ON ST. LEONORIUS
In the 6th Century.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Leonorius, Bishop and Confessor, in Armorican Britain (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
§. I. Fatherland, cult, translation to Paris and Beaumont.
If any was fruitful in Saints, especially Confessors, in the whole Church, certainly the sixth century was, and before the rest of the parts of the Christian world Gaul, indeed in this, most fertile Armorica, by the Britons migrating thither from the island of Britain, Among the stupendous lives of the Saints of Lesser Britain called thereafter Lesser Britain, which in an altogether singular manner, around those times, gleamed with holy men, driven thither from that greater British island nearly all. Among them shone forth most famous the disciples of St. Hiltut, master and doctor in Cambro-Britain or Wales, and apostles of the Armoricans, Samson, Gildas, Maglorius, Paul, and several others, both Bishops and presbyters, enumerated in Cointius at the year 520 no. 8, whose illustrious deeds are reviewed. Concerning Gildas treatment was made on January 29, concerning Paul, on March 12; concerning others elsewhere: concerning the rest treatment will be made in its place. There was therefore occasion sometimes to speak of the colonies, which from the island of Britain, miserably depopulated by the Saxons and other peoples, withdrew into that part of Gaul, but especially of the Saints, either crossing over with others, or separately with companion monks, so prodigiously, as their Acts relate, conveyed into those same parts, that for the most part those things are very suspect, which in such wondrous ways, with no faith, with no authority, are narrated. Often our predecessors openly professed, that those various Legends, in which the deeds of the British Saints crossing into Armorica are comprised, are involved with so many entangled, doubtful, and wondrous histories, that it is most difficult to separate the true from the false, or to draw out the truth from long histories dramatically embellished; so that Lobineau, a most illustrious writer of British history, book 1 no. 28, preferred to be silent about them, than to excerpt any historical monuments thence.
[2] The Acts of St. Leonorius to be placed, In the number of such fictions seems to be placed the life of St. Leonorius the Bishop, likewise a Cambro-Briton, whether the longer, somewhat mutilated, or the shorter arranged in nine lessons, which long held a place in the Breviary of St. Malo, from the edition of the year 1517, transmitted to us on December 10, 1689, by the Lord Syndic of the Chapter, Peter, whose surname seems to be Eon. Those lessons were extracted and for some part amplified, for another, contracted, from the longer Legend, which the most distinguished man Andreas du Chesne, most known for his most illustrious work on the Writers of the history of the Franks, long ago communicated to Bolland, drawn, as is noted in the margin, from some codex of Arras. But that one, hitherto unedited, filled with wondrous prodigies, sketched from other Legends, and adorned to the point of stupefaction, seems; as du Chesne sufficiently noted, volume 1 page 536, editing the fragment, from which all prodigies have been studiously expunged. We have the Paris Breviary, edited in 1584, in which the commemoration of St. Leonorius is made in the octave of St. John the Baptist, from the common of a Confessor Pontiff, as also is now kept at St. Malo's, the proper offices of that church so testifying, which exist among us, more recently printed, but the year not appended in our copy. Castellanus moreover related, and with his own hand appended to our Manuscript lessons, that the aforesaid commemoration of St. Leonorius was removed from the Paris Breviary in 1607; but by what cause this was done, he did not indicate.
[3] For the rest, those nine lessons from the proper of the Saints of St. Malo, which it is a wonder Albert was ignorant of. I would dare to suspect were altogether expunged, because they had begun to be suspected of fiction and forgery, as indeed they ought to be, since they far transcend the limits of probability. This I plainly wonder at, that there came not to the notice of Albert le Grand of Morlaix, that is, as some translate, of Mont-Relax, either the aforesaid lessons, or the more prolix Acts, with which he could have augmented his collection, swollen with portentous and spurious documents of this kind, not about to go into wholly opposite parts, while he either himself arranged the chronological series of the Bishops of Rennes, or received it badly digested from Augustin du Paz. There certainly those authors invented all things quite otherwise, but which rest on no greater probability than the cited Acts; while Maximinus and Synchronius, the first Bishops of Rennes, with perpetual succession, are brought down even to Constantine the Great, in whose time, eighth in order, is placed our St. Leonorius, and so he is two and more centuries older than he is represented in the Acts; so that accordingly I do not fear to assert, that scarcely anything certain about the age or deeds of St. Leonorius remains, and that only some fame of his name began to grow current, around the end of the tenth century, when his relics were brought from Britain to Paris.
