Bertilia

ON ST. BERTILIA, VIRGIN, AT MAREUIL IN ARTOIS.

c. A.D. 687.

Bertilia, Married Virgin in Belgium (St.)

[1] The feast of St. Bertilia is recorded on this day by the Gallo-Belgic Martyrology, the Benedictine Calendar, Constantine Ghinius, Arnold Wion, and Hugo Menard; and by Molanus in the Belgian Calendar, and in the Index and in the Feasts of the Saints of Belgium.

[2] Ferrarius: "At Maricolae, near the Atrebates, of St. Bertilia, virgin." But Ferrarius confuses the monasteries of Maricolae and Mareolum, not correctly. For Maricolae, or Mariliae, or Mareoliae, called below, in the Life of St. Poppo on January 25, Mariliacum, in the vernacular Maroilles, is a monastery of the order of St. Benedict in Hainaut, in the diocese of Cambrai, on the little river Helpe, which flows into the Sambre not far from there; it was built by Count Chonebert, endowed afterward by St. Humbert in the year 667 and by Louis the Pious in 818, and later also by Charles the Simple and other illustrious men. The monastery of Mareolum is different from Maricolae. Mareolum, on the other hand, is, as the most illustrious Aubert Miraeus says, an ancient Abbey of Canons Regular near the Atrebates, whose estates Lothair, King of the Franks, with his wife Emma, confirmed by his diploma in the year 977. Of it the Chronicle of Cambrai, book 2, chapter 16, says: "There is also in the village of Maraculum a monastery of Canons, where St. Bertilia rests, who handed over this very estate of hers to St. Mary." And in book 1, chapter 2: "There appear, moreover, down to the present day, with their earthworks laid out, the places near Mariolum where the Roman lines had pitched camp." Molanus and Miraeus testify that those earthworks are still to be seen. Mareolum is a mile and a half distant from Arras, toward Mont-Saint-Éloi, as George Colvener writes in his Notes on book 1, chapter 25, of the Chronicle of Cambrai.

[3] The Life of St. Bertilia: relics. We have transcribed the Life of St. Bertilia and the history of her Elevation and Translation from a manuscript of Mareuil. Arnold Raissius, in his Belgian Hierogazophylacium, testifies that her relics are still preserved there.

[4] On September 14, in the year of Christ 1081, the Elevation of St. Bertilia took place, which Wion, Menard, the German Martyrology, and Molanus in his Additions to Usuard record on that day; and on January 3 the same Molanus in the Feasts of the Saints of Belgium, and Miraeus. Of the translation made on October 8 in the year 1228 Molanus treats in the same place.

LIFE OF ST. BERTILIA, VIRGIN.

Bertilia, Married Virgin in Belgium (St.)

BHL Number: 1288

From manuscripts.

PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR.

[1] It is useful to write the lives of the Saints. There is no doubt that to narrate the miracles and also the deeds of the Saints is of no small profit to those who read or hear them; since they are both formed by their example to do good works, and invited by the reward to seek its joys with all the efforts of their strength. Hence praise and exultation are heaped up more and more to our Lord Jesus Christ; and conversely confusion and envy arise more powerfully day by day for the enemy of the human race, since he both first fled vanquished by that Head of the whole Church, and afterward, indeed, is read of daily as vanquished and confounded by His members. Wherefore, having begun to write a few things about the life or the virtues of St. Bertilia, I earnestly beg you (whoever you are, reader) not to attend here to the sequence of an unskilled discourse, but to consider the life of most excellent conduct of the aforesaid handmaid of God, even from her earliest age; and not to exercise yourself on the ingenuity of words, but rather to be invited by her example to do good. But let these things be set down in summary at the head; from here let the text take its beginning.

CHAPTER I.

Bertilia's family, and her holy youth.

[2] Bertilia's family. The holy and glorious handmaid of God Bertilia, then, was sprung from a most noble lineage of the Franks. For her parents were both of the highest birth, and moreover very rich in the ample possession of their means: both of them also shone at that time to perfection in the offices of religion and of all piety. From them their aforesaid daughter did not degenerate in the least: but whatever they had of perfection in lesser measure, she afterward strove with all her efforts to supply, as later shone forth openly to all.

