sight of all, to display the grace which the blessed man had earned from God. The holy man, therefore, perceiving God's mercy toward him, prostrated himself on the ground and with copious tears gave Him thanks for His blessings. The tree was held in such reverence by the inhabitants that all venerated it as if it possessed some divine power in itself, and gathered at it on feast days rejoicing together. Nor undeservedly: for, that God might show what regard He already then held Blessed Severus in His sight, violated by none with impunity, whoever attempted to break the branches of that tree either immediately lost his senses entirely or immediately fell down. A bird also, which roosted in its branches, was found dead nearby in the morning. And if by chance an ox or a goat touched any of the ivy by which it was bound, nor even by beasts, it immediately expired in the presence of bystanders. Even today, when it has fallen, decayed with age, and the trunk lies on the ground rotting, no one presumes to cut it with an axe, nor to strip its bark by hand. nor even in the trunk: This God did so that He might be glorified in His Saint, and that the praise and memory of the just man might be more frequently observed.
[6] His father's and mother's affection toward him was so great that, leaving their native soil, home, and relatives, they took up residence at the place to which their son most frequently came. his parents give their clothes to the needy: Both were advanced in years and, having distributed nearly all their possessions for the use of the poor, they willingly led a life of poverty -- to such a degree that they lacked the necessities of human life, namely food and clothing. Blessed Severus, not bearing their need with equanimity, clothed them with the garments which he received from his temporal lord as wages for his service, preferring to reach Abraham's bosom naked with Lazarus than to burn in hell with the rich man clothed in purple.
[7] But the steward of the royal household, seeing the intention of the blessed man, was driven by jealousy and went to his master, intending to defame the man of God -- both because he utterly abhorred the pagan sect and diligently avoided their company, and because he gave away the garments given to him, down to his underclothes, to needy Christians. King Corbecenus, therefore, stirred to anger at hearing this, ordered the servant of God to be watched, so that if by chance he gave away to anyone at all the garments which he ordered to be given to him a second time, and to other poor people: no one should thereafter give him clothing, no one should receive him into their house, but he should remain naked in the open air. And so when Blessed Severus, having immediately distributed in the customary manner for the use of the poor the garments given to him, was returning naked from the field, a young household servant, eager to investigate this, ran ahead and met him and reported in advance to the house therefore shut out from his master's house in the severest cold, that the servant of God had arrived naked. The cruel King ordered the royal doors to be closed to the servant of God, and that he be driven away with insult to the place from which he had come. The severity of winter had been harsher than usual, and deep snow had covered the surface of the ground.
[8] But the servant of Almighty God, seeing himself repelled from every quarter by all, and all raging against him in a bestial manner, and now in no way willing to have pity on him, deprived of human comfort but having hope in the ever-merciful Christ, went to the herd of mares entrusted to him, and standing opposite them, naked, began to pray to the Lord in the open air. The manifold mercy of the compassionate God, seeing him, was present with help and aided him with beneficence. For the herd of mares, at God's command, came from the place where they stood at a great distance to their shepherd, and turning their faces toward him on both sides, they surrounded him, and emitting their breath upon him, did not allow him to feel the cold. he is warmed by the breath of the mares. The snow, at God's command, avoiding the place where the man of God dwelt with the mares who were faithfully serving him, presented the appearance of a shore on the outside while leaving a spacious open area within. When this was reported to the King, he ran there in haste, saw it, began to marvel, and marveled greatly; he praised Almighty God in the works of His Saints, and immediately ordered the man of God to be clothed in new and better garments.
CHAPTER III
The Prince Corbecenus and His Household Converted Through St. Severus.
[9] he is honored by his master: Thus, with fury and envy turned into love and reverence, the King began to venerate the one he had previously despised, and began to embrace him no longer in the place of a shepherd but of a father; and he greatly desired to entrust to him the guardianship of his whole household, if he were willing. But the Saint of God, who had already once set his hand to the plow of the Lord, counting it unworthy to look backward -- that is, to prefer temporal honor to the Divine work -- humbly refused what was offered to him; and saying that he wished henceforth to lead a solitary life, he asked his temporal lord for permission to depart, so that he might be free for God alone.
[10] King Corbecenus, therefore, seeing that the mind of the blessed man was utterly burning with love for the heavenly King and was setting aside all earthly things in order to meditate on heavenly ones, devoutly asked him whom he had instructed in the faith to make known to him the sacraments of the Christian religion, saying that he wished to follow that God who had such servants, through whom He commanded even the very elements. The holy man, therefore, hearing that for which he had frequently besought the Lord -- that He would make known the knowledge of Himself -- sought out a certain Priest of good repute dwelling not far away, informed him of the King's request, and invited him to come with him. That Priest, with the sign of the Cross raised aloft and the book of the Gospel, followed by a multitude of the faithful, went to the King and greeted him with humble devotion and devout humility. Then, having given a blessing, and all the Christians present responding "Amen," Blessed Severus, filled with the grace of God, clearly instructed the King, his children, and his household in the mystery of the Incarnation of Christ and the sacrament of the Christian faith. he procures the baptism of him and his household: Almighty God granted such great grace to His servant that all immediately abandoned the rite of paganism and sought both the grace and the name of Christianity. When the Priest had prescribed a fast of forty days, on the fortieth day the King was the first to approach, the Church having been assembled in a better manner; after a fast of forty days, he receives him from the sacred font: and having publicly confessed the name of Christ and been divested of his royal garments, he asked with tears to be baptized, and was deemed worthy. And Blessed Severus became his father in baptism -- he who had been his previous guide and counselor to this end. Very many followed his example, and the dignity of our religion... while the vain superstition of idols was utterly despised.
