Celsus

ON ST. CELSUS, BISHOP OF TRIER

ABOUT THE YEAR 980.

Preliminary Commentary.

The Discovery of Celsus, Bishop of Trier (St.)

By J. B.

Section I: St. Celsus, the fifth Bishop of Trier, four hundred years older than Celsus of Toledo.

[1] The city of Trier, ancient and illustrious, once the seat of the Praetorian Prefect of the Gauls and of several Emperors as well, and the metropolis of Belgica Prima, was taught the Christian faith by three disciples of St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles -- Eucharius, Valerius, and Maternus -- The first three Bishops of Trier, disciples of St. Peter: as the ancient tradition holds, received by all, attested by various monuments, and confirmed by the solid argument, set forth by us elsewhere more than once, that St. Maximinus II, who was present at the Council of Cologne in the year 346 and at that of Sardica in 347, is numbered the twenty-eighth bishop of that city from Eucharius. Since, therefore, those who governed that Church between the two were almost all invoked at the altars, and yet many of them died ^a natural death and several held office for many years -- Maternus for forty, Valerius for fifteen -- it follows that all of them together can be reckoned to have filled three centuries.

[2] St. Auspicius succeeded St. Maternus, and he is venerated on July 8: after him came St. Celsus, as is established from the Catalogues the fifth was St. Celsus presented by Antonius Demochares in volume 2 of On the Sacrifice of the Mass, chapter 33; Claude Robert in the Gallia Christiana; Peter Merssaeus Cratepolius in the Annals of the Archbishops of Trier; Gabriel Bucelin in his Germania Sacra, part 1, page 33 (who, however, errs when he writes that he died on February 23, as we shall presently say); our own Aegidius Bucherius in his Belgicum Romanum, book 6, chapter 4; Wilhelm Kyriander in his Commentary on Augusta Treverorum, part 3, page 39; Bartholomew Fisen in the Flowers of the Church of Liege, page 537; the manuscript Gesta Treverorum; Johann Enen and his translator Johann Scheckmann in the epitome of those Gesta, published in the year 1517; Christoph Brouwer in his most accurate Annals of Trier; and ^a manuscript codex of the Most Serene Queen of Sweden, in which are the Names of the Pontiffs of the City of Trier, extending to Egilbert, so that the book seems to have been written under him: for Egilbert is said to have succeeded Udo in the year 1079.

[3] The name of St. Celsus is inscribed in the Martyrologies at January 4, as we said at that day. Hermann Greven the Carthusian in his supplement to Usuard, published in the year 1521, he is customarily venerated on January 4, has the following on that day: "At Trier, Celsus, Bishop and Confessor." Another Martyrology published at the same place in the year 1490: "At Trier, St. Celsus, Bishop and Confessor of Christ, who rests in the cemetery of St. Eucharius." Our own Peter Canisius in the German Martyrology: "At Trier, St. Celsus, Bishop and Confessor, whose Discovery is celebrated on February 23." The manuscript Florarium: "At Trier, the burial of Celsus, Bishop and Martyr." The rest already cited make him ^a Confessor. So also Maurolycus and the Martyrology of the Church of St. Mary at Utrecht, written several centuries ago: "Likewise of Celsus, Confessor." That he died on that day is established from Brouwer, who in book 10 of his Annals, page 592, reports that when the tomb of St. Celsus was found about the year 979, besides an epitaph consisting of three distichs, these words were inscribed: buried on that day, "Deposited on the day before the Nones of January." And indeed Theoderic, who about the year 1008 committed the history of the Discovery of St. Celsus to writing, testifies below at number 21 that Bishop St. Egbert exhorted the citizens in ^a public address not to cease visiting Blessed Celsus more frequently, and by Apostolic authority mandated that henceforth each year they should strive to celebrate his birthday, which falls on the day before the Nones of January, with the highest honor.

[4] Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology combines the Burial and the Discovery, and indeed at February 23, on which day alone his commemoration is now made together with the Vigil of St. Matthias, and ^a third reading about him is recited, as is evident from the proper offices printed in the year 1646. Saussay thus writes: "At Trier, the Burial and Discovery of St. Celsus, Bishop and Confessor, who, the fifth in order to hold this noble See, guided that Church amid the very turbulence of persecutions in ^a wondrous manner; and by ^a life and character consonant with the discipline of Christ, both by zeal and by example, he kindled the minds of his people to love of the heavenly homeland. At length, having well fortified his flock with doctrines and disciplines, zealous he departed to eternal rest. By what merits he prevails before the Lord was made known after his death by great manifestations of divine power, and illustrious for miracles after his death, which were accomplished through his patronage." Thus he. The miracles that survive are recorded as having occurred only after the Elevation: if any were performed before, they were either not written down, or certainly afterward buried in oblivion. Concerning him, the following is read in the manuscript Gesta Treverorum: "Then ^a certain Auspicius held the governance of the Church. Then followed men distinguished by legitimate successions, outstanding for sanctity and glory: namely, one most holy in name and merits, Celsus -- lofty in spirit, but also illustrious in lineage, not idle, always flourishing everywhere in his homeland, serene in pious affection, honor, and deed." These are mostly taken from his epitaph.

[5] Brouwer determines the period of St. Celsus thus, in book 2 of his Annals at the third year of Antoninus, he died about the year 142. the year 141 of Christ: "At the same time, Celsus, to whose Discovery at Trier the day of February 23 has been consecrated, having attested the innocence of ^a Confessor and Martyr by wondrous deeds, had succeeded Auspicius in the governance of the Church of Trier. That these men spent together thirteen years in the exercise of that office can be gathered from the fact that Felix I, who was appointed in the place of Celsus, is thought by some of the ancients to have entered the pontificate from the year of Christ 142." Our Bucherius confirms this by his own reckoning at the place previously cited.

[6] These things I have set forth more fully than I had intended to do at January 4, because certain Spanish writers, among them our friend Juan Tamayo de Salazar, think this is the same Celsus Some think he lived in the sixth century, who was Bishop of Toledo about the year 520, the predecessor of Montanus. They drew this from two recently published Chronicles, one under the name of M. Maximus, Bishop of Saragossa, the other of Julian of Toledo. The former, at the Era 1056, or the year 1018 of Christ, reads thus: "Hector, Bishop of Toledo, is succeeded by Celsus, ^a German by nationality, ^a man of outstanding learning and famous for the reputation of rare sanctity." Julian, number 259: "Celsus succeeds Hector of Toledo, ^a man German by nationality, ^a holy man, whose feast is observed in Germany on May 30. He was ^a learned man. Hector, or Ferrandus, returned to Africa: he lives to the year 540: he supplements the works of St. Fulgentius, Bishop of Ruspe, his teacher, who migrated from this life in Iberia, or at the Iberus, in the year of the Lord 545." At the year 525, Maximus has the following: "The Blessed Montanus succeeds Celsus, ^a most holy man, who, returning to his homeland of Trier and preaching there, shines with the holiness of his life and the frequency of miracles: his Translation is celebrated on the 23rd day of February." Julian, however, number 265, says: "Montanus, Archdeacon of Toledo, learned and holy, succeeds Celsus, ^a most holy man, who departed for Germany and died there in holiness."

[7] From these sources, Juan Tamayo composed the Acts of St. Celsus, Bishop, as he says, of Toledo in Spain and of Trier in Germany, Confessor, and at Toledo he studied under the master Ferrandus, as follows: "Celsus, having drawn his origin from Germany, came as ^a young man to Spain, and at Toledo, the royal city of the Goths, attaching himself to St. Hector Ferrandus, Bishop of that See, and emulating the learning of so great ^a master, he reached by marvelous diligence the lofty summit of ecclesiastical erudition. Moreover, the discipline and piety of Celsus so softened the hearts of all the citizens with its winning composure that, upon the death of Ferrandus, he was appointed to the patriarchal See of Spain and received the staff of the Church of Toledo." and when he died, was made Bishop of Toledo: Then, after several intervening passages, he adds the following: "Having most abundantly accomplished these and other works of fervent zeal, learning, and virtues, compelled to return to Germany, then returned to Trier, he was most kindly received at Trier; in whose company he led ^a most honorable life, so that when Aprunculus, Bishop of that city, died, he succeeded him as Bishop -- his merits demanding it and the votes of all requesting it -- albeit reluctantly. That Church he governed and directed wonderfully amid the powerful storms of persecutions, and was made Bishop there, and by ^a life and character consonant with the discipline of Christ, both by zeal and by example, he kindled the minds of his people to love of the heavenly homeland. At length, having well fortified the Lord's flock with doctrines and disciplines, he departed to eternal rest on the 30th of May, in the year of the Lord 525. His body, buried in the church of St. Eucharius, died May 30, 525. lay hidden until the year 978, when Egbert, Bishop first of Utrecht, then of Trier, found it on the seventh day before the Kalends of March in the same church; and having been honorably placed, it is venerated with the wonderful devotion of the citizens."

[8] I shall not now fear that the most kind Tamayo will be angry with me, or write (as he did at January 19, page 194) that I am snarling, if I am unwilling to rely on those spurious commentaries of Dexter, Maximus, and others, since he himself has wished to be free to depart from them with impunity. For he says that Hector Ferrandus died in the year 518, while Julian reports that he lived until the year 545. And this indeed must be admitted, if the same man is said to be Ferrandus, Deacon of the Church of Carthage and disciple of St. Fulgentius, But Ferrandus lived beyond the year 530, whom they would have supplemented the works of his master: so that he could not have died twelve years before him, since Tamayo himself places the death of St. Fulgentius in the year 529. Indeed, he survived until the year 546, when, the question of the Three Chapters having already been raised at Constantinople, he himself, as often on other occasions, and indeed 546: was asked by Anatolius and Pelagius, Deacons of the Holy Roman Church, to respond (as Facundus, Bishop of Hermiane, testifies in book 4, chapter 3), having held ^a careful discussion on this matter with the most reverend Bishop of the same Church of Carthage, or with others whom he knew to have zeal for the faith and knowledge of the divine Scriptures, to those who consulted him, as to what seemed to all to be commonly observed.

