ON THE HOLY VIRGIN MARTYRS ARCHELAA, THECLA, SUSANNA, AT SALERNUM IN ITALY.
Under Diocletian.
PrefaceArchelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.)
[1] Ferrarius, in his Catalogue of the Saints of Italy and in his General Catalogue, reports that the bodies of the holy Virgins and Martyrs Archelaa, Thecla, and Susanna are preserved at Salernum, now the metropolis of the Picentines, in the church of S. George. The relics, feast, and office of these Saints He says they were crowned with martyrdom around the year of Christ 293. They are venerated on January 18, whether that is the day of their martyrdom or of their Translation. We have received
a manuscript of their office from our Antonio Beatillo, in which this prayer is found: Office "Grant, we beseech, Almighty God, that we may attain to the eternal joys of your holy Virgins and Martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna, from whose venerable virtue you have granted us to rejoice in their annual solemnity. Through Christ," etc.
[2] Antiphons for first vespers: "On the feast and translation of the holy Virgins Antiphons for vespers and Martyrs Archelais, Thecla, and Susanna; at whose vigil at Vespers, Antiphon: Let the Church of Virgins rejoice in fruitfulness, since so many birthdays make glad. Psalm: Dixit. Antiphon: Archelais by name with blessed Thecla, and Susanna the Virgin associated with them. Psalm: Laetatus sum. Antiphon: These royal maidens, companions of the Spouse, the Lamb's timbrel-players, equal to Angels. Psalm: Nisi Dominus. Antiphon: Women received adornment for the world, and entered into a true and blessed end. Psalm: Lauda Jerusalem. Antiphon: These are flowers of beauty, whom the spring of breathing grace and the summer of charity have brought forth today. Psalm: Laudate Dominum omnes gentes. Response: O happy Virgins, conquerors of evils, who held to the battle even unto blood, not empty of oil nor sluggish like the foolish virgins, you entered together into the celestial nuptials. O blessed, when suddenly at the cry coming, prepared for the Lord with your oil. Hymn: Iocundare et laetare. V. Prudentes Virgines. Antiphon to the Magnificat: O happy Church, adorned with the devout offspring of Virgins! Blessed army, enriched with the precious blood of Martyrs! Truly and justly you rejoice, who rejoice in a treasure more noble than gold."
[3] Acts Then the acts followed, distributed into twelve lessons. But because these are obscure and corruptly written, we shall append the same as narrated more clearly in Italian by Paulus Regius, Bishop of Vico, in the first part of his work on the Saints of the Kingdom of Naples. Ferrarius relates the same more briefly. She whom Regius and Ferrarius call Archelaa is called Archelais, or more correctly Archelais, in the manuscript.
ACTS
From an ancient manuscript Legendary of Salernum.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.)
BHL Number: 0660
From manuscripts.
Lesson I.
[1] In the times of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, there was a persecution of Christians throughout the province of the Romans: whoever among the Christians worshipped Christ was to be punished with death. Hearing that the persecution extended through all provinces, that those who believed in Christ should be beheaded -- in those ancient times, therefore, hearing this, a handmaid and Virgin of Christ, S. Archelais comes to Nola with her companions named Archelais, a Virgin dedicated to God, fleeing with Thecla and Susanna from the vicinity of Rome, came to the city of Nola, and dwelt there for many years.
[2] The Virgin of Christ also had a passion in the fear of the Lord: she was tormented in her body, and stood day and night in prayer, She shines with sanctity and miracles pouring forth her petitions before God. And all the sick were healed before her, and all entreated her to give them health. B. Archelais said to them: "Brothers and sisters of Christ our Lord, I ask you by the charity of Christ not to speak of me or make known this anointing which the Lord has given me, by which our Lord Jesus Christ has shown his healing; but my Lord fulfills the desire of me, his handmaid, this garment consecrated with Thecla and Susanna."
[3] And they dwelt outside the eastern part of the city of Nola with one purpose. And all Christians ran there and entreated God to send them knowledge through his holy Angel. She is accused before the Governor For most blessed Archelais was of cheerful countenance, and all who saw her clothing reckoned it not feminine but as of a man. The report spread throughout the whole province that the Virgin of Christ healed all the sick. They accused her before the commander of the armies. There was there the most wicked Leontius, who ruled Scorpion, and afterward held dominion over Salernum. And Diocletian and Maximian handed her over to Leontius to kill her.
[4] Then Leontius said to her: "Hear me, Archelais: for what reason do you assent to all people, good and bad, and call them to Jesus of Nazareth, who could neither help himself nor others? Through your sorceries you have presumed to anoint, and this amid these precipices and errors, as all say. False woman, if we do not separate you from us, She responds generously all will believe in him." The Virgin of Christ said to him: "By the power of Christ I drive away the diabolical and wicked works. And these are the works of Christ who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them." Leontius the Proconsul said: "Whoever contends against the command of the Emperors, let him perish miserably."
