ON BLESSED BERNARD, CONFESSOR, MARGRAVE OF BADEN,
AT MONCALIERI IN PIEDMONT.
IN THE YEAR 1458.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
Bernard, Confessor, Margrave of Baden, at Moncalieri in Piedmont, Italy (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. C.
§ I. Cult and Relics.
Moncalieri, commonly Moncaliere, a fortified town of Piedmont, which lies on the river Po, and is distant scarcely three miles from Turin, venerates Bernard, Margrave of Baden, on account of the singular and prodigious benefits bestowed on it, as its patron, The cult of St. Bernard in Piedmont, and on this day piously celebrates his yearly memory, as Giovanni Battista Blancardi more fully narrates in the Italian Life, chapter 11, and is briefly related in the Acts to be subjoined to this Commentary, number 12. That the cult, however, is not proper to this Blessed one, I understand from the letters of our Silvio Giuseppe Perini, who in the year 1681 wrote to Papebroch from Turin among other things thus: But concerning the present cult of this Blessed one I can add nothing, except that each year on the day of the Blessed one's death there is celebrated at the altar in which he lies a Mass of the current feast without any commemoration, though solemnly, with a great concourse of people. Whether meanwhile some peculiar addition has been made to this common cult, those whom it concerns will be able to teach.
[2] The same blessed Margrave is venerated at Vic in Lorraine, as on this day Ferrarius in the General Catalogue of the Saints testifies in these words: in Lorraine, In Lorraine,
of blessed Bernard the confessor. But in the notes he indicates that he drew this notice from the monuments of the church of Vic in Lorraine, and notes that the Blessed one died in the year 1458. Saussay, in the Supplement to the Gallican Martyrology, volume 2, page 1146, on the Ides of July thus has it concerning the same: In Lorraine, of St. Bernard the confessor, in the church of Vic, which is in the allodium of the church of Metz, celebrated by holy remembrance. Castellan in the Universal Martyrology without doubt wished to designate the same Blessed one, when on the XV day of July he thus writes: At Vic in the diocese of Metz, of St. Bernard the confessor. But I know not by what error he slipped, when, after his manner wishing to indicate the epoch, he noted in the margin the X century. Certainly he wished to put the XV century, unless this Blessed one was plainly unknown to him. Meurisse, of the Order of St. Francis, bishop of Madaura and suffragan of Metz, in the History of the bishops of Metz, edited in the year 1634, page 569, testifies that the image of blessed Bernard, which is preserved at Vic, is devoutly visited by very many, who experience the salutary effects of his intercession. The Canons of Vic of the collegiate church of St. Stephen, in a testimony written in French, a copy of which was lately transmitted to me by the Reverend Father Valentin Hoeglein, Rector of our college of Baden, thus speak concerning the present cult of the blessed Margrave: The feast of blessed Bernard is celebrated yearly at Vic (as also at Moncalieri) on the XV day of July, when a great multitude of people flocks to it; nay, throughout the course of the year very many, both inhabitants of the town and neighbors, implore his intercession for driving away various diseases, from which, being freed, they cause Masses to be celebrated in the chapel where his effigy is represented in embossed work.
[3] and in the monastery of Lichtenthal near Baden, The nuns of Lichtenthal (commonly Lucida Vallis) also exhibit some cult to the blessed Margrave, as Tobias Elfferich, priest of our Society, teaches me, who in letters given in the year 1679 to Papebroch thus writes: There stands in the monastery of Lichtenthal, once founded by the Margraves, a certain little tablet bearing the image of blessed Bernard, on which is inscribed a prayer with a versicle wont to be recited by the Nuns in veneration of the Saint, which was also dear and most familiar to the most serene Wilhelm, our founder, who died two years ago. But that Collect, with the Antiphon, versicle, and responsory, is of the following tenor: Antiphon. O with how great veneration is blessed Bernard, Margrave of Baden, worthy, who, spurning earthly vanities, merited to have a triumph in heaven. Verse: On account of truth and meekness and justice, the right hand of Christ led thee wondrously. Responsory: Because from this it placed thee in the heavenly kingdoms. Prayer. Almighty everlasting God, who didst deign to infuse into blessed Bernard, Margrave of Baden, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, so great grace, that whosoever confidently has recourse to him may obtain from thee a salutary remedy: grant us, we beseech, thy unworthy servants, that we who implore his suffrage in this article of necessity may, by his benign intercession, merit to obtain from thee an opportune remedy. Through Christ our Lord. I have also another German prayer, used I know not in what place, and not much different from the preceding; wherefore to render it here into Latin is not worth the while.
[4] The already-mentioned nuns think that the heart of blessed Bernard is buried in their monastery; where the nuns think that his heart is buried; concerning which opinion the just-praised Tobias Elfferich in the year 1682 thus writes to Papebroch: In the monastery of virgins of the Order of St. Bernard at Lichtenthal (Lucida Vallis) it is said and believed that the heart of blessed Bernard of Baden is buried, although the most serene Ferdinand of pious memory, a great venerator of this Saint, caused inquiry to be made, and found no trace: the nuns however declare otherwise, and assert that the masons did not rightly search. But I should easily believe that the nuns, deceived by the sameness of name, took one Bernard of Baden for another: for Jerome Henninges in his Genealogical Theatre, volume 4, part 2, page 240, says that another Bernard, sprung from the same most illustrious stock, in the year of Christ 1424 (Vignier in the Baden Genealogy, page 34, notes the year 1434) was buried at Lucida Vallis. Wherefore, since the nuns perhaps had read or heard by the tradition of the elders that among others of the Baden family buried in their monastery a certain Bernard was named, it could easily happen that they confounded both, and what pertained to the other of the same name, wrongly understood concerning blessed Bernard. Whatever be the case, since it is established that blessed Bernard of Baden died and was buried at Moncalieri, we shall not admit the translation of his heart to Lucida Vallis without an authentic testimony.