[9] But more on Ferrandus perhaps elsewhere, if it is established for us that he has been enrolled in the catalogue of Saints. Let it suffice here to have indicated briefly that the predecessor of that Celsus, Bishop of Toledo -- who nevertheless is at the greatest possible distance from our Celsus -- was not the same as that Hector, Bishop of Carthago Spartaria, who was present at the Council of Tarragona in the year of Christ 516: nor was he ^a Bishop, and finally that he was not ^a Bishop at all. For Facundus, already cited, ^a contemporary of Ferrandus himself, in the same book, calls "Ferrandus, Deacon of Carthage, of praiseworthy memory in Christ." but only ^a Deacon of Carthage: Could Facundus, living in the same Africa with him, have been ignorant of his being ^a Bishop, if he had been one for so many years? Ferrandus himself also begins his epistle or treatise in defense of the Three Chapters thus: "To my most blessed Lords, and those to be honored with devoted service, my holy brothers and fellow Deacons, Pelagius and Anatolius, Ferrandus, the least of all." In what manner or by what custom would he have made himself their fellow Deacon, if he had already been ^a Bishop for so many years, and indeed in two of the most illustrious cities of Spain? What does St. Isidore of Seville, ^a most learned Bishop in that same Spain, say of him? Does he not in chapter 14 of his book On Ecclesiastical Writers call him ^a Deacon of the Church of Carthage, with no mention made of ^a bishopric -- of which neither do the other ancients make any mention?

[10] But let us now set aside the longer disputation about Ferrandus, since it has no bearing on St. Celsus, Bishop of Trier, who is four hundred years older. Nor does the most accurate Garcias Loaysa call Hector, who was present at the Council of Tarragona, by the name Ferrandus, or place him in the catalogue of Bishops of Toledo, but says that Celsus succeeded Peter I, Celsus of Toledo succeeded Peter: and Montanus succeeded Celsus, who presided over the Second Council of Toledo in the year of Christ 527. The Catalogue published by Francisco de Pisa from the tablet of the sacristy of Toledo agrees. Nor shall I conceal that it does not please me, nor would it easily be approved by the Roman Curia, that the predecessor of Montanus, Celsus, is said to have been appointed to the "patriarchal See of Spain." For no one would rightly call ^a Metropolitan -- for example, of Caesarea in Cappadocia, of Ephesus, or of Heraclea, whom we now call ^a Primate -- ^a Patriarch.

[11] The eulogy of St. Celsus of Trier that we recited from Saussay in number 4 above, Tamayo transferred in part to the one at Toledo, as we have already said; but it is less aptly done, since where Saussay writes that St. Celsus directed his Church "amid the very turbulence of persecutions" -- namely while pagan Emperors were still persecuting Christians -- in his time the Bishop of Trier was St. Vibicius, this author likewise writes that the other Celsus "governed and directed wonderfully amid the powerful storms of persecutions." But what storms of persecution agitated the Church of Trier from the year 518 to 525, under the pious King Theoderic: in which he says Celsus died? At that time, Theoderic, son of Clovis the Great, held the kingdom of Austrasia, zealous for the propagation of religion and the adornment of the Church. But neither has Tamayo established with ^a sufficiently sound reckoning that Celsus, whom he says died in the year 525, was the successor of St. Aprunculus, who did not succeed St. Vibicius until the year 528, as we shall say at his feast day on April 22 and at that of Vibicius on November 5.

[12] Celsus of Toledo neither in Germany, As for the fact that Julian writes that his Celsus is venerated in Germany, and Tamayo at Trier, on May 30: I have seen no manuscript or printed Martyrology (and I have seen very many), no Breviary, in which the name of Celsus appears on that day. Nor is he accustomed to be venerated at Toledo either, nor regarded as ^a Saint at Toledo. or called ^a Saint, as is clear from Pisa and Loaysa. Diego de Castejon, Bishop of Lugo, in his book On the Primacy of the Church of Toledo, but following Maximus and Julian, calls him ^a Saint and asserts he is venerated at Trier: but Trier cries out that it knows no Celsus except that ancient one, whether Confessor or Martyr, the third from St. Maternus, disciple of the Apostle Peter.

Section II: The time, history, and commemoration of the Discovery of St. Celsus.

[13] The church believed to have been the first founded at Trier, and perhaps in all Belgium, was the house of Albana, ^a woman of senatorial rank, whose deceased son St. Eucharius had recalled to life by divine power, The house of Albana at Trier was consecrated by St. Eucharius, as was said on January 29, in the Life of St. Valerius, chapter 3, number 13. Concerning that church, the following is read in the Epitome of the Gesta Treverorum by Scheckmann, book 2, chapter 1: "Then she designated the house, which she had, being quite spacious and prominent, as ^a church, with St. Eucharius sanctifying it: which the Blessed Eucharius consecrated under the name of St. John, Apostle and Evangelist. It is situated to the south of the city, outside the middle gate; today it is inhabited by religious men, serving Christ under the Rule of St. Benedict. At length, the holy Bishop Eucharius, worthy of being recompensed for his merits, after he had administered the pontificate for twenty-three years, rested in peace on the sixth day before the Ides of December, and was buried in the aforesaid basilica of St. John."

[14] But St. Eucharius, who is said to have died in the year 73 -- (but not to St. John the Evangelist) how could he have dedicated ^a church to St. John the Evangelist, received among the Saints, when St. Jerome in book On Illustrious Ecclesiastical Writers, chapter 9, says that John "persevered until the time of the Emperor Trajan... and, worn out with old age, died in the sixty-eighth year after the Passion of the Lord"? That year was the year 99 of the common era. Perhaps that building was later restored, dedicated to St. John the Apostle, and then took ^a new title from Eucharius himself. Brouwer writes that it was not dedicated by Eucharius, but only anciently dedicated to the Apostle, in Annals, book 2, page 174: "His body (namely, of Eucharius) was buried in the year of Christ 73 he himself was buried in it, in the church which was anciently dedicated to Blessed John the Evangelist, and afterward was consecrated and dedicated in his own name: where the sepulchres of seventeen successive Bishops who followed in order and seventeen successors, were formerly venerated with great devotion and special reverence." Then, in the year 1127, when the relics of St. Matthias the Apostle were discovered in the same place, and the church was restored and dedicated by Pope Eugenius III on the Ides of January 1148, the temple and monastery gradually came to be celebrated under the name of St. Matthias from that time to the present, as will be said more fully on February 24, in the Life of St. Matthias.

[15] Among those seventeen Bishops whom Brouwer writes were buried in the church of St. Eucharius after him, St. Celsus was one: and among them Celsus, whose body, discovered 836 years after his death, was translated by Egbert, Bishop of Trier, ^a most noble man, whom John Gerbrand of Leiden in his Belgian Chronicle, book 8, chapter 2, writes was the son of Theoderic, the second Count of Holland: whose body was discovered under Bishop Egbert: concerning whom we shall treat more fully on December 9 and have treated incidentally on February 15, when discussing St. Severus the Priest.

[16] The history of this Discovery and Translation was committed to written record by Theoderic, ^a not unlearned writer of that time. The history of the Discovery was written by Theoderic the monk, Concerning him, Trithemius in his Chronicles of the Monastery of Hirsau, at the year 1000, page 43, writes thus: "In these times also there flourished among our Treverians Theoderic, ^a monk of the monastery of St. Matthias the Apostle, of our order, who, being ^a studious and most learned man, wrote one book on the Discovery of St. Celsus, which was made by Archbishop Egbert on the seventh day before the Kalends of March in the aforesaid monastery." The most learned Juan Tamayo de Salazar did not sufficiently weigh the words of Trithemius, whose title for the day of February 23 of the Discovery reads thus: "History of the Discovery of the Relics of St. Celsus, Confessor, by Theoderic, ^a monk of the monastery of St. Matthias at Hirsau, who lived in the year of the Lord 1001." Hirsau is not at Trier, nor is there ^a monastery of St. Matthias there; not of Hirsau. rather, it is in the diocese of Speyer, across the Rhine, in the Duchy of Wuerttemberg, on the river Nagold, which, joining the Enz, flows into the Neckar and is finally carried into the Rhine. That monastery was formerly called the cell of St. Aurelius. Trithemius began to compose its Chronicles when he was Abbot of Sponheim and completed them when he presided over the monastery of St. James the Greater at Wuerzburg. He writes, moreover, at the cited passage "among our Treverians," because he was born in the diocese of Trier. Otherwise, six lines later, he shows that the monastery of St. Matthias was at Trier: "In these times also flourished," he says, "Theodore, ^a monk of St. Matthias at Trier, ^a contemporary and fellow student of the monk Theoderic." but of St. Eucharius, or St. Matthias at Trier: But Theoderic himself most explicitly testifies that he became ^a monk in that monastery, which was then called St. Eucharius's, in the year 1006, and shortly afterward, at the command of Abbot Richard, committed to writing the Discovery of St. Celsus and the miracles, and repeatedly calls the monks of the same monastery "our Brothers."

[17] The Great Belgian Chronicle mentions the Discovery and Translation of St. Celsus, but in ^a ridiculous manner: "The venerable Egbert," it says, "Bishop of Utrecht, mention of his Discovery elsewhere. son of Theoderic, the second Count of Holland, distinguished in nobility and virtue, began in the year of the Lord 970." Then, after certain intervening passages: "He himself brought the body of St. Celsus, Confessor, found in the cemetery of St. Eucharius, to the monastery for the celebration of the divine Office there. And when after the completion of the solemn Masses he was earnestly asked by the Brothers to partake of the charity of food and drink, lest he be burdensome to them with so great ^a retinue, he preferred to refuse the charity offered by the Brothers and to hasten his return to the city. But when he came to the river Olevia, he began to fail with ^a grave illness, and as soon as he reached his See, he closed his last day. He was buried there in the small church which he himself had built in honor of St. Andrew." These from the Chronicles of those same Pontiffs.

