Vodalus

CONCERNING ST. VODALUS, OR VODOALUS, SURNAMED BENEDICTUS, AT SOISSONS IN GAUL.

AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHTH CENTURY.

Vodalus, surnamed Benedictus, at Soissons in Gaul (Saint)

J. B.

[1] There is a monastery of holy virgins of the Benedictine rule at Soissons, which in the seventh century from the birth of Christ, Ebroin, Mayor of the Palace of King Theodoric, as will be told in the Life of St. Drausius, Bishop of Soissons, on March 5, overcome by the prayers and persuasions of his wife Leutrude, St. Vodalus was buried at Soissons; commanded to be built within the walls of the city, to be dedicated in the name of the holy and inviolate Mary, Mother of the Lord. Near that monastery lived St. Vodalus, or Vodoalus, surnamed Benedictus, and within it, after his death, he was honorably entombed in a chapel dedicated to the Holy Cross.

[2] He was by nation a Pict, that is, from the northern region of Britain, which is now called Scotland. But at what time he lived cannot be determined with certainty: a conjecture can be made from the era of Adalgardis, it is uncertain when he lived, who seems to be the same person whom Melchior Regnault in his Compendium of the History of Soissons calls Hildegardis, and establishes as the second Abbess of that monastery. The first was Etheria, as is stated in the cited Life of St. Drausius, leading a life ethereal in character, summoned from the monastery of Jouarre. How long she and then Adalgardis governed the place is unknown to us. We believe St. Vodalus died at the beginning of the eighth century.

[3] The volume of his little history, it is said, perished through negligence at Laon amid other papers; says the later writer of his Life, his Acts were lost: which we present. This writer was from the city of Soissons, or at least the province, as he indicates at number 5: "Until it drove him, sustained by the wings of so many virtues, from our borders." Indeed he seems to have lived in the very monastery, or near it, perhaps assigned to the performance of sacred rites or the hearing of confessions of the nuns. Thus in the Prologue described afresh by a certain man of Soissons, he calls him "our most blessed Patron." And at number 7: "This we see happening daily at his tomb, the dust of which, with the cooperation of heavenly dispensation, we perceive to sparkle with miracles." And at number 15: "We have frequently seen the lamp itself rekindle of its own accord, that is, without human help, and we have observed the eyes of the blind, anointed with this oil, illuminated after the darkness was dispelled." What he writes, moreover, he affirms at number 2 that he learned from the report of faithful elders, and in great part beheld with his own eyes. from the report of forebears,

[4] This Life was copied by Nicholas Belfort, Canon Regular in the monastery of the Vineyards near Soissons, from an old codex (of Soissons, we think); whence is this edition? and he had compared it with another copy from the monastery of Longpont. We have transcribed it from him.

[5] Molanus records Vodalus enrolled in the Sacred Calendar on the Nones of February, in these words: "At Soissons, of St. Vodalus, Confessor." Arnold Wion on the same day makes him a Benedictine; he died on February 5, though he confesses that he does not know to which monastery he belonged. Molanus, whom alone he cites, does not report that he was a monk, much less a Benedictine. That he was a monk, however, one might conjecture from the fact that he is said to have used a cappa instead of a pallium. whether a monk is uncertain: Benedict Dorgany also lists him in the Benedictine Calendar; Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology with a notable eulogy composed from the Life which we give: in which, however, he inaccurately says he was a Scythian by nation, and that he came to Gaul out of love of religion. The writer of the Life records that he was born of the nation of the Picts, but that the Picts themselves, whom he therefore calls Geloni, trace their origin from the peoples of Scythia: by nation a Pict, which Bede also wrote in book 1

of the Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation, but accepted only from report, "as they say," he says. But in our time learned men are more inclined to think that they were truly Britons, and that the same name signifies both — one being the native designation, the other Roman. And the writer shows that he came not for the sake of learning or practicing religion, but rather for disseminating it.

[6] When Molanus in his earlier edition of the supplement to Usuard had listed him on the day before the Nones, he is also venerated on February 4, and after him Canisius, and Ferrarius following both:

THE LIFE

by an anonymous writer of Soissons, from the manuscript of Nicholas Belfort, Canon Regular.

Vodalus, surnamed Benedictus, at Soissons in Gaul (Saint)

BHL Number: 8728

By an anonymous writer of Soissons.

PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR.

[1] At the beginning of the flourishing Church, we read that Apostolic men were accustomed to cling so tenaciously to God that they either professed or meditated upon His majesty and excellence continually. One must devote oneself to the praises of God or the Saints. And indeed it is evident to all that man was created on this condition and law — that he should rightly devote all his leisure time to heavenly service. Let us therefore lift up our heart with our hands to Him, and with every effort let us implore Him that, if we are blind to His divinity, He may at least deign to open our mouth to the praise of His Saints — He who caused the dumb beast of burden of the soothsayer to speak human words: and that through those same Saints, whom we cannot worthily proclaim, for the merit of this small praise and veneration, and through their intercession, we may be made like them and at last in some way share in their lot. Numbers 22.