[4] There is no need of a long proof to establish this; Memory in the Usuardine ones, on the occasion of the translation; since no monuments worthy of credence can be exhibited, nor in any ancient or classical Martyrologies is the memory of St. Leonorius anywhere inserted; perhaps in the eleventh century, in the Prato codex of Usuard; whether truly or pretendedly an autograph, likewise in the codex from which Muneratus published his Usuard, and in another Ms. of the Queen of Sweden, marked no. 428, which also was in use at Paris, it is inscribed: from Muneratus it passed into Molanus, from him into Canisius and Ferrari. All of which show, that the name of St. Leonorius became known at Paris alone, on the occasion of the translation of his relics. But how confused that memory was, from this too it evidently appears, that nothing distinct, indeed not even the place of his episcopate, could be assigned, for the more ancient codices of Prato and of Muneratus read thus most simply: In Britain, of St. Leonorius Confessor and Bishop. Nor does Saussay add anything more, thus in the Supplement page 1139 proclaiming in his more sublime style: Likewise in lesser Britain, of St. Leonorius Bishop and Confessor, illustrious both by the open coruscation of miracles, and by the ancient veneration of the faithful. Which veneration brought into France, may have been the cause why the people of Beaumont or others, thought a life should be composed, after the example of the other British Legends, lest their Saint should seem less wondrous than the rest: so however that in the whole history, not a word occurs, by which you might probably establish anything even by divining about his episcopate. But why du Chesne wishes it composed in greater Britain, I shall say below in the annotations. In the Florarium of the Saints it is read even more simply: Likewise of Leonarius bishop and confessor.
[5] Observing this perhaps, our Simon Mothier in the annotations to his recent version of the Roman Martyrology page 418, and a little more distinctly by more recent writers. makes St. Leonorius a regionary Bishop in Britain, such as in Lobineau are reckoned to have been Mansuetus, St. Brioc, and St. Samson. Castellanus moreover, in the Universal Martyrology, says, that he was a disciple of St. Iltut, who had been instructed by St. Germanus of Paris. In which the most learned man erred, for Iltut is older than Germanus of Paris, nor is the one handed down to have been in Gaul, any more than this one in Britain: but all others write that Iltut, or Hidultus, if he was the disciple of any Germanus the Gaul, was of Germanus of Auxerre, while this one in Britain was destroying the Pelagian heresy: although this too is not without grave difficulty. Meanwhile both Mothier and Castellanus agree in this, that the relics of St. Leonorius, with the relics of very many other Saints of lesser Britain, were first brought to Paris under Duke Hugo, around the end of the tenth century, from St. Saviour's; but these of our Saint, separately came to Beaumont-sur-Oise, in the diocese of Beauvais, whence a priory of the church; where existing, it took its name from St. Leonorius. And these alone, with any certainty, have been handed down to memory about our Saint, on the occasion of which, as I was just saying, that Legend was composed, which perhaps neglected, has hitherto at least been edited entire by no one.
[6] the history first edited by du Chesne. The above-praised most distinguished man Andreas du Chesne, in volume 3 of the history of the Frankish Writers page 344, in a fragment of Frankish history brought down from Louis the Pious to Robert son of Hugh Capet, first, if I am not mistaken, produced the narration of that translation, thence transcribed by Gérard du Bois (du Bois) in volume 1 of the history of Paris from page 547, and again by Mabillon in the appendix of volume 3 of the Benedictine Annals from page 719. The year, in which the aforesaid translation was made, Mabillon leaves undecided, referring to du Bois; from whose opinion page 550, the thing must have happened in the year 965 (Castellanus notes 966), Salvator Bishop of Aleth, with some British monks, carrying the sacred remains to Paris. As to us; among the bodies of the Saints are numbered those of Samson, archpriest of Dol; of Maglorius, of the same priest; of Machutus the Bishop, of Senator the Bishop, of Leonorius the Bishop, etc. I know that concerning the translations of these Saints some controverted matters occur, both about their various placing, and about the year in which they happened; but these do not concern us, who think we have uncovered much, that we have found the name of Leonorius expressed.
[7] The relics at Beaumont, And this is that first received in France, unless I am most vehemently mistaken, memory of St. Leonorius the Bishop, to which afterwards, lest he should be less famous than the other British-Armorican Saints, Acts were adapted, the sacred body being retained in France, as in the cited chronological fragment follows: Peace therefore flourishing and thriving in all Gaul and Normandy, certain of those, who had come to Paris from Britain, by a divine nod, as we believe, the bodies of the Saints being taken, which they had brought thither with themselves, namely of the kindly Samson, and of the blessed Leonorius and of St. Wenalis, and of certain other Saints; certain of them disposed to return to their fatherland, certain to migrate to other places of Gaul……. And so departing, some sought the castle of Corbeil, others Beaumont. Indeed to Beaumont was conveyed the body of St. Leonorius, as we said above, his veneration remaining at Paris, even in the ecclesiastical office, by the testimony of Castellanus, who with his own hand wrote to our larger Acts: Cult at Paris Of St. Leonorius a commemoration was made at Paris until the year 1607, in the octave of St. John the Baptist; and it was made already in the year 1229, as appears from the small Pastoral. This therefore is the true origin of the more famous cult, but which can contribute nothing to safeguarding the trustworthiness or sincerity of the Acts.
§. II. The Acts not genuine; Albert's hallucination.
