CONCERNING S. EMERIUS, ABBOT, AND S. CANDIDA, HIS MOTHER, AT BANYOLES AND GUALBA IN CATALONIA.
Toward the end of the eighth century.
PrefaceEmerius, Abbot of Banyoles in Spain (S.) Candida, his mother, in Spain (S.)
[1] Banyoles is a monastery of the diocese of Girona, which the locals commonly call Banoles, or Banyoles, sacred to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and to S. Stephen the Protomartyr. Here S. Emerius, or Amerius, or Emereus, is venerated as the founder of that monastery on 27 January; the Catalans call him Sant Mer. His mother Candida, or, as Domenec and certain others write, The feast of S. Emerius, Candia, has her principal cult in the village called the Parish of S. Stephen de Gualba, in the same diocese of Girona; and the body of S. Emerius is also buried there, in a chapel that is not particularly magnificent.
[2] His name in the Martyrologies, Their feast day was inscribed thus by Ferrarius in his Martyrology, or new catalogue of Saints, on this day: "At Girona in Spain, S. Emerius, Abbot of Banyoles. In the same place, S. Candida, mother of the aforesaid S. Emerius." Hugo Menard in the Benedictine Martyrology: "In Spain, S. Emereus, Abbot." Saussay also commemorates him in the Gallican Martyrology, with a more extended encomium.
[3] The life of S. Emerius was sent to us from Saragossa by Pedro Castelarnau, a priest of our Society, Life, a most courteous man, copied from an ancient codex, but in many places, as we conjecture, mutilated. The same is recounted in Spanish by Vicente Antonio Domenec in book 2 of his work on the Saints of Catalonia, from an ancient manuscript of the church, or chapel, of S. Emerius in the parish of Gualba. A summary of the Life is given by Hugo Menard in book 2 of his Observations, and by Antonio de Yepes in volume 3 of his Chronicle of the Order of S. Benedict, century 3, under the year 778, where he pronounces the following about this Life: "It is altogether worthy of reading, if one sets aside certain prodigies and extraordinary miracles, quite astonishing ones, which that author (Domenec) was accustomed eagerly to pursue; I praise his diligence, but I wish he would distinguish certain things found in the old Flowers of the Saints, as they are called, in which certain facts are promiscuously mixed with apocryphal elements." So he says; and anyone who examines this life against the testimony of the ancient writers will confess that these words are most true. In which certain things are apocryphal. For (to pass over the fact that most authorities establish a single Spanish expedition of Charlemagne, although some hold the contrary) what of the claim that Carcassonne was besieged by him for seven years? Or that a city celebrated in the writings of Pliny, Ptolemy, and other ancient authors is said to have first received its name in the age of Charles? Those things are taken from a fabulous writer who is entitled Philomena, as Guillaume Catel testifies in book 3 of his History of Narbonensian Gaul, where he demolishes its fabrications; although in another place he admits that Carcassonne, together with Narbonne, was captured by Zema, or Zama, a Moor, around the year of Christ 721, in the time of Charles Martel.
LIFE FROM MANUSCRIPTS
Emerius, Abbot of Banyoles in Spain (S.) Candida, his mother, in Spain (S.)
BHL Number: 2531
From manuscripts.
[1] In that time when there was a great persecution against the Christian people, in the reign of King Charles of Gaul, most impious pagan men arose, detesting all things belonging to the Christian nations; Spain against the Moors so indeed that, having seized all the land far and wide, they did not hesitate to put any Christians to death. When, therefore, they practiced these and similar things from day to day, messengers came to the King, saying and lamenting: "Hear, Lord, and do not despise the words of your servants, for pagans have recently risen up and are reducing our possessions to nothing: arise and come to free the people of the Lord from their hand." Therefore the King arose with his army the Franks coming to their aid and went out against the pagans and pursued them; yet he was unable to take anything from them. They fought daily, they are bidden to await help from God, but could not obtain victory; rather, it was commanded them from on high that they should cease from war until God should give them aid.
[2] There was in that city a certain nobleman, a religious man, named Baldivius, with his wife Candida, to whom nature had denied offspring. S. Emerius is promised to his barren parents, But on a certain day an Angel of the Lord appeared to them, saying: "Arise, prepare yourselves and your houses: God has seen your grief. Come together, for you shall beget a son." The innocent couple believed, and did according to the word of the Lord, and Candida conceived. When, therefore, she had conceived, his future holiness thrice shown beforehand to his mother, she saw on a certain night in a vision that from her left foot there issued a little vine shoot, which, as it grew, on account of its abundance covered the whole earth; and beneath it a dove seemed to come to rest from heaven. She saw again, in another vision, a bright light issuing from herself, shining forth with exceeding beauty, which, taken up by an Angel of the Lord, was carried into heaven. She saw yet a third time that the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, came to her, saying: "Fear not, for I have asked my Son that you might bear a child."
