ON ST. ZOSIMUS THE CILICIAN, BISHOP OF BABYLON IN EGYPT.
Sixth century.
PrefaceZosimus the Cilician, Bishop of Babylon in Egypt (St.)
Several anchorites of great name called Zosimus or Zosimas lived in the sixth century. Of these, St. Zosimas or Zosimus, who attended to the burial of St. Mary of Egypt, is recorded in the Latin and Greek calendars on April 4. Various saints named Zosimus or Zosimas. Whether he is rightly distinguished by Nicephorus in book 17, chapter 5, from the Zosimas who was the companion of John, the anchorite of Chuziba, formerly Bishop of Caesarea, who predicted the earthquake of Antioch as recorded by Evagrius in book 4, chapter 7, and Nicephorus in the same chapter 4, we shall inquire there. Another flourished in Lycia, of whom the Emperor Justinian says the following in the New Constitutions, Collection 1, Title 4, chapter 2: In Lycia, Zosimus, beloved of God, a man most famous in his way of life, and approaching the hundred and twentieth year of his age, yet powerful both in the virtues of the soul and the works of the body: such great grace of God flourishes in him. Another Zosimus, a Cilician, different from these, is mentioned by John Moschus in the Spiritual Meadow, or book 10 of the Lives of the Fathers, chapters 123 and 124. We suspect that the Greeks on this day in the Menaion and in Maximus Cythereus treat of this one, in these words: The feast of Zosimus the Cilician. On the same day, St. Zosimus rested in peace.
Who shall speak of your long labors, Zosimas? And who of the crowns for your labors given to you at death?
Whether the same Moschus treats of the same Cilician Zosimus in chapter 166 is not sufficiently clear. But so that a full knowledge of the Zosimi may be had, we append that chapter.
LIFE
from the Spiritual Meadow of John Moschus.
Zosimus the Cilician, Bishop of Babylon in Egypt (St.)
[1] We went to Abbot Zosimus the Cilician on Mount Sinai, where he was dwelling: for the old man had refused the episcopate and had returned to his cell. He was a man of great abstinence; and he narrated to us, saying: When I was younger, I left Sinai and went to Ammoniaca, to dwell there, and I found there an old man clothed in a tunic of linen. Zosimus goes into the desert: The old man, as soon as he saw me, before I greeted him, said to me: Why have you come here, Zosimus? He is recognized and learns future things from a holy old man. Go, for you cannot sit here. Thinking that he had recognized me, I prostrated myself before him, saying: Do me the kindness, Father, how do you know me? The old man said to me: Two days ago someone appeared to me, saying: Behold, a certain monk named Zosimus will come to you; do not permit him to remain here: for I wish to entrust to him the Church of Babylon, which is in Egypt. The old man fell silent, and having dismissed me, went from me about a stone's throw. And when he had spent two hours in prayer, he came to me, and kissing my face, said to me: Dearest son, welcome; for God has led you here, that you may commit my body to the earth. I said to him: How many years have you been in this place, whom he buries: Abba? He said to me: I am completing forty-five years. And his face appeared to me like fire; and he said to me: Peace to you, my son, and pray for me. And saying these things, he composed himself and fell asleep. And I, having dug the earth, buried him, and after two days I departed, glorifying God.
[2] The old man also narrated this to us, saying: Twenty-two years ago I went up to Porphyrites, wishing to dwell there; He goes to another desert. and I took my disciple John with me. When therefore we had come there, we found two anchorites, and we dwelt near them. One of them was a Galatian named Paul; the other a Melitenian named Theodore, who had been from the monastery of Abbot Euthymius. They wore tunics made of buffalo skins. I stayed there for nearly two years, and we were about two stadia distant from each other.
[3] On a certain day, while my disciple John was sitting, a serpent struck him, His disciple is raised by two hermits. and he immediately died, pouring blood from every part of his body. Being therefore in great distress, I went to the anchorites: who, as soon as they saw me troubled and afflicted, before I said anything to them, said to me: What is the matter, Abba Zosimus? Has your Brother died? I said to them: Indeed he has died. Coming therefore with me and seeing him lying on the ground, they said to me: Do not be grieved, Abba Zosimus; the divine assistance is at hand. And calling the Brother, they said: Brother John, arise, for the old man has need of you. And immediately the Brother rose from the ground. And seeking the beast and finding it, they seized it and in our sight tore it in two.
[4] Then they said to me: Abba Zosimus, go to Sinai: for God wishes to entrust to you the Church of Babylon. Immediately therefore we departed. And when we had come to Sinai, Zosimus becomes a Bishop. after a few days the Abbot sent me and two others in service to Alexandria: and the most blessed Pope of Alexandria, Apollinaris, detaining us, made all three of us Bishops, one indeed of Heliopolis, another of Leontopolis, and sent me to Babylon.
