Ricmirus

ON ST. RICMIRUS, ABBOT, AMONG THE CENOMANI IN GAUL.

Around the Year 700.

Richmirus, Priest in Gaul (Saint)

[1] St. Ricmirus, Abbot and Priest, died on the 16th day before the Kalends of February, as is evident from the Life, and Menard admits in book 2 of his Observations; although he records him on the 16th of March, as does Saussaye. The feast of St. Ricmirus. His name was entered on this day by our Rosweyde in his published Calendar, and in the manuscript Florarium. We find nothing about him in other Martyrologies, unless he is Rigomarus, or Rigomerus, of whom Molanus, Bellinus in the Paris edition, Canisius, and Ferrarius speak on the 24th of August: In the district of Le Mans, St. Rigomarus, Confessor. Whether he is the same as Rigomarus on the 24th of August. The Carthusians of Cologne in their supplement to Usuard, the Cologne Martyrology, and the Florarium: At Le Mans, St. Rigomerus, Priest and Confessor. Nor does Saussaye seem to have known more, for he writes: On the same day, in the district of Le Mans, the passing of St. Rigomerus, Confessor, who, after he had fought strenuously for a long time under the laws of Christ, departed to heaven to receive the final reward of his labors. But on the 14th of February: At Le Mans, St. Ricmirus, Abbot, a man kindled with the zeal of regular discipline, who, resplendent with various virtues, showed his flock the way to eternity, and after a happy course of cenobitic life, went to the reward of eternal glory. At whose funeral, sight was restored to a blind man, and the use of his legs restored to a lame man.

[2] Nor do the two names differ much: Rigomarus, Rigomerus, His name, Ricmirus, who is Ricomirus according to Claude Robert, and Richmirus, Richimirus, Ricimirus according to others: and one may observe elsewhere that in proper names of Teutonic origin the particle marus is regularly changed to mirus and merus, concerning whose various signification in the Teutonic idiom itself, and various spelling and pronunciation, Cornelius Kilian may be consulted.

[3] The Life was written by a contemporary. The Life of St. Ricmirus was communicated to us from an old codex of Ripatorio by our Peter Francis Chifflet, and the same from another Norman manuscript by our Frederic Flouet. Menard testifies that he used two other copies, one from the monastery of St. Victor outside the walls of Paris, the other from the monastery of St. Cornelius at Compiegne. The author indicates his own time when in chapter 3, number 18, he writes of Arrius, the successor of St. Ricmirus: who to the present day governs the same cell regularly, at the ordering of the Bishop and living under his authority.

[4] St. Ricmirus lived under King Theodoric, who was the son of Clovis II and St. Bathilde, and reigned from the year 667 to about the year 690. This is evident from the time of Bishop Gilbert, or Egilbert, or Aiglibert. His age. For although his name is missing from the catalogue of the Bishops of Le Mans in Demochares and John Chenu, Claude Robert nonetheless testifies that in the codex of Thuanus, between St. Berarius and Herlemundus, Aiglibert is placed. Their dates agree with this Life: for Hadoindus is said to have held the see under Clothar, Dagobert, and Clovis II. Berarius in the last years of the same Clovis and under Clothar and Theodoric, his sons.

LIFE

By a contemporary anonymous author, from two ancient manuscripts.

Richmirus, Priest in Gaul (Saint)

BHL Number: 7246

By a contemporary anonymous author, from manuscripts.

PROLOGUE.

[1] To narrate the lives and deeds of religious men is undoubtedly to praise God, who gives His Saints power and the ability to perform wonders; To write the acts of Saints is to praise God. whom we ought to imitate in His Saints and through their works, to praise, magnify, proclaim, and in manifold ways glorify at all times: for the same Lord is rich toward all who call upon Him. Therefore, brothers, the things which He Himself has worked through religious men are not to be suppressed or hidden in silence, but are to be written for posterity and proclaimed to all: they are also to be imitated, not to be passed over with indifference; so that, informed by their examples and merits, fortified by their intercessions, and assisted by their prayers, we may deserve to become their companions in the heavenly dwellings.

CHAPTER I.

The monastic life and priesthood of St. Ricmirus.

[2] Blessed Ricmirus, therefore, a native of the district of Tours, born of no insignificant parents, The homeland of St. Ricmirus. shone forth as the most worthy offspring of a worthy stock; and he enlarged by the merits of a happy life the honor he had received from his birth. At that time, when King Theodoric was ruling over the Franks, and Gilbert, a Bishop worthy of God, was governing the Church of Le Mans; having heard the fame of the aforesaid Bishop, he left the district of Tours, and having settled the little Brothers whom he had already gathered under the holy rule in his own Incondita upon the little river, he came with permission to Le Mans: and coming to the said Lord Bishop Gilbert, He comes to Le Mans. he indicated to him the order of his affairs and asked that he give him some place where he could build a cell under the holy rule, gather some brothers in it, and teach them to live according to the rule.

