CONCERNING SAINT AVENTINUS, BISHOP, AT CHATEAUDUN IN GAUL.
IN THE SIXTH CENTURY.
Preliminary Commentary.
Aventinus, Bishop, at Chateaudun in Gaul (S.)
By the author I. B.
[1] This is the other Aventinus, administrator of the Archdeaconry of Dunois with episcopal authority, since he had been ordained to the See of Chartres. Many have confused him with the Aventinus of Troyes, because the feasts of both fall on the same day, and have called the former a Bishop — which was the latter's distinction. His body is preserved in the church of Saint Medard in the suburbs of Chateaudun. Chateaudun, or Dunois Castle, is a fortified town of the diocese of Chartres in Gaul, situated on a height — as its very name indicates; for "dunum," as we have said elsewhere, means a rock or hill, and is not added to the names of cities unless they are on a lofty site. In the parish church of Saint Medard, then, which we have mentioned, the tomb of Saint Aventinus is seen in the very wall of the church, covered with a vault. Many flock there with great piety, especially to pray for a remedy for headaches.
[2] From a manuscript codex of that church we obtained the Life of Saint Aventinus, written in French verse — rough and unpolished enough — which we have translated so as to render the entire sense, not the many superfluous additions, which are by no means brought up to the modern elegance of the French language. The sum of his life is this: when his brother Saint Solemnis was elected Bishop of Chartres, but escaped by flight to avoid the burden, Aventinus was ordained in his place. But when Solemnis returned shortly after, the people insisted that the prior election should stand; and so Aventinus was sent by him to preside over the people of Dunois as their Bishop — for he truly was a Bishop. He discharged that office admirably and adorned it with many miracles.
[3] The same is related in the Life of Saint Solemnis, which we shall give on September 24: "When the Bishop of the city of Chartres had died, the breath and spark of God kindled the heart of the King, that no one other than Solemnis should be consecrated Bishop there. For he had inquired about his reputation, and it was spread throughout the entire city. And so the venerable Solemnis, hearing the edict of the Prince and seeing the Bishops who had come to consecrate him, fled secretly and lay hidden for three days in a certain cave. He was sought but not found: he was hiding in the cave while the King was filled with sadness; the one poured forth solemn prayers to the Lord, the other sadly sought consolation. The commands of the Prince were carried out in secret, lest anyone be punished with the sentence of death. Therefore the sheep, whom holy Mother Church brings forth, considering that they might be torn by the savage bite of the jaws of a ravening wolf, acclaimed Aventinus the Archdeacon with worthy praises and installed him as both Pastor and Priest. When, therefore, he had obtained the episcopal fellowship, the love of Solemnis separated the Priest from the feast."
[4] Blessed Solemnis, therefore, heard in the cave where he was hiding, as it were a gentle breeze running in the silence of the night, and a clamor proclaiming: "Bishop Aventinus has offered a holocaust to God." And when he had heard this, he poured forth prayers to the Lord: "Lord, make the lamp of Thy Word shine upon my feet, to the path of light, that my soul may bless Thy holy name." And going forth, he went to meet the Priest. He was awaited as one desired, just as parched ground thirsts for drops of rain, and all were praying to God. On this side the people resounded with voices, and on that the murmur of the people clamored with noise; then all cried out together: "Behold, Solemnis is worthy; let him be ordained Bishop!" At their praises the Bishops came forth, and filled with the greatest joy said: "He is worthy; let him be consecrated Bishop." They had not yet gone out of the temple when they seized him and led him to the altars of the temple, clothed him in a white stole, placed a precious crown upon his head, and gave him a pastoral staff, that he might gather the scattered sheep to the faith of holiness. And so Saint Solemnis said: "What then shall we do about Bishop Aventinus?" All responded: "If he survives after your death, let him hold the place of dignity; but if not, let him be subject to your authority." But the man of the Lord, moved in the bowels of piety, lest holy religion should be stained and his spirit darkened in any way, gave to the care of his governance the town called Dunois, where he might securely exercise the cult of religion all the days of his life. "After thirty days, however, King Ludovicus led an armed army against the battle-line of the Goths," etc.
[5] We shall give the complete Life on September 24, whatever its quality may be; for, contradicted by the testimony of other writers, it says that Clovis was still a pagan when he marched against Alaric, King of the Visigoths, and was baptized after the victory by Saint Solemnis along with many of his men. The Breviary of Chartres calls him the catechist of Clovis and records that he was present at his baptism at Reims. Sebastien Rouillard, in his Parthenia, or History of the Church of Chartres, chapter 10, admits that the victory over the Goths — the omen of which was offered to the King from the Ecclesiastical chant of Solemnis — occurred after the baptism of Clovis. Yet in arranging the chronology of his See, he does not agree with the manuscript Life. The latter reads: "Saint Solemnis, when he had rolled through thirty-four years of life's course in the manner of ears of grain, promoted to pontifical honor, flourished in the Church, adorned with the splendor of a bright light; and after bearing the triumph for three Olympiads, he departed from this light to the Lord." Rouillard says he was made Bishop in the year of Christ 484 and died in 515.
