Roger of Ellant

ON BLESSED ROGER, ABBOT OF ELLANT.

Around the year 1175.

Roger, Abbot of Ellant, Cistercian Order (Bl.)

Hugo Menardus records Abbot Roger of Ellant, in the diocese of Reims, in his catalogue of Saints and Blessed of the Cistercian Order from an ancient Missal printed one hundred years ago. The Cistercian Calendar published at Dijon also records him on this day, as does Chrysostomus Henriquez in the Cistercian Menology, who also communicated to us his life, written by a monk of Ellant. Ellant (formerly Slam or Slantium) was founded in the year 1148, as is clear from this chronographic verse:

"CLaM gives the beginning of Slam, but subtract twice one."

Roger, Abbot of Ellant, Cistercian Order (Bl.)

BHL Number: 7288

By a Monk of Ellant.

PROLOGUE OF THE AUTHOR.

[1] It has always been an excellent practice in the Church of God to write the lives of holy men, so that they might serve as a mirror and, as it were, a seasoning for the life of men upon the earth. For through this they in some way live among us after death, and provoke and recall many of those who, though living, are dead, to the true life. But since in these days, as charity grows cold, iniquity abounds in our hearts — we see no signs, there is no longer any prophet, and, as our guilt demands, the holy one has failed and truths are diminished among the children of men — to rekindle the flame of charity in us, and to provide an example of holy living for posterity, and especially for you monks of this monastery, it seems to me not superfluous to bring back to the fore from among those who have been redeemed from the earth our beloved of God and men, whose memory is held in blessing — the holy and venerable Father Roger, the first Abbot of this monastery; The author is a monk of Ellant. who, truly according to the testimony of the ancients, in his days pleased God and was found just. I beseech those who will read these things to give credence to what is said — and you especially, brothers, who have had this saint of God among you — and to add devotion to your faith, so that, through the intercession of his merits, you may be able to arrive at the joys of the heavenly courts.

CHAPTER I.

How He Scorned the World in His Own Province, His Profession at Lieu-Dieu-en-Jard, and His Coming to Ellant.

[2] The praiseworthy Father Roger, first Abbot of Ellant, born in England, Blessed Roger was English by birth. led an angelic life on earth, insofar as is permitted to a fragile and mortal man. Having become a youth of good character, when he understood that according to John 1 John 2:16-17, "All that is in the world is the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life," and "the world passes away and its concupiscence," he began to despise the world itself by this salutary counsel. For attending to the voice of the Prophet, saying Ps. 44:11, "Forget your people and your father's house, and the King will desire your beauty," He comes to France. for "he is the Lord your God," like the holy Patriarch Abraham he went out from his land and from his kindred and from his father's house, and came to the land which the Lord showed him — the land of France — in which, just as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, this pious Father afterwards gathered sons in the service of God.

[3] When he diligently sought a place where he might more holily serve his Creator, by God's direction he came to a certain place of the recently planted Cistercian Order, which is called * Lieu-Dieu-en-Jard. He becomes a monk at Lieu-Dieu-en-Jard. Having therefore left home and the things of his homeland, desiring to please God alone, he there received the habit of holy living. The marks of his manner of life, and how he led an evangelical life in that same monastery, I think no one can sufficiently narrate. For it belongs only to the giver to know how, from the very beginning of his religious life, the Lord went before him with the blessings of sweetness; He lives holily. how greatly he shone with the grace of election; how he was inebriated with the abundance of God's house. Severe in countenance, modest in habit, circumspect in words, God-fearing in work, assiduous in sacred meditation, devout in prayer; magnanimous in faith, longsuffering in hope, perfect in charity, joyful amid reproaches, modest amid honors.

[4] He is made Abbot of Ellant. When it pleased him who had separated him from the world and called him, to reveal his glory in him with more abundant grace, he put it into the heart of the Abbot of Lieu-Dieu to send some of his brethren to build this house, over whom, despite his great reluctance, he appointed Roger as Abbot and superior. Arriving at this place, which was then a desert, with their Abbot, these men of virtue served the Lord simply for some time in poverty of spirit, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, in vigils, and in many hardships. There, in many and glorious signs and miracles, as many have experienced, God glorified his faithful servant, He is renowned for miracles. blessed Abbot Roger, as he is wonderful in his saints and glorious in his majesty. He remained humble in habit, brief in sleep; he ate dark bread and drank little water, and fed on coarse, barely salted vegetables. He lives austerely. At table he wanted absolutely nothing brought except what was commonly prepared for the community. How greatly he loved fellowship among the brethren can be demonstrated by the following example.