[3] Hearing this, the aforesaid Bishop rejoiced and was filled with great joy, giving immense thanks to God, who had deigned to console him with such a man. The said Bishop wished at that time to establish for him some wealthy place for the completion of this work. But he, refusing, said: I do not seek a wealthy place, nor one elevated with many buildings; but a poor one, in which I, a poor man, may deserve to follow and imitate the poor Christ. And he ordained him a Priest, He becomes a Priest. and gave him permission to preach in his diocese and to win souls for Christ, and to seek out a place in which he would delight to dwell and where he wished to build a cell according to his own choice: he also gave as companions other Priests who would escort him and go with him wherever he should choose.

[4] And so, going around in this manner to various poor and uncultivated places, he came at last to a spot above the river Loir, in the place that is now called La Tour-du-Domaine, which was then an uncultivated place, occupied by the densest thickets, but otherwise suitable, on account of the convenience and the fishing, for clearing He chooses a place to build a monastery. and for building a cell there. Those who went with him, however, wondered why he would choose so poor and uncultivated a place. Then they reported this to the Lord Bishop, who quickly sent him what was necessary at that time, and even more than he himself was willing to accept.

[5] While he was clearing the aforesaid place together with his little monks and companions, and digging and laboring with his own hands, a certain woman came, named Cata, who had great estates in the area surrounding that place, from the widow Cata he obtains estates. visiting him, because she was a God-fearing widow who loved the servants of God greatly, but she loved wine too much, and for that reason had become poor. When the aforesaid St. Ricmirus was refreshing her from the goods which the Lord Bishop had sent him, and she had begun to grow merry from the wine, she said to him: Let us make a mutual exchange, that is, you give me wine and I will give you estates and servants, with which, together with the counsel and help of the Bishop, you may build up and enrich this place. At this agreement the Saint of God rejoiced, and they pledged to one another that they would do so. And so the aforesaid Saint, by managing her affairs, acquired almost all of them. ...

[6] At length, by the will of God, he found another place, not far from the same place, above a small river called Gundridus, whose spring his servant, at his command and by the Lord's disposing, He makes the spring more copious. named Gundridus, from which a more abundant water than usual began to flow; and afterward St. Ricmirus himself took care of it with his own hands so that it would emit more abundant water; which happened by the will of God, no one doubts: for that place was then a desert, and there had never previously been a habitation of men there, but of wild beasts and animals. And where there was then a habitation of wild beasts and animals, now there is a habitation of servants of God and an assembly of holy angels.

[7] Having found and cleared the aforesaid place, he transferred his habitation there, together with the counsel and help of the aforesaid Bishop. The Lord Bishop gave him workers and craftsmen of every kind to build a church there in honor of the Apostles He builds a monastery and a church. and to construct a monastery of monks. Which, with the Lord helping and the aforesaid Bishop providing assistance, was quickly completed. The above-mentioned Bishop, coming for the consecration of this little monastery, was not willing to consecrate it, however, until everything that he had acquired and might hereafter acquire, The Bishop consecrates it, having first stipulated its subjection. or whatever from that day should be given and donated to the same place by good and God-fearing men, should all be made subject and handed over to him and the Church committed to him by a solemn delivery. The solemn delivery having been completed, he dedicated it in honor of St. Peter and all the Apostles: to which he also gave not a little assistance from the goods of the Church of his See. The aforesaid St. Ricmirus also delivered, together with his relatives, the cell which he had formerly built in the district of Tours, with all its possessions and appurtenances, or whatever he appeared to have on that same day in the district of Tours, or might afterward be able to acquire. These things having been duly accomplished, he gathered no fewer than forty monks, with the help of the oft-mentioned Bishop, and taught them to live according to the rule.

CHAPTER II.

Various miracles.

[8] On a certain day, while St. Ricmirus was conducting the divine office in the same church and was about to celebrate Mass, Ricmirus illuminates a blind man after he first confesses his sins. a certain blind man began to cry out with a loud voice for mercy. The man of God said to him: Go and make your confession purely before one of the Priests first: and after that, rest in holy meditation and pious prayer between this altar of the Apostles and the relics of the Saints. After the office was finished, as soon as he made the sign of the Cross over his eyes, light shone forth, and so the blindness of his eyes was utterly driven away by the prayers and merits of so great a physician, and sight was given to him, so that he could clearly see everything.

[9] Nor should this miracle be passed over in silence, which became evident in the time that followed. When his shepherds were guarding his flocks by their vigils, He heals a man bitten by a viper. one of them was bitten by a viper. Half-dead, he ran to St. Ricmirus, weeping and wailing, and saying: Help me, most pious Father, lest I perish from the venom of the viper. And he, as a pious father, touched the wound of the viper with his own saliva and gave him blessed water to drink, and the man was healed by the medicine of so great a man.

[10] Nor let it be tiresome to hear what Christ bestows upon His faithful; for these things which bring salvation and instruct those who hear them ought to be told to no one in silence. On a certain Lord's Day, while he was hastening to the city of Le Mans He opens a prison by the sign of the Cross and frees the captives. to hear the office of the aforesaid Bishop and to receive his blessing, it happened, as he was entering the city gate, that those shut up in prison cried out asking him not to pass them by but to give them some help. But he, as was said, hurrying to the office of the said Bishop -- they again asked him to come to their aid. Then the holy man Ricmirus, remembering the Lord's sentence, who says: I was in prison and you did not visit me, Matthew 25:43. lest he appear disobedient to the Lord's commands, returned to them, and being unable to enter through the closed and bolted door of the prison, trusting in the Lord's mercy, because those shut up were crying out with great wails, he made the sign of the cross over the door, and immediately the door was opened and the prisoners, leaping out, fled. This sign St. Ricmirus wished to conceal, but by the will of God it was divulged.

