ON ST. CRISPINUS III, BISHOP OF PAVIA
CommentaryCrispinus III, Bishop of Pavia in Italy (St.)
From various sources.
Year of Christ 466.
[1] The name of Crispinus, Bishop and Confessor of Pavia, is inscribed in the sacred records of the Church under January 7; it is also recorded by Bellinus, The birthday of St. Crispinus. Maurolycus, Galesinius, Molanus, and the German Martyrology — although Ferrarius, as we said above, would have the first Crispinus venerated on this day and assigns the third to October 30, on which the memory of Crispinus II is also celebrated. Galesinius mentions a Crispinus on both days and in his Notes on both occasions shows that he is speaking of the predecessor of Epiphanius.
[2] His life from Ferrarius. The same Ferrarius briefly describes the life of this saint in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy: "Crispinus the Bishop, the third of this name, after Thomas, who had succeeded St. Anastasius, administered the Church of Pavia under Popes Sixtus III, Leo I, and Hilarus. He was a man of great and proven holiness, of whom St. Epiphanius, his successor, disciple, and deacon, was a pupil. The holy Bishop, being very old, as St. Ennodius writes, made use of him in the governance of the Church and was supported, walking on his arms. He was present at the Council of Milan held under St. Eusebius, Bishop of that See, by the command of Pope Leo I, together with St. Maximus, Bishop of Turin, Abundius, Bishop of Como, and others. And when he had most holily presided over his Church for thirty-four years, worn out by old age, having left his See to Epiphanius, he departed this life in the year of salvation 466, at which time also St. Prosper, Bishop of Riez, had closed his last day, under Pope Hilarus, and the Emperors Maximus and Leo I."
[3] Thus Ferrarius; who on May 28, treating of St. Anastasius, Bishop of Pavia, says he was the successor of St. Crispinus (the second, I believe, although he does not specify); and immediately calls this into question. This Anastasius is celebrated in the Roman Martyrology on May 30. The Roman Pontiffs named here occupied the see as follows: Sixtus III from April 26, 432, to March 28, 440, on which day he is venerated by the Church; Leo I from May 10 of the same year to April 11, 461, on which day we shall give his life; Hilarus succeeded in the same year, in November, and died on September 10, 467, on which day he is venerated. We shall give the life of St. Epiphanius, Bishop of Pavia, below on January 21, written by St. Ennodius; concerning Ennodius himself we shall treat on July 17. Baronius mentions the Council of Milan and St. Crispinus in Volume 6 of the Annals, at the year 451, numbers 13 and following. The holy bishops mentioned as having attended are venerated: Eusebius of Milan on August 12, Maximus of Turin on June 25, and Abundius of Como on April 2. Concerning St. Prosper, who is here called Bishop of Riez, we shall treat on June 25.
[4] Moreover, what Ferrarius narrates here about the services rendered by Epiphanius to the aged Bishop are related more fully below in the Life of Epiphanius, as are the matters concerning the Summias territory dispute which we noted above were erroneously attributed to Crispinus I. Among other things, this is said of him: He instructs St. Epiphanius. "But that venerable Bishop Crispinus, a stranger to favoritism, maintaining censure with tenacious strictness, and one whom nothing but a good conscience ever led to grace, so soothed his mind that he stung him with his gaze; and under the appearance of a stern countenance he secretly nurtured a hidden affection for his disciple. The father was nourished by the wished-for companionship of his pupil, and in all his acts delighted his eyes." And a little further on: "After, however, feeble old age, always complaining of infirmities, He is aided by Epiphanius. had overtaken the venerable Bishop Crispinus, he was supported by his hands, and leaning on his embrace was raised up. He was his foot, his eye, his right hand — by whose ministry whatever he might have wished done he saw accomplished before his command."
[5] He dies. Concerning the death of Crispinus he finally writes: "Near the end of his life, however, which the holy Bishop foresaw in spirit, he sought the neighboring city of Milan, etc." He then adds that he commended his city, his Church, and his disciple Epiphanius. "And," he says, "hastening back to Pavia as if to his tomb, after some days had passed, afflicted with jaundice, he exchanged the light of our world for an abode on high." Baronius mentions his death in Volume 6, at the year 466, number 16. Ferrarius recites these verses of William, the 65th Bishop of Pavia, concerning him and St. Epiphanius:
"Crispinus, a most gentle man, The guide of Epiphanius, Whom he succeeded forthwith In the steps of office."
[6] Concerning the same, St. Ennodius also sang this in his Poems, Book 1, Poem 9 — a panegyric delivered at the thirtieth anniversary of St. Epiphanius: He is praised by St. Ennodius.
"Then gladly he sought Crispinus, whom to describe in worthy Eloquence is not given, not even if from the underworld there should arise He who could lead the forests from the rocks of the Apennines, While the rivers stood still, to the sound of his lyre. This man was more than Elijah; for who would leave an Elisha On earth? With a doubled gift of the palm He nourished him whom he suckled with that holy milk which Paul Pressed from the breast; whose right hand is full of Gospel-bearing breasts. Hail, holy father! Hail forever, gathered Ashes of Crispinus! To whose authority redounds Whatever we admire as worthy in this doctrine of Christ."