Patroclus

CONCERNING ST. PATROCLUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR, IN GAUL.

Patroclus, Bishop and Martyr in Gaul (Saint)

[1] We gave the Acts of St. Patroclus, Martyr of Troyes, on January 21. Saussaius commemorates another St. Patroclus, Martyr and Bishop, on this day in his Gallican Martyrology Feast of St. Patroclus, with these words: "In the royal monastery of St. Denis in France, the celebration of St. Patroclus, Bishop and Martyr, whose precious relics are preserved with fitting honor in that same basilica."

[11] From the Western regions a tempest crossed over to the East, threatening many with great shipwreck. Then was fulfilled: Do you think that when the Son of Man comes, He will find faith upon the earth? Luke 18:8. With the charity of many grown cold, few who loved the truth of the faith joined themselves to our side, whose heads were publicly demanded, against whom all resources were marshaled, Palestine agitated by these seditions, so that even Barnabas was drawn into that pretense — nay, open parricide — which he committed not in deed but in will. Gal. 2:13. And behold, the entire tempest was destroyed by the Lord's blowing, and the prophetic oracle was fulfilled: You shall take away their spirit, and they shall fail and return to their dust. In that day all their thoughts shall perish. Ps. 104:29. at last peace is obtained. And that word of the Gospel: Fool, this night your soul shall be required of you; and the things you have prepared, whose shall they be? Ps. 146:4; Luke 12:20.

CHAPTER IV.

Captivity, death.

[12] While these things are happening in Jebus, a terrible rumor is brought from the West: Rome is besieged, and the safety of its citizens is being purchased with gold; and that, despoiled again, they are surrounded, so that after their substance they might lose their lives as well. The voice falters, and sobs interrupt the words of the one dictating. The city which captured the whole world is captured; nay, it perishes by famine before the sword, and scarcely a few were found to be taken prisoner. Rome captured by the Goths, The madness of the starving broke out into unspeakable food, and they tore one another's limbs asunder, while the mother did not spare the nursing infant but received back into her womb what she had shortly before brought forth. By night Moab was captured; by night its wall fell. Isa. 15:1. O God, the nations have come into your inheritance; they have defiled your holy temple; they have made Jerusalem a heap of fruit. Ps. 79. They have given the bodies of your Saints as food to the birds of the air, the flesh of your Saints to the beasts of the earth. They have poured out their blood like water round about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them.

Who can unfold the disasters of that night, who the deaths, Aeneid 2. Or equal the grief with tears? The ancient city falls, which ruled for many years: Many lifeless bodies lie scattered everywhere through the streets And through the houses, and everywhere is the image of death.

[13] The house of Marcella is plundered: Meanwhile, as happens in such confusion of events, the blood-stained conqueror enters Marcella's house as well. Let it be permitted me to speak what I have heard — nay, to narrate what holy men who were present saw, who say that in that peril you too were her companion. She is said to have received those who entered with an intrepid countenance; and when they demanded gold and buried treasure, she excused herself with her poor tunic, yet did not gain credence for her voluntary poverty. They say she was beaten with clubs and scourges but felt no torments; instead, with tears, she is beaten with clubs and scourges: prostrated at their feet, she begged only this: that they would not separate you from her companionship, and that youth would not endure what old age had no reason to fear. Christ softened their cruel hearts, and amid bloody swords piety found a place. And when the barbarians had led both her and you to the basilica of the Apostle Paul, she is led with Principia to the basilica of St. Paul: either to show you safety or a sepulcher, she is said to have burst into such great joy that she gave thanks to God for having preserved you unharmed for her; that captivity had not made her a poor woman but had found her so; that she lacked her daily bread; that, sated with Christ, she did not feel hunger; and that she spoke both by word and deed: Naked I came forth from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. Job 1:21. As it has seemed good to the Lord, so has it been done. Blessed be the name of the Lord.

[14] After some days, with a healthy, whole, and vigorous little body, she fell asleep in the Lord, and left you heir to her poverty, she dies. or rather through you she left the poor as heirs, closing her eyes in your hands, yielding up her spirit amid your kisses — while amid your tears she smiled, in the consciousness of a good life and the rewards to come.

[15] These things I have dictated for you, venerable Marcella, and for you, daughter Principia, in a single brief night's work — not with elegance of speech, Epilogue. but with a most grateful heart toward you, desiring to please God and those who read.

ON ST. PATROCLUS, BISHOP AND MARTYR IN GAUL.

Patroclus, Bishop and Martyr in Gaul (St.)

[1] We gave the Acts of St. Patroclus, Martyr of Troyes, on January 21. Saussay commemorates on this day another St. Patroclus, Martyr and Bishop, in the Gallican Martyrology Feast of St. Patroclus, in these words: At the royal monastery of St. Denis in France, the solemnity of St. Patroclus, Bishop and Martyr, whose precious relics are preserved in that same basilica with due honor.

