Saints of Mouzon: Victor the Martyr and Susanna the Virgin

CONCERNING THE HOLY SAINTS OF MOUZON: VICTOR THE MARTYR AND SUSANNA THE VIRGIN.

Preliminary Commentary.

Victor, Martyr, at Mouzon in Belgic Gaul (Saint) Susanna, Virgin, at Mouzon in Belgic Gaul (Saint)

By J. B.

[1] Mouzon is ^a small but strong city, of the Archdiocese of Reims, on the right bank of the Meuse, between Sedan and Stenay, Mouzon, ^a city of Belgic Gaul, formerly called Mosomagus, and fortified from the very times of the sons of Constantine the Great, and therefore called ^a castellum (fortress) in the Life of Saint Maximinus II, the most celebrated Bishop of Trier, known from the fourth century. written in the year 839, which we shall give on the twenty-ninth of May. It reads thus: "When they had arrived at the fortress of Mosomagus, ^a certain paralytic was presented to the blessed Maximinus to be healed. Nor were the prayers of the faithful in vain: for, restored without delay to the desired health, he presented ^a most splendid spectacle to the beholders. And that the inhabitants of the place might seem to show their gratitude, they built ^a church in honor of the blessed Maximinus, where his sacred relics had been placed." "Euoium (the text continues) is called ^a certain fortress, now belonging to the territory of Trier; as those entering this ..." etc. That church is now called Saint Maximinus at Oeuilly; and that village, commonly called Ully, or Oeuilly, or Euilly, is on the road leading from Mouzon to Ivois.

[2] About one hundred and fifty years later, Saint Remigius, Bishop of Reims, in an epistle which exists in volume 1 of the Gallic writers of Chesne, the fourth among the Frankish epistles, complains about Falco (or Fulco), Bishop of the Church of Maastricht, that he "had thought that by his unlawful ordinations the Church of the place of Mosomagus should be usurped by him, which Church the metropolitans of the city of Reims, under the protection of Christ, always governed by their own ordination." Concerning Saint Falco we shall treat below on the twentieth of February.

[3] The city and its church, having been devastated (as one may conjecture) by barbarian incursions, [restored by Herivaeus, Bishop of Reims, who brought there the relics of Saint Victor,] was restored by Herivaeus, Bishop of Reims, who was consecrated in the year 900 and died in 922. So Flodoard writes of him in his History of the Church of Reims, book 4, chapter 13: "This Bishop repaired the fortress of Mouzon with rebuilt walls, and restored the church there that had been destroyed, and dedicated it in honor of the holy Mother of God, as it had formerly been; having brought to himself the bones of Saint Victor, which had been found far from that fortress." Concerning that church of the holy Mother of God, Archbishop Adalbero of Reims speaks thus in the Council held at Mons Sanctae Mariae in the district of Tardenois in the year 993, in volume 3 of the Councils of Sirmond: "That monastic place of Mouzon, built with competitive zeal for antiquity, adapted namely from the beginning for the life of nuns, to the church of Saint Mary, then given to Canons, but afterward better organized by an order of Canons by Herivaeus our predecessor, and worthily consecrated in honor of the holy Mother of God, Mary; but carelessly neglected by disgraceful uses on both sides, with goods partly taken away and partly lost through intervening evils, yielded to adverse fortune." He then narrates that monks were established there by him under Abbot Letald. The reformed Benedictines now hold that monastery. then to the Benedictines: In the church is seen an ancient image of the Annunciation, at which miracles are said to have formerly been wrought. There is also in the town one other parish church, dedicated to Saint Martin.

[4] When Saint Victor lived, we have nowhere read. We found ^a compendium of his Life in an old codex of the Church of Saint Martin at Utrecht; a twofold Life of Saint Victor, but we give the fuller version from the Epitome of the Chronicle of the Monastery of the Blessed Mary of Mouzon, of the Order of Saint Benedict, ... collected from the old parchments and records of the same monastery, by the effort and industry of Nicolas Habert, Claustral Prior of the same monastery, published at Charleville in the year 1628, communicated to us by our colleague Christoph Wiltheim; who also testified to us that in the vestibule of the church is to be seen ^a finely carved marble sculpture of the history and martyrdom of Saint Victor and the blessed death of his sister, the Virgin.

[5] The same assured us, from the report of the Religious of that monastery, that the birthday of Saint Victor is celebrated solemnly at Mouzon on the ninth of February, his birthday: February 9. and the Translation on the tenth of September. We think the actual birthday is unknown; but because (as is said in the Life) the second Translation took place on the eighth of February, it was therefore established that his solemn feast should be held on the following day. his name in the Martyrologies, And in ^a single manuscript Calendar we have found his name noted at that day. But on the day before the Nones of March, Hermann Greven, the Carthusian of Cologne, has thus in his Supplement to Usuard: "Of Victor the Martyr of Mouzon." And the Florarium of the Saints: "Likewise of Saints Victor of Mouzon, Martyr, and Fridolin, Confessor," etc. In ^a certain manuscript, not very ancient, the name of Saint Victor is inscribed at the thirteenth of February; whether this or another, is not indicated.

[6] The first translation of his relics was when they were carried into the church of Saint Peter, First Translation, into the church of Saint Peter, having previously been buried next to the wall of the same church in the common cemetery. This is narrated in the Life, number 4, as having happened under Hincmar of Reims. Hincmar sat from the year 845 to 882. But that translation seems not to have had much solemnity.

[7] The second Translation, when from the church of Saint Peter at Fossadus, as it is called, that sacred treasure was conveyed to the church of Saint Mary at Mouzon, Second, to that of Mouzon; Habert in the Life would place under the same Hincmar; Flodoard (to whom more faith must be given) places it under Herivaeus. Nevertheless, the church of Saint Peter, though despoiled of that treasure, continued to be honored. For in the year 948, as Flodoard testifies, ^a Synod was held "in the church of Saint Peter, before the prospect of the fortress of Mouzon." The church of Saint Peter honored with indulgences, And Habert writes that Abbot Bertrand obtained from Pope Nicholas IV, about the year 1291, an indulgence of one year and forty days, from enjoined penances, for all the truly penitent and confessed who should visit the Chapel of Saint Peter in the church of Saint Mary of Mouzon, and that outside the walls of the city on the hill, on the feasts of the Lord Peter and their Octaves, and likewise the dedications of the same. Of that church, the same Wiltheim reported, now fallen to ruin. nothing now remains except ^a stone altar and vestiges of the ancient cemetery; yet each year in the Rogations ^a procession is led there; it is situated outside the Burgundian Gate, in the vineyards.

[8] The third Translation of Saint Victor, Habert commemorates thus: Third Translation, or deposition in ^a new shrine. "Abbot Boso caused ^a silver shrine to be fabricated, into which the body of the blessed Victor was translated by Ebalus, Archbishop of Reims, on the fourth day before the Ides of September, in the year of the Lord 1025." That shrine, elegantly adorned with silver statues of the twelve Apostles, is preserved on the altar which is seen erected behind the principal altar dedicated to the Virgin Mother of God.

[9] Next to that shrine there stands another, square and about two feet high, Relics of his sister, who is called Susanna. The reliquary shrines opened. which contains the sacred bones of the sister of Saint Victor, ^a Virgin; whom the people, because her name is unknown, call Saint Susanna -- which name we too have retained.

[10] Concerning these and other reliquary shrines, Habert writes: "Abbot Thomas de Allicourt, in the year 1458, opened the reliquary cases of our Church, in the presence of the Dean of Mouzon, with ^a celebrated concourse of the entire region."

[11] Moreover, the townspeople are most tenacious of the Catholic religion, to such ^a degree that they never granted the heretical soldiers, who had once been placed there by the King of France to guard the place, The piety of the citizens: the faculty of holding sermons within the walls, or of doing anything contrary to ecclesiastical discipline. They are especially devoted to the honor of the Virgin Mother of God and of Saint Victor, whom they say was their fellow citizen. Besides the two churches I have mentioned, there is another convent of Benedictine nuns, and another in the very spacious suburbs, of the Capuchins.

LIFE

from the ancient manuscripts of Mouzon, published by Nicolas Habert.

Victor, Martyr, at Mouzon in Belgic Gaul (Saint) Susanna, Virgin, at Mouzon in Belgic Gaul (Saint)

From the manuscripts of Mouzon.

CHAPTER 1. The Slaying of Saint Victor. First Translation.

[1] Victor was born at Mouzon, of humble station, but of Christian parents. He had ^a sister of most elegant beauty and form. When the Prince of Mouzon conceived ^a shameful passion for her, Victor, like the blessed John the Baptist, ^a vigorous champion of chastity, Saint Victor strengthens his sister in the pursuit of virginity: thought she must be removed from the profane embraces of that wicked man. The impure Prince therefore, inflamed with the fires of lust, left no stone unturned to draw the Virgin to his purpose. But she, heeding the salutary counsels of her brother, could never be persuaded to consent to so great ^a crime. Victor too, often tempted both by entreaties and by bribes, could never be moved from his resolve.

[2] The tyrant, impatient of delay, thinking himself scorned, turned his love into fury and resolved to obtain by force and power she is therefore blinded by the impure Prince: what he had long been unable to achieve by words and money. For when he saw that the girl was so constant that she could not be bent, he ordered his servants to gouge out her eyes. Behold, those who were recently messengers of pleasure suddenly become ministers of ^a most cruel command: for having received the master's order, more quickly than words can tell, they seized the Virgin at ^a convenient moment and cruelly blinded her.

