Melanius of Rennes

ON ST. MELANIUS, BISHOP OF RENNES.

After A.D. 530.

Melanius, Bishop of Rennes in Gaul (S.)

From manuscripts.

[1] The city of the Rhedones, called Condate by Ptolemy according to learned men, commonly known as Rennes, is one of the principal cities of Gallic Brittany, situated on the river Vilaine, distinguished by its bishopric from ancient times, as is clear from the List of the provinces of Gaul. St. Melanius's feast day: January 6. Here at the beginning of the sixth century, St. Melanius was bishop. His feast day on January 6 is thus celebrated by the Roman Martyrology: "At Rennes in Gaul, of St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor, who after the signs of innumerable miracles, with his mind constantly fixed on heaven, gloriously departed from the world." Usuard and Bellini of Padua say nearly the same. He is mentioned by Maurolycus, Galesinius, the manuscript Florarium, Ghinius, the German Martyrology, and very many manuscripts — in particular, ^a most ancient one transcribed by Lawrence, ^a monk of Echternach, which bears the name of St. Jerome, and for that reason we cite it everywhere, although it has been augmented with the added names of many Saints more recent than Jerome, as is evident even from this. It reads thus: "In the city of Rennes, the feast day of St. Melanius the Bishop." Blessed Notker records on this day: "At Rennes, the birth, ordination, and death of St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor, upon whose body ^a cloth was placed and found unharmed in the midst of flames."

[2] Feast on November 6. Although he is said to have died on January 6, nevertheless he is venerated not on that day but on November 6 in the diocese of Rennes, on account of ^a Translation made on that day, as Francis Lanouius, Augustinus Pazius, and Claudius Robertus maintain. Yet no mention of ^a Translation is made in the office of the day. And indeed, the Appendix of Ado published by Rosweydus of our Society, under the 8th of the Ides of November, has this: "In the city of Regidonas, the burial of St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor." The same is found in the manuscripts of the monastery of St. Lawrence at Liege, of the Church of St. Lambert there, of the monastery of St. Martin at Tournai, the Laetian manuscript, the Church of St. Gudula in Brussels, and the Florarium; but in place of Regidonas, they generally have Redonas or Redonis. Bellini of Padua and Usuard's Martyrology published at Lubeck, without any mention of either burial or Translation: "At Rennes, of St. Melanius the Confessor." The Viola of the Saints printed at Hagenau: "Also at Rennes, of St. Malanus the Confessor." The manuscript of the monastery of St. Martin at Trier: "In Gaul, of Melanius, Bishop and Confessor." The Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard: "According to some, here also of Melanius, Bishop of Rennes, whom Usuard records above on the 8th of the Ides of January, and Ado on the 2nd of the Ides of November." The German Martyrology and Ferrarius note nearly the same.

[3] The manuscript Martyrology cited above, which we call that of St. Jerome, again under November 6: "In the city of Rennes in Gaul, the burial of Bishop Menelaus." Maurolycus also records him on both days, but seems to have considered them different persons. For on January 6 he says: "At Rennes, of St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor, in the time of King Clovis." But on November 6: "At Rodez, of St. Melanius the Confessor." But the city of the Rhedones is in the province of Lugdunensis III, while the city of the Ruteni is in Aquitanica I, called Segodunum by Ptolemy, commonly Rodez.

[4] Elsewhere on November 12. Under November 12, Ado records St. Melanius, perhaps because he was venerated on that day in the Church of Vienne: "On the same day, of St. Melanius, Bishop of the Rhedonic (the manuscripts of Lobbes, of Peter Scriverius, and of St. Lawrence at Liege read: Rodonic) city, who after the signs of innumerable miracles, with his mind constantly fixed on heaven, departed from the world." The manuscript Florarium of the Saints has the same. So also does the manuscript of the monastery of St. Riquier, bearing the name of Bede. But the commonly published Bede, on that day: "Also of St. Melanius, Bishop of the Rodonic city." Maurolycus again here attributes him to the Aquitanians: "At Rodez, of St. Melanius the Bishop." He is venerated on that day at Quimper in Lower Brittany, as is clear from the Breviary of that church.

[5] And October 11. On October 11, the manuscript Martyrology of the Carthusians of Utrecht records St. Melanius, Bishop and Confessor. The Carthusians of Cologne call him simply Confessor in their Additions to Usuard. But the manuscript Florarium distinctly states: "In the city of Rennes, of St. Melanius the Confessor." Perhaps some translation of his relics was made on that day. Certainly, Argentraeus in his History of Brittany, book 4, chapter 16, reports that in the year of Christ 1231, the body of St. Melanius was translated by the Archbishop of Tours Translation of the body. to the town of Preuilly in the diocese of Tours. Preuilly is ^a town distinguished by the title of Barony, on the river Claise, where there is ^a Benedictine monastery dedicated to St. Peter, as Claudius Robertus attests. If it is this translation that is celebrated, it was not on November 6 or 12; for the Martyrologies we have cited, which record St. Melanius's memorial on those days, are older than this translation.

