ON ST. KETILLUS, CONFESSOR,
AT VIBORG IN DENMARK.
In the Year 1151.
Sylloge on his cult, deeds, age, and profession.
Ketillus, Confessor at Viborg in Denmark (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
Viborg, otherwise Wiborg, an episcopal city of the kingdom of Denmark under the archbishopric of Lund, is situated in Northern Jutland, near the Limfjord, distant 70 Roman miles from Ribe to the north and 40 from Aarhus to the west, Its cult of old is shown by the Breviary of Sleswick, almost midway between the German ocean and the Codan gulf, which John Isaac Pontanus describes at length in his Chorography of Denmark, page 663, extending its diocese to twelve German miles, in which there are two hundred and eighteen parish churches. In that city there must have been a congregation or chapter of canons regular of the Order of St. Augustine, into which St. Ketillus, being admitted, excelled with so great a fame of virtues and sanctity, that not only at Viborg, but also at Sleswick, nay even in the metropolitan church of Lund, he obtained religious veneration, however much we know no history of his life and deeds transmitted to posterity, except only the lessons which we found in the Breviary of Sleswick, cited by us at the Acts of St. Canute on the 10th of this month, and elsewhere, and printed at Paris in 1512, the Reverend in Christ Father and Lord, D. Godschalk of Alevelde, most worthy prelate, presiding over the See of Sleswick. Of the Lund one also we shall speak below, but here first the sacred Fasti must be treated.
[2] To Greven, in his additions to Usuard, we owe the first memory of St. Ketillus, and the more recent Martyrologies. without doubt taken from some Danish codex, which he thus announces on this day: In Denmark, the translation of St. Ketillus the presbyter and confessor. Molanus in his supplements, no mention being made of a translation, thus reads: At Viborg in Denmark, of St. Ketillus the confessor; whence Galesinius probably received his. Canisius described Greven in his German one, adding that the Saint is to be treated of more fully on September 27, on which day the praised Greven rightly observes that he died, whose words are these, again translated by Canisius: In Denmark, the Dormition of St. Ketillus the confessor, regular Provost of the church of Viborg; which same things, and on the same day, are read in Molanus. These Ferrarius cites and follows in the General Catalogue: At Viborg in Denmark, of St. Ketillus the presbyter. Castellanus, a scrupulous observer of the days of death, also referred the Saint to September 27, but in the margin, by a slip of memory, wrongly added the 9th century. And these things thus far, sufficiently undoubted for the cult: this seems strange, that in the Vitis Aquilonia of John Vastovius, into which so many Saints from Denmark are inserted, the name of St. Ketillus is altogether passed over, nor is anything of his deeds found handed down to memory elsewhere, except the lessons, as I already said, of the Breviary of Sleswick, which we here describe.
[3] Lesson I. The blessed man of the Lord Ketillus, sprung of an illustrious lineage, In the Sleswick one his virtues are praised, when he was still of tender age, began to be devout to God, and by true innocence and holy simplicity to please God and men. But his parents, dwelling in the confines of the town of Randers in the village of Wynghe, since they were rich, by the instinct of the mother, who feared and loved God more, judged it fitting to hand over their son to the studies of letters, and, being instructed with genuine knowledge, to consecrate him in the ministry of the Lord. Thou. Lesson II. But being handed over to studies of this kind, he not only advanced in the liberal disciplines, but also, according to the word of the Psalmist, went from virtue to virtue; for he was endowed with humility, distinguished in chastity, conspicuous in generosity, gentle in speech, firm in counsel, remarkable in mercy, and ineffable in charity; who both loved his friends in God, and his enemies for the sake of God. Thou. Lesson III. In these virtues therefore, pleasing God, he became beloved, and while still living among sinners, he desired to be translated to a better life, lest perchance malice should change his understanding, or deceit beguile his soul; for he loved more attentively that word of the Lord: Unless one renounce all that he possesses, he cannot be my disciple. Wherefore not only his goods, but himself he disposed to leave for the Lord, and naked to bear the cross for Christ. Thou.
