ON ST. VALENTINE, BISHOP OF PASSAU
About the year 440.
PrefaceValentine, Bishop of Passau in Germany (St.)
[1] Not on one day alone do the Martyrologies celebrate the memory of St. Valentine. For the Roman Martyrology has this under October 29: "On the same day, the holy Bishops Maximilian the Martyr and Valentine the Confessor." The triumph of St. Valentine. Molanus in his Additions to Usuard, on the same day: "In the city of Passau, the triumph of the holy Bishops Maximilian the Martyr and Valentine the Confessor." But what that triumph is, he does not specify. The German Martyrology has the same, and adds that they are the principal patrons of that Church and diocese. In the life of St. Maximilian on October 12, mention is made of the preservation of the city of Passau on October 29, 1265, through the patronage of Maximilian and St. Valentine, of which we shall speak there. The Gallo-Belgian Martyrology must be corrected, in which both are assigned to Padua in Italy.
[2] In Dexter's Chronicle at the year 424, number 5, this is found: "Near Tude in Gallaecia, in the town of Viana, This is not the Valentine of Viana in Lusitania. the holy Bishops Maximian and Valentine the Confessors are distinguished." Bivarius does not doubt that these are the Saints Maximilian and Valentine of whom the Roman Martyrology speaks on October 29; and he confidently corrects Molanus, who, he claims, wrongly joined the location of Vienna with Theodore. He thinks it should read: "On the same day, of the holy Bishops Maximilian the Martyr and Valentinian the Confessor, at Vienna. Likewise, the deposition of Blessed Theodore the Abbot." He asserts that this Theodore is the disciple of St. Pachomius, since no Theodore is known at Vienna in Gaul. But Molanus wrote Theodarius, not Theodore; and he is venerated at Vienna on that day, as is evident from the Martyrology of Ado, Bishop of Vienna, and he is also called Theodore by others. But that disciple of St. Pachomius, Theodore, is venerated on December 28. Even if Bivarius could prove that this Maximian and Valentine (whom he himself calls Valentinian) were venerated somewhere, whether on this or another day, we would never allow them to be substituted for our Bavarians, who are known to have been celebrated in ancient religion.
[3] His birthday. On January 7, Molanus writes this concerning St. Valentine: "At Passau, Blessed Valentine, Bishop of the Rhaetias." On the same day Ferrarius in his General Catalogue of Saints: "At Passau in Noricum, St. Valentine the Bishop and patron of the same city." That he is venerated on that day at Passau is testified by our Matthaeus Raderus. A MS. Martyrology of Bede from the monastery of Richeberg in Bavaria, on the same day: "Valentine the Bishop."
[4] Others celebrate him on August 4; on which day Peter Galesinius writes: "At Passau in Noricum, St. Valentine the Bishop and Confessor, who, frequent in nocturnal vigils and prayers, by day greatly devoted to the study of sacred reading and to the duties of piety, abounding in the gifts of heavenly virtues, departed to the Lord." He cites the Passau records. The Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard: Translation. "The Translation of St. Valentine, Bishop and Confessor of Passau." The German Martyrology says the same. The Cologne Martyrology has only: "On that day, Blessed Valentine the Bishop and Confessor." Ferrarius: "At Passau in Noricum, St. Valentine the Bishop and Confessor." The MS. Florarium: "Likewise the Translation of St. Valentine the Bishop and Martyr" — and a little further on: "Likewise, Blessed Valentine the Bishop and Confessor." Therefore, January 7 marks the Birthday of St. Valentine, as is evident from the life of St. Severinus on January 8; August 4 is perhaps the Translation and second discovery; October 29 is either the first or some other translation. Moreover, the name Valentine is not found in the catalogue of the Bishops of Passau, at which Marcus Velserus justly marvels in his Notes on the life of St. Severinus.