[11] Having heard Mass and received the blessing of the Bishop for which he had come, he wished to return silently and without anyone's knowledge to his cell, lest his brothers be long without him. A certain person, however, recognizing him, reported it to the Bishop: after whom the Bishop sent, and he returned most reluctantly; but lest he be disobedient, he came to the Bishop. Then the oft-mentioned Bishop, having taken counsel, placed the little monastery which he himself had built in honor of St. Albinus at the gate of the city, or at the entrance to the church of his See, He is placed in charge of a convent of Virgins. and which for the love of God he had founded anew, in which he had placed nuns living under the rule of the pious Father Benedict, and which he had enriched from the goods of the Church of his See, under the custody of the aforesaid Saint, although he himself received the charge unwillingly; so that the nuns living there according to the rule might by his teaching and counsel gain eternal life; since he could by no means find his equal, although he had many servants of God with him.

[12] Moreover, what the Lord willed to be done through His servant Ricmirus must not be passed over in silence. A certain one of the aforesaid nuns, He heals a sick woman. having a great pustule on her neck, was tormented by extreme pains, to such an extent that no one hoped for her life. When she was brought to the holy man, by the touch of his saliva and prayers offered in common, she was healed.

[13] When at length the aforesaid holy man had returned to his own cell, as we mentioned, with the permission and blessing of the Bishop, what happened we shall record, because this miracle which became manifest is no less worthy of proclamation. A certain one of his little monks, He illuminates a blind man with sacred oil. named Dodo, formerly converted from the world, had been deprived of the light of his eyes: who for many years, having been deprived of the light of his eyes on a certain night, when he learned of his arrival, asked to be brought to him so that by his medicine he might deserve to receive the light. When he had come, and St. Ricmirus had asked him how this had happened to him, he said: On a certain night after Compline had been completed, this happened to me I know not how; but at twilight I lost the light. Then the holy man ordered the brothers to make a communal prayer, as was his custom, with devout minds, and to lie prostrate before the holy altar. When the prayer was finished, at the touch of the sacred oil the blind man, with the Lord's help, received his former sight.

[14] Then not much time passing, a great miracle was shown through his merits. A certain monk of his, Silvanus by name, was vexed by very severe quartan fevers, two full years having already passed. He frees a man from quartan fever. But when at last his life was despaired of by the brothers, touched by divine counsel, he asked that he might deserve to receive the eulogiae of St. Ricmirus. When this was announced to the holy man and he gladly granted it, the sick man was immediately healed and restored to his former condition. But how many he healed from fevers He cures other diseases. and other various infirmities, it is long to recount.

CHAPTER III.

Virtues, death, miracles.

[15] This, indeed, must not be passed over in silence or committed to oblivion, which is profitable for religion. The austerity of his diet. His food and clothing were always plain; but especially in the Lenten season. When the days of holy Lent arrived, his food was dry, only barley bread, which he also ground by hand, because he always desired to live by the labor of his own hands, lest he turn the labors of others to his own use; since the will for good work required this. And however much he labored in the service of God, it was not enough for him.

[16] Since, however, we cannot recount one by one his good deeds and the virtues which the Lord worked through him, The author omits other things. let us leave them to our Author, who alone gives His Saints and His elect the power to perform wonders; and let us give Him continual thanks, let us praise Him, proclaim Him, glorify and magnify Him: and let us leave to posterity and to the judgment of our Master whatever more they may wish to investigate about him and may deem worthy of writing. Let it therefore suffice for us to know that he was a Saint and performed the aforesaid virtues and many other miracles: by whose merits may the merciful Lord guard us in His holy service and defend us from all wickedness and grant us eternal life.

[17] St. Ricmirus dies. He shines with miracles. The aforesaid St. Ricmirus died on the 16th day before the Kalends of February and was buried in his aforesaid cell by the holy little monks and the other servants of God. At his funeral, by his fitting merits, two miracles occur. One blind man was given sight, and another lame man received the ability to walk.

[18] His successor. After his death, one of his disciples, named Arrius, a monk from the same monastery, was installed and ordained Abbot there by the above-mentioned Bishop. Who to the present day governs the same cell regularly, at the ordering of the Bishop and living under his authority.

[19] The above-mentioned St. Ricmirus, although he is enclosed in body in the tomb, Miracles at the tomb of St. Ricmirus. nevertheless yields fruit by very many miracles: because at his tomb the sick are healed, the lame are cured, lepers are cleansed, sins are diminished, offenses are taken away, crimes are erased, innumerable medicines of body and soul are visibly and invisibly manifoldly bestowed by the Lord through his merits, with His assistance who lives and reigns, God, through the immortal ages of ages, Amen.