CONCERNING THE HOLY SISTERS, VIRGINS OLIVERIA AND LIBERATA, AT CHAUMONT IN GAUL.
Sixth Century
CommentaryOliveria, Virgin, at Chaumont in Gaul (Saint) Liberata, Virgin, at Chaumont in Gaul (Saint)
I. B.
[1] The name of Chaumont belongs to not just one town in Gaul. For to pass over the County of Chaumont in Lorraine, whose name has perhaps now fallen into disuse, there certainly existed one in approximately the region where the river Murta flows into the Moselle, and it seems to be mentioned under the name of Calmons in the division of the kingdom of Lothair, and is assigned to the portion of Louis, and is joined to Upper Sarachowa, situated near the river Sara or Sarava. But setting aside this Chaumont, the municipality of Chaumont in the Bassigny region is the chief town of Champagne, at Chaumont, near Rethel, not far from the river Marne, placed upon a high cliff, as Papirius Massonius writes. Another is Chaumont in the Vexin, a very charming town, as Philippus Brietius writes in his Geographical Parallels, part 2, book 7, chapter 3, section 3. Mention of it is found in Ivo of Chartres, letter 28. Finally, another, which concerns our purpose, is Chaumont, about three leagues from Chateau-Porcien, and not much farther distant from Rethel. On this mountain Saint Berthaldus the Scot led an anchoritic life in the time of Saint Remigius, Archbishop of Rheims, with his disciple the Blessed Amandus, likewise a Scot; of whom we shall treat on June 16. Afterward a monastery of Regular Canons was founded there, of the Premonstratensian Order's monastery, and subsequently given to the Premonstratensians. Pagius in his Premonstratensian Library and Claudius Robertus in his Christian Gaul have made mention of it.
[2] In the church of this monastery, besides the relics of Saint Berthaldus, the relics of the holy Virgins Oliveria and Liberata are also customarily preserved with great veneration. Saints Oliveria and Liberata are venerated, But in the memory of our parents a fortress was built on that mountain, the monastery was built elsewhere in the vicinity, and the same sacred relics were transported to it. Molanus mentions them thus in his additions to Usuard: on February 3; At Mont-Chauve, of the holy sisters Oliveria and Liberata, Virgins. Ferrarius and others also record them. Saussaius under February 5 writes thus: At Mont-Chauve, the passing of Saint Liberata. In his Supplement, however, under February 3: At Chaumont, Saint Olivaria, Virgin.
[3] I. Lietavius, Prior of Chaumont, published in the year 1634 a Life of Saint Berthaldus, in which he mentions these holy Virgins, although he calls one Oliva instead of Oliveria. a disciple of Saint Berthaldus, The belief of the people, as he says, received from their ancestors, is that they were trained to perfection by Saint Berthaldus: that they were natives of Altavilla, a village one and a half leagues distant from Chaumont. born in that region, Some would have their parents been lords of Altavilla, others at least distinguished for wealth and virtue. They are said to have frequently come secretly, without the knowledge of their parents and acquaintances, to Saint Berthaldus, and to have drunk from him heavenly teaching, and to have been especially provoked to preserve the flower of their chastity inviolate and to seek the bridal chamber of the heavenly Spouse. In order to dedicate themselves entirely to this Spouse, having spurned their parents' possessions and the blandishments of mortal life, they led their life in the forest of Chaumont.
[4] In the midst of this forest two excellent springs flow, distinguished by their names, separated from each other by a musket shot. where springs sacred to them are, Many people afflicted by fevers or other diseases flock to the spring of Saint Oliveria, or Oliva, and in the neighboring chapel, which was recently restored through the zeal of the Abbot of Galmet, they pour forth prayers before a very ancient image of the same Virgin, preserved even when the chapel was otherwise destroyed. and the chapel of Saint Oliveria. Hardly a Sunday or feast day passes without some people gathering there for the sake of piety. So writes Lietavius.