[3] Devoted to piety from infancy, Indeed from the first age of her infancy she began to burn with the whole affection of her mind in the love of Christ, and with sighs from the depths of her breast to long more and more for the heavenly fatherland of the eternal dwelling. And whatever she could learn or hear about Christ, or about the hosts of the citizens on high, she busied herself almost every hour to taste with her spiritual palate. For the force of inward love had so kindled her soul that scarcely the space of a single hour could intervene in which she was not continually either applying herself to prayer or relieving the needy by the office of humanity. Moreover, she was eager in the daytime to hasten to the church, to almsgiving, to hearing the word of God. so that she might be able to hear the word of God, for which she burned exceedingly with an excessive love of hearing: and what she heard with the ear of the body she stored up in the deep memory of her heart. For there was in her already at that time, although in tender years, a mature understanding, and by her holy conduct she properly surpassed the age of infancy.

[4] Since she was of such perfection at the first beginning of her budding age, and grew with such increases of virtue in her infancy, what do we suppose she was afterward? Surely, all hesitation removed, it is to be known most certainly that thereafter, as she grew in age, so too she advanced equally in sanctity and in uprightness of conduct. Then too, She despises splendor of dress. she did not care, as other wanton girls are wont, to adorn herself outwardly with silken garments interwoven with gold and gems, but rather was always busy adorning herself inwardly with probity of conduct: not unmindful at that time of that Apostolic precept by which he restrained women from the desire for precious garments, saying: "Not in costly attire": the use of which, however, being sprung from most noble birth, she could not always avoid. 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Pet. 3:3. We could indeed have told many remarkable things about the holiness of her infancy; but, lest by going on beyond measure they should beget weariness, we have decided to omit them. Wherefore, walking the royal road, namely turning aside neither to the right hand nor to the left by departing more or less than is fitting, let us touch briefly on what follows.

CHAPTER II.

She marries Guthland.

[5] Guthland seeks her as his wife. Then a certain youth, Guthland by name, distinguished by the nobility of proud blood, and very rich in the abundance of all means, and moreover incomparably adorned with good character, began to love the aforesaid maiden of Christ: for she was charming in speech, comely in face, and most beautiful in appearance. And he begged her parents with most urgent prayers to join her to him in marriage. The said youth, therefore, offered to the often-mentioned wonderful maiden of Christ, so that he might draw her to his consent, a great many garments interwoven with gold and gems; She despises the riches offered. he offered estates of many kinds, and slaves without measure. All of which she made light of and counted as nothing, and her mind could in no way be bent by them, nor be turned aside from her purpose of sanctity: but where she had once fixed the gaze of her mind, there she continually remained immovable. For already all fleeting things were beneath Blessed Bertilia, and she loved no pleasures of fleeting things, and took delight in no games or jests, in which that age is wont to be entangled; but she avoided all things as vain and as of no moment, and rejected them as dung: for at that time the force of inward love had so kindled her soul She is held by the desire for the solitary life. that she wished to shun the company of men gaping after the love of this world, and longed to dwell alone in the desert: and she would have fulfilled her wishes, had the weakness of her sex not been an impediment.

[6] At length she reluctantly consents to her parents. Her parents, then, seeing that the youth would be most vigorous, and exalted by the pomp of worldly eminence, and greatly enriched with very large possessions of lands, began day by day to draw the mind of their often-mentioned daughter, with sweet and coaxing exhortations, to consent to the aforesaid youth. Laboring at this for a long while, they spent a great deal of time. Yet, overcome at last with difficulty by their prayers, she consented to receive him with the love of God, not for the sake of indulging lust, but for the sake of propagating offspring.

CHAPTER III.

She keeps chastity with her husband.

[7] Guthland advances in virtue through her. Moreover, the said youth, having at length obtained her desired, or rather religious, embraces, began daily to grow little by little in sanctity and also in the religion of Christ: which, all hesitation removed, is most truly to be believed to have been brought about by the merits or prayers of Blessed Bertilia, namely so that he should not become the violator of her chastity, which she had vowed to God from her very cradle.