I confess indeed, that I long doubted, whether it was expedient to insert into our work a Legend so studiously decked out, Lobineau's opinion about the Acts, mutilated besides and incomplete, but lest by our own sole judgment we render and reject monuments of this kind as suspect; it seemed good, to expose it to the judgment of readers, for examining, whether Lobineau felt rightly in the whole, when in book 2 no. 176, he thus prudently estimated: Although the ancient Britons, he says, brought from their island a genius accustomed to forging little fables, with which they especially sprinkled the Legends of the Saints; it is nevertheless to be presumed, that this is rightly attributed to them, that we may at least believe, that the very names of the Saints and the chief circumstances of their lives are not supposititious. To the prudent judgment I gladly subscribe; for it is not credible, that the name of St. Leonorius was falsely thrust upon us: but of all the circumstances of the life, Lobineau himself seems to have approved only two, chapter 189, thus writing: Leonorius or Lunarius the Briton Bishop, born and consecrated in Wales, in the time of Comorrus hid himself in solitude near Aleth, to which to this day from St. Leonorius (S. Lunaire) the name was imposed. (Castellanus prefers to render in French S. Linuere.) If the Acts there cited by Lobineau are similar to ours, it is evident, that very few circumstances are adopted by him: namely the first, that he was a Cambro-Briton Bishop; the other, that he led the eremitic life in Armorica in the time of Comorrus, slain with Cramnus in the famous battle, in which Clotaire conquered his rebel son in the year 560. Whence it is clear, that he was contemporary with SS. Samson, Maglorius, Paul, and so many others, inhabiting Armorica at that very same time.
[9] Of the remaining circumstances of those Acts Lobineau had nothing, as the incredible things stand. that he would dare to vend for certain; nor am I, to confess candidly, so credulous, as to easily admit so many concatenated portents without faithful and approved witnesses, especially since neither the author, nor the time in which the Acts were written, nor anything else becomes known, on which even slender motives of credibility could be founded. Add that many things seem received from the Acts of others, yet so exaggerated, that they appear different. Most happy was St. Samson in learning thoroughly in a short time in letters: but Leonorius immensely surpasses, who in nearly three days knew all things. The access to the Frankish court of King Childebert, the miracles there wrought, the possessions received as a gift for building and founding a monastery, Judualus snatched from the pursuing tyrant Comorrus; all these things savor no less of the Acts of the most famous holy Samson, edited among the Benedictine ones by Mabillon volume 1, from page 165, about which we shall discourse more on the 28th of this month of July. These have been adduced as a specimen, so that the reader may understand what is to be judged about the Acts of St. Leonorius.
[10] I, all things being weighed to an exact balance of truth, What is probable about the Saint. as I think can be granted as true, that St. Leonorius, perhaps also educated in the school of St. Hiltut with so many other Saints, was ordained by St. Dubricius, first Bishop of Llandaff then of the city of Leon, after the custom of that time, a Bishop without a see, and either with Samson and Maglorius, consecrated by the same and in the same way, or with other companions crossed over into Armorica, that with apostolic zeal he might instruct that people in Christian laws; just as so many others before by St. Patrick, others moreover initiated by St. Willibrord, we show below to have been in Belgium in the next centuries thereafter, in the commentary on the Acts of St. Rumold. If this pleases less; say, that he fled from fear of the Saxons with companion monks, that in solitude he might more securely and quietly serve the Lord; and that at the time in which Comorrus, Judualus being expelled, was occupying the tyranny, that is some years before the sixtieth of the sixth century. Whether the remaining narrations, with which the Acts are woven, are to be tolerated or rejected, is to be left to the judgment of learned readers, to whom we propose also the Albertine opinion to be examined, from the chronology of the Bishops of Rennes, which he testifies he received from Augustin du Paz, drawn from ancient sheets, never before seen, and compared with the apograph of Oger and Burrée, as you have it there page 5. It is moreover an instrument of this kind:
[11] Albert's commentary is weighed At the time when Lazarus, together with his sisters Mary Magdalene and Martha, after the threats of a prepared shipwreck, coming to Gaul, was teaching and ruling the church of Marseille; Trophimus the disciple of Paul was instructing the church of Arles: Sedonius, who had been born blind, most eloquent, in the borders of Aix; Saturninus of Toulouse; Dionysius the Areopagite, with companions, the Parisians; Martial the Limousins; Urbinus after Stremonius, the Auvergnats; Gatianus the people of Tours; Sergius the Narbonnese; Lucianus the people of Beauvais; Maximinus with Synchronius (otherwise Suffenius) in Armorica visited and instructed the Red Town, which is called the city of Rennes, the Lord having mercy, and ruled the church of Rennes, set and built on high at the confluence of the rivers, and beside it an oratory (which is now called the CHAPEL OF THE CITY), the vain image of Tethys being removed thence to the west, the Bishop consecrated to God under the invocation of the blessed Mary Virgin Mother of God, the tower of the vision of the Old Gods being purged, and the idol of Isis being cast down on the other side to the east, and himself proceeding farther, he dismissed a successor of his episcopate, Synchronius, to whom succeeding Rambertus, joined to himself there many disciples. Several names here are corrupt; but the sheet errs more clearly in the name of Rambertus, such as before the entry of the Franks, I judge was never known in all Gaul. Thus it proceeds:
[12] about the first Bishops of Rennes. To Rambertus Servius and to Servius Justus, who, in the persecution of Marcus Antoninus and Secundus Commodus agitating Gaul, was crowned with martyrdom. In the persecution of Decius Honoratus, Bishop of the same church, was beheaded. In the persecution of Diocletian Placidus the Bishop, a glorious martyr, fell. Leonorius in the time of great Constantine, peace being restored to the whole Church; the pious assembly of the faithful growing, arose as the desired pastor for the city of Rennes, and consecrated for himself as cathedral church that more ample basilica, which is seen at Rennes, of St. Peter the prince of the Apostles, the idols of the pagans being cast down. Thus far the little commentary, which not even Albert himself dares to defend entire, especially in that part where he brings those first and famous apostles of the cities, against the testimony of Gregory of Tours, into Gaul in the first century of the Christian era. But about Maximinus the first Bishop of the people of Rennes, and so about all the rest of the series, he does not doubt at all. Let him himself abound in his own sense; for us it remains, to exhibit the Acts themselves faithfully from the manuscript.