[11] Blessed Severus therefore rejoiced at so great a harvest of his sowing, and it was for him the crown of blessedness that he had been the first in that region to fix the plow of the Lord's preaching, he instructs the neophytes whence he saw abundant fruits growing for the heavenly granary. He rejoiced that he had been the cause of salvation and remedy for the one from whom he had frequently received the wages of present life's service. with words and examples: He discoursed before the King on the integrity of faith, purity of life, and sincerity of heart; and little by little he was forming their minds from the monstrous superstition of idolatry to the manner of the heavenly homeland, applying himself to daily preaching; and while he devoted himself to constant prayer whenever he was free, he offered himself to others as a pattern and example of the religion to be imitated. And it was wondrous to see the name of Christ now publicly preached in the place where recently there had been fear even to hear it. And daily the loss of the devil's party grew, so that as it decreased, the faithful people received increase.
CHAPTER IV
The Solitary Life of St. Severus. His Disciples.
[12] When, therefore, the servant of Almighty God saw that the seeds of faith were sprouting more abundantly in their hearts, already yielding a hundredfold fruit in good works, the temples of idols being utterly destroyed, and churches of Christ being built everywhere; about their progress, being long kindled with desires for a more remote life, he convened those whom he had gained for Christ, disclosed his desire to them, and comforted their grieving hearts with this speech: "I give thanks to Almighty God, having given thanks to God; since you, who through the transgression of the first parent and through ignorance of your own action had been made children of the devil, have now been made children of God by adoption. What had been vitiated in you, you have restored by the bath of Baptism, and you have presented yourselves as a holy and immaculate offering: for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. and having exhorted them to constancy, Whence, brothers and children, hold fast by your conduct the faith which you received in baptism and which you confessed before the Priest, and perseveringly carry it out in deed. For the kingdom is promised to those who begin, but it is given to those who persevere. Remember with what wretched and fragile flesh we are encompassed. Remember how brief a life we enjoy in this fleeting time, as the Prophet says: 'My days have declined like a shadow, and I am withered like grass.' Ps. 101:12 Set before your eyes the last day of judgment, as a Solomon says: 'Remember your last things, and you will never sin.' Ecclus. 7:40 And I, dearest brothers, have dwelt with you for some time, and have long been intent upon your progress, by the grace of God. Seeing now that your hearts are fully burning with the charity of Christ, he resolves to go into solitude, I too, anxious for my own sins and fearing the punishment of fierce hell, have resolved to seek a more secluded place, that I may cling more attentively to God. I commend you to God, who caused you to come to the knowledge of His name, that having been made conformable through the adoption of His Son, He may make you co-heirs of Christ Himself."
[13] When those present heard this, all began alike to ask with tears all grieving, that he would not abandon them, whom he had recently begotten for Christ through his preaching. King Corbecenus said to him: "You see, Father, that in you alone the sum of our salvation consists, since by our madness and persecution and that of others like us, the Christians have been driven from our borders, and very few remain, scarcely even capable of heavenly teaching. You were the one whom Divine goodness reserved for us -- one fit for heaven, to beget new children, and to present yourself to us as a pattern of religion and chastity. the master begging him not to go far: Whence I do not believe it would be of much profit if, while you wish to save yourself alone, you should see -- indeed, suffer -- many to perish, whom you could, if you wished, lead to the right path by your admonition. For to those recently devoted to idols, it is difficult not to repeat the custom of accustomed sacrifice and to subject free necks to the new service of God. Whence I also, who especially need a teacher of heavenly rites, beseech your kindness most earnestly that, if your intention of this kind cannot be changed, at least a dwelling near to us may please you, so that if anything... should arise among us, we may run to you as the thirsty run to a spring. We have, moreover, various places suited to the wishes of men: it is yours to choose, and ours to assign what is chosen to your name."
[14] The servant of God, hearing this, filled with great joy at his devotion and that of his people, gave his assent in private, chose for himself a place nearby, and had it ascribed to his name. There was indeed a place there, a mile from the King's castle, situated on a wooded mountain..., which a vast solitude surrounded, near the oak once grown from the pastoral staff of that Saint. he builds a church in a nearby place: Coming to this place, the servant of God first built a church in honor of the blessed Mother of God, Mary. Dwelling therein, perpetually intent upon heavenly contemplation, he constantly devoted himself to vigils, fasts, and prayers. By his example many noble men also, leaving secular things, following heavenly things with their whole desire, and rejoicing to bear their cross after the Lord, chose to lead a poor life with him. Among these a certain man, Aegidius by name, a venerable man, was prominent; he admits disciples, and among them Blessed Aegidius: who was the companion and chief co-worker of the blessed man in his holy purpose, and following the footsteps of his Teacher in all things, he strove to be subject to the teaching of heavenly discipline. Meanwhile, the manifold reputation of their manner of life grew, for they who had nothing desired nothing, devoting themselves to daily labor so that they might have -- beholden to none -- that little from which to live. And a sufficient richness was theirs: namely bread and water, the daily refreshment at evening; clothing serving only necessity; to covet nothing earthly; to obey one another at the voice of command; to make themselves strangers to this world; to bear patiently the injuries of the wicked.
AnnotationCHAPTER V
The Episcopate of St. Severus. His Abdication.
[15] Blessed Severus, however, while the others were occupied with the necessities of human life, kept himself within the enclosure of his church, and went forth nowhere except for the sake of visiting the sick. Having obtained the priesthood he becomes a Priest, at the request of the Brothers and the entire people, he strove to offer worthily, as best he could, the sacrifice of our salvation more frequently to God; and at the same time he immolated himself as a holocaust to God through the compunction of tears. In this rank of the Lord's office he merited heavenly and human favor and grace in manifold ways, and by meriting it he was divinely brought to a higher rank in this manner. There was nearby a city which is today called Avranches, situated on the brow of a hill toward the west, then Bishop of Avranches, unwillingly: which, widowed by the death of its Pastor, was seeking a successor from God by fasts and prayers. This city, as report has it, having heard the famous name of the blessed man's sanctity, admonished by Divine inspiration, with unanimous favor and concordant election, compelled the servant of God -- unwilling and greatly resisting -- to preside over them. But since he could in no way resist the will -- indeed, the ordination -- of God, he accepted the episcopate unwillingly.
