Constantius

ON S. CONSTANTIUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR, AT PERUGIA IN ETRURIA.

Under Marcus Aurelius.

Constantius, Bishop of Perugia in Etruria, Martyr (S.)

[1] Perugia, once reckoned among the twelve chief cities of Etruria, and indeed the head of its peoples, according to Livy, together with Cortona and Arezzo; although exhausted by Octavian Caesar in a harsh siege and, as Florus says, by a shameful and all-consuming famine, then by indiscriminate slaughter, S. Constantius, Bishop of Perugia and afterward deformed by a terrible fire; was nevertheless so swiftly restored and inhabited that it deserved a Bishop at the very cradle of the Church, and was, in the age of Justinian, as Procopius attests, the chief city of Tuscany. Among the earliest of its Bishops was S. Constantius, whose feast is celebrated on 29 January. The Roman Martyrology says of him: feast day, At Perugia, of S. Constantius, Bishop and Martyr, who together with his companions received the crown of martyrdom under the Emperor Marcus Aurelius for the defense of the faith. He is also mentioned by the Carthusians of Cologne and by Molanus in their additions to Usuard. Constantius Felicius, Constantine Ghini, Philip Ferrarius in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy; and even the most ancient manuscript Martyrology of S. Jerome, in which the following is found: At Perugia in Tuscany, of Constantinus. Some others also call him Constantine.

[2] The German Martyrology in its second edition reads thus: Likewise at Perugia, of the holy Bishop and Martyr Constantius, who was a disciple of S. Herculanus the Bishop, and was killed for the faith along with six other Germans. Galesin: At Perugia, of S. Constantius, Bishop and Martyr, who, being a disciple of Blessed Herculanus the Bishop, after his death was made Bishop, the date wrongly assigned, and was killed for the faith by the Goths together with six others who had journeyed with him from Germany to that city on pilgrimage. We shall treat of S. Herculanus I on 7 November. S. Herculanus II is venerated on 1 March, and he was killed by the Goths in the times of Justinian. The question of the age and companions of the earlier Herculanus will be examined in its proper place. Volaterranus provided Galesin with the occasion for error, book 14, where he lists three Constantii, of whom the third, he says, was a Martyr together with six brothers, among whom were Bivignatus and Reinaldus, who had journeyed from Germany to Perugia on pilgrimage, and were killed in that city when it was taken by the Goths. The date of Constantius has been grievously confused, because the two Herculani, of whom he was perhaps the successor of the first, have been conflated into one.

[3] But who were the companions of S. Constantius? Mentioned in the Acts are Crescentius, Anastasius, and Carpophorus; but there is no mention of their death, unless perhaps Carpophorus is the one companions, whom the people of Spello claim for themselves, and whom others join as a companion to the elder Herculanus. SS. Pontianus and Concordius, who were bound in friendship with Constantius, belong to other days. Did Baronius add companions to Constantius on the authority of Galesin and Volaterranus? The Perugians venerate Bivignatus as a monk and Confessor, not a Martyr, on 14 May. There is nowhere any commemoration of Reinaldus. In a more recent manuscript, the following is found under 14 October: At Perugia, of S. Constantius with seven companions. But who were they? We have learned from experience that not much credence should be given to that manuscript: for it is neither ancient, nor does it contain anything except additions to the Cologne Supplement of Usuard, appended without any citation of authorities.

[4] We give a threefold Life of S. Constantius. The first two Cardinal Baronius had received from the Church of Perugia, Life, and from his library Cesare Spada, a distinguished man, had shared them with Heribert Rosweyde. The first was divided into Lessons, whose number we have noted in the margin. We have collated the second with another Perugian codex, and with a manuscript of the monastery of S. Gall, which is much more correct. The third had already been published by Surius, prepared by Giovanni Andrea Palazzi from the most ancient copies preserved at Perugia, partly in the cathedral church, partly in the church of S. Peter. Zacharias Lippelous also wrote a Life of S. Constantius; in Italian, Gabriel Flamma and Silvanus Razzi. Baronius mentions his martyrdom in volume 2 of the Annals, at the year 175, number 7.

LIFE from the manuscript of Cardinal Caesar Baronius.

Constantius, Bishop of Perugia in Etruria, Martyr (S.)

BHL Number: 1938

From manuscripts.

CHAPTER 1. The miracles of S. Constantius. The conversion of many.

Lesson I.

[1] The Creator and Fashioner of all things, Almighty God, taking pity on the ruin of the human race, coming as the Word of life from the throne of the Father, assumed from the Blessed Virgin Mary his life-giving flesh. Since indeed he deigned to bear our image, it is therefore all the more necessary for us to increase our service to him. Truly he has imparted to us many benefits; let us render him many services. For at the beginning of the world he created us in his own image and likeness, as he himself said: Let us make man in our image and likeness. Genesis 1:26. The Word of God incarnate for our restoration. But the ancient enemy, who was the first to fall to the depths, seeing himself everywhere conquered, began by various devices to circumvent our first parent; whom through the tasting of the forbidden tree and at the persuasion of his spouse he miserably deceived. Therefore God, foreseeing that man would be irrecoverable without his own Incarnation, for this reason descended from heaven and was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary: he emptied himself, taking the form of a servant. He therefore assumed the form of a servant, in order to redeem the form that was sinful: by the same means by which our first parent was deceived, by those same means we were redeemed by the mercy of the Lord: through the tasting by the first man, behold, we fell into evils; through the Virgin Mother and her only Son we were mercifully restored. Indeed he restored us through various orders by his own ordinances: for before his coming there were Prophets, holy Teachers, who foretold the birth of our Redeemer.

[2] S. Constantius of Perugia Again, after his birth he chose twelve Apostles, who through their saving doctrine might gather to him an acceptable people. By the knowledge of God and of these men, like the morning star, Blessed Constantius, whose homeland was Perugia, began from his infancy to serve the Lord: he afflicted his flesh daily with fasts of two and three days: because he was wealthy, he continually fed many poor people from his resources. A certain woman named Astasia had lost her sight for many days, and as soon as she heard the fame of Constantius, the servant of God, and of his virtues and miracles, she asked a certain person to lead her to his feet. He gives sight to a blind woman: Brought before his feet, she began to weep greatly. But when he saw her weeping and lying at his feet, he said to her: Rise, woman. Then when she had risen she did not cease crying out with tearful voice: Man of God, Constantius, by your God I beseech you, restore my sight, that I may see, and I shall know that the God of the Christians is great. To whom S. Constantius said: If you are willing to believe in Christ, he himself will restore your sight. And she said: Grant, Lord, that I may see. Already I believe that your God is the true God. Then the holy man, bending his knees, prayed to the Lord, saying: Lord God, who opened the eyes of the man born blind, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, open the eyes of this woman, that she may truly know that you are God, who alone work wonders and endure through ages of ages. And when all the Christians had responded, Amen; she immediately received the most brilliant light, and believed, and was baptized; he converts many: and many became Christians through her. Then the company of Christians grew and multiplied with the Lord, through the signs and wonders which the Lord worked through Constantius.

Lesson II.

[3] A certain man named Crescentius had for many years had his feet folded against his legs, so that he could not walk at all. When he heard that the sick were being healed by Blessed Constantius, he ordered himself to be carried to him in a cart, he obtains the ability to walk for a lame man: and said with tearful prayers: O S. Constantius, restore to me the ability to walk. When S. Constantius saw him, trusting in the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, he prayed and said: Lord Jesus Christ, who give life to all things and restore all things, give back to this man the ability to walk, that he may know and believe that besides you there is no God, who when you will make new signs and wonders. At this voice, as if by the rays of the sun, a splendor fell upon him and remained upon him for about half an hour. Then that man, trembling and crying out with loud voice, said: Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy. Immediately he raised himself up, and his legs and feet were made strong; and at once he ran to the water and brought it before Blessed Constantius. And he baptized him in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He converts 120 pagans. And through those miracles about one hundred and twenty of the pagans were baptized on that day. Then there was great rejoicing among the Christians, and they glorified God saying: Blessed be the God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people.

CHAPTER II. The first examination. The conversion of the guards. Flight.

[4] Then it was reported to Charisius, the chief man of the city, that the worship of their gods was being emptied out, In the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, and the religion of the Christians was multiplying: and he was greatly angered and ordered that Christians be sought out, so that wherever they were found they should be bound and led before him. For at that time there was at Rome the most impious Emperor Antoninus, who had sent his soldiers throughout the whole world to destroy the sect of Christians and to magnify the worship of their gods. Then a certain Lucius, one of the great Consuls of the Romans, was dispatched to Perugia. And the aforesaid Lucius came to Charisius and said to him: Charisius, send your soldiers through the cities and through the neighboring provinces all around, he is seized with Crescentius: so that if Christians are by chance found in those same provinces, they should be brought before us with their hands bound behind their backs and in chains. Then the executioners carried out the commands, came to the house of Crescentius, whom Blessed Constantius had recently healed, and having broken down the doors they entered. Then they seized them and led them before the presence of Lucius and Charisius.

Lesson III.

[5] When Lucius the Consul saw them, he said to him: Of what condition are you? Slaves or freeborn? Blessed Constantius answered: We are servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, who emptied himself, was made a little lower than the Angels, and took the form of a servant, that he might rescue us from the servitude of the devil; He confesses Christ: and therefore the highest liberty is to fulfill the service of the Lord, who created us and deigned to die for us, that he might free us from death. Then they answered with great fury and said: Do you not know that Antoninus, the Prince of the Romans, has sent us for this purpose, that we might expel all worshippers of Christ from his kingdom; and cause to be worshipped above all our magnificent gods, Jupiter, Mercury, Saturn, and many others through whom the Roman empire flourishes, and the statues of the Sun and the Moon? Therefore I admonish you to worship our gods, and to place incense before the god Sun, and to offer him a worthy sacrifice. Then Blessed Constantius said with a smile: He mocks the gods. The elements of this world, which the Lord created for our service, I do not worship, nor do I offer them sacrifice; but only the maker of all things, our almighty God, with his only Son our Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, I worship and revere in the Trinity, and I offer an immaculate sacrifice.

[6] He is beaten with fists and clubs: Lucius and Charisius, angered, ordered him to be struck with fists and his back beaten with clubs. But he sang psalms saying: I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him; who stands at the right hand of the poor to save my soul from persecutors. But Lucius and Charisius, seeing that they accomplished nothing, but rather that he and the other Christians magnified the Lord more and more, who saves those who trust in him and does not abandon devout hearts; he is enclosed in the baths, then they ordered the Bath before the palace of Maximian to be heated sevenfold more than usual, and they put Constantius inside with the other Christians who were with him; and they sang psalms saying: You have tested us with fire, and no iniquity has been found in us. And again: Deliver me, Lord, from the evil man; from the wicked man, deliver me, Lord. And again: Confirm my heart, O God, in your testimonies, and not in avarice.