LIFE. Transcribed from the Arras Manuscript by the distinguished man Andreas du Chesne.
Leonorius, Bishop and Confessor, in Armorican Britain (S.)
BHL Number: 4881
FROM THE MSS.
CHAPTER I. On the Saint's birth, prodigious progress in letters, and on his passage into Gaul, with nearly perpetual miracles, and his access to the Frankish court.
There was a certain most noble man in the parts of Britain, by name Hoeloc, and his wife was called Almapompa. Born through a revelation, To whom it was revealed by the Lord through an angel, that a son should be born to them, whose name should be Leonorius, and by divine command should be handed over to studies. But blessed Leonorius being born, and made five years old, his parents lead him to school, and commend him to Heltut a a most wise man. But divine virtue granted to blessed Leonorius such grace, that on the first day he learned the names of all the letters; on the second, in three days he learns letters. their conjunctions; on the third, the knowledge of writing. b Then daily in the meaning of the scriptures and in the praises of God he so flourished, that through all the region his praise and fame went out, and a multitude of peoples frequently came to see him, and brought him many gifts, which receiving, he distributed to the needy, orphans, widows, and retained nothing for his own use. And when he was fifteen years old, all the men of that region with one consent, with one voice, desired and exhorted that he should come to the honor of the episcopate. c
[2] By divine disposition therefore made Bishop, with 73 disciples, Made Bishop, he passed into Gaul; besides others, deputed to the service of the brothers, he boarded a ship, and crossed into Gaul, d where with his brothers he leveled a wood. When his brothers were fatigued in laboring, an angel of the Lord one night stood by blessed Leonorius, saying: Tomorrow hasten to make six yokes of oxen, knives, plowshares, and all utensils convenient for plowing. These being completed, command them to be placed in the field, from which the leveled wood was divinely overturned in the morning. where, a revelation received, Christ will work for you an unheard-of e miracle, from which through many present and future generations the omnipotence of his majesty may be glorified. The twilight of dawn too being passed, and the nocturnal synaxis now completed, he summarily discloses to the brothers what was revealed to him. Then, all the utensils being diligently made, commanded for his plowing, he orders them to be carried into the said field. But the second day pressing on, they see twelve very large stags, as if prepared to sweat at something; and before them lay one most huge stag, slain by their horns.
[3] But the man of the Lord, understanding the divine gift, orders the stag to be flayed, he joins 12 stags to the plow; and from its hide to cut thongs. Then afterwards the stags, twelve in number, approaching the plows, bow down their necks, that yokes might be placed upon them; and immediately at the Father's command the brothers accomplish it. By the admirable dispensation of God omnipotent, concordant, with equal advance and retraction, without any goading of those touching them, plowing they drew the whole day, until the hour of the day fitting for releasing the oxen from labor. and the work completed he dismisses them. But that pressing on, they remained fixed to the ground, until they were unyoked; then immediately, released, they ran together to the pastures. But morning being come they returned to their yoke. Thus accustomed for five weeks and three days to the daily labor, except the Lord's day. Afterwards standing in a flock before the footsteps of St. Leonorius, they ask leave to depart. Whom blessing with his hand, he orders them to withdraw fearlessly. And so the brazen-footed ones seek the most hidden woods, never thereafter seen.