Thus there. Whence Tamayo was given occasion to write, as related above in number 7, that Egbert was first Bishop of Utrecht, then of Trier. At that time, the upper Utrecht, or that on the Meuse, lacked Bishops, Egbert was not Bishop of Utrecht. since the See had been transferred to Liege two hundred and fifty years before: the lower Utrecht, or Ultraiectum, had no Bishop named Egbert. The error in the Chronicle is from the typographer; but ^a greater one from the carelessness of the writer or compiler, in joining the death of Egbert with the translation of St. Celsus. The Great Belgian Chronicle corrected. In the Chronicles that he cites, namely the Gesta Treverorum, the text reads: "He moreover found the body of St. Celsus, Confessor, in the cemetery of St. Eucharius." And then, two pages later, the following is appended: "When the feast of St. Eucharius had come, he himself went to his monastery for the celebration of the divine Office there. And when after the completion, etc." -- as in the Chronicle, but it is added that the church of St. Andrew in which he was buried was on the right side of the church. Almost all the same things that are found in the Gesta Treverorum are narrated by Gerbrand of Leiden in book 8 of the Belgian Chronicle, chapter 2, and the manuscript Life of Egbert, excerpted from the same. Brouwer writes of Egbert in book 10, page 590, that the governance of the Church of Trier fell to him at the beginning of the year 978, or certainly near it; Egbert created in 978, died 993, and on page 606, that he died on the fifth day before the Ides of December in the year of the Lord's Incarnation 993, having governed the Church for sixteen years. He also treats quite clearly of the Discovery and Translation of St. Celsus, but does not seem to assign ^a certain year. It occurred, however, before Otto II departed for Italy in the year 980.

[18] M. Maximus might seem to someone to have prophesied concerning the Translation of St. Celsus, The Chronicle of M. Maximus noted, since, as we related above in number 6, he writes at the year 525 that his Translation is celebrated on February 23, though Maximus himself lived at the beginning of the seventh century, while the Translation occurred in the tenth. Tamayo responds, saying that these words, written somewhere in the margin, crept into the text. This can indeed be easily excused, since writings of this kind are not infrequently interpolated in that way -- unless the entire Chronicle is regarded by the learned as plainly suspect.

[19] Moreover, the annual commemoration of that Discovery or Translation is inscribed in most of the more recent Martyrologies. The feast of the Discovery: We recited above in number 4 the eulogy that Saussay composed about him. Hermann Greven, Galesini, Canisius: "At Trier, the Discovery of St. Celsus, Bishop and Confessor." The same, with an occasional word changed or removed, is found in the Martyrology published at Cologne in the year 1490, Maurolycus, Molanus, and Ferrari. The manuscript Florarium, as above, makes him ^a Martyr.

[20] Finally, it is pleasing to append the Lesson, which is read as the third on the Vigil of St. Matthias at Trier concerning St. Celsus, in which, however, it must be corrected where it says was it decreed by Egbert? that Egbert decreed his anniversary to be observed henceforth on the seventh before the Kalends of March, for Theoderic only reports that he mandated the feast on the day before the Nones of January to be religiously observed. Perhaps, however, afterward either he himself or some successor decreed that the solemnity of the Discovery should also be observed on February 23. The Lesson reads thus:

[21] "Celsus, born of an illustrious lineage, undertook after Auspicius the governance of Trier and Tongres, Lesson of the Office of Trier concerning St. Celsus. the fifth among the first Bishops of those Churches, who were raised up amid the savage cruelty of the nations against the Christian religion. We have received by tradition that he spent thirteen years in that office. The body of this man was formerly discovered by Archbishop Egbert, by ^a certain indication, while he was occupied with opening the foundations of the new basilica of St. Matthias, and he proved his virtue and extraordinary sanctity to the entire multitude that thronged to the solemnity of the Discovery! For he wrapped ^a small piece of the veil from the finger of Blessed Celsus and cast it into live coals deliberately brought to him as he was celebrating Mass. When the canon of the Mass had been completed, the Bishop drew out the sacred relics with the veil unharmed and uninjured, the flame having been overcome, to the immense astonishment of all -- decreeing his anniversary to be observed henceforth on the seventh day before the Kalends of March."

HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY OF ST. CELSUS

by the monk Theoderic, from the manuscripts of Budek and Trier.

The Discovery of Celsus, Bishop of Trier (St.)

BHL Number: 1720

By Theoderic, from manuscripts.

DEDICATORY EPISTLE OF THE AUTHOR.

[1] To the most excellent worker of Christ and most magnificent Father Richard, his own Theoderic, the last of his own, Theoderic the monk, at the command of Abbot Richard than whom nothing is held more lowly among the monks, yet not unmindful of his monastic profession, with every circumlocution of apology set aside, offers the service of true obedience. For your fatherly piety asks -- nay, inescapably enjoins by commanding -- that my insignificant self should not delay to commit to some sort of account, to pen and memory, providing for posterity, the Discovery of the most sacred remains of the Blessed Confessor of Christ Celsus (whose illustrious merits are revealed by the etymology of his very name); the Discovery and miracles of St. Celsus, and by what occasion, known indeed to the Divinity before the motion of time, but in our days revealed under the Bishop of pious memory, Egbert, Hierarch of the city of Trier, his blessed relics were at last made known to mortals, for ^a certain extraordinary benefit to the Church, solemnly discovered; and also the remarkable proof of his merits -- those things which, on the occasion of the longed-for manifestation of so great ^a treasure hitherto hidden, are known to have been accomplished more clearly than daylight. For you judge it would not be right that so great ^a splendor of miracles of so great ^a man, poured forth from heaven for the increase of the salvation of many, should remain hidden in idle silence.

[2] To which I say: I marvel greatly that ^a man of such wisdom, and I am struck with vehement astonishment as to what is in your mind, that, passing over and as it were despising so many servants at home and in the field conducting themselves blamelessly, whom you nourish with sacred doctrine in the spiritual school of Blessed Eucharius, although less suited to the task than others, you prefer to load the feeble shoulders of an inexperienced newcomer with the weight of so great ^a commission. For I call God, who knows all things, as witness (not that I am of such ^a mind as to wish to kick back, even by murmuring, against your command, which it is not lawful to do) that I have known in your household many Brothers of more advanced talent, upon whom, if the same burden were laid under the guidance of obedience, they could have carried it, to speak the truth, on untiring shoulders, and could have fully satisfied your wishes in all things.

[3] But what need of more words? It has been appointed for monks, with ^a certain special emphasis above all others, he undertakes the writing. that they should know no delay in fulfilling the commands of their superiors; and although impossible things be enjoined upon them, always trusting in the mercy of the Lord, they should know that all things will be possible for them. Therefore I shall attempt what you enjoin according to your wishes, believing with the utmost certainty that Blessed Celsus can obtain for me by his prayers that I may deserve to swim across this gray sea with my cargo safe, and be able to reach the longed-for port unharmed.

CHAPTER I

The monastery of St. Eucharius at Trier, rebuilt by Bishop Egbert.

Preface.

[4] Since it is plainly evident to all followers of divine and human philosophy that the Metropolis of Trier, both by the antiquity of its worldly dignity and by the cardinal majesty of the Catholic Faith, has rightfully and deservedly been called to this day the chief church of all Gaul, On account of the honor of Trier and has been raised higher than the other Churches round about by ^a certain particularity of Apostolic authority -- on account, namely, of that joyful occurrence whereby the personal Trinity and essential Unity, God, the founder of all things, deigned to visit and illumine it in ^a godlike manner with the primeval splendor of the holy Gospel through the labor of His three workers, to be perpetually rewarded: it would truly appear quite inconsistent if those things which, in the last days, God in His merciful regard has deemed fit to reveal at the Areopagus of that same city should vanish like smoke into the air through the torpor of silence. For if, while the sweet-speaking Augustine still survived, similar things were revealed at Hippo, that royal city, the wonders recently wrought there are to be narrated. that most august orator himself would have adorned, with rhetorical flowers (as was his custom), many volumes on account of them. But great things befit the great, and small things the small. Let us leave Augustine to fly on the wings of philosophy to the stars. But we, revealing exalted deeds through ^a small window, as it were, by way of humility, must consent to lowly things. For almighty God, who possesses all things without any need, is believed to be eager for our salvation alone, and does not observe in the sacrifice offered to Him how great it is, but from how much it is offered.

From here the proposed work must be begun and carried forward -- but would that it might be as diligently completed as obedience devoutly begins it.

[5] In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 978, when Otto the Second of divine memory, kinsman of the greatest Augustus Otto, Egbert, Bishop of Trier, was vigorously governing the summit of the Roman monarchy, acting as Prince with the scepter, the man of blessed memory and of virtues, Egbert, that resplendent chief shepherd, presided over the holy Church of Trier, to be preserved by God -- illustrious in lineage, illustrious indeed by the nobility of his parentage, but more illustrious by the inestimable dowry of all probity. And truly, because he flourished magnificently in that twin brilliance, as due honor demanded, he surpassed all the Bishops and Nobles of the entire kingdom by the very reverence he inspired. In stature he was tall, in appearance, and in the ruddy beauty of his countenance he shone more gracefully than all the primates of that time. in authority, For he was the foremost guardian and nurturer of monks, and ^a special lover of regular discipline: inasmuch as beneath the habit of ^a Bishop he concealed the humble breast of ^a most devout monk, in charity toward monks, and so poured himself out externally with Martha to fulfill the frequent service of the Lord, in piety, that he nevertheless devoted his whole self with Mary to the study of the divine word: making himself ^a sacrifice pleasing to the Divinity -- in the practical life, ^a dove; in the contemplative, ^a turtledove.

[6] But what worthy thing shall I say of his generosity, in which he was uniquely enriched? For you would have seen in him ^a new John, whom they call the Almsgiver: generosity toward the poor because the riches which God had bestowed upon him most lavishly, he transmitted to heaven, so to speak, with ^a full horn through the hands of the needy. For the monasteries subject to the See of Trier and monasteries then very needy, were before his time in need beyond the common measure of those serving God, and worn down by ^a most harsh want of provisions and supplies; and on this account monastic religious life had suffered no small decline. And so, as the winnower of perfect conduct grew scarce, that fire of divine love which Truth sent upon the earth and willed to be vehemently kindled and collapsed: was now, with iniquity abounding everywhere, not only growing cold, but -- what is more dangerous -- was beginning to be extinguished by every means.

[7] For his predecessor of venerable memory, Theoderic, was indeed ^a most eloquent teacher and an industrious steward of the Lord's household; but because the straitness of the times, on account of the manifold exactions of the state, so often and so constantly constrained him, what his predecessor could not do, he attended less to the needs of the monasteries, since he did not have the means. But this man, to be named with the highest veneration, he restores them, walking in the royal way to the right and to the left, did not fear to curb the ambition of soldiers: as ^a just arbiter, he repressed the tyranny of the provincials with his authority, and whatever had been taken from the monasteries by hostile invasion, he gathered back from every quarter with ^a powerful hand, and reclaims what had been taken: and restored it to the monasteries under great vigilance, and as ^a pious father of the household, he took such pains to repair what had been neglected and consumed by age.

