ON ST. SERENEDUS, CONFESSOR,
AMONG THE CENOMANI IN GAUL.
Seventh Century.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
The cult of the Saint, his translation, the Office of Angers, his Life common with the Acts of his brother.
Serenedus, Confessor, among the Cenomani in Gaul (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR J. B. S.
Of this holy Serenedus, or Cerenedus, otherwise Seneredus (in French Serene or Serne)—of, I say, his own brother Cerenicus, likewise a Saint, it has been treated fully enough at May 7, where all the difficulties which could here be moved were long ago explained, both concerning the homeland of each brother, their Roman and Gallican pilgrimage, their offices, and their age, which last is defined otherwise by Corvasser, Bondonet, and Cointe than as Mabillon established it in the Benedictine Acts, second century, from page 572,
as you may see abundantly disputed in the place already mentioned: for no light has accrued since that time by which these things could be treated by us anew, or now more closely determined. The things which are proper to St. Serenedus are so clearly explained in the Life that there is no need of commentary, and so nothing remains here to be illustrated except the cult alone, of which in the older Martyrologies there is nowhere any memory: among the Usuardine supplements there was found a single Bordeaux codex thus announcing on this day: At Salvia, of St. Serenetus the confessor. A little more clearly and distinctly Castellanus: At Salvia on the Ervia, near Sablé, in the deanery of Brûlon among the Cenomani, of St. Serenedus the anchorite, whose relics are honored in the Cathedral of St. Maurice at Angers.
[2] The elegant discourse of Saussay deserves here to be described. In the territory of Le Mans, by Saussay the deposition of St. Serenedus the wonderful confessor: who, shutting himself up in a little cell near the village of Salina, set about to please God by the assiduous services of vigils and prayers, and, through the active life raised to the contemplative, excelling in eminent purity of heart, deserved to enjoy divine colloquies, and even the friendly intercourse of the angels; who revealed to him his services pleasing to God, and the rewards prepared for his pious works. Frequently drawn away in raptures to the heights, he saw very many wonderful things, which far surpass the grasp of mortal man, by as much as heavenly things excel earthly; and, irradiated by the divine light, he penetrated the hidden things of hearts with the edge of a most pure mind, so that he not only knew the deeds of whomsoever, but also detected their thoughts: moreover he discerned the proper merits of each who were adorned with grace. When he shone with these lights, to him a numerous throng of religious men flowed together, as to a master of sanctity, and an approved friend of God, whom, embracing them kindly, he taught the most excellent theory of serving the divine majesty. For many brought to him temporal aids: which the divine Man, lest he should seem to despise their devotion, receiving with giving of thanks, straightway paid out into the solaces of the poor. Whose usury of piety God, the Father of mercy and of all consolation, compensated with the benefit of a signal miracle.
[3] is adorned with a long eulogy. For when, the heaven being closed on account of the crimes of men, rain failed, and thence so great a sterility of harvest threatened that the whole region round about was laid waste with immense famine; on the prayer of the servant of God Serenedus, as once at the prayers of Elias, the heaven being unlocked, copious showers flowed down, by which the earth, being moistened, received the blessing of copious fruitfulness. But when presently a great mortality had succeeded, and moreover the whole province was shaken by the incursions of enemies, so great evils pressing on, the clergy and people of Le Mans went to the bishop, inquiring his counsel concerning so many calamities. He judged that divine aid was to be sought by pious works. A three-day fast of the Litanies with the sacrifices of the Masses being therefore proclaimed, on the last day at length a heavenly answer became known to the religious man supplicating the Lord concerning these afflictions; that scourges of this kind, sent by the angry God, could not be averted except by the entreaty of Serenedus, his faithful servant (whose merits were immense). Whence, a concourse being made to him of those asking aid, the Man of God, pouring out prayers for the people in sackcloth and ashes, appeased the wrath of the heavenly King by his intercession, and obtained peace and the common welfare. He performed other far greatest stupendous things, which almost equaled the ancient deeds of the apostles and prophets; to whose desired fellowship at length the immaculate Man, the course of this life being happily measured out, for the reward of the strenuous service which he continually paid to the Lord, set forth by a most holy departure.