[5] Most blessed Archelais replied: "We have our Lord Jesus Christ, who controls all things and does all things, and sustains heaven and earth and all who dwell therein." Leontius the Proconsul said: "Our gods sustain all things that you speak of, and their names are many: first Saturn, and Trismegistus, Venus, and Mercury, Elzon surely, Juno, Minerva. These are the virtues of God and do all things." The Virgin of Christ replied: "Your gods themselves are blind, She mocks the gods and all who believe in them have blindness in themselves." Leontius said: "Your God is one, whence he could not help himself, and allowed himself to be crucified, and received the sponge, and was pierced with a lance, and was fixed with nails, and bore a crown of thorns upon his head."
[6] She preaches Christ B. Archelais, Virgin of Christ, responded thus: "When Jesus Christ endured torments for our sake, all who believe in him shall not perish but shall have eternal life. But your gods do not see; they are deaf and mute, who cannot help themselves or others." Leontius, filled with anger, had lions brought that had not eaten for seven days, to devour the Virgin of Christ. Thrown to lions, she is not harmed But the lions, coming first to seize the Saint, threw themselves before the feet of the handmaid of Christ and licked her feet. And B. Archelais said: "You are my Lord, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, who have guarded my body from all carnal iniquities and given me your victory over the fierce lions and the wicked Leontius, son of the devil, who wished to shake me with the most base fear and destroy my soul. You are my helper. Lord, into your hands I commend my spirit."
[7] The most ferocious Leontius struck the lions and killed them, and said to his soldiers: "Go, seize Archelais and put her in the custody of prison while I prepare other torments; She is strengthened by an Angel for through her magical arts, the lions do not eat her." But the Angel of the Lord descended from heaven into the prison cell and said to her: "Archelais, handmaid of God, do not fear, for a crown is prepared for you in heaven, and your prayers are before the sight of God." The prison guards who kept the prison feared greatly and said among themselves: "There is one God, whom B. Archelais preaches." And their eyes saw the marvels which the Angel of the Lord ministered to the handmaid of Christ.
[8] On the next day Leontius said to the jailers: "Bring me Archelais, who does me injury and has reduced my gods to nothing. For what reason does she not depart from her sorcery and commit blasphemy against me?" The holy Virgin of God, Archelais, replied: "Leontius the Proconsul, hear me: I do not do you injury, nor do I practice sorcery. She invites the Governor to the faith O wicked tyrant, your own works which you do -- they are what bring injuries and blasphemies and eternal fire upon you, which kills both soul and body. But if you wish to hear me and attend to my words, believe what I tell you: believe in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ his Son, who created you and illuminated the hidden things of darkness and manifested himself to all nations."
[9] The Proconsul said: "If you believe in my gods, I shall give you honor among all the most noble women; and if you do not believe, I shall cause you to be subjected to disgrace, She despises his threats and reduce your body to ignobility." B. Archelais, Virgin of Christ, said: "I have as my helper the Lord Jesus Christ, who guards my body from all your foulness, and makes me rejoice with his Angels, who with great zeal guards my body from all iniquity, and makes me rest with the holy Virgins."
[10] Then the angered Leontius the Proconsul had a frying pan heated and had oil with pitch brought and an iron comb to beat and willingly comply, She is drenched with boiling pitch and oil and the iron combs to scrape her flesh; and he poured boiling pitch upon her from above. B. Archelais, handmaid of Christ, stretching her hands toward heaven, said: "Look down, Lord, from above according to your works, and be mindful of us. Extinguish the fire upon me and cool my body from all pain and from the wound which the cruel one has inflicted." Then, when the prayer was finished, a light from heaven came upon the handmaid of Christ: She is encouraged by a heavenly voice "Martyr, do not fear; a crown is prepared for you in heaven. Do not fear, for I am with you, and I provide you refreshment and help."
[11] Leontius the Proconsul said: "Go, bring me heavier weights She is freed from new torments and place them upon her, by which her head may be crushed and all her bones broken." When the soldiers did this and placed the weights upon the handmaid of Christ, the Angel of the Lord moved the stone and rolled it to another side, upon those who had placed it upon the Martyr of Christ, and it killed the soldiers who had carried that stone. And the Virgin of Christ was saved, and she magnified God, saying: "Blessed are you, Lord God of our fathers, who are the Savior of all who hope in you." And all who stood by said: "There is one God of the Christians, whom B. Archelais preaches."
[12] Seeing such things, Leontius said to his soldiers: "What shall I do about Archelais? She has reduced all our torments to nothing. Seize her and make her die in disgrace. Cast her outside the city of Nola by one mile, and strike her with the sword, that she may die; and let those women who were with her be struck with the sword." When B. Archelais had finished her prayer, she said: All are beheaded, with an Angel standing by "Do, brothers, what you will by the Emperor's command." They said: "Lady, because we have seen the Angel of the Lord with you, we do not dare to presume to do such things to you." The holy Virgins said: "If you do not do as the Emperor commanded you, you shall have no part with us." When the soldiers had heard such words, they drew their swords and struck the holy Virgins, and they are in peace.
NotesTRANSLATION, FROM THE SAME MANUSCRIPT.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.)
BHL Number: 0661
From manuscripts.