[16] But he showed himself to be such as he had been before: he devoted himself to prayer, reading, fasting, and vigils; full of authority and full of charity. he carries out that office with great zeal and humility: He so used the dignity of the episcopate among the people that he did not forget the continence of his solitary life. He was persistent in his dwelling, gentle in his speech, severe in correction. He admonished the good to advance to better things; he terrified the wicked to desist from evil; he moved unbelievers by persuasion to be converted to the faith of Christ; but those who refused to believe he utterly banished from the whole region. How little he valued the glory of the deceitful world and how much he despised secular honors could be indicated by both the cheapness of his clothing and the lowliness of his speech and countenance. Though he was covered with a vile garment, his appearance nevertheless displayed a certain mark of nobility. His face was pale from fasting; his body was afflicted with squalor; yet in his squalid body the lines of his limbs were prominent -- so much so that if you were unaware the man was holy, the reverence of his form would indicate it.
[17] He performed very many miracles during his episcopate, which have by no means come to our knowledge. For as far as it lay in him, his whole life was hidden; he is famous for miracles: since he desired neither to be rewarded with praise nor to be temporally recompensed with wages for the deeds he had done. And since at that time very many in his diocese were still held by the most vain error of idols, he was engaged in continual dispute against this diabolical vanity, in order to convert those whom the vain delusion of demons had subverted. Indeed, wherever he found an idol or a temple consecrated to idols, he overthrows idols, he would hasten to it and, without hesitation, either utterly destroy it or, in the name of Almighty God, expel the demon and consecrate it. And no one dared to resist such great splendors of the signs that were wrought by him. and converts the pagans: And so it came to pass that within a short span of time the light of the true faith shone through him upon all in his diocese, so much so that all publicly professed the name of Christ and rejoiced to lay aside the darkness of their error under such a Pastor.
[18] While he was giving himself more attentively to these and other divine matters, fearing lest by the heavy burden of pastoral care an unexpected occasion of ruin might be prepared for him, he asked that a successor be given him by the people. having resigned the episcopate, When the people were not willing readily to accede to his request -- since his presence cheered them and his absence saddened them; they rejoiced to be subject to him, and grieved not to have him as their ruler -- he declared that he absolutely wished to return to his former life and place, and that this wish could in no way be changed; and that they had very many by whose word and example they might be instructed; that his absence was to the detriment of his former flock; and that the ecclesiastical faith of those who were present would in no way be violated by his absence. he returns to his monastery: When they were unwilling to resist him, they gave their consent unwillingly. Having received permission, therefore, he departed and went to the solitude beloved of his heart.
[19] The Brothers, as if receiving back a father, gave thanks to God and, strengthened by his presence, strove to outdo one another in good work. he devotes himself to contemplation: The man of the Lord, as if a great burden had been cast from his shoulders, began to attend more freely to the Divine work and to pursue the path of a stricter life, casting behind him the whole world, retaining only necessities. Luke 18:14 And as Divine Scripture attests, "He who humbles himself shall be exalted"; meanwhile he began to be made manifest by great signs of miracles, so much so that you might see the troops of those coming and going, visiting the holy man or at least seeking him, frequenting the Brothers' dwellings like swarms of bees. Concerning the bodily health of those who came, he had merited from God so great a grace he heals the sick, that whoever came to him oppressed by the weight of any ailment would return cheerful, restored to his former health by his prayers. He gave sight to the blind, the power of walking to the lame, speech to the mute, hearing to the deaf. For driving out demons from possessed bodies also, the present working of Divine power was with him. Many too, before they reached the threshold of the blessed man, were restored to health, the demon being put to flight. He also came to the aid of the diseases of souls both by the teaching of Divine Scripture and by the grace of prayer, and instructs them in piety, so much so that all who came, pricked in mind by his words, greatly improved, both wept over the past and were unwilling to commit again what would need to be wept for.
AnnotationCHAPTER VI
The Last Admonitions of St. Severus. His Death.
[20] When therefore the blessed man was devoting himself to these and many other holy works, foreknowing, being now worn out by old age, the day of his calling by Divine revelation -- that he might receive from the Lord the reward of his labor, namely the unfading crown of eternal glory -- he foreknows his death by Divine revelation and prepares himself for it: lest he be found unprepared by the Just Judge whom he had always feared to offend, so that he would never need to fear Him once offended, he strove by constant meditation and assiduous prayer to anticipate His face. Whence, having convened the company he had gained for Christ, he both foretold the day of his departure and admonished them to pour forth prayers to the Lord on his behalf. And restraining those who lamented at his dissolution with a just rebuke, he said: "We seem to be ungrateful for God's blessings when we resist that which we know happens by His dispensation and His will. For the servant who knows the will of his Lord and does not do it he admonishes his own not to grieve, shall be beaten with many stripes. Whence, since a certain glory after death awaits the Saints of God for their deeds, to lament for them while they die can not unjustly be ascribed to our own advantage, not theirs. For to die in Christ is far better than to live in the flesh. And because for me to live has been Christ, and to die is gain, therefore, rejoicing and giving thanks, I await the day of death, greatly trusting in the goodness of the merciful God: that He who was willing to redeem the undeserving and the unbelieving by His death would deign to vindicate the believing and the veteran soldiers of His service from the attack of the ancient enemy. I commend you to God, that He may turn His eyes upon you, but that they be diligent in the pursuit of virtue, so as to lead you by the straight path together to the homeland which we lost through the incontinence of the first parent; that His grace may restore what our negligence lost; and that He may not drive away to punishment, as always unprofitable, us whom He called as His children to the kingdom. James 5:16 I also ask you, mindful of the Apostolic precept which says, 'Pray for one another that you may be saved,' that you pour forth prayers to God on my behalf, lest the hand of enemies, ignorant of mercy, come upon me, and that they pray for him, nor terrify me with their onslaught. For though this hand may find some little of its own in any of the Saints, yet by its own savage cruelty it violently assails its own, and although it cannot violate what belongs to another, yet it presumes to do so in its fury; and it is to be feared the more, the less it can be entreated. Since we can in no way resist it by ourselves, Christ must be entreated, whom it cannot resist, so that through Him we may be able to escape the hand of its savagery and cruelty. If we once have Christ appeased, we shall fear no onslaughts of those who assault us."
