ON ST. GOLVENUS OF LÉON
In the 6th Century.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. St. Golvenus's fatherland, Acts, age, cult.
Golvenus, Bishop of Léon, in Armorican Britain (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
We exhibit here another holy Bishop in lesser Britain, Golvenus, sprung from greater or ancient Britain, whose parents, in a sufficiently wondrous manner, certainly somehow alone and unaccompanied, came to that part of Gaul, as the beginning of the Legend shows, to be produced below with the whole history from René Benoît and Gonon. Albert's collection more sharply censured by Lobineau Concerning this that great Albert of Mont-Relax was not silent, the laborious encomiast of the Armorican Saints, so often cited by our predecessors, so often refuted; yet never adorned with that eulogy, with which not long ago decorated him, who composed a more accurate history of that Britain, the distinguished man and above-praised Guy Alexis Lobineau, of the Order of St. Benedict, of the Congregation of St. Maur. He in his preface, does not hesitate roundly to assert, that all that collection of Albert is nothing but a mere web of little fables, and so fitter for recreating the incredulous, than for edifying the faithful. Let this perhaps be a sharper, and more severe than just censure; certainly with such liberty in those Armorican-British lives, in heaping them up without distinction, oratorically composing, and most liberally amplifying, does that author use, that in that genre of writing he suffers few to be preferred to himself, even the Irish or the Scots, about whom is to be seen the preface of Bolland before February chapter 3, and the Responses of Papebroch to article 21 no. 43.
[2] As to our holy Golvenus, Albert did not invent all things; for he has, he often cites many authors, whom he cites at the end, very many authors: as if here he had bestowed immense labor, for gathering the more certain monuments which pertained to our Saint. But, excepting the Léon tables, which before him René Benoît had seen, the remaining names are adduced rather for ostentation than for making faith of the things said: thus Robert Cenalis, Wion, d'Argentré, Chenu, Claude Robert, du Paz, and others scarcely bring a word, by which the whole Legend of Albert is even by a shadow confirmed, besides that d'Argentré is most directly opposed to Albert himself. From one or another, you may make a conjecture about the rest. These are the words of Claude Robert: St. Golvenus, successor of Paul, died at Rennes in the monastery of St. Melaine. Wion has thus in the additions volume 2 page 879: St. Golvenus the Briton, and there a monk and afterwards a hermit, St. Paul being laid with the fathers, created Bishop of Léon, after many labors endured for his flock, about to receive the reward of the same, migrated to heaven after the year 600, on the first day of July, and was numbered among the Saints. He does not rightly assert, that he has all these things from the life in René Benoît.
[3] But that d'Argentré asserts things directly opposed to Albert's, even opposed to himself. Albert himself confesses in a little note appended to his text, and says he knows not, whence d'Argentré could have excerpted them. Nor do I know, whence he received them; but this is certain, that he is falsely adduced in confirmation of those things, which so openly fight with his own opinion. Thus speaks that historiographer of Britain in book 1, chapter 19. St. Golvenus first successor of St. Paul in the chair of Léon, thence was made Bishop of Rennes. He had been born in the territory of Léon, and the episcopate being administered for a while, led by zeal for a more austere life, abdicated, and betook himself to the Burg of St. Didier, four leagues distant from Rennes, into a place whose name is Motte-merioul, where a hermitage being constructed for himself, he died on July 1 in the year of restored salvation 600, his body was translated into the church of St. Melaine at Rennes. How little conformable these are to our Legend or to Albert's, will appear below more manifestly; yet these for the greater part Castellanus preferred to follow in his Universal Martyrology on this day, than to subscribe to the longer narrations either of Gonon, or of Albert.
[4] For the rest, in the diocese of Rennes St. Golvenus is not acknowledged as a proper Bishop, From the Rennes lessons as appears from the lessons of the Breviary of that church for July 8, which from the edition of the year 1620 I here subjoin: Blessed Golvenus, the transmarine parts being left, landed in the parts of lesser Britain, in the parish of the People of Didier. Who spurning the empty glory of the world, chose for himself a place in solitude among dense brambles, apt for divine contemplation. In which place, a little oratory being built for himself, freed from secular impediments, he resolved to cultivate the heavenly kind of life: for he so cultivated fasting, that from infancy itself, he was wont to take bread with water and a few foods only once a day, only for sustenance, never for delight. This is the first lesson; the second follows: The barbarians wishing to occupy a part of Britain, were put to flight not so much by the arms of a certain Count of the Britons, as by the merits and prayers of the holy man. At length so great was the fame of his sanctity, that after the departure of blessed Paul Bishop of Léon, by the highest consent of all, though unwilling, he was consecrated Bishop: which honor lest he receive, as long as he could, he refused.