[4] His relics being translated to Angers, It is altogether wonderful that Saussay adds not a word about the translation of the sacred body to Angers. Furthermore at what time it was done, or by what bishop of Angers, then temporal lord of Salvia or Salica (Saulge), neither did the author of the Life disclose, nor have I found it noted elsewhere: this is certain, that St. Serenedus was first buried at Salvia, and the name of the Saint himself (St. Serne) given to the place. But the above-cited Corvasser and Bondonet testify, the former in Innocent, the latter in Domnolus, that the sacred relics were honorably deposited at Angers, and an altar erected to the Saint, at the left of him who enters the nave of the church, in which both brothers, Cerenicus equally with Serenedus, are represented sculptured in bas-relief in the purple Cardinalitial dress, because, namely, in the Life of St. Cerenicus number 4, and more closely in our notes, it is related that, after a little time elapsed at Rome, the same Pope (probably Vitalian), for the grace of religion, ordained both Cardinals of the Roman Church. In what way these things are to be taken, is abundantly plain even to the moderately learned, and there it is explained: it was enough for the sculptors to have heard the name of Cardinal, that they should paint on them a dress not so ancient. From the name of Serenedus a certain Serenus has been compounded, whom we saw placed among the bishops of Angers in the Praetermissi above.
[5] Of the singular festivity of St. Serenedus wont to be celebrated among the people of Angers every year on this day, surer things are handed down by the Breviary of that church, The Saint's festivity there which we have printed at Paris in the year 1624, where in the proper Lessons is reported a compendium of his whole life, not to be set after the Saussayan one already given. But he is worshiped with a double Office under this proper prayer: O God, who hast consecrated this present day with the solemnity of blessed Serenedus; grant, we beseech, that we whose solemnities we venerate on earth may feel his suffrages with thee in the heavens. There is also made a commemoration of St. Serenicus from the common in the second place, and of St. Praxedes. Thus begins Lesson IV: Serenedus and Serenicus, brothers, born of an honorable station at Spoleto in Italy, instructed in sacred letters with the utmost care of their parents, when they had much and long deliberated with themselves the evangelical counsel; Everyone who shall leave house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold and shall possess eternal life: and had often asked of God the reason of fulfilling the same counsel, at length being divinely admonished, leaving their parents and fortunes, they set out for Rome; and there, free from all care of temporal things, long lying hidden, in prayer and the contemplation of divine things, they passed a life more like to angels than to men.
[6] Lesson V. But when their sanctity began to grow illustrious, is celebrated every year with a double Office. the Supreme Pontiff, calling them to himself, distinguished them with the Order of the diaconate, and, though they were reluctant, raised them to the honor of the Cardinalitial dignity. But since the splendor of so great an honor, far foreign to their humble institute, did not please the holy men; fearing lest, as more often happens, under the pretext of religion, the vain glory of the world should weaken the counsel entered upon from boyhood, Rome being left, in the reign of Clothair, going into Gaul, they came to Salvia, a village of the Cenomani. Judging that place suited to the zeal of contemplation, they settled in it; until Serenicus, the more to avoid the throng of men, leaving his brother, betook himself to the district of Oximum, where, when he had long lain hidden as a solitary, a church being built in honor of holy Martin, fortified by the sacred mysteries of the Church, on the Nones of May he rendered his soul to God. Lesson VI. But Serenedus, left at Salvia, indefatigably pursuing the studies of contemplation and prayer, was never drawn from them, except when charity urged. His intercession with God being implored through the bishop, he freed Le Mans and the surrounding regions, afflicted by a long sterility, by his prayers. Made archdeacon, although he had unwillingly undertaken that office, he offered himself an example of good works in doctrine, in integrity, in gravity: so that there was no one from whom he did not hear the best, and was held holy. Presaging the last day of his life, he admonished his own, and, having most gravely exhorted them to bear all things bravely for the glory of Christ, migrated to heaven. His body was first buried in an honorable place at Salvia; whence afterward, translated into the church of Angers, it is worshiped there with great veneration and the frequent naming of vows.