[21] When he had finished these words, and given to all the kiss of peace, he sent them to their own homes, grieving and groaning greatly. He himself was now wholly occupied with the exercises of the interior man and, placed in great contrition of flesh and spirit, desired to be dissolved and to be with Christ. Not long afterward the blessed man was seized by a severe fever, which growing worse day by day, as it diminished the strength of his body, he is seized by a fever: so much the more did it increase the vigor of his soul. Even while placed in his infirmity, he did not cease from the praises of God, and removed from himself all the noise of worldly activity, so that, intent solely upon the supreme Judge, he might commend his spirit into His hands, by whose sole mercy and help he believed he could be defended from the hands of the wicked. And he asked with groaning and tears that He would remember him, whom he had always remembered without fear in his life. On the last day, however, fortified with the Sacraments, he dies, having been fortified by the Lord's Sacraments, with all the Brothers standing by and weeping, amid the words of psalms and prayers, without very great pain (as it seemed), as if dissolving into sleep, he breathed forth his spirit. the day is unknown: The day of his death, though it is less well known -- since by the storm of invading barbarians all the Brothers fled after his death, so that no one remained there, and for a long time that place was deprived of human comfort -- is nevertheless commemorated on the day before the Nones of July, that is, the day on which the Relics were brought from Rouen to this place. He had caused a tomb to be made for himself in the church of the Blessed Mother Mary, which he himself had built, buried, he is famous for miracles, in which, placed by his forebears, he manifested by signs of miracles, as if he were alive, that he was alive; and the power of healings, displayed from the dust of the buried man, showed the living how great his merit was in heaven. Blessed be God in all things, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER VII
Another Miracle of St. Severus During His Lifetime.
[22] a And since the gift and power of our God is neither less in great things nor greater in small, but everywhere and in the whole and in every part omnipotent -- to whom, when faithfully served, more is granted than is asked -- who set boundaries for the sea which it does not transgress, at whose command the powers of fire grow weak; He Himself preserved Blessed Severus unburned amid burning fire, so that through this he might not incongruously appear to equal in merit, as in age, the three youths praising God in the burning furnace of the proud King. For at a certain time a certain poor old woman was putting loaves into a hot oven to bake them; and while she was putting them in, the peel -- the implement called a "pala" -- placed under the bread, remained in the oven and was burned. When the old woman saw that she had lost her peel, and had no other at hand to substitute for it, but had very many loaves still to bake, she began, once, he had entered a hot oven unharmed to help a widow, as is the habit of her age and sex, to complain with groaning, fearing two losses in the damage: that she had nothing with which to draw out the baked loaves or put in those to be baked. When Blessed Severus, passing by, heard her tearful voice, he flew from the road, inquired and learned the cause of her grief, and moved by pity and full of faith, immediately approached and burst into the burning oven, heedless of himself. He received the loaves left by the woman from outside, arranged them through the oven for baking, and shortly afterward returned them baked, together with others he had not put in, to the widow who rejoiced greatly; and he came out of the oven unharmed, so that neither on his flesh nor on his garment could any injury be detected. Coming out, he marveled at what he had done, and feared, and fearing God, in whom he could do what he could not by himself, he praised Him; and henceforth served Him more faithfully, and in serving raised himself against himself to tolerate greater things for His love.
AnnotationTRANSLATION I AND II
By an Anonymous Author, from the same MS.
Severus, Bishop of Avranches, at Rouen in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 7669
A.D. 1089.
By an Anonymous Author. From MSS.
CHAPTER I
The Church of St. Severus Burned by the Danes, Then Restored.
[1] How that venerable body of the blessed man was carried from the place of its original burial to Rouen, and there fittingly placed in a silver coffin, as I received from our forebears, I have chosen to write for posterity.
[2] After the death of the blessed Confessor Severus, the Christian religion grew ever colder and the fervor of Divine worship declined, and the love that had recently been united by zealous purpose of mind fell back into hatred and enmity. The enormity of the sinners brought it about that the inhabitants of this land were punished with a fitting penalty -- they who had voluntarily withdrawn themselves from the service of God in order to live wickedly. Hence, that a worthy vengeance of God might utterly extirpate this nation, vitiated as it were from the root, while the Danes were devastating Gaul, a certain people ignorant of mercy and piety... aa nation crossing the sea with fleets and a great apparatus of war, finding the inhabitants of this land leading a life of ease in luxury, attacked them with unexpected war, delivering to death those they could seize -- some to fires, some to rivers, some to precipices. Terrified by this horror, the entire nation, carrying all their possessions with them, took flight with no return; so much so that places previously delightful and full of their people were left to be inhabited only by wild beasts and birds. As they sought the refuge of flight, such fear of the enemy fell upon them that they themselves set fire to the churches with the houses and the houses with the goods that could not be carried away, taking with them many bodies of the Saints were carried elsewhere; the bodies of the Saints in whose patronage they rejoiced. Whence it happens that this land, widowed of the bodily presence of its Saints, rejoices less in their patronage -- it which attributes an equal efficacy of deeds to their bodies as to their souls. Some were also overcome by so sudden an irruption of the enemy that, by no means masters of their wishes, and unable to resist the attackers, having merely escaped the peril of death became for them a great price for things and places never to be seen again. And since to the Danes, who still worshipped idols in place of God and were enemies of the worshippers of Almighty God, the rule of the Christian religion had not yet been made known, temples were destroyed; they had no reverence for the buildings of the Saints, and no fear or piety in destroying the relics of the Saints' bodies. Whence the holy places, reduced to the desolation of a desert, lacked for a long time both Divine worship and human service. that of St. Severus was burned: Among these, the place and the coffin of Blessed Severus, the illustrious Confessor of Christ, were delivered to the flames by the unspeakable enemy and utterly destroyed from the foundation, so much so that neither was the power of the place's protection held in memory, since it had no one to protect; nor was the place held in veneration, since there were none present to venerate it.