* Lieu-Dieu-en-Jard is a Cistercian abbey in the diocese of Bourges, daughter of Cour-Dieu, founded April 24, 1129.

CHAPTER II.

How He Ordered a Fish Cast into the Community's Vegetables.

[5] He refuses to eat alone a fish offered to him. It happened one day that a sizeable fish was offered and presented to him as he was returning from the oratory. Somewhat gladdened by its size, he inquired whether each of the brethren could receive an ordered portion from it. When they said, "By no means," he said: "Cast it into the vegetables, so that at least none of our brethren may be deprived of its flavor." O man in all respects of ineffable piety, mercy, and charity, who, lest he should sadden even one of the least, refused to be satisfied even with a properly apportioned portion of fish! His soul refused to be consoled in this food, lest any of the brethren should be excluded from sharing in it.

CHAPTER III.

How He Fell into a River with His Donkey and Escaped Unharmed.

[6] At a certain time, when this holy Father went out on the business of his house and was riding the donkey which he always used to ride, and was crossing a certain bridge, He falls into the river. the feeble animal incautiously drove its foot into the ground and fell from the bridge into the stream with its rider. When the lay brother following him could not see the Abbot, who had been swallowed up by the water, he began to cry out with harsh and immense sobs: "Alas! Alas, Father! What has happened?" And turning to the Lord, he said with tears and immense sobs of the heart: "Lord, Lord, will you destroy the righteous with the wicked? Will you condemn the holy and innocent for no reason? Shall the wise man die in the same way as the unlearned? And shall their condition be equal?" While he repeatedly uttered these and similar words, beating his breast, He emerges from the water without even his garments being wetted. raising his eyes to the opposite bank, he saw his Abbot sitting on the donkey beside the riverbank. Running over quickly, full of joy, he found him as dry and unharmed as if he had never touched the waters of the river. Truly a new and unheard-of miracle the Lord declared in his servant in those days! For he who by his right hand raised blessed Peter walking on the waves lest he should sink, and freed his fellow apostle Paul, shipwrecked three times, from the depths of the sea — he also by his right hand brought our Abbot back from the waters without any injury. And he who by his power preserved the garments of the children of Israel in the desert for forty years from being wetted by water, likewise preserved not only the body of his servant but also his garments from being wetted. For when his lay brother wished to dry him off, having no other garments he could offer him, he found him as dry as if he had never fallen into the stream. He orders his companion to keep silent about it. The saint bound the brother by the bond of holy obedience not to report this miracle while he lived.

CHAPTER IV.

On the Ring Cast from a Woman's Finger.

[7] In the neighborhood of this monastery there lived a certain woman who had been married by her parents as a young girl. She had been given a precious ring, which she loved so much that she could never bear to have it removed from her finger even for an hour. A ring is covered over by the growing flesh of a woman's finger. Hence it happened that, as she passed the years of her youth and her finger grew thicker, the fattened finger began to be painfully constricted in the ring, and the ring itself to be covered over by the flesh growing above it. Meanwhile, the woman sighed, wept, and lamented — there was no one to console her among all her dear ones. Her husband sought doctors everywhere; they came, touched, treated, and said there was no remedy for the hand unless the finger were cut off. Since she could find no remedy for this and could receive no human comfort, she ran with immense cries to the divine aid, sought, asked, and begged with sobs and lamentations, provoking the kindness of the compassionate Christ: "Have mercy on me, Lord, have mercy on me." In the midst of the frequent sighs of her lamentation, it was suggested to her by sympathizing neighbors that she should go to Ellant and confidently request the aid of the prayers of the holy Abbot of that place. "We believe," they said, "that through him you will be able to obtain from the Lord the health which you have not obtained by the skill of any physicians." Having received this counsel, she came insistently and, lying before the gates of the monastery, humbly asked that she might be allowed to speak with the Abbot. At her request the porter immediately went in and humbly informed the Abbot that a certain woman had come to the gate who awaited his appearance and conversation with great desire. The pious and merciful Father came at once, and hearing the woman's grave complaint, he answered: "Draw out your hand from your bosom By Roger, the ring is extracted with the sign of the Cross. and show me the finger where so great a pain prevails." When she drew out her hand, the holy Father raised the sign of the Cross and touched the ring with his own hand, and extracted it from the woman's finger without any pain; and so he sent her home healed, with rejoicing.

