ON ST. BALDOMERUS, SUBDEACON AT LYON IN GAUL,
AROUND THE YEAR 660.
Preliminary Commentary.
Baldomerus, Subdeacon at Lyon in Gaul (St.)
Author G. H.
[1] Among the very many Saints whom the most famous city of Gaul, Lyon, venerates, is St. Baldomerus the Subdeacon -- called by others Baldimerus, Baldomeres, and Baldemeres; in French, St. Garmier, or St. Germier. A not insignificant town bearing his name is visible at a day's journey from the city of Lyon, on the border of the mountainous and flat regions of the Sequani: in the outskirts of which town a mineral spring, called by the neighbors Font-foule, adds distinction. In this town an arm of St. Baldomerus is preserved with great veneration: the remainder of his sacred body, which formerly had been held in the highest veneration in the basilica of the monastery of St. Justus at Lyon, where he migrated to Christ after a life lived in holiness -- in the previous century, when the monstrous rage of heretics was raging there, together with the relics of other Saints it was cast out and dispersed, as Peter Francis Chifflet of our Society, a man most keen in unearthing ancient monuments, informed us in a letter written on this matter. Through his industry likewise, we present the Epitome of the Life, transcribed from a manuscript codex of St. Justus. Theophilus Raynaudus, also of our Society, obtained the same from Monsieur Maurice de Frenouil, Councillor of the Most Serene Princess of Dombes, who communicated it to him, and he inserted it in his Index of the Saints of Lyon, but with a style here and there more refined, and with certain additions from the holy Fathers, with which he illustrates the Acts and instructs the reader with sacred admonitions.
[2] The feast day of St. Baldomerus is celebrated on the 27th of February, on which day his memory has been inserted in most Martyrologies written after his death -- namely those which exist either in manuscript or in print: of Bede, Usuard, Notker, Ado, Bellinus, Maurolycus, Galesinius, Felicius, Canisius -- always with the same phrasing, which is thus preserved in the Roman Martyrology: At Lyon, of St. Baldomerus, man of God, whose tomb is distinguished by frequent miracles. Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology celebrates him with an outstanding eulogy, but one drawn from the epitome of his Life. On the 28th of February he is inscribed in the manuscript of Utrecht, St. Mary's.
[3] He was ordained Subdeacon by Gaudricus -- called by others Gaudericus and Candericus -- Bishop of Lyon, who presided over the Council of Chalon held under Clovis II around the year 650, while Viventius was then Abbot of St. Justus, whom Paradinus in book 2 of the History of Lyon, chapter 15, and Demochares report to have been Gaudricus's successor in the episcopate. But Jean Chenu and Claude Robert establish Viventius as Gaudricus's predecessor, and indeed as having been created bishop from being Abbot of St. Justus -- which is refuted by these Acts. Meanwhile, from the dates of their lifetimes, it is possible to determine when St. Baldomerus lived.
EPITOME OF THE LIFE
drawn from manuscripts by Peter Francis Chifflet of the Society of Jesus.
Baldomerus, Subdeacon at Lyon in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 0899
Author: Anonymous. From manuscripts.
[1] The blessed servant of Christ, Baldomerus, born within Gaul, was a resident of the city of Lyon. And while he continued from his youth in the worship of Christ and in good works in the name of God, he always bore a simple countenance and gait. For in his clothing and footwear he appeared lowly before men; which we recognized to be worthy and precious after his death. Each day he blessed the Lord with assiduous prayers, saying at the hours of both day and night: "In the name of the Lord, thanks be to God always." He urged all to say this, as a worthy pastor would; that each person should render the greatest thanks to God with the utmost earnestness. For the faithful of Christ, as if intent upon a reading, storing these things in their hearts, did not cease to bless Christ after his example.
[2] In his earliest years, in his youth and young manhood, he was a blacksmith: which trade he carried on so worthily that whatever tools he had necessary for the practice of this work, he distributed to the needs of the poor for love of the Lord. Faithfully performing these things, like a soldier of Christ and a strong fighter, he overcame the battle line of the hostile enemy with prayers directed to the Lord. O blessed man, Baldomerus, in whom guile never appeared! He was always whole in chastity, true in friendships, kind in charity, attentive in reading, diligent in vigils, ready in almsgiving. His speech was continually seasoned for blessing the Lord, shrewd for repelling the pride of the enemy, joyful and learned for conversation with the Brothers: no vanity at all, no falsehood held dominion over him; and he exercised correction over all with piety and perfection.
[3] At a certain time, when the man Viventius the Abbot had come to pray in a certain village called Auditiacus and had entered, he found the aforementioned servant of Christ, Baldomerus, praying there in the most lowly clothing and footwear. But when he began to hold conversation with him and inquired who he was, he perceived through the Holy Spirit that he was a faithful minister of God, and thus joyfully brought him with himself all the way to his own dwelling. Afterward he arranged for him to remain in the monastery of St. Justus of Lyon, in which he himself held the position of Abbot: in which place he always led so blessed a life that whatever the Lord deigned to send him through any God-fearing persons, he spent it all in alms for the poor. Searching the reading of the Gospel, taking no care about the next day or what he might have, and continually saying the words we mentioned a little before -- "In the name of the Lord, thanks be to God always" -- he practiced this without interruption to the end.
[4] And since he always faithfully performed these things for the love of God, and his fame in all good works was growing far and wide daily, he was blessed by the holy and most blessed Gaudricus, Bishop of the aforesaid city, to fulfill the office of Subdeacon -- though unwillingly: and the said man of God kissed his hands with tears, saying that he should not impose this upon him, and proclaiming that he was unworthy to undertake such a ministry.
[5] In the same monastery of St. Justus he chose a humble cell in which to dwell: while he was in this dwelling, the Lord deigned to grant him such grace that the birds of the sky, captured or taken by no man, would come continually at the customary hour of their feeding to take food in his hands. When he was feeding them, the man of God would admonish them, saying: "Be fed, and bless the Lord of heaven always." Meanwhile, each day he poured forth prayers with tears to the Lord for the aforesaid city and all who dwelt in it, and for the aforementioned Abbot, that He might deign to open to them the entrance of paradise.
[6] And when the Lord commanded him to be received from this light, He deigned to confer such healing at his memorial that if any sick person came to the tomb of the blessed man and faithfully prayed there, he would immediately depart healed from whatever infirmity had possessed him; and he who was then thought to be of inferior rank in the body is now recognized to be superior in spirit and in power, with our Lord Jesus Christ reigning, to whom is honor and power, praise, strength, and glory for ever and ever. Amen.