[6] Life and miracles. The Life of St. Melanius, written by ^a contemporary author, as Du Chesne judges in Volume 1 of French Affairs, was sent to me from an ancient manuscript by the most learned and courteous Jacques Sirmond of our Society; another copy of the same from Brittany I obtained through the efforts of Jacques Bernard, also of our Society; I collated both with the manuscript codex of Sainte-Marie de Rippatorio and the Breviary of the Church of Quimper. The first two codices had appended to the life the following, which we also give here: chapter 55 of St. Gregory of Tours's book On the Glory of Confessors; miracles performed at Le Mans, by the author Gervasius, Archbishop of Rheims; ^a miracle at Rennes, described by an anonymous monk, apparently of the monastery of St. Melanius. The Life of this same holy Bishop was published in French by Paschalis Robinius, compiled from several ecclesiastical writers, Legendaries, Councils, and the French, Breton, and Angevin Annals, as well as the Breviary of the Church of Rennes. Among other things, he reports that in the year 853, when the Normans had ravaged Nantes, Another translation. the body of St. Melanius was carried to Bourges. Francis Lanouius in his Historical Collection on the Holy Chancellors of France lists St. Melanius in the first place, and illustrates his life — written by Cornelius Grasius the Carthusian — with notes. Vincent of Beauvais treats of St. Melanius in the Speculum historiale, book 21, chapters 23 and 24; Peter de Natalibus in book 2, chapter 49; Anthony Demochares in On the Divine Sacrifice of the Mass, chapter 23; Augustinus Pazius in the Catalogue of Bishops of Brittany; Claudius Robertus; Baronius in Volume 6 of the Annals, year 507, number 25; Jean Chenu, who writes — I do not know from what source — that Clovis was instructed in the Christian religion by Melanius before he was baptized by St. Remigius. The same was written after Chenu by Andreas Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology.

[7] The monastery of St. Melanius. In the suburb of Rennes, ^a monastery was built by Solomon II, King of Brittany, and dedicated to the name of St. Melanius, as Bertrand Argentraeus attests in his History of Brittany, book 1, chapter 30. Claudius Robertus wrongly writes that this is situated on the paternal estate of Placium belonging to St. Melanius. For from the Life it is clear that Placium or Placio, where Melanius himself built another monastery with his own hands, is in the diocese of Vannes and far distant from the city of Rennes. Lanouius more correctly conjectures that the monastery of St. Melanius was built at the place where his tomb had once been adorned with ^a notable basilica, the burning of which we shall describe below from St. Gregory of Tours.

[8] The natives call him Melanus, as Robinius says, instead of Melanius,

Page 328 as it was always written in ancient times; in the vernacular, St. Melen. Lanouius warns that some confuse him with Melanius of Rouen, who is called Malonus, Other Melaniuses. Melonus, or Mello, and perhaps more correctly Mellonus. We shall treat of him on October 22. He is not, however — as Lanouius and Robinius supposed — the person about whom St. Gregory of Tours speaks in book 7 of the History of the Franks, chapter 19. For the Melanius of Rouen in Gregory, or Melantius, is the one who was intruded after St. Praetextatus (of whom we shall treat on February 24) was sent into exile. Baronius in his Notes on the Martyrology cites another Melanius, ^a contemporary of St. Melanius of Rennes and Bishop of the Vermandois, who attended the First Council of Orleans with him. But it was Sofronius, Bishop of the Church of the Vermandois, who subscribed to that Council; no Melanius besides the one of Rennes. However, ^a Melanius, Bishop of Alba, subscribed to the Fifth Council of Orleans through his archdeacon Cautinus.

[9] When St. Melanius died. Concerning the year of St. Melanius's death, we can state nothing certain, except that he prolonged his life beyond the year of Christ 530 and died before 549. For St. Albinus, who subscribed to the Fourth Council of Orleans in the year 549, sat for only 20 years and six months; and it is established that he was already bishop while Melanius was still living. Argentraeus writes that St. Melanius was carried off to France by King Clothar when the latter was returning after defeating his son Chramnus and Count Chonobertus or Chronober. But since that expedition was undertaken by Clothar in the last year of his reign, which was the year of Christ 561, Argentraeus's assertion is convicted of manifest error; for Febediolus, Bishop of Rennes, is found to have subscribed to the Fifth Council of Orleans in the year of Christ 549.

LIFE

From ancient manuscripts.

Melanius, Bishop of Rennes in Gaul (S.) BHL Number: 5890

From manuscripts.

CHAPTER I.

The birth of St. Melanius: his promotion to the episcopate.

[1] The deeds of the Saints must be narrated in whatever style possible. Since the venerable memory of the holy Fathers of old is to be reverently cherished in the praise of Almighty God, and their honorable life is to be faithfully set forth as an example for the faithful, anyone is reckoned guilty in the divine volumes who has not striven to give freely what he himself received freely. For whatever profits the children of the Church, instructs its hearers, and provokes them to good example, is not to be passed over in silence but rather proclaimed. Therefore we, fearing to be condemned for useless or rather harmful silence, have resolved to set forth the remarkable deeds of the most holy Bishop of Christ, Melanius, in whatever characters we can, lest perhaps — which God forbid — while ^a more eloquent writer is awaited, the material may be lost through the passage of great age. It is better, indeed, that having written down so salutary ^a history, we be reproached for our syllables or letters, than that, indulging in idle somnolence, we provide neither an excuse for the small talent entrusted to us nor an occasion for wiser men who may hereafter amplify or correct these things. Therefore, following as best we can the Psalmist who says, "I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart; your mercy and your truth from the great assembly" Psalm 39:11, we shall not conceal about this Confessor of Christ what we have learned by truthful report, though we are unable to set it forth as would befit the subject.

[2] After, therefore, our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed the world by His passion and, choosing His Apostles and their successors, sent them out to preach — who, illuminated by the eternal Sun and aided by divine grace, would enlighten with the true splendor of Christ those blinded by the darkness of ignorance, and would satisfy the long hunger of the divine Word's household of the Redeemer with the banquets of eternal life — the holy priest of God Melanius, Bishop of Rennes, began to preach. This aforesaid Bishop Melanius was, then, of admirable holiness, sprung from the most noble parents St. Melanius's homeland and lineage: of the diocese of Vannes. Raised on the estate called Placio, although he was eminent in nobility of birth, he nevertheless surpassed it in nobility of faith; and as much as he was distinguished among his own people by worldly rank, so much the more was he preeminent in the grace of divine gifts. When the infancy of this man had by divine providence been entrusted to the highest priests for instruction, His education: he was not only thoroughly imbued with sacred learning and divine disciplines, but also, His sanctity. with the Lord's cooperation, shone forth with signs of most illustrious miracles.