[3] When Victor's patience, already long wounded, would no longer allow him to conceal this injury, he himself confronted the Prince, presented to him the atrocity of the crime, and urged him to wash it away by penance, if he wished to escape the divine judgment. Victor reproaches him, But the Prince, unable to bear the reproach of ^a man of low station, thought it beneath his dignity to let so bold ^a deed go unpunished. He therefore commanded those same abettors of his wickedness to add murder to the attempted defilement. Without delay, the domestics, composing their minds at the nod of their master, and is slain by his orders. most officiously set about repressing the intolerable boldness of Victor: for as he was entering ^a church at some time, he was seized by them and most cruelly slaughtered.

[4] After Victor was slain, his body was buried next to the wall of the Church of Saint Peter, not far from the fortress of Mouzon, The body is buried and lies hidden for ^a long time: in ^a hamlet formerly called Fossadus. When so great ^a treasure was hidden away in the temple of the Lord, the gem of God lay hidden through many courses of years, until the episcopate of the Lord Hincmar, Bishop of Reims, and about the year of the Lord eight hundred and eighty. When it pleased the Lord to reveal the name and merit of His Martyr, by divine judgment that part of the wall fell down under which, among many other tombs, the body of Victor lay. Waningus, then the Pastor of that Church, ran to the sudden collapse of the church; found by accident, at whose command, when the disordered stones were being separated and the foundation laid bare, the sepulchre of the precious Martyr was found. When the builders discovered this, they were of the opinion that ^a solid building could not be erected there unless the buried corpses were transferred. Assenting to their advice, the Priest Waningus, transferred elsewhere: with solemn ceremony, transferred the body of Victor to another monument in the Church.

[5] About the same time it happened that ^a certain woman in the fortress of Mouzon lost the light of her eyes, at it ^a blind woman receives her sight, in which affliction, consumed by distress and weariness, she wasted away for more or less three months. The Lord, rich toward all, looking upon her misery with kindlier eyes, was preparing to relieve her calamity through the merits of Victor. by ^a heavenly admonition: For when the same Waningus had once fallen asleep, ^a messenger appeared to him divinely, advising him to announce to the blind woman the remedy that was at hand. The Priest, aroused, hastened to the woman, urging her not to neglect the divinely offered protection of so obliging ^a Patron. She, eager for salvation, heeding the pious counsels of the Priest, asked to be led to the church, where, rolling the veil which Waningus had ordered to be brought over the sepulchre of Victor, as soon as she applied it to her eyes, she immediately saw.

CHAPTER 2. The Miracles of Saint Victor.

[6] When so unheard-of ^a miracle had occurred with the most reliable witness, Victor was thereafter held in great veneration. The Saint is more venerated thereafter: And so frequent vigils were kept by the faithful at his sepulchre, which the Lord illuminated with the most manifest signs of His Martyr's sanctity. For when ^a certain Cleric of the same church was once keeping vigil at his tomb, falling asleep he saw in ^a dream ^a man very beautiful in appearance, walking before the altar, reading ^a book which he held in his hands, at the front of the tomb. Moreover, two birds, resembling doves, suddenly flew in; one from the East and the other from the West, and each settled on the surface of the sepulchre. he appears to ^a Cleric in sleep; Then, when the mound covering the tomb was marvelously rolled back, the glorious Martyr appeared, risen up, exchanging words with the same man. The Cleric, terrified by the novelty of the thing, awakened and roused his companion, urging him to be present as an eyewitness to so manifest ^a revelation. When he who was conversing with the Martyr noticed this, he extinguished the light that was burning there, and thus the vision suddenly vanished.

[7] Not long afterward, it happened that Gandulf, ^a Priest of the same Church, was several times divinely warned concerning the glory of Victor. then to ^a Priest, For when he had once fallen asleep, it seemed to him in his dream that he entered the church and that holy Victor stood at the right horn of the altar in the likeness of ^a most glorious man. When the Priest questioned him, he was advised to have care of his monument and that he should no longer lie in so lowly ^a burial. commanding his sepulchre to be more honored: He enjoined furthermore that his elevated relics should be placed at the right horn of the altar of Saint Peter, with the feet disposed toward the West; and that he should inform Rigobald, Archbishop of Reims, to assign two boys to their custody.

[8] Again, twelve days later, an even more manifest and august revelation concerning Victor was made to the same Priest in his sleep. For it seemed to him that he was in the church of the blessed Martin in the fortress of Mouzon, and that the blessed Martyr stood at the right horn of the altar of the blessed George. Victor, addressing him, said: again he urges the same, "Go to the church of the blessed Peter and prepare and make ready ^a sarcophagus in which I may lie." The Priest seemed to himself to go at the command of Victor and to carry out all things as he had directed. While therefore he seemed to be going, having turned around, it appeared that the blessed Victor was standing and urging him to accomplish everything swiftly. When all things had been prepared as he had ordered, Victor seemed to embrace him with outstretched hands, and having kissed him, to enter the monument. The Priest, emboldened by so great an intimacy, reverently asked Victor about his life, to whom he replied: "I always dwelt within the bounds of the fortress of Mouzon. When ^a most ambitious man ruled, burning with ^a shameful love for my sister, he resolved to enjoy her embraces outside the lawful use of marriage. and reveals who he is. But because I refused to connive at the pleasures of the impure man, he ordered the Virgin's eyes to be gouged out; and he commanded me to be most cruelly killed." Then the same Priest seemed to see the body of the blessed Martyr, as though recently wounded, livid with the marks of wounds. Then, having once again commended the care of his monument, the vision vanished.

[11] The chronological foundations of Frankish affairs in the seventh century were laid down on the first and sixth of February in the Lives of Saint Sigebert, King of the Austrasian Franks, and of Saint Amandus, Bishop of Maastricht: The computation of his years must be begun from Saint Wandregisel: where we showed that only the years of the Kings are customarily observed by Frankish historians, while the years of Christ, of the Popes, of the Emperors, and of the Ecclesiastical Indictions are neglected -- which, interpolated into subsequent centuries with great chronological error, provided learned men with the occasion of straying from the truth. Having noted this in passing, we begin from Saint Wandregisel. His Life exists, inscribed to Saint Lambert, Archbishop of Lyon, his successor in the governance of Fontenelle, in which the Author relates either what he himself saw or what was asserted with the truest testimony by venerable monks who adhered to him for extended periods, as the preface in various manuscript codices reads -- to be given on the twenty-second of July.

[12] This Saint Wandregisel, therefore, when he was flourishing in the reputation of holiness under King Dagobert he flourishes under Dagobert, (who succeeded his father Chlothar II, who died in the year 628), built ^a monastery in the territory of Elisgaugium; then setting out for Italy, he visited the monastery of Saint Columban at Bobbio, and going to Rome, he venerated the thresholds of the Apostles. On his return toward Gaul, having crossed the Alps, in ^a certain monastery called Roman, situated beyond the Jura forest, he embraced obedience and for the course of nearly ten years served the Lord in blessed devotion under regular discipline, as the author of the Life relates at greater length. Meanwhile, King Dagobert had departed this life on the fourteenth day before the Kalends of February, in the fourteenth year of his reign, the year of Christ 644, and Chlodoveus, leaving as his successor in Neustria Chlodoveus II, in the third year of whose reign, the year of Christ 646, Saint Audoenus was consecrated Archbishop of Rouen, the predecessor of Saint Ansbert, and indeed, made Archbishop of Rouen in the year 646, as he himself writes in the Life of Saint Eligius, both were then consecrated as Bishops together -- the former of Noyon -- on the fourteenth of May, ^a Sunday, before the Litanies, or Rogation Days. Thereafter, roused by the fame of Audoenus's sanctity and admonished also in ^a vision, Saint Wandregisel left the monastery at the Jura forest, came to Rouen, and having spent some time with Saint Audoenus, was ordained by him Subdeacon, and in course of time Deacon, promoted to sacred Orders, and not long after, at his command, was consecrated Priest by Saint Audomarus, Bishop of Therouanne.

[13] At that time the Mayor of the Palace of Chlodoveus was Erchinoald, ^a kinsman of Saint Wandregisel on his mother's side. With him donating the estate of Fontenelle, he builds the monastery of Fontenelle in the eleventh year of Chlodoveus, the latter began to build the monastery on the day of the Kalends of March, in the eleventh year of the aforesaid King Chlodoveus, and indeed, as the interpolator added, "in the year of the Lord's Incarnation six hundred and forty-five, in the third Indiction, when the most blessed Pope Martin presided over the See of the Roman Church" -- the manuscripts adding "in the seventh year." The year of the Pope was omitted by Surius, as if it did not agree with the year of Christ 645 -- in which year Martin was not yet Pope, having been elected in the year 647 -- and accordingly on these Kalends of March in the eleventh year of Chlodoveus, the year of Christ 654. the year of Christ according to our chronology being 654, he was in the seventh year of his pontificate, though in exile. Moreover, in the said year 645, Saint Audoenus was not yet Bishop, having been consecrated only the following year; and it was after that event that Saint Wandregisel came from his monastery at the Jura forest to him, and was gradually promoted to the priesthood, and at last built the monastery of Fontenelle in the year, as we have said, of Chlodoveus XI, the year of Christ 654 -- which chronology the following events confirm in an accurate series. Thus in the fifteenth year of Chlodoveus, the fourth of Saint Wandregisel, ^a certain Betto, who had wronged him, was seized by ^a demon and healed by his prayers, demonstrating the agreement between the years of Chlodoveus's reign and Saint Wandregisel's governance.