[8] And when he turned his fatherly eyes also toward the precinct of Blessed Eucharius he appoints Abbot Gotherius over the monastery of St. Eucharius and grieved exceedingly over the poverty of its monks, using wise counsel, he first chose for the monastery ^a worthy steward -- namely, an abbot named Gotherius, uniquely trained at the monastery of Ghent -- upon whom he conferred such ^a supplement of resources in fields and vineyards, besides many other gifts conducive to the adornment of the monastery, and bestows much, that as long as the sphere of the firmament revolves, his perpetual merit may thereby receive increase. But how much he granted with ^a generous hand to other monasteries equally subject to his pastoral authority and nearly collapsed under the pressure of want, as also to others: for the sake of their restoration, and how he succored monastic religious life, which at that time seemed everywhere to be falling into ruin, as ^a favorable chief physician of languishing souls, with an authoritative antidote -- these things exceed measure and reckoning, and therefore words fail to narrate them.

[9] So thoroughly did charity, the teacher of virtues, hold the scepter in his breast with vigorous command, that he could say, not unjustly, with blessed Job: "From the womb of my mother charity went forth with me." Job 31:18 For he frequently grieved and many times drew deep sighs, looking about on all sides, he conceives the plan of rebuilding it more splendidly: because the chapel in which the precious Archbishopric of the Lord, Eucharius, together with his most blessed fellow soldiers, rests in peace and awaits the coming of the Redeemer, had endured for so many passing years with too humble and mean an fabric -- anxiously revolving within the treasury of his mind, that if life should be accompanied by good health, he might polish to perfection the Lord's Church for such great Patrons, with ^a worthy apparatus (as far as human estimation goes), having laid ^a new foundation, with every kind of ornament, as was fitting -- counting as worthless this old building of ours and calling it off-handedly ^a storehouse of revenues.

[10] And when he was occupied with such ^a spiritual desire in frequent meditation, it happened on ^a certain occasion that he was in close company with the aforementioned Prince who had honored him with the prerogative of Apostolic dignity, with the approval of the Emperor Otto II conversing more intimately than with the other Bishops of the Churches, and among other counsels of ecclesiastical benefit he opened to him the doors of this wish. The Emperor, being the most Catholic ruler of the worldly court, rejoicing together at so great ^a desire of so great ^a Bishop, burst forth in excessive eagerness of mind into these words: "Blessed be God upon the throne of His eternal majesty, who has deigned to inspire in us ^a will so pleasing to Himself; and blessed be the united community of monks of Blessed Eucharius, through whose necessary prayers the fortunes of our entire Empire are governed by the Lord. And if divine providence shall bring this purpose to fulfillment in our days, I shall henceforth gladly enter the way of all flesh -- only that before Jesus Christ, the just Judge, I may deserve to find in Blessed Eucharius, the first teacher of the city of Trier, ^a merciful patron for my transgressions."

[11] And after this he said: "Go as quickly as possible, and with all spiritual effort press forward in so pious ^a labor. For God is powerful, who has granted you the will, to supply also the ability. But I wish this not to be hidden from you: if with fervent will you strive earnestly to lay the foundation, after it has been made known to me that it rises so high as to show the measure of one cubit above the earth, and pledging his aid. I will furnish you such assistance from our treasury that, in the short interval of ^a few years, it will make progress with joyful effort that, beyond common expectation, will reach to the very top."

CHAPTER II

The sepulchre of St. Celsus discovered, diligently and reverently guarded: the translation of the relics decreed.

[12] Encouraged by this imperial promise, the glorious Bishop, accompanied by divine aid, eager to carry out in deed the conception of his mind, having energetically assembled and gathered together ^a great number of masons and diggers, When the work began, the sepulchre of St. Celsus is found made his way to the site. And when digging had been carried on for some days already, suddenly the diggers, with unexpected blows, struck upon the burial place of Blessed Celsus -- three or four times, as it pleased the Divinity. For, as is read in the book of blessed Job, nothing happens on earth without cause: for this is believed to be not fate but divine arrangement (since fate is repugnant to Catholic ears), even though something occurred other than what was intended. Job 5:6. For if Blessed Celsus had not been deposited in that place, by the arrangement of God, he could in no way have been found by the digger. Conversely, if the digger had not excavated the earth, the treasure of the Lord would not yet have been discovered. For what almighty God arranged before the ages to come to pass, He declares to mortals in wondrous ways in time, according to His will. Behold, while insensible stones are hewn for the service of the Lord, living stones are found -- so that we may perceive with ^a lively mind that the Divinity does not dwell in temples made by hands, but rather that we ourselves ought to be the temple of the living God, for the sake of which the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.

[13] The sarcophagus itself, in which the bare grain of the resurrection had lain hidden for so many ages for the purpose of ripening, was of stone of wondrous whiteness, which the common people call chalk; and above it ^a marble tablet, on which ^a title, indicative of his sanctity, had been inscribed, with an epitaph: containing the following:

"O you, whoever you are, eager carefully to know the tomb, Here lies one illustrious in name and in merits, Celsus, whom the Lord distinguished with true honor, Not idle for his homeland, ever flourishing everywhere; Who drew his lineage and origin from an illustrious stock, And with pious affection is laid in this tomb."

[14] The workman, however, who first of all struck upon the tomb, was ^a peasant, and incapable of almost all reason, as that class of men is known to be. Job 5:6. For he did not know that Blessed Job had said: "The cause which I knew not, I investigated most diligently"; the digger recklessly breaks the tablet, but he rashly gave his hand to haste, and seized the tablet with his axe, so that the title could scarcely have been read without error by learned men. And when he was sharply reproved by the bystanders for why he acted so rashly, that he would not even spare the inscription, the madman, taking it for nothing, is reported to have given this reply: "What wrong have I committed? That stone which I broke is esteemed by me of no greater value adding blasphemy, than the most vile stone that is trodden under my feet, nor does there seem to be any difference." But so that it might become manifest to all that nothing remains unavenged before God the just Judge -- because he so carelessly handled the pearl that was to be set in the ornament of the Supreme King, it did not pass unpunished for the wretch: so as to strike no small fear into all, both those present who had seen it and those absent who had learned of it by flying rumor. For on the third day he ended his life by ^a sudden death: on account of which he dies suddenly three days later: so that almighty God might show more clearly that Blessed Celsus, to be named with all spiritual reverence, is to the faithful, with the Apostle, an odor of life unto life, but to the unfaithful and obstinate, an odor of death unto death. 2 Cor. 2:16 And so it came to pass that the perdition of one became the salvation of many, according to what Solomon says: "When ^a pestilent man is punished, the innocent will be wiser." Prov. 21:11

[15] And when so joyful ^a report had reached the knowledge of the pious Bishop with swift haste, with much-praised thanksgiving he blessed God, the giver of all gifts; and thus, eager and knowing no delay, he rushed to the divine spectacle, Egbert comes thither. surrounded by the clergy. But although he was most eager for the work begun, he nevertheless sustained this interruption most gladly, and seals the tomb, certified by true faith from the assertion of the title that in his days the regard of the Divinity had graciously descended upon the city of Trier. Having therefore carefully examined with the probe of prudence all that had happened, he by no means presumed to move the coffin of the blessed treasure from its place of deposition, but only took care to seal it with the seal of his authority under the watch of guards: meanwhile establishing there monks as chanters of psalms, who on account of the merits of so great ^a Just One should pay unceasing praises to the Divinity: perpetual psalmody instituted there: until he himself, by the consultation of his fellow bishops, should more fully learn what ought to be done concerning so great ^a matter; and thus, having transcribed the text of the title, he entrusted it to the chancellor of the bishopric.

[16] And while, according to the inviolable ordinance of so great ^a Shepherd, the Brothers by day and night, now under the open sky, now under cover, frequented the divine Office at the resting place of the Just, and besought with importunate prayers the Most High Sun, who without doubt does the will of those who fear Him and is accustomed to hear their supplication; not long afterward, by imperial edict, ^a solemn synod was convoked of ^a great many Bishops and Abbots -- namely, the Fathers of Belgium and Germany -- at the royal palace which in the barbarian language is called Ingelheim: at the synod of Ingelheim in which certain things necessary for ecclesiastical benefit, with the guiding authority of the holy Canons, were sweetly promulgated and prescribed to be inviolably observed by succeeding generations. In this synod the well-deserving Metropolitan of the Church of Trier, Egbert, necessarily participated -- whose memory, as long as the word "Today" is spoken, must ever be held in benediction, because to his pious efforts it is attributed that the Clergy of his Church is ennobled in learning and religion. When many matters demanded by the synodal rubric had been discussed, after the great Archbishop, who held the primacy among them all, perceived that there was ^a free moment for him to speak, he recounts the Discovery, taking up the small note on which the title of Blessed Celsus was inscribed, in the order that was fitting, he set forth in public with Ciceronian eloquence what the divine condescension had revealed in his city, and recited the title himself.

[17] When these things were heard, the Emperor, suffused with immense joy, addressed the sacred and God-pleasing assembly in these words: the Emperor rejoices, "Rejoice, brothers and fathers, in the Lord, and praise from your inmost hearts the Lord our God, who by the wondrous grace of His eternal goodness has deigned to look upon our times, giving to His Church at the Metropolis of Trier ^a new patron, Blessed Celsus, whom, rich in virtues and full of days, from the time of his departure from Egypt, He has until now made ^a fellow citizen of the hosts of Angels in the heavenly seats. I ask again: rejoice, because, to speak the truth, not only has salvation been increased for us thereby, but also the probity of that same city's pious Pastor, whom you see here present, has been fully revealed." When the priests of both orders who were present at the sacred synod heard this, and the Bishops, spreading their hands to heaven, they shed pious tears of joy, giving immense thanks to the Creator, who had not suffered so glorious ^a treasure to be buried longer underground, but had deemed it fitting to make known by shining miracles what merit the man had before Him. For it was not right that ecclesiastical military service should fail on earth toward him to whom the crown of justice had already been rendered by the Lord in heaven. After this, it pleased the sacred council that, with the imperial decree leading the way and the inseparable consent of the Bishops accompanying it, and they approve that the relics be honorably elevated: the Bishop of Trier should diligently return to his See and raise the remains of Blessed Celsus, together with the clergy subject to him, from their own tomb and place them on high in ^a casket, as if in ^a treasury of divine riches, and so place them upon the sacred altar with every honor of holiness, as being no ordinary member of the Supreme King.