... She came in dreams to one of the handmaids of God who was called Agneta, where there was the community of the holy Martyr George, S. Archelaa giving admonition in dreams and she heard through the dream, saying: "Blessed sister our Agneta, go and collect our bodies, with Thecla and Susanna, and carry us together into this city; and there shall be everlasting benefits." And that Christian handmaid fulfilled as the command had said. When the dream had disturbed the Virgin of Christ on successive nights, they came there day and night. Then Archelais, coming to Agneta, spoke to the sisters who dwell in the community of B. George, and as the same number of sisters in Christ were listening, they were terrified by the sound. B. Agneta said: "I will tell you what that sound is: the revelation of the holy Virgin Archelais, who is outside the city of Nola at the distance of one stadium." The Provost himself heard it, The bodies of her and her companions are transferred to Salernum who with the holy Virgins went to Bishop John, who was quite far away in those days. And he went out with a great company from that city and came to the city of Nola, and they found the bodies of the holy Virgins with the blessed Virgin Agneta, and they bore them with glory and honor, and many marvels occurred along the way, and they placed them in the church of S. George the Martyr, whose is the honor and dominion forever and ever, Amen.
THE ACTS OF THE SAME,
Written in Italian by Paulus Regius, Bishop of Vico.
Archelaa, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Thecla, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.) Susanna, Virgin and Martyr at Salernum in Campania (S.)
By Paulus Regius.
CHAPTER I.
The sanctity and miracles of S. Archelaa and her companions.
[1] Virginity overcomes the world, restrains carnal appetites, removed from the unhappy lot and companionship of the mother Eve, to whom it was divinely announced: "In sorrow you shall bring forth children, and you shall be under the power of your husband" Gen. 3:16; Praise of virginity and enjoying the full possession of its own liberty, it is harmed by no injury of time, but perpetually flourishing in its vigor, it brings an extraordinary ornament to a pious and religious life, and joined with it enters the heavenly bridal chamber of its spouse, Christ.
[2] S. Archelaa with her companions lives devoutly Endowed with this noble and divine gift, Archelaa, having already taken the veil and been consecrated as a bride of Christ, was leading a chaste and religious life in a certain monastery secluded from the crowds, such as those times permitted to be built and inhabited. Then, when the persecution of Diocletian raged, to escape the fury of the impious, she fled from Romagna with her two companions, her sisters in Christ, She comes into Campania Thecla and Susanna, and settled not far from the city of Nola, in a humble and poor place, where she poured forth prayers to God day and night and devoted herself to other holy works.
[3] She shines with miracles As many sick people as were brought to her immediately obtained health from God through her merits. Her countenance was cheerful and modest; and in dress, both she and her companions wore not women's but almost men's clothing, whence they were even believed to be men by those who approached them for the sake of help. For they were clothed in a tunic of coarse and rough cloth reaching to the feet and a cloak, their hair shorn, their faces wasted by fasting and penances -- in short, they bore a certain appearance of hermits. As their fame spread all around, mortals began to flock to them in great numbers, to obtain either bodily or spiritual health. For combined with that sanctity of life was the grace of healing incurable diseases and the preaching of the Christian religion.
[4] The virtue of Archelaa and her companions was therefore celebrated in the talk of all. She preaches Christ But since everywhere the agents and ministers of impiety, as if stationed at fixed posts, kept watch to spy out every movement of the Christians, they were at length reported to Leontius, the Governor of Campania. She is arrested He, while administering justice at Salernum, ordered them to be arrested and dragged before him, so that unless they offered sacrifices to the gods, they would be put to death according to the edicts of the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian.
[5] She is brought before Leontius the Judge Led therefore to Salernum, they are brought before Leontius. He indeed, as if assured of obtaining the glory of martyrdom by divine gift, since they sensed that the goal of their mortal course was at hand, freely declared that they were virgins dedicated to God, bound by a vow of preserving chastity, by the rite of spontaneous devotion handed down from Christ. Leontius, contemplating a certain wondrous cheerfulness and majesty in the face of Archelaa, turned to her and said: "Hear me, Archelaa. Why do you summon people to yourself, both good and bad alike, and persuade them to the worship of Jesus of Nazareth, who could neither protect himself in the past nor be a defense to others now? Why have you dared to cure diseases with magic spells and thus hunt for a reputation for sanctity, to entice mortals into deception,
concealing your wickedness under this false garb, feigning the male sex when you are a woman, and moreover a most harmful and impious sorceress? She responds generously Indeed you have perhaps also drawn these girls into practicing the same deceptions. Therefore, unless I exact punishment from you, all the simpler folk will be led into deception." "By the power of Christ," said Archelaa, "I crush the works of the devil, and summoning mortals endowed with reason, I imbue them with the knowledge of the true God, who created heaven, earth, the sea, and all that is in them; furthermore, through Jesus Christ, the only-begotten of the same Almighty God, I restore health to all who are sick. Nor do I feign my sex under this garb, for I have at once confessed myself the handmaid of Christ; and these are my sisters in the Lord, educated with me from infancy in the Christian faith." "Whoever," said Leontius, "resists the commands of the Emperors is guilty of a dire death." Archelaa replies: "We have the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord, for whose sake we despise the world with its vanities; from him we await mercy, who governs heaven, earth, and all else by his providence."