[5] Lo now the third lesson: For he feigned that he was going to Rome, The Saint's age is inquired into, that meanwhile another might be ordained. But the Roman Pontiff, by the clergy and people, made more certain of his holy manner of life, took him up to the episcopal burden. At last when for the cause of ecclesiastical business he had come to Rennes, seized by fever, and illustrious for miracles, he rendered to God his worthy spirit, and in the monastery of St. Melaine he obtained a sepulcher. Nothing in these is determined about St. Golvenus's age, or the time in which he lived, except this one thing, that he was the celebrated successor of St. Paul, first Bishop of Léon, no mention being made of the three intermediate ones, whom from Paul's life Albert adduces, in his chronological catalogue page 269. But since, according to the calculation of Papebroch, in the commentary on the life of St. Paul on March 12 page 111, this Saint survived almost a full six years after his abdication, but died about the year 573, it would follow as a consequence, that our St. Golvenus ascended the chair of Léon in the year 567. The reason why Papebroch so establishes it, is drawn from the concurrence of the Lord's day with the 4th of the Ides, or March 12, which happened in the year 573. But since with this also coincided the 79th, 84th, and 90th of the same century; Cointius contends, that Paul's death is to be assigned to the last year. See him at the year 590 no. 29.
[6] All other things Albert devises and most roundly defines, against Albert's chronology. thus beginning the life, so that he leaves not even the least doubt about the time of nativity. In the time, he says, of Pope Vigilius, and the Emperor Justinian, in the year of salvation 540, Hoël II reigning in Armorican Britain etc. In that year indeed he himself establishes St. Golvenus born, heaping up many prodigies, as in our annotations we shall briefly observe. He proceeds furthermore, and as the time of nativity, so also of succession to the episcopate he most prettily affixes with determined years. Thus in his calculation St. Paul was ordained in 529, but resigned the episcopate in 553. St. Joava, otherwise Johevius, his disciple, died in 555, Tiernomalus, the other successor, died in the year 556. Then Paul returned to his church, and governed it until the year 590, when again he abdicated, Cetomerinus being designated successor: who having died in the year 611, at last our St. Golvenus was substituted, and sat until the year 616. All these things are arranged sufficiently neatly, but who would trust Albert, contradicting himself in the ordination of Cetomerinus and other matters, where René Benoît, d'Argentré, and others so expressly affirm, that Golvenus fell asleep in the Lord, in the year 600? You have the epoch of Papebroch, Albert, Benoît, and Cointius, of which, which is to be preferred, in that uncertainty of things, no sufficient considerations persuade.
[7] Nor concerning St. Golvenus's cult do ancient monuments exist in the Fasti. Most recent memory in the fasti. All the classical Martyrologies keep deep silence about him, nor is he recorded in any Usuardine additions. About Wion it has already been said; Ferrari cites him; to whom if you add Saussay in the Supplement page 1139, you will have proved this only, that the memory of our Saint is most recent in the Martyrologies. Dempster does not deserve to be reported, although he marked the Saint twice, on June 24 and 27. Some think him a Scot, he says, but I deliberate. Rightly indeed, but in other matters too mature deliberation was needed, which he did not employ. For the rest this is Saussay's metaphrase: At Léon in Armorica, under the archbishopric of Tours, the deposition of St. Golvenus, second Bishop of that see and Confessor, who succeeding St. Paul, weaned the tender church left to him, and nourishing it with the solid food of holy preaching, and illuminating it with the light of pious conversation, advanced it to the full form of virtue; and so from the beauty of a daughter, indeed of a spouse, made most pleasing to God, to the nuptials of the eternal lamb, which are conducted in the supernal Jerusalem, a candidate of blessedness, flew up. But the holy man died at Rennes, and was buried in the monastery of St. Melaine. I know not whence Castellanus had it page 692, that he was formerly called Vulvinnus. The Rennes lessons write Golvennus, others Golveneus, we have followed the more received nomenclature.