CHAPTER III

The solemn elevation and translation of the relics of St. Celsus: their authenticity proved by fire.

[18] Having received such ^a mandate and counsel, the blessed Archbishop Egbert, like ^a prudent creature, fortified himself with the blessings and prayers of so many Fathers, and bound himself more closely to the imperial favor, and so hastened his journey with prosperous success, guarded by divine protection and attended by ^a company of retainers. And when he had established himself at his own See, St. Egbert convokes the Clergy of his diocese, with ^a few intervening days, he summoned to himself all the Abbots and monks endowed with wisdom, as well as the Priests and Clerics belonging to his diocese; he related to all publicly what had happened. Finding them all in agreement with the synodal decree, he immediately organized ^a festive procession, with Crosses and candles, with thuribles and gem-studded Gospel books, and every ecclesiastical accoutrement, and with their approval he establishes ^a solemn procession, with the Brothers marching in pairs and sweetly singing the hymn of the Lord, and, full of tears of joy, he slowly approached the sanctuary of Blessed Eucharius. Now, after he had simply commended himself and his vow to the holy Confessors of Christ, with the praising voice of so great ^a company reaching even to heaven, trembling he approached the hoped-for place; after prayers, and there he made more prolonged supplication to the Divinity, that he might not be cheated of so sacred ^a desire, but rather might deserve to be granted the fulfillment of his vow.

[19] But since for those who love God all things work together for good, after he had put an end to his prayer, full of faith he undertook the work pleasing to God, and having removed the safeguard of the seal, he had the sacred mausoleum opened. he opens the tomb of St. Celsus, When it was opened, so great ^a sweetness of wondrous fragrance was poured forth, and so great ^a scent of heavenly nectar emanated, that all who were present thought themselves overshadowed by the glory of the Divinity and present amid the delights of Paradise: from which ^a sweet fragrance is diffused: and so, struck at once with fear and joy, they broke forth into this praise of the Lord: "Blessed be the Lord of Israel, who never forsakes those who hope in Him, because by the blessed merits of our Bishop He has ordained that His Israelite, whose merit and name declare him Celsus ('the Exalted'), be revealed in our days." And then they said: "Blessed is he whom You have chosen and taken to Yourself, O Lord, because over all Your goods You have set him as ^a faithful servant, and You have bestowed him upon our lowliness as ^a most merciful Patron."

[20] Amid these intervals of sacred song, Egbert, priest of the Lord, reverently emptied the tomb, taking from it bones dried and white, and placed them in ^a clean white linen cloth, jubilating with all the Clergy the most fitting responsory for such ^a service: "The Saints shall exult in glory; they shall rejoice in their resting places." For who could adequately describe how great ^a flood of weeping -- not of sorrow, but of spiritual joy -- overflowed there, he elevates the relics of St. Celsus, when so great ^a Bishop amid the hymn-singing voices could not restrain himself, but devoutly watered his face with showers of tears in praise of the Redeemer? Amid the joyful chants of the monks and the resounding jubilation of the Clergy, the resounding voice of the common people mingled from every side, and in so great an assembly of the faithful nothing else was heard but "Kyrie eleison" and "Glory to You, O Lord." After the bones of Blessed Celsus, so long humbled, had been glorified by the Lord's revelation, they were placed with episcopal care in ^a portable chest and places them in ^a portable chest, and honorably carried by God-fearing men from the place of burial and brought with the highest reverence into the Church of Blessed Eucharius. And when the God-beloved Archbishop, enriched with this heavenly gift and surrounded by so great ^a multitude of believers, in which they are borne to the church of St. Eucharius. had entered the monastery, he himself first intoned in ^a full-voiced manner that ecclesiastical hymn celebrated with Paschal joy whose beginning is "Te Deum Laudamus," and brought it to an honorable conclusion with the sonority of so great ^a company -- with candles blazing, bells ringing, and thuribles fragrant with the burning of incense -- so that it was certain to all that in that procession of such great gladness, the harmonies of Angels and men alike were offered to the supreme Divinity as an odor of sweetness.

[21] When, therefore, the most fitting bringing-in of the holy relics had been accomplished, they were most reverently elevated by the blessed Bishop upon the altar of St. Eucharius, with most grateful applause, to the great joy of all: all rejoicing together and pouring forth sweet tears most abundantly. And truly there was ^a great and unspeakable cause for rejoicing, when the people of Trier, through divine grace, deserved to have so great ^a citizen of the heavenly city as ^a sharer in their patronage. And when the Archbishop, vested in his mitre, had proceeded to the solemn celebration of Mass with ^a company of ministers, Egbert celebrates Mass: and so devout an assembly had begun to sing joyfully to the Lord, there grew in the hearts of all who were present ^a fear and reverence toward Blessed Celsus, as they more earnestly besought the divine grace that they might deserve to experience on that very day some sign of his sanctity -- which indeed was done. For after the reading of the holy Gospel had been recited, he preaches at it: the Bishop addressed the people by way of admonition, as is the custom of the Church, and like nard that gave forth its fragrance, he announced to all the revelation of the holy relics; exhorting them not to cease visiting Blessed Celsus more frequently; and he mandated by Apostolic authority that henceforth every year they should strive to celebrate his birthday, he decrees the feast of St. Celsus to be celebrated: which falls on the day before the Nones of January, with the highest honor.

[22] When the sermon of instruction was finished, he returned from the pulpit to the altar, so that to almighty God, in honor of Blessed Celsus and for the salvation of all the Christian people, he might offer with devout mind the sacrifice of our redemption. he places ^a piece of his finger in the fire. And when the offertory chant had been completed with great earnest jubilation, and the order of the Preface was now at hand, the priest of the Lord ventured, for the sake of examination, to test what should be thought of Blessed Celsus -- lest he should run, or had run, in vain. Taking ^a tiny cloth of the finest thread in the sight of all the Clergy, he wrapped in it ^a joint from the bones of the consecrated finger, and cast it into the live coals of the thurible, with which the incense was being burned; and for the entire space of time during which he completed the mystic Canon in its entirety, it remained unharmed and untouched by the fire: which is not injured: so that that Apostolic word might shine forth more clearly in Blessed Celsus through material fire -- the word prophesied in general of purgation for all: "The fire will test what sort of work each one has done."

[23] Behold, He who was present as ^a consolation to the three youths in the furnace of fire, He Himself, to declare the merits of this man, took from the coals the power of burning lest the cloth be scorched -- He who never was not, which is ^a striking miracle: never will not be, never will be otherwise; than whom nothing is more hidden, and nothing more present; who is hard to find where He is, and harder to find where He is not; by whose sole goodness we were made, by whose justice we pay penalties, by whose mercy we are freed; in whose simple substance or nature nothing is violable, nothing composite, nothing feigned; no particle of earth is His kingdom; He approves no crimes; He never lies; whose order of empire no one's sin either harms or disturbs, whether in the highest or in the lowest. For if the violence of material and extinguishable fire had no power to harm that wrapping, on account of the greatness of such merits, how can it be that on the day of the Lord's fury, when the elements are burning, that purgatorial fire should receive the power of any injury against Blessed Celsus, already ^a son of the resurrection, who upon the foundation which Paul the architect laid did not cease to build gold, silver, and precious stones, so long as he lived in the flesh beyond the flesh?

[24] When this miracle had been seen and the course of the Masses completed, the Bishop replaced the God-pleasing treasure, he places the remaining bones on the altar. the remaining bones having been decently placed upon the altar; and having given his blessing, he dismissed the people in peace, praising God and saying: "Now we know what we possess, for the Lord is good, for His mercy endures forever."

MIRACLES OF ST. CELSUS.

The Discovery of Celsus, Bishop of Trier (St.)

BHL Number: 1721

By Theoderic, from manuscripts.

CHAPTER I

A cripple and ^a demoniac healed by the invocation of St. Celsus.

[1] Having at length set forth, albeit in unpolished language and with ^a rustic pen, what the sequence of the narrative demanded, concerning the Discovery of the body of St. Celsus, the precious Confessor of Christ, it is now fitting for us to turn our pen to elucidating his illustrious miracles, which our merciful and compassionate Redeemer Jesus Christ deigned to reveal through his glorious merits, so that all might redound to His praise, without whom all the Saints could do nothing. And who has anything that is not his own? For He goes before us, that we may will rightly; but unless He follows and grants that we also can, we strive in vain: for it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. But because Blessed Celsus was predestined before the ages of the world, together with all the Saints, for the kingdom, he was therefore preceded and followed by the Holy Spirit: for the calling profited him nothing unless election followed at the end. The sacred relics of Blessed Celsus having therefore been preserved upon the altar of St. Eucharius for an entire month after the Discovery, it pleased the Father of the same monastery, named Gunderadus, The relics of St. Celsus, after ^a month, and all the Brothers, that they should carry the casket of St. Celsus into the nave of the Church and place it upon the altar of the Holy Cross, which is at the entrance of the sanctuary, saying, "Lest Blessed Celsus, out of the greatest humility, should yield to his Lord and Master St. Eucharius -- to such an extent that, as long as they share ^a common rest upon the holy altar, he might restrain himself, are transferred to the altar of the Holy Cross: as the lesser and younger, from the signs of miracles, knowing that it is written for him in the Gospel that the disciple is not above the Master." Matt. 10:24

[2] When this had been done, afterward, with only ^a few intervening days, almighty God declared in many wondrous ways how much His beloved Confessor Blessed Celsus avails before Him. For in the same monastery of St. Eucharius there was ^a certain poor man named Richolf, who from his very mother's womb had come forth so contracted and crippled that he scarcely displayed any semblance of ^a human body: he could not walk, a certain pitifully crippled man because his feet, curved and monstrous, adhered to his buttocks, and proceeding on his knees, he resembled ^a crawling creature rather than one that walks; sometimes, however, supported by crutches under his armpits, he was accustomed to commend the lower part of his body to the air rather than to the earth. The Brothers took care to admonish him that he should visit the altar of the Holy Cross more frequently with whatever effort he could muster, promising him that the help of healing would come through the intercession of St. Celsus, whose most sacred relics were kept there. praying before them at night, This wretched man, when on ^a certain night in the same place he gave himself to prayer and with frequent sighs called upon Blessed Celsus for his aid, suddenly divine grace shone upon him, and on one side of his body he obtained the health that birth had denied him, through the intercession of so great an intercessor: in such wise he is partially healed, that one crutch was left behind there as ^a testimony, while with the other he made his way back to his own bed. But why He who can do all things, who suspends in nothing all that He created from nothing, should have left the man half-healed -- whom He nevertheless afterward cured completely -- since I cannot penetrate this, I leave it to readers of more lively intelligence to discuss. For it is written of Him: "He who lives forever created all things at once." Sirach 18:1 For thus does that merciful and compassionate One act, who holds back the waters in the clouds lest they burst forth all at once, because He established all things in measure and number and weight: sometimes by granting small things, He persuades us to seek greater ones. For the frail vessel was perhaps unable to bear the full weight of health at once: therefore the Physician withdrew ^a part and made the burden bearable.