[6] Then Leontius said: "Our gods contain and govern all things: She mocks the gods and preaches the power of Christ and their names are many -- Saturn, Trismegistus, Venus, Mercury, Juno, Minerva, and greatest of all, Jupiter. These are the powers of God, and they do and govern all things." The Virgin replied: "Those gods of yours are blind, and blind are those who adore them or believe in them." "Your God," said Leontius, "is alone, and cannot adequately protect himself, seeing that he was once nailed to a cross, given vinegar to drink, crowned with thorns, pierced with a lance." "These things," said B. Archelaa, "he endured for our sake, so that all who believe in him should not perish but have eternal life. But your gods do not see, do not hear, do not speak, and can help neither themselves nor others."
[7] Thrown to lions, who do not harm her Irritated by these words, Leontius orders lions to be brought into the enclosure prepared there, goaded by enormous hunger -- for during a space of seven days they had never been given sufficient food -- and he orders the Virgin to be violently thrown to them by the lictors. The bystanders believed she would be immediately torn apart by them. But the contrary occurred: for rendered tame and gentle by divine power, and cast down at the feet of the holy Martyr, they seemed as if to declare that they wished to be a defense for her with their claws against the fury of the most impious tyrant. Thereupon Archelaa began to pray to God thus: "Lord God, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, who have thus far protected my body from all contagion, and today have caused me to overcome both the lions and Leontius, fiercer than lions, son of the devil, who wished to destroy me with servile fear and crush my soul: be today and always my helper. Into your hands, Lord, I commend my spirit."
[8] When the most ferocious Leontius saw and heard this, inflamed with fresh rage, he ordered the lions to be killed by his attendants; She is bound and cast into prison and he ordered the hands of Archelaa and her companions to be tightly bound behind their backs, and them to be confined in the most loathsome prison, so that he might afterward torture them with other torments. And thus the holy Virgins, leading an angelic life on earth, were cruelly tormented by the worshippers of demons for the name of Christ, who by this means was calling them to celestial triumphs.
CHAPTER II.
Various tortures, glorious death.
[9] No thing is sadder or more grievous to human life than when the souls of men are detained by earthly desires and pleasures. Nor, on the contrary, is there anything more conducive to true rest and tranquillity than to desire nothing at all except to serve God and to expose the body to every torment for his honor. And therefore he fears death less who has known pleasures less; but he fears death who hopes for no life after death. The servants of God know this; wherefore it ought to seem surprising to no one if they make little of mortal life, since they know that it is appointed for men to die once, and that for those who have lived their lives with virtue there awaits another life, blessed and immortal. A testimony to this is Archelaa, most sacred virgin, who, enclosed in a dark prison, placed all her hope and refuge in God. And behold, when she seemed to have been brought to the greatest straits, the Angel of God appears to her, She is confirmed from heaven flooding her with an incredible light and comforting her with these words: "Archelaa, handmaid of God, do not fear; a crown is already prepared for you in heaven; your prayers have reached the sight of God."
[10] The prison guards themselves also saw the unusual light, and struck with great fear, they cried out: "The one true God is he whom blessed Archelaa preaches." The next day, Leontius orders Archelaa to be brought before him: She exhorts the Governor to receive the faith "Drag Archelaa here," he says, "who both assails me with injury and overturns my gods with her sorceries and blasphemies." When Archelaa was brought before the tribunal, she said: "I do not assail you with insult, nor do I perpetrate any sorcery; but your works, most impious tyrant, your own works bring injury upon you; your blasphemies prepare you as fuel for eternal flames. But if you listen to me and give credence to my words, believe in God the Father Almighty and in Jesus Christ his Son, who created you, from whose and the Father's mutual love proceeds from eternity Love itself, dispelling all darkness. This one God in Trinity has long since been made known to all nations."
[11] The Governor, moreover, scorning these words as though they were certain ridiculous ravings, said: "If you too are willing to believe in my gods, you shall, adorned with riches and honor, obtain a distinguished place among Roman matrons; but if not, I shall decree for you a death full of ignominy and expose your body to be devoured by crows and wolves." Archelaa replies: "I have as my helper my Lord Jesus Christ, who will protect my body from every injury which you intend to inflict, and will make me a sharer of eternal joy with his Angels, if, as hitherto, I guard my mind from all iniquity. In him my body, like those of the other holy virgins, will rest happily."
[12] Leontius the Proconsul, inflamed with anger, orders a bright fire to be kindled beneath a frying pan and it to be filled with oil and pitch. While the pan is being heated, She is beaten and anointed with oil and pitch he orders Archelaa meanwhile to be stripped and torn with iron combs, then beaten, then sprinkled with burning oil and pitch. Thoroughly burnt to the very bones and foully disfigured by this treatment, she caused great amazement to the lictors themselves: that one by nature delicate and weak could endure such savage tortures. She herself, with arms extended in the form of a cross and eyes turned toward heaven, said: "Look down, Lord, from heaven, your holy seat, upon your faithful handmaid; extinguish with the dew of your grace the burning pyre that scorches me; cool my body and free it from all pain and from the wounds which the cruel tyrant has inflicted." She is encouraged by a heavenly voice Scarcely had Archelaa uttered these words when above her head a light was seen, and a voice sent from no mortal author, proclaiming: "Handmaid of Christ and holy Martyr, do not fear; a crown is prepared for you in heaven; do not fear the tortures threatened by the tyrant, for I am with you, to help you and lead you into refreshment."