[4] Then sowing the field, But to St. Leonorius, the brothers associated with him persisting in the praises of God, the opportune time of sowing came. Then the man of the Lord himself, with his own hand, with the rest of the brothers, wished to sow the whole field. But on a certain day when he wished to know, how the harvest prospered, three disciples being taken, he goes to it. But while he rested upon his staff at the head of the field, there appeared the form of a golden ram in the earth, which the moles by digging the earth around in their custom had uncovered. Which extracted from the place, he said: Gold befits Kings, not priests, he finds a golden ram: which afterwards as a great gift he presented to King Childeric. f But from that field, in the first year, according to the Gospel word, he gathered the hundredfold multiplied fruit, and the sixtyfold every year. But at that time Childeric King of France ruled, and at the same time of transmarine Britain. And so, the fame of his sanctity g being heard, he prayed him to come to him. Who, obeying the King's will, some brothers being taken, began to go.
[5] whom, about to present to the King, But when he had come to the river Rhine at a village called Mortrue, h it happened by chance at his arrival, that two blind men beside the way, by which the Man of the Lord walked, begging the things that were necessary for them, were conversing with one another. Of whom one said: It seemed to me in dreams the past night, that a certain Prelate, reverend in aspect, clear of eyes, with glad face, an Angle i by race, Leonorius by name, with a cheerful countenance questioned me, with these words: Are you a Christian? To whom I answered; regenerated by the perennial font, I adore the true omnipotent [God] of the holy and undivided Trinity. k And he immediately anointing with spittle mixed and blessed oil, applies it to the orbs of their l eyes, and the sign of the life-giving Cross being made, blessing, he was enlightening me. This heard, the Man of the Lord is filled with joy. And approaching prone he said: If those things, brother, which you said, are true, let us act according to the order of the thing shown, the name of Christ being invoked, and he said: Jesus Christ, the Word of God, who restored sight to the man born blind, may he himself grant you what you ask, through my entreaty, and soon at this voice of the Saint the blind man saw most clearly; praising and glorifying the name of the Lord. he wondrously heals two blind men. But the other blind man, knowing his companion enlightened, began to pray the Man of God, that sight be restored to him by him; but he was a Catechumen, to whom blessed Leonorius answered, do you believe the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit? And he, I believe. To whom the Man of the Lord, as you have believed be it done to you. And he anointed his eyes as also the former one's, and one eye was opened, but the other remained blind. The Servant of God seeing this, understood that he was not truly a Christian, and said: Confess your sins. But he, I am not yet baptized. To whom St. Leonorius: Do you wish to be baptized? Who said: I wish, and he baptized him. Reborn in the perennial font, he received remission of sins, and at the same time the sight of the other eye.
[6] Therefore blessed Leonorius, coming to the palace of King Childebert, m found a man weeping, Coming to the royal court, the sinews of his hips crushed, drawing himself by the support of footstools; from whom an insolent youth, a satellite of the King, had taken the footstools. Whom beholding, blessed Leonorius said: Why do you weep? To whom the sick man: Because this proud youth had taken away my footstools. The holy Prelate turning to the youth, beseeches, that he return them. But he most proud, even disdains to answer anything to the servant of God. he helps the other wretch, Then the servant of the Lord, taking with him three wise and noble men, said to the youth: He who despises the poor man, reproaches his maker: do not persevere with so obstinate a spirit; but earnestly I pray, return, I pray, the footstools to the wretch. To whom on the contrary, puffed up with a diabolical answer, he said: What is it to you? Who appointed you my Lord? Who you are, and whence, I know not, and for you I do nothing. Then St. Leonorius, moved with mercy over the needy and poor man, approached him, and prayer being poured out to God, said: In the name of the Savior Jesus Christ, rise sound and walk. And he quickly rising, but punishes the insolent courtier. feeling nothing of evil in any of his members, all seeing, leaped up glad. And so the Prelate, mindful that it was the saying of the Psalmist who says, the face of the Lord is upon those who do evil, and he will destroy their memory from the earth, angered said to the youth: What you took from the sick man, from now let them be necessary to you, and immediately he fell to the earth, who before was lifted up with pride.
[7] But Childebert the King and his wife, named Ultrogotha, While he performs the sacred rites before the King, and the magnates of the kingdom met the holy Prelate in haste, and his episcopal blessing being sought, rejoicing they conduct him. And this is not to be passed over in silence, that on the morrow a sign evidently appeared. The said King entreating with most humble prayer, that he would celebrate before him the divine mysteries, to declare the purity of his life, and the sanctity of his soul: while the venerable man and worthy of God, his eyes intent on heaven, took off his sleeved garment, and hoped to place it to the right side, a ray of the sun going forth through the window, took it up strongly, and as if first in order, on that thin solar ray the garment hung. n But when, adorned with the priestly fillet, he had approached the altar, he hangs his garment on a solar ray. two doves, whiter than snow, were seen to descend from heaven, one indeed upon his shoulder, the other remained upon the altar, until the divine celebration of the mystery was solemnly completed. This was given to certain ones pure in heart to see, and they themselves who saw, and all who heard, were struck by the immense miracle.
ANNOTATIONS.
* For weeks (Septimanis).
