Castor

ON ST. CASTOR, PRIEST, AT KOBLENZ IN GERMANY

AT THE END OF THE FOURTH CENTURY.

Preliminary Commentary.

Castor, Priest, at Koblenz in Germany (St.)

I. B.

[1] "There came forth," says our Christoph Brouwer in the Annals of Trier, book 4, "from the school of St. Maximin a priest of outstanding praise for character and piety, Castor, whose exceedingly distinguished merits are still visible at Caradunum, a very noble village of the riparian people, notable for its great antiquity." St. Castor is venerated on February 13. He, enjoying the double patronage of the people of Caradunum and Koblenz, is gladly and deservedly venerated in both places as Patron by the most distinguished order of Canons. But the people of Koblenz especially preserve his relics in the very ancient basilica of St. Castor, behind the high altar, and expose them for viewing on the thirteenth of February, which is the anniversary of the Saint's blessed memory.

[2] Koblenz gets its name from the confluence of the Rhine and the Moselle, commonly Confluentia, in German Koblenz, a very famous town of the diocese of Trier, at Koblenz and Caradunum on the Moselle, midway between Mainz and Cologne. Let me describe Caradunum in the words of the same most learned Brouwer: "Moreover," he says, "to one investigating the origins of Caradunum, it appeared that in the lower bend of the Moselle it was a principal fortress of the Roman border troops, guarding the river; though enclosed and fortified on all sides by mountains, it nevertheless has easy approaches through hidden passes. We have given many evidences of a Roman station; and the name of the place supports this, being worn by Roman usage, as much as any other: for Carrodonum, from the high ridge that overhangs it, or Caradunum, meaning a Roman fortress, is listed by Ptolemy in various places." And he adds: "I also find Cardonum inscribed in the very ancient Jerusalem Itinerary in lower Pannonia, so that the place itself testifies to its antiquity by its own name." So far Brouwer. Ptolemy writes more correctly, I think, Carrodunum, because the word dunum, as we have often indicated, added to the names of towns, signifies that they are situated on or near some hill. Ptolemy places Carrodunum in book 2, chapter 11, in Greater Germany; another in chapter 13 in Vindelicia; a third in chapter 15 in Upper Pannonia; a fourth in book 3, chapter 5, in European Sarmatia. Of this one situated on the Moselle, neither he nor Ausonius in his Mosella makes mention, although the latter celebrates the river Alisontia, commonly called the Eltz, which flows into the Moselle not far from Caradunum. The same Brouwer treats of Caradunum (for so he calls it there) in the Proparasceue of the Annals, chapter 17.

[3] The name of St. Castor is entered in the sacred records on February 13. The old manuscript Martyrology still used by the Church of Aachen inscribed in the Martyrologies: has only this: Of Castor the Priest. Maurolycus: On the same day, of Castor the Confessor. The manuscript of the monastery of St. Maximin: And the deposition of Castor, Priest and Confessor, disciple of St. Maximin. The manuscript Martyrologies of many churches in Belgium, bearing the name of Usuard: In the territory of Trier, of St. Castor the Confessor, whose deeds are recorded. Molanus in his additions to Usuard: In the territory of Trier, at the fortress of Koblenz, of St. Castor the Confessor, whose deeds are recorded. The same things about him, in different words, are proclaimed by Galesinius. Ferrarius also mentions him. Saussaius in his Supplement to the Gallican Martyrology has the following: At Koblenz of the Treveri, of St. Castor the Confessor, the glorious Patron of that town. The Martyrology printed at Cologne in the year 1490 adorns him with this eulogy: In the territory of Trier, of St. Castor, Priest and Confessor, whose deeds are recorded; who in the time of his youth was entrusted by his noble parents to the blessed Maximin, Bishop of Trier. When he had received the order of the priesthood from the same, he entered the desert, in which he faithfully served God and at last rested with a good end. The Doctrinale of Clerics, printed at Leipzig in the year 1509, has the same. The same, with words slightly changed, is found in the supplement of Hermann Greuen to Usuard, published in the year 1521, and in the Martyrology of Canisius. But the Viola Sanctorum, printed at Hagenau in the year 1508: Of St. Castor, who was nurtured in all learning by his noble and religious parents. At length he was united to Bishop Maximianus of Trier, who made him a Deacon. Then, having also received the priesthood, he entered the desert, and there many devout men joined themselves to him. When one day he asked of merchants who had a ship full of goods for a small amount of salt, which was denied him, for this reason the ship sank into the depths. Whereupon the merchants, pricked with remorse for their lack of mercy, grieved. But at St. Castor's prayer, the ship raised itself up.