[5] But since the discourse has here fallen upon the relics, I shall briefly indicate in what places they are preserved. But his relics are assigned elsewhere. Moncalieri certainly possesses the greatest part of the body. At Vic in Lorraine, according to the testimony of the Canons of St. Stephen in that town, a sword and a certain bone of the blessed Margrave are, from time immemorial, honorably kept. To these was added a silken cloth, not long ago brought from Moncalieri to Vic, in which the sacred body had long been wrapped. The most illustrious family of Baden also piously venerates a certain bone of their Blessed kinsman, as the often-mentioned Father Tobias Elfferich teaches me in letters given in the year 1679 to Papebroch. Long, he says, I conferred with the most serene elder Margravine, who holds a sufficiently accurate memory of the Saint and his deeds; but which she drew wholly from the relation of the most serene Ferdinand of pious memory, who several years ago made an excursion to Moncalieri in Savoy for the sake of veneration, and, having venerated the sepulchre, related beautiful and singular things, and also a great part of a bone. Then in another letter written in the same year concerning this sacred bone he thus speaks: His relic, I believe, is preserved by the most serene Ludwig, son of the most serene Ferdinand, who brought it from Moncalieri. Among other things, for fear of war, it has been placed in a safer place. And these are the things which concerning the sacred remains of blessed Bernard I could safely record.
[6] His cult is further proved, Giovanni Battista Blancardi in the Italian Life, chapter 13, from the Process of Beatification and other ancient instruments draws out various arguments to prove the legitimate cult of blessed Bernard. And first indeed, after the synopsis of virtues which we give in the Acts, number 13, he cites the Reverend Father Jean Ergot, confessor of blessed Bernard, and other contemporary witnesses, who extolled his holiness and miracles with great praises. Then he brings forward a fragment from Antonio De Torrellis, secretary of Filiberto I, Duke of Savoy, who by command of the Duchess of Savoy examined the miracles of Bernard and faithfully related them. He also sets forth a twofold Brief of Sixtus IV, of which we treat in the compendium of the Acts, number 22. Besides, he adduces certain testimonies of illustrious men and various eulogies of writers, which we defer to the following paragraph.
[7] and his true effigy is exhibited. Finally the same Blancardi proves the cult of the blessed Margrave from ancient pictures, to which before the year 1500 the title of "blessed" is subscribed. He asserts that, among others, sufficiently common in Piedmont, a most beautiful effigy of blessed Bernard exists among the Franciscans in the city of Asti. I understand also that in our college of Baden and in the convent of Lucida Vallis images of the same Blessed one are preserved. But since they differ not a little among themselves, I suspect that some were painted at the painter's discretion. Wherefore here I subjoin the true effigy of the blessed Young man, expressed from the prototype.
THE TRUE EFFIGY OF BLESSED BERNARD,
Margrave of Baden, who died on the 15th of July in the year 1458 at Moncalieri, where he shines with many miracles.
How this image came to us, receive from the letter of Father Tobias Elfferich, who in the year 1682 to Papebroch among other things writes these things: The most serene Anna (namely the Margravine of Baden), while I conferred at length with her, showed me a very ancient icon, which is recorded by the Elders to bear the true effigy of Bernard, which, delineated from the prototype, I here add, that Your Reverence may cause it to be engraved on copper, and prefix it to the Life. Now it remains that we set forth the testimonies of certain persons by which the virtue of blessed Bernard is praised, and his public cult not a little confirmed.
§ II. The eulogies and Acts of blessed Bernard.
Among the writers to be adduced in this paragraph, who made mention of the holiness and miracles of blessed Bernard, deservedly the first place is obtained by the most illustrious and most reverend George, Eulogies of blessed Bernard from George his brother, bishop of Metz, bishop of Metz, joined to him by the nearest consanguinity, who, hearing the fame of the miracles with which his brother shone after death, wrote to the magistracy of Moncalieri on the XII day of February in the year 1478 in these words: We have long since heard from those who come to us from these shores that the glorious and immense God, in the church of St. Mary of Moncalieri, of the diocese of Turin, by the merits and intercessions of Bernard of good memory, of the Margraves of Baden, whose body is buried in that church, works countless and frequent signs and miracles. And although we have often been urged to give our effort toward his exaltation, yet, lest we should seem to seek our own praise, we have hitherto rested in this: and since signs and miracles of this kind are daily made more known, we are indeed compelled to give some writings to your Nobilities, etc. Then he treats of his canonization and subjoins the following: Wherefore also, since the same Bernard shines in the church of St. Stephen of our town of Vic with not a few signs and miracles, as is asserted, etc. These are fragments of the letter, which I could not find entire, although Blancardi testifies that it was preserved in the archive of Moncalieri.