[3] As his bodily age increased, the effect of divine providence also grew in him daily. At length, having attained manly age, he scorned the pleasures of this corrupt world so that he might more freely fulfill the duties of the Supreme King, and he clothed himself in ^a religious habit. He becomes ^a monk. He was remarkable in appearance, chaste in body, devout in mind, affable in speech, amiable in countenance, excellent in prudence, distinguished for temperance, rich in zeal for God and love, and an unsolicited guardian of perpetual virginity.

[4] And so, while the aforesaid athlete of Christ, Melanius, was freely devoting himself to divine vigils, suddenly the chief men and all the common people of both sexes from the city of Rennes rushed to him, begging that he would exercise the office of Father for them. For while the venerable Bishop of God, Amandus, was pressed by severe bodily distress and tormented by sharp pain, St. Amandus, Bishop of Rennes, predicts that Melanius will succeed him. he had the most blessed servant of God, Melanius, brought to him. Soothing him with gentle words, he addressed him thus: "Dearest son, whom the Holy Spirit has chosen as His cherished temple, strive to exercise pastoral care over the Lord's flock, which is to be entrusted to you after my death by the eternal Shepherd." And he announced publicly to all the flock summoned before him that he was soon to depart this life and that the most blessed Melanius, by revelation of the Holy Spirit, would become their patron. And then, with all mourning for the loss of the one and rejoicing for the gaining of another — no less his equal in life and merits — his bodily strength failing, he departed from the midst of men, to be crowned by the Lord with ^a resplendent diadem in the heavenly Senate. When his funeral rites had been duly performed and his body committed to the bosom of the earth while the strains of hymns and psalms resounded — whose blessed soul possesses heaven — at once the throng of people, both clergy and laity of both sexes, with common prayer and common assent, directed their steps to Blessed Melanius; He becomes bishop. whom, though he resisted and protested, they seized at his prayers and chose as their pastor. Having obtained the chair of dignity of this see, what great and wondrous things he accomplished there is impossible for tongue to tell.

[5] He lives most holily. Having attained this summit, with far greater exhibitions of vigils, fasts, constant prayers, and all good works than before, he mortified his body. For he considered the burden of pastoral care imposed upon him: that he who had formerly been guardian only of himself should afterward become ^a watchman for the public good. And so, by contending shifts of cares, it came about that he who had fled the assembly of ^a few was entangled in the cares of many; and while he scorned the face of the world, he was enmeshed in the bonds of worldly solicitudes; and he who had resisted his own pleasures had to comply somewhat with the ways of the world. He excels in teaching. In the Sacred Scriptures, therefore, he had so advanced by assiduous reading that, surpassing all Doctors and companions, he excelled all the inhabitants of the parish he had undertaken to govern. Indeed, he was so perfectly suited to elders, equals, and subjects alike, that his eloquence pleased all who spoke with him, so that he restored joy to the sorrowful and discipline to sinners.

CHAPTER II.

Melanius's episcopal functions: miracles.

[6] He exhorts Clovis to good works. Endowed with these and similar virtues, he became known to Clovis, King of the Franks, and became his zealous counselor. By his counsel indeed, the King built many churches from the foundations, restored those that were in ruins, and most fittingly constructed certain monasteries. He also most generously sustained the poor by his counsel, and honored God's servants of whatever order with fitting reverence. He exercised justice among the peoples at his exhortation, and amplified the divine worship as much as possible.

[7] He attends the First Council of Orleans. Furthermore, it is found that the same King convened ^a synod of thirty-two bishops in the city of Orleans, in which — in refuting the objections of the heretics and in establishing the most sound judgments of the Catholic faith — as is set forth in the preface of that same Council, St. Melanius, Bishop of Rennes, shone forth like ^a valiant standard-bearer. But as for how many and what kind of canonical provisions were established by that Saint in the same Council, and how they were — by the testimony of the Holy Spirit — purified from every error of falsehood: whoever wishes to know fully should consult the record of that Council; and finding the individual opinions with their proper authors, he will perceive that the words of this most holy man struck down not only the present deceits of Christ's enemies, but also their future wiles, by the foresight of the Spirit.

[8] He visits his diocese and converts many. No one, I believe, would be able to worthily express the virtue, grace, and wisdom of this same Saint. For he was constantly persisting in the law of the Lord without weariness; indeed, he guarded the actions of his life at every hour, keeping the eye of his mind always fixed on the Lord and directing every counsel and work of his to Him. For in order to worthily attain the Evangelical beatitude which says: "Blessed are the feet of those who preach peace, who preach good things" Romans 10:15, bearing pastoral solicitude, he frequently visited the churches and communities entrusted to him, preaching peace and confirming other works of virtue. Whence, by the grace of God, with the assertions of the Gospels prevailing, the faith of the Christians increased through his labor throughout every district of that diocese, and the wretched error of the pagans was uprooted by him from the very foundations.

[9] But the Lord, who spoke through His Prophet saying: "Those who glorify me I will glorify, and those who despise me shall be held in contempt" 1 Samuel 2:30, exalted this man who glorified Him with such abundant virtues, He becomes famous for miracles: so that the lamp once lit would not be hidden under ^a bushel, but by the sparkling flashes of frequent miracles would become known to the entire Western region. He conceals them. Although he withdrew the greater part of these miracles from our knowledge, preferring rather to be anointed with humility than with worldly praises, nevertheless those things which he could not conceal, we have deemed it worthy to relate here.