[4] It is erroneous that in the Martyrology of St. Gudula at Brussels, St. Castor is called a Bishop in these words: At Trier, of St. Castor the Bishop, whose deeds are recorded. He was not a Bishop, It might perhaps be more probable to suspect that he was an Archdeacon. Brouwer certainly, speaking of Caradunum in book 4 of the Annals, says: "Here the blessed Castor, perhaps an Archdeacon, also with the title of Archdeacon and ancient jurisdiction, maintains the fame and name of the holy place." Although it does not follow entirely from this that he himself was an Archdeacon, but rather that the Archdeaconry was called "of St. Castor" in his honor, and the district of Caradunum was subject to its jurisdiction. By the same reasoning, concerning St. Lubentius the Priest, also a disciple of the same St. Maximin, just as St. Lubentius on October 13, who is venerated on October 13, the same Brouwer writes: "We hold most certain traces of the faith propagated across the Rhine by the Bishops of Trier, from the sacred inspection and jurisdiction which extends most widely on both sides along the Lahn, over which an Archdeacon was once set, distinguished to this day by the see and title of St. Lubentius." The Lahn is commonly called by the Germans "Lhon," on whose bank, thirty-two miles from the Rhine (as Brouwer says, for his Life has about eight miles), toward the East on a higher cliff, stands the church of Dietekirchen, which preserves the body of St. Lubentius, brought there upstream by divine power when he had died at Cuberinum or Coberinum, a village about midway between Koblenz and Caradunum, otherwise called the Cave of St. Lubentius, commonly Cobern.

[5] What the author of the Florarium of Saints writes for this day is erroneous: "In the territory of Trier," he says, "of St. Castor the Confessor. Translation from Trier to the city of Koblenz in the time of the Normans, in the year of salvation 837. He flourished in the year of salvation 279. At his prayers, a sunken and laden ship raised itself, the merchants being pricked with remorse for their lack of mercy, because they had denied him, when he asked, a small quantity of salt." He lived in the fourth century. If a hundred years are added to the number expressed in the Florarium (which were perhaps carelessly omitted by the copying scribe), the age of St. Castor will be properly established. For he seems to have died around the year 379, having been a disciple of St. Maximin II, whom we said succeeded St. Agritius, who died in the year 335, in the Life of Agritius on January 13. Brouwer writes that he died in the year 351; we shall give his Life on May 29.

[6] But the Florarium places the birthday of St. Castor on February 4, and two Translations -- one on February 13, the other on November 12. In no other Martyrology do we find his name at February 4; elsewhere he is venerated on February 4; besides, mention of a double Finding or Translation under Bishop Weomad, and of a Translation under Hetti, is made in the Life. We have transcribed this Life, whence is this Life published? written some centuries ago but not very accurately, from a manuscript codex of the monastery of St. Maximin near Trier. To this we shall add from Brouwer certain hymns, about which he says this in book 4 of the Annals: "We have found there (at Caradunum) in ancient manuscripts certain rhythmic compositions about the deeds of the blessed Castor, perhaps more faithful than the narratives of others, an ancient hymn about him, of which, out of reverence for the Saint, it is pleasing to produce a part here."

[7] Brouwer narrates the Finding of St. Castor thus in book 7: "Weomad placed St. Castor in a more fitting tomb, the body revealed from heaven, with the people and clergy accompanying the Bishop all the way to Caradunum, and with a three-day fast propitiating the Divine Power. These things were accomplished under the direction and authority of Martius, a priest of distinguished piety, who, having been admonished by the blessed Castor in his sleep, in a constant vision recurring three times, about the place of the tomb, at length unearthed him from hiding and from the darkness, and with the favor and assistance of Weomad, raised by Bishop Weomad in the eighth century, with the most sacred ceremonies applied to this purpose, translated him from the church of the Virgin Mother and deposited him in the church of St. Paulinus at Caradunum." Brouwer does not indicate in what year this happened, but relates that St. Weomad departed this life on November 8 in the year 781.