[8] From what has been said, at least as probable, it ought to be established, that St. Golvenus from greater Britain, A probable series of the life fleeing the incursions of the barbarians, as at that time many did, migrated into Armorica, the sixth century being already nearly grown; there first led a solitary life, and conciliated to himself great fame by examples of virtues and miracles, not only, so that he obtained the dignity of Penitentiary from St. Paul Bishop of Léon, since in the whole of his life he is not known, but yet such, that in whatever manner, designated his successor, after Cetomerinus, the third substitute of Paul, he attained the see, and held it until the end of the century; most probably about the year 600, being called by the Lord to the reward of his labors. And hence is to be rejected the opinion of d'Argentré, almost adopted by Castellanus, about the withdrawal into solitude, the see of Léon being left, and afterwards the see of Rennes too, and other things pertaining thereto, which do not cohere with the lessons related above, and with the very Acts, to be subjoined next, from which indeed it is effected, that St. Golvenus, Bishop of the church of Léon alone, was buried in the monastery of St. Melaine; certainly near Rennes, not because he was the Prelate of that city, but because for some business he is recorded to have turned aside thither.
[9] although Lobineau seems to feel otherwise. So will whoever be held to feel with me, who shall have tried to reduce those British monuments, fabricated I know not where, to at least some probability, after perpetual stumblings in nearly every circumstance. There favors also the chronological series of the Bishops of Léon, deduced by Albert with so learned a method, through Pontiffs and Emperors, the entrance and exit of each Bishop determined. But lo, even there the step fails, where it seemed most firmly placed. Lobineau, a sufficiently scrupulous hater of fables, has toward the end of the second book, a brief list of British Saints, among whom Golvenus is not reckoned: is it because he wishes him supposititious? I do not so think, but for the rest he so excludes him from the series of Bishops of Léon, that unless he lies hidden under another name, no place remains for him … Lo his words, the cited book 2, no. 220: St. Tenenanus or Tinidor, sprung from the British island, had been initiated into the priesthood, before he crossed into Armorica. Long there he lived unknown in the woods near the place, where afterwards Landerneau was founded: at last unwilling he was drawn out from solitude, that he might be raised to the chair of Léon after Cetomerinus. If it is so, I do not see what place St. Golvenus has. Let the Britons pardon, if from their conflicting commentaries we are able to draw nothing sufficiently certain. Lo now the Acts themselves, no whit truer.
LIFE. In Gonon, on the Lives of the Fathers of the West book 2, page 85. From René Benoît.
Golvenus, Bishop of Léon, in Armorican Britain (S.)
From RENÉ BENOÎT.
Blessed Golvenus a was a man of admirable sanctity, who, sprung from honest and Christian parents, When newly born, he could not be baptized for lack of water, conformed his life to the imitation of the Saints. He therefore had as father Glandanus, a foremost and excellent man, but as mother Gologuena. Who when they had deserted their own fatherland, namely England, the vastest sea being crossed, landed at a certain village, by name Odena: where when they had remained many days, Gologuena, who was pregnant, poured forth into the light this holy fruit, namely blessed Golvenus. But after many days had flowed by from the nativity of Golvenus, and he had not yet received holy baptism, for lack of water; for the inhabitants of that place suffered a great penury and inconvenience of water, nor had they wells or springs, but from a most remote and far-off place were compelled to bring water for sustenance with great labor. Glandanus the father of Golvenus perceiving this, poured out a prayer to the Lord, saying: Lord God, who do not suffer us to be tempted above what we can, have mercy on us: for behold, because for lack of water, my son cannot receive holy baptism.
[2] The prayer being finished, the most kind and merciful God, a spring is miraculously brought forth. who has always been wont to do the will of those who fear him, made a spring b flow forth from the earth. Which the inhabitants of the place seeing, began to give thanks to God omnipotent for so great a benefit, and held Glandanus and his wife in great esteem and honor on account of this miracle. Whence also a certain most opulent and rich man, Godianus by name, ministered to them all things necessary for sustenance. Golvenus too, now regenerated by holy baptism, he adopted as a son, and took care to have him educated in morals and letters. The parents being dead, in a wondrous manner blessed Golvenus progressed, both in virtues, and also in the studies of letters, whence by all he was pursued with great love, and was held as it were a Saint, and was honored. For while still set in boyhood, he gave forth miracles, and healed the sick by the sole imposition of hands.