[13] When Leontius saw that no torture could break the lofty spirit of the Virgin, he commands the lictors to place her under a huge boulder, to be utterly crushed by its mass. Placed under a huge boulder, she is divinely freed But suddenly the Angel of God rolled that immense stone to the other side, which by its size and weight buried the executioners who were striving to crush the Martyr with it. And Archelaa escaped this manner of death as well, while Leontius gnashed his teeth in vain. She, however, was singing praises to God, employing these words: "Blessed be the God of our fathers, who saves all who hope in you." The spectators, astonished at this prodigious outcome, cried out: "True is the God of the Christians, whom B. Archelaa preaches."
[14] When Leontius heard this, turning to his men, he said: "What shall we do with this sorceress, who has overcome all our torments? Seize her and inflict an ignominious death upon her. Lead her a thousand paces from the city of Nola, and there destroy her
together with her two companions." Immediately the three virgins, Archelaa, Thecla, and Susanna, their hands bound behind their backs, were led to the appointed place of martyrdom. Then Archelaa admonishes the lictors to carry out the Emperor's orders. She is beheaded with her companions But they, terrified by the angelic apparition that had presented itself to them, said: "In no way, Lady, shall we undertake such a deed." The holy Virgins respond with one voice: "Unless you do what the Governor has commanded, you shall have no part with us." Hearing this, the executioners at last draw their swords and with single strokes sacrifice each of the three as immaculate victims to God. Thus they concluded a most praiseworthy life with glorious martyrdom, around the year of Christ 293.
ON S. VENERANDUS, BISHOP OF ARVERNUM IN GAUL.
Beginning of the Fifth Century.
CommentaryVenerandus, Bishop of Arvernum in Gaul (S.)
From various sources.
[1] At Clermont of the Arverni, S. Venerandus, Bishop of that city, is venerated on the 15th before the Kalends of February, as Joannes Savaro testifies, although he died on another day, as we shall say below. Concerning him, Molanus in his Additions to Usuardus: The feast of S. Venerandus "In the city of the Arverni, S. Venerandus, Bishop and Confessor." Saussaius also treats of him and writes that this is the day of his ordination; Ferrarius likewise, who again lists him on January 28 and cites the Tables and Breviary of the Church of Clermont. But Joannes Savaro is a more reliable witness, since he wrote at Clermont, and besides establishing today's feast by the authority of the Martyrology and Breviary of Clermont.
[2] Memory on other days The same Ferrarius on September 24: "At Arvernum, S. Venetandus, Bishop." He cites in his Notes the Martyrology of Canisius, in which, however, the name of this Venerandus does not appear. But Surius treats of him and his successor S. Rusticus on that day from S. Gregory of Tours; and that is the birthday of Rusticus.
[3] Election Gregory has this about Venerandus, History, Book 2, chapter 13: "Among the Arverni, after the passing of S. Artemius, Venerandus, a man of Senatorial rank, was ordained Bishop. What kind of Pontiff he was, the priest Paulinus testifies, saying: Sanctity 'For if you should see these Bishops worthy of the Lord -- whether Exuperius at Toulouse, or Simplicius at Vienne, or Amandus at Bordeaux, or Diogenianus at Albi, or Dynantius at Angouleme, or Venerandus at Arvernum, or Alethius at Cahors, or now Pegasius at Perigueux -- however bad the affairs of the world may be, you will see them as most worthy guardians of all faith and religion.' He is reported to have passed away on the very vigil of Christmas." So Gregory. We shall treat his predecessor S. Artemius on January 24, Death on which day Savaro writes that he died, so that it is not probable that Venerandus was consecrated on the 18th day of the same month, as Saussaius claims. For who would believe that the See was vacant for an entire year less six days after the death of S. Artemius, if one weighs what the same Gregory writes about the election of S. Rusticus? The fragment cited here is not found in the works of S. Paulinus of Nola; and it is doubtful whether it is his, since S. Gregory calls him only a Presbyter: it is perhaps of another Paulinus the Presbyter, by whom the life of S. Ambrose was written. Of those Bishops, moreover, whom Paulinus numbers with Venerandus, many have been enrolled in the registers of the Saints: S. Exuperius on September 28, S. Simplicius on February 11, S. Amandus on June 18.
[4] Church About the basilica of S. Venerandus, which was close to that of S. Illidius, the same S. Gregory treats at length in his book On the Glory of Confessors, chapters 35 and 36, and about the bodies of various Saints found there; and about the relics of Venerandus himself he writes thus, chapter 37: Tomb "There is also the tomb of S. Venerandus the Bishop himself, from whom this building takes its name, placed under the reading desk, upon which anyone who wishes puts his head through a small window, praying for what necessity demands, and soon obtains the result, if he has asked justly. There also rests S. Nepotianus the Bishop, Miracles who was a man of the highest sanctity in the world, now obtaining with the Lord's power what has been implored from him. Especially in the cure of fevers For often over these tombs the prayer of those with fever, poured forth, retains the desired medicine." We shall treat S. Nepotianus on October 22.