[9] Franz Irenicus in the Exegesis of Germany, edited in the year 1518, by Franz Irenicus, book 3, chapter 106, renders the following testimony concerning the virtue of our Bernard: Hence I am led to the memory of the divine Bernard the Margrave, the esteem of whose holiness avails very much with me. He, removed from all foulness, after he entered upon the ways of the unclean world, sought only Christ to imitate for himself, surpassed all the religion of his predecessors, and left an example to those to come. His life was simple, incorrupt, and entangled or offended by no depravity of vices. He renounced all pleasures, followed the sacrament of true religion. Whatever pertained to the worship of the divine Majesty, we see nothing omitted by him, no sleep crept upon him in mortal sin. He withdrew himself utterly from secular business, being otherwise destined for divine offices. His patrimony, for the love of Christ (that he might never have his eyes removed from him), he freely made over to his brothers, content only with what was necessarily required for the sustenance and protection of his life. Him, snatched thence through the darkness of this world, an end of his life consonant received, after he answered and satisfied himself by good works, us by example. He consecrated his everlasting memory in a town of Lorraine, called Mumpelier, he shines with inestimable miracles, restored sight to the blind, repairs hearing to the deaf, denies his patronage to no one keeping his eyes toward him. Him now we seek with vows, we call aside to our salvation,
and whatever sadder thing befalls, by his most auspicious auspice and omen we correct it.
[10] who errs in assigning the place of death, With these praises Franz Irenicus extols the blessed Margrave and not obscurely indicates his Catholic cult, who nevertheless in book 2 of the same Work highly praises Luther, Melanchthon, and other men of the same flour, and endeavors to set Belial with Christ. But this in no way harms the said eulogy of blessed Bernard, since from this very testimony the heretical doctrines of those whom he praises can be assailed. For the rest, anyone will easily correct the gross geographical error which Irenicus here swallowed; namely when he put Mumpelier, that is Montpellier, for Moncalieri, and placed it in Lorraine, whereas meanwhile almost boys know that Montpellier, commonly Montpellier, is situated in lower Languedoc. Nor can this error be ascribed to the amanuenses or printers: for Irenicus, book 3 of the Work already cited, chapter 109, repeats the same in this manner: St. Bernard also unburdened himself of life in a certain city of Lorraine, and, buried there, shines with miracles. Here indeed he does not name the place, but falsely affirms that the blessed young man died in Lorraine.
[11] and by Philibert Pingon. Philibert Pingon, Baron of Cusy, who was senator of Emanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy, according to the testimony of Blancardi, in his Augusta of the Taurini at the year of Christ 1458, page 64, has the following concerning our Blessed one: In that year, at the beginning of the month of July, Bernard, Margrave of Baden, illustrious for holiness of life as for birth, enters Turin, who afterward, a Roman journey for the sake of piety being undertaken, is intercepted by disease at Moncalieri and prevented by death. He died on the XV of July, and, on account of the various miracles so often repeated, was held among the Saints. Meurisse, praised in the preceding paragraph, in the History of the Bishops of Metz edited in French, treating of George, the seventy-eighth prelate of the church of Metz, book 3, page 569, on his occasion inserts these things concerning our Blessed one: He was the brother of blessed Bernard, whose life was so holy that God even now daily works an infinite multitude of miracles at Moncalieri in Italy, where he is buried. Now let us hear certain genealogical writers, who in illustrating the family of Baden made mention of blessed Bernard in diverse ways.
[12] Certain genealogists attribute to blessed Bernard a betrothed or a wife, Jerome Henninges of Lüneburg in the Genealogical Theatre, volume 4, part 2, page 240, thus speaks: Bernard IV, surnamed the divine or holy, Margrave of Baden, who dwelt at Ettlingen and left the government to his brother Charles, was first a courtier of Frederick III the Emperor, and to him was betrothed Magdalene, daughter of Charles VII, king of France; but he becomes spiritual, and died at Montpellier in the year of Christ 1458. Enrolled in the register of the Saints by Pope Sixtus IV. What this author says of Montpellier has been sufficiently refuted above. Antonio Albizzi, a noble Florentine, in the Genealogies of Christian Princes, page 41, prenotes these things concerning the ancestral tree of the family of Baden: But Jacob, Margrave of Baden… had a son… Bernard, illustrious for holiness of life, who died before the nuptials to be celebrated with the daughter of Charles VII, King of France. Gabriel Bucelin in the Germania Topo-chrono-stemmato-graphica, part 3, page 53, attributes to blessed Bernard not only a betrothed, but also a wife, in these words: Bernard I (others call him IV), Margrave of Baden, surnamed the holy, died 1458. His wife Magdalene, daughter of Charles VII, king of Gaul. Nicholas Rittershausen in his Genealogical work, treating of the stock of the Margraves of Baden, makes no mention of the betrothed or wife of blessed Bernard, but writes only this: Bernard died 1459 (better 1458), canonized by Sixtus V (he meant to say IV) in 1480.
[13] Now let me set forth in few words what is to be thought concerning that betrothal or those nuptials. but they are more probably mistaken. First, Hieronymus Vignier in his Genealogical tables, page 34, thus judges concerning this matter: Bernard III (by others IV), surnamed the Holy, Margrave of Baden, had contracted a betrothal with Magdalene, daughter of Charles VII, King of Gaul, as Albizzi asserts; but without doubt he is mistaken. He died in the year 1457 (read 1458). Besides, the Sammarthani in the Genealogical History, volume 1, book 14, page 647 of the third edition, narrate that Magdalene, daughter of Charles VII, was promised in the year 1457 to Ladislaus, King of Hungary. But since he died in the same year, afterward in the year 1462, as the same Sammarthani relate, she was married to Gaston of Foix, and bore Francis Phœbus, afterward King of Navarre, who died without children. It is truly a wonder that these accurate genealogists, who note every minutest thing, made no word concerning the betrothal of Magdalene contracted with Bernard of Baden. It could indeed have happened that that Magdalene, after the manner of magnates, was in childhood promised by her parents to Bernard while a boy, and that Bernard, now grown older, wished to lead a celibate life; but since the Acts and other ancient monuments are silent about this matter, I judge that even these promised nuptials are very doubtful. Now let us premise a few things concerning the Acts.