[10] The devil meets him in the guise of ^a physician. On ^a certain day, while Blessed Melanius was traveling from the district of Rennes to his oratory, which he had built for himself on the estate called Placio — which he retained from his parents' property — as he came to the stronghold of Martiacum, which is situated on the height of ^a hill above the little stream called Aua, the ancient enemy came to meet him, bearing enormous horns like those of ^a bull. The man of God therefore recognized him. When he asked him, saying "Where are you going?", the other answered: "I am going to the brethren, wishing to give them ^a potion." And he added that he was ^a physician. And so, the holy Confessor arriving at his oratory, immediately prostrated himself in prayer, and when the prayer was completed, he at once arose.

[11] He expels the devil from ^a possessed man. But the evil spirit, finding one of the elder monks who dwelt there drawing water, immediately entered into him, threw him to the ground, and began to torment him most violently. When the man of God, returning from prayer, saw him being so cruelly tormented, he merely gave him ^a slap on the cheek, and expelled the evil spirit from him — which left behind foul traces and bitterly accused itself — so that it never dared to return to him again.

[12] Maintaining therefore an apostolic standard in teaching men, he showed against each individual sinner's wounds ^a fitting and right rule. He himself, moreover, subjected himself more and more to divine service — namely vigils and prayers, fasts and almsgiving, and the practice of other good works — and for these and similar pursuits, he faithfully awaited the crown of righteousness, not vainly esteeming God to be faithful, who promised the crown of glory to those who keep pious watch. And because the last day was constantly before the eyes of his mind, He often looks up to heaven. he frequently raised his bodily eyes tearfully toward heaven and never relaxed his spirit from prayer.

[13] Indeed, since the virtues and miraculous signs he performed cannot, because of their enormity, be individually narrated by us, yet the sweetness of his most holy memory does not allow us to pass them all by untouched. Let us therefore briefly recall some of them: for he restored sight to innumerable blind, He works very many miracles. gait to the lame, strength to the feeble, health to the sick, and speech to the mute. Moreover, he was of such great power that no demon could in any way hide itself before him. Wherefore, by his merits and prayers, through the power of God, he freed innumerable persons who were possessed by demons.

CHAPTER III.

Various cures through sacred oil and blessed water.

[14] He heals ^a long-standing illness with sacred oil and the sign of the Cross. On ^a certain day, therefore, while he was making the rounds of his parish, visiting and confirming the people of God, it was reported to him that ^a certain matron of noble birth in the district of Le Mans, near the district of Rennes, lay ill; her name was Eva. She had been sick for twelve years, so that she could go nowhere and could never rise from her bed without another's help. Her parents and friends, approaching the aforesaid holy Confessor of Christ, Melanius, begged him to grant her health, because they firmly believed that he could obtain this from the Lord by his merits and intercessions. The aforesaid Bishop, fearing the Lord's sentence which says: "I was sick and you did not visit me" Matthew 25:43 and what follows, went with those same messengers to her. And entering her house, he made the sign of the cross over her with his right hand, anointed her with sacred oil together with the Lord's Prayer, and restored her to her former state of health, with the aid of the power of the Most High. She, rising at once and standing on her own feet, gave thanks to Almighty God, who through His holy Bishop Melanius had restored her to health. She herself, who for ^a very long time lying ill had distributed all her property to physicians, and nothing had helped her, but she had always grown worse — as soon as she found herself healed, she handed over all her possessions to the blessed Bishop and thereafter devoted herself to the Lord's service.

[15] He uses oil and blessed water out of humility. With these and very many similar prodigies of miracles, the blessed Bishop Melanius shone forth by the grace of the Lord's favor; but the greater part of these he strove with great effort to conceal, lest the wind of vainglory should snatch them from him. For he feared to incur the sin of boasting before the eyes of the internal Judge, if ever he should take pleasure in popular favor. Therefore, when he provided health to the sick, he anointed them with sacred oil or blessed water, so that when the people saw some remedies being applied to the sick, they would think it was not miraculous power but medicine. That this was so, the following miracles will gradually make clear.

[16] He heals ^a paralytic. Likewise, there was once brought to the aforesaid St. Melanius ^a certain paralytic, deprived of the use of all his limbs, who no longer had any hope of recovering health from any man, though he had not yet entirely despaired of the Lord's aid. When this man had been presented to the holy man, he humbly begged him that his holiness might obtain health for him from the Lord — what the skill of very many physicians had been unable to do. The Saint of God, taking pity on his misery, as was his custom, anointed him superficially with the blessing of sacred oil, and at once the disease was driven out The healed man's gratitude. and wholesome vigor entered in. Having received his health, together with all his household he gave himself over to the service of the aforesaid holy man Melanius, and devoted himself to his service, and separated himself from all worldly affairs. He therefore left the world with its followers and united himself, as best he could, to God and His angels.

[17] He heals ^a sick man. At another time, there was ^a certain man named Siagrius, suffering the afflictions of ^a grave illness, whom no one was able to cure with earthly medicine. When he had been presented to the gaze of St. Melanius, at the supplication of his friends, the Saint poured out prayer for him to the Lord and, as always, with the anointing of sanctified oil drove the disease from him and restored to him his former health, with the Lord's grace assisting.

[18] He cures ^a cripple. Likewise, not long after, ^a certain man with both feet crippled was cast before him. The Saint of God, looking upon his misery with compassion, poured out prayer to the Lord on his behalf. Then, washing the sick man's feet with warm water, he restored him to his former health, so that, with the Lord's help, he returned home on his own feet — he who, carried on the shoulders of others, had sought the presence of the holy man. When he understood that he had been healed through the merits of the holy man, having found nothing better in his possession to offer him, He devotes himself to the saint's service. he gave himself over to the service of the most holy Bishop and committed himself to his service for all the days of his life. Moreover, his descendants down to the present day guard the holy man's tomb, and with lit candles, persisting in vigils and prayers there, they give praise and thanks to God for the benefactions of the aforesaid man, and constantly serve in the watch of his church.