[14] When King Chlodoveus died after completing eighteen years of his reign, his son Chlothar III succeeded in the year of Christ 662, Under Chlothar III, the beginning of whose reign the same Acts splendidly confirm. For just as the first year of Saint Wandregisel is matched with the eleventh year of Chlodoveus, and the fourth with the fifteenth, which were the years of Christ 654 and 657, so the fifteenth year of the same Wandregisel agrees with the seventh year of Chlothar, which is the year of Christ 668, in which he approached the King and received the privilege of royal confirmation over the area of his monastery by ^a most generous grant, he admits Saint Ansbert, who became ^a monk after being Chancellor: with the assistance of Saint Ansbert, who held the highest offices in the court of Chlothar -- at first ^a learned secretary, then ^a drafter of Royal privileges, and finally the bearer of the Royal ring, by which office is indicated what later generations called the Chancellorship. But having left the palace, he went to Saint Wandregisel and became ^a monk under him, and predicted the kingdom for Theuderic, the King's brother, confirming it by ^a notable miracle. Wandregisel held, as is said below in the Acts, number 13, he dies in the twentieth year of his governance, this monastery in governance from the first day of its building through ^a space of nearly twenty years. This is expressed more precisely in the Life of Wandregisel himself: namely that he completed in his sacred governance nineteen years, four months, and also twenty-one days -- which months and days intervene from the Kalends of March (on which day we said above the monastery of Fontenelle began to be built) to the eleventh day before the Kalends of August, the year of Christ 673, that is, the twenty-second of July, on which he died. That year is the year of Christ 673, the twelfth of Chlothar, as ^a manuscript codex of the monastery of Saint Catherine near Rouen indicates. He who amplified the Acts with certain additions judged that Saint Wandregisel died "in the year from the Lord's Incarnation 665, not the year 665. Indiction VIII." But according to this supplement, if both years -- that of the foundation of the monastery and that of the death of Saint Wandregisel -- are compared, Wandregisel would have governed it for ^a full twenty years, four months, and twenty-one days; so that even from this it is established that that writer was not sufficiently circumspect in interpolating the years of Christ. Indeed, since in the year of Christ 665 the third year of King Chlothar was counted, the fifteenth year of Wandregisel is erroneously matched in the same Acts with the seventh year of the same King, in which we said the privilege was granted; and at the death of Saint Wandregisel his twentieth year is matched with the twelfth year of Chlothar, or at least the eleventh, as printed. Let the mark of the death of Saint Wandregisel therefore remain undoubted: that he departed from the living in the twelfth year of Chlothar, the year of Christ 673; which year is demanded by the correctly ordered year of the building of the monastery of Fontenelle and is confirmed by the years of the succeeding Abbots.

[15] Jacques Severt, Claude Robert, Jean Chenu on the Bishops of Lyon, Rainaud in his Index of the Saints of Lyon, Saint Genesius, afterward Archbishop of Lyon, did not succeed him, Saussay in his Gallic Martyrology at the Kalends of November, and others, believe that Saint Genesius succeeded him; whom the reckoning of time amply refutes. For when Saint Annemundus, Archbishop of Lyon, was killed in the time of Chlothar reigning with his mother Saint Bathild, "the servant of Christ, the Lord Genesius, at Christ's command, was ordained Bishop of Lyon in Gaul; he had previously been constant in the Frankish palace, through whom the Lady Bathild, together with the rule of King Chlodoveus, distributed generous alms to all the poor in many places" -- as the Acts of Saint Bathild on January 26 state. At which time Saint Wandregisel was either building the monastery of Fontenelle or, having built it, was forming it by monastic rules. In the same Life Genesius is called an Abbot, but of which monastery is not stated -- perhaps he was so styled as ^a courtesy title at the palace; and because his successor, Saint Lambert, went from being Abbot of Fontenelle to becoming Archbishop of Lyon, this was attributed to Genesius as well.

[16] Upon the death of Saint Wandregisel, therefore, Saint Lambert was elected as the second Abbot of Fontenelle, but Saint Lambert. as both the Life of Saint Wandregisel and the Acts of Saint Ansbert, number 13, testify. Under his governance, when Chlothar had reigned fourteen years, Theuderic succeeded in the year 676, and when he was expelled, his brother Childeric, previously King of the Austrasians, succeeded him; when Childeric was killed in the fourth year of his reign, Theuderic recovered the kingdom in the year 680. Aigradus says below in number 16 that he once committed to memory for posterity the deeds of Saint Condedus the Priest, worthy of imitation, from manuscripts to be given on the twenty-first of October; in which it is said that "the very rich and noble Schiwaldus conveyed certain small properties as ^a perpetual gift to Saint Condedus on the sixth day before the Ides of October, in the third year of the aforesaid King Theuderic," which was the ninth year of Abbot Lambert, therefore the year of Christ 682 -- ^a notable confirmation of the chronology established by us. When Saint Genesius died on the fourth day before the Kalends of November in the year 680, and in the year 684, Saint Ansbert succeeded him, Saint Lambert was ordained Archbishop of Lyon, and in the monastery of Fontenelle Saint Ansbert succeeded him as the third Abbot. This epoch is splendidly corroborated by the same Aigradus in the Life of Saint Condedus in these words: "The aforesaid noble Schiwaldus gave another charter of donation concerning the monastery of the island of Belcinnaca and the properties pertaining to it, which was executed in the monastery of Fontenelle, in the seventh year of King Theuderic, with Saint Ansbert governing the monastery of Fontenelle in his second year, since the man of the Lord, Lambert, had already assumed the episcopate of the Church of Lyon." That year was the year of Christ 686, and confirms the aforesaid calculation.

[5] Then her father, understanding that this was happening to his offspring by divine agency, inquired of her whether she had chosen to end her life under the vow of virginity. And she said: "I desire, my father, and with all my efforts I implore the mercy of the Most High, the betrothal being dissolved, that I may be made worthy to become the handmaid of continence and chastity, not of unbridled luxury. For Christ, whom I desired as my spouse, Himself inflicts this bodily affliction upon me, so that He may grant radiance to my soul. He will be my perpetual guardian, and will grant me to persevere forever in my resolve of virginity. This present life delights, kind father, but it deceives: because all that is in the world is vanity and the concupiscence of the eyes; and the world passes away, and the concupiscence thereof. But he who does the will of God abides forever, just as the Lord abides forever." Upon hearing this, her father summoned the illustrious Sivinus and clearly revealed what had transpired concerning his aforesaid daughter. To this Sivinus replied: "One must follow the will of the Lord in all things, and having received the sacred veil, and in no way wish to oppose His direction: whose judgments, though hidden, are always just." The Blessed Ansbert was also summoned and was present, where he drew up ^a document of dissolution, so that the holy virgin Angadrisina might be called the bride not of him, but of Christ the Lord. This done, she was sent to the city of Rouen, to the holy Bishop Audoenus, that having received his blessing and being covered with the sacred veil, she might be worthy to be consecrated in her resolve of virginity. She is healed. When this was accomplished, she was instantly restored to her former beauty and elegant appearance, so that all who heard said that Christ had chosen her as His bride and perpetual handmaid.

[6] In the following period she was also made the holy governess of the monastery of Oratorium, which is situated in the district of Beauvais, near the walls of the city of Beauvais. The father of this holy virgin, the illustrious Robert, and his brother Altbert, were the uncles of the holy father Lambert, the successor in the order of governance to the Blessed Wandregisel, tracing their origin from the territory of Therouanne. Of these, the aforesaid Altbert subsequently became ^a monk in the monastery of Fontenelle under the said Abbot Lambert. She is made Abbess.

[7] After this, the man of God, Ansbert, was brought to the King's court by his father, though unwilling; and since he was distinguished by the sharpness of his intellect, Saint Ansbert, Chancellor of the Kingdom, he began to be ^a learned court scribe and ^a drafter of royal privileges, and the bearer of the royal ring, by which those same privileges were sealed. While stationed there, turning himself to the Lord by the examples of pious teaching and humility, he took care to leave the world and to frequent monasteries. And so, while still constituted in the lay habit, by holy preaching and the teaching of wisdom he exhorted many, inviting them to the rewards of eternal felicity; and thus daily advancing and growing in the Lord, he took care to augment the grace bestowed upon him by Christ. But when, before the King and the Princes, he heard in the customary manner various instruments of the musical art resounding with strings and pipes, he would say to himself: Upon hearing music, "O good Creator, what sort of unfailing song will it be to hear the Angels in the heavens for those who love You, and how sweet and delightful it will be as the choirs of the Saints sing together and ceaselessly sound forth praises to You, their Creator -- he is carried away in love of God if You bestow upon mortals such skill, that by the mastery of art and the sweetness of song they may stir the hearts of their hearers to devoutly praise You, God the Creator of all!" And he would add: "Praise the Lord, all you faithful, with timbrel and dance; praise Him with strings and organ," and so on to the end of the Psalm. Psalm 150.

p. Therouanne, ^a city of the Morini on the river Liane, destroyed by Charles V in the year 1553.

q. Named for the abundance of springs flowing in that place, as is related in the Life of Saint Wandregisel its founder.

r. This office belonged to the Chancellor. Feron claims it was held by him under Dagobert, but Jean Dadre says under Theuderic; both are refuted from this passage.

s. Surius: "the mastery of art and the sweetness."