[8] Concerning the Translation that occurred in the 23rd year of the Emperor Louis the Pious, the year of Christ 836, or as Brouwer establishes, 837, the manuscript Deeds of the Treveri briefly say thus in chapter 13: "After Fortunatus, Hetti, Abbot of Mettlach, presided over the Church of Trier. He, admonished in a vision by St. Maternus in the twenty-third year of the Emperor Louis, carried away the body of St. Castor from the place called Caridena to Koblenz, to the monastery that he himself had built, and on the 5th day before the Ides of December he consecrated it in honor of St. Castor and all the Confessors, translated to Koblenz by divine command, and after the consecration he laid the holy body to rest in the church. And there the Emperor Louis presented many gifts." Trithemius and Kyriander also treat of the same Translation in the Hirschau Chronicle at the year 847, and from it Wilhelm Kyriander in part 2 of his Commentary on Trier Augusta.

[9] Brouwer describes the same more fully and more elegantly in this manner: "Meanwhile Hetti, Archbishop of Trier, a man of proven integrity of life, inflamed with great zeal for advancing his Church, began a distinguished and magnificent work at royal expense. Koblenz, fortified by the residence of the ancient Kings of Francia, and by its already notable fortress, and moreover by the junction of two rivers, the Rhine and the Moselle, and by all other pleasures, a place most suitable for culture and abundance -- yet finding it, as he perceived, almost destitute of religious distinction and care -- he deemed it his duty in the church built by Bishop Hetti for Canons Regular, to erect there a most ample monastery and church for St. Castor and for the clergy following the canonical life, so that the place might distinguish itself not more by its situation and the convenience of the rivers flowing past than by the practice and fame of holiness. And while religious devotion had given birth to the plans for undertaking this work, so the piety and munificence of Louis very greatly assisted in completing it. For Hetti, admonished by St. Maternus in his sleep to transport the bones of St. Castor from Caradunum to Koblenz, having first communicated the matter to Louis, built a basilica at his expense, and the sacred relics, translated to Koblenz with a great spectacle of solemn procession, he honorably deposited in the new church, which he himself had dedicated on the 5th day before the Ides of December to the name of the same Saint and of all the Confessors." So he writes.

[10] Trithemius and Kyriander add this about that church and monastery: (who are now secular) "The Canons of St. Castor abandoned the rule many years ago." The memory of this Translation is inscribed in the Martyrology printed at Cologne in the year 1490, at November 12, in these words: At Koblenz, November 12, 837, the Translation of St. Castor, Priest and Confessor. And in the Florarium: The Translation of the holy Confessors Martial the Bishop and Castor of Trier.

HYMN ON ST. CASTOR

from manuscripts of Caradunum, published by Brouwer.

Castor, Priest, at Koblenz in Germany (St.)

O Maximin, a man enriched By fame and wondrous virtue, You advance him through the Orders. Made an associate of divine things, St. Castor, a man of apostolic zeal, A welcome herald of the Word of God, A way and light for those in darkness. Prudent Virgin entering Caradunum, And a wise cultivator of the desert, Rejoicing in his hidden places.

Then, in a hymn of different character, the glory of the discovery of the body is described:

What was found was translated To this consecrated temple, Once dedicated to Paulinus, Venerable to all. To the people whose kindly mind Offers to God worthy prayers: Through diverse signs appear The wonders of God. renowned for miracles, For the source of goodness, The fountain of Divine Majesty, Often here gives to the sick The benefits of health. A ship carrying salt, And ascending the Moselle, When the servant of God asked for salt, The small gift was denied. A strong tempest arises, he rescues the ship from shipwreck by the sign of the Cross. The fear of death presses upon all: He drives away the force of the dire fate Through the sign of the Cross. O such a happy hermit, Placed in this valley of sorrows, From this life summon us To eternal joys.

LIFE BY AN ANONYMOUS AUTHOR,

from a manuscript of the monastery of St. Maximin.

Castor, Priest, at Koblenz in Germany (St.)

BHL Number: 1642

By an anonymous author, from manuscripts.

CHAPTER I

The priesthood, virtues, miracles, death, and burial of St. Castor.