Lesson IV.

[7] Then, having made the sign of the cross, the Christians entered the Bath: but although there was much heat within, none of them feared the heat; and all the Christians prostrated themselves on the pavement and prayed, saying: Blessed be the Lord God, for he alone has done great wonders: and blessed be the name of his majesty forever and ever. While the holy men were singing these psalms, God surrounded them with so great a light that no one would have thought it was night, but rather as if the full splendor of the sun were shining in the bath. And when the soldiers who were divinely illuminated who were guarding the bath saw so brilliant a light, they entered in and prostrated themselves at the feet of Blessed Constantius, imploring pardon and saying: Lord, S. Constantius, man of God, free us from earthly desires, and wash us with holy baptism, that we may deserve to be partakers of eternal life. Then S. Constantius instructed them in every divine mystery, and baptized them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he converts the guards: Amen. And each one returned to his own home, and they brought much money, and their sons and daughters and wives, and led them before the presence of the most blessed Bishop Constantius; and about fifty persons of both sexes were baptized; and they said to the most blessed Constantius: Come forth from the bath, and let us go to the forest which is called the Hill, and there let us call upon the Lord our God. He goes out of the city with them. Straightway S. Constantius went out of the bath, and departed with a few Christians, and with the guards of the bath who had become Christians through his preaching; and they came to the place called Monticellus, and there they remained for many days with Anastasius the servant of God, and with the gathered company of many saints, singing psalms and saying: Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.

CHAPTER III. The second examination. The conversion of other guards. Flight.

[8] At that time Lucius, Consul of the Romans, by the command of the Emperor Antoninus, ordered Charisius, Prefect of the city of Perugia, to conduct an inquiry concerning Blessed Constantius and the other Christians who were with him. But Charisius, eager to carry out the commands of the Consul Lucius, sent men to search for the guards of the bath, and when they did not find the Saint of God they hastily returned to Charisius the Prefect, reporting to him: They are sought: The guards of your bath have become Christians with all their households, and they have gone out of the city; and we do not know in what direction. Then Charisius, the most impious Prefect, filled with deceit and anger, ordered many soldiers to go after them, who, having gone out and searched far and wide, at length found one pestilent pagan, who said to them: In the forest, in the place called Monticellus, there they gather and hold their assemblies. If you truly wish it, I will lead you there. Then they unanimously asked him to lead them to where S. Constantius was with many Christians, singing psalms and blessing the Lord.

Lesson V.

[9] And when they came to the Saints of God, they said to them: O Constantius, why have you deceived these men, so that they should not worship their gods and fulfill the commands of the Emperor? Wherefore now come to the Prefect Charisius, and he will teach you how you ought to obey the most unconquerable gods, and not believe in vain in Christ your God, who for his crimes was seized by the Jews; and having afflicted him with scourges they delivered him to Pontius Pilate, and he ordered him to be hung upon a gibbet; and wounded and pierced with nails, he at last died on the cross; to whom when one of the thieves who were crucified with him said: Save yourself and all of us, he did not save himself, nor was he able to save others. At this word S. Constantius, they rebuke the blasphemers: and Blessed Anastasius, and the Christians who were with them, said with one voice: O enemies of God and of truth, how have you dared to speak such things of so great a Lord? Who, when he was led willingly to the gibbet of the cross, and the blind Jews surrounded him with swords and clubs, the Lord said: Whom do you seek? And they said: Jesus of Nazareth; at this blessed word they fell to the ground and became as dead men. John 18. And to Judas on that night when he was about to betray him, he said: What you do, do quickly. Now, wretches, learn how great is the providence of God, who made manifest his betrayer and all things that had been prophesied concerning him. John 13. When he willed he was tempted, when he willed he was crucified, when he willed he died, when he willed he despoiled hell, when he willed he rose again, and when he willed he ascended into heaven; whence he shall come on the last day to judge the living and the dead.

[10] Then the soldiers of Charisius, angered and filled with fury, rushed upon the Saints of God, they are seized and brought before the governor, and seizing S. Constantius the Bishop, a most distinguished man, and Anastasius, a most illustrious man, and Carpophorus, a true servant of God, and many other Christians, they bound them and led them in chains to Charisius the Prefect; who, when he saw them from afar, said to them: O Constantius, deceived by the trickery of the Christians, S. Constantius freely professes the faith: why did you not think about your salvation while in the bath? Had you offered sacrifice to the immortal gods, you would not lose your most beautiful youth out of reverence for the Priesthood and the sect of the Nazarenes? To whom Blessed Constantius said angrily: Wretch, it is a long time that I have patiently endured your insane words; now do you also, if you will, patiently hear my sane words: There is one God almighty, who created all things from nothing, made heaven and earth, and established the seas, as David the Prophet sang, saying: You have established all the boundaries of the earth; summer and spring, you have fashioned them. Psalm 73:17. Now, villain, believe in your Creator; and render to him what he gave you, namely understanding and intellect, so that you might have the knowledge to discern good from evil, and reject what is shameful and pursue what is beneficial. And moreover hear the aforesaid Prophet, who singing said: He himself made us; and not your gods, whom you wickedly worship, made us. Psalm 99:3. Convert to the Lord your God who made you, lest by worshipping wickedly here, you perish in the world to come. At this, Charisius, angered by the zeal of the devil, he walks over burning coals: ordered him to be led with bare feet over glowing coals, and to have the embers poured over his naked body. But the Christians, seeing this, cried out to the Lord saying: Lord, let not those who wait for you be put to shame through us, O Lord God of hosts, and let not those who seek you be confounded through us, O God of Israel.

Lesson VI.

[11] And S. Constantius said with a loud voice: For your sake, Lord, I will bear reproach; deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation. And Charisius, opening his mouth, said: Wretch, do you not see how punishments press upon you from every side? Cease, and recover at last from your madness, and remove from yourself the title of Christianity, lest you lose the flower of your youth before your time, and while you say you have eternal life, you leave behind the temporal one, and never find the one you hope for. S. Constantius answered and said: Seducer of the wicked, undaunted in torments, and enemy of truth, I have already told you, and I say again: your punishments do not terrify me, because I have my Lord Jesus Christ the Savior, who will deliver me from all your fury. Then Charisius the Prefect ordered him to be shut up in prison, he is thrown into prison: and said to him: Constantius, reflect within yourself during these six days about your salvation, lest you die the most shameful death, and the Christ whom you praise not deliver you. And while the executioners were leading him to prison, he went singing psalms and saying: Lord my God, in you have I hoped, deliver me from all who persecute me, and rescue me: make your face to shine upon your servant, and save me in your mercy: Lord, let me not be confounded, for I have called upon you.

[12] Meanwhile S. Constantius was placed in prison, and night came; he heals the sick by his prayers: and that night many Christians came to the window, bringing with them lepers, the wasted, the blind, the lame, and those afflicted with various diseases, whom the most illustrious man S. Constantius healed by his most holy prayers. Then the three jailers, seeing the miracles which God performed through him, he converts three guards: he is released by them, believed in him, and were baptized in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and they drew him out of prison, and came with him to the gate of the city, and by the road which leads to Campania; and they crossed the river called the Tiber, and went by the road called the Salarian.

CHAPTER IV. The third examination. Heavenly consolation.

[13] And behold, most impious men had been sent by the Emperor to destroy men of this religion throughout every province. When S. Constantius saw them, he greeted them, saying: Joy be to you, brothers. To whom they answered and said: Where are you from? From what province do you come? And he said to them: I departed from Perugia, but I am directing my steps elsewhere, that I may see my brothers Concordius and Pontianus, and we may speak together of heavenly things. He is seized again: To whom they said: As we perceive, you are a Christian. He answered and said: Indeed I worship Christ, and I desire to follow in his footsteps, that I may deserve to be a partaker of his kingdom. Then, filled with fury, they seized him, and with his hands bound behind his back they led him to the house of Duritius, and began to question him about the title of Christianity, saying to him: What power do Christians have? To whom he said: Our power is from God, and as much as he himself grants to us, so much are we able to profit in his service; and I call the service of the Lord no less voluntary, because he does not desire coerced service. But still it is read in the Gospel: If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow me. Luke 9:23.

Lesson VII.

[14] Then they answered with great fury and said: Remove from yourself these empty words that you speak. He is beaten. And saying this they struck him with slaps and blows, saying: We thought to terrify you with various punishments and beatings, and to recall your mind to the worship of our Gods, and neither by punishments nor by beatings can we correct you. Now indeed nothing else remains except that you be hung on the rack and afflicted with various punishments, and furthermore we will wound your body with these spears, so that at least in this way you may withdraw from your madness; for we were sent by the Emperor for this purpose, that we might destroy men of this religion. He laughs at their threats: Now then choose what you wish: either sacrifice to our Gods, or you shall be afflicted with various punishments. To whom he said: I make known to you that I neither worship your gods, nor do I refuse the service of Christ, but rather I choose to die for him. Then the soldiers said to him: It would be better for you to die than to destroy many men with your magic art. To whom Blessed Constantius said: I am not a magician, but I confess my God with my whole heart and mouth. And if you wish to do the same, you can still recover eternal life; but if not, you shall perish together with your gods.

[15] Then one of them, striking him, said: We think to destroy you together with your religion, and you wish to persist in your error. For the Emperor did not send us here to worship a Christ who was mistreated by the Jews, but concerning whomever of you we find, we have been commanded to kill them, lest by their magic arts the Christians empty out the worship of our gods, through which the whole world is sustained, and lest our state perish when our gods are wrongly offended. Then Blessed Constantius said to them: Cursed are all who trust in idols, which have hands and will not feel, have feet and will not walk, have eyes and will not see, have ears and will not hear, they shall not cry out in their throat. But they, greatly angered, seized him again, and binding his hands said: Let us turn back and lead him with us, and against his will make him abandon Christ. And they returned to the river called the Clasius, and stretching him out, they beat his back with clubs. But he prayed, saying: He is beaten with clubs: Lord, hear me in tribulation: I am prepared to die, that you may receive me in your kingdom: do not forsake those who hope in you: have mercy on me and hear me: my heart has said to you, I have sought your face; your face, Lord, I will seek: do not turn your face from me, and do not turn away in anger from your servant: be my helper, do not forsake me; but make with me, Lord, a sign for good, that those who hate me may see it and be confounded, for you are just, strong, and merciful. Psalm 26.