[6] Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology on September 24 mentions Aventinus thus: "To avoid receiving the honor conferred upon him, Solemnis hid himself for so long until he heard that Aventinus had been substituted in place of himself, who resisted. Then indeed, safely as he thought, he came forth from his hiding place and returned to the city, intending to pay the first honors to the new Bishop. But Aventinus had not yet received the gift of ordination." "And as soon as Solemnis appeared, a great crowd of people rushing to him, they seized him and led him to the church, with Aventinus gladly yielding the pontifical honor to one more worthy than himself," etc. In truth, Aventinus had received the gift of ordination, as is evident from what has been said and from what will presently be said.
[7] When Saint Aventinus died and whether he succeeded Saint Solemnis as had been agreed is not established. It is certain that Solemnis died — and if Aventinus succeeded him, then Aventinus too died — before the year of Christ 536 or even 535; for in the 26th or 27th year of King Childebert, a Council of Orleans was held at which Aetherius, Bishop of the Church of Chartres, subscribed. But if perhaps (as happened to Paulinus of Antioch, who had ceded to Saint Meletius but was to be substituted upon the latter's earlier death, yet Flavian was preferred over him) without any regard for the pact, Saint Aetherius immediately succeeded Solemnis, Aventinus could have prolonged his life further, even to the year 549, the 40th year of Childebert, as the Life states.
[8] That he considered himself a Bishop is clear from the first Council of Orleans, at which Aventinus himself subscribed in the last place as "Aventinus, Bishop of the Church of Chartres." Sirmond notes that other codices have: "Aventinus, Bishop, of Chartres" and "From the city of Chartres, Aventinus, Bishop"; and others, "Bishop of the Church of Dunois" — for which some wrote "Diniensis," "Diviensis," "Diensis," "Dignensis," as can be seen in Binius. Sirmond judges that because Dunois Castle is in the diocese of Chartres, the Bishops of that See were sometimes called Bishops of Dunois. We consider that Saint Aventinus is called Bishop of Dunois because he truly discharged the office of a Bishop at Dunois — whether he was later transferred to Chartres or remained there content with his former title alone; and Rouillard testifies that he died there.
[9] The fortune of Aventinus was further the occasion, in the case of Promotus, who was shortly afterward advanced to occupy the dignity of Bishop of Dunois and who, it seems, was a citizen of that place. Through the favor of Sigebert, King of Austrasia (to whom the people of Dunois were subject after the death of Charibert), and against the will of Pappolus, Bishop of Chartres, Promotus was consecrated Bishop by Aegidius, Archbishop of Reims — to whose province neither Chartres nor Dunois belonged, but to that of Constitutus of Sens — contrary to canonical discipline, as is stated in the Constitution of the fourth Synod of Paris, held in the 12th year of King Chilperic and his brothers, the year of Christ 572 or the following. And indeed the Fathers of that synod asked Sigebert not to defend the cause of Promotus, but they obtained nothing. What followed afterward is indicated by Saint Gregory of Tours in Book 7 of the History of the Franks, chapter 17, writing: "Promotus, who had been installed as Bishop in Dunois Castle by order of King Sigebert, and after the King's death had been removed because that castle belonged to the diocese of Chartres — against whom judgment had been pronounced that he should exercise only the office of a Priest — approached the King (Guntram), begging that he might receive the ordination of the episcopate in the aforesaid castle. But with Pappolus, Bishop of the city of Chartres, opposing and saying, 'It is part of my diocese,' and especially producing the judgments of the Bishops, he could obtain nothing else from the King except that he should receive the properties he had in the territory of that castle, in which he might dwell with his still-surviving mother." Rouillard considers Aventinus to have been merely the Archdeacon of Dunois, but this is refuted by the cited subscription to the Council of Orleans.
LIFE
concisely composed from French verse.
Aventinus, Bishop, at Chateaudun in Gaul (S.)
By the author I. B.
[1] At the time when Clovis — he who afterward, at the urging and prayers of his wife Saint Clotilde, was the first of the Frankish Kings to embrace the faith of Christ — governed Gaul, afflicted with many disasters, under his rule, there was at Chateaudun, which was then called the City of Clara, a Count named John, a man as pious as he was prudent, and far unlike his fellow citizens, most of whom were then held bound by pagan superstitions. When he had married Agnes, daughter of the Count of Blois, a woman conspicuous for equal praise of piety and wisdom, he had by her three sons — Solemnis, Aventinus, and John — and a daughter Agnes. But the latter, scarcely out of the cradle and cleansed by baptism, died. The sons were excellently educated in every moral propriety and sanctity of life.