[1] "It is good to conceal the secret of the King, but to proclaim the wonders of God is glorious." In order to be able to attain to this glory, the Psalmist desired to be a proclaimer of those same wonders, saying: Psalm 9:2 "I will confess to you, Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell all your wonders." God is wondrous in St. Castor; Since in the beginning of the ninth Psalm he proposed to narrate the wonders of God, and pursued very many of them by narrating them, finally, so that we might know where God is most wondrous, at the end of the sixty-seventh Psalm, which is also woven, like the ninth, about the wonders of God, he concluded, saying: "God is wonderful in his Saints." Psalm 67:36 But if God is wonderful generally in his Saints, then he is also wonderful in the blessed Castor, whose birthday we especially celebrate today.

[2] For the grace of the Holy Spirit anticipated him from his earliest childhood, so that he might dwell with his whole mind not on earth but in heaven; who as a boy was devoted to piety; and what he afterward read in the book -- that one day in the courts of God is better than a thousand -- he first meditated in his heart, though still unlettered. Psalm 83:11 A boy of noble character, therefore, he bore in himself as it were a mirror of future uprightness, and even as a little child he compelled not a few to guess what he would afterward become. As for his family lineage, although it was sufficiently high, what need is there to speak of it, since with God there is no respect of persons, but in every nation and every people, whoever fears God and works justice is acceptable to him? Yet the piety of his parents easily appears in their son. For irreligious parents could not have raised so religious a child, nor, if they had been bad, could they have formed him with such good morals. Entrusted therefore by his parents to the study of letters, he devotes himself to learning: he did not, as many do, toil in secular and vain philosophy, knowing through the Apostle that the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; but he was wholly in the commandments of the Law, wholly in the evangelical precepts, comparing each with each. Soon he attained the treasures of the fullest knowledge, so that with the Bride in the Song of Songs the most blessed Castor too might sing in song: "The King has brought me into his wine cellar; he has ordered love in me." 1 Corinthians 3:19 Song of Songs 2:4 For the love of God was so ordered in the heart of the holy man that he first loved God in proper order, with his whole heart, endowed with well-ordered love: with his whole soul, with all his strength, and then his neighbor as himself; that he first learned to love heavenly things, then to despise earthly things; that he first labored in the active life, then rested in the contemplative life.

[3] Raised up on the twin wings of this love, like a little bird from its nest provoked to fly, leaving his homeland, he goes to Bishop St. Maximin, he flew from his homeland, as if, like the Patriarch Abraham, he had heard a divine voice: "Go forth from your land and from your kindred." Striving therefore to follow Christ, stripped of all, burning, denying himself to himself, carrying his cross, as if led by some divine guidance, he sought St. Maximin, so that according to the Psalmist he might become holy with the holy, innocent with the innocent, chosen with the chosen. Genesis 12:1 Psalm 17:26 Now the aforesaid Bishop, seeing that the blessed Castor was already holy in the firmness of his purpose, innocent in not harming his neighbors -- since indeed he loved them equally as himself -- and therefore chosen, so as to be one of the elect among the many who are called, having gradually and prudently received sacred orders, as it is the special way of the Saints to go from virtue to virtue, he is made a deacon: at length promoted him to the rank of Deacon, because he recognized that his charity, continence, and chastity -- given to him both by grace and by the name bestowed upon him -- so required.

[4] A herald of Christ, therefore, having served in the Levitical rank most worthily and with great humility and reverence, he performed his holy office, conspicuous for chastity and other virtues, meditating more attentively on this: "The greater you are, humble yourself in all things." Among his other virtues, he excelled in such purity of mind and body that the Holy Spirit seemed to cry out through him, as through Isaiah the Prophet, to those going forth from Babylon, saying: he lives holily: "Be clean, you who bear the vessels of the Lord." Sirach 3:20 On account of such and so great virtues, the blessed Castor was especially dear to St. Maximin, beloved by the whole clergy, and cherished by the Catholic people. Isaiah 52:11 From the mouth of all his praise overflowed, concerning which fame the irrevocable Truth says: "A city set upon a mountain cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14 But while he was being extolled with the highest worthy praises, he repelled those praises from himself with a certain hatred, he flees human praise: lest they should injure his reward. For the worldly praises of a good work, if they are sought, indeed diminish the reward; but if they are not sought, they increase it by example. Hence the Lord says in the Gospel: "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven." Matthew 5:16 Therefore, lest his merit be diminished, he refused to glory in the praises of the world, but rather in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which he could attain true glory, not unaware that the Savior had forbidden his disciples this sort of glorying in signs or miracles, so that they might rather glory in that which was common to all the Just than in any special gift of power or signs. For to those who gloried that the demons were subject to them, he said: "Do not rejoice that the demons are subject to you; but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven."