[5] Abbot Sabbatius said: When I was living in the monastery of Abbot Firminus, a certain robber came to Abbot Zosimus the Cilician and begged the old man, saying: Do me the kindness, I beseech you by God, since I am guilty of many murders, make me a monk, so that I may at last desist from my crimes. The old man, encouraging him, made him a monk A robber admitted by him as a monk, and gave him the holy habit. But after a short time the old man said to him: Believe me, my son, you cannot dwell here: for if the magistrate hears of it, he will seize you; and likewise your adversaries will kill you. But hear me, and I will lead you to the monastery of Abbot Dorotheus near Gaza and Maiouma. There, therefore, he went. And when he had stayed there for nine years and had learned the psalter and all the monastic observance, After nine years of penance, he returned again to the monastery of Firminus, to the old man, and said to him: Show me mercy, Father, and give me back my secular clothes, and take back the monastic ones. The old man, becoming sad, said to him: Why, my son? He answered: Behold, for nine years, as you know, Father, I lived in the monastery, and I fasted as much as I could, and I lived continently, and I was in subjection with all quietness and fear of God: He returns to the world, to expiate a great crime with his death. and I know that His infinite goodness has forgiven me many of my sins: but yet I often see a little boy standing near, saying to me: Why did you kill me? I see him in my dreams, and in the church, and when I go to communion, and in the refectory, saying the same things to me; and he does not allow me to rest for even a single hour. Therefore, Father, I wish to go, so that I may die for that little boy. For I killed the little boy himself in vain and without any cause. Having therefore taken his clothes, he went out. And, going thus dressed to Diospolis, he was seized, and on the following day beheaded.
AnnotationsON BLESSED BERTRANNUS, OR EBERTRAMNUS, ABBOT OF ST. QUENTIN IN BELGIAN GAUL.
Seventh century.
CommentaryBertrannus, or Ebertramnus, Abbot of St. Quentin in Belgian Gaul (Bl.)
From various sources.
[1] Our Belgium owes to the Golden Valley, in the former diocese of Constance or Windisch, four Apostolic men, restorers of ancient religion and propagators of piety: The homeland of Blessed Bertrannus, Audomarus, Mummolinus, Bertinus, and Bertrannus. Audomarus, Bishop of Therouanne of the Morini and of Boulogne, is honored on September 9: Mummolinus, or Mummolenus, Bishop of Noyon and Tournai, on October 16: Bertinus, Abbot of Sithiu, on September 5. We found the name of Bertrannus, or Bertrand, Ebertramnus, Ebertramius, Bertramus, Bertrammius, inscribed on the 9th before the Kalends of February in a single Calendar of Saints of the Order of St. Benedict, and that not a very old one, thus: His feast. On the same day, of St. Ebertrannus, Abbot of the monastery of St. Quentin, companion of Blessed Mummolinus.
[2] Wion and Menard did not record his feast day: concerning him, however, both wrote thus in the Appendix of the Benedictine Martyrology: Ebertramnus of Constance, a monk of Luxeuil, appointed by his master St. Mummolinus as Abbot of St. Quentin, grew old in zeal for religion. He flourished in the year of the Lord 680. Saussay also listed Bertrammius and Mommolenus among the Saints whose feast day was unknown: although he had recorded St. Mommolenus on October 16, where he also mentions Blessed Ebertramnus: but he seems to have considered both of these different from those. The fourth Appendix to the Chronicle of Constance in the catalogue of Saints of that diocese has this: St. Ebertramius, Prefect of the monastery of St. Quentin, from the same Golden Valley. The same Chronicle in the first chapter expressed the names erroneously: Concerning Saints Bertinus, Numolinus, He becomes a monk at Luxeuil, with Saints Bertinus and Mummolinus: and Ebortramius. Bertinus, Abbot of Luxeuil, from the Golden Valley near Constance, together with Rumolinus and Ebortramius, leaving their own homeland, came to St. Audomarus, Bishop of the Morini; sent by him to preach, they faithfully fulfilled the office of their mission. St. Bertinus was not Abbot of Luxeuil, but was trained from his earliest years at Luxeuil with Mummolinus and Bertrannus in monastic discipline by St. Eustasius (of whom we shall treat on March 29).