[8] The pious exercises of Bertilia and Guthland. Who would suffice to narrate worthily, in order, of how great religion both of them were, and how holily and justly they passed the whole time of their life together, and also what and how great good things they did in their life? For both were renowned for religion, outstanding in hospitality, most fervent lovers of chastity. You might see them daily feeding the needy, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, and performing not sluggishly the other offices of piety and holiness. Indeed they dispersed almost all their means in such work: so that it may truly be sung of each of them with the Psalmist David on a sweet and gentle instrument: "He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his justice remaineth for ever and ever." Ps. 111:9.

CHAPTER IV.

As a widow she lives holily: she dies.

[9] After the death of her husband she remains a widow. Blessed Guthland, then, having departed first from this life, and, as we undoubtingly believe and truly hold, having been placed in the seat of the delight of Paradise, the aforesaid handmaid of God, released from the bond of marriage, was eager to preserve a nourishing chastity in widowhood, and the good which she had first conceived in her mind she first busied herself with in every way. She distributes her goods to churchmen. For all the patrimonies which had come into her ownership after the death of her father and mother, and also those which her aforesaid husband had left in her power, she assigned under the authority of charters to Monks, Canons, and Nuns of various places, except only one estate, reserved to herself for her use and enjoyment, which is called Mareolum, on which she built a basilica at her own expense, and there set up an altar in honor of the kindly Amandus. And in order that she might be able to devote herself there more sweetly and more freely to the contemplative life, She builds a basilica, and for herself a little cell beside it. she had a little cell built for herself adjoining the very walls of the basilica; entering it alone, she hastened every hour without ceasing, with the steps of good works, toward the vision of the peace on high.

[10] Whose single discourse will suffice to declare how holily and religiously she lived there at all hours, at every moment in which she was able to draw the breath of life? Since that is very long, let it be told in a few words how, ripe in merits and in years, she departed from this world. While praying she is seized by illness. One night, then, when she was applying herself to prayer more than usual, wearied at last by prayers and also by vigils, she went back to her little cell, where, when she had given her ….. exhausted limbs to sleep, she was seized by a hard bodily affliction, and day by day the immoderate sickness increased; yet she did not cease from prayer, but the woman devoted to God, the more sharply she was pressed by pain, the more abundantly she besought the mercy of Christ, asking that she might remain safe and immune from the assault of the enemies under the protection of His help, whose sacraments of faith she had devoutly received; as the teacher commands, Constancy in illness. to these the faithful handmaid submitted. Indeed, although the strength of her body was failing as death now drew near, yet, strengthened by the hope of heavenly grace, since she believed most certainly that she would pass in spirit to heavenly things, she commended herself to the protection of the divine power: She dies. and thus, set free from the bonds of the flesh, that holy soul, released from living things, was joined on high to the company of the Saints.

[11] She is buried at Mareuil. Her venerable body, entombed in the aforesaid church of Mareuil, is honored by the faithful with the greatest reverence, and is remembered as resting there with the solemn veneration of many: those who have often obtained desired benefits through the merits of Bertilia celebrate with lowly devotion of mind the name and praise of almighty God, to whom in the unity of the Trinity is glory, and the might of most seemly power, now and always, for ever and ever. Amen.

VERSES ON ST. BERTILIA.

Bertilia, Married Virgin in Belgium (St.)

[12] Progenie clara, Christo Bertilia cara, Huius matrona villæmanet atque patrona. Est data Guthlando coniunx, tamen integra virgo Perstat, & est virgo secum viuente marito: Hic ponit * villæ cenum, regale cubile Intrat, donatur Regi, Regina locatur. Relliquias huius continet iste locus.

[Bertilia, illustrious in her lineage, dear to Christ, remains the lady and the patroness of this estate. She was given as wife to Guthland, yet she abides an untouched virgin, and is a virgin while her husband lives with her: here she lays down the * mire of the estate, enters the royal bedchamber, is given to the King, is set as Queen. This place contains her relics.]

