Marus

ON ST. MARUS, BISHOP OF TRIER IN BELGICA PRIMA.

Fifth century.

Marus, Bishop of Trier in Gallia Belgica (St.)

FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

[1] In the notes of Heribert Rosweyde we found this brief memorandum: "I found no mention of St. Marus in any Martyrology except in the Usuard as augmented by the Carthusian Fathers of Cologne, Memory of St. Marus in the sacred records; where on the 26th of January it reads: 'At Trier, Marus, Bishop and Confessor.' Likewise in my manuscript Florarium of the Saints: 'At Trier, the deposition of St. Marus, Bishop of that city, in the year of salvation 469.'" So Rosweyde. But also in an older edition of the Cologne Martyrology of the year 1490, these words are read of him: "At Trier, St. Marus, Bishop and Confessor, who rests in the Church of St. Paul (read: Paulinus)." Galesinius on this same day from the records, as he says, of the Church of Trier: "At Trier, St. Marus, Bishop and Confessor." Molanus also in his additions to Usuard: "At Trier, Marus, Bishop and Confessor." Finally Ferrari, on the same day: "At Trier, St. Marus, Bishop." Cratepolius calls him Marcus, and Claudius Robert does the same in his catalogue of the Bishops of Trier. Saussay also in his Gallican Martyrology for this day: "At Trier, metropolis of Belgica Prima, St. Marcus, Bishop and Confessor, more celebrated for the glory of his well-earned blessedness than for any written record of his deeds."

[2] Christoph Brouwer, a member of our Society, likewise complains in book 5 of the Annals of Trier at the year 461 that the acts of St. Marus have perished; and this is all that the most diligent man found to write about him: "But Marus also succeeded Euarmerus at Trier in those days. Acts lost, He, celebrated in the writings of the ancients, though these have been lost through the injury of time, followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Cyrillus, and repaired the basilica of the Virgin Mother, public works, originally built by St. Felix but damaged in the general conflagration and devastation of the city by the Huns. He obtained his burial in the church of Blessed Paulinus, an ancient and not inelegant structure, with a manifold votive offering and this inscription: epitaph, 'The Bishop Marus, beloved of God, while living in the flesh performed many virtues. A book contains his entire life.' That book, like much else, time has destroyed. But how greatly this man excelled in holiness and innocence of life miracles, was attested by the innumerable miracles performed by him after death, by which his sepulcher, full of veneration, has been glorious in every age. Placed among the ranks of the Saints, he is venerated on the twenty-sixth day of January. feast day, There was formerly at Trier a certain private and public devotion of rare character toward St. Marus among foreigners, not because the force and readiness of his patronage had not been declared by many frequent prodigies, but because in the most difficult diseases -- patronage against diseases, arthritis, spasm, paralysis -- ready assistance has often been obtained from him; on account of which ancient devotion, the areas beneath his tomb are seen to be nearly worn away by the feet of suppliants, and the people of Trier formerly celebrated an annual feast day in his honor with a notable and votive gathering."

[3] Concerning both this celebration and the frequency of miracles, what we append was extant in an old codex of the imperial monastery of St. Maximin at Trier. In a more recent manuscript we found the following noted for the 27th translation, day of December: "At Trier, the translation of St. Marius, Archbishop." What that translation was or when it was made, we do not know. Some of his relics are preserved in the church of the Professed House of the Society of Jesus at Lisbon in Portugal, relics, brought there from Germany by the illustrious Lord John de Borgia, and solemnly translated on January 25, 1588, with the relics of many other Saints, in the presence of and being venerated by Albert of Austria, Cardinal, who was afterwards granted the government of the Spanish Netherlands by his father-in-law Philip II.

ON THE MIRACLES OF ST. MARUS,

from a manuscript of the monastery of St. Maximin at Trier.

Marus, Bishop of Trier in Gallia Belgica (St.)

FROM MANUSCRIPTS.

Some things concerning St. Marus from Eucharius, the 40th Archbishop of Trier, who lies behind the altar that is on the south side of the choir of the church of St. a Paulinus, Archbishop and Martyr.