CHAPTER V.

On the Coming of the Archbishop of Reims to Ellant.

[8] As the fame of this holy man spread far and wide through his increasing miracles, many came to him faithfully for the health of both their souls and bodies, and returning from him they carried away the desired remedy. Hence it happened Henry the Great, Archbishop of Reims, visits Ellant. that the Reverend Archbishop of Reims, Lord Henry, the brother of the King of France, hearing his fame and that of his brethren, came to visit them with great devotion. At his arrival, the holy Father and his religious community, rejoicing, received him with due honor and humbly and devoutly performed the services of humility according to the capability of the house. The good pastor himself carefully marveled at their food and clothing — how such distinguished men had led so harsh a life. He marvels at their poverty. For the bread was not only of bran but was also so bitter that poor people would scarcely deign to accept its fragments. Yet among them "no murmur sounds, no complaint; but with a quiet heart a good conscience preserves patience."

Hence the venerable archbishop felt all the more compassion for them, and among other things said to the Abbot and the brethren, smiling: "So that when I come to you in the future this Prophetic bread may not be set before me, I grant you from my territory near Attigny as much land as five yokes of oxen can plow in a year; for the soil is good and usually produces wheat rather than any other grain." He donates certain lands to them. The brethren, together with the holy Father, gave thanks. Bidding them farewell, the archbishop departed and brought the Abbot along to distribute to him the location of the land. Arriving at Attigny, he immediately ordered the lands to be divided and put the Abbot in possession. There the Abbot established and built a grange.

CHAPTER VI.

How His Book Fell into the River.

[9] When the holy Father once came to visit the aforesaid grange, he was pleased to walk around its boundaries. Going on foot across the meadows of the grange and coming along the riverbank, being somewhat weary, he sat down. When he rose, it was time to recite the canonical hour, for which it was necessary to take his book from his bag. Roger's book falls into the river. Having extracted it, when he held it less carefully, it suddenly slipped from his hand and fell into the stream flowing past that spot. While it floated on the surface and was rapidly carried by the flowing waves through the middle of the river, groaning somewhat over the loss of his book, he prayed to the Lord to return it to him, if it pleased him. Immediately the merciful Lord was at hand, who always looks upon the prayer of the humble and does not despise their petitions. For by the power of God the book was drawn from the waves and presented into the hands of the man of God by a boy running ahead. He receives it back unharmed. Surely he who preserved the Prophet Jonah safe in the sea and in the belly of the whale also, by the gift of his mercy, preserved our Father's book from being contaminated by the waters. Truly, "the continued prayer of a just man avails much." In our Father, the ancient miracles are renewed. By the prayers of Elisha, the iron returned from the depths of the waters to the wood 4 Kings 6; by the prayers of our Father, the book was drawn from the waters unharmed. Truly God is glorious in his saints, wonderful in his majesty, who glorified our glorious Father Roger by miracles in his days.

CHAPTER VII.

On the Fish Found in a Spring, the Water Changed to Wine, and the Sick Man He Visited and Healed.

[10] He is called to visit the sick. Around the same time, he was mercifully summoned to visit a sick man who, however, lived far away. Although he was weaker than usual at the time, he did not refuse to set out for such a cause but hastened to him. When he was passing through a certain desert place, a place of horror and vast solitude, the hour for refreshment had already passed. When the lay brother and servant complained, and they walked along sadly, no longer patiently bearing the labor of the journey and of hunger, they said to the Abbot: "While you go to visit sick strangers, you want us, your healthy household, to perish of hunger?" The holy Father, neither angered nor disturbed but compassionate toward their distress, answered: He consoles his hungry companions. "Be confident and do not be disturbed, for the merciful and compassionate Lord will soon visit us." He had scarcely finished speaking when, behold, looking to the right side they saw a small house, and they begged him to turn aside there until they could at least be refreshed with bread and water. Yielding to their importunate prayers, he went with them to that same house. He humbly inquired of the master of the house whether, with money as payment, there was any place where they might receive some sort of refreshment. When the master replied that nothing was ready at the moment except barley bread and water, A huge fish is found in the spring. the holy Father, gratefully accepting this apostolic food, said: "Bring what you have in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Abbot's own servant therefore ran to the spring to fetch fresh water for the meal. As he plunged his bucket into the spring, a fish of marvelous size entered it. Seeing it flapping in the bucket, he ran quickly and showed it with great joy to all who were in the house. It is cooked as food for him and his companions. All marveled equally and rejoiced over the fish, saying they had never before seen a fish in the spring. What more? It was gutted, cut up, cooked, and when cooked, divided among each as was needed.