[5] O a man blessed in all things, whom neither adversity broke nor prosperity exalted! Who so avoided the pestilent breeze of worldly favor he is ordained a Priest: that he preferred to dwell among the beasts of the forest rather than to have his life stained even by the lightest breath of gossip among men. Ordained a Priest therefore by the aforesaid Bishop, he avoided the assemblies of the people, desiring the desert with such ardor as if it were the sweet sleep of a bed. While therefore as a pilgrim of Christ he wandered long, out of love for solitude, yet not straying, through mountainous, wooded, and waterless places, associating with beasts, mortifying his flesh, dwelling in caves of the earth and in the hollows of rocks, afflicted, distressed exceedingly, and wearied almost beyond his strength -- at last, with God as his guide in all things, he arrived at the place destined for him by Christ, then indeed a desert, but now named Caradunum from the merits of the holy man. he dwells at Caradunum: Contemplating the place, the distinguished man, wholly rapt in that saying of the Apostle -- "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way of escape, that you may be able to endure" -- and filled with immense joy, said: "This is my rest for ever and ever; here is my dwelling, for I have chosen it." 1 Corinthians 10:13 For this man, full of God, resolved to remain there alone, so that he might more sweetly contemplate the face of God that he sought, since he was removed from men, continually whispering to God alone these words of the Psalmist: "My heart has said to you, my face has sought you; your face, Lord, I will seek; turn not your face from me, decline not in anger from your servant." Psalm 26:8 "Behold, you are beautiful, my beloved, and comely; our bed is flourishing." Song of Songs 1:15 But God, knower of inmost things, searcher of souls, seeing that his soldier could now become a captain, he gathers disciples: did not wish him to fight alone for himself, but to be a protection for many, and gave him very many companions; so that the lamp, not hidden under a measure but placed on a candlestick, might give light to all who were in the house. And so this man, distinguished in virtues, splendid in celibate life, shone as a lamp of holiness for his subjects, because he who enlightens every man coming into this world illuminated many more through his lamp burning with inextinguishable love.

[6] Let no one therefore doubt the merits of the holy man because he was less renowned for the miracles of signs, both because in his time there was no need for the effects of signs -- which, as Paul says, are given for unbelievers, not for believers -- and because if he performed some or many, they were known to few, and even if they were not unknown, they have nevertheless been consigned to oblivion by the length of time and the scarcity of writers. 1 Corinthians 14:22 Yet God worked, as is said, two very great miracles at the same time through his hand, because salt was denied him, the ship of a greedy sailor is sunk, one indeed of justice, the other of mercy. For when a large ship full of salt and other merchandise was ascending the river Moselle, on whose bank his cell was founded, the poor man of Christ, who had left the whole world, went out to ask for a little salt, more for the needs of the Brothers than for his own use. When the merchants of the ship, with shameless and stubborn avarice (if I may say so), denied the salt requested by the man of God, a sudden storm arose and the ship was exposed to shipwreck by the just judgment of God. For it was just that, since they denied the least part to the servant of God, they should lose everything they had from it. When they felt the just judgment of God in their own loss, then at last, led by a tardy but salutary repentance, he draws it from the waters by the sign of the Cross: they deserved to experience timely mercy. When the servant of God made the sign of the Cross, the ship, which the storm had just now submerged in the waters, immediately emerged from the waters unharmed and without any damage. O truly a servant of the Cross of Christ, who by the sign of the Cross rescued from danger those whom he had terrified with shipwreck! The holy man, attributing this not to himself but wholly to God, with tears springing forth from immense joy, cried out, saying: "Your right hand, Lord, has wrought power; your right hand, Lord, has exalted me."