[5] In Book 1 on the Saints, Churches, and Monasteries of Clermont, number 10, the following is found: "In the church of S. Venerandus, Relics the altar of S. Julian and S. Basilissa of Antioch, the altar of S. Quintinus and S. Dionysius; the altar of S. Mary, where S. Venerandus, and S. Linguinus, and S. Nepotianus, and S. Avitus, and S. Clara, and six thousand two hundred others rest in body, whose names God knows." That church, as Savaro notes there, is today within the gardens of the Illidian monastery.
[6] The relics of the Saint himself were enclosed on December 22, 1311, together with the relics of S. Illidius in the same casket, separately, by Bishop Arbertus, at the request of Guido Scotus, Abbot of Illidius, Translated December 22 as the same Savaro testifies from an old manuscript, from which he adds: "Moreover, some part of the dust and bones of the body of B. Venerandus were left in his chapel, under his altar, within his former sepulchre, made under the reading desk." The same cites an old Illidian tablet, in which the following is read: "For in the monastery of B. Illidius, B. Venerandus the Bishop rests, out of love for S. Mary and the other Martyrs." We shall treat S. Illidius, who in French is called S. Allyre, on December 14.
[7] The Translation of S. Venerandus is celebrated on December 22, as the same Savaro testifies, on which day Andreas Saussaius recorded it in his Martyrology; and again, the very same one, on November 21. But on this day, January 18, in a longer eulogy, after other things, he writes thus, without indicating his source: Whether also previously to his own church "Moreover, among the Arverni, so distinguished were the merits of his sanctity that, having been buried in the basilica of S. Illidius, afterward shining with miracles, his venerable body was translated to the nearby church, which was built in his honor and received its name from his, in which to this very day it is conspicuously renowned. His relics, placed under the reading desk, beneath the altar, rested for a long time. Until at last Bishop Adebertus, acceding to the request of Guido Scotus, Abbot of Illidius, enclosed them separately in the same casket with the relics of S. Illidius and sealed it with his ring, in the year of the Lord 1311, on the 11th before the Kalends of January, on which day his translation is recalled there," etc. Of the earlier translation from the church of S. Illidius to the basilica bearing his own name, there is no trace in S. Gregory of Tours or in Savaro.
ON S. VOLUSIANUS, MARTYR, BISHOP OF TOURS IN GAUL.
AROUND THE YEAR 500.
CommentaryVolusianus, Bishop of Tours in Gaul, Martyr (S.)
From various sources.
[1] At Tours in Gaul on this day the birthday of S. Volusianus the Bishop is observed, who, captured by the Goths, gave up his spirit to God in exile. So the Roman Martyrology. Molanus also mentions him in his Additions to Usuardus, and Ghinius in the Birthdays of the Saints of the Canons. The birthday of S. Volusianus Others call him a Martyr, because, even if not killed on account of religion, he nevertheless suffered calumny from the impious out of hatred for that same religion, and was thus exiled, or worn out by the hardships of exile, or struck with the sword, as will be said later. Galesinius and the German Martyrology: "At Tours, S. Volusianus, Bishop and Martyr." Molanus also, in the earlier edition of his additions to Usuardus, calls him a Martyr. Andreas Saussaius in
the Gallican Martyrology: "On the same day at Tours, S. Volusianus, Bishop of that same Metropolis and glorious Martyr, who, captured by the Arian Goths and dragged hither and thither in hatred of the orthodox truth which he upheld, and variously harassed, yielded his blessed spirit to God in exile." The same, in his Supplement, writes that he was beheaded, as we shall say presently.
[2] Concerning him S. Gregory of Tours writes in History, Book 2, chapter 26: "After this, B. Perpetuus, Bishop of the city of Tours, having completed 30 years in the episcopate, Exile passed in peace. In his place Volusianus, one of the Senators, was substituted. But being held suspect by the Goths, in the seventh year of his episcopate he was carried off into Spain as though a captive, but soon ended his life. In his place Verus succeeded, and was ordained the seventh Bishop after B. Martin." An error seems to have crept in here; for in Book 10, chapter 31, where he lists all the Bishops of Tours, he makes S. Martin the third and Verus the eighth, with Briccius, Eustochius, Perpetuus, and Volusianus in between, so that Verus would be only the sixth from S. Martin.
[3] It is surprising that Verus himself has not also been enrolled in the lists of the Saints, since he was led into exile and died for the same cause as Volusianus, as the same S. Gregory reports in Book 10, chapter 31, where he writes this about Volusianus: "The seventh, Volusianus, is ordained Bishop, of Senatorial descent, a holy and very wealthy man, and himself a relative of his predecessor Bishop Perpetuus. In his time Clovis was already reigning in some cities in Gaul. And for this reason this Pontiff, suspected by the Goths of wishing to submit to Frankish rule, The cause of this was condemned to exile at the city of Toulouse, and died there. In his time the village of Mantolomaus was built, and the basilica of S. John in Marmoutier. He sat for seven years and two months."