[3] Encouraged, therefore, by this portion of divine mercy, the poor man's undoubting faith promised him the hope of recovering his full health, considering in his heart: "He who has begun ^a good work in me is able also to complete it." And again on ^a certain night, afterward completely: while the Brothers were sleeping, presenting himself to Blessed Celsus in the same place, he obtained from the Lord the gift of perfect health, through the patronage of his merits. For about the middle of the night he began to burn with fever and to emit cries of extreme pain, and as if stretched by the violence of torturers, through all the joints of his limbs he produced such ^a cracking sound as though ^a bundle of dry sticks were being beaten. When the Brothers were awakened and heard this in the dormitory, they all rushed eagerly to the divine spectacle and found him already so wonderfully formed by the hands of the Divinity that not even the slightest traces of the whole infirmity by which he had been possessed from his cradle remained in him. Having seen these things, they took care to give thanks to almighty God and to His servant Blessed Celsus, and by the ringing of bells and the sweet-sounding chant of hymns they aroused the citizens everywhere to the praise of the Lord.

[4] And when, in the abundance of their joy, they had hastened to report so remarkable ^a deed to the Archbishop without delay, he, made more joyful than usual, gave thanks to the bestower of all good things, who in his days had willed to exhibit such miracles for the strengthening of the Church. And having summoned the Clergy of the entire city and also the sacred company of monks, Egbert, having understood the matter, comes thither, he did not delay in going to the monastery of Blessed Eucharius; and having learned in more precise detail the order and circumstances of the cure, just as it is read in the Acts of the Apostles, "they were all filled with wonder and astonishment at what had happened to him." Acts 3:10 But the Bishop, so that so evident ^a miracle of divine healing might become known far and wide, at once took care to celebrate the solemn Mass festively. He celebrates Mass, And when he was evangelizing the people at the appointed hour in the Catholic manner, according to the wisdom given to him, and was publicly proclaiming the gift of healing, he expounds the miracle in ^a sermon, he ordered the restored little man to be placed in the midst, as if for ^a spectacle: so that among all who were present the grace of God might become more wonderful, when they saw him whom they had known until then to walk with ^a borrowed gait and to lean upon the support of crutches, now divinely reformed and walking on his own feet. When the man had been brought into the midst as evidence and had been recognized by all, and orders the healed man to walk before all, the Bishop commanded him to direct his steps here and there and to walk openly before all. And when the new walker endeavored to carry out the commands, who there could restrain laughter, however respectful, when now backward, now forward, as one ignorant of walking, he proceeded on tottering legs and seemed like one filled with wine? When Blessed Celsus's miracle had been demonstrated, all in common blessed God, who had magnified His Saint by so splendid ^a miracle. When at length the celebration of the Masses had been completed and all things duly accomplished, the Bishop gave gifts to Blessed Celsus; and the healed man himself, who had been ^a wonder to all, he clothed in the monastic habit (for he was of the household of the bishopric) and commanded by ^a fixed precept that as long as he lived and gives him the monastic garb, he should not presume to withdraw his foot from the service of the Church. The same renewed poor man served in the monastery for many years, as he was commanded; and after his cure he flourished with such robustness and abounded in such strength who was afterward most vigorous that among all the servants of the monastery he could find no equal. Whence it happened that, by the consent of the Brothers, he was advanced to ^a more useful office -- namely, that of fuller, in which he labored blamelessly for many years and remained beloved by all.

[5] But I ought not to conceal in silence what happened in our presence ^a few years ago. In the same monastery of St. Eucharius, ^a certain little boy of monastic disposition grew up, named Martin, who from his mother's very bosom had been offered to Blessed Eucharius. When he was being kept with watchful care, together with the other boys, in the cloister, according to the inviolable decree of the Rule, it happened one day in summertime that ^a great violence of rainstorms brought ^a sudden inundation of waters. A boy, drinking water not signed with the cross, And when the Brothers, the evening office now completed, gathered as customary for supper, the same little boy, having taken ^a vessel in the refectory, went out alone, as it were, to draw water. Unable to draw water from the well, he quickly went with his vessel to the oratory of St. Maternus, so that he might drink from the pool of water that had recently formed there before the church doors from the force of the rain. And while he lingered there for some time, debating with himself whether or not he ought to drink, suddenly ^a malignant spirit, transforming himself into the likeness of ^a certain servant of the Church, stood near the boy, and taking the vessel from him, drew water from the pool and offered it to him as if ^a generous cupbearer. The boy, so miserably deceived, forgetting to sign the cup with the cross, drank it down to the bottom and so returned to the refectory. When supper was ended and the hymn had been said, the Brothers proceeded to the church with psalmody, as was their custom. But on their return from the oratory, the boy began to turn with wandering eyes this way and that, he is seized by ^a demon, and to emit from his trembling little chest ^a kind of grunting, so that it was clearly apparent to all that he had been invaded by an unclean possessor. And when the teacher of the boys, and maltreats his master: named Dominic, ^a young man of good promise, wished to apply discipline to the boy while still unaware of the matter, the little boy suddenly attacked his Master with insults and seized him firmly by the hair.

[6] When the Brothers, greatly astonished, perceived this, they rushed unanimously to the weapons of prayer: and they placed the bound boy before the altar of St. Eucharius, tearfully beseeching the Divinity that through the beloved merits of His Saints He would free the boy as quickly as possible from the invasion of the ancient enemy. When prayer had been poured forth at greater length, by the prayers of the monks, the Brothers, trusting in the divine mercy, immediately blessed water before the altar and water blessed in honor of St. Celsus, drunk, and made the boy drink it in honor of Blessed Celsus. When he had drunk it, quicker than words can tell, the ancient plunderer abandoned in flight the handiwork of the Lord's dominion and consigned himself to the winding paths of hell. And when the boy, now of sound mind, was sitting in the cloister associated with his other companions, he called God, the discoverer of all things, as his witness he is freed. that more clearly in the hour of his liberation he perceived how the man of God, Blessed Celsus, indignantly held bound with thongs at the gate the same malignant enemy and tormented him at length with the bars of the same gate, strictly forbidding and threatening him that he should not presume henceforth to violate the place consecrated to God. Blessed be God in all things.

CHAPTER II

Blindness, paralysis, and other afflictions driven away by the aid of St. Celsus.

[7] Nor do I judge that memorable deed any less worthy of being saved from oblivion, which the divine bounty, through the venerable patronage of Blessed Celsus, deigned to work some years ago in the sight of our Brothers. For what else are the miracles of Blessed Celsus to be considered, if not the fruit of the labor of St. Eucharius? For the goodness of the disciple is the increase of the master's honor. For if the disciple merits such things before God, what might we think the master could do, if necessity pressed? In the suburb of the same monastery, about five years ago, ^a certain young man named Thiezo, who is still alive, was struck by the disease which physicians call elephantiasis and was brought to the point of death, to such ^a degree that he had been despaired of by all his friends. But although the pestilence was raging excessively that year and had caused no small destruction among the Christian people, it did not, however, wrest life from this man, but by the rage of its malignity it extinguished the light of his eyes. And when the illness had in some way ceased from him after his blinding, his mother and other relatives, greatly saddened by his blindness, found for themselves ^a salutary counsel, saying: "What is this that we are suffering? Is Blessed Celsus, if we flee to him, to be judged powerless before God -- he who works such evident miracles among us daily?" With these discussions, the mother, a blind man is illuminated at his tomb: whom the great force of her pain tormented more than the others, clinging to the hope of faith, on ^a certain day offered the same son of hers to Blessed Celsus to be illuminated, with an offering of candles; and they both prostrated themselves on the pavement, earnestly begging that the divine mercy would be present to them and calling upon the intercession of Blessed Celsus. What more? The divine mercy was soon at hand: light shone forth for the blind man, and he who had visited Blessed Celsus led by another's guidance, with sight divinely granted, retraced his steps with sure foot on his own, praising and blessing our Lord Jesus Christ.

[8] Nor do I judge the following to be placed in any way at the bottom, which in the days of Luitolf, Archbishop of this city of Trier, our merciful and compassionate Redeemer of the world, Christ, deigned to perform, to bring to light the glorious merits of His beloved servant Celsus. For ^a certain ministerial of the same monastery had ^a swineherd named Peter, who, when ^a long-lasting illness assailed him, became so contracted and half-dead throughout all the connections of his sinews that for many days, lying on his bed, without the help of others, he could not in any way turn himself to another side. And when, through the great length of time, a paralytic is healed, all hope of recovering health had been taken from him, at last he was carried on the shoulders of friends to the church and placed before the most sacred relics of St. Celsus; in whom there remained not even enough strength to touch the ground with the tips of his fingers. But what else are the wonders of God, if not what is impossible for men? For, having been kept there for two days, on the third day at length, touched by the divine regard, he rose from the ground full of strength, yet not entirely perfectly: so much so that, without any assistance, he made his way to his own little house -- limping, however, still on one foot, because he was not fully restored. But why this too was not completely cured, let whoever wishes say.

Glory to God, and through your merits, holy Celsus.