[2] Since therefore concerning our holy and most blessed patron Vodoalus we have heard, and have learned from the report of faithful elders, how, intent upon divine ordinances, he came as a pilgrim and exile to our borders, and how strenuously he ran the arduous course of his life, it is fitting that we strive to extol to the praise of God a few things out of many, which we have received from their report Whence did the author draw this, the ancient Acts being lost? and in great part beheld with our own eyes. Concerning his deeds, indeed, many things worthy of admiration could be brought forward, if the booklet about the catalogue of his virtues were available: but the volume of his little history, it is said, perished through negligence at Laon amid other papers. Let us, however, set forth his virtues as briefly as we can, not hesitating to praise Our Lord Jesus Christ in his praise, according to the Psalmist who says: "Praise the Lord in His Saints." Psalm 150:1 Let us therefore praise this glorious man, a man endowed with great virtue and prudence, whose name lives from generation to generation: let us declare his wisdom to the peoples, and announce his praise to the churches.

CHAPTER I

The birth of St. Vodalus, his preaching among the people of Soissons, his flight and return.

[3] St. Vodoalus, a Pict by nation, This most blessed Vodoalus was, as they say, born of the arrow-bearing nation of the Geloni, who are reported to derive their origin from the peoples of Scythia, and of whom the Poet says:

"And the tattooed Geloni." Virgil, Georgics 2.115

Whence also to this day they are commonly called Picts. From there, I say, for the name of Christ, he was carried by ship across the seas, and traversing many regions, came to the parts of Gaul, accompanied by only one companion, named Magnebert. Where, like a prudent farmer laboring at the Gospel agriculture, wherever he turned, he ploughed the bristling thickets of depravity He preaches Christ in Gaul: and committed the seeds of faith to rude minds, following the example of the heavenly Master, who had said: "As the Father has sent me, I also send you." John 20:21. Thus, therefore, from the diverse cities and provinces of Gaul, this most faithful Priest was presenting one flock to the true Shepherd: He resides at Soissons when he devoutly approached the city of Soissons and arrived, with the Lord guiding him, at the monastery of maidens most famous for its illustrious reputation, situated there in honor of the gracious Virgin Mary, Mother of God: in which to this day a great company of holy women is gathered from diverse nations on every side. And when he had arrived there, he was received with all eagerness by the venerable Abbess Adalgardis, near the abbey of St. Mary: and received a small dwelling on the eastern side near the wall of the city before the gate of the monastery, which to this day is called the Tower of St. Benedict.

[4] But before we come to his particular virtues, we must in some general fashion inquire into his life. For that man of God displayed such serenity of countenance and such gentleness of speech shining with every virtue, that by sight and hearing he instilled justice in all, and by sweetness of this kind quickly incited them to intimacy with himself. Indeed, in holy exercises of works, he so flourished in himself that he was alien to every defilement of the flesh. He utterly abhorred the pride of arrogance, the blemish of anger, the plague of envy, and the gluttony of the belly. Free from boasting, he equated the joys of the passing world's pomp with its ruins. The sadness of this world, like a monster, he banished from the secret of his heart... as one who knew neither how to be bent by adversity nor how to be exalted by prosperity. He also restrained the barriers of his mouth and ear from idle and vain things. His steps did not run in vain, nor did his feet proceed to no purpose. He crowned the diadem of his other charisms with a double fast: while he restrained his mind from wicked deed and thought, and restrained his flesh from the appetite for food. But what shall we say about the constancy of his prayer, to which he so devoted himself daily that the praise and confession of Christ and a continual supplication for the diminishing of his own and the people's sins were always on his lips? He was a lover and teacher of the poor, himself poor: and in him and in the aforesaid Adalgardis was fulfilled that prophecy: "The rich and the poor have met one another; the Lord is the maker of them both." Proverbs 22:2 dear to the Abbess Adalgardis: For truly, when the poor in spirit Vodoalus and the wealthy Adalgardis, meeting one another, were in harmony, the Lord cooperated with both; conferring upon him constancy in establishing faith and truth, and upon her efficacy in believing and obeying.

[5] Since such and so great was this man of the Lord, the invisible serpent did not cease to envy his peace, until through the wiles of its art it drove him, sustained by the wings of so many virtues, from our borders. For on a certain day, he gives food received from her to a poor person, when the aforesaid Abbess, as was her custom, had sent him some of her food in a silver vessel, and he through his servant Magnebert had immediately given the love-feast to a poor person asking at the door, the poor man, refreshed by the food, departed carrying the vessel with him. The next day the servants, seeking the vessel and learning what had happened, because the poor man stole the silver dish, returned and told their mistress. She, summoning him to herself and rebuking him, said: "If I sent you food for your meal, I did not order you to seize the silver vessel and take what is mine from me." He, bearing this grievously, prostrated himself on the ground and begged pardon for the offense: and departing from there, he himself, suspected, departs; he again took unknown ways, and setting out on a journey, he traversed many regions over nine years.