[4] "Volusianus lived," says Baronius in his Notes to the Martyrology, "in the times of Childeric, son of King Clovis of the Franks." But which Childeric, son of Clovis, is this? [Age] He lived under Clovis himself, son of Childeric. Some error, however, seems to have crept in among Gregory's figures for the years of S. Martin's successors. Gregory writes that Martin died under the consulship of Caesarius and Atticus, which was the year of Christ 397 -- others say 400 or 401. He assigns to Briccius as successor 47 years, to Eustochius 17, to Perpetuus 30, to Volusianus 7 and 2 months, to Verus 11 and 8 days, to Licinius 12 years, 2 months, and 25 days. But as the same Gregory writes, in the time of Licinius, S. Gregory of Tours's calculation corrected King Clovis returned to Tours victorious from the slaughter of the Goths. That slaughter took place in the year 507. Then Theodore and Proculus sat for 2 years. Then Dinifius acceded to the episcopate by election of the aforesaid King. Clovis died in the year of Christ 511, 112 years from the death of S. Martin; but by the calculation just given from Gregory himself, it comes to 112 years up to the beginning of Licinius, and 126 up to Dinifius. Moreover, Gregory himself in Book 2, chapter 43, writes that Clovis died in the eleventh year of Bishop Licinius. Perhaps in Book 10 one should read "by election of the aforesaid Queen," namely Chrodechildis, about whom he had previously treated, rather than "of the aforesaid King." But according to Gregory's earlier calculation, if Clovis died in the eleventh year of Licinius, and Verus sat for 11 years and 8 days, it would follow that S. Volusianus was expelled around the year 490, which was the 9th of Clovis. And S. Gregory seems to imply in Book 2, chapter 27, that Clovis was still a pagan when Verus obtained the episcopate; but Clovis was baptized in the year 496. So much for the age of S. Volusianus.
[5] Concerning his martyrdom, Saussaius writes thus in the supplement to his Martyrology: "At Foix, between Apamea and Vanillas, in the territory of Toulouse, the birthday of S. Volusianus, Metropolitan Bishop of Tours and Martyr, The martyrdom of S. Volusianus who (as has been noted above in this Martyrology) was driven from his See by the Goths and exiled to these parts, and after many tribulations finally completed his glorious contest by the severing of his head. When he was ordered to offer his neck for beheading, it is the tradition of the inhabitants that he fixed his staff in the ground, which grew into an unknown tree, standing to this very day."
[6] Guillaume Catel, in Book 3 of the History of Occitania, writes that it is established by the tradition of the local inhabitants that The place of this in the County of Foix, between the Castrum of Apamea (now an episcopal city) and the Castrum of Barillas or Barellas, seven miles from the city of Toulouse, he was killed. There stands at that place a tree, A tree from his staff at which people gather in memory of the holy Martyr. He cites as his authority Bertrandus Elias, author of the history of the Counts of Foix, who testifies that he had often seen it and could not identify what kind it was, and who records that it grew from the walking staff of the said Saint. In the Chronicles of the Counts of Foix, written in the native language, which the same author cites, more is related about S. Volusianus, who is there called Voulsia: that he was killed by the Goths between Apamea and Barellas; that his body was conveyed by two bulls yoked to a cart Burial to the church of S. Nazarius near the castle of Foix; that many properties were dedicated and given to S. Volusianus by the Counts of Foix, which are enumerated in detail.
[7] Mons Gaudii, commonly Montgausi or Montgauci, is a place situated opposite the town of Foix, in which there is a chapel sacred to the Virgin Mother of God, celebrated for the very frequent gathering of the people. The Chronicles of the Counts of Foix narrate that the relics of S. Volusianus were translated here His relics translated by Roger, son of Bernard, the second Count of Foix, in the year 1107, together with the relics of S. Antoninus of Apamea, S. Antonius of Lezat, and S. Ferreolus. Papirius Massonus, in his book On the Rivers of Gaul, treating of the river Aurigera (which, rising from the Pyrenees, flows past Foix and Apamea and finally joins the Garonne two leagues from Toulouse, commonly called the Ariege), writes thus about this translation of S. Volusianus: "Not far away (from Foix) is seen the sacred basilica of Mons Gaudii, established, as they say, by Charlemagne and adorned with many gifts and revenues, which afterward, when the body of Volusianus was translated to that city by the zeal and diligence of Roger, the second of the Counts of Foix, became very famous." Petrus Olhagarayus also writes, in his history of the Counts of Foix, that Roger, By whom shortly before he departed from life, ordered the body of S. Antonius to be dug up and transferred to Lezat, and that he himself with bare feet reverently followed the procession; and that he also transferred the body of S. Volusianus to Mons Gaudii, having summoned Bishop Amelius of Toulouse and Raymond of Barbastro for that solemnity.