[3] They therefore occupied the entire land, emptied of its native inhabitants, with savage cruelty, and oppressed it long under the heavy dominion of their impiety. Until at length, when they themselves had come to know the truth, they would subject their fierce hearts voluntarily to the Almighty, and apply diligence to the religion which they had hitherto undermined. when they were at length, though with difficulty, converted: And because we said they had come from the northern part and were called Danes, they were henceforth called Normans: for "Man" means "person," and "North" is the name of the wind. Normans, therefore, are so called as those coming from the North, or dwelling under the North. Having received the faith, since they were of a barbarous mind and an unbridled condition, they could not quickly or easily be bent to Divine worship -- until at length, sweetened by the grace of the merciful God, by the frequency of signs and by constant preaching, they gradually set aside that bestial ferocity and began to hold in veneration what they had previously consigned to vanity; and the churches of God began to be rebuilt by those who had once been their destroyers. miracles began to occur again: God also began meanwhile to work wonders among His Saints, to strengthen the faith of the living, and to make their tombs known by manifest signs.
AnnotationCHAPTER II
The Body of St. Severus Translated to Rouen.
[4] It happened at that very time that two Clerics of Rouen were seeking the Mount of Blessed Michael for the sake of prayer, two Clerics turn aside to the church of St. Severus, modestly restored, and that they frequently passed near the church of Blessed Severus on their way out and back, and sometimes spent the night there under the pretext of devotion. That church, covered at that time with poor straw and woven with wattle walls, was nevertheless frequented by the people on account of the frequent signs which were wrought there by the merits of their Patron. For having been recently destroyed by the infidels, but generously restored by the same people once they had become believers, it was held, amid the thickets of the forests and the lairs of wild beasts, as a place of many notable signs. they resolve to carry off his body: When those two Clerics had frequently spent the night there, and had walked about here and there and had seen the place without an inhabitant except for a certain Priest, they were enticed by the desire to seize the body and began to seek the time and hour in which they could bring to completion what they had conceived in mind. The shrewd Priest, foreseeing their bdesigns, and with much cleverness taking precautions both for himself and for the place, they are impeded by the Priest's diligence: ordered a chair to be made for himself, in which he had nails half a foot long driven in on every side, so that if by chance at some time during his watches he should be weighed down by sleep, and thus keeping vigil in sight of the holy body, he would be compelled to remain standing even against his will.
[5] When the spies had seen these things, troubled in mind and frustrated in their hope, they returned to Rouen and reported in order to the Archbishop and the Clergy what signs they had seen wrought through Blessed Severus, the servant of God. the Rouennais, having learned of this, By a definitive counsel, they sent envoys to Richard, the son of William, Prince of the land, humbly requesting that he would honor the Mother Church of his duchy with the body of Blessed Severus, which, though set amid the thickets of a vast wilderness, they had heard was shining with miracles but lacked the worthy service of ministers. Duke Richard, hearing these things, with the consent of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, much in doubt about the matter -- since he wished both to accede to such a request and not to contradict the will of the Saint (for in the one he feared danger and in the other he valued the affection) -- decided that it should be determined by the common judgment of his nobles, and that whatever they decreed to be more useful should be done. The council determined that they should go to the appointed place, and that, lest any men resist, it should be permitted that if it pleased the guardian of the place, they might carry the holy body away. they send men to carry it off: The envoys, therefore, greatly gladdened with joy, returned home; they announced the decree they had heard; two Clerics of good repute were chosen, with whom many others also, by the Prince's command, came to the place with great haste and joy and commotion.
[6] Furthermore, the local people, having learned the reason for the envoys' coming, and having found no plan by which to resist, turned to tears and grieved that he was being taken from them in whose prayers they trusted for protection. They asked, however, that some part of the holy body be left there, these men, having suppressed the locals, so that they and their descendants might have someone to whom, after God, they might commit the vows of their prayers. But the envoys, pursuing them with insults and striking with blows some who presumed to resist, drove them outside the precincts of the church with insult. When these had been expelled, they fell unanimously to prayer with tears; and when it was completed, they approached with great trembling and reverence the tomb of the Saint, which had been placed before the altar and sunk into the ground, showing only the top of its rim. For there, by the faithful, out of fear of the pagans, he had been placed in a stone coffin and committed to the lowly earth -- earth of much value held in common. the tomb was situated between two others of Saints: The tombs of two other Saints lay on either side: one of Blessed Aegidius, formerly a disciple and co-worker in God's work; another of another Saint, whose name, though unknown, has its merit nevertheless manifested through signs. Approaching the middle of these, where it had been confirmed by manifest signs that Blessed Severus lay, they dig it up: some sang psalms, others dug the earth, others cast out the excavated earth. When the tomb was laid bare, they pushed the stone placed on top with rakes and staves; and when it was raised from the right side, so great and so sweet an odor emanated from that tomb from which a sweet odor, breathing forth, heals the sick: that all who were present were filled with it, and being filled, were healed of their infirmities. Nor did that fragrance fill only those within the church, but also all those placed outside, and from it their senses were immediately restored from their ailments.
[7] When the coffin was opened, they saw a body like that of a sleeping man, stretched out, wrapped in the cleanest cloths and anointed with precious ointments, the body, whole and decorously wrapped, which, being white on the surface, already foreshadowed in its changed flesh what was to be wholly in the resurrection to come. When a bier adorned on every side with silk garments was prepared, bathed in tears and with their hands applied to the holy body, they lifted it -- as rigid as if it had been buried that very day. And since the bier, prepared only for bones, was unsuitable for the extended body, after deliberation they cut it through the middle with a knife, re-clothed it in new and better cloths, and placed it in a portable coffin; and immediately, with great exultation of voice and heart, they placed it upon their shoulders.
