Maurus of Huy

CONCERNING ST. MAURUS, OR "BORN-DEAD," A HERMIT AT HUY IN BELGIUM.

Maurus, or Born-Dead, Hermit at Huy in Belgium (St.)

[1] At Huy, an ancient town of Belgium on the Meuse river, St. Maurus the Hermit, The feast day of St. Maurus, or "Born-Dead," is venerated on January 15 — so called because he came into the light already dead; but being carried, as is commonly reported, to the chapel of the Blessed Virgin of the Vineyard, he was there restored to life. His name, Some call him "Holy-Dead," others "Saint-Dead." Nothing certain is established concerning his date, except that some hold that he lived in the times of St. Begga, at the end of the seventh Christian century, his date uncertain, — whether they conjecture this themselves or learned it from their forebears. Our Bartholomew Fisen, in his History of the Church of Liege, book 6, no. 8, mentions him at the year of Christ 909 — not because he certifies that he lived at that time, but because he had been speaking there of St. Mengold, likewise a patron of the people of Huy, of whom we treat on February 8.

[2] Concerning his life and miracles we have found nothing, except what John Molanus published in his Feast Days of the Saints from letters of Godfrey Petit, Pastor of the Church in which the body of St. Maurus rests. Nor did the cited historian of Liege hand down anything else except these few things about his miracles, miracles, which we too have learned from other sources. "He was formerly renowned," he says, "for many miracles. But even most recently, when in the course of a few years the stream Hoyoul had three times swelled so greatly that it flooded the entire pavement of the church, it never reached the tomb of St. Maurus nor penetrated into it, although it lay open with no small gaps."

[3] The name of this Saint is inscribed not only in the Belgian Martyrology but also in the Gallican of Andreas Saussay, who again records him in the Supplement. Commemoration. Ferrarius also mentions him.

LIFE

From John Molanus's Feast Days of the Saints of Belgium.

Maurus, or Born-Dead, Hermit at Huy in Belgium (St.)

[1] At Huy, the feast day of St. Maurus the Confessor. Who, as we have received from our forebears, was born in places neighboring a Andenne and died there: St. Maurus, born dead, was brought back to life; but by divine permission he received life, and in baptism was called "Born-Dead" — in the vernacular, "Mort ne." He survived, leading a modest life among rustic people in the forests, lending his help in producing b charcoal from wood. He becomes a hermit. At length, in the forests around Andenne, he chose the eremitic life, in which he holily concluded the last day of his life.

[2] When he was no longer seen by anyone, the neighbors diligently sought him and found him c dead. When they wished to carry his body to Andenne, the horses d refused by divine will; but when they were directed toward Huy, they proceeded without any difficulty as far as the parish church of St. John the Evangelist, His body is carried to Huy by divine will, in which his body, honorably buried, lies in the nave of the church, between two columns. Above, he himself is seen depicted in the manner of a Hermit, with bare feet, hair falling to the shoulders, apparently about eighty years old, his image, clad in a long cloak reaching to the ankles, in his right hand carrying prayer beads with a hermit's staff, in his left hand holding a book; on his head wearing a cap such as the Friars Minor wear under their cowl; having a long beard painted in golden color. Below, his body is covered by a stone, upon which another stone, in the manner of an altar, rests on columns; for what diseases he is invoked, on which are placed the offerings of pilgrims who flock there daily out of devotion, that they may be freed from gallstones, from headache, toothache, pain in the legs, e and from other diseases. Offerings are made of iron or wax legs, crowns, arms, likewise fetters, salt, coins, votive offerings made to him, hens, chickens, and similar things, which in former times were offered in greater quantity and with greater devotion than now, when he was more celebrated for miracles on behalf of the infirm — which are now rarer as devotion has declined. The holy man has been celebrated among his people from a time unknown to all; and Pastors on the day of St. Maurus the Abbot celebrate his memory, reading the common office of a Confessor, not a Bishop. The Chapter of Huy also, when it appoints the Pastor of the Church in which he rests, names him in the letters of appointment: "Pastor of the Parish Church of the Blessed John the Evangelist and Maurus." These are the things I have received from the Pastor of his Church.

[3] Why he is called Maurus. Lest anyone wonder at the name: certain learned men call him "Holy-Dead"; others "Saint-Dead." They would have spoken more correctly by calling him Renatus ("Reborn"), as St. f Maurilius named a small boy whom he had resuscitated, who later succeeded him in the See of Angers. The common people, instead of "Sainct-Mort," call him "Sainct-Moor"; whence the Clergy, following their simplicity, call him Maurus. And since the day of his death was unknown, they wished to celebrate his memory with the people on the day of St. Maurus the Abbot. The feast of the dedication falls annually on Rogation Sunday.

a Concerning Andenne and the college of Canonesses founded there by St. Begga, we shall treat in her Life on December 17.

b They report that his father too was a charcoal burner.

c With hands joined, leaning on his staff, as they relate.

d Indeed, they could not be driven by any goads, as Fisen writes; but left to themselves, they turned toward Huy.

e Also of the arms; likewise gout of the hands, gout of the feet, and paralysis.

f St. Maurilius is venerated on September 13. St. Renatus on November 12.