[14] It is truly to be lamented that we lack older Acts and miracles of this Blessed one. The older monuments being sought in vain, But that I may show that it did not stand by us that we should not obtain them, I shall briefly indicate how great diligence was applied by us to this end. Already for many years Papebroch, solicitous for the Saints to come, had written to Turin to obtain the process of canonization from Moncalieri. But by our Father Silvio Giuseppe Perini it was answered thence: The Acts for the Canonization of blessed Bernard no longer exist among the citizens of Moncalieri, but among the Princes of Baden: nor could I here find anything but his Life, namely the Italian one, printed at Turin in the year 1628, which the mentioned Father Perini transmitted. Then Papebroch wrote into Germany to Father Johann Gamans, the most diligent helper of our Work, who, immediately answering his letters, first asks what miracles concerning blessed Bernard of Baden he had received from Turin. Namely whether those, and indeed the first, which by command of the Duchess of Savoy Antonio de Torellis his secretary wrote soon after the Blessed one's death? Then Gamans indicates those which he himself had. The later ones, he says, in the Process instituted by command of Sixtus IV, I have from a copy sent to Baden about the year 1480, and I shall gladly communicate them. But they never came to our hands; but whether they perished with certain other papers of Gamans in the Main, or still lie hidden somewhere in Germany, I know not.
[15] When the Acts of blessed Bernard fell to me to illustrate, and older monuments, I did not cast away hope of receiving from somewhere those ancient monuments; but presently I gave letters to the Reverend Father Valentin Hoeglein, Rector of our College of Baden, who in the year 1723 most courteously answered them in this manner: To the letters given to me in the cause of blessed Bernard, Margrave of Baden, I now at length answer, because hitherto I have written to various places and Colleges; nay, I myself surveyed some, that I might with my own eyes inspect the things which can promote the glory of that Blessed one. But besides what I received sent from the town of Vic in the region of Metz, where the memory of this Blessed one is venerated, I could find nothing worthy of relation. I thought that in the Principal Archive here at Baden I should find some things which would make to the purpose. But we found nothing at all, whether by carelessness, or by the injury of the times, which destroyed this our country almost wholly by fire. Afterward I understood that some writings of Gamans exist at Würzburg with Johann Seyfrid, of our Society, there professor of histories. And so I wrote twice to him, but besides a compendium of the Life composed in Italian by Camillo Gabrielli, and a promise of further diligence to come, I received nothing.
[16] We are compelled to give the Life and miracles from more recent writers. I am compelled, therefore, to acquiesce in the more recent monuments, which I shall now enumerate. Giovanni Battista Blancardi at Turin in the year 1628 edited in Italian the Life of blessed Bernard of Baden; but he filled it with so many opinions of the holy Fathers and other digressions, that he seems to have wished to act the preacher rather than the historian. Johann Hornig, priest of our Society, closely adhering to the footsteps of Blancardi, translated it in the year 1686 from the Italian language into German. The same Camillo Gabrielli the priest reduced into a compendium, and edited it at Turin in the year 1658 in Italian. But although he chiefly collected the historical points which pertained to the blessed Margrave, yet he too at times inserts his own exhortations and other digressions, which I, as useless to my purpose, have passed over in the Latin version of that writer. For the rest, in interpreting this author I have not been so scrupulous as to take care to render word for word, but, the substance of the narration being preserved, I have faithfully pursued the thread of the history, as will easily appear to those skilled in each language. But the miracles of blessed Bernard, which Gabrielli had omitted, I have made Latin from Blancardi. Now I subjoin here the translation of both little works together with my observations.
LIFE
Contracted from the fuller Acts of Giovanni Battista Blancardi, and edited in Italian by Camillo Gabrielli at Turin in the year 1658, which we have reduced into a compendium in Latin.
Bernard, Confessor, Margrave of Baden, at Moncalieri in Piedmont, Italy (S.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF GABRIELLI.
Blessed Bernard, sprung from the most noble stock of the Margraves of Baden, Among the ancient and illustrious stocks of Germany the family of the Margraves of Baden is deservedly numbered, both for the nobility of its blood and for the amplitude of its dominion, and especially for its religion toward God, and finally for the excellent and heroic deeds of these princes, of which it is better to be silent than to say little; especially since I intend only to set before the Christian world an exemplar of holiness, nor would I wish to linger long on matters foreign to this purpose. From this most noble stock sprang blessed Bernard, prince of Baden. He had as father Jacob, Margrave of Baden; but as mother Catharine, daughter of the Duke of Lorraine. God gave to these most happy spouses four sons a, of whom the first was Charles, who succeeded his father in the margraviate, and married the sister of Frederick IV b the Emperor. The second was our Bernard, who was born about the year of the Lord 1438. The third was bishop of Metz. But the fourth, on account of the excellence of his virtues, was elected archbishop of Trier before other men of great esteem.
[2] The most serene parents most excellently educated our Bernard, and piously educated in childhood, because not only did they themselves afford to their little son examples of all virtues, but also pedagogues and masters of singular piety and... [he] began from his tender years to raise himself to heaven, and even as a boy showed that he was in a peculiar manner chosen for divine service. He fled those levities to which the childish age is wont to be prone; he showed the greatest reverence toward God; he much delighted in prayer; he was most obedient to his parents and masters, affable and meek toward all; and from that tender age he had already accustomed himself to undertake nothing unless he had fortified himself with the sign of the cross.