[5] Lucillus, his Priest. Eugippius, in the life of St. Severinus on January 8, mentions St. Valentine in these terms: "On the day of Epiphany, when the holy Lucillus the Priest had solicitously informed him that on the morrow he would celebrate with the annual solemnity the day of the deposition of his Abbot St. Valentine, formerly Bishop of the Rhaetias, the same servant of God answered thus: 'If Blessed Valentine has entrusted to you these solemnities to be celebrated, I too, about to depart from the body, leave to you the observance of my Vigils on the same day.' The trembling man, being very aged, commended himself all the more earnestly in these words, as if he were to depart first, etc."
[6] Aribo, Bishop of Freising, in his Life of St. Corbinian, which we shall give on September 8, mentions the sepulchre of St. Valentine devoutly frequented by Corbinian, and his church in the castle of Magia; and concerning the translation of the body he has this: "Meanwhile, however, when the body of Blessed Valentine, Confessor of Christ, had been taken from the same castle by the Lombard people and transported to the city of Trent, and afterward recalled to the city of Passau with the greatest honor by the venerable Duke Tassilo, etc."
[7] Our Andreas Braunerus, in his Annals of Bavaria, Book 4, writes thus concerning St. Valentine: "The integrity of Christian philosophy, not yet grown to maturity, had been assailed by the impious tongue of Arius, so that, as the poison spread, the whole world at last (these are the words of St. Jerome) groaned and marveled to find itself Arian. What Valentine accomplished. Certainly Batavium, which today is Passau (formerly called Castra Batava), labored with that plague at this very time. But, such is the goodness of God, the medicine was not wanting for the disease, and the one who would most skillfully administer it was summoned from the very ends of the Ocean. This was St. Valentine, who, having devoted all his effort and labor to cultivating this corner of Vindelicia, and yet struggling with difficulty against savage dispositions, went once and again to Rome, presented himself to the supreme Bishop of the Christian commonwealth, and, enhanced by the honor of the episcopate, He is made Bishop. returned more vigorous to adorn his appointed station; yet even so he could not bring the matter to a conclusion according to his mind's desire. Indeed, forced to yield to the incurable fury of the Arians, he unfolded throughout the rest of Rhaetia, with great profit of labor, the truth that had been despised at Castra Batava. Having finally set out for the Maian Alps, which overlook Meran (a city of the Tyrol), he softened even those rough places and tamed them to the elegance of virtue." The same author, in Book 5: Where the castle of Magia is. "The castle of Magia" — which he calls Maiense — "commonly called Matsch," he says, "not far from Meran in the Tyrol." Others hold that Magia is Maienfeld, a town of the Rhaetians between Clunia, which they identify as Feldkirch, and Curia Chur. Concerning the translation of St. Valentine, the same Braunerus in Book 5: "By the effort of the same Tassilo, Valentine, Bishop of the Passavians, and Corbinian, Bishop of the Freisings, were returned to their sees, with immense applause of the people and an increase of piety. For when the body of Valentine had been brought back from Trent — where the Lombards had carried it after exhuming it from Magia — to Passau, etc."
[8] Here we shall give concerning St. Valentine what our Matthaeus Raderus wrote about him in Volume 1 of Bavaria Sancta; then what Surius published under August 4, committed to writing five hundred years ago by an anonymous author, but which he acknowledges were slightly polished by himself.
LIFE
By Matthaeus Raderus, S.J.
Valentine, Bishop of Passau in Germany (St.)
From Raderus.