[4] and martyrdom is ascribed to him; Lesson IV. His glorious fame of sanctity therefore growing frequent, which was now made known to the whole people; it came to the ears of the venerable bishop of Viborg, Eskillus; by whose holy exhortations, the beloved friend of God disposed to bring the more quickly to effect what he had before conceived in mind: for his soul was pleasing to God, therefore he hastened to lead him out from the midst of iniquities, and to place him among religious and holy men. Thou. Lesson V. Whence it happened that the same venerable Pontiff, the Holy Spirit mediating, allured him to himself, and joined him to the brethren in the greater church; who there under the rule of blessed Augustine were gathered with the highest charity, and devout served the Lord, King of kings. Where, first appointed master of the boys, he commendably instructed the boys, and wrote out precious volumes. For attending to the Apostle saying: He who does not labor, does not eat, he by no means wished idly to eat bread; but, endowed with a wondrous grace, he fulfilled two works at once daily; he taught the boys, and meanwhile did not draw back his hand from writing. Thou. Lesson VI. In these therefore and the other good works the diligent and devout servant of God, after he undertook the yoke of the priestly ministry, the Holy Spirit granting; not only deserved to be filled manifoldly with spiritual gifts, but shone forth on all sides with the grace of a wondrous sanctity: but bishop Eskillus, the Holy Spirit cooperating, consecrated him priest. And some years having elapsed, while in the church of blessed Margaret he chanted the canonical hours, the enemies of Christ rushing upon him, he fell by martyrdom. Thou.
[5] If those last words were true, St. Ketillus would now have to be venerated not only as a confessor, in today's acceptation, but as a martyr, which from other sources is not sufficiently proved. from which laurel, however, to be attributed to him I have altogether abstained, because I have found it expressed in no Martyrologies; so that it may be permitted to suspect that his death, if it was violent, certainly was not inflicted for the cause of faith or virtue; unless one prefer both the martyrdom and other things summoned hither from elsewhere: for not even a word about such a slaying is insinuated in the whole Office of Lund, which the R. D. Provost of St. Genevieve at Paris, a canon regular, praised by me elsewhere, took care to have described for me from the printed one, accurately warning that the lessons in the Lund one are the same as in the Sleswick one; that they were first inserted into it in the year 1517, since in the older Missal of the year 1514 St. Ketillus is plainly absent: but the Sleswick edition, as has already appeared, pertains to the year 1512. It will be useful to annex here also those Lund things, since they themselves are no less historical than the aforesaid lessons, and exhibit many things in praise of the Saint which are not contained in the lessons. The mutual collation of all will add some light, by which the age of the Saint may to some extent be explored. You will note that in the Lund Breviary the Office is more fitted to the Roman rite, since it enumerates nine antiphons, and as many responsories, which I judge to be divided into three nocturns; whereas in the Sleswick one, six bare Lessons are related consecutively. I render the copy as it was transmitted to me; in which the Office is noted not on this day, but on the following, July 12.
[6] At Vespers, Antiphons I. The prudent man of the Lord, shining with the light of his merits, The Breviary of the metropolitan of Lund distinguished by birth and glittering with probity of morals, is said to have come into the light of the world, holy Ketillus, in the time of the illustrious king Nicholas. II. So pious and clean, that scarce any in the world would be second to him, or a man like him, and faithful in what was committed to him; the mina he deserved to multiply for his Lord. III. A man pious and just, and the lamp of the word, Ketellus, deserved with manifold service to serve the Lord. IV. Distinguished in honesty, glowing with wondrous goodness, mild, meek, humble, pious, and modest, he clothed the cold and satisfied the hungry. V. O happy confessor of Christ, who deserved thus to bestow of earthly things upon the needy, that you might exchange perishable things for enduring, and, happy, might enjoy them through the ages to come. Hymn. Let the voices sound alternately, and let the Church chant to the King of kings the sweet harmony of praises, who crowned Ketillus with immortal glory. By whose nod and power all things are governed; this his chosen servant before the times of the world he foreknew, to be illustrated with wondrous grace. From the days of his youth he foreknew him pious, chaste, humble, generous, mild, endowed with charity, and by the virtue of his merits already inestimable. Who while still living shone by various signs, now, subject to the things above, works very many, and shining with the elect in perennial glory. To the triune God in persons, one in substance, be the highest honor, the highest power, the highest glory also, whose is the kingdom and the power through eternal ages. Amen.
[7] At the Magnificat, Antiphon. Let the joyful people magnify the Lord with voice and song of praises, it hands down some things here and there and the clergy too with cheerful voice, recalling the sacred feasts of the Lord's Athlete Ketillus. Collect. Almighty everlasting God, who art the wondrous splendor of thy Saints, and who on this day didst exalt holy Ketillus, thy confessor, with the glory of eternal blessedness, grant that, whose merits we venerate on earth, by the aid of his intercession we may always be defended, before thy mercy, in heaven. Invitatory. In the Saints let us praise the Lord, threefold and one, who by his merits carried the shining Ketillus to the stars. Hymn. A festive day is kept, on which the faithful follower of Christ, Ketillus, is said to have migrated to the heavenly things. Let therefore now the ringing measures of harmonies sound, and let us praise together with concordant voice the mighty works of God. Who joined this Saint, glittering with merits and with the prodigies of virtues, to the sacred fellowship of the Saints, to God the Father, etc.