[3] Upon these foundations of solid piety he afterward set a great building of perfection. [he performs the chief exercises of the Catholic religion with singular veneration.] As an adolescent
he was refreshed twice a month with the Body of Christ; which exercise of the Catholic religion was in Bernard especially to be praised on account of the diligent preparation with which he disposed himself to receive the angelic food. Hence that heavenly medicine profited him very much, because it was received into a soul so well disposed. Already from his tender age he had accustomed himself daily to assist at the unbloody sacrifice of the Mass. I cannot sufficiently express with how great reverence he was present at these most sacred mysteries of our salvation: for, kneeling, by the outward composition of his body and the inward attention of his mind, he bore before him so great modesty, that to the bystanders he seemed to be rapt out of himself.
[4] As his age increased, his piety increased. He was especially given to prayer, Given to prayer, to which he had so accustomed himself that amid great affairs he very often raised his mind to God, and in walking or other bodily exercise pursued meditation on divine things. Often he was seen to return from divine converse with shining face. He himself was wont sometimes to say to his nobles that a man desiring to taste heavenly sweetness must approach God through prayer, as one wishing to warm himself must approach the fire. And thus the holy Adolescent drew all help and strength against the demons from prayer.
[5] He began also from childhood to fast, and not only observed the days of fasting assigned by the church, by fasting, and other afflictions of the body, but also with a peculiar abstinence honored the sixth feria, consecrated to the Lord's passion, on which, in memory of that mystery, he used no or the sparest food, that in some way he might feel in himself the torments of his Lord. Frequently also he said to his courtiers and nobles that by fasting the body is bridled, lest with the soul it rush into eternal destruction, as a horse is held by the bridle, lest it fall into a precipice. To this he said that prayer and fasting are as two rocks which cannot be stormed by the demons. To say it in a word, there was always the greatest temperance in his diet. To this abstinence of food he added other afflictions of the body, of which even today a huge hair-shirt c testifies, with which the pious Prince, as with a most rough sleeveless cloak, clothed himself. Those seeing it deservedly wonder how an adolescent delicately nourished could suffer a garment so rough, which certainly afflicted him with great torment.
[6] he resolves to keep his virginity, Thus Bernard, kindled with the love of God and hatred of himself, daily rendered himself more fit to receive divine benefits, and to attempt greater things for the divine glory. He resolved, therefore, to contemn the splendor and advantages of court life and to preserve his virginity inviolate. He indicated his heroic purpose to his confessor, namely Father Jean Argot d, of the Order of St. Francis, a man of great perfection, whose memory even now flourishes. He praised Bernard's counsel; yet, as a prudent master of the spirit, he showed him of how great moment was the thing he was undertaking, and how much difficulty he would find, that he might lead it to a glorious end. But Bernard avoided all occasions harmful to chastity, and applied a most diligent custody of his body and senses, and immediately resisted impure thoughts. Never did the courtiers dare to say anything in his presence which even most remotely hurt modesty. His countenance alone sufficed, that no one in this matter transgressed the bounds of honesty.
[7] and wondrously exercises charity. But although virginity is an angelic virtue, yet it is to be esteemed as nothing if it be destitute of charity. Wherefore the holy Prince gave himself wholly to works of mercy. He fed the poor, clothed the naked, aided the needy, toward whom he was most munificent, so that he was everywhere called the greatest almsgiver and the merciful visitor of the poor. He had divided his revenues into three parts, distributing one to the poor of Christ, spending another on the restoration and adornment of sacred places, and reserving the third for his own uses. What further shall I say of his other virtues worthy of a Christian prince? Never did he offend anyone by word or deed; he harmed no one in his goods or other matters; never did he violate his given faith; he did not covet others' wealth, nor permitted that harm be inflicted on anyone. He did not suffer the wretched, widows, orphans, or his subjects to be oppressed, but as much as he could showed himself a benign father equally toward all.
[8] Then, wishing to promote a league against the Turks, While Bernard thus ran like a giant through the way of God's commandments, and in adolescence so perfect stirred up great expectation of himself in the world, about the twentieth year of his age he felt the flame of divine love, which kindled his soul to undertake excellent things for the glory of God. When therefore by the generous conquest of his passions and by assiduous exercise of virtues he had acquired heavenly strength, he sought everywhere occasion to promote the glory of God and to profit the Catholic Church as much as possible. At that time Amurath e, the second of that name, emperor of the Turks, had brought his victorious ensigns of the Crescent into many provinces, and had invaded Albania, Wallachia, and other regions of Greece and Hungary, the unhappy discord of the Christian princes affording opportunity, that the infidel tyrant should occupy so many lands, and in them propagate the impious doctrines of Mahomet with no small detriment to the true faith. This advance of the infidels moved the soul of the generous Prince, who judged that he would do nothing more useful than if against the powerful and pernicious enemy of the Christian religion he applied all his zeal and all his industry. The matter, therefore, being first commended to God, he endeavored to compose a sacred league among the princes of Germany. But with how great zeal and labor he promoted this business, I should prefer to leave to the pious reader to consider, than to narrate in few words. Let it suffice to have said that he brought so arduous a matter almost to the desired end.