[3] Concerning their arrival in Belgium, the following is narrated in the Life of St. Bertinus: With them he comes to Gaul: Therefore, since the Lord had now resolved to manifest His soldier more openly to the world, lest the lantern of so great brightness, shining in concealment, should defer the spiritual commerce of so many mortals, having gone forth with only two fellow soldiers, Mummolinus and Ebertrannus, men of great sanctity, he, a third joined to them, a perfect worshipper of the Holy Trinity, arrived all the way in Gaul. When therefore the aforesaid holy men, namely Bertinus and his companions, saw there that the harvest was indeed great but the laborers few, they began to sow the word of life far and wide zealously throughout all Gaul. He preaches. Very many religious men adhered to them, who were refreshed by them from morning to evening with the nourishment of eternal life. They instruct many in piety, even the Nobles: No less also the Nobles of the palace, having intermitted the royal service for a time, flocked to them and set before themselves as an example for right living their modest manner of life. At that time Clotharius, son of King Louis, governed the monarchy of the kingdom of the Franks: when the frequent report of the excellent manner of life of Saints Bertinus and his companions had already reached his ears through the account of his Nobles, he ordered them to be brought before his sight. When they were brought in, they are honored by the King: the man of the Lord Bertinus and his companions were received honorably by the King, and were maintained for a long time within the King's palace with the greatest attention.
[4] After a long interval of time, the aforementioned men approached St. Audomarus, then Bishop of Therouanne, of whom St. Bertinus was a fellow countryman and kinsman, they visit St. Audomarus, in order to be his companions in preaching, so that in the eternal reward they might merit from God to be partakers of equal glory. St. Audomarus, graciously receiving these servants of God, gave thanks to almighty God, who had sent him such helpers for preaching the Gospel. For they were perfect in the Catholic faith, and in ecclesiastical disciplines, and learned in divine Scripture. and help him in preaching. They therefore undertook the office of their mission with continual labor of preaching...
[5] Meanwhile, when Bishop Acharius of the city of Noyon died, the venerable man Mummolinus was promoted to the episcopate of that city. Bertrannus becomes Abbot. And Ebertramnus was placed by Mummolinus in charge of the monastery of St. Quentin. The same things are narrated in the life of St. Audomarus, with the praise of the three companions always joined together: and it is said that Mummolinus was first placed in charge of the old monastery among the Morini; and when he was raised to the episcopate, Bertinus succeeded him. We shall discuss the chronology in the lives of Saints Bertinus and Audomarus: for those who are said to have been summoned to Clotharius, son of Clovis II, before they visited St. Audomarus; and then Adroald is said to have donated his goods to them and to St. Audomarus for the construction of a monastery on the 8th before the Ides of September, in the 11th year of Clovis, which was the year of Christ 654: but Clotharius began to reign in the year 660. His memory elsewhere. John Trithemius treats of Blessed Bertrannus in his work on the Illustrious Men of the Order of St. Benedict, book 3, chapter 108, where he calls him a disciple of St. Mummolinus, because perhaps, as we have said, Mummolinus was Abbot in the old monastery, and under him Bertinus and Bertrannus were monks: otherwise they had been fellow disciples in the monastery of Luxeuil. The monastery of St. Quentin is in Vermandois, where there is now a very well-fortified town under French jurisdiction. Moreover, it does honor to Blessed Bertrannus that many in our Belgium are called by the name Bertrannus and Bertrand.
ON BLESSED RAINALDUS OF THE ORDER OF THE CROSIERS IN PICENUM.
CommentaryRainaldus, of the Order of the Crosiers in Picenum (Bl.)
Monte Olmo is an honest town, as Leander writes, in Picenum, five miles from Macerata. Here, as Ferrari testifies in the Catalogue of the Saints of Italy, Blessed Rainaldus the Confessor, of the Order of the Crosiers, The feast of Blessed Rainaldus, is held in no small honor, with a church dedicated in his name. The Crosier Brothers venerate him with the divine office in their churches on this day. Public veneration. Francis Maurolycus also mentions the same in his Martyrology. So writes Ferrari. But we do not find the name of Rainaldus in Maurolycus. Ferrari says he was unable to discover at what time he lived among mortals. The same author writes concerning him in the General Catalogue of Saints: At Monte Olmo in Picenum, of Blessed Rainaldus of the Order of the Crosiers. His profession. Paul Morigia treats of the most ancient origin, progress, and reform of the Order of the Crosiers in the History of Religious Orders, chapter 31, as does Sylvester Maurolycus in the Ocean of Religious Orders, book 1, where he relates only this about Blessed Rainaldus: St. Rainaldus was also from this congregation, and St. Moricus. We shall treat of Moricus on March 30. This congregation of the Crosiers is known at this time almost only in Italy, different from the one whose monasteries exist in our Belgium, almost exclusively in the region of the Rhine and the Meuse.