CHAPTER II

The monastic life of Saint Ansbert under Saint Wandregisel as Abbot.

[8] At length, while remaining in the court of the King, not unmindful of the Gospel where it says, "Unless one renounces all things, he cannot be my disciple," by God's providence and His inspiration, having secretly left the court, he chose to leave earthly military service and to serve the heavenly King. Luke 14:33. Then, kindled by the fire of divine love and suffused with the light of the Holy Spirit, he departed from the palace, and wishing to confide his intention to none of his companions or servants, he took the road that leads to the province of Rouen, and arrived at the monastery of Fontenelle, situated in the territory of Rouen upon the great river Seine, where the illustrious Priest of the Lord, Wandregisel, had built ^a monastery, Ansbert comes to Fontenelle: and with ^a great company of monks was leading ^a praiseworthy life under the yoke of the holy Rule. When he had been received in the guesthouse of the same monastery according to the monastic order at the holy man's command, he humbly began to implore the attendant that he might be deemed worthy to see the Father of the holy monastery. And when the attendants had reported the request to the pious Father, he at length ordered the aforesaid elegant youth to be brought into his presence. Then, prostrate on the ground, humbly adoring Christ dwelling in so great ^a Father, he begged of him to be made ^a monk. For he declared that he would renounce the world in body and mind, and humbly entreated that the hair of his head be ordered shorn for the love of Christ. He obtains the clerical habit from Saint Wandregisel: But when the venerable Father heard his holy and God-worthy petition, he said that he wished to have ^a period of deliberation on the matter, so that, as the Apostolic and monastic rule teaches, he might know to what end the man had come. When this was completed, the illustrious Father, receiving the counsel of the spiritual brethren, fulfilled his pious wishes just as he had requested, and returned him adorned with the habit of the clericature.

[9] And so from that time the same man of God began to burn with the love of the sacred Scriptures by reading them, and to pluck assiduously by understanding the sweetest fruits thereof. And when the blessed Father Wandregisel perceived that sharpness of intellect flourished in the aforesaid youth, he devotes himself to sacred reading: he quickly ordered that an abundance of diverse volumes be given to him. While diligently reading through these, he found ^a saying written by ^a certain holy Father, Jerome, Epistle 4 to Rusticus, Chapter 6, containing this instruction: "A monk should live in ^a monastery under the discipline of one Father and in the company of many, so that from one he may learn humility, from another patience." Reading through this and the rest, he strives for humility and other virtues: and bathing his eyes with ^a shower of tears, he began to consider most attentively how he might fulfill these things by putting them into practice. First indeed he strove to lay the foundation of humility, the guardian of all virtues, in his heart, imitating Him who says: "Learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart." Matthew 11:29. And thus submitting his devout neck to the sweet yoke of Christ and His light burden, he became in the assembly of monks more humble than all, and obedient to everyone, frequent in vigils, assiduous in prayers, fervent in spirit, rejoicing in hope, serving the Lord without ceasing. To him was also given, from the compunction of heart through the infusion of the Holy Spirit, an outpouring of tears.

[10] And when, rising before the hours of the vigils, he would grow weary while devoting himself to earnest prayers, when the bell was struck to rouse the brethren swift in rising, that they might chant the praises of the Lord, he would present himself in the assembly of prayer before all others -- in this also, as in all other activities, showing the monks ^a path worthy of imitation, so that the man of God who presided over the governance of that place would chide and rebuke many, reproving their faintheartedness, because the aforesaid youth, recently converted, surpassed them in the work of God and in the observance of the Rule. And he began to love him more dearly, as the monastic norm teaches, he is exercised in manual labor: as one who was deservedly to be loved by all for his devout radiance in religion. For on ^a certain day, in the assembly of all the monks, he humbly entreated the illustrious Priest of the Lord, Wandregisel, that it might be permitted him in the daily work of the hands to labor beyond the customary work of the brethren, with the Father's permission, so that he might mortify those members of his that were opposing him upon the earth. When he implored these things, the brethren, giving thanks to almighty God, marveled at his God-worthy devotion. And when he rejoiced that what he had asked was granted by the spiritual Father, he began to fulfill what he had requested with great devotion.

[11] For at ^a certain time, on the southern side, at ^a distance of approximately five hundred paces from the aforesaid monastery, at the encouragement of the same man of God, Blessed Wandregisel, he began to plant and cultivate ^a vineyard. In that place, when the aforesaid man of the Lord, Ansbert, was working together with the brethren, the Priest cultivates ^a vineyard: Theuderic, ^a young man who would become King, engaged in hunting as was his ancestral custom, approached the said man of God, because he knew him to be prudent in teaching, humble in manner, and most holy in example. For he had already been consecrated ^a Priest by the holy Bishop Audoenus of the Church of Rouen. The same man of Christ both fortified him with ^a holy blessing he predicts the kingdom for Theuderic, and instructed him with many exhortations of holy teaching by priestly authority, and moreover predicted that he would become King. When the latter denied that this would come to pass, the man of God answered: "Know that you will be elevated to the honor of kingship; but know also that you will suffer many adversities in your reign, and will thus most laboriously achieve triumph over your enemies." This the outcome of events afterward proved. To this the young Theuderic replied: "If the pious ordinance of almighty God establishes me ruling on the summit of kingship, I desire you to be made ^a Bishop worthy of God, that the Church of the faithful may grow through perpetual and holy teaching." And as ^a sign thereof. When the Priest of the Lord said that he was unworthy to bear so great ^a burden, and suggested that the other, by right of hereditary succession, ought rather to ascend to the heights of kingship, and the latter still remained doubting, the holy man added: "In this you shall know that credence must be given to my words: if today, in the winter season, the place where this tent stands, which now appears worn from the footsteps of those who tread upon it, produces green grass, and thus around the traces of the same tent remains greener than the other parts of the field for all time." That this came to pass according to the word of the man of God is an indication to all who come there, the place turning green in winter: so that to this day that place appears greener than the rest of the field, in the shape of ^a tent once fixed there, whether in winter or in summer. O great and illustrious glory of this Saint, whose praiseworthy merit almighty God willed to demonstrate by such ^a sign: that he who, like ^a palm, was flourishing in the house of Christ, might by such ^a presage of virtue be made manifest to the peoples.

[12] And when the aforesaid man of God had rested briefly from manual labor, refreshed by the slightest sleep, he seasons his labor with meditation: he was again intent with all effort upon divine meditation. And since he shone with such great light of humility, obedience, and devotion, the fervor of true charity had inflamed the hearts of all around him, so that he was venerated by all with wonderful affection. He himself, however, always burning with desire for future glory, was unfailing in the work of the Lord.

CHAPTER III

The monastic life of Saint Ansbert under Saint Lambert as Abbot.

[13] It now seems worthwhile, therefore, to narrate how the holy man was promoted and established in the place of governance. From the two by Saint Wandregisel on his deathbed. When the illustrious Priest of the Lord, Wandregisel, had held this monastery in governance from the first day of its building through ^a space of nearly twenty years, and was now placed in decrepit old age,

before the day of his departure from this life he was seized with illness and came to his last moments. And he asked with ^a tearful voice the entire company of monks whom from among themselves they would choose as their Rector. To whom he is said to have given this reply: "Two are before us, dearest sons; appoint them as your Rectors, and protect my frail departure with your prayers, and always remember my admonitions. Deemed worthy. To Christ, the supreme Shepherd, I commit the care of you this day, that He may preserve you to the end with perpetual protection." When he had been received into the fellowship of the heavenly kingdom by the angelic choirs, Saint Lambert is elected: the entire company of monks implored the mercy of Christ the Lord, celebrating ^a three-day fast. When this was completed, by God's command they chose the servant of the Lord, Lambert, distinguished in religion and noble in birth, born from the territory of Therouanne; whose father was named Erlebert, and who bestowed very many estates upon the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle in that same region of Therouanne by ^a generous gift.

[14] The same venerable Father Lambert was full of charity, preeminent in chastity, firm in faith, prudent in counsel, By the counsel of Saint Ansbert he holily governs the monastery: praiseworthy in goodness, affable in conversation, handsome in face and stature, venerable to all, and fervent in the religion of Christ. And by the grace of divine charity inspiring him, the same venerable Father venerated the blessed servant of Christ, Ansbert, as ^a father, and loved him as ^a son. And they had in the Lord one heart and one soul. He who had undertaken the care of governance, at the counsels of the holy Father Ansbert, conducted all things strenuously and irreproachably in tending the flock of Christ according to the norm of the holy Fathers. By their examples of pious action and by the diligent exhortations of their words, very many were stirred and took up the paths of holy conversion.