[8] But as they were going out of the church, a furious crowd of rustics arrived, they carry it away: wanting to take the holy body from those who were bearing it. But at the sight of the multitude of armed men, they turned to flight and abandoned their attempted undertaking. But the others, proceeding with quickened step on the public road all day long, came at sunset to a village a mile distant from cEvreux, where, intending to take lodging, they set down the holy bier in the church with candles lit and under guard. Then, having refreshed themselves more carefully with food, where it had rested at night, it could not be lifted, and having given the night partly to vigils and partly to sleep, they approached in the morning after hymns and attempted in vain to lift the holy body. Failing in their very attempt, they summoned a crowd of inhabitants and applied their hands far more earnestly; but they were unable to move him whom the Holy Spirit and his own will had fixed. Whence, dismayed in spirit and utterly ignorant which way to turn, they at length hit upon this plan: to try to appease him with promises which the promises would not disappoint. unless a vow was made to build a church; They promised therefore to carry him back to where they had brought him from; they promised to leave him there -- but he could not be moved. They promised to build a church there in his name; and with such ease was he moved and this throughout the whole journey: as if a weight were without weight. And this was done throughout the entire stretch of the journey to Rouen: that by no force and no means could he be moved from the place where he was set down at night, until it was confirmed to him by oath that a church must be built there in his name.
[9] What miracles, however, the Lord wrought during his translation, in the sight of all, it is not within our ability to unfold. For an infinite multitude of both sexes, coming from fields and villages, came to meet him -- some for the sake of healings, others out of devout affection. very many miracles occurred: And whoever faithfully sought the Saint's patronage, a swift remedy anticipated the wish of the petitioner. Those who could not come by their own power, carried by the hands of others, were restored to health upon touching the holy bier and returned by their own power.
[10] At length they arrived at a village three miles distant from the city, the Archbishop comes to meet them with a procession: where, having set down the bier, the happy outcome of the affair was sent by messenger to their Bishop. He, rejoicing greatly, summoned the Clergy and the people, and having told all the business at hand, went forth to meet them with hymns and praises, crosses and thuribles. Coming there and having said a prayer, he applied his hand to lift the holy bier -- and could not. He exhorted his men to apply their hands, he cannot lift the body unless a similar vow is made: but the many were no more gladdened by a successful outcome than the one. Whence, dismayed in mind, and not yet knowing what had happened to the envoys, they hesitated at first as to what they should do -- until at length, when the will of the Saint had been made known through the envoys themselves, they made a donation in the present moment and bound themselves to build a church in his name.
[11] Thereupon, with hands scarcely applied to the bier, it was moved with such ease that what was being carried scarcely seemed to be carried at all. As they bore it and were now approaching the city, the whole city rushed forth to meet them, praising the Lord who was providing them with such a Patron, it is honorably deposited in the Cathedral church: by whose presence they would be strengthened and by whose prayers they would be supported. And so, with a voice of jubilation raised on high, it was carried on the shoulders of the rejoicing into the Mother church of Blessed Mary; and there, placed in a coffin fittingly fashioned with gold and silver and covered with silk, it bestows very great benefit upon those who truly seek it. And so it came to pass that the same servant of God, who had shown himself temporally vile and abject to the world for the love of God, and who had lain hidden in a thatched hut, covered with a cheap garment, poor himself with the poor -- now both exalted in heaven before the sight of God, and raised high on earth in the metropolitan church -- provided an example to the living of humbling themselves temporally, so as to be exalted eternally.
AnnotationsCHAPTER III
Some Relics of St. Severus Returned to His Monastery.
[12] And since the Saint did not wish to leave this place, in which he had especially served God, entirely bereft of his presence, he had certain relics from his body brought back there in this manner. In the time, therefore, of Lord William, the Brothers of the monastery of St. Severus visit his body: a formerly Abbot of Caen and afterward Archbishop of Rouen, the Brothers of the monastery of St. Severus, which is situated in the Valley of the Vire, went to Rouen for the sake of devotion, that they might both see the coffin of their Patron and commend themselves, present, to him as if he were present. When the Archbishop recognized their devotion, he received them with honor, bestowed upon those he received the full grace of charity, and by promising to bestow greater things, gave them hope that he would do so if they asked. Provoked by his kind promise, it occurred to them to ask the same Pontiff for some of the relics of the precious body. But they were very much afraid that they could not easily obtain what they desired they ask for some of his relics: from him whom they had heard and seen to be so greatly honored, venerated, and loved. And since they believed that no loss could come from a refusal but some profit from a petition, they approached the Lord Archbishop with confidence and humbly laid open their request. He, inclining his head downward and deliberating for a long time what he should reply, answered that he in no way dared even to attempt such a thing, since he had read in many codices that it had harmed very many people to have touched the relics of Saints, the Archbishop at first hesitating, and some even merely to have seen them. They insisted that the Saint of God would by no means hate his former place -- the one which he had founded while living, which he had dedicated as his own, and which he had made illustrious by signs so great and so frequent. That he should, being dead, repudiate what he had so loved, seemed incredible. They asked, therefore, that permission be given to them to approach the holy body by themselves, and if they could take something from it; if indeed they could not, they would owe thanks only to him -- the Bishop -- since, kindled with a living faith, he might consent. He promised to comply with their request, provided he might know that his promise would in no way displease the Saint of God.
[13] On the morning of the following day, therefore, having summoned a few of his own, together with the aforesaid Brothers, and having said preliminary prayers and the solemnities of Mass, he had the reliquary of the holy relics taken down. He himself approached first with great fear, and bathed in tears, he opened it and unwrapped the body wrapped in silk. at length they obtain their request: Although its flesh had been reduced to dust, the skin, however, still remained intact. The Archbishop therefore took the bone commonly called the "cauila" of the neck, together with a portion of the skin, and afterward the joint of the middle finger which adheres to the palm of the hand; and wrapping all these together in a cloth, he handed them to the aforesaid Brothers to be carried away. The Brothers, with the greatest joy and honor, having received such a pledge, returned in great gladness and brought to their own Brothers gifts more precious than gold and silver. and carry them to their own: They too, rejoicing not a little, prepared a reliquary of no small value for the holy relics, in which they deposited them with many others, and instituted the day of their reception -- the fourth day before the Nones of February -- to be celebrated as a feast. they venerate them on February 2: And on that day the whole surrounding region, joyfully gathered to seek the patronage of so great a Father, rejoices to be present at his solemnity, and trusts that by his prayers it will be snatched from every adversity and, not by its own merit but by his, be enrolled among the choirs of heavenly spirits.