[9] Since indeed, to the praise of the Redeemer, we have resolved to set forth the miracles of Blessed Celsus in whatever language we can, even though the slenderness of our little talent cannot express all those things which could have come to our notice, yet one which comes to mind at present will by no means be left untold. About four years ago, ^a certain seven-year-old boy grew up in the same monastery, named Azelinus, who still breathes and is healthy, and whom nearly all our Brothers know. On ^a certain day, he was cruelly struck by ^a subcutaneous disease and began to swell with such distension that he seemed like ^a man with dropsy. His brothers and friends, finding nothing they could do in the face of such an illness, were already preparing his funeral in despair of his recovery. For according to human estimation, all hope of living was gone: a certain man is freed from ^a lethal swelling: since he was entirely wedged together by ^a mass of blisters, he appeared, with his shining-sick skin, as if made of glass. And while in this agony of pain he was drawing his last breath, suddenly his elder brother burst in with ^a tearful cry, saying: "O holy Celsus of God, who have already come to the full aid of so many wretched and death-endangered souls, succor also this my brother in his present peril. And if you do this, I testify to your grace that as long as he survives, he will pay you ^a fixed annual tribute of candles for your sanctity." When this vow had been made, in that very hour (wonderful to tell) all that swelling subsided so completely that without any hesitation it was evident to all that our patron, Blessed Celsus, had been able to obtain this from God.

Hence praise, hence to the Lord, Three and One, be ever given, Who condemns the reprobate and glorifies the pious.

[10] Nor is this miracle to be held in lesser veneration, which Christ the Son of God, in our presence, deigned to work through Blessed Celsus. In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1007, the fifth Indiction, ^a certain possessed woman from ^a village adjacent to the monastery, accompanied by ^a crowd of parents and friends, was brought upon ^a cart to St. Celsus to be healed. And since the annual feast of St. Valerius, Confessor of Christ, was at hand, and the people of Trier were hastening to compete in approaching so great ^a Patron, a demoniac freed: Blessed Celsus restrained himself on that day from the efficacy of healing, on account of the commotion of so great ^a multitude. For the demoniac woman had previously been conveyed to many places of the Saints, but since she had been divinely reserved for St. Celsus, she was to be freed nowhere else. When the feast had passed, the wretched woman was carried into the oratory of Blessed Maternus, with the casket of Blessed Celsus placed upon her. Having been kept there for three days, on the fourth day she was snatched from the malignant spirit and recovered the true state of ^a Christian mind.

[11] Since we have now committed to the pen, as truthfully as we could, some of the miracles of the blessed man which we have learned from truthful reporters, we consider it would be entirely unfitting if those things which the divine will has deigned to perform through the same Father in our own time should fall mute in sluggish silence. In the oft-mentioned monastery of Blessed Eucharius, ^a certain young man of singular disposition lived, named Burchard, who from almost his very cradle had been entrusted there by his parents to be nourished by almighty God; he still survives, and exercises the office of deacon, and is also of remarkable usefulness and honor to the monastery above many others. When on ^a certain night, according to the unfailing rule of the Rule, he was resting together with the Brothers in the dormitory, by ^a chance occurrence ^a certain insolent and most tenacious creature, which has received the name of spider, suddenly penetrated the cavities of his little ear, a spider entering the ear of ^a sleeping young man excites immense torment, and, struck by the assault of so hostile ^a guest, he immediately arose in the night, greatly anxious about so great ^a misfortune. What he should do, or to what counsel he should commit himself, he could not find amid such great disturbance. And when for three continuous days and as many nights he was vexed by such miserable pain (for he believed that the most elusive creature which they call ^a flea was inflicting such ^a plague upon him), the Abbot of the monastery -- Gunderadus of blessed memory -- began together with the Brothers to sympathize in every fitting way with the young man, as is proper to monks, and to grieve exceedingly over his affliction, and also to apply medicinal remedies more frequently to so great ^a pain. But when many medicinal poultices had been applied in vain, some began to despair entirely, since they saw the pain was severe. To what end labor at many things? Suddenly, stirred by ^a heavenly impulse, he chose for himself the one unique and special solace, and prostrating himself on the ground before Blessed Celsus, as is the monks' rule, he commended himself more intently to his merits with faith as his companion. by the invocation of St. Celsus it was expelled. When at last his prayer was finished in ^a few words, that accursed little creature immediately came out in ^a backward course and fell into the palm of his right hand. At the sight of this miracle, the same Brother, made most joyful, rendered immense thanks most devoutly, as duty demanded, to almighty God and His beloved servant Celsus, whom he had merited to have as his intercessor.

Let praise, power, and jubilation be unto Christ.

CHAPTER III

Three nuns of Horreum, and the writer himself, are healed by the merits of St. Celsus.

[12] Thus far we have treated of those things which we have learned concerning the virtues of the holy man from domestic and familiar report -- that is, only of those things which are related to have happened at the right times either in the precincts of Blessed Eucharius or in the dependencies of the same monastery. Now the necessary order demands that we also discuss some things brought from middle and outer distances to our knowledge. For ^a city set on ^a hill cannot be hidden; and the most brilliant lamp of his virtues was not willing to be concealed under the bushel of the same monastery, as if deprived of its rays, but rather wished to become known far and wide with blazing light, so that by the extended flames of its miracles it might serve as ^a guiding light to all who dwell in the house of God. For in the same city of Trier there is ^a certain monastery, which received from antiquity the name of Horreum, consecrated to the Queen of Heaven: in which, from the time of the orthodox King Dagobert, The jaws of ^a nun at Horreum, dislocated, holy women have always been accustomed to serve God most devoutly. There, ^a certain nun born of an illustrious stock, whose name was Henza, was of no small usefulness (as they say). She was struck by ^a certain inevitable and pitiable misfortune -- not, as we believe, by any divine punishment, but for the more distinguished manifestation of the glorious merits of Blessed Celsus. For on ^a certain day, when she wished to take her meal at the proper hour, her jaws were so suddenly dislocated from one another that the office of chewing was entirely taken from her; and thus, with gaping mouth, she became ^a wonder to all, and suffered the affliction of hunger for many days. And when she had been despaired of by all her fellow sisters on account of the prolonged pain, there suddenly came to her mind how many and how great the benefits of miracles were that Christ Jesus, the Lover of mankind, daily showed through Blessed Celsus; not at all hesitating in faith, but more fully believing that he could not be powerless to obtain her health also from God, if the merciful intercessor would approach on her behalf. While she revolved these thoughts within herself again and again, she at length made known to her friends how great ^a hope she had in the merits of Blessed Celsus; and thus, having found ^a salutary counsel, she hastily sent an acceptable offering of candles to so great ^a Patron. A wondrous thing, and powerfully astonishing! At the very same hour in which the candles were lit before the patronage of the blessed man, were restored by candles offered to St. Celsus. the same nun received the joys of her former health -- so assuredly that the bearers of the candles, returning home with all speed, found her already eating with ^a lively countenance whom they had left shortly before struggling with death. These are Your gifts, O Jesus Christ the Redeemer, who promised to Your Apostles, saying: Mark 11:24 "Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you will receive it, and it will be done for you" -- You who make Your beloved Confessor Celsus shine forth with such radiance of virtues. To You, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, be praise and thanksgiving forever, Amen.

[13] At another time also, in the same monastery of the ever-Virgin Mary, there was ^a certain nun who, born of noble blood, held no mean position there, named Geila. another freed from ^a prolonged fever: Whom on ^a certain day ^a very fierce fever, assailing her, vexed most hostilely for about an entire year without any interval, now with burning heat, now with chills. When all her strength had been exhausted, she was drawing her last breath in pallor, and awaited nothing other than her funeral rites; when suddenly, recalling to memory the almighty servant of God, Celsus, she had herself carried half-alive with all haste to the monastery of St. Eucharius and prostrated on the ground before the patronage of Blessed Celsus. And when she had supplicated so great ^a Patron for some time as she was able, at length, by the interceding merits of her intercessor, the divine regard shone upon her; and so, having received the gift of longed-for health, she returned to her own with all alacrity, praising and blessing God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who saves those who hope in Him; to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen.

[14] But neither do we think it right to pass over in silence what the benign condescension of the Divinity, through the illustrious merits of Blessed Celsus, ordained to show in the same monastery in such recent memory. For there ^a certain nun of great parentage had been raised from her cradle, who was called Glismoda. Paralysis so tore her apart from her loins to her ankles that for an entire year, lying in her bed, she could never turn herself from one side to the other, and could never raise herself from her bed without the help of her attendants. And when she was already at the point of death, another with prolonged paralysis. suddenly one day she began to call to her helpers with loud cries and to beseech them with wondrous adjurations to hasten to carry her swiftly, without any delay, to the monastery of Blessed Eucharius. They, without delay at her request, placed her half-dead body with the greatest effort on ^a cart and conveyed her as gently as they could to the appointed place. And when she had been placed before the casket of Blessed Celsus by the hands of her attendants, she commended herself with whatever strength she had to so great an intercessor for healing, and there she spent the night in prayers. But in the morning, according to the custom of monks, having taken the meal of charity, she returned home. And then, two days later, when at the usual hour she wished to rise from bed and none of her attendants was present, she grasped with what effort she could the post of the bed and supported herself for walking. Having attempted this, suddenly, by the grace from above bestowed through the patronage of Blessed Celsus, she cried out with all her strength, saying: "Thanks be to God! Behold, by the helping patronage of St. Celsus I am released from my infirmities." From that time to the present, she has been so perfectly restored to health that by all who dwell with her it is daily said: "Blessed be He in the firmament of heaven, who has regarded you through the intercession of His blessed Confessor Celsus."

[15] Until now, according to the small measure of the little spark divinely bestowed upon me, I have noted down only what I heard, in whatever manner of dictation. Now, at the end of this small work, I wish to bring forth something which the divine power, through Blessed Celsus, deigned to show in my own person; but this, I think, is more suitably recited if it employs its own chapter separately. For just as it is known to be ^a matter of great reward to insert into the truest accounts the advantages of others for the sum of divine praise, so it is believed to be ^a matter of no small condemnation to keep silent about one's own. In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 1006, which is the last of the twenty-fifth nineteen-year cycle, The writer became ^a monk in the year 1006, in the second series of the great year which is called Paschal, I escaped naked, with Christ as my helmsman, the stormy sea of this world and took refuge by the grace of hospitality at the most safe port of Blessed Eucharius. And when I was received with full fraternal kindness by the Father of the same monastery, ^a man of the highest veneration named Richard, and treated with every monastic devotion, he commanded me, unworthy, to be united to the assembly of the Brothers, and addressed me no longer as ^a guest but as ^a most intimate member, with ^a gracious word. After he perceived that my insignificant self had no small knowledge of the monastic order, both from his own dove-like simplicity and on account of the venerableness of my advanced age, deeming me to be ^a man of some learning -- although I had not been fully instructed even in the first rudiments of letters, so to speak -- he persuaded me by his fatherly authority that I should by no means delay to write something, even with ^a rustic pen, in praise of the Redeemer, concerning the illustrious virtues and recently performed miracles of St. Celsus. Reckoning that this persuasion should by no means be resisted, compelled partly by the command of so great ^a Father, partly by the common entreaty of the Brothers, recently in the days of Lent I studied to fabricate this little work. And, he is freed from an inveterate gout, to speak the truth, when I had been entangled for three continuous years by the swelling of gout and the ulceration of my legs, so that I could scarcely be supported by ^a staff, (praise be to God) when I had completed what I had learned about St. Celsus, I was so perfectly restored, through the intercession of so great ^a Patron, that you could reckon me rather an Asahel than ^a limping monk.