[15] To this venerable Father Lambert, King Theuderic, He receives Dusera in Provence from the King, the son of King Chlodoveus and Queen Bathild, bestowed ^a certain patrimony called Dusera, which was situated beyond the river Rhone in the region properly called Provence, in such ^a manner that this estate would furnish lights for the church of the monks dwelling in the monastery of Fontenelle, in oil and other necessities for this purpose. In that place the aforesaid Father built an outstanding monastery of monks, having sent monks from the monastery of Fontenelle, who diligently executed that praiseworthy work. And from ^a small estate there exists to this day ^a great monastery of monks, and there he builds ^a monastery, and one that is preeminent above others in that region. This passage was inserted by later hands: for the division of the kingdom occurred under Charles Martel, when that monastery, along with other venerable places, having been somewhat devastated over ^a considerable period, ceased its subjection to the said monastery of Fontenelle.

[16] Also under his governance, the Blessed Hermeland, another through Saint Hermeland: from the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle, at the request of the venerable Bishop Pascharius of the city of Nantes, was sent by the same Father Lambert into that same region of Nantes, and on ^a certain island of the channel of the Loire, which was called Antrum, he built ^a venerable monastery of monks, appropriate to its name. In the charter of endowment, the aforesaid Bishop Pascharius established that after the death of the same venerable Father Hermeland, all the inhabitants of the aforesaid place should appoint Rectors for themselves from the monastery of Fontenelle through all succeeding times, as the endowment charters of that same place, which are still preserved in the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle, most clearly declare.

[17] He receives Saints Erembert and Condedus at Fontenelle: Also while the aforesaid Father Lambert held the governance of the place, the blessed Bishop of Christ, Erembert of the city of Toulouse, and the holy Priest and anchorite Condedus, born on the island of Britain, assumed both the name and the habit worthy of God as monks in the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle. For many things worthy of God and useful to the place, accomplished by him and under his governance, could be said concerning so great ^a Father -- were we not hastening to other matters -- which we have formerly committed more fully to memory in his Acts, to be conveyed to posterity.

[18] In what order he was appointed Bishop in Lyon, that most celebrated city of Gaul, we shall narrate briefly. When Saint Genesius, Bishop of that city, Upon the death of Saint Genesius, whose God-worthy life his praiseworthy Acts commend, had died, immediately the pious King Theuderic and the illustrious Prince Pippin, son of Ansegisel, ^a kinsman of the blessed Father Wandregisel, he is made Bishop of Lyon, together with the magnates of the palace, taking salutary counsel -- by God's providing command indeed -- established him as Bishop of that same city, with the unanimous vote of the people of that region. But when he long resisted through excessive humility and was unwilling to accept, compelled by royal command and priestly election, he was ordained Bishop of the aforesaid metropolitan city. And so, dispatched to that same province with the honor befitting his priestly office, he governed the flock of Christ with irreproachable diligence, by examples of humility, holy preaching, and pious action. And there, summoned by the Lord and freed from the bonds of earthly corruption, he happily departed to the joys of the celestial city.

p. The sons of Saint Arnulf were Ansegisel, Waltchis, and Flodulf. The son of Waltchis was Saint Wandregisel; Cousins used for paternal cousins, the son of Ansegisel was Pippin; and the son of Flodulf was Martin, who with him was Mayor of the Palace. These three were paternal cousins, who are here called "kinsmen," just as in that age "uncle" is generally taken for "paternal uncle."

CHAPTER IV

The governance of the monastery of Fontenelle conferred upon Saint Ansbert.

[19] Saint Ansbert is made Abbot: In the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle, after the departure of the same holy Bishop Lambert, with divine aid favoring them, the unanimous monks of that same congregation chose the Blessed Ansbert to preside over them as their Rector. He, after undertaking the care of governance, assiduously meditated on what manner of burden he had received -- namely, to rule the souls of the flock committed to him by the Lord, and to serve the characters of many. And because he was exceedingly imbued with the knowledge of the sacred Scriptures, he unceasingly dispensed to the flock committed to him the food of eternal verdure, showing by words and deeds the paths of holy conversion. For just as he was set above the rest, in virtue he surpasses his subjects: so he was more humble than all. Vile in clothing, moderate in food, given over to the yoke of abstinence, most adorned in chastity, distinguished in cheerfulness of heart and body, most abundantly endowed with the virtue of patience, the service of charity, and the distribution of alms. Adorned with these works of holy virtues, he shone in the midst of the brethren like ^a lamp set ablaze. For on ^a certain day, when according to custom he was reciting the precepts of the divine law in the assembly of all, from the abundance of his words, the hearts of the hearers were rendered so inflamed by the great ardor of charity that very many of them, moved to tears, gave immense thanks to almighty God, saying: "Blessed be almighty God, who not by our merit, he prefers to be loved rather than feared: but by the regard of His own mercy, has given us such ^a Rector." For he was loved by all as ^a true father, and they by him as devout sons. He himself always strove to be loved rather than feared, and with wakeful care to fix his mind on the salvation of souls.

[20] He gives counsel of salvation to outsiders: Since therefore the preeminence of the merits of this blessed man was becoming known ever more widely, many flocked to him from all sides, seeking the salutary counsels of their salvation. And because he shone with the dignity of the priesthood, he received the confessions of those who came to him, imparting to them counsels of salvation -- how they might be saved, and how they might immovably hold the ways of justice without any weariness of failure. He receives various gifts: Strengthened and fortified by his teaching and exhortations, very many, hastening to the grace of conversion, brought many gifts in various kinds of precious metals, as well as some estates of possessions situated in diverse territories -- all of which the curious reader, having inspected the testaments or endowment charters of those same faithful, will easily discover. These also, as is evident to many, produced ^a manifold sum of ^a thousand-fold number. For he was adorned in every way with the holiness of religion according to God; in secular argumentation also he was prudent and astute; and the reputation of his goodness and religion was praiseworthy far and wide -- indeed, worthy of imitation everywhere.

[21] In the aforesaid venerable monastery of Fontenelle, he builds ^a hospice and two dwellings for the poor, among the happy deeds of his goodness, he also established ^a hospice for the sick and decrepit poor, after the pattern of the apostolic number of twelve, assigning to them resources that would sufficiently provide sustenance. He also established in the same monastery two other dwellings for the weak poor of Christ, in which, in the sacred number of eight, he caused eight to dwell individually. For them he decreed that daily sustenance be provided generously in perpetuity. Their sole occupation was none other than, at the appointed hours of day and night, to abide in the house of the Lord, devoutly to engage in prayer and divine contemplation, and at the time of the holy sacrifice to offer the saving victim for the salvation and deliverance of the Christian people and of the Catholic Church spread throughout the world. O great and illustrious works of this holy Father, which do not merely fly about in words but stand firm in virtues!

CHAPTER V

The Archbishopric of Rouen of Saint Ansbert. His generosity toward the poor.

[22] But leaving these things aside for the present, I now undertake, with the help of the grace of heavenly mercy, to narrate how this same venerable man ascended to the rank of the pontificate. Upon the death of Saint Audoenus, In those days it happened that the Blessed Audoenus, Bishop of the city of Rouen, full of virtues and holy deeds, was called by the Lord and happily departed from the world. At his funeral rites the blessed Father Ansbert, together with some of his monks and ^a very large company of clerics and priests of Christ, was present. Solemnly celebrating the vigils of his sacred deposition, they honored him with due obsequies befitting the service of the funeral. After his sacred passing, lest the Church suffer loss from its lost Shepherd, all the citizens of the city of Rouen, having sent ^a petition to the glorious King Theuderic, with his permission and authority, chose the Blessed Ansbert to be consecrated as their Bishop. The King rejoiced at their election, he is chosen Bishop of Rouen, since he had recognized that wisdom abundantly overflowed and religion flourished in the same holy Father; immediately assenting to the election of their petition, he at once dispatched envoys to bring the same servant of Christ to the royal court. The King's Confessor. Without delay the envoys arrived at the blessed Father Ansbert and revealed the King's orders, compelling him to go to the royal court. For the aforesaid King was residing in the villa of Clichy, which is situated in the territory of Paris, where, holding ^a great assembly of peoples, he was deliberating on the welfare and protection of the kingdom, so that at his consultation -- as he was accustomed to do (for Ansbert was his Confessor) -- he might deliberate on the affairs of the kingdom. But when the aforesaid man of God heard this, he immediately recognized that nothing else was being done by this summons than that the King wished to give his assent to the election of the citizens of Rouen in his person. He is even said to have replied to the King's envoys, out of extraordinary humility, that he was unworthy of the office of pastoral care. They quickly reported to the King, announcing what response they had received. The King, sending to him ^a second time, shrewdly suggested that in no way, once they had spoken together, would he wish to proceed concerning the order of the pontificate against his will. But he, being full of the wisdom of holy simplicity, resolved to go to the same King. Then, with the citizens of the aforesaid metropolitan city choosing, with the unanimous vote of the holy priests, of the King and the Princes, he was chosen, drawn forth, and in that same palace was consecrated Bishop of the Church of Rouen he is consecrated, by Saint Lambert, Archbishop of the See of Lyon, and other holy Bishops who had gathered for this general council -- truly by God's providing ordinance -- so that he who had been faithful in small things might, having been set by the Lord over many things, give an abundant measure of grain to his household in due season.

