THE FINDING OF THE HEAD OF ST. VEDASTUS AND OF OTHER RELICS AT ARRAS.
A.D. 1014.
CommentaryVedastus (St.), Finding of the head, at Arras in Belgium
[1] "In the year 1014, on the fourth day before the Nones of January," writes Ferreolus Locrius in his Belgian Chronicle, "the Finding of relics of the Church of Arras took place." Concerning this Finding, Baldricus writes in his Chronicle of Cambrai and Arras, book 2, chapter 13: "There (at Arras in the church of St. Mary), next to the altar of the Mother of God Mary, which Blessed Vedastus had consecrated in his own day, in the second year of Bishop Gerard, many and very precious relics of Saints were found, Miracles at the discovered relics. for whose glorification divine mercy wrought various miracles for about three years. Lepers were cleansed, the crippled were restored to human use, and many suffering from various diseases were granted health."
[2] The same Baldricus writes in book 3, chapter 4, concerning the same Finding of relics: "At that time also in the monastery of St. Mary of Arras, near the altar, it happened that many precious relics of Saints were discovered. For the purpose of proclaiming their merits, Great throngs flock to them. with divine mercy working signs and prodigies of diverse kinds, from not only neighboring but also distant regions, the greatest multitude flocked there for nearly two full years."
[3] Georgius Colvenerius admits in his Notes that he was unable to learn from the Church of Arras what or what kind of relics these were. What those relics were. But Locrius writes: "The manuscript records of the Church of Arras add: among other things, the arm of St. Vedastus together with his head and certain of his limbs, etc." For more on St. Vedastus, see February 6, and for the feast of the relics of the Church of Arras, see elsewhere.