[8] by which the deeds of the Saint First Antiphon. Sprung of a stock of noble parents, Ketillus shone in virtue as a star with its rays. II. Antiphon. Simple, harmless, patient, and chaste in body, glowing with the fire of the things above, he spurns the world with its offspring. III. Antiphon. Growing in heavenly gifts, this youth was known truly to please the Lord and the people. Resp. I. The blessed man of the Lord Ketillus, sprung of an illustrious lineage, adorned his life with morals *. Taking up discipline,
and serving the Lord in fear. ℣. For he loved the commandment of Christ above gold and topaz. Resp. II. The wealth of his parents therefore being despised, he was intent on heavenly riches. That, leaving perishable things, he might possess enduring things with the Saints in glory. ℣. Where neither rust nor moth destroy, and thieves do not dig through nor steal. Resp. III. Shining under the yoke of religion with the gifts of virtues , he was consecrated a priest, exalted for the flock of Christ. ℣. Receiving a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God his Savior.
[9] somewhat more distinctly IV. Antiphon. Made a pattern for the flock by his morals and by his acts, those whom he shaped, these he fed with the seed of the word. V. Antiphon. Receiving Christ, and feeding Christ through his members, he deserved to be fed by Christ with a spiritual banquet. VI. Antiphon. The holy man bestowed, and the Lord added yet more: the gifts grow, and the increased crown grows. Resp. IV. This man, beloved of God, was endowed with humility, distinguished in chastity, conspicuous in generosity, gentle in speech, firm in counsel, remarkable in mercy, and inestimable in charity. ℣. For he loved God with all his strength, and his neighbor as himself. Resp. V. When the blessed man had prayed, fortifying the city by the sign of the Cross , he repressed the fire. ℣. The Lord glorified his Saint, and heard him crying to him. Resp. VI. You, the mirror of life, the shining lamp of the world, make us follow your examples * by the gifts above; ℣. That we may be enlightened through him who enlightens every man coming into this world.
[10] but in a freer meter, VII. Antiphon. You who were to the people a pattern of living for Christ, make us to be adorned with morals and to be joined to you. VIII. Antiphon. Your servants crying to you, and praying for pardon, kindly father Ketillus, the Lord being reconciled. IX. Antiphon. You who by the gift of Christ shone forth in virtues, defend this your throng, venerable shepherd. Resp. VII. The servant of God, meeting a naked leper, cherished and clothed him , but, being clothed, he vanished from his sight. ℣. Blessed is he who understands concerning the needy and the poor; in the evil day the Lord will free him. Resp. VIII. When the holy man on a certain night was reciting a homily by an inner light , which had before been extinguished, it was seen by the brethren to be kindled in his hand. ℣. Wonderful is God in his Saints, and glorious in his works. Resp. IX. Bright gem of Confessors, norm of the flock, pattern of morals *, for the salvation of your devout ones pour out the prayers of your servants. ℣. Your memory shall not depart, and your name shall be sought from generation to generation.
[11] At Lauds, Antiphon I. To the praise of the Lord let songs and hymns be brought forth, these are explained here and there, who gave to holy Ketillus the gifts of virtues. 2. Who, shining with various gifts and glittering with signs, restored sight to the blind, and gait also to the lame. 3. The deaf and dumb and those stained with leprosy he rendered whole, and bestowed help on many. 4. Therefore bless the God of heaven with a faithful heart, and his pious servant working signs through him. 5. Whose life was girt with the ray of morals, whose works now shine, filled with virtue. Hymn. The annual day shines again, which moves the hearts of certain sighing faithful to continual feasts. Whence to the most sweet Lord let us sing with sweet jubilation, on this solemnity of his most holy servant; who was wont to feed the flock from the sweetness of the word, in the gathered assembly of the poor he gathered the Lord. Now performing the part of Martha, sitting with Mary, through the merit of each he obtained the reward of life. Praise, honor, etc. Antiphon at the Benedictus. Exulting, celebrate with tuneful and becoming praise the sacred and votive feasts of our father Ketillus, whom hence, taken up and more happily joined to the angelic assemblies, the faithful throng venerates. At second Vespers, Antiphon at the Magnificat. Good and faithful servant of the great and magnificent King, who deserved to enter into the joys of Christ, pray for us, that we may come to them. Thus far the Lund Office.