[7] The precious Confessor of Christ remained in the same place of his pilgrimage until, having reached a ripe age, he died in the flesh to the world, to which he had indeed long since been dead, and was born to heaven, in which he had already dwelt in spirit since boyhood. By the privilege therefore of the worthier part, the holy Church has been accustomed to celebrate on this day, that is, on the Ides of February, rather his birthday than his death, he dies on February 13, because the soul that was born to heaven today is worthier than the flesh that died to earth. Therefore the soul of the blessed man, released from the bonds of the body, penetrated to the heavens with a freedom all the greater insofar as he had less loved any of the things that were on earth. Seeing moreover that all the things he had believed were far greater than those he had hoped for (it is more truly believed of him than the tongue can express, and it is more truly so than anyone can believe), taking up the saying of the Teacher of the Nations, he said: "Truly I then saw through a mirror in an enigma, but now face to face." 1 Corinthians 13:12 O truly a lover of Christ, mighty conqueror of the world, by your sacred death through the desert you ascend to the kingdom, where wearing the crown of life, you reign rightly with the King of Kings. Now pour forth prayers for us, that he who gives gifts abundantly, God and fountain of mercy, may cleanse us from sins and raise us from these depths to that place where you dwell so sublime, that we may reign with him, and from there give thanks to him, because he bent down to us and raised us up to himself, God born of God the Father, drawing us from the abyss. Therefore salvation to the Unbegotten, and to his Only-begotten, and in the holy Paraclete, who to Castor, the renowned Confessor, gave life and breath, one God in three, Amen.

[8] The surrounding inhabitants gathered from all sides with great eagerness, with a great concourse of the people, as if by some divine edict -- the clergy and people of both sexes -- for the venerable funeral of the blessed Castor, attending in the manner of Christians, not indeed with dirges, as is commonly done, but, as religious custom has grown, with hymns and psalms along with canticles suited to such an office, with prayer and supplication. There was in them the affection of piety -- to bewail the absence of the holy man, yet to rejoice at having the presence of his body. They mourned therefore, deprived of the honeyed counsel and comfort of so great a Teacher; but they rejoiced as if consoled by his patronage and constant intercession. Therefore it was, as is read of the blessed Martin, both pious to weep for the holy Castor and pious to rejoice with the holy Castor. When the vigils of the funeral rites had been performed, he is buried piously and honorably, duly prolonged after the example of the holy Fathers, God-fearing men approached -- not rashly, but prudently appointed for this office -- and with immense lamentation and trembling they took up that venerable body, placed on a bier, from the cell in which it had lain, carrying it with psalms and canticles into the church which he himself had built in honor of our Lord Jesus Christ and of his Mother, the ever-Virgin Mary. For they deemed it fitting that the body of a man of the Church should rest within a church. Celebrating the Mass solemnly according to custom, they buried it in a new sepulcher in which no one had yet been placed, embalming it with spices and various kinds of perfumes, praising and glorifying Christ in all things, who deigned to bestow such great grace upon his Confessor, that he whose soul possesses the heavenly homeland should by his body consecrate the present church.

Of what country St. Castor was, is nowhere indicated: was he perhaps an Aquitanian, like St. Maximin himself and Paulinus his successor? Or from Belgium, whose capital was then Trier, the seat of the Caesars? But at least not a native of Trier, if he left his homeland to go to St. Maximin.

This is the second Maximin of that name, Bishop of Trier, who is venerated on May 29. The first was crowned with martyrdom on June 20; many also think he was Bishop of Tongeren, though the people of Tongeren designate their Maximin as a Confessor, not a Martyr.

Caradunum was treated above. It lies on the western bank of the Moselle, whose site is described below in chapter 2, number 13.

The Caradunum Hymn seems to indicate that the ship was saved from perishing, not that it was snatched from the waves after it had perished.

CHAPTER II

The Relics of St. Castor discovered; a portion translated to Koblenz.