[2] Flavius, the uncle of Agnes, Bishop of Chartres, undertook to instruct Solemnis and Aventinus in the liberal sciences, with John left at home for the consolation of his parents. When he had approved their distinguished disposition, inclined to the study of all virtues, he enrolled them in the Clergy of the Church of Chartres — although still quite young, yet far surpassing their peers and uniquely dear to all. Then, when they had advanced in age and learning, he initiated them into the priesthood. Finally, by the consensus of the leading Clergy, he offered the office of Archdeacon to Solemnis; but when the latter earnestly declined, he imposed it upon Aventinus — who was also unwilling and resisted for a long time. Aventinus, however, earned great praise for virtue and learning in sustaining that role, and won a certain wonderful love from all. Solemnis was enrolled in the College of Canons, though resisting somewhat out of fear of the dangers.
[3] When Bishop Flavius died, with the consent of King Clovis, the Clergy and people judged that Solemnis should be substituted for him, commended as he was for learning, prudence, innocence of life, and zeal for divine glory. When Solemnis perceived that this was being arranged, he took to flight and hid himself in a certain cave, lest he be forced to submit his shoulders to so great a burden. When his flight was known, the entire people, troubled lest they remain any longer without a Pastor, clamored that a new vote must be taken. Therefore Saint Aventinus was chosen — himself unwilling, but compelled by consent — and was ordained by the Bishops who had been summoned together.
[4] The exultation of all was immense, so that all the roads and fields resounded with festive voices celebrating Aventinus as Bishop. These same voices, repeated again and again by those passing before the hiding place of Saint Solemnis, caught his ears and attention. Thinking himself therefore freed from danger, he gives thanks to God and comes forth to congratulate his brother on the dignity that he himself had escaped. But the matter turned out otherwise than he had hoped. For when he came into the sight of the people, all cried out that Solemnis was present and must be consecrated Bishop, since he had been elected first. What more? They seized him, unwilling and protesting in vain, and pleading that no such injury be done to his brother, and that the Ecclesiastical Rule — which forbids two Bishops to be placed in one See — not be violated. They on the contrary: "Welcome! The people of Chartres demanded you as Bishop, and they shall have you. For your brother, as God shall give you mind and counsel, you yourself shall provide. Do not resist the wishes of your people." Solemnis, astonished by the favor of the tumultuous people, at last yielded and dispatched Aventinus to the people of Dunois, to administer sacred affairs in his stead, but with episcopal authority.
[5] This region lies in the Beauce, exceedingly rich and fruitful in grain and wine, and celebrated for the subtle and refined disposition of its inhabitants. Its chief men at that time, as has been said, were Aventinus's own parents, distinguished not more for wealth and birth than for virtue and prudence. To revisit them, therefore, and to console them if need be, Aventinus sets out on his way. When his homeland appeared to him from afar, he sat down for a brief rest, and soon sleep stole over the weary man. In it he seemed to see and hear an Angel telling him that both his parents had indeed died, but that he should proceed along the river to the place called Buxerias, formerly below the city. As he went, his brother John the solitary met him — who, shamefully disfigured by leprosy and on that account having voluntarily withdrawn himself from the city and the company of citizens, had built himself a dwelling there, and near it a small chapel in which to offer prayers to God, which he had dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God. Aventinus weeps at the sight, kindly greets his brother, and wiping away his tears, gives him a kiss. Then, blessing him, he drives away all the leprosy in an instant and renders him sound and vigorous. But he quickly hurried away thence, lest he be recognized and honored as the author of so great a miracle. The sudden recovery of Count John was received at Dunois with great joy by the people praising God, and the conversion of many to Christ followed — even of those who lived far away but had nevertheless received the report of the event. Aventinus built himself a hut on a rock which an abundance of serpents and other venomous animals had made inaccessible, yet they caused him no harm, as though reverencing his holiness; and they were always attentive as he devoted himself to prayers and the praises of God — to such a degree that they did not even produce any noise or hissing.