[8] Catel treats more fully of that translation, from the Foix history of Guillaume Laperriere, who writes that S. Volusianus was beheaded by command of Alaric; and that his body was translated in the year 1111 to Mons Gaudii in a solemn procession, With what solemnity at which, besides Count Roger, there were present Amelius, Bishop of Toulouse, the entire clergy who lived in the neighboring towns and villages within four or five leagues, Raymond of Barbastro and other Bishops, neighboring nobles, and a vast multitude of people.
[9] The same Catel in Book 4 mentions the same translation, where he praises the piety of Count Roger, who not only attended the translation of S. Antonius to the monastery of Lezat in 1097 with many Bishops and other holy men, but himself carried the bones of the Saint, wrapped in his own cloak, all the way to the monastery, walking always with bare head; and in the following year 1098 In what year he caused the relics of S. Volusianus and S. Ferreolus to be transferred to the chapel of Mons Gaudii.
[10] About the year of this translation there is not enough agreement among the authors. Olhagarayus says it happened shortly before Roger's death; but Catel says Roger died in 1111, in the 17th year of his rule. The Annals of Foix cited by him place the translation in 1107; Catel places it in 1098, and earlier from the authority of Guillaume Laperriere, in 1111. He writes in Book 5, where he again mentions this translation, that Amelius, Bishop of Toulouse, seems to have succeeded Bishop Isarnus around the year 1098, and certainly held the see in 1100, as he had read noted in many documents. But since B. Raymond, Bishop of Barbastro, is said to have been present, it must have occurred no earlier than the year 1104; for since, as Elias the Canon of Barbastro writes in his life, he died in the year of Christ 1126 having sat for 21 years, 8 months, and 21 days, it follows that he was elevated to that See in September 1104 or thereabouts -- at the very time, as the same author testifies, when Alfonso I the Warrior succeeded Peter I as King of Aragon. We shall give the life of B. Raymond on May 21.
ON S. SULPITIUS, BISHOP OF TRAIECTUM IN BELGIUM.
AROUND THE YEAR 500.
CommentarySulpitius, Bishop of Traiectum in Belgium (S.)
From various sources.
[1] That the Bishops of the Tungrian people in Germania Secunda, after S. Servatius (who flourished from the times of the sons of Constantine to Theodosius the Elder), sat at Traiectum on the Meuse for approximately three hundred and forty years until they migrated to Liege, was indicated on January 13 in the Designatus entry; Bishops of Traiectum and that they were accustomed to be called now Bishops of Traiectum, now of the Tungri -- for Traiectum itself was also in the land of the Tungri, about three leagues distant from Atuatuca, and more conveniently situated. But of the first ten, up to S. Domitianus, who subscribed to the fifth Council of Orleans in the year of Christ 549, the acts remained obscure on account of the darkness of those times; whether, as some maintain, the See was vacant for 114 years after the death of S. Servatius until the times of S. Remigius and the conversion of Clovis; or, what is more probable, under the dominion of the Franks, though they were still pagans, the small flock of Christians could somehow maintain itself and appointed for itself a Father and Bishop.
[2] The birthday of S. Sulpitius The sixth from S. Servatius, therefore, was S. Sulpitius, whose birthday on January 18 is recorded by the Calendar of Saints of the province of Liege, Ferrarius, Saussaius, with Placentius concurring. The manuscript Florarium lists him on January 17; a certain manuscript of the Carthusians of Brussels on February 9. In the same, the following is found under August 15: Translation "Translation of S. Sulpitius, Bishop of Upper Traiectum, who is mentioned above on the 5th before the Ides of February." Others also (such as Harigerus the Abbot, Aegidius of Orval, Saussaius in the Supplement to the Martyrology on this day) call him Supplicius, as they do the Bishop of Bourges, whom we treated on January 17. We have noted elsewhere that the Traiectum situated on the Meuse is called Upper, to distinguish it from the other, commonly called Utrecht.
[3] Only this about Sulpitius was added by Aegidius, monk of Orval, to the Acts of the Bishops of Liege, chapter 31, addressed to Abbot Harigerus: "Upon his (Resignatus's) death, Obscure acts the fifteenth was B. Supplicius, Bishop, a man praiseworthy in all things for piety and mercy." Joannes Placentius makes him the son of a certain Naso, whom the Acts of the Bishops of Traiectum call Saint Naso; but these Acts are apocryphal, and Placentius is of no reliability regarding those more ancient matters.
[4] Ferrarius writes that Sulpitius died in the year 510, Claudius Robertus in 519, the manuscript Florarium in 532. [Age] Placentius writes that he was consecrated in the year 517 and sat for 8 years, under the Apostolic men Hormisdas, John I, and Felix IV, under the reigns of Anastasius, Justin the Elder, and Justinian the Great. But these do not agree with each other. For if he sat from 517 for 8 years, he died at the latest in 525 or 526, which was the third year of Pope John and the eighth of Justin the Elder; and so he would not have reached either the pontificate of Felix or the empire of Justinian. On the chronology of the See of these early Bishops, consult the Appendix of our Aegidius Bucherius to the historical disputation on the first Bishops of the Tungri, after volume 2 of Chapeauville. S. Sulpitius seems to have flourished around the year 500. Placentius writes that he was buried in the church of S. Servatius, that is, after it was subsequently built.