Side Note * Perhaps vile cœnum? or vitæ cœnum?

ELEVATION.

Privilege of Gerard II, Bishop of Cambrai, concerning the Elevation of Blessed Bertilia.

Bertilia, Married Virgin in Belgium (St.)

From manuscripts.

A.D. 1081.

SEPTEMBER 14.

[13] Gerard the Second, by the grace of God Bishop of the people of Cambrai, to his successors and to the faithful who come after, eternal joy. Be it known to all that in the fifth year of my Pontificate the Clergy and people of Arras, The people of Arras ask that the relics of St. Bertilia be elevated: and the pious devotion of those dwelling there, proposed that the elevation of the holy Virgin Bertilia should take place: so that she whom the prerogative of her merits and the display of her miracles had made known, an elevation from the earth onto a bier might make more renowned. Considering, therefore, the great and illustrious reverence shown by my predecessors to the aforesaid Virgin, and her well-attended cult, I, in order that I might be found no less devout, consented to the prayers of all, and appointed the elevation of the Virgin to be celebrated on the Exaltation of the holy Cross. The Bishop grants it: Before that day, overtaken by the will of God with the affliction of a great infirmity, yet so as not to cheat the expectation of the people, I sent there Abbots of good repute and religious, Dom Walter, Abbot of Cambrai, Dom Aloidus, Abbot of Arras, Dom Alard, Abbot of Anchin, Being ill he commits it to others. and Dom Alard, Abbot of Marchiennes, and entrusted to them the task of making my excuse.

[14] Blessed Bertilia, therefore, was elevated with immense exultation of the people on the day of the Exaltation of the holy Cross, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1081, Philip reigning in France and Henry in Lotharingia.

TRANSLATION.

Bertilia, Married Virgin in Belgium (St.) BHL Number: 1289

From manuscripts.

A.D. 1228.

OCTOBER 8.

[15] To the praise and glory and honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, who does not long suffer the glorious merits of His Saints to be hidden; but, in order that the Christian faith may receive increase more widely and His name be extended more broadly, wills that their miracles, which are wrought through Him daily, should come to the knowledge of all. Certain things worthy of report and of memory, which the Lord has deigned to work wonderfully in our times through His glorious Virgin Bertilia, as divine grace has inspired us, in the * ….. inversion of the deeds, and so that the later things may be joined to the earlier in their own manner and in natural order. Beginning a little further back, namely

from the elevation of the blessed and glorious Virgin Bertilia, let us more fittingly take up the opening of our narration.

[16] When, therefore, the Lord willed that the glorious treasure of the body of the most holy Virgin Bertilia, long laid up in the earth, should be raised on high, and that her relics, like those of other Saints, should be publicly and solemnly venerated in the Church, by the special mandate of the Lord Gerard of pious memory, formerly Bishop of Cambrai, not without much deliberation and great discernment, the day of the Exaltation of the holy Cross was fixed for the Elevation of Blessed Bertilia. The Elevation of Blessed Bertilia. To it there came, at the mandate of the aforesaid Pontiff, who, held back by infirmity, could not be present in person, not a few venerable men and religious Abbots, who, gathered together, approached devoutly and humbly the place in which the body of Blessed Bertilia lay, and, drawing it out from there with their own hands, as was fitting, enclosed it in a certain wooden vessel covered with gold and silver, which had been prepared for this purpose, as all this is contained more fully in a certain book made about the life of that virgin, in a wonderful account and rhetorical style. Wherefore we do not wish to make a longer delay in reciting the names of the Prelates who were present, and in recalling the solemnity employed for so great a matter, lest we seem to beget weariness in the hearers, who have known this better, by repeating the same thing.