CHAPTER II. On other miracles wrought; on the royal liberality; and how he snatched Judualus from the raging Comorrus.
This too of the happy deeds of St. Leonorius is worthy to be admired. The following night, the holy man departing from the King's banquet, Offering him a venerated cup and going to sleep, the friends and relatives of the youth mentioned a little above, contrived to extinguish him with poison, such a guile being devised. Three cupbearers, by the King's order, for the sake of true affection, are directed after him, with cups confected with precious spices, among whom they made him go before, who bore the death-bearing cup. Who coming stood before him. Immediately the man of God understood, and said: I, already unshod this night, will take cups only from the unshod. a Who immediately glad draw the shoes from their feet. But he who served the death-bearing draught approached nearer. he is extinguished by a sudden death; But the man of God sitting on the bed, and when the cup had been offered to be blessed, the venerable Leonorius, his hand extended, gave the sign of the Cross, and the vessel, which was held full of poison, by that same sign broke, and fell upon the feet of him holding it, and that night extinguished him. This seen, those three, terrified with fear, report all things to the King.
[9] But the King and Queen with their magnates in the morning prostrate at the Saint's feet, but he is raised up by the Saint's prayer. beg that he would deign to raise the dead man. To whom the man of God ordered, that they should carry his body to the door of the church. When the priest of God had come there with the brothers; he bent his knee, and over the body of the dead man prayed long, and raising himself, stretched his palms to heaven, saying: Lord, into this little body restore the spirit justly taken away. Scarcely had he completed the words in prayer, and the soul returning, the whole body trembled, so that by a marvelous concussion it appeared, to have palpitated tremulously. Soon holding his hand, he said; In the name of our Lord Jesus rise, and from now do not do such things.
[10] Which seen, the King and all who were present, vehemently terrified, began to honor the man of God more, The golden ram being handed to the King, and the King ordered to be brought gold, silver, precious gems, and garments woven with gold. To whom the servant of God answered: Nothing of these do I take; but I hand over the golden ram, worth three thousand silver solidi: b for which grant to me and my successors as much of your land, in perpetual inheritance, as it is said to be worth. And so the King willingly granted, handing over to him four miles placed on every side of his monastery: [and] he added; This gift for the golden ram I grant. For the rest, for me and my wife, and offspring, I add as much of estates from my transmarine c treasury, he obtains a wondrous donation. as a space the ringing of your bell d shall run over, placed upon the summit of a lofty mountain. Meanwhile the friends and kinsmen of the said most insolent youth, prostrate at the knees of the holy Prelate, offered very great gifts, demanding that health be restored to the ill-deserving youth. To whom the venerable Leonorius answered: The gifts of a sinner are not accepted by God: but that the works of God may be manifested in him, let him follow our journey to Britain, and there he will recover full health.
[11] The punished youth is ordered to follow him. When therefore from the flowers of his virtues and the grace of his signs, both the King's court bloomed with fair beauty, and as a certain splendor of light he had shone forth to this world, and had filled it far and wide with the fragrance of his odor, at length leave being received from the King, with the greatest honor he returned to Britain his fatherland, whom the sick youth followed, with a great retinue, as the blessed man had promised, there health most fully received, again returned to France.
[12] By the sound of a bell At the same time the man of God, distinguished in all things, and in word and deed simply observing the apostolic saying, admonishing him who is set over others in solicitude, was zealous to fulfill the munificence of King Childebert, as he had commanded. And so the King's procurators being convoked, he ascends a mountain, places the sign of a bell above, strikes with the clapper, the sound flies out by the nod of God so much more amply, that it was heard around in equal measure, at four miles. But blessed Leonorius and the royal ministers descending, walk through the places in which the brazen voice had sounded. They question those dwelling in that land, if the ringing their ears had perceived. For the most part, as is wont, some kindled by the splendor of truth, profess truly what they had heard, others impiously lying, suffused in the earth with the darkness of falsehood, he circumscribes the limits of the possessions. denied that they had heard. But the holy Pontiff, ordering the truthful witnesses to his right hand, said: May Christ, the true Lord, fill them with opulence of all fruits in the present life, and when He comes make those about to sit judge in the other part. Then to those derogating from the truth, he said: Whoever, the bell being heard sounding, f denied, let them remain in want: let their land persevere sterile and unfruitful. For three years it produced only tares and brambles.
[13] Judualus sought for slaughter, Lo, among the other virtues of St. Leonorius, this work worthy of your piety and blessedness I think to insinuate, in which the mind full of the Saint's piety, and the victorious divine hand appear to come together into one. There existed therefore a certain British Duke, Rigualdus by name, having a wife g and a son, who, prevented by death, left both. But a most nefarious man, by name Commorus, invaded the dukedom, and violently took his wife, the son of Rigualdus, named Judualus, being deprived of dignity and honor. Meanwhile the mother of the boy saw in dreams, h that her son sat on the top of an outstretched mountain, to whom the Chiefs of the Britons coming, the rods which they were seen to bear in their hands, with downcast face offered to Judualus. But he, having taken them, rising most quickly went before all, who followed in a rearward order, worthily exulting. The Mother awakening, ignorant what the dream portended, one by one discloses it to her husband Commorus. Immediately moved with gall, indignant grievously, he said: Shall your son reign in this fatherland over me? For certain know, found in the early morning he shall be beheaded, and from now shall lack the dukedom shown to you.