[23] Then, elevated in the honor and burden of the pontificate,

he began to shine more brightly in the work of holiness, to radiate everywhere with the light of preaching, and, like ^a lamp set ablaze -- no longer under ^a bushel but placed upon ^a lampstand -- with the darkness of errors dispelled, to show the way of truth to all; merciful toward the afflicted, to give the service of piety and mercy to all, to care unceasingly for the poor, to defend the causes of widows and orphans, to study greatly the reception of pilgrims and guests, and to administer the distribution of alms generously and cheerfully to all. These and similar examples he unceasingly hastened to show to the people subject to him. For under him the Church of Christ flourished, just as the monastery had flourished before. It grew in graces; it diminished in treasure. For sometimes, entering the place where the treasures of the Church were stored, he ordered them to be presented to him and some to be distributed, reserving ^a good deal so that the pious generosity of almsgiving might proceed benignly from the bosom of holy mother Church with the fruit of mercy. For generous in giving alms, what had long been accumulated in idleness, he at last assigned to the worthy uses of the needy, to suppress the distress of the severe famine that was then pressing the peoples everywhere grievously; and to the long dead he sent his treasures. He made the offerings of ^a former time his own stewardship. For it happened then that ^a crowd of the poor cried out before the doors, begging for alms. When he heard them and, remembering the divine sentence that says, "He who stops his ears at the cry of the poor shall himself cry out and not be heard," he generously gave them alms and sent them all home rejoicing. Proverbs 21:13.

[24] And so afterward, when he was solemnly celebrating the solemnities of the Mass at the See of his city, the peoples of his diocese flocked to him from all directions -- ^a very great multitude of men and women. When the reading of the holy Gospel had been read, he turned to the people and began to predict to them many things to come, cautioning them that adversities and prosperities alike were to be guarded against, and that, lest the one break them nor the other exalt them, the rewards of eternal felicity were to be sought with eager intention. He predicts things to come. And when he foretold many things present and future to them through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, from so excellent ^a grace of preaching given to him, all were moved to compunction and kindled with the fire of divine love, fervent in preaching: stirred to the practice of penance and the exercise of other good works, giving thanks in every way to the supreme Bestower of all good things, who, not by their merit but by His own mercy, had granted them such ^a Teacher, to comfort their manifold grief over the Shepherd whom they had recently lost from bodily sight. And because the whole Church rejoiced over her pious Shepherd, the city congratulated itself on its outstanding Preacher, and the whole country exulted magnificently in so wise and prudent ^a Counselor. When the solemnities of the Mass were completed, he ordered all the citizens -- nobles and common folk alike -- to be brought in to the prepared banquets. There, when he had caused all to recline in an orderly and well-arranged manner, he himself sat down at the table of the poor, at the banquet he sits among the poor: imitating Him who, though He was rich, for our sakes became poor -- who also promised that in the retribution of the just He would say: "Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me." 2 Corinthians 8:9. O what ^a distinguished Pontiff, who daily gave ^a double sustenance to his household, since he both filled bodies with earthly food and refreshed souls with the divine Word! Matthew 25:45.

[25] Since he watched most attentively over the salvation of souls, he also summoned his Archdeacons and diligently admonished them to take the greatest care concerning the preaching to the peoples and the restoration and honor of the churches. He sees to the restoration of churches. Even the revenues which were customarily paid from the public villages in canonical order to the portion of the Bishop, he, by gratuitous kindness, most generously granted to the priests of those same houses of God for the restoration of churches. He also strove to govern by love rather than to dominate by terror. From the moment he first attained the pontifical rank, his first care was for concord, and his chief labor that brotherly love be kept inviolable. As for that overflowing charity of his toward all, no tongue can ever express it in full.

CHAPTER VI

The privileges of the monastery of Fontenelle confirmed in Synod.

[26] Meanwhile, as I recall his manifold grace toward all, the authority of his privilege also testifies to what constant solicitude and wakeful care he unceasingly had over the holy monastic congregation of the monastery of Fontenelle, Privileges given to the Fontenelle monks, among the other notable deeds of his prerogative. For when he had been consecrated as Bishop by the election of the holy Priests and of all the citizens of Rouen and by the consent of the glorious King Theuderic, with the exceeding fervor of love which he had always maintained toward the aforesaid venerable monastery, he issued for it the authority of his privilege, so that for succeeding times, according to the Rule of the holy Father Benedict, and as the authorities of the privileges of the preceding Kings -- namely Chlodoveus, Chlothar, Childeric, of choosing an Abbot from their own number, and also Theuderic -- teach, they might choose an Abbot from among themselves for all time. In which privilege, by the word of just obligation, he also bound those present and future who would serve the Lord there, that, just as under his governance, so also thereafter, both they and their successors would faithfully serve Christ according to the Rule of the holy Father Benedict. Of observing the Rule of Saint Benedict. But if at some time, through sins demanding it or through pastoral negligence, they should attempt or be compelled to deviate from the path of rectitude and the observance of the Rule of Saint Benedict, then ^a convocation of the holy Priests and other soldiers of Christ should be unanimously assembled, and by their counsel they should be restored to their former state. But if, having set aside this pontifical authority, they should by any quibbling choose to hold ^a sinister life and manner of conversion, let them know that they would be eternally damned under the bond of anathema.

[27] This authority of privilege was made in the year of the Lord's Incarnation six hundred and eighty-two, in the tenth Indiction, confirmed in the Synod of Rouen, which was the thirteenth year of the aforesaid glorious King Theuderic, and the fifth of the pontificate of the aforesaid venerable Bishop, in ^a general Synod held in the city of Rouen, where many things pleasing to God and profitable for the welfare of the holy Church were discussed. There were also present holy Bishops and other venerable men, summoned by the same preeminent Bishop, whose names are recorded below: Ansbert, Archbishop of the city of Rouen, presided at this council and subscribed. Radbert, Bishop. Regulus, Bishop. Airad, Bishop of the city of Chartres. Ansoald, Bishop of the city of Poitiers. Aquilinus, Bishop of the city of Evreux. Cadoenus, Bishop. Arnonius, Bishop. Salvius, Bishop. Desiderius, Bishop. Fulcrannus, Bishop. John, Bishop. Willebert, Bishop. Gerebald, Bishop of the city of Bayeux. Taurinus, Bishop. Aunobert, Bishop of the city of Seez. Celsus, Abbot. Audomarus,

Abbot. Scladio, Abbot. Bosochindus, Abbot. Genard, illustrious Vice-dominus of the aforesaid great Bishop. Ermentrannus, Ferrocinctus, and Fortianus, venerable Archdeacons. There was also present ^a great number of attending Priests and Deacons standing around. Ragnomirus the Lector recognized and subscribed to the acts of this holy Council and this authority of privilege, at the command of the same holy Bishop.

p. Perhaps Saint Hildebert, Bishop of Meaux, sufficiently nearby, under the Archbishop of Sens? He is venerated on the 26th of May.

q. Saint Gerebald, Bishop of Bayeux in Normandy, is venerated on the 7th of December.

r. This Taurinus appears to be the Bishop of Nantes, the successor of Saint Pascharius, of whom we treated above.

s. Saint Annobert, or Alnobert, Bishop of Seez in Normandy, is venerated on the 16th of May.

t. These Abbots Saint Ansbert may have brought from his city or diocese.

u. Malebranc, Book 4 on the Morini, Chapter 20, claims that Saint Audomarus, Bishop of Therouanne, subscribed here as Abbot. Was Saint Audomarus an Abbot in old age? But he had already long since died, as his Acts on the 9th of September indicate, and as we said on the 6th of February in the Life of Saint Vedast.

x. In Sirmond, Secladio.

y. In Sirmond, Gerard.

CHAPTER VII

The solemn translation of Saint Audoenus arranged.

[28] Saint Ansbert instills the best counsels: When the authorities flocked to him, the same venerable Bishop always exhorted them to observe with ^a devout mind the burning commandments of Christ, and admonished them always to give and to continue giving great thanks to Christ, who by His own death and resurrection animated our death with the hope of resurrection, offering eternal life once the eternal horror of death had been dispelled. And thus he urged that life be so lived that its final moments need not be feared.

[29] Among the other works of his goodness which he performed in the Episcopate, we now undertake to narrate how he also translated the venerable body of the holy Bishop Audoenus, with Christ's favor, to ^a more prominent place in the church of Saint Peter, which is situated in the suburb of the city of Rouen. He translates the body of Saint Audoenus: When he had gathered many craftsmen from diverse provinces, he built over his tomb ^a reredos of wondrous size, decorated with precious metals of gold and silver and adorned with precious gems, as it appears to human sight even to the present day. On the appointed day, therefore, on the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Christ, with ^a multitude of Priests, monks, and other Clergy assembled, he caused that sacred body to be raised with great reverence, and with the Clergy singing forth hymns and praises, he felicitously placed it in the apse of the aforesaid church of Saint Peter the Apostle, with joy and great honor. There was present at this holy assembly, among other venerable men, also the most illustrious Genard, Vice-dominus, who had caused great banquets to be prepared, he leaves the nobles at the banquet, because an innumerable crowd had gathered from all sides for the holy Translation of so venerable ^a Bishop. When the solemnities of the Mass were completed, the aforesaid Genard, together with the noble men, sat down to dine at the command of the holy Bishop. But the illustrious Bishop Ansbert, reclining as was his custom with the pilgrims and the poor, he serves the poor, rejoiced to feast with them. For on that day, performing the office of servant, he humbly rendered service to the poor and needy in their meal. For he was of cheerful face and happy countenance, because he had merited to be the minister of the poor -- indeed, of Christ the Lord, who promised eternal rewards to those who act kindly toward the poor.