[16] After this an Angel of the Lord came strengthening him and saying: Do not fear; he is healed and encouraged by an Angel, for I have been sent from heaven by the Lord, that I may heal you of your wounds. For behold, it is near that the Lord will repay you with a reward for your great labor, and that you may receive with the holy Angels and Apostles, and also with all his elect, the most luminous mansions. Hearing this, Blessed Constantius was made cheerful and said: I give you thanks, Lord, that you have sent your Angel to me, that I might know that you do not forsake those who hope in you. Then the Angel of the Lord said: Do not fear, but arise and walk to the place where you shall render your spirit to your Creator: I will not leave you until I receive your spirit and bear it before the presence of the Lord, that it may remain with him forevermore.

CHAPTER V. Martyrdom. Burial. Miracles.

Lesson VIII.

[17] After this the executioners said among themselves: Come, let us kill him, lest by his magic art he destroy us and take from us the bound Christians He is beheaded. whom we are leading with us. And they said: Let us do so. They came therefore to the crossroads of Foligno, not far from that city itself, and said: Behold, the time has come to kill him and cut off his head with the sword. And they beheaded him, and left his body in that place. His body shines, Immediately a wondrous splendor appeared, which did not depart from him until many of the pagans believed in the Lord on account of that light.

[18] For there was a venerable man in the aforesaid city named Levianus, whom the Angel of the Lord called in a dream and said to him: Rise at dawn and go to the crossroads of Foligno, and take up the body of S. Constantius, and carry it with you, and take care to bury it with spices in a good place. and by divine warning it is taken up from there. Then Levianus, waking early in the morning, arose and went to the place which the Lord had shown him in a vision, where the body of S. Constantius lay, and he fell on his face praying and saying: Lord Jesus Christ, show your great power, and give me comfort for carrying the body of the holy man. Then Levianus, rising from prayer, lifted up the body of S. Constantius and walked swiftly with it.

[19] And while he was carrying it, two men quarreling with each other met him and said to him: Where are you bringing that body? Perhaps he was a Christian. And he said: Indeed he is a Christian and a servant of God. And they said to each other mockingly: Swear to me by that body, and I will release you from the talents which you stole from me. But the other was greatly pleased, thinking that what his colleague demanded was not a real oath. Then he swore, saying: By this body which Levianus is carrying, Two pagans who mock it lose their sight, and by its God, who was crucified by the Jews, and I am not such a one as this dead man is, I do not have your talents. And when he had finished these words, immediately both were struck with blindness. Levianus lifted up the body of Blessed Constantius again and went on his way carrying it and singing psalms. But those blind men, who had been made blind by mocking the body of the Saint, cried out after Levianus, saying: Levianus, most faithful man, set down the holy body of the holy man, and intercede for us to God, whom he served in life, that we may receive back the sight which we lost through our own fault, they receive it back; and whatever you command, we shall do. Then Levianus set down the body and led those same blind men to it, and they promised to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the merits of Blessed Constantius they deserved to receive back their sight.

[20] And as Levianus was carrying the body of the Saint with great reverence, two other blind men met him (and from the body there exhaled a most sweet fragrance): who, as soon as they perceived the scent of the wonderful odor, fell to the ground and worshipped, and said: This is a holy man of God; as do two others also. and they asked Levianus to set down the body on the ground. When he had set it down, they worshipped prostrate, saying: Lord, enlighten our eyes, that we may believe in you. And behold, a splendor from heaven came upon them, and immediately both were given sight. They, magnifying the Lord, together with Levianus lifted up the body of S. Constantius and brought it to Perugia with hymns and psalms, and buried him with many Christians, He is buried: not far from the city, in the place called the Areola, where blessings abound to the present day, he is renowned for miracles, to the honor of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is honor and glory forever and ever, Amen.

ANOTHER LIFE from the manuscripts of S. Gall, Perugia, and Baronius.

Constantius, Bishop of Perugia in Etruria, Martyr (S.)

BHL Number: 1939

From manuscripts.

PREFACE.

[1] Hear, Brothers, the memorable works of the most blessed Constantius, whose birthday we celebrate today, which, recollecting them in brief speech, we set forth. He, though he was a venerable Confessor of the blessed Martyrs, nevertheless, by handing over his body to violent men for slaughter, earned the palm. The deeds of the Saints are to be read and imitated. We can note, dearest Brothers, in commemorating the most glorious deeds of the holy Fathers, that inasmuch as they profit us for the salvation of eternal blessedness if we willingly imitate them, so much do they harm us if we spitefully reject them. They indeed, following the precepts of the Lord who commands, collating the series of the Old and New Testament to the full measure, happily arrived at that blessed homeland, which is followed by no narrative of times, no setting of death, no solicitude of anxious fear; but there always life, always glory, always the happiness of blessed joy abounds.

[2] Whence the Saints indeed, taking heed of what the Lord had commanded through Moses, steadfastly did it. For he had commanded that if anyone, cleansed from his leprosy, should go forth on the seventh day from prison, he ought to offer two sparrows to the Priest in the temple, of which one, washed in the blood of the other, he should release alive to fly into the field. Leviticus 14. The fruit of patience. For what are we to understand by the two sparrows, as sacred Scripture frequently attests, if not the soul and the body? Of which one in the blood of the other, that is, the soul vivified through the passion of the body, ought to return to the eternal homeland. To which the saying of Truth itself, in harmonious response, says: If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Matthew 16:24. For he well imitates the Lord, bearing his own cross, and striving to walk as he himself walked, who takes care to lay down his soul in love of him, as he himself did for us. But he who, running the course of his life in a manner otherwise than the standard of the Christian profession requires, does not strive to imitate Christ, let him believe that he will be judged all the more strictly by divine judgment, inasmuch as he sins, conscious of his own iniquity, though recalled through grace. But lest we depart too far from the path of the work we have begun, let us hear more attentively what Blessed Constantius did.

CHAPTER I. The lineage, character, and episcopate of S. Constantius.

[3] S. Constantius, distinguished in lineage and character, He, being sprung from the stock of freeborn lineage of the city of Perugia, seemed from the first reckoning of his age to have been devoted to the practice of such great zealous service in the service of Christ, that nearly all the people marveled at the prudence and the renown of his holiness. Since he had grown up as a celibate with the advance of greater age, and had now enjoyed approximately thirty years' course of temporal life, by divine judgment the Bishop of that same city died. Immediately all the Clergy, he is made Bishop of Perugia, and the people of both sexes, moved by heavenly inspiration, proclaimed with one voice Constantius as Bishop, choosing him as Pontiff of the vacated See. Since he alone at that time was regarded as fit to receive the honor of so great a position.

[4] His virtues: He was indeed of lofty lineage, his appearance was of wonderful radiance, and his fame was everywhere spread abroad in the neighboring regions; worn out by fasting, day and night persisting confidently in prayers, steadfast and strict in every work of the Divinity, so that he was rightly called Constantius both by merit and by name; most chaste also, and so estranged from every wantonness of the flesh, chastity, that he had begun the beginning of chastity from his cradle as an infant. Established in the ways of ecclesiastical institution, he was mild, peaceable, simple in the purity of meekness. moderation of tongue, So also in all works, in all ways, in all things was he so well-behaved, that no one ever heard him sin even in a word of the tongue. An outstanding shepherd also, so watchful over his flock, care for his people, that he did not have any of those whom God had entrusted to him led astray by the assault of the enemy.

[5] contempt of the world, What more? To pass over in silence many of the things he did: he used temporal goods as though he were not of this world, nor did he consider anything of its possessions as pertaining to himself at all. He gave what was his own, he did not covet what belonged to others, according to that Apostolic saying: As having nothing and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10. They indeed have nothing and possess all things who have left the world, in whom God dwells, and makes them strong to fight the assault of diabolical fraud; of whom under the figure of the holy Church Solomon speaks, saying: Who shall find a strong woman? Far off and from the uttermost borders is her price. Proverbs 31:10. Far off and from the uttermost borders came the price of our redemption, because from the highest heaven was his going forth, who came to redeem us by the price of his blood. Song of Songs 1:1. Whence in the Song of Songs: Let him kiss me with the kiss of his mouth. This the holy Church says of Christ, that is: he who so many times through his Prophet had promised me his coming, let him now come, and speak through himself. In the fortitude of this price, therefore, Blessed Constantius, steadfast and strong, gloried not in himself, but in God.

CHAPTER II. Arrest. Beating.

[6] When, after three years had passed, he pleased God and all the people as a venerable pastor; there went forth an edict and a promulgated sentence of impiety from the most impious Emperor Antoninus, In the persecution of Marcus Aurelius Antoninus that wherever a Christian, or anyone who invoked the name of Christ, should be found, he should be afflicted with various torments and diverse punishments and led bound into his presence. And when the impious king commanded this, the devil, always hostile to the human race and a plotter against human salvation, at whose instigation he had done this, eagerly ran throughout the provinces of all regions, leading the soldiers and executioners of that impious tyrant to the destruction of Christians.

[7] Now Blessed Constantius, hearing that this persecution had blazed forth against the Christians in the city of Assisi, where S. Concordius and Pontianus were already held bound by the chains of those soldiers, joyfully prepared himself for the palm of martyrdom, he offers himself to God for death: which he wished to receive with a devoted mind: and prostrate with tears, beseeching God at length, he prayed, saying: Lord God Almighty, who showed forth your only-begotten, beloved of you, Creator to the creature, and sent the invisible one, made tangible, to be immolated for the salvation of men; deign to number me, a sinner, among the company of your most blessed Martyrs.

[8] He goes from Perugia to Assisi: And having said these things, rising from prayer as if in secret, lest he be detained by the entreaties of his subjects, he went out of the city alone (for he went singing psalms) gloriously: he went to meet the soldiers, that he might deserve to receive the palm of his martyrdom. And at that very hour, by God's disposition, it came about that soldiers departed from the city of Assisi seeking him. Thus it happened he meets the soldiers, that the soldiers encountered Constantius, and Constantius the soldiers, as if unexpectedly, in the place called Danabus. For S. Constantius, lest he might happen to pass by those he sought, if perchance they were seeking him, as indeed they were, went with intent eyes, casting his gaze all around. He greets them of his own accord: He was the first to see the executioners: and when he had seen them, he judged them to be those whom he wanted, and forthwith he spoke words of greeting, saying: Joy be to you, brothers; we congratulate you on having arrived well.