[6] It came to pass, however, that in the middle of his journey a fever seized him, which is commonly called tertian or quartan: and greatly afflicted, he came to the seashore to board the ship of a certain rich man, suffering from quartan fever, desiring to return to his homeland. And when, consumed by fever and hunger, he had remained there

for eight days, suddenly a storm arose, and the shrieking north wind raised the waves to the stars and drove the sail against the ship and dashed it. But the shipmaster, remembering Vodoalus, said to his men: "Go and refresh that pilgrim who came aboard with us. For he seems to me a just man: he calms the storm that arose; refreshed with food by the sailor, and on account of our negligence toward him, we suffer this shipwreck, as I believe." They went and found him scarcely palpitating with his last breath: and as soon as they refreshed him, the swelling seas grew calm, and once they reached the land, the sea ceased from its fury.

[7] That very night, the Angel of the Lord appeared to him saying: "Vodoalus, or Benedictus, what are you doing here? And where do you wish to go? For the Lord has sent me to you, that from this hour you may be made whole he is healed by an Angel, and be free from all fever. Moreover He has deigned to confer upon you so great a grace, that whoever shall have been vexed by this malady and shall have remembered your name in their prayers, [with an added promise concerning the healing of quartan fevers through his patronage,] they shall immediately obtain their desire." This we see happening daily at his tomb, the dust of which, with the cooperation of heavenly dispensation, we perceive to sparkle with miracles, since whoever has taken of that dust in drink with full faith, immediately receives health. Not only among us, but also in Italy and Aquitaine and many other provinces, many have received health through this dust. Furthermore, the aforesaid Angel gave him a staff saying: "Arise, do not linger: but strive with the utmost haste to return to Soissons, and go back to the monastery of maidens, to the cell from which you departed: and he is commanded to return to Soissons: because there you must complete the course of this toilsome present life. But this also has been granted to you by the Lord, that in the place of your relics fire shall in no wise prevail." And immediately when the Angel departed from him, hastening upon his way, after the course of nine years he returned to the city of Soissons.

[8] But before he approached the gate of the city, and anyone there yet knew of his arrival, behold, one of the servants a demoniac who had foretold his return who served the holy women there, having a demon hidden in him unknown to all, began to run and cry out, saying: "Rise up, for the blessed Vodoalus is already coming to cast me out from here: go therefore to meet him." Wherefore some of the sisters followed him all the way to the gate of the monastery, and opening the door, they found the man of God standing there. he frees him with a slap: He immediately looked upon that servant and, perceiving the demon lurking in him, struck his face with a slap and cast out the unclean spirit. he is kindly received by the religious: And when this was made known, the Abbess with the entire congregation came forth to meet him and received him with great honor. And so that holy man seemed to be numbered among those whose appearance is described by Ezekiel, saying: "Their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of torches": for he himself, burning like a torch of fire and flame, by teaching and working also sprinkled others with the abundant light of the spring of life from his mouth, and kindled the hearts of the lukewarm to the imitation of himself. Ezekiel 1:13

CHAPTER II

The miracles and death of St. Vodalus.

[9] He is led out from the flames by an Angel, who extinguishes them. Likewise, after a long time from his return, it happened that the cell in which he dwelt was suddenly believed to be burning with fire, but immediately the Angel of the Lord seized him by the hair of his head and transported him to an island of the river Aisne, and extinguished the fire.

[10] On a certain day also, when a kitchen attached to the monastery wall was burning with a fierce fire, and the Sisters, greatly terrified, did not know where to turn, he heals quartan fever and toothache: one of them, who was more closely attached to the holy man, and whom he himself had previously cured of quartan fever and toothache, came and said to him: "Blessed Vodoalus, come and rescue us from the present fire by your most pious prayer." He took his cloak, which is commonly called a "cappa," and casting it over her, ordered her to place it against the fire: he extinguishes a fire with his cappa; which power was afterward in his staff: and as soon as it was placed against the fire, the balls of flame were reflected back upon themselves, and the conflagration was immediately extinguished. Which even to this day we observe frequently accomplished through his staff (which is kept among us): for whenever a fire happens to break out anywhere in this city and that staff is brought against it, the fire immediately loses its power and is extinguished.