[14] by the mother's warning She this heard, exceedingly terrified with grief for her son, an occasion being found, rises from the bed, and a girl being called, ordered all cruel things alike to say i ….. to the stepson of Commorus, namely her own son, she commands, that most quickly by fleeing he snatch his safety. He, the mother's command heard, as quickly as possible rises, and with all speed entered upon flight, ignorant by whose endeavor he could be protected: when suddenly, God inspiring, mindful of the fame of blessed Leonorius, fleeing to the Saint, which sprinkled far and wide, especially in the part which is set under the axis of the west, k had come, under his protection, Christ leading, he came, discloses the whole matter. Whom the blessed Pontiff consoling with fatherly affection, said: Manfully trust in God, and He himself will free you from the most iniquitous invader of your patrimony, Commorus. Meanwhile securely remain in the morning with us.
[15] And so the splendor of rosy Phoebus irradiating the world, the hands of his stepfather Comorrus Commorus rising from bed, threatening with grim mouth, panting with rage of heart, orders Judualus to be brought to him, that he might hand him to death. But hearing that he had slipped away in flight, fierce as a beast, his prey taken from him, he insists on pursuing, and a legation being sent, charges the holy Pontiff, that he restore to him his enemy. To whom blessed Leonorius answered: It is not of our discipline, to put men to death, but to make alive. But with a tempered answer, fearing lest Commorus violently, crowded with satellites, should take him away from him; tomorrow, he said, around the third hour, I will for certain show Judualus. But night pressing on, and mortals indulging in rest, the ship now prepared, he placed Judualus with his companions aboard. l
[16] On the morrow Commorus is present in haste, surrounded by a great pomp of soldiers, in a wondrous manner he escapes. requires the promised enemy to be shown to him. To whom St. Leonorius said: Look at that ship, and see, who stands in the middle, a youth, this is he whom you seek. Commorus seeing him, borne by fury, beset by rage, gave a blow on the face to the holy Pontiff, and turned back the reins of his foaming horse: immediately the avenging divinity was present. And so, shearing the sides of the horse with spurs, while he drives a swift course, suddenly the horn-footed one slips, and its neck dashed, lies slain. m Then Commorus's hip is broken in three parts: so Commorus is carried to his own home, and vexed with a long-lasting and incurable pain, tortured longer, expired. And so his death being heard, Judualus returns to his own seats in Britain. At length aided by the prayers of St. Leonorius, he deserved to receive entire his paternal honor without effusion of blood. n
ANNOTATIONS.
Since we have already shown above, that in the lessons of the Breviary of St. Malo some things are contained, which are lacking in the Acts, it seemed good to subjoin the same here.
* gifts (xenia).
LESSONS On St. Leonorius the Bishop. From the ancient Breviary for the use of the church of St. Malo, printed 1517.
Leonorius, Bishop and Confessor, in Armorican Britain (S.)
From the Breviary of St. Malo.
Nativity and ease of learning. After the Passion and Resurrection of our Lord, the Apostolic preaching grew through the whole world: so that many believed the Lord Jesus Christ to be the Redeemer of the world. But it came about, that to one most noble man, by name Eloc, and the name of his wife Almapompa, it had been revealed; that a son should be born to them, and that they should impose on him the name Leonorius. And so the boy being born, when he was five years old, his parents led him to school. And in him such divine grace shone, that on the first day, he learned the names of the letters altogether; on the second, the conjunctions; on the third, he had the knowledge of writing.
Lesson 2.
But when he was fifteen years of age, all the clergy and people of that region, At 15 years, he is made Bishop. though he much refusing: with one voice elected him to the honor of the episcopate. But when St. Dubricius in his ordination, with two other Bishops proceeded, and the brothers had cast themselves to bend their knees, they saw a dove emitted from heaven descend upon him, and remain constantly upon his right hand, until the whole office of his ordination was completed.
Lesson 3.
But St. Leonorius grew in the work of God from day to day. But on a certain day, while the Gospel was being read before him, He meditates departure, where the Lord says, unless one leaves father or mother etc., he thought, that he might become a disciple of Christ, a voice came to him, and said: Beloved of God Leonorius, you think well, do not delay to go beyond the sea, since there the nations await you, that you may convert them from the error of the pagans. He glad, awakening from sleep, the brothers being secretly convoked to him, narrated it: then they answered: Father, do what pleases you, and we will follow you wherever you go.
Lesson 4.