AnnotationCHAPTER IV
An Exhortatory Epilogue.
[14] And since we celebrate his feast not for his sake but for ours, let us see what sort of people we are the Author exhorts who frequent the feast of so great a Father. For, as Scripture says, "Praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner." Ecclus. 15:9 For if, as is true, we have sinned beyond number, why do we presume to handle his praises? Ps. 32:1 Indeed, if, as is said, "Praise befits the upright," what will be the glorying of sinners? But lest sinners should despair, in the same psalm it is added: "The earth is full of the mercy of the Lord." v. 5 For by the name of "earth" sinners are designated, who, gaping after earthly things, while they ought to go in mind to heavenly things, cling more eagerly to the anxiety of worldly cupidity. Their life or reason still strives and sweats that sinners also might implore the mercy of God, to possess that by which it may become more honorable; to this end it labors: to preside over more people and to rejoice in riches. But to these also the full... of mercy is extended, if they are willing not to be what they have been: for God withholds the bowels of His mercy from none, if one is willing; He impels the willing and always bestows upon the one impelled, as if always willing, the reward of recompense. But from the unwilling -- indeed, from the one who contradicts -- insofar as it proceeds from the freedom of the will, He takes away grace, and by taking it away He permits hardness to creep into the heart, so that one neither wills nor can what one could have willed and been able to do, if one had been able to recognize the grace of faith. Rom. 9:18 and 16 "For God has mercy on whom He wills," says the Apostle, "and whom He wills He hardens." And elsewhere: "It is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who has mercy." Whence, brothers, let us be solicitous for our salvation, since, with our sins resisting, we do not know whether we are among the elect. But by obeying the precepts of God's commandments, let us act so that we may truly know, lest we be found unworthy of God's grace at the end and be delivered to eternal fires. Let us run back to the fountain of mercy, open for the washing of the impure. Let us cleanse with tears what we have defiled with sins.
[15] But if, darkened by our evils, we cannot approach by ourselves the very light of truth, let us seek intercessors through whom we may deserve pardon. and the patronage of the Saints, Let us entreat those who, while they lived, served God more attentively, to deign to be our patrons in the present world -- they whom we will have as judges in the world to come. They too, inebriated by the fountain of mercy, will not deny to those present what they wished to have in common with the penitent. For they wish to be more companions than strict judges. Among these let us ask this Father of ours, Blessed Severus, to intercede for us, especially that of St. Severus, and through him let us carry out an embassy to Christ, that by his prayers He may make Himself appeased toward us, whom we had made angry by living wickedly. Let us ask that he come to the aid of the flock devoted to him, he who faithfully guarded the herd of mares for his temporal lord and by guarding merited to augment them; and he who, out of the affection of piety, in order to clothe the naked, did not shrink from nakedness, may obtain the garment of justice for the family that entreats him. Furthermore, he who in pity gave a mare with its foal to a crying widow, and merited that another be divinely supplied in its place, may himself obtain for us that God may supply in us the good that is lacking, and mercifully take away the evil that is present; and may He extinguish in us the bilge-water of vices -- He who did not feel the fires of the burning oven. Amen.
TRANSLATION III OF ST. SEVERUS
FROM ROUEN TO PARIS.
Severus, Bishop of Avranches, at Rouen in Gaul (St.)
A.D. 1639.
FROM THE DOCUMENT OF THE CHAPTER OF ROUEN.
To the most Christian and unconquered Lord, our Lord Louis, by the grace of God King of the French and of Navarre, his most humble suppliants, the Canons and Chapter of the holy Metropolitan Church of Rouen, offer submission and the service of most ready devotion. As soon as we understood from the letters of our most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord Archbishop to King Louis XIII, requesting relics from the Church of Rouen, that your most august Majesty, inflamed with zeal of piety toward the domestic sanctity of this Church, desired with religious affection some portion from the treasure which we hold in earthen vessels, giving thanks to God for so salutary a desire, we strove to fulfill it with exulting spirits. For which purpose, after mature deliberations among ourselves, from the various Relics of Saints resting in the sacristy of the same Church, we cast our eyes chiefly upon the two bodies of the blessed Confessors of Christ and Bishops, Severus and Sinerius, from which to extract sacred pledges for this end. Therefore, on the day appointed below for this purpose, after the daily solemnities of the Masses had been performed, assembling in the aforesaid sacristy, where caskets of various kinds, full of immortal riches, had previously been brought out from the cupboards in which they are devoutly kept and decorously arranged, we had the blessed remains of each Saint successively taken from their own repositories by our dear fellow Canon Jean le Prevost, a Priest and at that time the Hebdomadary, vested in a chasuble and other sacred vestments, accompanied and assisted by our dear colleagues Nicolas Throsnel and Denis le Feure, Priests, prepared in diaconal and subdiaconal attire, and we had them reverently exposed upon a table adorned in the manner of an altar with veils and lights, with incensation and prayers befitting the holy action, in this order: First, from a very ancient tabernacle elegantly covered with various metals and adorned with gems and engravings, externally bearing the name of Blessed Severus in inscriptions engraved in Gothic characters around the circumference, the bones of St. Severus the Bishop were sent, there was taken out a certain large, ancient piece of leather, still sound, clean, and solid, containing the principal part of the body of the same Saint with its skin still firm and intact. When this was reverently unfolded upon the aforesaid table, we gazed as suppliants with trembling and joy, marveled at, and venerated that precious seed-bed of blessed immortality, in which Divine goodness prefigures the glory of the future Resurrection by the very long incorruption of so many centuries. Immediately, the first vertebra of the neck was detached by the unanimous counsel of all and set aside, and the remainder was carefully rewrapped as before and put back. Then the body of St. Sinerius, and of St. Sinerius, Bishop, from another ancient tabernacle, wrought of cast bronze (which, on account of the manifold abundance of Relics enclosed therein, is called the bier of All Saints), where, separately placed in silks and multicolored cloths of very ancient weaving, with various inscriptions, it awaits the day of recompense -- was brought out, uncovered, and examined with equal reverence; and a certain bone exhibiting the shape of a heel-bone was extracted from it, and the rest was put back in the same tabernacle of All