[11] When on a certain occasion the same venerable Priest, wishing to celebrate the solemnities of the Mass, was passing through the cloisters of the monastery, he saw two Sisters sitting, very sad and anxious. When he asked them what so great a sorrow afflicted them, one answered and said: he restores a torn garment with the Sign of the Cross: "One of the Nobles of the palace sent this garment which you see to the Abbess Adalgardis to be mended: she gave it to us to sew it: but when I seized the scissors, wishing to cut a knot of thread, I imprudently cut a piece of the garment: therefore, Father, we are distressed." He therefore, with the preeminent virtue of charity and armed with the shield of faith, made the Sign of the Cross over the garment: and immediately he restored it whole, as it had been before.

[12] he hears Angels singing: Finally, it was frequently granted to him to hear Angels singing in heaven. But since it would be lengthy to set forth the weight of his virtues through each particular kind of work, let it suffice to have gathered the sum of his religion and purity in a brief epilogue. Moreover, we call God to witness that nothing of panegyrical flattery has been inserted by us, lest we chance to fall into some charge of falsehood, especially because (as we mentioned above) the series of these deeds is by no means contained among us in written documents, but what we have learned from the deeds of other Fathers (of whose company this most holy man was) or what we have come to know from the report of the faithful, we have striven to insert here, though in unpolished speech.

[13] But why do we weave delays any longer, and, as though his death could be deferred, do we fear to turn our pen to it? In the month of January, he falls ill: when the earth was rough with excessive cold, falling into a most severe illness, he found what he desired — to leave the world and be joined wholly to the Lord. Perceiving, moreover, that his most prudent man that temporal death was at hand, closing his eyes, as though already despising human things, holding his finger to his mouth, he traced the Sign of the Cross on his lips. dying, he signs his mouth with the Cross: His breath was failing and he was gasping toward death: and his soul, straining to burst forth, was converting the very death-rattle, by which the life of mortals is ended, into praise of God. With only the warmth of his spirit palpitating in his sacred breast, he nonetheless whispered this verse from the Psalm, as though he were going to his own and leaving the others: reciting psalms, "Lord, I have loved the beauty of Your house and the place where Your glory dwells." Psalm 25:8 And: "I believe I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living." Psalm 26:13 And thus, taken from human affairs, as the morning star first rose, when the dawn had already moved the dewy shadow from the sky, leaving the saffron couch and illuminating the earth with the Phoebean lamp, on the day of the Nones of February, he dies, joined to the angelic choirs, he departed to the heavens. he is buried: His body was carried to the monastery of maidens, and there, in the basilica dedicated to the holy Cross, on the left side, he was placed in a tomb by devout preparers and honorably buried.

[14] After his death it happened that his servant Magnebert was ordered to go with other servants to cut wood from the forest. Weeping therefore and wailing, to his companion Magnebert, who was mourning, he cast himself before the tomb of the blessed man, and said: "Lord Vodoalus, why did you leave me surviving, I who cannot live without you? To whom did you leave me, and who will have pity on me, oppressed by the heavy yoke of servitude, which I am utterly unable to bear?" That very night the man of God appeared to him in a vision, saying: "Do not fear, for henceforth no one will burden you with any service." he appears and foretells his death, Then afterward, taking him by the hand, he said: "Come with me." The next day Magnebert, seized with fever, breathed forth his spirit, and was buried before the tomb of the Lord

Vodoalus by faithful and religious men.

[15] His ashes and bones, moreover, having rested in the same place for many years, the honor due to him was not shown to him by us: whence, so that more diligent worship and reverence might be bestowed upon him, he began again to manifest himself through miracles. Indeed, in our own recent times, on a certain night, after the morning hymns were completed, the Sisters, to whom this oratory had been entrusted for safekeeping, coming according to custom to trim the lamps, he shines with miracles, found the entire pavement wet with oil, which was being poured from a lamp hanging before his tomb. the lamp kindling of its own accord, the blind illuminated by its oil, Moreover, we have frequently seen the lamp itself rekindle of its own accord, that is, without human help, and we have observed the eyes of the blind, anointed with this oil, illuminated after the darkness was dispelled. Finally, from various diseases, and especially from fevers (for which a special virtue was granted to him by the Lord while he was still in the body, fevers cured, as we related above), people are refreshed daily. Whence a popular crowd, not only from the city of Soissons but also from the villages and hamlets in the surrounding area, flocks to his tomb for the purpose of fulfilling their vows.

[16] This is Your power, O Christ, who accomplish all the wondrous things which Your athletes are seen to perform. We implore therefore Your mercy, O good Redeemer, the writer prays to be aided by his merit, that You who adorned the blessed Vodoalus, for the merit of his life, with the splendor of signs and associated him with the company of Angels, through his interceding merits may grant us who trust in You the efficacy of obeying his precepts: so that, following his salutary examples, we may merit to attain the companionship of Your supreme perfection; You who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit live and reign forever and ever, Amen.