Titianus

ON ST. TITIANUS, BISHOP OF ODERZO.

[1] At Oderzo (a town of Venetia, formerly noble, now commonly called Oderzo and Uderzo) St. Titianus, Bishop of the same city and patron of the entire diocese of Ceneda (under which Oderzo now falls) is venerated on January 16. The feast of St. Titianus. The Roman Martyrology states: "At Oderzo, St. Titianus, Bishop and Confessor." Usuard, Bellino, Molanus, and the manuscript Florarium: "Likewise in the city of Odobergia, St. Titianus, Bishop and Confessor." Somewhat more fully, Galesinius: "At Oderzo, St. Titianus, Bishop and Confessor. Born of a noble family at Heraclea, he was made Bishop of the city of Oderzo, and did not cease to feed by word and by the example of his life the people committed to his care. Having discharged this office religiously for a long time, he departed to heaven for the reward of his merits." The German Martyrology has the same. Another Titianus is venerated as Bishop of Brescia on March 3; another at Lodi on May 4.

[2] The acts of St. Titianus, such as they are, Philip Ferrarius compiled from ancient records of the Church of Oderzo, to which we shall append from Peter of Natali, Book 2, chapter 89, other accounts, themselves also incomplete. The era of St. Titianus is unknown to us.

LIFE FROM PHILIP FERRARIUS.

[1] Titianus, born of a noble family at Heraclea (which was situated in Venetia on the coast of the Adriatic Sea), St. Titianus is made steward of the Church, and educated from his earliest years in letters and piety, was created deacon by St. Florian, the first Bishop of Oderzo, and was made steward of the Church of Oderzo, especially to oversee the care of the poor. In this office he earned the highest praise from all.

[2] It happened, however, that at that time St. Florian betook himself to the royal court for certain serious affairs of his church. Then bishop, upon the withdrawal of St. Florian. But before his departure he assembled all and disclosed the reason for his journey, saying that if he did not return to them within a year, they should know for certain that he had departed this life and should elect another pastor for themselves. Having set out therefore to the King, although he could have returned to his church, yet eager for martyrdom, he withdrew into a foreign province to preach the Gospel. Wherefore the people of Oderzo, after a year had passed, believing their bishop to have died, chose Titianus as their bishop by the marvelous consensus of the entire people.

[3] Not long after, when he learned that St. Florian was alive, he hastened to him at once. Florian, meeting him, is reported to have said: "O venerable Bishop Titianus, why have you abandoned the flock committed to you?" Titianus, falling prostrate at his feet, replied: He tries to bring Florian back, in vain. "I pray, Father, do not abandon your flock, but return to your former see, since while you are alive there can be no other bishop." But Florian, firm in his purpose and unmoved by the prayers of Titianus, ordered him to return to his episcopate. Florian himself, preaching through diverse places and winning many for Christ, at last found rest in a holy death. Titianus, having returned to Oderzo, most holily carried out the episcopal office, and he too, at the end, laden with many merits and renowned for miracles, departed to Christ.

ANOTHER LIFE FROM PETER OF NATALI.

[1] Titianus the Bishop, born at the city of Heraclea, of noble family, was educated by Florian, Bishop of Oderzo, and was ordained priest. Summary of the Life of St. Titianus. When Florian, out of love for martyrdom, resigned the episcopate, Titianus was elected bishop by the people. He fed the Lord's flock in the best manner with sermons and examples, and, flourishing in holiness, rested in peace on the seventeenth day before the Kalends of February, and was first buried in the city of Oderzo.

[2] His parents, coming to him and finding him now dead, stole the body by night First translation of the body to Septimus, in order to carry it to their homeland. In the morning the people, in arms, pursued them to recover the body. And when on that account they were about to wage war against each other, an elder appeared who, counseling them to concord, advised that they should simply place the body in a small boat and commit it to the divine will, to be carried wherever God wished. When they had done this, the elder disappeared; and the boat, traveling upstream on the river Livenza against the current, arrived at the place called Septimus and came to rest there; and the body was deposited in the earth.

[3] When the inhabitants of many places again contended over possessing it, Second translation, to Ceneda, at the counsel of the aforesaid elder, appearing again, they implored the divine oracle. And after a three-day fast, by divine revelation a calf with its mother was yoked to a wagon, and the body was placed upon it, and they were let go wherever they wished. They brought it to the city of Ceneda and stopped there; and there a woman possessed by a demon was freed through the merits of the holy body. There it was buried with worthy honor; to that place the episcopal see of Oderzo was also transferred.

LIFE OF ST. LIBERATA THE VIRGIN, BY PHILIP FERRARIUS.

About the year 500.

Liberata, a noble virgin of Pavia, was the sister of St. Epiphanius the Bishop. She had three sisters, likewise virgins and saints, of whom Luminosa and Honorata lived in a monastery; but she herself and Speciosa — who had a betrothed — led a celibate life dear to God in their own home, as if in a convent, in prayers and pious works. When Liberata departed this life, her body was interred in the church The brother and sisters of St. Liberata, now called St. Epiphanius, beside the body of her sister St. Speciosa. Her memory is commemorated on this day in that church by the Canons Regular. Her feast.