[30] Great was his care amid all this for strangers and guests. Moreover, his generous spirit was matched by ^a corresponding substance, dispensed with equal fidelity. And not only did he provide sustenance sufficiently for the needy, but he also generously distributed coverings for their bodies and coins. Henceforth from diverse regions ^a frequent throng of various persons had come to him, he helps everyone: whom he enriched, both personally and through trustworthy men, with the gift of exhortation and with ^a God-worthy pontifical blessing, and cheerfully and without fail provided the subsidies of bodily necessity. For many marveled from where so overflowing ^a substance of the pious steward proceeded. For even if it sometimes happened that the substance of the dispensation was exhausted, his faith nevertheless always remained solid. In the aforesaid venerable translation of the holy Bishop Audoenus, all the citizens of the city of Rouen itself, as well as the inhabitants of the surrounding monasteries -- Clergy as well as consecrated women -- when the venerable body of the same Bishop had been brought, merited to be abundantly refreshed. And henceforth, through succeeding ages, this day was solemnly celebrated by the citizens of that city in commemoration of the blessed Bishop Audoenus.

[31] The same Bishop, of outstanding manner of life, he visits his diocese, always mindful of the flock committed to him by the Lord, frequently went around his own parishes according to the ministry assigned to him, unceasingly showering upon their minds the dew of holy preaching and the sweetness of pious way of life. He also always kept with him men of proven manner of life for this work of the divine ministry, supported by whose aid he might lead the people entrusted to him to the kingdom of the eternal vision. Thus by the grace of one man's preaching he had many dispensers.

h. Surius: "committed."

CHAPTER VIII

The exile of Saint Ansbert at Hautmont. Permission for return granted.

[32] But the enemy of the human race, always jealous of good things, by whose envy death was brought to man, acted with most cunning art so that ^a man splendid in the world and more splendid in Christ might be deprived of his own pontifical See, He is accused before Pippin by his enemies, and the loss of so great ^a Shepherd would be the detriment of the people. For when ^a savage discord had arisen among the Princes of the Franks on account of the manifold division of the kingdom, the crafty enemy of the human race caused the envy of malicious men to rage against the servant of God, who fraudulently suggested to Prince Pippin that the aforesaid holy man had plotted hostile counsels against him. For when Waratton the illustrious had departed from the office of the principate, and his wicked son and supplanter Ghislemar had too, Pippin obtained the administration of the prefecture by the Lord's gift. At which time the aforesaid holy Bishop was accused before the same Prince, and by his order was deported into exile at the monastery of Hautmont, which is situated in the territory of Hainaut upon the river Sambre. The venerable Abbot Halidulf presided over it at that time. With no crime standing against him, he humbly submitted to the hardships of exile. He is sent into exile.

[33] Arriving at the aforesaid monastery, he began, by the accustomed works of holy manner of life and pious religion, to show examples of light to all the inhabitants of that place. In Hautmont he leads the monks by example. Whom indeed he found fervent in divine religion, but within the space of ^a short time he made them more fervent by his example and teaching. For he afflicted himself unceasingly with the rigor of fasts and the extended night-long vigils of watches, and was assiduously watered by the shower of prayers and tears. The Almighty bestowed upon him this grace: that all the inhabitants of the place, beholding his imitable devotion in Christ, immediately loved him with singular affection, and at no interval of time wished to be absent from his timely conversation. For within the precinct of that very monastery he dictated many works for the benefit of the inhabitants, which remain useful to their needs to this day. But at the instigation of the cunning of the ancient enemy, the envy of the malicious was kindled against the same man of God, who again contrived to suggest to the aforesaid Prince that he should inflict greater hardships of exile upon him. Wherefore the aforesaid venerable Father Halidulf, summoned by the same illustrious Shepherd, was sent to the aforesaid most excellent Prince together with other venerable men, humbly making satisfaction for the disposition of his will, adding also that he had not of his own accord taken up the rank of the Episcopate, but had humbly accepted that ministry by the command of the Princes and the election of the citizens. Wherefore the aforesaid Father of the monastery, proceeding to the same illustrious Prince, aided by heavenly support, quickly merited to obtain what he had asked. The same Prince, also remembering his kinsman, the holy Father Wandregisel, he is permitted to return to his See, under whose holy discipline the aforesaid holy Bishop Ansbert had once been nourished in regular order, mercifully pardoned whatever had been wrongly done, and moreover granted him leave to return to the See of his own city. But lest this should come to pass, he was prevented by ^a divine summons, as we shall say in what follows.

[34] When the aforesaid venerable Abbot Halidulf returned and disclosed the Prince's orders, the same holy Bishop said: "Thanks be to You, good Jesus, who have broken the bonds of Your servant, and have placed words of favor in the sight of the Prince, and have freed me from the hand of those rising up against me, and have cast upon me even in this affliction of exile the bonds of Your love." Therefore, remembering what he had read somewhere, that great men suffer much, he exults in humility, and are born as an example in order to teach others to suffer, he did not cease to afflict himself unceasingly in ^a humbled spirit and contrite heart, offering to the Most High the most worthy holocausts of daily praise. For if he had been present in the time of the Neronian or Decian persecution, there is no doubt that for the confession of Christ the Lord he would have feared neither the violence of fire, nor the tearing of wild beasts, nor the suspension of the rack, nor finally the sword of the persecutors.

CHAPTER IX

The death and burial of Saint Ansbert.

[35] Sensing from divine revelation that the day of his summons was approaching (for he had also merited an angelic visitation on this matter), he sent again to the aforesaid devout Prince Pippin ^a humble petition, He foreknows the time of his death: that it might be permitted for his bodily remains to be carried back to the monastery of Fontenelle, where he had long served the Lord in regular order. The Prince, assenting to his petition, immediately granted that this might freely be done. And although few of his own people were with him, they were nevertheless greatly strengthened by the Lord, because that same Father had far less need of human solace, since he enjoyed the ministry of Angels. On the fifth day before the Ides of February, as the hour of his summons drew near, he called together the company of the brethren and caused the sacred solemnities of the Mass to be celebrated for him. Then, fortifying himself with the reception of the Body and Blood of the Lord, he dies piously on February 9, and signing himself and all the bystanders with the banner of the holy Cross, received in his final sleep and resting in the quiet of death, he happily passed from the world; and by the angelic choirs his soul -- holy, noble, sincere, and untainted by any contact with the world -- was received to be placed forever in the fellowship of the Saints and of perpetual felicity.

[36] When, after the washing of the body, they came to clothe it, they found on the backs of the knees and the bends of the arms hardened skin from the prolonged intensity of his prayers. And so what the living man had done in mortifying his members, the dead flesh now revealed. Thus that holy body was clothed with great zeal of faith dressed in the sacred vestments of the Mass, and covered over with waxed linens -- because he himself had predicted that this had been obtained for him from the Lord: that his bones would be carried for burial to the aforesaid monastery of Fontenelle. For just as he had been accustomed to stand at the holy altars of Christ, so the brethren took care to clothe him. But when they wished to place ^a waxed sudarium upon his head, he seemed to open his eyes, bearing the appearance of one living, so that some said he had come back to life. For the aspect of his face was greatly suffused with ^a rosy color. Some said he seemed to be indignant at the wax-impregnated sudarium. For they saw, not without their own glory, the glory of God triumphing in His Saint. For that funeral rite was itself an act of devout faith. And it was as joyful to have had such ^a Patron as it was grievous to have lost him. He is honorably buried: Afterward they buried him with fitting adornment and the highest honor.

[37] When ^a lamp, full of oil, had been lit by the faithful before his tomb and unceasingly not only burned day and night a lamp burns unceasingly at the tomb and overflows, but also overflowed, and the brethren marveled at this and attributed it to divine glory, they placed another vessel in which the divinely given oil that dripped down might be collected. O great and illustrious, most excellent shepherd Ansbert, and happy is your glory! For your merit did not need to be proved by signs, since the admirable and glorious working of your manner of life, full of virtues, provided ^a perpetual sign of holy virtues. But what more? Many miracles of signs the Lord deigned to work through him in that same place.

CHAPTER X

The translation of the body toward Fontenelle. Miracles.

[38] When the cycle of seventeen days was completed, After 17 days he emits ^a most sweet odor: the envoys who had been sent to the aforesaid Prince returned, having received permission from him that they might freely translate him to where his own will had determined, with no one resisting his holy ordinance. And when they had opened his tomb and expected that his venerable body, after so prolonged an interval of time, would now reek, so great ^a fragrance of the sweetest odor flowed forth that the whole church seemed to be filled as if with diverse blossoms of spices and drops of balsam. And when the brethren who had come to see him from their own province, together with those whom he had had with him in exile, wished to remove the garments with which he had been placed in the tomb and change them, wishing to clothe him in new vestments -- as indeed they did -- they found on his arms the sign of the Lord's Cross, he has the sign of the Lord's Cross on his arms, bearing the likeness of ^a rosy color, so that it was clearly given to all to understand that the one whose arms he had carried in his heart while living now displayed His stigmata on the body of the deceased.