[19] He frees ^a demoniac woman with the sign of the Cross. Nor should this be passed over in silence: ^a certain girl, full of ^a demon and therefore bound in chains, was brought by her family to the holy man named so often above. In whose presence, since the demon that tormented her could not hide itself, it said it had been permitted to enter her because of ^a sin she had committed. But as soon as the holy Bishop of God, Melanius, traced the sign of the Holy Cross against her with his fingers, he immediately expelled the evil spirit from her and, with the Lord's cooperation, restored her to health.

[20] He heals ^a sick man. At another time, ^a certain man named Medias came to him, whose son lay ill and already near death. Approaching the holy man, he begged him saying: "Man of God, restore my son to me." And saying this, he wept. This was at Placio, near the river Vilaine. Blessed Melanius therefore went to the sick man, comforted him, and stroking his head and hands, said: "Only take heart, son, and believe, and your wish will be fulfilled." And at last, taking him by the hand, he raised him up; and he stood on his feet, whole and well.

CHAPTER IV.

The punishment and cure of Bishop Marsus. The conversion of the people of Vannes.

[21] About the same time, the man of God Melanius, the elect of God Albinus, the holy Victor, Launus, and St. Marsus met together in the city of Angers, within the basilica of the holy Mother of God Mary; and there Blessed Melanius, by the common consent of the others, celebrated Mass at the beginning of the Lenten fast. After the celebration, before they parted from one another, the blessed Bishop gave them eulogiae in charity, with God's grace and his blessing. But Blessed Marsus, St. Marsus, lest he break the fast, hides the eulogia in his bosom. putting the fast of the day before charity and despising the eulogia in which he ought to have communicated, let the portion he had received from St. Melanius fall into his bosom.

[22] Having each taken leave of the other to return to their own See, they kissed one another and began to make their journey with God's grace. But they had not yet gone more than ten miles from the city when St. Marsus felt himself being encircled by the eulogia, which had turned into ^a serpent. When therefore he recognized It turns into ^a serpent. that he was being punished by his own punishment for his disobedience and for the charity he had despised, and that he was stricken with ^a terrible vengeance, he prostrated himself at the feet of Blessed Melanius and told him what had happened to him and how. The holy Bishop, accepting his satisfaction, said to him: "Go quickly, brother, to the Lord Albinus our brother, and confess to him what you have done and what evil has befallen you on account of it." Rising up, he hastened on his way and came to St. Albinus and told him his offense. The holy Bishop, hearing of his negligence, said to him: "Know that I shall indeed pray to the Lord for you; but go to our brother Bishop Victor and tell him all that you have done, and beg him to entreat the Lord's mercy on your behalf." Rising again, as the man of God had commanded, he came to Le Mans, to Blessed Victor, and reported to him all that had happened. Blessed Victor, remembering that "in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word stands," said to him: "Return, brother, to the most holy Bishop, our brother the Lord Melanius; for I believe that by his merits and intercessions you will be freed." Having received leave to return, he came half-dead to Blessed Melanius and, finding him praying in his basilica at Placio, told him all the labor of his journey and how St. Victor had told him that he could be freed by no one else but by the one through whose merit he had been bound — namely, by St. Melanius. Hearing this, Blessed Melanius afflicted himself the whole of that night with watching and prayer on his behalf. On the next day, he poured absolution and blessing upon him. The serpent becomes ^a eulogia again. After this absolution, the serpent was immediately turned back into its former eulogia, which Blessed Marsus took up and, rejoicing, communicated from it — which he had previously neglected to do, to his own harm.

[23] This most astonishing miracle was followed by another no less remarkable, as I judge. A certain old man, coming from the district of Vannes to St. Melanius, begged him to heal his son from ^a demon by which he was sorely tormented. To whom the holy man responded that he would indeed pray charitably for him, but concerning his health, nothing would happen other than what might please God. The demon suffocates the possessed boy. But the demon, understanding that it was about to be cast out of that boy through the merits of the holy man, led him into ^a certain room and there suffocated him, violently tearing his soul from his body. When the boy's father returned home and found him dead, he wept greatly; and finding no consolation from that point on, he said to his friends: "Carry his corpse to Blessed Melanius, for I trust that he who preaches the living God can raise my son." Hearing this, his friends carried him and placed him before the blessed Bishop. And his father, approaching more closely, told him how the boy had been killed by the demon. He cried out to him, weeping and wailing, saying: "I believe, man of God, that even from death my son can rise through you." St. Melanius raises him from the dead. Then Blessed Melanius, turning to the people who had gathered, said: "O people of Vannes, what does it profit you that you see these and other miracles done in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you so greatly refuse to receive the faith and belief of that same Lord?" For at that time the people of Vannes were nearly all pagans. But they answered and said: "Do not doubt, man of God, for if you raise this boy from the dead, we will all believe in the Lord whom you preach." While they were saying this, Blessed Melanius said to the Lord: "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, who permitted my brother the Lord Martin to raise three persons from the dead, I beseech you, most merciful Father, hear me, your unworthy servant, so that the people standing around may know your power and in nothing doubt you — if it be your will — that you raise this dead man." And saying this, he placed the Cross upon the chest of the dead boy, The people of Vannes are converted. and immediately he revived. All the people, astonished at such ^a miracle, cried out saying: "It is enough! Now we all believe in the God whom Blessed Melanius preaches." And thereafter, with ^a day and place appointed by Blessed Melanius, scarcely anyone remained who did not, having received the grace of Baptism, join the Catholic faith.

k. On him, November 11.