[9] They indeed, gazing at him, marveled at the beauty and confidence of his greeting, from whose mouth words of wisdom flowed. Recognized, he confesses himself a Christian: Whence they perceived that he was the one they sought: for the things they had heard about him before were in no way discrepant from what they then saw and heard in his presence. In his presence, with the sly fraud of treacherous judgment, flattering him craftily, they ask: Who are you? Where are you going? For what reason does a man of such great prudence travel alone? To whom Blessed Constantius, who now wished to receive what they were feigning to offer, declaring with open mouth, said: Though a sinner, I am called Constantius, Bishop of the city of Perugia, and I am seeking my companions, Concordius and Pontianus, servants of my Lord Jesus Christ, with whom I am accustomed to rejoice in divine works.

[10] Hearing this, the soldiers said to him: And you today shall have the same joy they have, who, bound in prison, must undergo a capital sentence. He is seized: Perhaps you do not know that we have power from the King, so that whomever we find invoking that name which you confess, we lead them, afflicted with various torments, into his presence? And when they had said this, rushing upon him they bound him, he is beaten: seized and dragged him out, and beat him along the way. But he, conscious of his impending end, went willingly, as if invited to a feast.

[11] And when, returning, they were dragging him beyond the river called the Clasius, they looked into his face, seeing that the more he was beaten, the more he prayed, dragged along and beaten, he prays: and the more cheerfully he walked, and they said: Did we not tell you that whoever invoked that name would not escape unpunished from our hands? And you persist all the more fiercely in your obstinacy, and more boldly, proclaiming and invoking him with reckless mouth. Truly, they said, if that invocation can snatch you from our hands, you will see it.

[12] Immediately they threw him down on the bank of the river, and so tore him apart with clubs and stakes he is cruelly beaten with clubs: that they thought his body lifeless and his spirit departed. Thus placed, Blessed Constantius, pressing more keenly into his prayers, raised his palms and eyes to heaven, saying: Lord Jesus Christ, whom I praise, whom I confess and bless, whom I believe came to the gibbet again he prays to God, so that those who believe through you might be saved, have mercy on me your servant, since all who wait for you shall not be confounded. For you yourself said: I do not desire the death of the sinner, but rather that he should be converted and live. Ezekiel 33:11. I indeed, converted to you, await the help of your mercy at my end. Be with me, lest the pestilent prince of darkness be able to assail me: for you are God, strong and mighty, beyond whom there is no God.

[13] And when he had said this, looking up he saw an Angel of God from heaven, who stood over his head saying: He is strengthened by an Angel: Constantius, do not fear; know that your prayer has come before the presence of the Most High. Today, made a friend of Almighty God, you shall remain in the heavenly dwellings with his elect; as he himself says to the Father for his followers: I will, Father, that where I am, there also my servant may be. John 12:26 and ch. 17:24. I indeed, his Angel, have descended from heaven, sent to guard your soul. Wherever you go, I will not leave it, until I have brought it back to the eternal homeland into the sight of the Creator. He gives thanks to God: Blessed Constantius, sustained by the angelic discourse and by the constancy of his faith, said with tears: Lord God, the strength and fortitude of believers, through whom all things were made, without whom nothing is stable, nothing upright, nothing blessed; who recalled me to your mercy, whom you redeemed by the price of the Lord's blood; I give thanks to you, because through your Angel you deigned to visit me in my anguish.

[14] But the hostile soldiers, hearing him enjoy angelic conversation with someone they could not see, asked one another who was speaking to him. And looking all around, they could see no one his wounds are healed: besides Constantius alone, whom they held. And examining the scars of the wounds they had made on him, which shortly before had been innumerable, they found no mark of injury, his body being completely whole and intact; they said: This man, who by magic arts speaks to himself as if to another, the soldiers, leaving him, flee, whence did he recover the soundness of his body? Terrified by this, and fearing that what they had committed against others might be turned against them, they abandoned Constantius and made for the city of Assisi.

CHAPTER III. SS. Concordius and Pontianus, companions in prison. The martyrdom of S. Constantius.

[15] He exhorts SS. Concordius and Pontianus to constancy. S. Constantius therefore, entering to visit Concordius and Pontianus, who had long been held there in chains and in prison, encouraged them with such words, urging upon them perseverance in constancy. My dearest brothers, be strengthened in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and take courage. The day of salvation has come, and the acceptable time, which once lost will be recovered with difficulty. Let no dread of a punishing death terrify you; let no allurement of temporal life flatter you, which both those who flee and abhor it, and those who strive to embrace it, equally lose. If you believe that there are things more lasting than the momentary and more excellent than the fleeting, let no comparison of mortal life be made with eternal blessedness. 1 John 4. But he who fears, as the Apostle attests, is not perfect in love. Love indeed, which excels all virtues, casts out fear: surely he does not die whom, as he departs, the entrance of perpetual life closely follows.

[16] eager for death: To this, Concordius and Pontianus, who had been set on fire by the Holy Spirit, said: If there were no remedies of another and better life, the joys of this present one, however wretched and deceitful, would necessarily, if possible, have to be prolonged and clung to. But we, who know the way of truth, and who are striving toward that homeland from which, with divine mercy aiding us, we originally came before we entered the exile of this life, ought rather to fear lest this course of misery be prolonged, than if the passion of the body draws near. For he who desires to have life in heaven should not at all fear dying on earth. For if, daily expecting that life, we cry out: Thy kingdom come, it is infinite misery to wish to remain here longer, so that we profess one thing with our mouth and another with our heart. Ecclesiasticus 2:14. Whence it is said: Cursed is he who walks in two ways.

[17] But the soldiers, by whom they were held, when they heard the Saints thus encouraging one another with such words, said: They are brought out of prison together. What is this obstinacy of the madness of the Christians, that the more they are afflicted, the more they grow stronger in the praise of their God and endure with greater austerity? Therefore let us lead them into the presence of the Emperor, where they may sacrifice before all to the immortal gods from whom they have departed; and if by chance they refuse, as the Imperial Majesty shall decree, let their life incur peril. And they brought them out of prison and began to proceed.

[18] But the Saints, praising and blessing God, did not cease to go gloriously with their torturers. They come to Spello. Thus at length they arrived at the city called Spello, where S. Constantius, placing his knees on the ground, prayed to heaven. And behold, the Angel of the Lord, his guardian, The guardian Angel foretells his imminent death to Constantius, who had already spoken to him on the way, appeared with an exceeding brightness of light; and there the Angelic voice resounded: Arise, Constantius, and proceed gloriously, for the Lord Jesus Christ walks with you, who never forsakes those who hope in him: and you shall proceed joyfully until you arrive at that place where you shall expire, rendering your soul, which I must present before the sight of the Most High. Then all who were present, beholding the light that had flashed forth, and hearing the words of the angelic discourse, cried out with one voice, saying: Those present praise God: Truly the God of Christians, whom Constantius preaches, is the one and powerful God in heaven.

[19] But the soldiers, blinded in mind, wishing to please the most impious tyrant concerning the death of the Saints, the soldiers attribute it to magic arts, who had sent them to destroy the souls of these men, began to say that the things they saw had been accomplished by S. Constantius through magic arts. Urged on by them, rising from the prayer he had made, S. Constantius is led to death: like the gentlest lamb he hastened gloriously to the slaughter. And as they pressed on not far from the city, terrified by the angelic discourse they had heard, they took counsel to kill him before they arrived at the King to whom they were leading him. One of them, speaking to the rest, said: Lest this magician whom we drag along destroy us by his arts, let him be slain; for he speaks to himself as though two men were heard conversing; he also pretends to cause light to shine forth by his prayers. Therefore, taking off his head, we shall see what profit the miracles he seemed to have performed will be to him. He is beheaded. Immediately, brandishing the sword, they cut off his head; and the body was left on the road called the Foligno road. And departing, they led Concordius and Pontianus back to the most cruel Antoninus in the city of Spoleto. Concordius and Pontianus are led to Spoleto.

CHAPTER IV. The finding of the body. Miracles.

[20] Now there was in the city of Foligno a certain magnificent man, named Levianus: Levianus is admonished by the Angel to bury him: whom the guardian Angel of Blessed Constantius addressed that same night, saying: Believe, Levianus, that the time has come when God will repay the reward for the good works which you have always done. Arise and go to the road called the Foligno road: you will find there the body of a certain blessed man, committed to you by divine disposition for burial, through which you will happily obtain the blessings of both this life and the next: this will provide you the joy of exultation: this also will give you the prize of eternal life. Hearing this, Levianus awoke and, rising between hope and fear, anxious yet terrified when he hesitates, he is admonished a second time and led there: lest he be deceived by a phantastic illusion, he laid himself down again in his chamber; to whom the Angel, splendid with a snowy countenance, appeared a second time: urging him with both reproaches and blandishments, he compelled him to rise quickly, and led him as a traveler before dawn to the place where the body of Blessed Constantius lay.

[21] Before he could approach within a stone's throw, looking up he beheld angelic choirs, radiant with lightning-bright light, he sees his soul being carried to heaven by Angels: going to and returning from the body of the holy man: whose soul, performing their obsequies, rejoicing and exulting in the heavenly mysteries, they were hastening to bring back to the heavens. Seeing this, shaken by extreme terror, judging himself unworthy of the height of so great a brightness, he wished to draw his foot back, as if into hiding. In his ears the voice of the Angels, crying out, resounded repeatedly: Levianus, most faithful man, do not be afraid; for God has committed to you the body which you see, for burial: approach with confidence, since the Lord has remembered you, and, taking pity on the burdens of your poverty, through what you see he heaps up the fullness of your happiness. Therefore it is fitting to take up the lifeless body which you behold with the same joy with which you see us receive the soul.

[22] Then Levianus, seeing that the mercy of God was with him, putting aside all fear, glad and exulting, filled with the immensity of exceeding joy, ran so swiftly with such happiness that he seemed not even to have touched the ground with his feet. And the Angels, bearing the soul of Blessed Constantius, departed rejoicing and exulting with heavenly praises, returning into heaven. He takes up the body: And having received the body, Levianus prayed on his face, saying: Lord God, almighty King, who revealed the treasure of heavenly wisdom, hidden from the noble and the wise, to the lowly and the humble; if this your servant, whose sacred body you have shown to me through your Angels, has been pleasing to you, through the glory of your name show the power of the Divinity, show the relief of your clemency for carrying the burden of this weight, which I have received to be committed to burial according to the command of angelic instruction. And when he had said this, he lifted him up, subjecting himself to the burden, and as his strength sufficed, he was seen to proceed on his way swiftly.

