ON ST. ANASTASIUS THE ABBOT AND NINE MONKS, AT SUPPENTONIA.
Circa A.D. 560.
CommentaryAnastasius, Abbot at Suppentonia near Mount Soracte in Italy (S.) Nine monks, at Suppentonia near Mount Soracte in Italy
From St. Gregory.
[1] In Italy, in the Faliscan territory near the bank of the Tiber, there is a mountain anciently called Soractes and Soracte, now commonly known as Mount St. Sylvester, from the monastery built in honor of St. Sylvester by Charlemagne, as Aimoin testifies in book 4, ch. 60 -- Mount St. Sylvester, or Soracte. or rather, restored by him; for there had already been a monastery on Soracte, as will be evident below from St. Gregory. Leander says that the mountain received its name because Pope St. Sylvester once hid there. Between this mountain and the town of Nepete, or Nepe (now commonly called Nepi), was Suppentonia, which Ferrarius testifies is now called the Castle of St. Elias -- a place now nearly deserted, except that a church still stands. But Baronius writes more precisely and certainly: Suppentonia. "Concerning the place of Suppentonia, I labored long and hard; and when I could find nothing certain to bring forward, I at last consulted the inhabitants of the region, who from ancient records know the place very well. From them I learned that the monastery of St. Anastasius was near the place now called the Castle of St. Elias, two miles distant from the city of Nepi, where there is still a noble and ancient church dedicated to God in the name of St. Elias and St. Anastasius, not far from Mount Soracte; and that this very place was formerly called Suppentonia."
[2] The feast of St. Anastasius. There St. Anastasius lived, first a Notary of the Roman Church, then a monk, and afterward an Abbot. The Roman Martyrology records his feast on the 3rd of the Ides of January in these words: "At Suppentonia near Mount Soracte, of St. Anastasius the monk and his companions, who, divinely called, departed to the Lord." Galesinius, Wion, Menardus, Dorganius, Ghinius, the German Martyrology, and Ferrarius in his catalogue of the Saints of Italy also remember him on this day. On January 22nd, Galesinius again celebrates him with this eulogy: "At Rome, of St. Anastasius, Abbot and Confessor. He was first a Notary of the Roman Church; afterward he resigned that office to consecrate himself entirely to God in the religious life. He therefore went to the monastery near the town of Neptuna and undertook the monastic way of life; and becoming Abbot there, he shone with piety, religion, and holiness." The Carthusians of Cologne in their Additions to Usuard and the German Martyrology say nearly the same, but both call the town Neptana. The town is indeed called by various names -- The town of Nepe. Nepe, Nepa, Colonia Nepis, Colonia Nepet, Colonia Nepensis, Nepeta, Nepita, Nepete, the city of Nepesina. But that it is called Neptunum or Neptana, we have read nowhere. Its bishopric, subject immediately to the Roman Pontiff, is joined with that of Sutri.
[3] Concerning St. Anastasius, St. Gregory the Pope writes the following in book 1 of his Dialogues, ch. 7: "I shall now tell you something from a nearby place, which I learned from the account of the venerable Bishop Maximianus and of Laurio, the veteran monk whom you know, both of whom survive to this day: Whence St. Gregory learned what he narrates about Anastasius. Laurio, who was raised in that monastery near the city of Nepi called Suppentonia by Anastasius, a most holy man. This Anastasius, a man of venerable life, was closely connected to Nonnosus, the Provost of the monastery situated on Mount Soracte, by proximity of place, greatness of character, and zeal for virtues."
[4] Then more fully in ch. 8: "About the same time, the venerable man Anastasius, of whom I made mention above, Anastasius, a Notary of the Roman Church, becomes a monk: was a Notary of the holy Roman Church, which I serve by the authority of God. Desiring to devote himself to God alone, he left the archives and chose the monastery. In that place which, as I said, is called Suppentonia, he led his life in holy acts for many years, then Abbot. and presided over that monastery with diligent care. At that place a great rock overhangs from above, and a deep precipice yawns below."
[5] He is divinely called forth with eight companions. "One night, when Almighty God had already decreed to reward the labors of that venerable man Anastasius, a voice was uttered from the high rock which, with drawn-out sound, cried out saying: 'Anastasius, come!' When he was called, seven other brothers were also called by name. After a brief pause the voice that had been sent forth fell silent, and then called an eighth brother. When the congregation had openly heard these voices, there was no doubt that the death of those who had been called was approaching. Within a few days, first the venerable man Anastasius, and then the rest, were taken from the flesh in the same order in which they had been called from the summit of the rock. The brother, however, at whose calling the voice briefly paused and then named him, lived a few days beyond the others who were dying, and then ended his life -- so that it was plainly shown that the brief silence of the voice signified a brief span of living."
[6] At another's request, he obtains death for him. "But a remarkable thing happened: as the venerable man Anastasius was departing from the body, there was a certain Brother in the monastery who did not wish to outlive him. Casting himself at his feet, he began with tears to request and adjure him, saying: 'By him to whom you are going, I beseech and adjure you that I may not live seven days in this world beyond you.' Before the seventh day, he too died -- he who, however, had not been called among the rest on that night -- so that it clearly appeared that only the intercession of the venerable Anastasius could have obtained his death. Peter: Since the same Brother was not called among the rest, and yet was taken from this life by the intercessions of the holy man, what else is to be understood but that those who are of great merit with the Lord can sometimes obtain even those things which have not been predestined? Gregory: What has not been predestined can in no way be obtained. How predestined things are obtained by prayer. But those things which holy men accomplish by their prayers are so predestined that they are to be obtained by petitions. For the predestination of the eternal kingdom itself has been so disposed by Almighty God that the elect arrive at it through labor -- so that they may deserve to receive by asking what Almighty God has purposed to give them before the ages."
[7] Thus Gregory, who mentions Anastasius again in his Register, book 2, Indiction 11, ch. 50: "For concerning the Lord Abbot Nonnosus, who was from the Pentumi near the Lord Anastasius, I recall that you related certain things which I consigned to oblivion." Moreover, Maximianus, who is mentioned here, is venerated on June 9th; Nonnosus on September 2nd.