[9] The desirable treasure of the holy body lay hidden in the earth for a long time, so that no man knew where it had been placed -- whether because, with the old inhabitants dying, new people came who were ignorant of the holiness of the man and therefore more and more neglected the place where he had been laid, until they consigned it entirely to oblivion; or because the land, after he was placed there, was thoroughly devastated, first indeed by the Normans, The place of burial of St. Castor was long unknown. then by the Huns, who, as it is read, destroyed all the churches of the Gauls except the church of St. Stephen the Protomartyr at Metz; or because God, who is wonderful in his Saints and who, as was said above, is known to be wonderful also in this one, so preordained it that the longer he had lain in the earth, the brighter at last he would shine in glory among men. Whence it happened that two monasteries of Canons, Churches dedicated to him, besides parish churches, were consecrated to the Lord in honor of this Saint -- which God has granted to no other Confessor of Christ resting in the territory of Trier, however great the devotion with which they are venerated by men. O how just the judgment of God, that he who built one church of Christ should himself have many! O how true the promise of his Son, that what he bestowed for his name he should receive back as it were a hundredfold in this world, and possess eternal life! Matthew 19:29

[10] In the time of Weomad, who was the twenty-ninth Bishop of Trier from the blessed Maximin, the ordainer of St. Castor, it pleased God to reveal the pearl hidden in the earth and to glorify by his manifestation the relics of the holy man, long unknown to men but precious to God. The tomb is revealed to the priest Martius: He therefore showed by a vision to a certain priest named Martius, a venerable and holy man indeed, in what place the precious treasure lay hidden, and at the same time instructed him to approach the Archbishop of the city of Trier and reveal to him the glorious vision concerning the discovery of the holy relics. But when Martius hesitated, regarding the vision as the vanity of a dream and judging himself unworthy to receive such a revelation, the same vision appeared to him a second time and admonished him to make it known to the Bishop. Then Martius, wondrously astonished, prayed to God most earnestly that if this vision was from him, it might appear to him a third time, vowing that he would do whatever it commanded him. For the third time therefore the manifest clemency of God showed the venerable man what had been shown to him twice before, commanding him to suggest to the aforesaid Bishop that he bring the hidden pearl into the light. Weomad, Archbishop of the city of Trier, he notifies Archbishop Weomad; received the priest Martius, whose coming he had already known through a revelation, with immense honor; and having heard the reason for his journey, gave thanks to Almighty God that he deigned to reveal the holy relics of the most blessed Castor in his times. The Archbishop then summoned his chief men, Archdeacons, and Clerics, together with devout laymen, and communicated to them the mystery of his plan -- how and when he might descend to Caradunum, so that the co-provincials and the princes of the region might come to meet him, that by common devotion, for the salvation of all, they might raise the relics of the holy man from the earth. For it was fitting that all with one devotion should agree in venerating him by whose prayer and patronage all desired to be aided before God.

[11] When therefore the day had been appointed and a fast proclaimed, the aforesaid Bishop, together with a venerable company of monks and clerics of every order, who, after a three-day fast, and also of laypeople of both sexes, descended to Caradunum, where an innumerable multitude of co-provincials, and also of people from other regions, of diverse conditions and ages, met him with eagerness of mind, as he had previously proclaimed. When therefore a three-day fast had been made by all, they poured forth prayers and supplications to God, that he who had deigned to reveal the relics of his holy Confessor would not regard them as unworthy to raise from the tomb what had been revealed. When the solemn Masses had been celebrated by the Bishop, he raises his body, they approached the tomb of the holy man with immense fear and trembling; and when it was opened, they found the heavenly treasure, and having found it, they transferred it with hymns and praises and spiritual canticles into the church, which was then called the House of Paulinus, where prayers and supplications are offered to the Lord even to the present day. And the Lord, who hears all, has mercy on all, and whatever tribulation they cry out to him from, or whatever they ask in the name of Jesus Christ, they obtain consolation and benefits; then made illustrious by miracles: through the same our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the Father and the Holy Spirit is perpetual empire, unfailing kingdom, and enduring glory, forever and ever. Amen.

[12] After a long time, when it pleased God to bestow upon his Confessor Castor even greater glory of honor on earth, a portion was afterward translated to Koblenz, so that it might be known to all how great his merits were in heaven, he inspired the Archbishop of that time and other princes of the land to divide the relics of St. Castor and to leave one part at Caradunum in the aforesaid church, which was anciently called "the House of St. Paulinus," but to translate another to Koblenz, where the river Moselle flows into the Rhine, whence the place also receives its fitting name. There indeed the place would be wider, the abundance of resources greater, where a church was built for him, and the concourse of people more frequent. In which place a basilica of wondrous beauty was built at royal expense, to Almighty God in honor of St. Castor the Confessor.