[23] Forthwith two men, quarreling and contending with one another over a deposited sum of money, appeared before him, saying: What are you carrying, Levianus? You seem to be straining under a burden. Who ordered you to carry an unburied corpse in the darkness of the night? He is seen by two men who meet him; Levianus, responding suitably to their words, said: This was a most Christian man, who from his youth walked faithfully in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I learned by angelic testimony to have been a Christian, whose body I am carrying in the name of him whom he worshipped, for burial, since I found him killed and unburied by executioners who were travelers. Not unbidden do I hasten to commit him to the earth. And when they had heard, they rebuked him, mocking and insulting Levianus with ridicule of the Christian religion and profession.

[24] The moneylender indeed, who had made the deposit, speaks ironically and mockingly to his debtor, saying: who, swearing ridiculously by the Saint, Swear to me by this Christian body, and by him whom he worshipped, that you owe me nothing, and keep secure the talents you deny, and I, if you escape unpunished, will no longer demand them of you. That fool, who had not yet experienced, nor fully known, how great is the glory of Christians, whom the accumulation of his own iniquity had already driven to the harm of an illicit oath, burst forth into a wicked utterance, and smiling said: By that which Levianus carries, and he says while carrying it that it was a Christian, and by the name of him whom that Christian worshipped and served, I owe you nothing. And when he had said this, the vengeance of divine retribution struck both of them, and their eyes were suddenly darkened. For both had, by rash presumption, made mockery against a Christian. They are made blind: Wherefore equally, just as they had been deprived of the light of the heart, so they remained blind in the light of the brow.

[25] And when they had been left blind, knowing that they had lost their sight because they had sinned against Levianus, the Saint of God, whom they had previously insulted, groping about they sought him, calling out and saying: Levianus, Levianus, to whom God revealed the ample treasure of the blessed body, They implore the help and prayers of Levianus: have mercy, we pray, by that very thing which you carry, and by the name of him whom he served in life, we beg: stay your step, set down the body of the blessed man, for we have remained blind who insulted you as you were carrying it. Intercede for us through him before him in whom he believed, that he may restore to us the sight which we lost through our own fault, and whatever you command us, we shall willingly do. And Levianus, opening his mouth, said: If you wish to know the glory of God, so that through him you may believe in the name of him whom he himself worshipped; I trust in God, who is wonderful in his Saints, that you shall see by the light of both the eyes and the mind, which is more important. They indeed, finding it necessary, protesting that there is one God, [By touching the body of S. Constantius they receive their sight and are converted,] whom the Christians worship, to the knowledge of whose mercy they professed they had come to wish, through the intercession of Blessed Constantius. And Levianus, hearing these things, drew them by the hands, that by touching the body they might recover their sight; through which, just as before, by insulting Christians they had made mockery, so now, pledging that they wished to believe in the Lord Jesus, they made their promise. And they deserved to receive their sight from the Lord in that hour.

CHAPTER V. Other miracles. The burial of the body.

[26] While these men were deserving to receive their sight from the Lord, behold two others, Two other blind men meet them: who from their cradles had not seen the light, coming along the same road, perceived a fragrance of such sweetness from the body of Blessed Constantius, as if all aromatics they perceive a sweet fragrance: and precious balsams were exhaling there, and they said: Truly either God is in this place, or something of great worth from which these fragrances exhale, such as we have never perceived. And Levianus, hearing the conversation of the blind men, addressed them saying: From the body of a certain blessed man, which I am carrying in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ, the sweetness of these fragrances which you speak of proceeds.

[27] Encouraged to hope by the former blind men, And those blind men who had already received their sight could not remain silent, and said: You too, if you do what Blessed Levianus shall advise you, from the Lord Jesus Christ, just as we did, who were blind and came to know the way of truth, you shall have the light of mind and body today, with the mercy of God aiding you. The blind men indeed, hearing something wonderful and unexpected, yet hoping and attending to what they heard promised to them, asked: And who are you who promise us such things, that if we do what Levianus commands, we may deserve to receive our sight? Certainly if what the words of your promise tell us could come to pass, we would willingly follow not only the instructions of Levianus but yours as well. And they in turn, narrating to them all things that had been done, and recounting from the beginning what the Lord had done for them, revealed with faithful heart that they had seen the light through grace. Those blind men, who were expecting the light of their eyes, now with the light of their heart growing bright, said to the boy who was attending them as a companion: Come, lead us to the body from which the sweetness of the fragrances proceeds, and from which the light of our eyes is promised. They touch the sacred body, And when they had arrived at the body, handling with their hands him whom they could not yet see with their eyes, they said: O most just man, whom we have never seen, never heard, whose body we have deserved to touch with our hands, intercede for us sinners to the Lord your God, that he may deign to pour forth the light of his mercy upon us, as we have heard he did for many others. We promise you that whatever Levianus shall command us we shall do, and building your sepulchre we shall bury you with the pomp of Christians. And saying this, they kissed his footprints, rolling before the feet of Blessed Constantius they clung fast. And immediately so great an earthquake occurred in that same place that the whole earth seemed to break apart from its foundations, and when an earthquake occurred, and torn up by its roots seemed to go downward. Amid the tremor of that shaking, something like scales fell from the eyes of the blind men, and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, they perceived the brilliant light they receive their sight: which they had not seen from their childhood.

[28] Having received their sight, they immediately fell on their faces, giving thanks to God, and said: Lord Jesus Christ, glory of the Christians, whom we have never seen, They give thanks to God: never worshipped, never further known, we give thanks to you, who deigned to enlighten us through Blessed Constantius. We ask you, desirable Father, anxious about the place of burial that just as you showed the light of your mercy to our eyes and minds, so you may deign to show us where the most blessed body, through which you showed us mercy, ought to be buried. We indeed, seeking the light of your clemency, have promised to carry it and commit it to burial, but unless, by the same mercy through which we came to know our salvation, it be shown to us whither we ought to carry it, we are wholly ignorant. And when they had said this, They are commanded by the Angel to bury him at Perugia: the same Angel who had been his guardian even while he lived appeared to them, saying: Seek out the place of his birth, from which he was Bishop and guardian while he lived, so that he may be the protector, defender, and intercessor before the Lord Jesus Christ of the same people who by divine counsel chose him as their pastor. For there a seat and resting place for this body was prepared by the Lord before the world was made.

[29] Having heard the angelic discourse, with what rejoicing and the joy of exultation they raised up the body for carrying, They carry it to Perugia and bury it there, no one is able to say. Of those who had been enlightened through his intercession, two going before and two following, they carried the body. Levianus indeed, going ahead by the straight path, needing no earthly signs, walked thus. So, singing psalms and glorying, they arrived at the destined place of the diocese of Perugia, whence he had first been the venerable pastor while he lived, where he was laid to rest in peace. And Levianus and those who had come with him led their lives gloriously in that place in the service of God until their death. It was done on the fourth day before the Kalends of February, in the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns forever and ever, Amen.

ANOTHER LIFE, by Giovanni Andrea Palazzi.

Constantius, Bishop of Perugia in Etruria, Martyr (S.)

BHL Number: 1940

Author: Giovanni Andrea Palazzi.

PREFACE OF THE AUTHOR.

[1] S. Constantius, citizen and Bishop of Perugia, drew his origin from the most noble family of the Barzi. He was a man endowed with such constancy of soul, faith, and piety, that his holiness shone among other men like a certain gem: S. Constantius, noble in lineage and virtue, he loved humility, fled glory, spurned honors, embraced Christ Jesus and his Cross with all his heart, nor had anything more important than to please God and to help his neighbor. Wherefore he gave much money to the poor, and daily immolated himself as a living sacrifice: for he most constantly restrained his flesh, and for the faith of Christ and the preaching of the truth he endured many injuries not only with patience but even with a joyful spirit, desiring also to face death for the name of his God and to be consummated by martyrdom: which indeed came to pass. For, with the divine will assenting to his prayers, in the persecution which the Emperor Marcus waged against the Christians, after beatings and imprisonments, after fires and various tortures, which he had gladly received and overcome for the faith, with his head severed from his neck, he flew away to heaven.

[2] The deeds, manifold sufferings, and finally the martyrdom itself of this blessed man, he is proposed for imitation, I have resolved to write, as far as the weakness of my talent allows, so that the devout people may more easily find, on so great a solemnity of their Bishop, suitable praises with which to celebrate him: yet we shall not pursue with our pen all the glories, virtues, and miracles of so great a Father, and the holiness of his entire life; but we shall run through only certain things, whatever we shall think able both to impel the pious reader's spirit to imitating his virtues, and to stimulate his mind to conjecture concerning his other illustrious deeds.

CHAPTER I. The lineage of S. Constantius. His episcopate. His virtues.

[3] Sprung from the Barzi family, In the reign, therefore, of Antoninus, surnamed Pius, the family of the Barzi flourished at Perugia, both abounding in wealth and very distinguished for the nobility of its lineage, but far more illustrious because it was ennobled by the marks of Christ. From this family Blessed Constantius was born, like a fragrant cedar from a royal garden. His parents took care that the newborn infant should be raised with all zeal and diligence, and they especially applied themselves he is imbued with virtue and learning: to imbuing him with the sound faith of Christ, and accustoming him to be humble, patient, merciful, chaste in all fear of the Lord, calling him back from all association with the pagan boys, of whom the city was indeed full, lest the diabolical tares of the pagans should choke the wheat of piety and faith sown in the Lord's field, that is, in the boy's sacred breast. Afterward they entrusted him to the most learned teachers to be educated in both secular and sacred letters.

[4] He is distinguished for abstinence, But when he had now grown up and his parents had departed from this life, he began, as one well trained, to serve the Lord in excellent service; he afflicted and subdued his flesh with daily fasts, long vigils, and all the duties of true piety. No frequent cups, no sumptuous and delicate foods were set before him: but scarcely after long fasts at last would he sit down with the poor at a most frugal table, about to take the cheapest food. The holy faith which the holy boy had drunk in with all his heart, he daily stirred up and increased with pious and religious works and the offices of perfect charity. He preferred to take upon himself the dispensation rather than the possession of the riches handed down to him by his parents: for liberality to the poor, for he promptly bestowed them on the poor of Christ, feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and providing assistance to anyone in need. Thus the blessed man grew day by day, as in age, so more and more in constancy of soul and virtue. He was chaste in body as well as in mind, sweet in speech, mild, for chastity, for meekness, and humble of heart, adorned with lovable and most agreeable manners, and already then bearing the good character of a good shepherd and showing the example of a perfect Christian, he was looked up to by all and cultivated with singular devotion by all the faithful.