[3] But truly when he was strong with such great virtues, fearing lest he be tickled by the goads of vainglory: Adopted by a rich man, he withdraws into solitude. he believed he must fly to the secret places of the wilderness. Soon therefore, no one knowing his purpose, he withdrew into a certain horrid desert: and when there he had constructed a little cell c from twigs and the leaves of trees, he began in a wondrous manner to afflict his body, with vigils and fasts. But in this desert for many courses of years he remained unknown to men: he used barley bread and the roots of herbs for the sustenance of life: once a day he was wont to go forth from the cell, and walked around the cell, making three stations, and in each one he prayed for the happy state of the church, for Kings and Christian princes, and most devoutly embraced and kissed the three crosses, which he had placed in these three stations, and so afterwards returned to the cell.
[4] At that time, when many pirates, d both Normans and other idolaters, He foretells victory over the pirates; were devastating and plundering Britain with their incursions, a certain e powerful and magnanimous Count, a great army being gathered, wished to war them down. But before he attacked them, he came to the man of God, and asked the support of his prayers. But the holy anchorite said to him, that he should proceed securely against the enemies, because he was about to war them down. The Count, this answer received, went away and with God's help put the enemies to flight. Therefore returning victorious to the man of God, he found him prostrate upon the earth, and having his hands in the manner of a cross and praying for the Count's victory. Who when he had greeted him, and attributed to him the victory carried off from the enemies, the Man gravely rebuked him, saying, that the victory was not to be attributed to his own merits, but to the goodness and power of God. On a certain day when he had sent a man, by name Madenus, to a certain very rich rustic, who was wont to give him alms, that whatever he had at hand, he should send to him: he hastening to the rustic, reported to him the words of the man of God. But the rustic, since he was giving his labor to agriculture, had nothing in his hands except a plow. But since he was unwilling to send the messenger back empty to the man of God, taking turbid water he poured it into the lap of the messenger, which immediately was turned into the best gold. f
[5] and unwilling he is set over the church of Léon. Meanwhile it happened, that holy Paul Bishop of Léon, who at that time flourished in sanctity, migrated from this world: who a little before he died, convoking the chiefs of his city, said to them: That it had been divinely revealed to him, that Golvenus the anchorite g should succeed him in the episcopate. Wherefore he asked them, that they should elect this holy Man after his death. Which they also did: for Bishop Paul being dead, they elected him, and placed him unwilling h in the pontifical chair. Made Bishop he began most excellently to perform his office, and to govern wisely and prudently the people entrusted to him. At length when he had shone with many miracles, old and full of days he fell asleep in the Lord, in the year of the Lord six hundred. i
ANNOTATIONS.
LITTLE APPENDIX On the Miracles. From Albert le Grand.
Golvenus, Bishop of Léon, in Armorican Britain (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
Of the many miracles by which he shone after death, the cited author collects fifteen. 1, Of a girl, freed from paralysis through his intercession. 2, Of an infant saved from the burning of a rustic house, its cradle and linens being burned. 3, Of a merchant's charters, which when malevolent men had studiously tried to burn, by the help of St. Golvenus, were snatched whole and untouched from the fire. 4, Of the punished vanity of a little woman, who tried to adorn herself with profane dress for the Saint's festival. 5, Another punishment taken upon a rustic, who had stolen his neighbor's ram, whose knife clung to his contracted hand, until, the crime being confessed before the Saint, he promised to make good the damage. 6, Another could never warm, much less cook, his neighbor's wether, however great a fire was kindled; who, the fault acknowledged, restored the theft, and gave thanks to the Saint. 7, Of a certain soldier, a plunderer of the goods of St. Golvenus's church, afflicted with a terrible punishment in himself and his own; 8, Which is again confirmed by another and equal miracle. 9, A certain religious Briton, by name Hervaeus, is freed from fever by drinking water from St. Golvenus's spring. 10, Three boys living and sound, are led out from a house consumed by flames. 11, A submerged infant, brought to St. Golvenus, is recalled to life. 12, A fire quenched at the invocation of the Saint. 13, A woman surrounded by sea waters, the Saint protecting, is not submerged. 14, A lost horse, by a rustic, commending the matter to the Saint, is unexpectedly found. 15, And the year of the last miracle is expressed, namely 1187, when Henry King of the English is said to have devastated lesser Britain with iron and fire. At which time there was one who vowed his house and all his goods to St. Golvenus, whereby it came about, that, other houses neighboring and adjoining being consumed by fire, that house alone which had been dedicated to the Saint, stood untouched.