Valerius

ON ST. VALERIUS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR

AT COUSERANS IN NOVEMPOPULANIA.

Valerius, Bishop and Confessor, at Couserans in Novempopulania (S.)

J. B. S.

Consoranum, Consorannum, or Consoranna, Consuaranna, commonly Conserans, Couserans, and Coserans, or St. Lizier de Conserans, its appellation taken from the name of St. Licerius, Bishop of the same place, First marked in the Fasti by Molanus, is a city which, as it is described by the brothers of Sainte-Marthe, is situated in Novempopulania, or Gascony, under the metropolitan see once of Eauze, now of Auch, in an elevated place, toward which is seen a plain, which the Salat, a modest river, running down from the Pyrenean mountains, waters, at last unloading its waters into the Garonne. For a fuller knowledge of the city you will find more there; concerning the situation let what has been said suffice. The first Bishop there, St. Gregory of Tours being witness, was he of whom we are here to treat, St. Valerius, nowhere known in the ancient Martyrologies, so that his first announcement among the Saints is owed to Jean Molanus, writing thus in his additions to Usuard on this day: The deposition of St. Valerius the Confessor, first Bishop of Couserans, concerning whom the blessed Gregory of Tours, On the Glory of the Confessors chapter 84. These things have been added in small type, with the note of the letter Q, which never sufficiently indicates whence Molanus drew his material. Whatever meanwhile it may be, neither is a Martyrologist more ancient than Molanus cited by anyone, nor have I found an older one who mentioned St. Valerius. The day of his death no one has been able to hand down, but for establishing the annual solemnity we think we must stand by the suffrage of Molanus.

Molanus is followed by Canisius in his German Martyrology, and Ferrari in the general Catalogue of the Saints, then by more recent writers, whose words are these: At Couserans in Aquitaine, St. Valerius the Bishop. Saussay, in an ampler phrase, said not much more, but in more words, showing that he had read the elogium of Gregory of Tours. Let us give his words: At Conserans in Gascony, St. Valerius, first Bishop of that city, and Confessor, whose praises St. Gregory in the book On the Glory of the Confessors commended with truthful praise. Soon after his death his own church celebrated the memory of his sanctity, and his reverend name Theodore, his most worthy successor,

honored by a basilica founded in his memory. The like Castellanus hands down in his Universal Martyrology, which it will be more pleasing to learn from the source itself, and from it to perceive that the sanctity of our Valerius, celebrated by so notable a herald, has for so many centuries been known, received, and adorned with heavenly honors, at Couserans and elsewhere.

Ruinart confesses, in the recent edition of the works of St. Gregory of Tours, that it is uncertain at what time he lived; but if some of the epochs of his successors are rightly marked among the brothers of Sainte-Marthe, and they succeeded one another immediately, the Saint would have had to live about the end of the fifth century, which I would not dare to assert, since the encomium of St. Gregory seems to designate remoter times. Of his deeds nothing at all is known, and his memory would perhaps have been buried forever, had not St. Gregory raised it up. Have now his narration from the cited chapter 84.

He is received from Gregory of Tours, who describes his finding. Valerius, blessed confessor, first Bishop of the people of Couserans, revealed himself in this manner. For he first had an oratory built over himself; but this, falling through neglect, it was given to oblivion in what place he rested: this only was reported by the inhabitants, that he had been buried before the holy altar. But Theodore the Bishop coming, and the oratory itself being enlarged into a greater space, made a great basilica: then, seeking the holy body of the venerable man, he found two tombs, but he did not know which of the two was that of the priest. Then, the clergy being called together, he celebrates vigils the whole night, praying that the blessed Confessor would set forth to him in what place he lay; and he filled two flasks with wine, and placed them upon each tomb, saying: In whichever the wine shall have been increased, let it be manifest that that is the burial of Valerius the Bishop: and when day came, going out of the basilica, and the doors being secured with seals, he gave his limbs to sleep. But rising at the third hour, he came to the holy basilica, and the doors being unlocked with clergy and people, he found one flask having a little wine; but the other so overflowing with open mouth that it washed the whole monument of the blessed Pontiff. By this therefore the Priest knew which was the tomb of Valerius the Bishop. But desiring to know still more evidently, he uncovers the monument, and the lid being removed, he found the venerable body very whole, of which neither had the hair fallen, nor the beard been diminished, nor was anything in the skin seen corrupt or foul; but all were unharmed, as if they had lately been laid away; and so great an odor of sweetness was fragrant from the tomb, that it was not doubted that the friend of God rested there. He had also laurel leaves strewn beneath him, of which the Bishop taking, gave medicine to many sick persons. From his garments therefore he took relics: and the tomb being covered again, he honored the venerable Bishop thereafter, seeing many miracles from these pledges in time to come. To these the brothers of Sainte-Marthe add these words: He is said to lie under a stone pavement, near the left horn of the church of St. Licerius. Thus far the notices, confused enough, which could be gathered concerning St. Valerius.

ON ST. BASIL AND THE SEVENTY MARTYRS

AT SCYTHOPOLIS.

The cult from the printed Menaea.

Basil, at Scythopolis (S.)

The Seventy Companion Martyrs, at Scythopolis

J. P.

The birthday of our Martyrs we have from the printed Menaea without elogium, on this fifth of July: The combat of the holy Martyr Basil and of his seventy companion Martyrs, who at Scythopolis obtained the laurel of martyrdom. This announcement Maximus, bishop of Cythera, transcribed. The memory of the Martyrs of Scythopolis is also read consecrated to public veneration in the Menaea of the Ambrosian library, and in the Menaeum of Chifflet, but there they are cited, the number seventy being omitted. Other things are hidden from me, which pertain to their fatherland, the manner of the martyrdom, the year of death, or the other circumstances of their triumph. In the Menology of Sirletus, which Canisius published, these Martyrs are referred to the sixth of this month.