ON ST. SABINUS, CONFESSOR,
IN THE TERRITORY OF POITIERS IN GAUL.
Sixth Century.
Notice from the Usuardine Martyrology.
Sabinus, Confessor in the territory of Poitiers (S.)
J. P.
As certain and ancient as is, now from many centuries past, the cult of this Saint, so unknown are all the things that pertain to him. For indeed nothing hitherto have I been able to find about him among the classic Martyrologists except these few things, Certain indeed, but obscure enough is which I subjoin. Usuard knew him, thus announcing him on this day: In the territory of Poitiers, the birthday of St. Sabinus the Confessor. In the genuine text of Ado, published by the care of our Rosweyde, no mention anywhere is made of this Saint. Yet there is added by an unknown hand the following announcement, taken from the codex of the Morini: In the territory of Poitiers, the birthday of St. Savinus the confessor. This man was of the disciples of the great father St. Germanus the Bishop: for they relate that this was the same Savinus whom Mamertinus records to have met, when he more frequently engaged in the worship of demons: by whose preaching, recognizing the way of truth, leaving the path which he had taken, he sought out the most blessed Germanus, and from him, according to what St. Sabinus had promised him, he deserved to receive not only the health of his soul, but also of his body.
[2] Among the Usuardine Supplements the Bordeaux codex has: the notice of this Saint In the territory of Bordeaux, of St. Sabinus the confessor; but here without doubt is designated that Sabinus whose elogium Saussay relates on the seventh day before the Ides of October, recording on this day his arrival in the territory of Poitiers, which at the said day October 9 will be more accurately examined, since Castellanus calls him Sabinus Levitanicus, distinguishing him not obscurely from the other. The Usuardine codex of Centula adds to the announcement which we gave above from the genuine Usuard, together with the codex of the Morini: this man was of the disciples of the great father Germanus: whence it sufficiently shows that by these words today's Sabinus is indicated. Among the more recent Martyrologists Galesinius commemorates St. Sabinus, following the Usuardine announcement:
[3] somewhat explained from Auxerre. To these obscure matters a little light has been added by a man most versed in the affairs of Auxerre, elsewhere praised by us, the Reverend Lord Jean Lebeuf, canon and precentor of that church, in his letter given to us on April 25 in the year 1721, in which he thinks that St. Sabinus, as a disciple of St. Germanus, ought to be claimed for himself, or for the diocese of Auxerre, although he confesses that he does not know what cause led the Saint into the region of Poitiers. Hither indeed he brings the words of the ancient Martyrology of that church, which he judges written, from the Paschal table appended, about the year 1007, of which this is the announcement: In the territory of Poitiers, the birthday of St. Savinus the confessor. This man was the disciple of St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre. He asserts moreover that in the Martyrology of Nevelo, preserved in the monastery of Corbie, is found a text altogether similar to that which we have already given from the Ado of the Morini. Nay more, he observes that the same holy Sabinus can not incongruously be said to have been a disciple of St. Amator, Bishop of Auxerre, while he set out into the East, which Papebroch denied on June 16, page 21, number 19; and successively of St. Germanus. Certainly a tradition of seven hundred years abundantly confirms that St. Sabinus was of Auxerre, or at least a disciple of St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre, however much he may be said to be buried and venerated among the people of Poitiers. Would that of his deeds and miracles a somewhat richer memory survived!