[1] St. Valentine lived before Severinus. Born at the Ocean (the Germanic Ocean, I think), he came to Castra Batava of the Noricans, Valentine preaches at Passau. where at that time two plagues reigned in the city — namely the idolatry of the Pagans and the perfidy of the Arians — against which Valentine descended into battle. He did not make much progress. Setting out for Rome once and again, so that, enhanced by the authority of the Supreme Pontiff with the honor of the episcopate, He is made Bishop. he might return more vigorously, he was still unable to bring the matter to a conclusion according to his purpose. Indeed, driven from the city by the arts and wickedness of the Arians, he betook himself to the Maian Alps, not far from Meran among the Tyroleans, where, with truly fortunate success, having brought many to the sacred rites of Christ, he founded a church, in which, after immense labors, he was buried; and after two or three centuries his body was transported from there to Passau by St. Corbinian. Mention of this saint is made by Eugippius in his History of St. Severinus. Surius gives more on August 4. The people of Passau not undeservedly place this saint among the first Bishops and patrons of their city. His annual feast is celebrated with festive ceremony on the 7th of the Ides of January January 7. In the Passau Breviary, read these words transcribed verbatim concerning him:
[2] "Valentine, distinguished for the holiness of his life, came from the Ocean to the town of Batava, now called Passau. There, intending to preach the word of life to a people alienated from the true worship of God, he sought Rome, so that Apostolic authority might intervene for the task of preaching. Having returned thence, and having undertaken the pious work at the Pontiff's command, he long and greatly endeavored to win souls for Christ — souls whose salvation he marvellously thirsted for — by the assiduous preaching of the divine word. But when he saw himself sowing the seed of the saving word as if on rock to no purpose, he returned to Rome, asking to be sent to another people bearing fruit. But Valentine was created Bishop by the Pontiff He is encouraged by the Pope. and sent back, to persist in preaching there, following the example of the Apostles, in season and out of season; with the permission given to him, after labors finally proven fruitless, to migrate to other peoples for the sake of preaching. When therefore the holy Bishop, fervent in the spirit of God, again ardently applied himself to his office and labored to lead the Bavarians to the way of truth, they, with the addition of the Arian perfidy, He is expelled. unable to bear this insistence of preaching, compelled him to depart from their territory. Wherefore the man of God, traveling through the Rhaetias, devoted himself as much as possible to the salvation of men by preaching everywhere. At last he betook himself to the mountains, He preaches in the Alps. where, after enduring many labors for Christ and reaping an immense harvest of souls, foreknowing the end of his life, he rested in a blessed death, distinguished by miracles both in life and after death. His body, buried in the castle of Magia in the Alps, was at last honorably translated to Passau, his own See, from which he had been exiled while alive."
NotesLIFE AND TRANSLATION
From Laurentius Surius, August 4.
Valentine, Bishop of Passau in Germany (St.) BHL Number: 8462
From Surius.
CHAPTER I.
The discovery and first translation of St. Valentine.
[1] In our age, in the time of Pope Calixtus, The body of St. Valentine is discovered. in the year of the Lord's incarnation [...], the most holy body of the venerable Confessor of Christ and Bishop Valentine was discovered at Passau, and that by the venerable Bishop of that same See, Dedalricus. This sacred body had once been translated there from the castle of Magia by the Lombard people, by the command of the venerable Duke Tassilo, and was by God's benevolence restored to its own See.
[2] The occasion of the first translation was as follows. When St. Corbinian, Bishop of Freising, of blessed memory, was once setting out for Rome, Previously translated to Passau. he was captured by the ministers of Grimoald, Prince of the Lombards, who kept watch in the Alps, and was brought to the castle of Magia. While the most holy man remained there, he approached the monument of St. Valentine, formerly Bishop of Passau, which the same blessed Bishop Valentine had built in that same castle situated in the Alps. After he had preached to the peoples there and had brought many from paganism to the religion of Christ, he was buried after his death and rested in peace. When Bishop Corbinian was released from custody by order of Prince Grimoald, he continued on his way to Rome, and from there returned on a prosperous journey to the same place. And since he grieved not a little that the body of the holy Bishop Valentine was far removed from his own church, he asked Duke Tassilo, the father of Duke Grimoald, that through him the dead man might at some point be restored to his own See. Tassilo, assenting to his prayers, ordered that the body of Blessed Valentine be honorably transported from the castle of Magia to Passau, from which he had once been expelled by wicked heretics infected with Arian perfidy. And so the body of the most holy man was translated in this manner from the castle of Magia to Passau, and placed between two walls before the doors of the church of Blessed Stephen the Protomartyr, where the Bishop's seat is.