[13] O how deep and inscrutable the judgment of Almighty God, that the bones of the holy man, which the narrowness of the tomb had enclosed for many centuries, should not thereafter be held by the narrowness of one small and confined place! The site of Caradunum. For the place, as is well known to many, is exceedingly narrow, situated above the bank of the Moselle, enclosed by mountains; whence, as we read in certain writings, it was anciently called "Carta-domus," as if "Coarta" (compressed). Whence God compensated this man's merits, insofar as the understanding of the human mind can grasp, so that because he had long lain in a narrow tomb, he should thereafter be content with one august place. He therefore holds the primacy of both places; he cherishes and defends both with the protection of his patronage; he has in both places Canon Clerics serving Christ and himself night and day; he makes them rejoice in both places with annual devotion on account of the translation of his body.

[14] Caradunum exults because it has not lost its Patron, but has caused him to become the Patron of others. Koblenz exults because on this day it has received a Patron that it did not previously have. Both places exult on the Ides of February, the commemoration of the Translation is on November 12, when his most holy soul was translated by the Angels from the confinement of the body to the heavenly homeland. Both exult on this day, that is, on the day before the Ides of November, when the bones of the sacred body were translated by the princes of the earth from the confinement of Caradunum to Koblenz. On that day the heavenly choirs exulted when they received the soul of the Confessor of Christ into their fellowship; on this day the people of Koblenz exulted when they deserved to receive the bones of so great a Pastor. And the people of Caradunum exulted on both occasions, both days are joyful, for men and for the very elements. on the former rejoicing with the Angels, on the latter congratulating the people of Koblenz. O how happy those days, which a famous rest illuminates, making so many joyful, cheerful, and glad of mind! In the solemnity of our Patron, dearest brethren, not only the rational creature of Angels and men rejoices, but also each of the irrational elements of the world is made glad in its own way. For heaven resounds with the Angels singing together, when it places the soul of the blessed man within the compass of its palace. Earth resounds when it commends his body to its bosom. Likewise, it resounded with those singing and giving thanks to God, when it restored that body, happily preserved, to the sight of men. The air resounded exultantly when a most sweet fragrance twice pervaded it. For it was pervaded with an inestimable fragrance of sweetness when his little body was committed to burial; it was pervaded again when he was raised from the bosom of the earth. And the water exulted in a wondrous way of reconciliation when it carried a part of his bones to Koblenz. O happy life, whose death made all the elements of the world glad! O happy life, which after death so often received increase of honor! O happy life, which did not dread temporal death and in no way tasted eternal death! This is the life of the most blessed man, not much known to men indeed, because it is hidden with Christ in God; but when Christ, the true Life, shall appear, then he too shall appear with him in glory. For then this mortal body of his, wherever it has been deposited, shall put on immortality, and this corruptible, as the Preacher of the Nations taught, shall put on incorruption. 1 Corinthians 15:53 Then we too indeed, who live, who remain, shall be caught up to meet Christ in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord in glory. May our same Lord Jesus Christ deign to grant this by the prayers and merits of his most blessed Confessor Castor, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and is glorified from the beginning, both now and forever and ever. Amen.

"Normans" is used here for the Vandals, who were truly "northern men," as the word "Nortman" means. For the Normans who savagely ravaged our Belgium and Gaul, and finally established themselves in Neustria, came long after the Huns, in the ninth and tenth centuries of Christ, whereas the Huns invaded the Gallic provinces chiefly in the fifth century.

The author meant to write "many," as is clear to one reading the histories of the Saints.

St. Gregory of Tours, book 2 of the History of the Franks, chapter 6, relates that when the whole city of Metz was burned and the people and priests slaughtered, only the oratory of St. Stephen escaped the flames.

The monastery of Koblenz and that of Caradunum, as was said above from Brouwer.

In the catalogue of Bishops of Trier by Claudius Robert, the 28th is St. Maximin, and St. Weomad is the 60th. We shall treat of him on November 8.

This sacred building was, I believe, dedicated to St. Paulinus, the successor of St. Maximin, who is venerated on August 31.

Hetti, as we said, whom Kyriander calls Hecti, Hetto, and Hettingus. He attended the dying Louis the Pious, a Bishop of most celebrated name.