[5] Now in the meantime the Bishop of his homeland died: and although there were perhaps others worthy He is proclaimed Bishop, to whom that office might be committed, nevertheless the people and the entire clergy looked to Constantius alone, all with one mouth proclaimed Constantius as Bishop: for no one failed to see that Blessed Constantius would be of the kind which the Apostle describes as befitting a Bishop, namely without crime, as a steward of God, not proud, not wrathful, not violent, not eager for base gain: but hospitable, kind, prudent, sober, just, holy, continent, embracing the faithful word which is according to doctrine, that he may be able to exhort with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict. Titus 1:7. Blessed Constantius, therefore, adorned with these and similar divine gifts, was elected and consecrated Bishop of the city of Perugia, being about thirty years of age, at the age of thirty: so that he might begin the function of the episcopal office at that year of his age at which both the divine Prophet Ezekiel began his prophecy, and Christ Jesus himself began to teach and preach, so that in that very number of years, which consists of three tens, it might be signified that the holy man would be a preacher and an outstanding worshiper of the commandments of God and of the undivided Trinity alike.

[6] He performs the episcopal office excellently: Now the man of God undertook the performance of that office, not as some arrogant and insolent person, but as the gentlest of lambs. To all he exhibited that appearance of true humility and that gentleness of character which he had been accustomed to display even as a private individual: he was altogether more vigilant in prayer, he devoted himself with greater assiduity to fasts and other things conducive to restraining the flesh; he fed his flock with that threefold dish of which Jesus commands the Pastors of the Churches in the person of the Apostle Peter, when he says to him once, twice, and a third time: Feed my sheep -- namely, with bodily food, with the preaching of the word of God, and with the most salutary example of a life entirely free from fault. John 21.

[7] He feeds his people by his liberality, For he was, first of all, more lavish in giving alms than before he had obtained the episcopate, to such an extent that his house was a refuge for the poor, and seemed like a certain storehouse of the destitute. Then, as a most faithful Pastor, since he knew very well by exhortation, that a Christian man does not live by bread alone, but rather by hearing the heavenly teaching and by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, he instructed his people in all those things which pertain to evangelical piety, teaching them to frequent the salutary sacraments of the Church, to meditate often on the benefits of God, to emulate charity, to possess peace, and especially admonishing with the Apostle, that all bitterness, and wrath, and indignation, and clamor, and blasphemy be taken away from them with all malice: and that they be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another. Ephesians 4:31.

[8] by good example. The third dish, finally, with which S. Constantius fed his people, was the good fragrance of his life, which shone before all like a certain mirror of perfection. He converts many. For the holy priest was endowed with such great integrity, faith, and holiness, that his admirable life before the episcopate had been a most choice flower; but this later life proved to be a most abundant fruit. Moreover, the blessed man preached the word of faith to the Gentiles, of whom the city was full, with such fervor of mind and such force and knowledge, that many by his efforts converted to the faith of Christ, and having been washed with the salutary wave of baptism, abandoned their idols and worshipped the living and true God.

CHAPTER II. Miracles. The conversion of the Gentiles.

[9] While he governed the people entrusted to him with much counsel and much wisdom, and himself grew daily in virtue and in grace before God and men, his name was spread abroad and celebrated in all the neighboring regions: all marveled at the teaching of the man, looked up to his virtues, were astonished at the miracles which were performed daily through the blessed Bishop: and although these are many and illustrious, I have nevertheless resolved, lest I be too lengthy, to touch upon only one or two, from which you may easily conjecture what and how great the rest were. A blind woman implores his help. There was at that time a certain woman named Attasia; she, having been deprived for many years of the most precious sense of sight, having heard of S. Constantius's integrity of life and his truly divine power of performing miracles, did not hesitate, impelled by burning faith and hope, to approach him. She went, she cast herself at the feet of the most holy man, uttering no word indeed, but pouring forth a great flood of tears with sobbing. The Bishop, looking at her, with the kindness that was his, immediately commanded her to rise, to check her weeping, and to open confidently the feeling of her heart. Encouraged thereby, when she had collected herself, she said: Have pity, Lord, on my calamity, for I am a most unhappy woman: for many years now I have lost the use of my eyes, and I cannot behold any part of this most sweet light, nor am I able to find any remedy for so great an evil: no charms, no skill of physicians, not even all the gods and goddesses to whom I have often made vows have helped. But now I have come to you, the last consolation of my hope, that through you I may deserve at last to recover salvation. I beseech you first by those wonderful signs of things which you everywhere produce, trusting in which I have come here to you; then I beseech and adjure you by the Lord your God, that you be willing to make me a partaker of your virtues, and not be reluctant to display a miracle in me as well, restoring the light of the eyes to one who is blind.

[10] Then S. Constantius, who perceived that the woman was deprived not only of the light of her eyes but also of her mind, since she was a pagan and an idolater, desiring to remedy both ills at one and the same time, addressed her thus: She obtains her sight, O woman, if, having spurned the idols, whose force and power (as you experience in yourself) is plainly nothing, you bring your mind to believe in my Lord Jesus Christ, he can truly, dispelling the darkness, open the eyes of both body and mind at once, and lay open the way to eternal life. And she said: Grant, Lord, that I may see: I already believe that your God is the true God. Thereupon the holy man, bending his knees, prayed in this manner, not without tears: O fount of all light, Lord Jesus Christ, true light, who illuminates every person coming into this world, open, I beseech you, the eyes of this woman, both those of the mind and those of the body, so that when she has seen the creatures, she may more and more celebrate you the Creator, and at the same time recognize you as the Redeemer. When this prayer was completed, the most desired light was immediately restored to the woman. And she, exulting, prostrate at the feet of the man of God, and he converts her, is said to have uttered these words: Blessed be your God, O Constantius, who has restored to me the desired light. Blessed also are you, his worthy minister, through whom so great a good has befallen me. Farewell now, gods of the nations, works of the hands of men. I now indeed acknowledge one God, living and true; him I humbly adore, to him I surrender and dedicate myself entirely: may you now, man of God, enroll me in this service, sealing me with the saving sign. Then Blessed Constantius thought no delay should be interposed before baptizing her, and baptizes her: and so he dismissed her, freed from a double disease.

[11] But now it is time to set about explaining another no less remarkable miracle. There was at the same time in Perugia a man named Crescentius; he was so contracted in both feet He obtains the ability to walk for a lame man, that the sole of each foot was twisted upward toward the knee: for which reason he could not only not walk, but could not even stand leaning on a staff. If ever he wished to go out of doors and depart somewhere, he had to use a litter or a sedan chair. He therefore, having learned by report that S. Constantius promptly cured various diseases, employing no charms and no medicines, hoping that he could, if he wished, also bring him aid, arranged to be carried to him. Brought to him, he begged the man of God with many prayers and many tears not to be reluctant, just as he had healed very many others, likewise to restore to him the straightness and firmness of his feet. The kind and holy man, taking pity on his calamity, when he had raised his eyes and hands alike to heaven, prayed in this manner: Lord Jesus Christ, who give life to all things and restore all things, binding up the broken and strengthening the weak; restore, I beseech you, to this your creature the proper position and use of his limbs, that he may know that you alone are the true God, who work wonders. Scarcely had the holy Father spoken these words when behold, a great light descended from heaven upon the sick man: by which he was terrified, trembled, and cried out as loudly as he could: Constantius, Constantius, help a wretch. To whom he said: All is well, brother: do not fear, be of good courage. At length, when the light departed, it appeared that each of the man's feet had been restored to its proper place and had obtained the firmest strength: as a result, Crescentius, no longer using any support, immediately leaped from the litter, he baptizes him and 120 others, and, prostrate at the feet of Blessed Constantius with the utmost devotion, arranged for water to be brought, urgently requesting baptism with great piety. Here the holy man, from excessive joy of heart, could not contain his tears, and he interposed no delay before baptizing the man according to the rite of the Church. Moved by this truly admirable deed, the Gentiles flocked on all sides to the faith of Christ, so that on that very day as many as one hundred and twenty received the sacrament of baptism from Blessed Constantius.

CHAPTER III. The first arrest. The conversion of the guards. Departure from prison.

[12] By which report, perhaps greatly stirred, Marcus Antoninus, who had succeeded the other Antoninus, In the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, but an impious one to the Pious, resolved to persecute the Christians most fiercely. Sending some in one direction, others in another, he also sent the Consul Lucius to Perugia with this mandate: that whoever he should learn professed the faith of Christ, he should compel them to worship the gods of the nations; and that those who refused to do so, he should put to death after tormenting them with every kind of punishment. Lucius therefore, having set out for that place, immediately communicated the Emperor's edict to Charisius, who was the governor of that city. And he, eager to comply with the Emperor's will, ordered his soldiers to run through the city and the entire countryside, and to bring in chains before him and the Consul as quickly as possible whoever they encountered who were adherents of the Christian sect. This was the general order; He is seized: but privately, burning especially against Blessed Constantius, knowing that by his work and power many were daily becoming Christians, he charged the same soldiers above all to search diligently for the Bishop himself, and to drag him in chains before him. They therefore, wicked servants of a most wicked governor, searched for all others, but especially for S. Constantius, with every zeal: at length, having heard that he was accustomed to be frequently at the home of Crescentius, whom he had blessed with health, they went to his house, broke down the doors, burst in, and found there the most holy man together with Crescentius, pouring forth pious prayers, seized them, bound them, and straightway led them in chains to the Consul and Charisius.

[13] When the Consul Lucius saw them, he said: It is the duty of good citizens to obey the commands of their Princes, he responds fearlessly to the Consul: in other matters and especially in those which pertain to the worship of the gods. Since therefore the piety of the Roman Emperor and the integrity of the Senate have long since decreed that due honor be given to the immortal gods by all who are under their rule, we cannot sufficiently wonder why you, as we hear, spurning the gods of the nations, worship I know not what Jew, who everyone knows was an obscure man, and because he arrogated to himself the divine name, was crucified by his own people, and thus exchanged his life for death not without disgrace. We wish therefore to hear from you yourselves what the condition of your life is, and whether you are prepared, in accordance with the Emperor's decree, to abandon the worship of the crucified one, and to offer libations to those who are truly gods. To this Blessed Constantius answered boldly, trusting in God, in this manner: The condition of our life, O Consul, is this: to serve at all times him whom to serve is to reign, our Lord Jesus Christ. But as for the Emperor's decrees in this matter, we neither can nor wish to obey: for it is not consonant with reason that, setting aside our Creator and Redeemer, the living and true God, we should follow those who are not gods, but truly demons. Then the Consul Lucius, angered, said: Are you therefore so impudent and demented that you fear neither our presence nor the gods themselves? Go now, and offer sacrifices to our gods without delay. But, answered Blessed Constantius: We do not worship the elements of this world, which God created for the sake of men, nor shall we ever bring ourselves to sacrifice to them: but it is certain and resolved in us to render all worship and honor to him who created the elements, and heaven and earth, and all things that are in them, from nothing by his inexplicable wisdom.

