ON ST. PATERNIANUS, BISHOP AND CONFESSOR,
ANOTHER OR THE SAME AS THE ONE OF FANO?
AT BOLOGNA IN ITALY.
Perhaps about the year 470.
HISTORICAL COLLECTION.
The cult of the Saint; his episcopate; whether this Saint is the same as St. Paternianus of Fano.
Paternianus, Bishop and Confessor, whether the same or another; at Bologna in Italy (S.)
J. P.
The Roman Martyrology on this day consigns at Bologna the memory of St. Paternianus the Bishop; concerning whom Ferrarius wove the following elogium from Sigonio, book 1 on the Bishops of Bologna: Paternianus, by fatherland, as is believed, The cult and elogium of the Saint; a Bolognese, elected Bishop by the clergy and people, succeeded St. Petronius about the year of salvation 450, Leo I being Supreme Pontiff. He is thought to have built the most noble monastery of St. Michael on his paternal estate. He lived in the episcopate about 20 years, in which he governed the church of Bologna with such praise of piety, that when on the IV of the Ides of July he had met his day, he merited to be venerated by the same church with the other Saints on this day. To him St. Tertullianus was substituted in the year of the Lord 470. His body is buried in the church of St. Felix.
[2] In those things which are commemorated by more recent authors concerning the time of the episcopate of St. Paternianus, known only by memory alone. very many things waver from the great scarcity of ancient monuments. Sigonio, page 26, writes that he, as we saw, succeeded St. Petronius: with whom Baronius agrees in the Notations, adding that he was seventh in order among the Bishops of that church. But Ughelli, volume 2, column 10, gives him only the eleventh place. Paul Masini in Bologna Surveyed, part 2, page 42, places him as successor of Marcellus. Gaspar Bombaci On the illustrious Men of Bologna establishes that Adrian succeeded St. Petronius in the episcopate, and then St. Paternianus. It is uncertain therefore whom our Saint succeeded in the episcopal office, and so at what time he began it; the writers having nothing to teach, except the public veneration which they insert in their writings, other things, more closely pertaining to the deeds of the Saint, being buried in the oblivion of times. But if it be so, what way is left of deciding the doubt proposed in the title, whether St. Paternianus of Bologna is the same as the one of Fano, or different?
[3] Are St. Paternianus of Bologna and of Fano two saints? Castellanus, when on the XII of July he notes that St. Paternianus, marked in the Roman Martyrology, was indeed unknown to the ancient Martyrologists, though venerated at Bologna in Italy and at Fano; when, I say, Castellanus notes thus, he sufficiently openly insinuates that he does not distinguish two Bishops Paternianus, but that one only was honored in the two said places. And indeed, to say what I think, not a few are the things in each Saint which can move a suspicion, lest from one single one a double one has been made: for each was a Bishop; each dwelt in Italy, and indeed in nearly the same tract of Italy; each is venerated in the same month, nay in nearly the same day of the month. There is added to this, that both the circumstances of the time in which the one of Bologna is asserted by Ferrarius to have lived, about the year 450, and his fatherland, as is believed, the city of Bologna, and other things which could found the distinction of which we inquire, appear destitute of any solid ancient monument, so that from them the difference of the two Saints can hardly be proved. Yet, these things notwithstanding, I judge that each Saint is to be left in his ancient possession; until certain documents persuade otherwise, the obtaining of which I would scarcely dare to hope.