[6] Many mortals eagerly desired to approach his dwelling. Nor were the snares of the most cunning demon lacking. While he was praying to God with inflamed zeal in that retreat, he perceived the voice of someone weeping and lamenting. Moved by compassion and following the voice, he found a woman who claimed to be wealthy and noble, stripped by robbers even of her clothing, and that her own two servants, thinking her already dead, had assisted the robbers in plundering her possessions. The Saint inquired what consolation she sought from him. She replied: "I am perishing of hunger and cold. Please lead me under shelter and refresh me with food." Aventinus, shrewd about the artifices of Satan, said: "Wait for me under the shade of this tree while I procure what you ask." Then he brought out the food with which he himself was accustomed to eat in his cave. "Here," he said, "is a piece of barley bread, on which I live. You can relieve your hunger with it." Then, as a crowning measure of either her consolation or his own security, he signed her with the Cross. The devil could not endure those weapons, and with a monstrous cry, confessing himself vanquished, vanished into the air. Aventinus, prostrating himself on his knees, offered prolonged thanks to God, who had delivered him from the snares of the most wicked enemy.
[7] The fame of his miracles grew more celebrated by the day. Anyone who merited to enjoy his conversation considered himself fortunate. For he drove away diseases and other evils by divine power. When asked by the neighboring inhabitants to visit their homes and bless them, he kindly assented. But when he was weary with long fasting and labor and also tormented by severe thirst, he withdrew a little from the road, and bending his knees, prayed to God to come to his aid with a suitable remedy. The piety of heaven was immediately at hand. For when Aventinus had risen, and with his spirit raised to heaven and his face cast down to the earth, had struck the ground three times with his staff, forming the sign of the Cross, a most limpid spring gushed forth. Some who had resisted the truth, struck by the miracle, yielded. About thirty were baptized with that very water, with which the Saint at last quenched his bodily thirst as well.
[8] When the City of Clara — which is now called Chateaudun — was suffering from a severe pestilence, he was asked by the townspeople to bring a remedy for so great an evil. He betook himself thither and drove away a twofold plague: both the unhealthy air by which bodies were being killed, and the errors by which souls were wasting away more grievously. Nor was there any among them all who did not receive the faith of Christ, which both the miracles and the holiness of Aventinus easily persuaded them to accept. He likewise freed another place from both contagions in a similar manner — first the internal, and immediately, when that had departed, the external as well. Many more, aroused by the fame of his miracles, laid aside their obstinacy and voluntarily came to him to be cleansed by baptism. Having therefore established his residence at Chateaudun, Aventinus diligently applied himself to procuring and protecting the salvation of his flock. He visited and surveyed the entire district committed to him, exhorting all to the pursuit of virtue by public preaching and private conversations, and enlisting other ministers suitable for so great a charge. He himself founded three churches in that city at his own expense, and dedicated one to Christ the Savior and Saint John the Baptist, another to Saint Stephen the Protomartyr, and a third to Mary, the Mother of God. Against all the assaults of enemies lying in wait for his flock, he fortified himself and his people especially with the defense of the sacred Scriptures and the image of Christ Crucified. He was exceedingly generous to the needy.
[9] At length, at the age of seventy-five, exhausted by a fever, he rendered his soul to God on February 4, during the reign of Childebert, in the year of Christ 549. Those who stood by saw a white dove fly upward from his mouth. He was buried, as he had commanded, in the very place where he died, outside the city, in the oratory which he had built for himself — where there is now the parish church of Saint Medard, celebrated for the concourse of pilgrims coming to implore the aid of Saint Aventinus and to fulfill their vows.
[10] While his body was being committed to burial, a certain stranger was passing that way, a man of no small fortune, as it seemed. Seeing the funeral procession and the lamentation of those conducting it, grieving at the loss of so great a man, he began to mock them petulantly. Nor with impunity: for when he had approached closer to observe everything with curiosity, he was immediately deprived of his eyes, and then of his remaining senses, and stood motionless. But when those standing by invoked the aid of the holy man, he was restored to himself, and giving thanks to the Saint, he began to venerate with earnestness the sacred things of Christ which he had hitherto rejected.
[11] It was later decided to enlarge the small chapel in which he was buried. But since the work had to be begun from the part where the sacred body lay, it was necessary to transfer it from that rock into the Choir. Wonderful to relate: it was again moved back by divine power to its former place, none of those present understanding by what means or manner this had been done. Those present, fixed in amazement at the miracle, sent some to the Bishop at Chartres. He quickly flew thither, and learning what had happened and why he had been summoned, he exhorted all to prepare themselves to honor God in His Saint. At that very time some lunatics were healed. The Bishop proclaimed a three-day fast and prayers; then he himself celebrated Mass. At last, all gird themselves to place the sacred body in the location where it now rests. A certain workman was present who, seeing the work nearly completed, arrogantly thrust himself into the task. "You are laboring in vain," he said, "unless I lend my hand." And attempting to cut off the corner that remained to be fitted, he fell to the ground and, lying motionless, cried out: "Rise, Saint Aventinus! Why do you press and kill me? I confess that I am paying just penalties for my arrogance. I beseech you, Saint of God, release me from this torment." Aventinus did not long spurn the suppliant, and restored him to health.