CHAPTER V.

Eusebius, King of the Veneti, and his daughter are cured by St. Melanius. Other miracles of his.

[24] That also ought to be placed among the foremost miraculous works which the Lord performed through St. Melanius His Confessor, which is faithfully found to have happened concerning King Eusebius of the Veneti and his daughter named Aspasia. For the aforesaid King, once coming from the city of Vannes with his army, Eusebius, ^a cruel king, is struck with illness. arrived at the parish called Cambliciacus, and there — the reason is unknown to us, perhaps out of anger — he ordered the eyes of many men to be gouged out and their hands torn off. On the very night on which he did these things, he fell ill and was pressed by intolerable pains. Fearing he would end his life there, he summoned the physicians who had come with him and urged them to give him some aid. But they, spending all their skill in vain, could in no way help him.

[25] His daughter is seized by ^a demon. Three days after he had begun to be ill, his daughter Aspasia was seized by ^a demon and began to roll on the ground, foaming. And since he was tormented all the more severely by this double affliction — his own and that of his dearest daughter — he anxiously inquired by shrewd investigation from whom among men he might hope for the desired remedy. Hearing the fame of Blessed Melanius — namely, how greatly he loved the Lord and how the Lord made this lover of His illustrious to the world through miracles — The King summons St. Melanius to himself. he sent to him and humbly begged that he would deign to come to him out of charity. Having obtained this, he had him brought to himself with the highest honor, and in the same parish where he himself lay ill, in the place

Page 332 called Prima-villa, he ordered lodging to be prepared for him. Blessed Melanius, coming from his monastery, which he had built with his own hands on the estate called Placio in honor of God, came with ^a few monks to the bedside of the sick man. When that most cruel man had looked upon him, he was stricken to the heart with compunction, confessed his sins, and humbly told how this bodily illness had befallen him and his daughter Aspasia. He added also that he should deign to pray for them both. The man of the Lord, receiving this most kindly, first having given him due penance for his committed sins, said to him: "This illness, brother, is not unto death, but that through it you may be saved and recognize the Lord who created you." St. Melanius heals him. Then he anointed him with blessed oil three times, with ^a threefold invocation of the Divinity, and immediately rising up healed, he gave thanks to God, who through His servant St. Melanius had granted him health.

[26] He frees the daughter from the demon. After this, St. Melanius went to the place where the girl was being tormented by the demon; and when the demon saw him, it began to cry out and say: "Why do you persecute me, holy man of God, Melanius? For you already cast me out of another girl, and now you wish to cast me out from here again?" Blessed Melanius, rebuking it, said: "Go out from her, bloody beast, and go to that place where you can never harm any person henceforth." At this word, the girl was immediately made well and came to her father rejoicing and glorifying God.

[27] Eusebius gives him Cambliciacus. After this, when Blessed Melanius wished to depart and asked for his dismissal, the girl herself approached her father and begged him that, as recompense for both their healings — hers and his — he should give at least Cambliciacus itself to Blessed Melanius, if nothing more. Hearing this, King Eusebius, the father of the girl, most willingly assenting to her speech, gave him the entire above-named parish by his ring, for the sustenance of his monks. Having accepted the said land, the Blessed one blessed them and went from there to the seat of his bishopric, namely the city of Rennes.

[28] He performed many other miracles. These few things from the innumerable miracles wrought by God through Blessed Melanius during his bodily life and health we have thought worthy of reporting, lest perhaps by those who measure the merits of the Saints by the number or rarity of miracles, he should be thought of no merit if he were not distinguished by some notable miracles. But we have omitted very many others, partly fearing the doubt of unbelievers, partly the importunity of the fastidious, and — what is more truly — overcome by our own sloth, yielding before such great material.

[29] Having thus described these things, however imperfectly, in praise of our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning the life of our most holy Father Melanius, we urge our listeners that they are not told the lives of holy Confessors or the sufferings of Martyrs in vain; but rather that, understanding what is written, "Have you sat down at ^a great table? Diligently consider what is set before you, knowing that you must prepare the like" Ecclesiasticus 31:12, The deeds of the Saints must be imitated. they should strive from these writings — which, like ^a table laden with many courses, are set before them adorned with the gems of diverse virtues to be imitated — not to fill the belly with foods soon to perish, but to refresh the mind, which shall live forever. Thus briefly, in the manner of our Breton Fathers who gnash their teeth, making noise rather than eloquent speech, concerning the life of our Father Blessed Melanius, let us now set forth what we know for certain about his death, more for the sake of preserving memory than out of ^a desire for composing history.

CHAPTER VI.

The death of St. Melanius: miracles after death.

[30] He predicts the day of his death. Therefore the most holy Confessor of Christ, Melanius, foreknowing his death by the Lord's revelation, announced to his disciples the day of his death. Then at the proper time, giving them absolution in the manner of bishops, confirming them with his blessing, and instructing them with divine words on how they should conduct themselves in the Lord's service, he taught them. He receives Communion: After this, he fortified himself with the reception of the Lord's body and blood, and having faithfully completed the course of his life, he happily departed to Christ He dies. on the very day he had predicted, in the place called Placio, where he himself, as we have already said, had built ^a church with his own hands and gathered monks for the service of God.

[31] Bishops are summoned to his funeral by angels. Through an angelic vision, the most holy Bishops named above assembled to carry out the obsequies of his body — namely St. Albinus, St. Victor, St. Launus, and also St. Marsus, who through his power had been freed from the serpent's coil, as was narrated above. These most holy Bishops and very many other faithful men, coming together by God's providence for his funeral, first commended his soul to God in the ecclesiastical manner; then, having spent the following night in prayers and vigils, in the early morning they together heard Mass.