[7] The part of the Life of St. Serenicus to be connected with this. As to the Life of the holy brothers, it is for a great part common to both, which, given at May 7, we have already said above; at least as far as both are read to have led the eremitic life together in the territory of Le Mans, so that indeed all seven numbers of the first chapter ought here to be prefixed to the rest of the history of St. Serenedus, unless already in the Acts of the holy brother all the things preceding the separation had long ago been printed, which, instituted for this reason, you will find there. But since the Lord had disposed to illuminate two places from a double lamp, and also to adorn two provinces; Blessed Serenicus, rejecting so fertile a soil, resolves to seek out one more sparing and solitary; namely desiring to flee the frequency of men, and to lead a solitary life worthy of heavenly contemplation. But this deliberation being held with himself, addressing his brother with amiable speech, and pouring out a blessing with tears; may we deserve, he says, to behold one another in the heavenly homeland with unfailing sight. The rest of that chapter and the whole following one to the end pertains to St. Serenicus, dwelling at Séez; here it remains to subjoin separately the rest of the Life of our St. Serenedus, drawn from the Benedictine Acts.
LIFE
From the 2nd Benedictine century.
Serenedus, Confessor, among the Cenomani in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 7591
FROM THE PRINTED SOURCES.
Devoting himself to sacred studies, Holy Serenedus therefore, when he had remained near the village of Salvia in the district of Le Mans, with the utmost discretion appointed in what manner he should live; namely how much of abstinence, of vigils, of prayers, and of the other good things he should daily offer without ceasing to God. Yet he often exceeded this measure, as the grace of the Spirit inspired him. Full of it at last, raised through the active to the contemplative life, he was fed inwardly with delights, especially as one who, through purity of heart, enjoyed divine colloquies and visions of angels, who relieved his labors with pious solace, and announced to him eternal joys. Whence it more often happened that he was rapt above himself by the divine Spirit, so that he knew not only the deeds, but also the thoughts of many, and, taught by the Spirit of truth, was in no way deceived, nor did anyone dare to lie in his presence. The fame therefore of his goodness grew among the people, and a throng of religious men flowed together to him, eagerly bringing him temporal goods, which indeed he received for the grace of charity, but straightway distributed to the poor, to whom in return he rendered the documents of the heavenly life, skillfully taking care that no one should depart from him without some edification.
[2] he allures many to himself, whom he exhorts to charity. If any despairing sinner had come to him, he watered him with such streams of doctrine that, his errors and sins being left, he returned glad and cheerful. To each, as he saw to be expedient, he furnished the gifts of the heavenly stream; the discordant he recalled to perpetual peace. By whose admonitions many left their earthly patrimonies, and, trampling the delights of the perishing world, wholly adhered to his sacred fellowship. For since he was learned in letters, and all his speech was seasoned with the salt of grace, those who adhered to him he continually formed both by doctrine and by life, who, if ever he was idle from prayer or exhortation, intent on reading, assiduously strove to search out the depths of the Scriptures, to inspect the agreement of the Old and New Testament. A prudent and simple man and a lover of peace, always placid in countenance and mind, he knew not to render retaliation to anyone for evils. But if
anyone had announced to him something of things lost, with tranquil breast he praised the Lord, the giver and taker-away of all things: nor had he, in receiving guests, respect of persons, but attended in these rather to the divine than to the human honor.
[3] Intent therefore on such holy works, he began to shine with great miracles: for the lamp could not be hidden under a bushel, Le Mans oppressed by famine, plague, and war, nor could the city set upon a mountain not be seen. At a certain time, the heaven being long closed, when rains were denied to the lands, so great was the sterility of the harvest that almost the whole province was laid waste with immense famine: for excessive dryness parched the earth, and almost no seeds returned fruit to the farmers. Besides these, a great mortality of men succeeded, and from the now-corrupted air threatened to many a near destruction. And it was wonderful to see, that when some dying men buried the dead, they were straightway, expiring, buried with the same. Over and above these, by the incursions of enemies and by wars, through the pride of certain princes the whole province was troubled, so that truly there seemed to be fulfilled what the Lord threatens in the Prophet: In three things, he says, I will visit my people, in plague and famine and the sword.