[9] Frederick IV the Emperor at that time adorned Bernard with the office of Imperial president in Italy, he is sent to Rome by the Emperor, and chose him as most capable to conclude the sacred league with the supreme Pontiff, and to treat of the most weighty affairs of the Empire. Bernard therefore, affairs in Germany being disposed, set out on the journey toward Rome, where then Callistus III f had ascended the pontifical chair. With a magnificent retinue, such as befitted his nobility and the dignity of Imperial president, he came into Savoy, and was honorably and kindly received by Duke Louis g, then reigning there. But concerning the business which was especially at his heart, he so dealt with the aforesaid Duke that he gladly joined himself to the sacred league against the Turks. Wherefore, leaving Savoy with glad mind, he directed his journey into Piedmont.
[10] Having entered the Piedmontese region, he understood by divine inspiration but on the journey he piously dies, that death was imminent to him. Therefore, at the beginning of the month of July, coming to Turin, he would not stay long in that city; but sought Moncalieri, because in this town he could more freely give himself to spiritual exercises and prepare himself for his near death. When he came to this place together with the confessor mentioned above and his courtiers, he immediately chose for himself the convent of St. Francis, and there, oppressed with disease, with a singular sense of reverence and piety received the Sacrament of penance and of the Eucharist. Meanwhile he prayed most fervently, and most ardently desired to unite himself with God. At last, clothed with the hair-shirt, and clasping the Crucifix in a most tender embrace, amid the pious prayers of the priests and religious standing by, and the copious tears of his courtiers, he rendered his blessed soul to his Creator, from whom he had received the grace of living holily and dying holily. His happy passage happened on the XV of July in the year 1458, when he had lived little more than twenty years.
[11] The body of the deceased was carried to the collegiate church of Moncalieri, and, a miracle being wrought at his obsequies, where to his obsequies a huge number of people and clergy flocked. Father Argot, the best witness of his virtues, delivered the funeral oration, by which he stirred up in the minds of the hearers a great esteem of the pious Prince, and tempered their funereal grief with spiritual joy. Nay, God at the very time of the obsequies declared by a manifest miracle that Bernard already enjoyed the fellowship of the Blessed: for a certain leper h, who with dislocated hips was at the doors of the temple, hearing the virtue of the deceased Prince praised by all, sought health from him, and suddenly obtained it. This prodigy not moderately increased the gladness of the bystanders. Wherefore the sacred body was placed with the highest devotion and reverence under the greater altar of the same collegiate church, where in a short time it shone with many and various miracles.
[12] he is chosen as patron by the citizens of Moncalieri. From that time the inhabitants of Moncalieri venerated Bernard as their protector in heaven, and celebrated the day of his death with a yearly festivity. Then the people, not only in the town of Moncalieri, but also in other places of Piedmont, built chapels in his honor, erected altars, and honored the effigy of the Blessed one. But Yolande i, Duchess of Savoy, on account of the frequent miracles which God worked through his Servant, obtained from Sixtus IV k the supreme Pontiff that on the XXIII day of December in the year 1478 he should direct a Brief concerning the process of canonization to the bishop of Ivrea and to William Caccia the canon, in these words: "By the relation of trustworthy persons we have received that the divine clemency has shown many miracles at the tomb and image of the distinguished memory Bernard, Margrave of Baden, whose body rests in the Collegiate church of St. Mary of Moncalieri of the diocese of Turin." In the following year the same Pontiff, after the death of the bishop of Ivrea, sent a new Brief concerning the canonization of blessed Bernard. Also to many very ancient pictures, made before the year 1500, this is read subscribed: The most illustrious blessed Bernard, Margrave of Baden, Imperial president.
[13] A synopsis of his virtues is given from the Process of canonization. It pleases me here to transcribe the synopsis of virtues which the Process of canonization attributes to Bernard in the following words: "That this same illustrious Margrave and blessed man of God was truthful, modest, sober, and most wise; pleasing and placable to God and men, and especially to his servants: for this blessed man was most knowing, most meek, a virgin, most devout, a most great almsgiver, a visitor of the poor, spurning earthly and worldly things, fearing God, loving justice, seeking peace, appeasing insults and quarrels. He excelled in counsel, he excelled in genius. He fasted every week. Every month he confessed most devoutly twice, and received the Sacraments of the holy church. Corruptions, deceits, disquiets, malignities, and the rest forbidden by the most high creator our Lord Jesus Christ and the Church he utterly avoided, and studied with all his efforts to serve and please God and the whole heavenly court. He did the other things which one called to the seat and kingdom of the glory of eternal life strives and ought to do. He was merciful, pious, filled with humanity and sweetness. He fled by spurning the delights and vanities of the world, vices, dissolutions; nor by any means would he have voluntarily fallen into them. He did infinite good deeds, and was in a state of grace at the time of his last days. He divided his goods into three parts; one he dispensed to the poor of Christ, one to the church, the rest for his own uses."
ANNOTATIONS.
chapter 106, treating of this Jacob, Margrave of Baden, thus writes: Fortune granted him six sons; one, whose name has been enrolled among the Saints, two furnished with most ample bishoprics, etc. Let it suffice to have warned of this: for whatever be the case with this diverse number of sons, it pertains little to our purpose.
MIRACLES
Collected by Giovanni Battista Blancardi and edited in Italian in the year 1628 at Turin, which we have interpreted into Latin.
Bernard, Confessor, Margrave of Baden, at Moncalieri in Piedmont, Italy (S.)
FROM THE ITALIAN OF BLANCARDI.