[3] In the morning, therefore, when she arose and the day of birth had come, she declared it and gave birth: Candida named her son He is born: by the name that had come to him. Thus Father Amerius grew, filled with divine grace, and in a short time reached maturity. His father, however, was delighted at the prospect of a military career for him, so that by his brightness he might appear lovable to the city. To whom the Saint said: "My father, he wishes to serve Christ alone: if I am dear to you, I conjure you by God not to hinder my resolve, for I love only the Lord Jesus Christ, for whom I desire to serve in warfare, whom I serve, and with whom I desire to complete a life worthy of Him." When he reported these things to his parent, his father, angry and also troubled, lamented, saying: "Was it for this I begot a son? Woe is me, what shall I do, having no heir to govern me and my house in the future?"
[4] Fearing, therefore, lest he should be forced to yield to his father's will, he left the city and went out into the desert wilderness together with his companion Patrick, he goes into the desert: where, remaining alone, he led a poor life in wretched conditions. What wonder? He desired to please not the world, not his father, not the glory of the present age, but God alone; he desired to pray day and night, that he might pass through life more worthily. At length it was revealed to King Charles that he should rise up against the pagans and take Emerius with him, whom the Lord would provide as his helper. The King therefore girded himself, He accompanies the King against the Moors: along with all his household, with Emerius going before, against those pagans, ... who from city to city ...
[5] It happened, however, that on a certain day while they were tarrying in the wilderness, many were overcome by hunger and died. When they were dead, ... Amerius, a religious man, in his grief sought bread from our Lord Jesus Christ, he obtains food from God for the suffering: whereby that household which had been entrusted to him might be satisfied. God heard the prayer of His servant and sent them loaves as if they were natural bread; and when they were refreshed, he rose from prayer. And again, placing himself in prayer, he asked the Lord Jesus Christ that the dead might be raised. He raises the dead by his prayers: He raised them ... having invoked ... they glorified the Lord, who possessed such power.
[6] It happened one day that they came to a city called Querquens, and the King held it besieged for seven years, and in the final years the King wished to raise himself from the city with all his people, He is the author of victory for the Franks: desiring to proceed into the province of Catalonia. When the said Lord King was proceeding, S. Emerius raised his eyes toward the city, and cried out with a loud voice, and said: "O King, come to Carcassonne." And then he turned back and proceeded to the city and took it: from that hour that city was called Carcassonne. They proceeded from place to place and came into the province of Catalonia, fighting daily against the pagans. And fighting daily they came to the town called Banyoles, where there is a certain lake: in the said lake dwelt a most fierce lion, he captures a lion and has it killed: devouring men and women; whence that lake received its name from the lion, and was called "Leo," because a lion dwelt there. Then Blessed Emerius, moved by grief of heart, approaching with a procession and holy water, went to that lake where the said lion dwelt. The lion, seeing the Saint of the Lord, became as gentle as a sheep. Then Blessed Emerius, sprinkling holy water upon it, seized it and had it carried to the said town, and had it killed immediately; and where that lake was, there he compelled them to build a monastery, He builds the monastery of Banyoles: assigning tithes, first-fruits, and revenues, from which some thirty monks might live, and they built a church in honor of the Mother of God, Mary, and S. Stephen the Protomartyr.
[7] When, therefore, the man of God saw a suitable place with waters ... removed from all habitation, pleasing to Christ, he sought the habit of holy life: he flew rather to heavenly things than to earthly ones. But the King, troubled with grief, summoned him and said: He is made Abbot there: "Holy Emerius, take care of the household and do not abandon us, lest we perish." Emerius answering said: "What do you wish me to do? It cannot be otherwise." When therefore he refused to comply with their urging, they chose him as the worthy Pastor of that most blessed place of the holy Father Benedict, so that from a good Abbot good disciples might be instructed. The King remained there with his army for fifteen days; at length departing thence, he commended the worthy man to the Lord.
[8] The venerable man therefore continued in good works, keeping vigils, many sick are healed by him: and prayers, and fasts, and celebrating the divine office for God. A great number of the sick, the lame, the blind, the deaf, and the mute flocked to him, and through him ... they recovered their health. At length it happened that certain persons brought their only son, who was ill, together with his mother; by the will of God it came to pass that he expired on the journey. The mother, bewailing her son, ... sent forth her cries into the air. The holy man of God, therefore, moved that she should come to him, worshiped God, saying: "Lord Jesus Christ, most merciful Father, who saves those who hope in You: not by my merits, but on account of Your great glory, show Your power, and in Your name let him rise and walk in peace." When the prayer was completed, he raises a dead man by his prayers: he turned to the boy and said to him: "Come, young man, arise in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." The boy therefore rose and began to give thanks and bless God, together with his mother; and they sang sweet praises together.