[3] An ancient life of his. When the most holy body of Bishop Valentine was discovered in our times in the church of Passau, beside it was found a lead tablet on which his most holy deeds were written in summary and so as to be scarcely intelligible — also who he was, how he had administered the episcopate of the Church of Passau, how he had been expelled and spent his life in mountainous places, and finally how after death he had been brought back. This writing, scattered by both age and the putrefaction of the earth, and collected into one by the discoverers, with difficulty revealed the order of events in the following manner. A humble man named Valentine came from the Ocean to the Norican city of Passau, with the intention of preaching among them. But since that race of men was exceedingly fierce and brutish, he was able to reap but a small harvest of souls among them. Seeing, however, the suitability of that land, and the frugality of some of the men, and the region already white for harvest, he reflected within himself thus: "No one ought to take upon himself the duty of preaching except by the command of Apostolic authority, as it is written: 'How shall they preach unless they are sent?'" Romans 10:15 Saying this, he went to the Roman Pontiff, who received him honorably and reverently, gladly heard him, and confirmed his zeal for preaching by Apostolic authority. Returning therefore to Passau, he attempted to preach the word of life there, but accomplished nothing, for the time for showing it mercy had not yet come. He then thought again of going to the Roman Pontiff, so that he might either be sent to another province where he might win souls for Christ and also receive the increase of his own salvation. He came to the Pontiff and was asked by him why he had wished to return so soon. He answered in this manner: "My Lord, dearest Father, because of my misfortune I was not able to bear any fruit. I have returned to you, therefore, praying that you send me to another people, where, with Christ's help, I may gather a harvest of souls and receive no less advancement for my own soul." The Pontiff replied: "Press on, brother, in season and out of season, and blessed shall be the fruit of your labor; if only you can employ constancy until you break the fierceness of a long-reluctant people. But if, after trying a third time, you accomplish nothing, by Apostolic authority you shall be permitted to migrate to other peoples for the purpose of preaching." And so, laying his hand upon him, he ordained him Bishop, and giving him his blessing, sent him away. He quickly returned to Passau, preached the word of salvation and of the Holy Trinity. But those men, seeing his insistence in preaching, together with the Arians resisted him and not without injury expelled him from their territory. He, however, patient as he was, shaking the dust from his feet against them, departed from the city and betook himself to the mountains, where by God's providence he brought forth an immense harvest of souls, with great increase of his own salvation; and finally, dear to God and men, he died happily in Christ.
NotesCHAPTER II.
The preaching of faith and virtues.
[4] He preaches in the Alps. Blessed Valentine the Bishop was therefore in the Alps, in wooded and wild places where many pagans and fierce, brutish men dwelt, preaching and teaching the word of God and performing many virtues, He is distinguished by miracles. so that he drove demons from possessed bodies, healed the sick, and cured many who were suffering from various ailments. For he was a man of sound doctrine and perfectly imbued with the rule of the Catholic faith; not flattering the vices of men but pricking them, using pointed words against the wicked, driven in like nails deeply fixed; abstaining from every brother who walked disorderly.
[5] He shuns heretics. He avoided the wiles of heretics with all his might, so as not even to hear them, nor to share with them in food, drink, or any bond of friendship. This was also partly his reason for seeking the mountains, so that no occasion of any commerce with them might present itself to him, nor any necessity of communicating with them be offered. The Arian perfidy had spread among the other heresies throughout the whole world, and like a serpent had infected with its poison the territories that the Apostolic doctrine had formerly brought to the faith of Christ. Therefore the holy man, fortified by the steadfastness of the Catholic religion and unable to resist the tumultuous clamors of the heretics because of their great numbers, betook himself to the mountains, where, vigilantly devoting himself to the preaching of sound doctrine and truth, he won a great people for the Lord.