[4] So great evils therefore pressing on, all the clergy and people go to the bishop of Le Mans, at the request of the city's bishop; inquiring his counsel concerning so many calamities: who, when human aid ceased, decreed that it was to be sought from God by prayers. He proclaimed therefore, with Litanies and Masses, a three-day fast. But on the third night of the fast, it was revealed to a certain Religious that by the merits of blessed Serenedus the homeland was freed. This therefore being known, the bishop rejoiced, and, taking with him venerable men from his side, went to the Man of God by himself, by whom he was received with honor. Kisses therefore being exchanged, after loving words of acquaintance, he calls the man aside more secretly, discloses the cause and order of his coming, and reports that he had come hither not without the nod of God. The Saint refuses, and says that he is unworthy, and not of such merit, that through him deliverance should come. The bishop insists, saying it was revealed by God that he, unless he yields, is guilty of disobedience, through whom the people should perish. At length, convinced by just reasons, he yielded, and, although he said he was a sinner, yet promises that he will pray for the people.
[5] The pontiff therefore withdrew. But then you would scarcely believe with how great affliction he pressed himself down, how much by praying he subdued himself with tears, he frees them by his prayers. fasts, and vigils. Therefore, because the assiduous entreaty of the just avails much, he received what he asked, found what he sought, and to him knocking it was opened. It rained therefore abundantly and fittingly, and in that very year so great an abundance of all crops burst forth that it wholly abolished the aforesaid want. By which showers the air, washed, was salubriously tempered, and, the plague being put to flight, the ungrateful mortality ceased. Where attend, that while he deferred the present death from so many who were certainly to die and were not even dying, he in a manner raised so many dead. Afterward, when it was found that this had happened by his merits, the leaders of the war, compunct, made peace by his counsel, and so famine, plague, and wars alike were quieted. O Man of great merit! O how wonderful is God in his Saints, and holy in all his works!
[6] He refuses to be made archdeacon. The bishop, honoring him, appointed him archdeacon, unwilling and compelled. He resists, and pleads that a Roman Cardinal deacon ought not to be diminished. At length he yielded on this alone, that affairs should be transacted with his counsel. Thenceforth the Saint was held in the highest honor by all, and through him they more confidently asked indulgence of God. For so great a grace of healings was in him that not only by his touch and word, but even by his garments the sick were healed, and when he had washed his hands, many, washed with the water or drinking it, were cured of fevers. From the fragments of bread or from the remnants of food, which some faithfully carried farther off, the sick were healed. A leper once known to him he restored to health by his prayers, to some blind persons he gave back sight by the sign of the cross. He did many things, which if anyone should relate one by one, the days would fail before the work: but, avoiding tedium, I shall run through the end of his life with a swift pen.
[7] Foreknowing his death, he dies. When therefore the Lord wished to render to him the recompenses of so great labors, being grievously sick he felt death at hand. His disciples therefore being called together, he foretells the matter, by whose tears and lament the neighborhood is presently troubled. When a mixed multitude had come together, he exhorted them not to fail in doing good, nor to hesitate to bear the hard and rough things of the world for the Lord, by which the eternal crown is given. That they should know that they, as sojourners and pilgrims, ought to abstain from carnal desires, for which eternal torments are prepared. And when he had harangued such things at length, the Sacrament of the Lord's body being received, he rendered to his Creator the illustrious soul, which he had given him, without blemish. There was heard at his death the sweetness of a heavenly melody of singing angels, and an unusual odor was poured into the nostrils of many. To his obsequies almost the whole province came together, lamenting him as the father of the homeland. He was buried therefore in the church, where, renowned for miracles, he lay for long ages, and there the traces of the sepulcher are still discerned. For his body was afterward translated to Angers: which how it was done, as it is handed down by the ancients, I shall say in a few words.
[8] His body translated to Angers. Fame reports that by the gift of someone that village of Salvia had come into the dominion of the bishop of Angers. Which when he had possessed for some time, since that village was rather remote from the city of Angers, he gave it for a certain one which is now called Vicus-episcopi (the Bishop's Village), whence also it drew this name. The bishop therefore carried thence blessed Serenedus, and laid him in the pontifical church with honor. But if the matter be otherwise, it is certain that in the episcopal church of blessed Maurice this Saint is held, whom the people of Angers pray to, the clergy honor, and whose feast they commemorate on the 12th day before the Kalends of August. For he is a Saint of great merit, who, living in the flesh, removed from the people of the Lord plague, famine, and wars, and now too, loosed from the flesh, can remove more. Whence he is greatly to be honored and prayed to, that to the clergy and people venerating him the welfare of body and soul may come, and by his merits they may obtain eternal life from him who lives and reigns forever. Amen.