Miracles certainly demonstrate the truth of the Catholic Church and of our faith, and besides prove that the Saints already enjoy eternal beatitude, Blancardi, having prefaced certain things, and that their intercession profits men. Hence the merciful God willed by various signs to show the world that Bernard has already been received among those princes of the heavenly court who, invoked by us, offer our prayers to the divine Majesty, and obtain remedies for our evils, surpassing all the force of nature and human art; as when, God bestowing life on the dead, hearing on the deaf, sight on the blind, walking on the lame, they restore in a prodigious manner health to the leprous and other desperate sick. Many imploring the aid of blessed Bernard have experienced stupendous benefits of this kind, some of which, drawn out from the archive of Moncalieri and other ancient writings, I shall here briefly recount.
[2] While the body of Bernard, for the celebration of the obsequies at Moncalieri in the church of blessed Mary, had been placed before the high altar, [he relates the first miracle, which happened at the obsequies of blessed Bernard.] and at that time the Reverend Father Jean Ergot was making a speech to the numerous people concerning the holiness, chastity, and other virtues of the blessed Margrave, among others there was present before the door of the temple a certain man both leper and lame, by name Georgius Corderius, a native of Moncalieri. He, stirred up by the holiness of Bernard, which he had heard praised by the preacher, invokes the blessed Margrave, and vows that, if he be restored to health, he will hang at his sepulchre a picture representing the benefit, together with two waxen legs. The vow being made, he is straightway freed from that infirmity, and for the rest of his life remained sound. "Which miracle being seen (says de Turrelis a), the clergy and people praised and blessed God with song and jubilation" b.
[3] A man both mute and lame is healed by his patronage; Domenico Darmelli of Moncalieri had lost the use of his tongue, and besides could not move himself from his bed. Revolving with himself the holiness of blessed Bernard, he resolved to implore his intercession, and made a vow to crawl on his knees from the door of the temple to the sepulchre of the blessed Margrave: which when he had done, now near the sepulchre, he received speech. "Which things were done in the presence of the whole clergy and people of the said place, praising and blessing the Lord. But Domenico, health being recovered, cried out with a great voice that, to the praise and glory of the divine Trinity, by the prayers and merits of blessed Bernard he had been freed." I have used the very words of the ancient writing from which I transcribed these.
[4] [but another first obtains health from dropsy, and then, struck by lightning, revives.] In the year 1461 Andelius Martinolius Bertola, who dwelt at Moncalieri, devoutly venerated blessed Bernard, and daily commended himself to his prayers. He, afflicted with an incurable dropsy, sought and obtained health from the Blessed one, in memory of which benefit he daily visited the sepulchre of the blessed Margrave. It happened that this same man was once in the country, and, a great storm of lightnings and thunders arising, was struck by lightning under a tree to which, for the sake of avoiding the storm, he had betaken himself. After he had there lain dead for the space of one day, his corpse, being found, was carried before the sepulchre of blessed Bernard, whom in life he had piously venerated, and by his intercession suddenly revived.
[5] A canon, oppressed with an incurable disease, Bartolomeo Ferrari, canon of St. Mary in the town of Moncalieri, where the body of blessed Bernard is buried, was oppressed with a certain incurable disease and most acute pains. He vowed, therefore, to hang a waxen leg at the Blessed one's sepulture, and, the vow being fulfilled, presently recovered.
A barren woman promised to offer blessed Bernard a waxen candle, which being offered, a woman from barrenness, after nine months she bore a little son, on whom she ordered the name of Bernard to be imposed.
An adolescent, afflicted with a fever, had come into the extreme peril of life. and an adolescent afflicted with fever are freed. He implored the aid of blessed Bernard, and, a vow being made, was straightway freed from the fever.
[6] A certain young man of Carmagnola c could not move his hands and feet; A young man recovers the use of his hands and feet, nor did medicines profit him anything. The miracles of blessed Bernard being heard, he first made a confession of his sins, and then ordered himself to be carried to the sepulchre of the Blessed one, where he was straightway so perfectly healed that he returned home on his feet.
The little son of Rufino Darmelli, the household not observing, and a boy's burned hand is prodigiously restored. fell into the fire and burned his hand utterly even to the arm. The mother straightway had recourse to the intercession of blessed Bernard, and the hand was prodigiously restored to the boy.
[7] Pietro Giovanni Maria, a wealthy citizen of Moncalieri, had an only son, [A certain father, imploring the aid of blessed Bernard, obtains health for his son,] by name Chiafredo, who was so afflicted with a daily and assiduous fever that no hope of healing remained, and he was gradually led to agony. The father, hearing from the physicians that his son could be aided by no human remedies, went to the sepulchre of blessed Bernard, and suppliantly and instantly demanded the health of his son. Returning home, he found his son plainly healed: "wherefore the father and son together, praising and blessing God, venerated the sepulchre of the Saint with Masses, prayers, and offerings."
[8] A disease had utterly weakened the hands and feet of a certain adolescent, [and an adolescent, having recourse to the same Blessed one, recovers from disease.] and had taken from him the use of speech. His parents and friends strove to conquer the languor by the medical art. But seeing that he could by no means be healed, they recalled to the sick man's memory the miracles which were wrought by the invocation of blessed Bernard. "The sick man invoked the protection of that same Saint (the words are of the process of canonization, which was instituted at the instance of the duchess Yolande), and suddenly rose up sound from his bed." Then he visited the sepulchre of the Saint, and honored him with Masses, offerings, and praises, and made the miracle manifest to the parish priest and people.
[9] Two spouses were exceedingly vexed with a continual fever. The same Blessed one, two spouses laboring with fever, And so, destitute of all aid and hope of recovering health, they offered a vow to the Saint, visited his sepulchre, earnestly demanded his aid, and were freed. The Process of Canonization subjoins these: "With Masses, prayers, and offerings they praised God and the Saint."