[17] The gold of the reliquary of St. Bertilia is carried off by theft. Now when the body of the Blessed Virgin Bertilia had lain for a hundred and forty years in that vessel in which it had first been placed, that vessel, having in the meantime been despoiled of its silver and gold by certain thieves and sacrilegious men, began to fall apart from excessive age; so that it seemed a disgrace to all who saw it that the beautiful relics of so holy a Virgin should be enclosed less honorably in so unseemly and old a vessel. Another reliquary is made. Seeing this, men of good repute and praiseworthy life, Peter, Abbot of Mareuil, and the community that was with him, had another vessel made anew, at no small expense, covered with silver and gilded above, and nobly adorned on every side with various images and carvings: in which they might afterward place more honorably the glorious body of the Blessed Virgin Bertilia, when opportunity was given and the counsel of prudent men had been taken.

[18] When this had been done and prepared as was fitting, the aforenamed Brethren, namely the Abbot and the community, approached the Venerable Father, the Lord Pontius, Bishop of Arras, unanimously and humbly beseeching him with all the devotion of their hearts that he would grant a gracious and kindly assent to their pious desires, which they had concerning the translation of the body of the Blessed Virgin Bertilia. He, condescending with pious affection to their devout petitions, like a kindly Shepherd giving himself to everyone who asks, assented to their requests as willingly as cheerfully, promising that, if he could, he himself would wish to be present in person at so great a solemnity; and he ordered a fixed and named day to be appointed The translation appointed for October 8. and proclaimed, the eighth day before the Ides of October, on which the desires of the aforesaid Abbot and Community of Mareuil might be happily fulfilled. When the day came, therefore, God, who knows not how to fail His Saints, made a great serenity of the air, Unexpected fair weather. although before that day and also after it there had been very rainy weather; which many persons worthy of belief firmly believed to have happened through the merits and prayers of the Blessed Virgin Bertilia, since it is pious to believe it.

[19] Bishop Pontius is present at the translation. The aforenamed Pontiff came, then, to the appointed solemnity as he had promised; and when a solemn procession had been made by him and by the Clerics and Prelates who were with him, a certain scaffold was erected in the court of St. Amandus at Mareuil, most beautifully adorned with curtains, carpets, and various cloths, which the venerable Pontiff and the Prelates who were with him ascended together; and there, after an elegant sermon had been made to the people by Master Assene, Canon of Arras, the aforesaid Pontiff ordered a spiritual indulgence to be granted to all those who had come to the solemnity of the day with devotion of heart, He grants indulgences of 30 days. mercifully remitting thirty days of the penances enjoined upon them: adding also that an indulgence of this kind should continue for forty days.

[20] When this had been done, that old vessel, in which the glorious body of Blessed Bertilia still lay, was brought in before the Bishop: he had opened and broken it with his own hand the night before, opening and breaking it for caution's sake, and he drew out from it the relics which he found, and showed most openly to all, both clergy and people, the head, which is the principal member of man, and the larger bones. He places the relics in the new reliquary, with letters and testimonies. Finally, gathering everything faithfully, and binding it round and wrapping it in silk cloths, while the whole choir sang together Te Deum laudamus and Veni Creator Spiritus, he enclosed it in the new vessel which had been specially prepared for this purpose, having it sealed skillfully and firmly by a certain goldsmith, and putting in his letters secured with his own seal, in which the whole course of the matter is contained and the names of the Prelates who were present with him are written beneath; these we have thought fit to recite in the present reading, so that they may be committed to memory more faithfully and better by those who come after, in this manner: Names of the Prelates who were present. Dom Robert, Dean. Dom Bartholomew, Archdeacon of Arras. Dom Peter, Abbot of Aroasia. Dom Richard, Abbot of Hinniacum. Dom Peter, Abbot of Mareolum. Dom Richard, Abbot of the Mount of St. Eligius. Dame Agnes, Abbess of Strum; and many others, both clerics and laymen, whom we do not wish to name on account of length. All these things having been duly performed, the aforenamed Pontiff, returning to the church, solemnly celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Bertilia, whom he had translated, the Mass whose introit is Gaudeamus: and when it was finished and the people had been dismissed, each one returned home with joy.

Miracle of the Blind Man.

Now during the time of the indulgence. The rest is lacking to us.

Side Note * Something is missing here.