[32] Then by common counsel, with God — as was later evident — directing it, they placed the body of the holy man in ^a boat which happened to be there in the channel of the river Vilaine. This river, receiving his holy body, with the Bishops and clergy and monks chanting litanies and with the people who followed him The boat is carried upstream to Rennes of its own accord. giving thanks to God for his glory — of which they were certain — reversed its current, which customarily flowed and ran downward like other rivers, and carried the boat upstream all the way to the city of Rennes, which is thirty or more miles distant from that place, the city which the Saint himself had so happily governed. And when it had arrived near the walls of the city, the clergy and all the people who were in that city came out to meet it with crosses and candles and banners, singing and praising God on high — not because their most loving Pastor had died, but because they had deserved to receive at least the body of their departed patron.

[33] Prisoners invoking the Saint are freed. Hearing the voices of the chanters, twelve robbers who were held bound in ^a tower which faced south beside the city wall began to implore his mercy with tearful voices. And as they cried out that he should have mercy on them, and besought our Lord Jesus Christ and St. Melanius, the tower — which was made of stone — was split from top to bottom, and those who were held in prison were loosed from their chains and freed. This miracle was spread abroad through various provinces.

[34] A blind woman receives sight. There was also nearby, on the other side of the river Vilaine, ^a certain mother of ^a family who for many years had been blind, having lost the light of her eyes. She, upon hearing of this miracle which the Lord had wrought to make manifest the merits of the most holy Bishop Melanius in the presence of his lifeless body, came quickly with her parents and friends to the holy body of the deceased Bishop. And when she had prostrated herself on the ground and kissed his feet, she immediately received the light she desired.

Page 333 Having received it, filled with great joy, she gave thanks to the Lord She dedicates her property to him. and to St. Melanius, and handed over to the same St. Melanius the land she held by hereditary right across the river Vilaine, where she herself had hitherto lived, to be held by him in perpetuity.

[35] St. Melanius is buried. The blessed Bishops named above, taking the holy man's body in their own hands, carried it to the place divinely provided for him, in which it was reverently placed by them, just as they had been divinely sent for this very purpose; where, by his merits and intercessions, many blessings are bestowed on those in need and those who ask in faith, even to the present day. His day of burial is observed on the 8th of the Ides of November, by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom with the eternal Father and the Holy Spirit belong power, honor, glory, dominion, praise, and might through infinite ages of ages. Amen.

ON THE SAME ST. MELANIUS,

From St. Gregory of Tours.

Melanius, Bishop of Rennes in Gaul (S.) BHL Number: 5892

Melanius, Bishop of the city of Rennes, after the signs of innumerable miracles, with his mind constantly fixed on heaven, shone forth from the world. Over his tomb The tomb of St. Melanius remains unharmed when the church burns. Christians built ^a structure of wondrous height; but by the instigation of the evil one, who is always opposed to good works, it was at ^a certain time seized by fire. For there was ^a linen cloth that covered the holy Confessor's tomb. When the mass of timbers was consumed by the prevailing flame, the tiles fell down with their fastenings and all the rest of the roof's construction. Yet one beam, its end ablaze, propelled by the force of the collapse, fell upon the Saint's tomb — which could have not only set fire to the cloth but even crushed it between itself and the stone of the tomb. Moreover, an immense quantity of burning coals also fell upon it. Other hangings, which hung from the walls or doorways, were consumed at the first breath of the flame. But this cloth was not only not burned, but not even in the slightest disfigured by the fire. And so, when the fire was spent, the people entered with great lamentation and hastened to the Bishop's tomb, about to receive new joys amid their tears and weeping. They removed the timbers with their flames from upon the tomb, and seizing the cloth of the tomb and shaking off the coals, all marveled at it, unharmed.

OTHER MIRACLES

By the author Gervasius, Archbishop of Rheims.

Melanius, Bishop of Rennes in Gaul (S.) BHL Number: 5894

By the author Gervasius, Archbishop of Rheims.

[1] Gervasius, by the grace of God Archbishop of Rheims, to Evenus, venerable Abbot of St. Melanius, Archbishop Gervasius of Rheims gives relics of Melanius to his Abbot. greetings in Christ. You once asked of me, dearest brother, that I should hand over to you the relics of the illustrious Confessor Melanius, very dear to my father and to me; which relics, lest your community should be deprived of the pledge of so great ^a Patron, and so that the perpetual memory of my father Haimo and of my mother Hildeburgis, and also of my lord King Henry and of myself, might be preserved among you, you obtained by many prayers. Now, however, as befits ^a holy and industrious man, it has not been troublesome for your Charity to press me concerning the miracles of this aforesaid Confessor; of which those partly seen by me and partly learned by no frivolous report of certain persons, I shall not delay to briefly set forth for the edification of readers.

[2] On ^a certain day, my grandmother of blessed memory, Rorans, was staying in ^a certain village of her dowry named Argentrada, in the district of Le Mans, when part of the said village was by chance consumed by ^a great fire. A fire extinguished through the relics. The violent flames had been driven to the point where they were licking with crackling fire the top of her granary situated next to the church. She, remembering the relics she had brought with her, immediately ordered them to be brought to her; when they were elevated and placed directly opposite the fire, as if by rain sent down from heaven, that destructive fire was suddenly and miraculously extinguished. After her death, she bequeathed these relics, together with her dowry, to her grandson — whom she had by her son — named Haimo, that is, my father.

[3] He transferred these to his castle named Lith, Other miracles at the relics. where many miracles were wrought through the merits of the same holy Bishop: health was restored to many who were sick, whether deprived of sight or suffering other disabilities; and if anyone swore falsely upon them, the falsehood was immediately discovered.