Guglielmo De Peneagli of Moncalieri so labored from the reins a man laboring from the reins, that he could not stand upright. He begged aid from this Saint, and was suddenly healed of that infirmity.
One of the nobles of the place commonly called Villar Di Basse d had for thirty years been held by a fracture of the feet and a hernia, and heals another held by disease for thirty years. so that without another's help he could not move himself. Moreover, in this infirmity tormented with continual pains, he had recourse to the intercession of that Saint and ordered a votive Mass to be celebrated at the altar placed at his sepulchre, and forthwith recovered.
[10] The wife of Peironetto Ponseto of the village of St. Maurice e bore a little son An infant having a ruptured groin, having a ruptured groin, and afflicted with such a hernia that he was believed near to death. The mother had recourse to the protection of our Saint, and obtained the benefit sought: for, the little boy being very quickly healed, she herself, visiting the sacred sepulture, praised the beatitude of the Saint, as the process of Canonization speaks.
Giovanni Varoto of Moncalieri, finding that his little son labored with a hernia, and another boy grievously afflicted with a hernia are healed. consulted the physicians and others skilled in this disease; but in vain he sought a remedy for this evil. Wherefore, all human art failing, he had recourse to our Saint, "and the son came out unharmed from that infirmity, and even to the present day recovered" (the words are of the informations of the year 1468), praising God and visiting the Saint's sepulture.
[11] A certain man of Tarentaise f, making a journey in winter time over Mont Cenis g, endured so great an intemperance of cold, snow, and winds, that he had his hands and feet frozen, and utterly lost all vigor, use, and motion of those members. But invoking blessed Bernard of Moncalieri, he was straightway freed, recovered his strength, A certain man frozen with cold recovers the use of his members. and in memory of the benefit received went to the Saint's sepulchre and there, praising and blessing the Lord, besides prayers, Masses, and sacrifices, offered with Christian simplicity that quantity of grain which equaled in weight the heaviness of his body.
[12] A Gaul, having fallen from his horse, a remedy for his wounds, While a certain Gaul on his journey had reached Villanova d'Asti h, falling from his horse, he broke his fingers and his hip, and felt an immense pain. Weighing in the night the miracles of blessed Bernard, who rests at Moncalieri, "he conceived a vow in his mind, and by the prayers of that same Saint was freed," and in memory of this benefit offered a waxen candle at his sepulchre.
The wife of Tommaso De Virle of Moncalieri had a daughter, and a woman obtains for her sick daughter her former health. by name Francesca, who was so sick that she drew near to death. The household expecting nothing but her death, she, recalling to mind the innumerable miracles which God worked through the intercession of blessed Bernard, had recourse to his patronage, and, straightway freed from the disease, visited together with her mother the sepulchre of the Blessed one, praising God and declaring the miracle to all.
[13] A canon, oppressed with a dangerous asthma and other evils, recovered, The Reverend Lord Ercole Cravetta, canon of the
collegiate church of St. Mary in the town of Moncalieri, being held in bed by gout, on the XVI day of December of the year 1606 about midnight was so oppressed with pain of the stomach and asthma, from which sweat and other anguishes arose, that he could scarcely breathe, and believed that death already threatened him. In this straits, recalling the benefits which God had granted to many by the patronage of blessed Bernard, he vowed a perpetual fast on his vigil, and promised that he would celebrate his feast every year. Forthwith, the vow being made, he escaped this tormenting peril, and openly professed that this benefit had been bestowed on him by the intercession of blessed Bernard, to whom he ever afterward showed himself most devoted.
[14] and another, injured by a fall, finds a swift remedy for his wound. Prospero Marchettono, an inhabitant of the place which is commonly called Cumiana i, seeing in the church of St. Mary of the parish of Cumiana a most ancient picture of our Bernard, covered with dust, wished to cleanse it and wash it with water, that from that prototype a similar image might be painted. Having taken holy water, therefore, he sprinkled the picture, and, holding water in his hand, while he hastens to purge the image altogether from filth, he struck against a bench and fell so grievously that the skin of his right shin was torn to the length of three fingers, with a copious effusion of blood and the greatest torment. Then he complained amicably with the Saint, because this misfortune had happened to him while washing his picture, and prayed blessed Bernard to deign to heal this evil. Meanwhile there came to him the thought of mixing with that same dust the water dripping from the picture, and applying it to his wound. While with great confidence he applies this inefficacious remedy, suddenly all pain subsided, and by the morning time of the following day the wound was already so closed that not even a scar appeared; whereas otherwise by the work of physicians or surgeons it could scarcely have been healed in the space of fifteen days. Whence on account of this benefit he afterward ever showed himself most devoted to the Saint.
[15] The corpse-bearers k, who in the time of the contagion in the year 1599 had so cruelly treated the city of Turin, Blessed Bernard averts the plague from the town of Moncalieri. had decreed also to infect Moncalieri with the plague. While, about to commit this diabolical purpose to execution, they wished about midnight to cross the bridge of the Po, they found on the bridge a beardless young man, armed, sitting on a white horse, and in face altogether like the image of blessed Bernard. He not only forbade them passage, but also with angry countenance so terrified them that they were ever hindered from crossing, and at last changed their impious counsel.
In the process of Canonization, which was instituted in the year 1478, are found many other benefits and miracles, which here for the sake of brevity I pass over.
ANNOTATIONS.
July, Volume IV: 16 July.