[9] The man of God, therefore, remaining in the prayer of God night and day, took no food besides bread and water, he lives most holily: nor did he ever rest without prayer and fasting. Wearied, however, by the multitude of men and women flocking to him, lest he should be able to stain his own life, he quietly withdrew from there ... seeking the forests at a distance of about ten stadia, he withdraws into the desert: where, practicing similar things, he might lead a worthy life. And while he continued unceasingly in prayer, the devil, enemy of human nature, he is tempted by the devil: moved by envy, ... tried to turn his soul into error. But the robust man of God never deviated from the path he had begun; and the Lord also strengthened him through an angelic vision, Angels appear to him, appearing to him most frequently and manifestly. Nor is it strange if the enemy could by no means overwhelm his soul, ... in which place was built a church in honor of the said Emerius, near the river called Fargat, in the place of S. Stephen de Gualba, and its dedication is celebrated on the sixteenth day before the Kalends of November, in the sixth position, and of S. Paula in the seventh position.
[10] When the father of the most blessed Emerius had died, his mother, having no one but her only son, began to ponder in her heart his widowed mother seeks him out, how she might seek him out, because natural love greatly constrained her to see him. His mother, coming from place to place, came inquiring even to the province of Catalonia, asking and seeking what had become of the King's army; where, inquiring about the said army and about her son Emerius, she was told that he was recently in the place called Banyoles, and so the said Candida came, and standing in the said town, asked where the King's army was and also about her son Emerius; and she received the answer that the army had already departed thence, she finds him: and that she would find her son Emerius on a certain island called Fargat, in the place of S. Stephen de Gualba. Candida, therefore, rejoicing and glad, came to the said place, and there found her son; from joy she could say nothing to him. And the son, seeing her, had great consolation from the sight of his mother, and the mother from the sight of her son.
[11] Candida, however, remaining there for some days, her son said to her: "My dear mother, by God I ask and admonish you to depart from here; because your love disturbs me from the divine words and prayers." But the mother, troubled by her son's speech, said to him: "O my son, so small was your consolation and mine: I wish to serve almighty God with you and lead a poor life." Her son Emerius replied: "My dear mother, it cannot be; nevertheless I wish you to withdraw from me only as far as I shall throw this staff or rod." His mother, thinking they withdraw from each other that he would throw it only a short distance, agreed; but he hurled the rod which he held in his hand, and hurled it very far indeed. His mother, therefore, on account of the promise she had given her son, departed thence and remained in the place assigned to her, and there she dwelt, and there she closed her days; and may her soul rest in peace. Amen.
[12] Now there was with the most blessed Emerius a certain monk named Patrick, who abode with him. On a certain day, when he was hungry and had no bread, the man of the Lord, Emerius, began to be constrained in his heart with sorrow, saying: "Because we all have a full meal, why has nothing been provided for this servant of God?" By the merits of Emerius a fish is caught, by which many are fed. The attendants replied that they had been able to find nothing. But he entered the sanctuary where the relics were kept and prayed. Meanwhile one of the attendants, named Justus, ran to draw water. Now in that stream there were fish of half a foot in measure. A certain fish, while Justus was drawing water, came out of the water into the channel, and Justus, catching it, brought it to Blessed Emerius. He, giving thanks to God, had the fish prepared, and the monk Patrick ate of it to satiety. And when half of it remained, the man of God urged him, saying that since he had nothing else for food, he should eat this. And when he declared he was satisfied, ... both he and all were satisfied.
[13] And Blessed Emerius, standing daily in prayer and persevering, fasting and giving alms, rendered his spirit to the most high Lord; and he was buried beside the altar by Patrick and the other attendants, Emerius dies. and his soul was crowned in heaven; where may we be able to rest with the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, who lives and reigns as God forever and ever. Amen.
AnnotationsOther miracles from Domenec.
Emerius, Abbot of Banyoles in Spain (S.) Candida, his mother, in Spain (S.)
[1] In the year of Christ 1560, Marianna Valentina was afflicted with a severe eye disease: Eye pain dispelled by the aid of S. Emerius, she vowed silver eyes to S. Emerius, if he would deign to come to her aid; meanwhile she arranged for a Mass to be offered in his church; and immediately all pain of the eyes was wiped away.
[2] The following year, Gaspar Oliverius was seized with a difficult illness: the same Marianna prayed to S. Emerius for his recovery, a sick man healed, and when sacred rites were arranged in honor of the same Saint, and a vow was made of celebrating his feast with solemn piety, strength immediately returned to the sick man. But when Marianna, forgetful of her vow, undertook some task or other on the feast day of S. Emerius, violation of the vow punished, Oliverius was brought to the brink of death by a sudden illness; from which he was soon delivered when the help of S. Emerius was implored.