[1] In this stone tomb is laid the body of the most holy Marus, by b Eucharius the fortieth Archbishop of Trier, who repaired this sacred temple of the renowned Paulinus, destroyed by the Barbarians together with the various devastations of the city of Trier. This man, although by the testimony of fame he was of a most approved life Why so little survives about St. Marus, and the greatest holiness and shone with frequent miracles, we have found no one who worthily committed the merits of so great a man to writing. We think this happened either because in those times there were few who could worthily record the holy deeds of holy men, with whom the Catholic Church then abundantly shone, or because if any things about St. Marus had been committed to writing, they perished either through the negligence of posterity or through the various destructions not only of this Church but of the entire city and country.

[2] But the most holy Marus shines above all others with this singular distinction: that, as to himself during his lifetime, He is invoked against gout, spasm, etc., so also after death those who devoutly have recourse to his relics preserved in this tomb and venerate him, he has been accustomed to set free and restore to health from the most grievous diseases -- namely, arthritis, gout of the hands, gout of the feet, spasm, and similar ailments, and also paralysis -- as the matter itself testifies by daily miracles. Of these, let us relate one that c we have learned recently occurred.

[3] For there was in Saxony a certain devout young commoner who, seized by a contraction of the limbs and paralysis of his entire body, had lain in bed continuously for three years, [A man suffering from contraction of the limbs is divinely admonished to visit his tomb;] always inquiring whether there might be any among the number of Saints who, by their merits, was accustomed to help people oppressed by this disease. At last, in the silence of the night, he was admonished by a certain resounding voice, saying: "Sick man, arise and go to Trier, where on the right side of the church of St. Paulinus you will find the tomb of the most holy Marus; venerate this man; he will save you here." The following day, explaining to his wife and friends what he had heard, he asked them to prepare provisions for visiting the aforesaid place. But since they held the names of the city and of St. Marus to be completely unknown, thinking the man was overcome by illness, they made light of what he said. But when the same voice had been heard by the aforesaid sick man on the second and third nights, while his wife and friends continued to make light of it in the manner described, at length after the third admonition, having been taught which road led to Trier, he did not delay in setting out on the journey, his wife and a certain brother of his accompanying him. When they arrived here, they spent three continuous days going around this church and this tomb, praying he is healed on the journey: and giving thanks to Almighty God and to the most holy Marus. For, as they constantly reported, from the very moment the aforesaid sick man set out on the journey, he began to be healed, he comes to Trier each year, to such an extent that he outpaced his wife and brother, his companions, in the exertion of walking. The same young man made a vow to visit this temple of St. Marus every year as long as he should live; whence he was afterwards seen here as a pilgrim in certain years.

[4] Frequent veneration of St. Marus. By this and innumerable other miracles, St. Marus, whose name had begun to be obscured, has been made illustrious, and has begun to be frequented anew, more and more each day, by the aforesaid sick persons, even from distant places. How greatly he was frequented by our forebears of old, the wearing and polishing of the stones and pavement beneath this tomb by the feet and knees of those praying make manifest.

[5] Office and celebration of his feast. Know also that the most holy Marus is now numbered among the greatest and most holy Archbishops of Trier; for which reason the Church and diocese of Trier generally celebrate his feast day with nine Lessons and other solemnities; which also in ancient times, as the old Calendars attest, was held to be a public holiday -- a distinction that has befallen none but the greatest. We have also found in the breviaries and other books of this Church that his feast day (since, as we noted above, it lacks a proper office) has been assigned by a certain mark of excellence the office of a Bishop from the common. The feast day, or deposition, of St. Marus is observed on the 7th day before the Kalends of February, which is January 26. d Hymn and prayer for him.

Let the Church of Trier applaud, Which is illumined by the glory Of so many most holy Bishops. By whose merits, to people Oppressed by various languors, Health is frequently given. Among the foremost of whom, most holy Marus, most gentle Bishop, You are deservedly numbered. For upon those afflicted with spasm, arthritis, gout of the hands, And all contractions, and gout of the feet, You wonderfully bring relief. You also succor those with paralysis. Therefore, by your prayers, Make us be commended; That, preserved from the aforementioned plagues, We may be joined with the citizens of heaven, Saved in perpetuity.

Antiphon. "This one knew," etc. V. "The Lord loved him."

Prayer. O God, who by the intercession of St. Marus, your Confessor and Bishop, deign to free and preserve those who invoke him from every morbid contraction of body and limbs, and from paralysis: grant that we, by the merits of this Saint, may so enjoy the health of bodily life, that we may find the remedy of eternal salvation of our souls in heaven, through Christ our Lord.