[2] James Doublet, book 1 of the Antiquities of the Monastery of St. Denis, chapter 41, writes that the bodies of this saint and of St. Hilary are preserved in a special chapel, enclosed in one reliquary. By what means they were brought there, he narrates from an ancient manuscript codex as follows: When the body of St. Saturninus had been carried to the church of Blessed Denis the Areopagite, the province of Toulouse, in his absence, the body brought from Toulouse to Paris, by a hidden yet just judgment of God, was struck with so grievous a plague that neither their women could give birth, nor their animals. Whence the people of Toulouse, compelled by necessity, humbly approached the monastery of St. Denis, earnestly begging them not to delay in restoring to them the body of their first Bishop, in order to mitigate the misfortune of so great a plague, a most just recompense being then made in return. The Abbot and community, moved by mercy, assented to their petitions. And they, having received the body of their most holy Bishop, returned home with joy. When the body was restored to its see, by God's mercy that plague was healed, and their women and animals began to give birth. The people of Toulouse, not unmindful of their promise, and detesting the vice of ingratitude, are said to have transferred, by way of recompense, to the aforesaid monastery the body of Blessed Patroclus, Martyr and Bishop; of St. Romanus of Blaye, Priest and monk; and also the body of the most holy Hilary, Bishop and Confessor of the city of Javols.

[3] Of St. Hilary of Javols we shall treat on October 25; of St. Romanus, on November 24; of St. Saturninus, on November 29. The same Doublet writes that the body of the latter was brought to Paris in the time of King Dagobert, after the death of Charibert, King of Aquitaine, and not long afterwards was returned to Toulouse. He writes that this Patroclus was Bishop of Grenoble. The same account of the translation of these relics is given by William Catel in his History of Occitania, book 3, under King Sisebut. This Patroclus is absent, in Claudius Robert and John Chenu, Where was he Bishop? from the catalogue of Bishops of the Church of Grenoble. One might suspect that this Patroclus is the Bishop of Arles whom on January 21 we said was called Saint by John Chenu, Claudius Robert, and Constantine Ghini. Indeed that man appears to have been intruded into that see by force, perhaps the Bishop of Arles, wrongly intruded, having wickedly expelled and with the legitimate Bishop still living. For Prosper writes thus in his Chronicle, under the consulship of Honorius IX and Theodosius V, in the year of Christ 412: At the same time Heros, a holy man and disciple of St. Martin, while he was presiding as Bishop over the city of Arles, was expelled by the people of that same city, though innocent and subject to no accusation. In his place Patroclus was ordained, a friend and familiar of Constantius the Master of the Soldiers, whose favor was sought through him; which matter was the cause of great discords among the Bishops of that region.

[4] Nevertheless, after Hero died soon afterward, as it appears (we are surprised that his name is nowhere found in the Martyrologies), Patroclus was held to be the legitimate Bishop. afterward approved, This is clear from Epistle 2 of Pope Zosimus to the Bishops of Africa, Gaul, and Spain, dated under the consulship of Honorius Augustus XI and Constantius II, that is, the year of Christ 417, where he writes: What about the fact that our brother Patroclus, Metropolitan Bishop of the city of Arles, was passed over? etc. And the same Pontiff writes much in Epistles 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 in favor of the prerogative of Patroclus and the Church of Arles; and expressly in Epistle 6, addressed to Patroclus himself in the year 418: Since you have both learned in person and have been frequently admonished by our letters, that you should exercise the authority of Metropolitan, which we have confirmed for you by the pronouncement of the Apostolic See, etc.

[5] Patroclus held the episcopate with not entirely favorable reputation. For the other Prosper writes of him in the Chronicle published by Pithou: Patroclus, Bishop of Arles, dared to sell priesthoods in a shameful traffic. Yet he met a fine death under the consulship of Theodosius XII and Valentinian Augustus II, that is, in the year of Christ 426, as the first Prosper writes: and unjustly slain? Patroclus, Bishop of Arles, is slain by a certain barbarian Tribune, torn by many wounds; which crime was attributed to the secret command of Felix, Master of the Soldiers, at whose instigation the deacon Titus — a holy man distributing money to the poor at Rome — is also believed to have been killed. Titus was enrolled in the register of holy Martyrs on August 15. But Baronius writes that Patroclus paid the penalty for his crimes. Yet neither are his crimes so manifest that they admit of no excuse, nor is there anything to prevent someone, by the singular clemency of God, from meeting death for the faith or for justice, and at the same time atoning for penalties owed for former sins. But whether this is the Patroclus whom the monks of Saint-Denis venerate is uncertain.