[14] Hearing this, they, more and more inflamed with anger, ordered the body of the most holy man to be beaten with straps in the sight of all the Christians who were present. But he in the midst of the scourging did not cease to glorify the Lord, and to sing with the divine Bard: I will greatly praise the Lord with my mouth, and in the midst of many I will praise him, who stands at the right hand of the poor, he is scourged: to save my soul from those who beat and scourge me. Psalm 108:30. Here Lucius, interrupting him, said: Let those things go, wretch; deny Christ, and laying aside your magic arts, sacrifice to the gods. To whom the holy man said: I indeed know nothing of magic arts, nor do I approve of them in any way: but my Christ, since he is the true God, he mocks the gods: I will never deny. But the Consul had a statue of Jupiter brought, and turning to the Bishop said: Look now, and sacrifice to great Jupiter. Blessed Constantius, smiling, said: O Lucius, though most people celebrate you as a prudent and learned man, yet you are not ashamed to attribute divinity to a piece of wood, which certainly would not have this form unless hands of a craftsman had fashioned it, and who, had he pleased, could have made a footstool from the same material.

[15] With others, enclosed in the baths, he is not harmed: Here the Consul seemed to be suffused with a certain shame: which Charisius perceiving, and at the same time understanding that the Bishop could be bent neither by threats nor by beatings, ordered the man to be taken away and shut up, together with Crescentius and the other Christians, in the baths, heated far more intensely than was customary. But when they had fortified themselves with the sign of the Cross, they were not affected by any distress from the heat at all, but joyful and rejoicing they glorified God, singing: Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who alone does wonderful things; who, just as once he mitigated the flames of the fire for the three boys, the place being illuminated from heaven, so today for us his servants he has made the heat of this bath mild. Daniel 3.

[16] While they were being held there, behold, on a certain night a great splendor, illuminating the entire place, was poured upon them from heaven: which when the soldiers who guarded the place saw, they said to one another in astonishment: Surely the faith which these men hold is true, and Christ whom they preach is the true God; and immediately rushing inside, they cast themselves at the feet of Blessed Constantius, and asked him for holy baptism: the guards with their families are converted: which having obtained, each went to his own home and informed his family of what had happened. Then they led their wives and children there, about fifty in number: all of whom the pious Bishop, having duly baptized them, restored to their Creator and Redeemer.

[17] When these things had been accomplished, the soldiers asked Blessed Constantius to be willing to go out of the baths together with his people, all are released from prison, and to betake himself to some more suitable place, where he could better instruct them, still raw in the faith, in Christian teachings. But he said: Shall I flee from the fight which I have long desired and now at last obtained? I shall not indeed do so: here I have resolved to die for the faith and for God. The soldiers, however, begged the same of him again and again with tears, saying that he could be of secure mind about himself, since the crown of justice was surely reserved for him, but that he ought by every means to look after them, as new soldiers of Christ, lest the seeds of faith which he had lately sown in their hearts should perish. At length persuaded by these and similar prayers, they come to Monticellus, the Bishop, having left the baths and even the city with all the others, came to Monticellus, and there, having stayed for several days with Anastasius, a truly humane and pious man, he diligently taught those whom he had adorned with the marks of baptism all things whatsoever pertaining to the true service of Christ.

CHAPTER IV. The second arrest. Beating. Liberation.

[18] Meanwhile Lucius and Charisius, having been informed of all that had happened, sent other soldiers, whom they considered more faithful, hither and thither, Seized again, he is brought before the governor: with the command to search for the Bishop of the city and all his followers, and to bring them before them by whatever means possible. They, having been guided by a certain man hostile to the faith of Christ, when they arrived at the house of Anastasius, making a sudden assault, first seized the Bishop, then the rest: among them the host Anastasius himself, and Carpophorus, a most distinguished man, they seized, bound, and straightway brought before Charisius: who, being impious and cruel as he was, sharpening his spirit and tongue against S. Constantius, said: O sacrilegious one, to escape the punishment you deserved, were you not ashamed to subvert my soldiers by your most wicked arts and to take flight with them? How much better you would have provided for your salvation, if you had brought yourself to abandon Christ and to pass over to the true worship of the gods!

[19] To this Blessed Constantius, with his characteristic meekness, responded thus: Your soldiers, O Governor, I did not subvert, he walks over glowing coals: but Christ converted them to himself: and for my salvation, as in any other place, so also in the bath, I provided excellently. For Christ is my salvation: to him I have devoted myself entirely, him I venerate, him I have resolved to serve perpetually. Then Charisius, incited by fury, ordered burning coals to be brought, and compelled the most holy man to walk upon them with bare feet: moreover, he ordered glowing coals to be applied to his entire body, which was stripped bare. But he, easily overcoming the heat of the fire by the fervor of divine love, sang psalms: You have tested my heart, Lord, and visited it by night; you have tested me with fire, and no iniquity has been found in me.

[20] Then Charisius, seeing that the Bishop could not be diverted from his purpose by any terrors or torments, shut up in prison he heals many sick: ordered him to be thrust into prison, wishing to bring him before the Consul's tribunal on a set day. Blessed Constantius meanwhile did not cease to pray, persevering in vigils, psalms, and spiritual hymns, and although his body was held in custody, his power nevertheless was not bound. For when many of the faithful, and even pagans, came by night to the prison, carrying the sick with various diseases, they received them all back healthy, healed by the prayer of this most holy man. Drawn by the fame of this, not a few every day, abandoning their idols, passed over to the worship of the true God, and even the guards of the prison themselves, witnessing the frequent miracles of Blessed Constantius, the guards, baptized: they lead him unwillingly out of prison, embraced the faith of Christ, and received baptism in the prison itself. And not long after, judging it unworthy that such great virtue should lie in the vilest prison, having deliberated among themselves, they led the Bishop, though unwilling, out of custody and even out of the city, desiring to place him in some safer location.

CHAPTER V. The third arrest. Tortures. Martyrdom.

[21] But when they had arrived at the River Tiber, and there Blessed Constantius had learned that Concordius and Pontianus, most holy men, with whom he had the closest bond of friendship, He goes to Assisi to visit SS. Concordius and Pontianus: were being held in chains at Assisi, he was kindled with an incredible desire to visit them and to carry off the crown of martyrdom, if it pleased God, together with them. Driven therefore by this desire, secretly withdrawing from his companions, he proceeded to Assisi: and when he had arrived at a certain place called Danabus, here he was met by a band of soldiers, who had been sent from the Emperor himself, then residing at Spoleto, to persecute the Christians. When the most holy and most courteous man saw them, he meets the soldiers: he greeted them kindly. But they, suspecting what was the case, namely that he was one of the Christians, stopped and asked him who he was, where he came from, and where he was going alone. To whom the holy and simple man, concealing nothing, responded in this manner: I am Constantius, unworthy Bishop of the city of Perugia; I come from Perugia, I am heading to Assisi, not alone, as you suppose, but well accompanied, namely by the grace of my Lord Jesus Christ. He openly reveals who he is: The reason for this journey of mine is to visit two most humble servants of God, Concordius and Pontianus, who are being tortured there with chains and every kind of punishment for the name of Jesus.

[22] Then they, smiling, said: We ourselves shall take care that today you be together with them in prison, where you will be tortured with punishments even more severe than theirs, unless, using sounder counsel, you bring yourself to deny your Christ. And thereupon they led him bound to the house of a certain Duritius, and omitted nothing which they thought could move his mind and purpose: but when they accomplished nothing, at length they came to the River Clasius, and there also, first with blandishments, then with threats and terrors, they strove to divert the man from his purpose. He is beaten nearly to death: But since he was so steadfast that he truly seemed to have found his name from constancy, firmly remaining in the purpose once adopted and the resolution taken, the soldiers, burning more and more with anger, afflicted the most holy man with so many and so great torments that they left him half-dead. When therefore Blessed Constantius's strength was already failing him, turning to God with his whole heart, he prayed: Receive now my spirit, Lord; let it rest in you, which for you, with your help, has labored at all times.

[23] He had scarcely uttered these pious words when behold, the Angel of the Lord was at hand, comforting the afflicted man with these words: Do not fear, Constantius, I am the Angel of God: Christ has sent me to apply healing to your wounds, and henceforth to be with you in all your ways: and immediately every wound was healed. He is healed by the Angel: Then he, refreshed by the angelic consolation, said: I give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, who through your Angel have comforted me in my anguish and healed my wounds: now I truly know that you never forsake those who hope in you. But the soldiers, hearing him speaking with another yet seeing no one, and also observing that the wounds which they had inflicted on his most chaste body had suddenly closed over with scars, terrified with fear, they hastily led him to Assisi and shut him in the prison, in which, besides many other Christians being held, were those two eminent ones we mentioned above, Concordius and Pontianus. And when they saw one another, they immediately rushed into mutual embraces, he is shut in prison with SS. Concordius and Pontianus: and mutual kisses vying with one another, giving immortal thanks to God, by whose gift they were together, as they hoped, about to undergo the glorious contest for Christ; to which they also piously encouraged the others, saying: Great thanks, brothers, must be given to God, that we have been deemed worthy to suffer insult and torments for the name of Jesus. Acts 5.

[24] But the soldiers, eager to deliver to the Emperor himself all the Christians they had captured, as a most desired prize, brought Blessed Constantius and the rest, extracted from prison, to Spello, he is led to Spello: and resolving to remain there until the next day, they held the Christians all night long, bound in chains, in the open air. Here the Angel of the Lord appeared again to S. Constantius, surrounded by a great splendor, foretelling to him that the time was now at hand when, his fight consummated, he would receive the crown of martyrdom. Many of the inhabitants of Spello, having seen that splendor, ran to the place, and there, hearing also the voice of the Angel, they began to cry out: Truly the God whom this man worships is the one he is taught by the Angel of his imminent martyrdom: and true God, powerful in heaven and on earth. The holy man by no means let this occasion pass, but opening his mouth and beginning from the Scripture, he evangelized Jesus to them, and converted not a few to the true faith. Acts 5.