[6] He converts many. For many peoples hearing him — who lived not only in the mountains but also in the neighboring places and around the Alps toward Italy and the Insubres — received the sacred baptism from him. Some also, recoiling from the errors they had imbibed from heretics and instructed by the orthodox preaching of Blessed Valentine, embraced the sound faith, and confessing their sins and abstaining from every evil work, glorified God the Father Almighty, and his Son our Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer and Savior of the world, and the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, Illuminator and Consoler of souls — the true and Holy Trinity, the unity of the divine name and confession. In this confession of the Godhead there is no division, in the persons no inequality: the Father is equal and consubstantial with the Son and the Holy Spirit; yet the person of the Father is one, that of the Son another, that of the Holy Spirit another; but the Godhead is one, and the coeternal majesty, which creates all things, gives life to all things, governs all things. This faith Blessed Bishop Valentine most steadfastly preached, and in this confession of the Holy Trinity he persevered. By this faith he freed many from the error of diabolical depravity, and snatched the souls of many from the precipice of eternal damnation. Those whom he wrested from the devil he led to Christ; and those whom he converted to the faith he restored to the salvation of their souls.
[7] He taught them to resist vices, to fight against the wicked desires of this world, His salutary admonitions. to cast off their former errors completely, to bid farewell to all vanities. He taught the people of God to believe rightly and to do good works, to spurn the enticements of a flattering world, to walk perfectly in the way of the Lord, and to fulfill with good works what they grasped by right faith. And while he taught these things to others, he by no means neglected himself, but took care that he himself might also say with the Apostle: "I chastise my body and bring it into subjection, lest perhaps while preaching to others I myself should become reprobate" 1 Corinthians 9:27. His doctrine was seasoned with the salt of wisdom, inclining neither to the right nor to the left — that is, neither too harsh nor excessively lenient. He extirpated vices in such a way as not also to uproot virtues along with them, in keeping with that saying about the Lord and Savior: "The smoking flax he shall not extinguish, and the bruised reed he shall not break" Isaiah 42:3. His remarkable moderation. To extinguish the smoking flax is to despise sinners and criminals of every sort on account of the smoke of their stench, and not to recall them to the reconciliation of divine mercy through the kindness of preaching. Not to extinguish, however, is to temper them, lest they despair, by drawing them through gentleness to confidence in eternal salvation. To break the bruised reed is not to raise up anxious, embittered, and afflicted minds — unstable because of the instability of their iniquity — to constancy and confidence of hope by the promises of eternal life, but to crush them by the severity of malediction and despair. This Blessed Valentine, an outstanding preacher, did not do; but rather he preached pardon to sinners in such a way that he called himself also a sinner, imitating that supreme herald of the word of God, Paul, who says: "Christ Jesus came into this world to save sinners, of whom I am the first. But for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Christ Jesus might show forth all patience, as a pattern for those who are to believe in him for everlasting life" 1 Timothy 1:15-16. Thus indeed St. Bishop Valentine was sweet in speech, pleasant in his preaching, neither manifold nor overly profuse in words, not profound in meanings, not crafty or entangled in his ideas, but humble in voice, gentle in exhortation, conspicuous in goodness, and distinguished in all honesty of character.
NoteCHAPTER III.
Piety, death, translation.
[8] His devotion to prayer. It was his custom, night and day, to ruminate upon the psalms, to pour forth hymns with complete attention of soul, to offer many prayers, to sigh to the Lord with complete compunction, and frequently to groan with the Psalmist and say: "Woe is me, that my sojourn is prolonged!" Psalm 120:5; Philippians 1:23 — to desire with the Apostle to be dissolved and to be with Christ; most frequently in prayer to sigh to the Lord, and with tears and sobs to say: "When shall I come and appear before the face of God?" Therefore the blessed man, that most valiant athlete, when he had confirmed very many in the faith of Christ and the profession of the Catholic religion, chose the solitary life, so that he might cling to God the more securely the more secretly, devoting himself to divine contemplations and directing his soul to heavenly sweetness. He had already built for himself a small oratory apart from the tumult of men, His love of solitude. in which he frequently spent the night in prayers, devoted himself to vigils and fasts, and very often, bathed in floods of tears, sighed most ardently to God. During the days he devoted himself to prayer, reading, and contemplation; he was intent upon almsgiving and whatever other good works he could perform; and he served God alone in the secret of his heart with a pure conscience and unfailing devotion.