Saints. These two venerable pledges, separately wrapped in purple silk and marked with labels, we placed in this little casket, secured with a lock and key, to be diligently transmitted to your most august Majesty. And that your most august Majesty may be more confidently encouraged to venerate them from a fuller knowledge of the same Saints, we faithfully and sincerely attest in the Lord that these two men of mercy, who obtained glory in the generations of their nation, are held in praise in their days: and that the Deposition of Blessed Sinerius has been entered in our diptychs on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of October for many centuries; and that the feast of Blessed Severus is celebrated among us annually on the Kalends of February. On which day the merits of the glorious Bishop are explained from the pulpit under the title of the Cross, the feast of each: by preachers of the divine word, Canons selected in turn for this purpose, in solemn rite, before his sacred relics, which are then customarily shown reverently to the faithful people in various reliquaries. Furthermore, we attest that the deeds of both are found in certain codices of the Churches and, reduced to a compendium, are contained in the Diocesan Breviary; a compendium of the Acts of St. Severus: from whose series it is established that that pair of outstanding sanctity, just as they now share heavenly glory and a common burial, so were they once joined by the proximity of their native soil, the kind of their profession, and the succession of their priesthood. For both illuminated the territory of Coutances in this Province with their cradles, the monastic life with their examples, and the Church of Avranches with their mitres. Severus, born of humble station, from a lowly guardian of cattle became first a preacher of the Gospel and the instructor and teacher of his master (whom, while still an infidel, together with his whole family, he brought to Christ by the greatness of his miracles); then, having left the world, an anchorite and Father of monks; finally, by the singular providence of Him who took David His servant from following the ewes to be king, he was raised to the summit of the pastoral office. After he had led the flock entrusted to him with the wisdom of his hands and had removed the remnants of paganism from his diocese, he returned at last to his former solitude, and dying, he laid down the burden of his incorrupt flesh in the oratory he had built in honor of the most holy Mother of God. Sinerius, and of St. Sinerius: the successor in honor and merits of St. Paternus (who was placed over the See of Avranches by King a Childebert I), having himself also been famous for many virtues, after a happy death was buried at the bodies of the same Paternus and b Blessed Scubilio, his companion, in the monastery which they called Sisiacum. That we possess the bodies of both with certain and indubitable title is confirmed for us both by long-standing tradition and by domestic documents. And the Translation of Severus from the territory of Coutances to Rouen, the body of each was translated to Rouen, made more than six hundred and forty years ago through the effort of Richard I, Duke of the Normans, was commended by illustrious miracles. For the body, which had previously lain for a long time buried in the ground out of fear of wars, was found intact; and as often as it was set down during the journey for the night's rest, it held so firm that it could be moved from the spot by no force until the sacred bearers of the burden had first bound themselves by a vow to build a new church there. As evidence of this, temples built in his name still stand in those places. May your most august Majesty therefore accept from the storerooms of our poverty these parting gifts, full of grace and sanctity, and may it glory in possessing in a small portion of Relics the whole bodies of the Saints, and, fortified by their protections, may it experience continual increases of heavenly blessings. And lest any occasion of ambiguity creep in regarding the matter as described above, as it was conducted by us, we have deemed it necessary to strengthen the page of the present writing with the subscriptions of all of us who were present and of our Notary, and with the impression of the seal of Holy Mary. Done in the aforesaid sacristy, under the bodily presence and testimony of the Saints, in the year of the King of Kings, our Lord Jesus Christ, one thousand six hundred and thirty-nine, on the fourth day before the Ides of January. The Canons subscribe to the donation of relics.
I, Nicolas le Royer, Cantor and Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Baptiste Godart, Treasurer and Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Caresmel, Archdeacon and Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Louis Sausson, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Sequart, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Anselme Marette, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Nicolas Barbey, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean le Vendangs, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean le Mercyer, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Briffault, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jacques le Chevalier, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Charles Brasdefer, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jacques Mallet, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean le Prevost, Canon, took out the glorious Relics of the Saints with my unworthy hands, and subscribed. I, Pierre de la Mare, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Barthelemy le Roux, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Aubourg, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Nicolas Throsnel, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Denis le Feure, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Pierre Picot, Canon, was present and subscribed. I, Jean Patry, Priest, Notary of the venerable Chapter, was present, reread, and subscribed. J. PATRY. Place of the Seal.
I, Francis, by the mercy of God Archbishop of the holy Church of Rouen, and the Archbishop, Primate of Normandy, have approved the Acts of our fellow Brethren, done synodally and hierarchically, faithfully written, devoutly offered, to be holily presented to our most holy Lord King Louis the Thirteenth through the venerable Treasurer of our Church and two of the above-written Canons, Masters Brasdefer and le Prevost; and I have confirmed them with seal and subscription, and have sealed the Episcopal deposit of the sacred Relics with the key enclosed, and have delivered it to our named most worthy deputies to be reverently carried, after the customary and solemn ceremonies of the Translation, at Gaillon in our Castle, in the Year of the heavenly glory of the Saints and of the incarnate King of heaven one thousand six hundred and thirty-nine, the twenty-ninth of our most Christian King, the dedication of the Kingdom of the Queen of All Saints, in the second month from August, on the seventeenth day of the month of January. Written and subscribed by our hand.
Fr., Archbishop of Rouen. By the command of the most Illustrious and most Reverend Lord, my Lord. -- Esprit. With the seal hanging from parchment cords.
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