[12] The reader easily observes that these things are arranged freely enough, and here and there not sufficiently metrically, the age also being to some extent noted. at the discretion of that time, of which matter not a few examples recur in our work; when namely particular churches, at their mere discretion, arranged and adorned Offices. The Sleswick prayer does not altogether agree with the Lund one, for it thus runs: Almighty everlasting God, who art the wondrous splendor of thy Saints, and who didst consecrate this day with the solemnity of blessed Ketillus thy Confessor: grant to thy Church to rejoice in so great a festivity, that before thy mercy it may be protected by his examples and prayers. For gathering the reckoning of the times and the age of St. Ketillus, the first Antiphon at Vespers recited above contributes somewhat, in which the Saint is said to have come into the light in the time of king Nicholas. For the chronological series of the Danish Kings of that age, at least of the brothers of St. Canute, of whom the last was Nicholas, we have attempted to order not improbably at July 10 in the Preliminary Commentary, §3, from which it is plain that the aforesaid king Nicholas did not succeed his brother Eric, making pilgrimage into Palestine, before the year 1107 or 1106, about which time it can be supposed that St. Ketillus began to live, who cannot at all be brought back to the 9th century with Castellanus, the light of the Gospel having been propagated later into those northern parts.
[13] Of the year of the Saint's death nothing at all is drawn from the said Offices, He seems to have died in the year 1151, but if we have rightly weighed the sense of Pontanus cited above, when in the History of Danish Affairs, book 6, page 281, at the year 1188 he thus writes: then also Kilianus, once Provost of the church of Viborg, born among the Cimbri at Bandershus, deceased in the year 1151, on the 5th day before the Kalends of October, was by Clement III, Roman Pontiff, by a new apotheosis referred among the Saints: While Pontanus, I say, thus speaks, he does not seem able to be understood of any other than of our St. Ketillus. Whence he himself received these things, hitherto lies hidden from me: yet I do not see that trust is to be denied him; nor do I think that canonization, such as it was, to say it again, can in any way be transferred to another, since all the circumstances and adjuncts seem to speak together. But from the same words of Pontanus it abundantly appears that the Martyrologists wrote rightly who marked the Saint's death on the 5th day before the Kalends of October, or September 27, whom, by the testimony of the praised Provost, Greuber, an Augustinian canon regular, followed, in the work entitled Alimenta pietatis Augustinianae, published in 1677, where in the Litanies of the said Canons Regular he ascribes to that day the birthday of St. Ketillus; so that, if we wish to arrange all things rightly, it must be said that on this day July 11 not his birthday is celebrated, but the elevation, which was made by the bishop of Viborg himself, Pope Clement III consenting, in the year 1188, and which thereafter became more solemn, and passed into the Martyrologies, as has been sufficiently shown above.
[14] probably a canon regular and provost, Of the Saint's canonical or regular and religious profession it does not seem that doubt can be had, the lessons, to be silent about the rest, so expressly asserting that God hastened to lead him out from the midst of iniquities, and to place him among religious and holy men: and again, that Eskillus the venerable bishop of Viborg joined him to the brethren in the greater church, who there under the rule of blessed Augustine (as I judge was done in several churches there) were gathered with the highest charity, and devout served the Lord, King of kings. But as to what is subjoined, that he was first appointed master of the boys; by "boys" the Provost rightly understands, if I am not mistaken, from the mode of speaking of that age, the novices or recruits of the Order, whom he commendably instructed. That he was raised to the provostship of that regular chapter, neither the aforesaid lessons record, nor the whole Lund Office; but that this was rashly asserted by Greven and Pontanus, one may deservedly suspect, however much the Saint may still seem to have been young when he closed his last day, whether by natural death, or by the enemies of Christ rushing upon him by martyrdom. For if he was born while Nicholas reigned, even if the Saint's birth be drawn back to the first year of his reign, since he died in the middle of the 12th century, namely in the year 1151, he scarcely passed the forty-fourth year of his age.
[15] which perhaps will become clearer from elsewhere. All these things would become a little clearer, if anyone should bring to light a proper series of the Bishops of Viborg, which we have hitherto sought in vain. For from it the age of the prelate Eskillus would be had, and thence about the times and deeds of St. Ketillus one could dispute more securely. Intent on investigating these things, I fell upon Adam of Bremen, book 4, chapter 44, where, among other things which he deduces at length about Adalbert, a prelate wonderful among few, he also notes this, that the first bishop of Viborg, Heribert, was ordained by him, which he explains a little more distinctly in chapter 46, where he says that, the parish of Ribe being divided into four bishoprics, by the gift of king Sven, Heribert was appointed at Viborg, the church being probably raised into a Cathedral of canons regular, without doubt about the year 1065 (for which Pontanus writes 1056), about six years before the death of Adalbert of Bremen, which occurred in the year 1072, so that consequently that Eskillus, under whom St. Ketillus lived, was not far distant from the first Bishop of the same see of Viborg: which would that they be elucidated a little more fully by someone more fortunate than we! Perhaps some things will also be added which more nearly pertain to the Saint. To Vitfeld Pontanus refers us in the cited Chorography, but his vernacular review of the bishoprics of Denmark has not yet come into our hands. Let those who can suggest more; we shall use them either in the Supplement of this month, or at the day September 27, or on whatever day shall seem more opportune.
July III: 12 July
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