But it came about in that same region, all mourning, he came to the sea: and found a ship prepared to sail beyond the sea, and the tempest being calmed, and in it three men clothed in a most white garment: whom he greeted, saying: Peace to you. And he entered the ship with seventy-two disciples: but as they were sailing, lo a storm of wind blew. And, he sleeping, they threw nearly all things into the sea, together with his altar: but for fear they roused him, saying: Father, pray for our salvation. But St. Leonorius, making the sign of the cross, said: Save us, Jesus Christ, lest we perish, and immediately he calmed the sea. And to Pontual, God leading, they came.
Lesson 5.
But descending from the ship, he saw two doves whiter than snow, lifting the aforesaid altar with their claws from the deep sea, he receives the altar from angels. until, carrying it to the Saint, they said: Holy one of God Leonorius, lo we carry your altar. And know, that whoever from now shall swear falsely upon it, shall not reach a full year. Which from the deep sea was lifted by angelic hands. And so the Saint answering, said: I give you thanks, Lord Jesus Christ, because you have consoled me: I beseech your mercy, that you confirm the hearts of my brothers in your faith: lest they fail from want in this unknown region. And lo a voice from heaven saying: O beloved Leonorius, be mindful, that Jesus Christ satisfied five thousand men, from five loaves and two fishes. But those three, whom the Saint had found in the ship, appeared no more.
Lesson 6.
But after much time, when St. Leonorius was praying in a more secret place, lo one most white sparrow holding an ear of wheat in its mouth. A bird brings an ear of grain. St. Leonorius seeing this, made the sign of the cross, saying: Lord God omnipotent, I adore you, I praise you, I bless you, and I beseech your mercy, that this be not to me for a temptation of demons, and when he had said this, the bird flying descended before his feet, and turned to the bird, and calling one of his servants, he said to the winged one: In the name of Jesus Christ my master, I command you, that you go before this servant of God, even to the place, from which you took the ear. But the bird was flying. And the brother followed even to the place, where the wheat was: the brother seeing it rejoiced. And returning he narrated it to Leonorius. Then the Saint with the brothers praised God, saying: We praise you, O God, to the end. Then the Saint admonishing the brothers, that they should labor, said to them: He who does not labor, let him not eat: because idleness is the enemy of the soul.
Lesson 7.
After these things the brothers prepared themselves to labor, and rising at cockcrow, they celebrate the nocturnal vigils: but morning being come, they sweated at labor. Their companions wearied by labor, And about the ninth hour withdrawing from the work; they came to the oratory, praising and blessing God. Doing these things therefore every day, except the Lord's days, they began wearied to fail, and went to the Saint, and said: Father, we pray you, that you withdraw from this place, and lead us to another place, where the Lord may bestow solace on his servants. Then the Saint said to them: It is a diabolical temptation, be comforted in the Lord, and put on the armor of God; but morning being come he led his brothers to the wood and they adored. Then they found the wood overturned from heaven and pictured in the sea, and on that day they did nothing else, except to praise God. But again morning being come, the Saint going out with the brothers, to dig in the field, the brothers, wearied by too much labor, thought to flee by night, the master being ignorant. And this was revealed to blessed Leonorius: and he prayed God, that he would comfort his brothers.
Lesson 8.
Then an angel of the Lord appeared and said to him: Your prayer has been heard with God, stags plow. and rising in the morning, they found twelve stags in the field, domestic by the virtue of God, which with their horns had killed one of them. Then the Saint ordered the dead stag to be flayed: and from its hide thongs to be made for plowing, and ordered the other stags by the virtue of God to plow. Then the stags inclining their heads, as if for a blessing, completed the work. But the Saint blessing them, said: Go in peace. But St. Leonorius with his brothers persevered in prayers day and night, and when the time of sowing was at hand, he ordered the seed to be brought, and scatters it in the field; and it grew to the hundredfold and sixtyfold fruit. On another day while he went out into the field, he saw a golden ram, which the moles, in their wonted manner, had uncovered, which taking he brought, saying: gold befits Kings, not priests, and refused it, to be presented to King Gilbert.
Lesson 9.
King Gilbert therefore, who at that time reigned in France, hearing the fame of St. Leonorius, He goes to the King. and his virtues, sending a legation, ordered him to come to him. Without delay, he snatched the road with certain of the brothers. And while he made the journey, he enlightened two blind men in the village which is called Mortrue, one a Christian, the other a catechumen, who did not see, except from one eye, until he was baptized by the Saint. And these things being divulged, he came to the place, where the King was: who approaching the gate of the palace, healed a weeping paralytic. And a certain youth of the King's court, who had taken away the footstools of the paralytic, proudly deriding, nor, admonished by the holy man, would return them, he made fall into paralysis, needing footstools. Then the King, hearing these things, with the Queen and counts, came to meet the holy man and humbly adored. And at the King's petition, he approached to celebrate before the altar, and taking off certain sleeves from his arms, placed them on the sun's ray, which sustained them, until the office was completed.