[11] Meanwhile, as they rejoiced and feasted, the host complained with a sigh that he had no wine. He himself changes water into wine. Water was brought before the Abbot, which at his blessing was changed into the taste of pure wine. They all drank of it and with great exultation exclaimed: "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone does great wonders! Blessed be the Lord, who at the blessing of his servant and to glorify his name among us today repeated the miracle that he is read to have done at the beginning of his servants' ministry!" Rising therefore from table, he visited his sick man, and when the man was restored to health by the grace of God, Both he and the sick man are healed. Roger himself also, improved from his illness, returned home. O how good is the God of Israel to those who are upright of heart! For this holy man had so completely committed the care of his body to God He never carries bread with him. that he is never said to have carried a sack loaded with bread. In all his distresses and needs he always had in his heart and always on his lips that saying of the Prophet: Ps. 54:23 "Cast your care upon the Lord, and he will sustain you." And that saying of the Gospel: Matt. 6:31 "Do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" He attended to this: Ibid. 33 "Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."

[12] His poverty in clothing. Not only in food but also in clothing did he maintain such poverty that he never changed his cowl or tunic as long as it could cover his body. If it was torn or ripped anywhere, he had it repaired by anyone. He likewise often wore his shoes with holes for so long that straw would come through the soles. He is said rarely or never to have had stockings. For charity had set him ablaze through and through; nor did the magnitude of his love permit him to endure the bitterness of poverty. Piety and patience in illness. When he suffered from any bodily ailment, he would say the words of the Apostle: "Who shall separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, Rom. 8:35 or hunger, or nakedness, or danger, or the sword?" These and similar remedies of the Holy Scriptures kept him so firm in holiness that his mind was shaken neither by joy nor by grief; but amid prosperity and adversity, secure, he always kept to the straight path of the royal highway.

CHAPTER VIII.

On His Return from the General Chapter.

[13] Weary and drenched, he turns aside at a certain priory. When this same Father was once returning from the general chapter with his lay brother, he was severely afflicted one day by rain and storms of wind. Unable to complete his full day's journey, he was compelled to turn aside at a certain priory of black monks. The lay brother humbly requested hospitality for his Abbot from the Prior and the brethren. He was led into a wretched little hovel more fit for pigs or dogs than for an Abbot. At length a table was set up, upon which nearly bran-like bread was placed, and wine mixed with water was poured into a cup. He is poorly received and ridiculed. Meanwhile, the drenched Father stiffened with cold, grew pale, and the cold penetrated his very innards. He complained a little to the attendant and humbly asked him to go and seek firewood with which he might warm himself. He offered his pleas and repeated them — but in vain. As the lay brother ran about the house looking for firewood, no one was found in it who would even for a moment take thought for the needy and the poor, or feel even slightly sorry for the Abbot's distress. But the monks answered the lay brother ironically: "There is no straw in this house; there are no coals, no firewood from which your Abbot might be warmed; you should rather seek other lodging where fire and other necessities might be more handsomely prepared for him." He meditates on the Passion of Christ: Deprived therefore of human help, the holy Father turned to the Lord, as was his custom, recalling the sufferings and deprivations of our Lord Jesus Christ, and so he kindled his heart with divine fire. He prays with his companion all night. He therefore said to his brother: "Let us spend this night in vigil, praising the Lord, in hunger and thirst, in cold and nakedness, glorying with the Apostle" 2 Cor. 11:27.

[14] When the night had thus been passed, he set out on his journey at first light. As they walked and conversed about the things that had happened to them that night, the lay brother, happening to glance back, saw copious flames issuing from that same house and rising high, and heard the tumult of the household crying out: The priory burns down: "Help! Come quickly! Our monks are burning!" Then the lay brother said to the Abbot: "Well, Father, yesterday our monks had nothing from which they could even light a small fire for us; now they enjoy such abundance, therefore the man of God severely rebukes his rejoicing companion. as I both see and hear, that they are on fire." As he repeated such things with a smile, the holy Father rebuked him with grief, affirming that he had gravely sinned in that he had somewhat exulted over the calamity of their enemies. He therefore imposed a penance upon him. Thereafter, suffering nothing similar on the road, they returned home safe and sound. The Lord indeed worked many other signs through him in the sight of men and of his disciples, which are not recorded in the present booklet; but these things have been written so that you may believe that he was truly a friend of God, and that believing, through the intercession of his merits, through our Lord Jesus Christ, you may possess eternal life.