[39] Then, clothed in pontifical vestments and placed on ^a bier, with aromatics and incense carried before him, the citizens of Rouen who had come and the monks of the monastery of Fontenelle received that venerable body, and thus, carrying the precious burden, exulting and weeping they set out on their journey. The aforesaid venerable Abbot Halidulf also accompanied them, together with ^a very great throng of his monks he is solemnly translated and an innumerable people of both sexes, with diverse banners of the holy Cross, and with candles and lamps, singing nonetheless the songs of hymns and divine canticles in his praise with sweet melody, and in the discordant choirs of diverse tongues having ^a harmonious love -- for as it was ^a great joy to have had such ^a Shepherd, so was it sweet to have received back such ^a Patron. And the holy bones that they bore reverently on earth, to Fontenelle: in heaven they trusted that his patronage was present for them. Escorted by these throngs of faithful peoples, the venerable body of the precious Confessor was carried to the monastery of Fontenelle. The venerable Abbot Halidulf, however, together with the companions of the holy journey who had served him, accompanied it with great reverence as far as the royal villa of Venitta, which is situated in the district of Beauvais beside the river Oise.

[40] When, pursuing their journey begun, they had turned aside for lodging at the village called Solemn, which is located on the river Selle in the territory of Hainaut, on account of the fatigue and need for refreshment from the long journey, on the way there ran up ^a certain man carrying his own daughter, whose limbs were dissolved with paralytic disease, who was unable to walk on her feet, but appeared as if dead, crying out and with great prayers weeping and imploring the merits of the holy Bishop Ansbert, that he might heal his only daughter. A paralytic is healed: When she was allowed by the attendants and guardians of the most holy body to remain beside his bier that night, and they kept vigil the whole night with watches and divine hymns, when morning came her father found her well. And so rejoicing, and giving all possible thanks to God and to the holy Bishop Ansbert, he returned home with his daughter, exulting. How wondrous is God in His Saints, who through the glorious merits of His servant Ansbert wrought ^a miracle of this kind!

[41] When therefore they did not have designated places to which they should turn aside for the purpose of lodging, they approached ^a certain village, The body suddenly becomes immovable, wishing to spend the coming night there in rest. But when they wished to turn aside to it, the venerable body of the most holy Bishop remained as if an enormous weight, immovable in the hands of those carrying it. Then, adding more men to help, it moves when the route is changed, it was nonetheless immovable as before. When they understood that this was being brought about divinely and turned themselves to another direction of the route, immediately with swift motion, accompanied by divine power, they arrived at ^a suitable place and -- as is believed -- one worthy of God and the holy Bishop for lodging. And so thereafter, through all the stages of the pious journey, the Almighty provided fitting assistance to His servants for carrying the remains of His servant.

[42] Coming to the aforesaid villa of Venitta, there met the body of the holy Bishop the fellow-provincials from the city of Rouen -- Bishops and Fathers of holy monasteries with the venerable Clergy of the Lord, and kinsfolk of the same holy Bishop, the people of Rouen come to meet them, and an innumerable crowd of both sexes with great devotion; and they began to go before it chanting psalms. Thence the venerable Abbot Halidulf, with his traveling companions, returned to the habitations of his own monastery.

[43] It has pleased us also to commit to the pen of writing that miracle which was performed through the same servant of Christ in the village of Fraxundum, which is situated in the district of Beauvais. When his holy body had been brought to that same village, ^a certain woman was brought there in chains by her relatives -- one who was tormented by an unclean spirit. And the unclean spirit cried out through the possessed woman: "Why have you brought Ansbert, the servant of Jesus Christ the Lord, into this province, who drives me out from my own dwellings?" A demoniac is freed: When that same woman approached and touched the pall that covered the bier, crying out with ^a loud voice, by the merits of Saint Ansbert the Bishop she immediately vomited forth the enemy of the human race with ^a flow of blood. And ^a great miracle took place there. And she, giving thanks to almighty God and to Saint Ansbert, through whom she had been healed from the pestilent spirit,

returned to her home. Blessed be Christ the Lord, King of all ages, Creator and Preserver of all the Saints, who on account of the merits of His servant deigned to perform such miracles. In the same village ^a church was built in honor of Saint Ansbert the Bishop by the faithful, and his portable bed remained in that same church for ^a long time, a church is built in his honor, and divine signs of virtues were performed there on account of the merits of the same Saint.

CHAPTER XI

Other miracles on the journey. The deposition of the body at Fontenelle.

[44] When they had already passed ^a course of twenty and more days, they came into the territory of Rouen, to the place called Paldriacus. There the Almighty Lord, through the merits of the same holy Bishop, deigned to display ^a miracle similar to the one above. For ^a certain woman seized by ^a demon, bound in chains by her own parents, Another demoniac is healed: was brought to seek the Saint's patronage. When she had reached the portable bed where the Saint's body was kept and had touched the linen that covered it, crying out in ^a loud voice, by the grace of God and the merits of Saint Ansbert she was immediately freed from the demon and, made perfectly sound, returned unharmed to the habitations of her own domain. Glory and honor and power be to our God, who thus triumphs with signs of miracles in the merits of the holy Bishop.

[45] This place, where the Almighty performed this miracle, was the patrimony of certain illustrious men -- namely Bertholdus and Radamastus -- at ^a distance of four miles from the monastery of Fontenelle. The body again remains immovable: It is said that when they attempted to raise the most holy body from there, it remained so immovable, as if it were held by iron nails and fastenings upon ^a great rock. And when it could not be moved, Radamastus, the possessor of the place, is said to have spoken thus: "Well done, Ansbert, faithful servant of Christ, placed among the ranks of Christ's followers: remember us, whom you loved in life, and whom the pleasures of the world assail. Here now Christ leads you back to us: therefore I offer this estate to almighty God, and I yield it to you, most holy Bishop, for all ages to come." The possessors of the place offer themselves and their goods to him: And Radamastus himself, an honored man, and his brother Bertholdus, immediately abandoned all that they possessed in estates and servants, and entrusted them to the blessed Bishop Ansbert, committing themselves at the same time to the monastery of Fontenelle. And so they cast off the yoke of liberty and immediately took upon their bowed necks the yoke of the Lord's service, assuming alike the monastic name and habit.

[46] In the aforesaid possession of those same men -- that is, on the public and dilapidated road that lies beside it and leads to the city of Rouen, where the venerable body of the most holy Bishop Ansbert had rested -- A wooden Cross is erected: ^a wooden cross was placed by the faithful in his honor and memory, where the sick received from various illnesses, by the Lord's gift, many benefits of healings through the merits of Saint Ansbert. Around the day of his resting or arrival at that same place, which is the fifth day before the Ides of March, innumerable peoples solemnly offer their pious vows to the Lord in his honor and intercession -- namely vigils and divine hymns and diverse gifts, with the utmost devotion. And there, through his merits, many signs of miracles miracles occur: are continually performed, which by their enormity transcend the knowledge of the narrator. For there, the loss of bodily sight recovers vision; withering recovers the power of walking; the restraints of the tongue recover the flow of words; and the office long denied to the ears recovers hearing; and the frequent expulsion of demons from human bodies takes place.

[47] When time had come around again, on the sixth day before the Ides of April, at the same place where the banner of the holy Cross had been erected, ^a certain woman who had been crippled for many years, a crippled woman is healed: going to the same place with upright faith, was restored to her former health; and the ground, which for ^a long time her feeble steps had not pressed, was astonished to be so suddenly touched by footsteps that had once been unable to walk. Let us give innumerable thanks to our God, who on account of the merits of His aforesaid servant deigns to display such miracles. In the following period ^a church was also built at the aforesaid place in honor of Saint Ansbert the Bishop, a church is built: of noble and polished workmanship, by the venerable Abbot Hilbert, his successor in the order of governance.

[48] But leaving these things aside, let us pursue with the pen of writing the order of the translation of the aforesaid servant of Christ. Arriving with his body at the monastery of Fontenelle, those who were translating him brought it into the church of the holy Apostle Paul. The body is brought to Fontenelle. The old and the young wept; the boys and the infants wept, and the whole choir of monks. Afterward the venerable Abbot Hilbert approached the venerable body, having taken with him brethren of proven life and adorned with the merit of holiness, expecting that body, after so prolonged an interval of time (for the thirtieth day was at hand), to suddenly reek. And when they uncovered the holy head, which was covered with ^a veil, so great ^a fragrance of sweetness flowed from it that the whole church seemed to be filled as if with the scents of diverse aromatics and incenses. For his face had so turned to ruddiness, as if he were asleep, bearing the appearance of one living. Many holy Bishops and venerable Fathers and the rest of the crowd gazed upon it, for it was permitted to all who were present to behold this sign of astonishing miracle. Then, with all diligence and reverence, his venerable body, wrapped in ^a clean shroud and ^a pall, was placed in the tomb which they had prepared for him in the same church of Saint Paul the Apostle, with praises, beside the tomb of the most holy Father Wandregisel, at his left, on the fifth day before the Ides of March, in the year six hundred and ninety-five of the Incarnation of our Lord God Jesus Christ, he is buried, to whom is honor and power, glory and dominion through infinite ages of ages, Amen.

b. Surius: "magnitude."