[25] He converts many: The soldiers bore these things very ill, and attributing everything to the magic art, sought to turn the people away from him: but when they made little progress, they led S. Constantius together with his companions out of Spello, dragged him bound toward Foligno, and while traveling they considered that if the holy man lived any longer, he would, not without danger to themselves, attract a great multitude of Gentiles to himself, and they formed the plan to kill the man as soon as possible, unless he should be willing to embrace the worship and religion of their gods. When therefore they had arrived by night at the crossroads, which they call the Foligno crossroads, he is beheaded, situated not far from the city of Foligno itself, by whatever arguments they could, they strove to lead Blessed Constantius from the true faith of Christ to the false and empty fables of the gods. But when he no less steadfastly than before refused to do so, affirming that his life was Christ himself, that him alone he embraced, and that in him alone all his hopes were placed, the soldiers, inflamed with fury, with drawn swords attacked the man's throat. But he, with a great and upright spirit, was singing: My protector and my refuge, Lord, receive my spirit, and do not permit me ever to be separated from you, my life, my light, my salvation; you have I loved, you do I desire, you may I find, Lord Jesus Christ. Amid these pious and holy words the savage soldiers cut off his head from his neck, and immediately departed.

CHAPTER VI. The translation of the body. Sight restored to four blind men.

[26] Levianus is commanded by an Angel to bury his body: Now there was at Foligno a certain Levianus, a man preeminent among the other Christians in faith and good works. To him an Angel appeared in his sleep, saying thus: The Lord, Levianus, has not rejected the good works which you do, but rather offers you today an occasion for heaping up your merits. There lies at the crossroads they call the Foligno crossroads the body of a most holy man, who has suffered martyrdom for the name of Christ: the task of burying him is committed to you especially by God. Levianus, waking up, rose from his bed. But when he seemed to doubt whether that vision had been real, behold the Angel, of extraordinary beauty, appeared again and commanded him, having cast aside all hesitation, to attend diligently to the command of God.

[27] Then he, without any delay, hastened to the place shown beforehand: and as he was now approaching it, he seemed to see an unaccustomed splendor, and drawing nearer, he beheld the holy body of Blessed Constantius there, and at the same time a great choir of rejoicing heavenly spirits around it. Frightened by these admirable sights, Levianus, He sees his soul being carried to heaven: not attributing so much to himself that he could worthily mingle with angelic spirits and touch the holy body, which he beheld the Angels themselves attending, began to draw back his foot. But the Angels, crying out, said: Stay your step, Levianus, there is nothing for you to fear: this care of the burial is yours: we have been commanded, after guarding the body of this most holy man until your arrival, then at last to lead his most blessed soul to heaven, which they also straightway performed with the greatest congratulation and joy. O truly blessed soul, which, while it was enclosed in the frame of this body, deserved for its extraordinary piety and purity to enjoy the ministry of Angels, and now, released and free, was deemed worthy to be escorted to eternal rest surrounded by angelic choirs.

[28] When therefore Levianus had approached nearer to the most holy body, he lifts the body onto his shoulders: bending his knees, he prayed in this manner: Lord God Almighty, who revealed this precious treasure not to the rich of the world, but to me, your humble servant, supply, I beseech you, the strength to carry it, and show the place where such great relics are to be laid to rest. Then, embracing and kissing the body with the devotion it deserved, he lifted it from the ground, putting his neck under the most holy burden.

[29] But as he was now on his way, two men, quarreling and contending with each other over a deposit of money, met him, saying: What is this, Levianus? You seem to be straining under a burden. Who commanded you to carry an unburied corpse in the darkness of night? He is seen by two men who meet him; Levianus, responding suitably to their words, said: This was a most Christian man, who from his youth walked faithfully in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom I learned by angelic testimony to have been a Christian, whose body I am carrying in his name for burial, since I found him killed and unburied by executioners passing by. Not unbidden do I hasten to commit him to the earth. And when they had heard, they began to mock and ridicule the man, together with the profession of the Christian religion, insulting Levianus.

[30] Then Levianus, pious and mild as he was, said: If you are willing to believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, I trust that, with this his Martyr as intercessor, touching his august body with due reverence, you shall altogether recover the light you have lost. Why should we not believe, they replied, in him whose great power we have experienced in ourselves? We now openly confess that he whom you worship is the one true God. Here Levianus, taking them by the hand, They invoke S. Constantius and receive their sight, led them to the body of the most holy Martyr, which they indeed, venerating and kissing it with the utmost devotion, prayed: S. Constantius, although our offense deserves no pardon, yet it will be for your glory to kindly bring help and mercy to us now that we repent: the light which by our own fault we lost in contempt of you, we beseech that by your kindness, with your intercession, we may receive back. Having prayed this from the heart, they were immediately restored to their former condition.

[31] And now, as day was dawning, Other blind men perceive a sweet fragrance, another miracle, not unlike this one, followed. Two young men, blind from infancy, following the guidance of a boy, were traveling along the same road: and as they were now approaching the place, perceiving a certain wonderful sweetness of fragrance, they said to each other: O how divine is this odor which is carried to my nostrils: surely either some god is here, or something plainly divine. When Levianus heard their words, he said: The fragrance which you perceive, dearest brothers, is breathed forth from the body of Blessed Constantius, Bishop of Perugia, who was put to death for the faith of Christ this night in this very place. I have come here to bury his body, warned by God in my sleep. Then they said: O how blessed we would be, if it should happen that we might enjoy the sight as well as the presence of him whom we perceive by his fragrance. And those encouraged to hope by the former blind men, to whom the sense of sight had been restored shortly before, said: You will be able without difficulty to obtain what you desire, provided you bring yourselves to obey the instructions of this man who has addressed you: for we too have just now, with God's help, obtained the same.

[32] Hearing this, they too came into hope of recovering the sense of sight, most precious of all, by the same means, and they promised that whatever should be commanded them by Levianus, they would promptly carry out. And when they had been brought by him to the most holy body, an earthquake occurred so terrible that the blind men were shaken with great terror. But Levianus, encouraging them, said: Do not fear, brothers: be of good courage; this sign is of favor, not of wrath: believe in Jesus, and pay due honor to this his glorious Martyr, and you shall see wonders today. Then they said: We believe they are illuminated at the body of S. Constantius, that Jesus Christ is the one true God, and we plainly profess that we shall pay due honor to this his glorious Martyr: and immediately, prostrate on the ground, they reverently kissed the body of S. Constantius, striving with the utmost prayers that they might be allowed to enjoy the long-desired use of this most sweet light, through his intercession, which they also immediately obtained. O truly venerable body, by whose touch four men, in the space of a few hours, were freed from blindness both of the eyes and of the mind.

CHAPTER VII. Burial. Veneration.

[33] In order to show themselves mindful and grateful for this benefit in some measure, they asked Levianus to grant them the task of carrying the body to burial, and that he merely serve as guide for the way. Here he prayed, begged, and implored God that, just as he had supplied helpers for carrying the body in a plainly divine manner, so he would be willing to show the place in which it should be laid to rest. Having prayed this, he suddenly heard a voice from heaven, commanding thus: Return the body of the blessed man to Perugia, his homeland, It is commanded by a divine voice that the body be returned to Perugia, so that the people who had him as their Pastor and parent in this life may obtain him after death as their Patron and defender. They indeed, eager to fulfill this command of God, cut wood from the trees that first presented themselves, and constructing these in the form of a bier, first placed upon them the trunk of the body, then attached the most holy head to it as fittingly as they could.

[34] These things having been arranged, those four men to whom the health of both eyes and mind had been restored went ahead carrying the bier, while Levianus followed, blessing God in hymns and psalms. Meanwhile certain persons, who were themselves traveling to Perugia by the same road, The Perugians come out to meet them: having brought the bitter news about the Bishop to their fellow citizens, a great number of them, not only from their own Barzi family, which was large, but also from the rest who professed the faith of Christ, came out to meet him all the way to the Tiber. When Levianus saw them from a distance, he suspected what was the case, ran to them, and having joined the crowd, he briefly set forth both the other things that had happened and especially explained diligently the miracles that had been performed through Blessed Constantius even after his death. While he was relating these things, they reached the bank of the river: they venerate the sacred pledge, to which, not long after, those who were carrying the bier also arrived, and being asked, they set it down. You would have seen them then all running in eager competition to venerate and kiss the most holy body, weeping, agonizing, lamenting, calling him their parent, shepherd, teacher of life, doctor of wisdom.

[35] When they had satisfied this duty of piety, Levianus bade them withdraw from the bier, so that they might proceed to complete the rest of the journey. Then each vied to put his shoulders under the most holy burden, which however those who had carried it up to that point by no means permitted, lest they should seem to have shirked the task assigned by God: but again they lifted up the most holy body, from which indeed so great a sweetness of fragrance was continuously breathed forth that it filled all the hills round about with the utmost admiration of the people. He is buried: When therefore all together had approached the walls of the city, they did not enter the city itself, God so inspiring them, but chose for the place of burial that spot outside the gate of S. Peter which they still call the Areola, and there they arranged a sufficiently ample funeral for the most devout Martyr. When these things had been done, all the Christians who were present, bending their knees at the sepulchre, humbly commended themselves and their whole homeland to S. Constantius, praying that he who had been their good Pastor and best father on earth might be their benign patron and intercessor in heaven.

[36] Finally, having piously kissed the tomb, each returned to his own home, except Levianus and those four men to whom the light had just been restored through the intercession of Blessed Constantius: for these, having built a small hut there, persevering in prayers, fasts, and other good works, he is visited from all quarters on account of the frequent miracles, spent the entire remaining time of their lives at the monument of the holy Martyr: whose fame and glory, on account of the many and very great miracles which were performed there daily, grew so much more and more each day that a great multitude of pious people flowed together from various places to visit and venerate his sepulchre. Nor indeed even today is the glorious Martyr of Christ without great honor and veneration, both elsewhere and especially at Perugia, A feast and a church at Perugia dedicated to him, where indeed an anniversary feast day is celebrated in his name in a church, long since dedicated to him there at great expense, with the utmost pomp of religion, on the fourth day before the Kalends of February. S. Constantius obtained the palm of martyrdom under the Emperor Marcus Antoninus, as we said at the beginning, who indeed began to reign in the year 163 from the birth of Christ our Lord, to whom be honor, glory, and dominion, forever and ever, Amen.