CHAPTER IX.

On His Death.

[15] Since his soul was pleasing to God, the time came for him to pass from this world to the Father, according to what is written: Job 14:5 "You have appointed his boundaries, Fortified with the sacraments, he dies piously. which cannot be passed." Detained therefore for some time in illness, as the disease grew ever more severe, sensing death imminent at the doors, fortified with the saving sacraments, he bade farewell with tears to his brethren and, absolved from his obedience, surrendered his soul into their hands to our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory through all ages of ages.

CHAPTER X.

How He Led a Disciplined Life at Ellant.

[16] Happy indeed is this monastery, which deserved to possess so great and such a pastor at its beginning! For who could worthily narrate his virtues? Who could fathom his manifold mercy? Blessed Roger's kindness. He was always the first to show compassion and prompt to give help, easy to forgive, difficult to anger, never consenting to avenge injuries inflicted upon him. O truly blessed, so disposed, so imbued with the dew of mercy, so abounding in the bowels of piety! He did all things in such a way, he became like a vessel that was lost, so that he always met and aided others. Dead to himself, he lived for all, helped all. He had therefore spread much gratitude abroad, this holy man whom the solicitude of fraternal charity had so affected. For if by chance he discovered any of his own, Compassion toward the sick. whom he had begotten in the Gospel, shaken by some strong temptation and therefore troubled, sad, and made faint-hearted — how he grieved, how he lamented, how he consoled, how quickly he found arguments of patience to raise up the desolate! But if he recognized someone as ready, eager, and making good progress, he rejoiced, instructed them in whatever he could so they might persevere, and urged them always to advance to better things. He conformed himself to all and transferred to himself the feeling of all. Blessed indeed was he who never returned evil for evil or curse for curse, but on the contrary blessed those who reviled and slandered him; and he even strove to be peaceful with those who hated peace, knowing himself to be a debtor even to the foolish. Who went away from him empty-handed? If rich, counsel; if poor, aid — these he carried away from him. A tireless hand indeed, a simple eye, a breast of counsel, a tongue speaking judgment, as it is written: Ps. 36:30 "The mouth of the righteous shall meditate wisdom, and his tongue shall speak judgment."

[17] Maintenance of discipline. Who was more rigid than he in maintaining discipline? Who more strict in chastising his own body? More rapt in contemplation? More sublime in discourse? And though by the judgment of all he was wiser than all, Humility. yet in his own eyes he did not seem wise. Would that many, though less wise, were not more touched by that curse: Isa. 5:21 "Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight." Who ever heard from his mouth the sound of detraction, a word of buffoonery, a speech of vainglory, a word of envy? Who ever caught him judging others or consenting to one who judged? Who could hear him speaking vain things? Gravity. Indeed, who did not fear being heard by him, even if he happened to speak such things? Certainly he guarded his ways carefully so as not to sin with his tongue, knowing that he who does not offend in word is a perfect man.

[18] Moreover, how great was his fervor in the Work of God, day and night until the day of his death, is not in our power to express. From his boyish years he was placed in the service of God and lived until his last breath in the service of him whom to serve is to reign. From the beginning of this monastery he not only lived with his brethren without complaint but also with grace, whose memory is therefore held in blessing. Miracles at his tomb. For at his sacred tomb many of the sick, faithfully approaching, were restored to health through the intercession of his merits. Very many, pressed down by temptations and grave distresses, were also mercifully freed by God through his intercession. Who, deprived of his counsel or his help, did not immediately recover if he faithfully implored his patronage? Many have experienced this, and you too will experience it, whoever you are, afflicted, faint-hearted, or troubled — if, however, you approach him not as a tempter but with sincere faith, and with a devout and perfect heart seek his aid. He who also prayed on earth for his very persecutors will not hesitate to pray devoutly to God in heaven for his friends and for those who serve him.

Let us implore the mercy of our dear patron, this friend of almighty God, with devout prayers, that he may always intercede for us with his merits and prayers before our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory with the Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, through all ages of ages. Amen.