[4] Perjurers punished. In my presence, ^a certain man about to fight in judicial combat swore an oath, and was immediately struck blind and confessed his theft of oxen. Another, equally about to fight, similarly swore falsely; and before he could rise from there, he began to urinate involuntarily — by which accident it was made clear to the onlookers that he was guilty. Similarly, our people reported to us countless signs they had seen concerning oaths sworn upon the relics.

[5] A portion of ^a chest is immune from fire. I myself also witnessed another remarkable event. When my aforesaid father, about to receive ^a pledge of fealty from certain wealthy men, ordered these relics to be brought with him, he withdrew into the house of one of his foresters. The bearer of the relics, finding no more suitable place (as he thought), placed them at night in ^a large chest upon grain; and at the bottom of the same chest, on the other side, he likewise placed ^a lit candle. Coming at dawn, he found part of the chest burned, except that part in which the holy relics had been stored. The cloth in which they were wrapped was found unburned, although many glowing coals were found upon it.

[6] Perjurers detected. We have heard of very many who swore deceitfully upon the aforesaid relics; when they wished to flee, they could not, and they returned. Moreover, we have heard of very many other miracles of the aforesaid Father, which, if they could be collected at ^a suitable time, ^a writer would have enough to write about.

ANOTHER MIRACLE

By an anonymous monk.

Melanius, Bishop of Rennes in Gaul (S.) BHL Number: 5893

[1] It is the custom of Christians, who everywhere honor the Lord's days The use of baths among the ancient Bretons. on account of the honor of the Lord's Resurrection, to refresh themselves more frequently on Saturdays — after the sweat and fatigue of their labors — by washing in the waters of baths, and to exchange dirty clothes for clean ones, so that they may enter the earthly court of the heavenly King, namely the present Church, cleaner in both heart and body. Following this custom, ^a certain townsman of Rennes, who had his house to the south overlooking the river Vilaine, on ^a certain Saturday — namely the vigil of the Lord's Nativity — entered the bath before dawn on account of the many duties of the short day, and more lovingly than modestly ordered his only son to be brought to him so that the child might bathe with him. The servants obeyed, placing the son in the arms of his bathing father. And so the father bathed, kissing and caressing the child, delighting both in himself and in his son. At length, when the bell sounded at the parish church of St. Peter, the father, leaving the bath, left the boy playing here and there for some time in the water.

[2] The boy suffocated in the bath. But while the mother with the servants attended to the father for ^a while, they forgot that the boy remained alone in the water. While the child was playing there in the water in ^a childish way, by the plotting of the enemy of the human race, he was — O sorrow! — killed in those very waters prepared for his delight. At last, having heard the divine office of the day in the church, some hours having now passed, the mother, prompted by maternal instinct, asked where the son had gotten out of the bath. He was sought here and there, but was not found anywhere, because he was not being sought where he was but elsewhere. And so, with the whole day passed and no small part of the festive night as well, when the bathwater was being emptied from the tub, the boy was found beneath the water, long since lifeless. The household cried out, wept, lamented, and was shaken by sighs from the depths. The mother, hearing these cries half-suppressed, with hair disheveled, face suffused with tears and redness, breast beaten with fists, The mother mourns immoderately. invoking with maternal weeping the aid of Blessed Melanius (for in his monastery the bells were ringing at that hour for Matins), repeatedly calling herself wretched, she rushed to the scene. But when she found the boy — or rather, the boy's body — drawn from the water and lifeless, her voice caught in her throat, her limbs rigid with the enormity of shock and grief, she collapsed like one dead. Caught in the hands of those present, when at length her spirit returned, as if waking from ^a deep sleep — to briefly relate how she behaved — she cried out with the complaints of ^a woman and mother thus bereft by the death of her only son. And while the servants with the neighbors kept vigil through the night around the dead child's body, as is the custom, she, overcome by the magnitude of her grief and as if driven by the furies of evil spirits, stole away from the crowd, hastening to throw herself into the nearby river Vilaine, as though unwilling to survive her lifeless son.

[3] When this was discovered, she was brought back home by more prudent persons and guarded by her own people until the next morning. Then, by God's arrangement — as soon became clear — she heard the bell in the monastery of Blessed Melanius summoning to the Sunday Mass. Then she came to herself and, turning to the aid of the aforesaid Saint and through him to the divine, She invokes St. Melanius. said: "Give me back, O most holy Melanius, give me back my son by your most holy prayers poured out to God for his raising." And to her household: "Allow me, O most devoted consolers, allow me, I beg, to carry the body of my dead son to the church of Blessed Melanius; for I believe that by his holy prayers God will come to the aid of my sorrows." They, as if divinely admonished, did not oppose her faithful petition; the dead child was carried to the aforesaid Confessor's monastery with ^a great crowd accompanying, and she placed it before the holy altar with no one resisting — indeed, with the crowd watching her in wonder — while Abbot Triscandus celebrated Mass as was customary. And while she herself most devoutly implored the aid of Blessed Melanius with tearful cries over the dead child's restoration for ^a long time, with all the bystanders also devoutly praying with her for the same end (for what faithful person watching this would cease from prayer?), their prayers, carried to the ears of divine mercy by the prayers of the Saint and effectually received, The boy revives. the dead child came to life again, calling out and recognizing his mother, taking the food and drink offered to him, and was restored unharmed to his mother — with all who were present watching and praising God on high and the powerful merits of the Saint before God.

[3] We heard these things from those who were personally present at the event, who themselves, being monks of that same monastery at the time, saw the lifeless boy brought there and restored to life through the merits of Blessed Melanius.