[9] He foresees his death. After so many labors of this life, after so many toils of good works, after so great bodily hardships and vigils, and the vexations and snares of heretics, Almighty God — to whom alone he had long clung — wishing to render him his reward and most ample prizes, revealed to him in spirit the hour at which he was to depart from life. Then he fortified himself with vigils and prayers, so that he might be able to hear with joy from the coming Judge: "Well done, good and faithful servant; because you have been faithful over a few things, I will set you over many; enter into the joy of your Lord."
[10] He falls ill. And as he heaped labors upon labors, vigils upon vigils, fasts upon fasts, prayers upon prayers, and engaged in other pious works while awaiting with continual tears the day of his calling, he fell into a serious illness, by which he was also extinguished. But although he was afflicted by great bodily distresses, yet holding firmly the shield of patience and the virtue of obedience, he was not greatly saddened, but rather rejoiced, believing himself to be loved by the Lord, since he was being so sharply chastised by him. He was not unmindful of the Scripture that says: "My son, do not reject the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when you are corrected by him. For whom the Lord loves he chastises, and he scourges every son whom he receives" Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:5-6, and after scourging introduces him into the inheritance of the heavenly homeland. Confirmed by such consolations of the Holy Spirit, the man of God did not fear to die, knowing that he would soon be freed by the Lord from the anguish of death.
[11] His last admonitions to his brethren. Having therefore summoned the brethren and his fellow soldiers, he informed them that his departure from life was near at hand, and addressed them all with these words: "Dearest brothers, strengthen the Church in the faith of Christ; preserve faith, peace, unity, hope, charity, and the Catholic religion; and the God of peace and love will be with you even to the end." Then with tears he prayed thus: "Lord God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who by the grace of the Holy Spirit has gathered all nations in the unity of faith, bind your Church with the bond of true faith and Christian religion; free it from the depravity of heretical perversity; guard it from the rending of diabolical falsehood. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God the almighty Father, defend and rescue your sheep from the mouth of wolves, for whom you shed your most precious blood."
[12] He dies piously. This prayer ended, and likewise his most faithful exhortation, the holy man with his own hands received the Sacrament of the body and blood of the Lord, speaking thus: "Lord Jesus Christ, Maker and Redeemer of the world, who are the leader and illuminator of our souls, I beseech you through the mystery of your most sacred passion and resurrection, that you receive my soul and lead it into your kingdom, which you have prepared for those who love you." Having said these things, he delivered his spirit into the hands of the Angels, to be carried to Christ in paradise.
[13] His body was buried in the Alps in the church which he himself had founded. After some time, however, when the perfidy of the heretics had subsided, His body is translated to Passau. it was translated to Passau by faithful Christians and honorably entombed in the church of Blessed Stephen the Protomartyr. And when that place had been renowned for many ages with the signs and miracles that God wrought through him, many visions were granted in our times to devout men concerning the translation of his body, by divine will, to a more distinguished place. Therefore the most holy body of the man was found between two walls of the basilica of St. Stephen, and raised with great jubilation and a great concourse of people by venerable and devout bishops, and placed in the greater church at the seat of the Bishop, where even now very many miracles are performed, It is discovered anew. which God and our Lord Jesus Christ, who is wonderful and glorious in his Saints forever and ever, performs through him. Amen.
[14] Moreover, his feast is celebrated in the Church of Passau with the greatest solemnity and honor on the day before the Nones of August August 4, and there is a gathering of many people seeking help and protection from him; and many who ask worthily receive health of mind and body through Christ Jesus our Lord.
Notes