SERMON

of Theoderic, Priest and monk, to be read on the solemnity of St. Celsus.

The Discovery of Celsus, Bishop of Trier (St.)

By Theoderic, from manuscripts.

[1] The present solemnity, dearest Brothers, which Christ Jesus, the author and maker of human salvation, has consecrated for us by the festive passing of our most desired Father, Blessed Celsus, ought to be observed by us with all the more eagerness and celebrated with all the more devotion, inasmuch as it is certain that we are aided by daily and continuous patronage in the presence of his sepulchre. The feast of St. Celsus to be honored by the monks of St. Eucharius, For it is believed that he intercedes more closely before almighty God for our transgressions, the more devoutly we strive to redeem his holy feast by celebrating it with solemnity.

[2] For this is that glorious day, to be venerated with every spiritual rejoicing, on which the blessed triumphant conqueror of this world entered the ever-green pastures of that heavenly city; and congratulations are to be offered to him, now triumphant in heaven: and set over all the goods of his Lord, he was crowned to reign with Christ without end. Wherefore let us rejoice and exult in the Lord, for now praise belongs to him together with all the Saints, in the company of whom he is perpetually joined in the Capitol of the kingdom. Again I ask: let us rejoice, because now that seven-times-blessed man has been recompensed by the Lord with the crown of justice.

[3] For the most blessed Celsus was one of those evangelical branches of which the Lord Himself says: "He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit." John 15:5 because he brought forth fruit, For unless he had abided in the true Vine, which is Christ, through faith and love, as long as he quickened the flesh, he would in no way have been able to bear such fruit. He abode unshakably in the Vine, as the Bride, the Church, in her Head: because the Spirit of adoption of the children of God chose for Himself ^a most sure seat in his breast, in which He always cried: "Abba, Father." Whence the Lord Himself says in the Gospel: "By their fruits you shall know them." Matt. 7:16 Therefore, my Brothers, do you wish to know the fruit of so great ^a branch, which he drew from the sap of the Holy Spirit? Hear the Apostle: "The fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, long-suffering, goodness, benignity, faith, modesty, continence, chastity, gentleness." Gal. 5:22 For this is the fruit of virtues which abides unto eternal life. Whence also the Lord says to His disciples: "I have chosen you, that you may go and bear fruit, and that your fruit may abide." John 15:16 For just as ^a tree is known by its fruit, so Blessed Celsus, ^a fruitful olive tree planted in the house of the Lord, gave knowledge of his virtues through the fruit of good works, because he walked in the Spirit and crucified the desires of the flesh. For he was crucified to the world with the Apostle, and all the blandishments of this age, by which great men are sometimes caught as if in birdlime, despising the world, he rejected as dung, that he might gain Christ and become ^a true heir of the heavenly kingdom. Gal. 6:14 For he did not hear with uncircumcised ear the Wisdom of God crying in the streets -- that is, preaching in the breadth of all nations throughout the world: "If anyone loves Wisdom, let him turn to Me and he will find it." Prov. 9 Therefore, because he loved Wisdom -- through which God the Father created all things, and namely Wisdom Incarnate -- he also heard It crying through Its own Gospel and saying: attentive to Wisdom: "Come to Me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will refresh you." Matt. 11:28 After this voice he ran joyfully, because he recognized that Christ is the Wisdom of God; and therefore he took upon himself His yoke, which is sweet, and His burden, which is light, and like ^a most gentle animal bore it patiently.

[4] But lest that most blessed man should succumb in the struggle proposed for the contest, as though relying on his own strength, hearing from the Apostle that "no one will be crowned unless he has competed lawfully," 2 Tim. 2:5 and Truth Itself attesting to the disciples that without Him they could do nothing, John 15:5 stirred by the desires of heavenly longings, together with the Bride, the Church, in the Canticles, he daily asked to be helped by Him, saying: "Draw me, that I may deserve to run after You in the fragrance of Your ointments." Cant. 1:3 In the fragrance of the ointments of the Lord -- that is, in the teaching of the holy Gospel -- Blessed Celsus not only walked but even ran; swiftly following Christ, because the grace of the Holy Spirit knows no tardy efforts. For our Liberator Christ Jesus Himself, hastening to the redemption of the human race, as the Psalmist testifies of Him, "exulted as ^a giant to run his course, so that His going forth was from the height of heaven and His circuit unto its summit." Psalm 18:6 So great is the vivacity of the efficacy of the Holy Spirit that He seeks by no means burdened and weary workers, but agile and ready ones. Hence Paul says: "So run that you may obtain." 1 Cor. 9:24 And again he says: "Let us hasten to enter into that rest." Heb. 4:11 Whence it must be noted with the utmost care that all the works of the Lord are everywhere commanded to be done with haste. Hence it is that the Virgin Mary, having received the divine oracle from the Angel, immediately went with haste into the hill country and visited the mother of the Precursor of the Lord. Whence also, when the Redeemer was born and laid in ^a manger, the shepherds came in haste, to verify what they had heard from the Angel. Hence it is, too, that in the Law the Passover is commanded to be eaten in haste, because so great ^a blessedness is not to be sought with sloth and torpor, but the footsteps of Christ are to be followed with alacrity. Exod. 12:11

[5] It is therefore more clearly evident to all who use reason that this man of the Lord, preceded by the Holy Spirit, was found most diligent in all the divine commandments, because in this life he hated his own soul, that he might keep it unto life eternal. For he was that Evangelical architect, instructed with the instruments of the highest virtues, a wise architect, of whom the Lord Himself says: Luke 6:47 "Everyone who comes to Me and hears My words and does them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like ^a man building ^a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation upon rock; and when the flood came, the river beat against that house and could not shake it, because it was founded upon the rock." Blessed Celsus came indeed to the Lord through faith, and heard His words through the ministry of the Apostles and Evangelists, and retained them in ^a good and excellent heart, a doer of the Law, not ^a hearer only. and brought forth fruit ^a hundredfold, because the love of God was poured forth in his heart through the Holy Spirit, who was the possessor of it. Moreover, he did the same words of the Lord, because he vigilantly heard the Apostle Paul thundering and saying to the Romans that "not the hearers of the Law are just before God, but the doers of the Law." Rom. 2:13 And he attended no less keenly to the Apostle James, who persuades the faithful, saying: James 1:22 "Be doers of the word, and not hearers only." For he heard the Savior Himself saying in the Gospel: Luke 11:28 "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it"; and with all the marrow of his heart and the strength of his body he strove to keep what he heard, bearing before him the care of his soul. And because he did not become ^a forgetful hearer but ^a doer of the work, therefore he was found blessed in his deed before God and men. Again he heard the Lord saying to His disciples: Luke 12:35 "Let your loins be girded and your lamps burning"; and with unconquerable struggle he took care to keep through himself what he heard, because he practiced the purity of angelic chastity shining for the world, and offered himself as ^a burning lamp, an example of good works, to all. Blessed Celsus is indeed ^a lamp, because in this dark time he is accustomed to scatter the rays of true light, through the efficacy of miracles, to all who strive to walk in the way of the Lord. A lamp, I say: for so does the light of his merits shine before men, that through him they may glorify and praise God, who by His preceding and following grace made him such and so great. Again from the Gospel he heard: Matt. 10:16 "Be wise as serpents and simple as doves"; and carefully weighing the force of those same words, with all spiritual vigilance he so adapted himself to that commandment wise and simple, that with the shrewdness of the serpent he in no way afterward defiled the new man whom he had put on in baptism, and by the simplicity of the dove, which desires to harm none, he tempered the shrewdness of the serpent. 1 Cor. 14:20 Thus also, according to the Apostle, he took care to be ^a child in malice, yet in no way departed from the understanding of the perfect. And so, an unconquerable soldier fighting in the arena of the Catholic faith, he fought the good fight, he finished the course, he kept the faith; now at length the crown of justice has been rendered to him, because faithful is He who promised. Therefore, because Blessed Celsus both heard and did the words of the Lord, he is likened to ^a man wishing to build ^a house of humility, who laid the foundation of faith upon the rock which is Christ: because everyone who here humbles himself shall be exalted with Him in the future, as ^a most sincere member in its Head.

[6] But since "all who wish to live piously in Christ suffer persecution," after he laid the foundation upon the rock and, according to the Apostle, built upon it gold, silver, precious stones, and set in all the gems of the virtues, when the flood of various temptations from malignant spirits or from frenzied tyrannical presumption beat against that house of manifold tribulations, strong in adversity, it could not move it from its place. 1 Cor. 3:12 Why? Because it was founded upon the rock. 1 Cor. 13:8 "Charity," says the Apostle, "never falls away." For with what boldness can he fall whom God, who contains all things, contains? For He Himself is charity. To such ^a degree was he inflamed by the fragrance of the Divinity that he was entirely certain with the Apostle that "neither death, nor life, nor Angels, nor Principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any creature could separate him from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus." Rom. 8:38

[7] Praise and thanksgiving to Him who, according to the Apostle, "before the ages of the world" predestined him with all the Saints for the kingdom, and enrolled him in the white roll of the blessed order as ^a warrior of the divine battle. Tit. 1:2 Honor and power to Him who chose him and took him up, thanks are therefore to be given to God. held his right hand, led him in His will, and on this day received him with glory, placed him in the palace of heaven, and granted him to His Church, still on pilgrimage on earth, as ^a most merciful patron and also ^a supporter. Blessed be He in the firmament of heaven, who is glorious in His Saints, wonderful in His majesty, whose kingdom and dominion remain unshaken without any change of any age, both now and always and through the immortal ages of ages, Amen.