ON ST. CAPRASIUS, ABBOT OF THE MONASTERY OF LÉRINS.
ABOUT THE YEAR 430.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. The testimonies of the ancients about him and other memorials.
Caprasius, Abbot of the monastery of Lérins (St.)
G. H.
[1] To St. Caprasius illustrious testimonies are borne by two contemporary Authors, both Bishops, both for the sanctity of their life inscribed among the Heavenly ones; Praised by Sts. Eucherius and Sidonius Apollinaris, namely St. Eucherius of Lyon, whose words below in the Acts number 7 are referred to, and St. Sidonius Apollinaris Bishop of Auvergne, who lived in the same century with St. Caprasius, but somewhat younger, and in his Eucharisticon to Faustus Bishop of Riez, describing the praises of the Lérins hermitage, sings these things:
Disclosing to the brethren, how many mountains that level island sent into heaven, which the holy life of the old man Caprasius, and of the young man Lupus, what grace abode with father Honoratus. &c.
[2] likewise by Reverentius of Arles To these two is added the one who wrote the Life of St. Honoratus, which we gave, as also it is here cited, under the name of St. Hilary the likewise contemporary Bishop of Arles, on January 16. But afterward we learned that it was written, not by Hilary, but by someone younger, probably Reverentius, if not the successor of Hilary, certainly a Bishop of some neighboring See; whose words it pleases to transcribe thence here more accurately, than will be done below at number 7 already indicated. They go out, says that Author, treating of the pilgrimage of St. Honoratus, and of his brother St. Venantius; He goes on pilgrimage with Sts. Honoratus and Venantius, They go out from their land, and from their house, and from their kindred, and by a like example are shown true sons of Abraham: Yet, lest anything be thought to have been rashly begun by them with youthful daring; they take an old man of perfect and consummate gravity, whom, always reckoning him a Father in Christ, they called Father, St. Caprasius; living still on earth in an Angelic conversation. Whose name although Your Charity has hitherto been ignorant of, and still does not know his life, Christ numbers him among his friends. Him, and he being dead as it were the orderer in the Lord and guardian of his age, they take, whom many of the youth had chosen as guardians for themselves. The hiding-place of pilgrimage, therefore, is sought, the fame of virtue is fled. Wherever one goes, there, will they or not, fame was begotten. Happy the lands and blessed the harbors, which a pilgrim thirsting for the heavenly fatherland illustrates. Others approach the shores of the East, and whatever other places full of Saints, for the sake of receiving an example; these, whatever they approach, they rouse with good examples. Everywhere their substance is scattered, and in every approach of theirs the good odor of Christ is fragrant. These things St. Hilary, who died in the year 449, that is nineteen years after the death of St. Caprasius, if his decease is aptly set forth in the Acts.
[3] The pilgrimage accomplished, the holy Caprasius and Honoratus withdrew to the island of Lérins, he dwells at Lérins with St. Honoratus, where St. Honoratus constructed a monastery, from whom even now the island and monastery are called St. Honoratus's. Under him St. Caprasius grew old; and at last about the year 430 from this life, having died about the year 430. to the longed-for joys of the heavenly ones, he is said in the very Acts to have passed, which even from this reckoning of the years of Christ we gather were not written except in the seventh century of Christ. These, copied by him from an aged codex of the same monastery of Lérins, The Acts written in the 7th century Vincent Barralis Salernus, a Lérins Monk, published, as they are translated thence into the Surian editions, whence we add them here.
[4] The memory in the sacred Calendars, There the day of death is assigned to these Kalends, on which the Saint is celebrated in Usuard, Ado, Notker, and other more recent ones, with today's Roman Martyrology in nearly these words everywhere: On the same day, June 1, of St. Caprasius, Abbot of the monastery of Lérins. Pietro de' Natali in the eleventh book of the Catalogue chapter 162 has these things: Caprasius, Abbot of the monastery of Lérins, rested in Christ on the Kalends of June. Trithemius in book 3 on the Illustrious Men of the Order of St. Benedict chapter 179 ascribes him to them thus: Caprasius, Abbot of the Lérins monastery, a man of the greatest humility and meekness, a zealous observer of regular discipline, also to the Benedictines, but wrongly. left great monuments of his sanctity. His deeds are had, whose feast is held on the Kalends of June. To which related by him Vincent Barralis Salernus, not without indignation, subjoins these words: See, I ask, by what reasoning he takes him to himself into the Order of St. Benedict, when the holy Caprasius preceded St. Benedict by a space of nearly a hundred years. Moreover his deeds, which he asserts are had; either he did not see, or read drowsily.
[5] The same Vincent Barralis, in the second part of the Lérins Chronology, published Corollaries of the holy Relics preserved in the Lérins Church: and on page 185 in the first place, among the Relics of the holy Confessors not Pontiffs, he places the body of St. Caprasius the Abbot, The Body at Lérins. which even now is held there in veneration. Some of his Relics the College of our Society of the monastery of Westphalia reckons in its Lipsanography, but of what kind or how great it does not express.
THE LIFE From the Lérins Manuscript published by Vincent Barralis.
Caprasius, Abbot of the monastery of Lérins (St.) BHL Number: 1559
BY AUDELAUS. MANUSCRIPT.
[1] The Lives of the Saints useful to readers. We see very many men studiously read through the books of the Gentiles, examine the fables of the poets and comedies and songs: others we discern curiously search out the deeds of the Ethnics, by which they are seen to have done something strenuously according to the folly of this world, and retain them with tenacious memory: some too we consider more gladly allege the histories of such lost men, than relate the doctrines, virtues, and examples of the Saints: although, by reciting the life and merits of the Saints, the greatest utility threatens all. For in this (as the Prophet admonishes) we praise the Lord in his Saints, who in them always appears wonderful; Ps. 150:1 besides, we earn the grace of his propitiation by the intervention of the Saints; and by their consideration, we prepare for ourselves incitements of virtues. The pursuits of foolish men therefore omitted, let us recall to memory the virtues and merits of our glorious Father Caprasius, whose feast we celebrate today.
[2] Blessed Caprasius therefore was noble and distinguished in lineage, Caprasius after Philosophical studies, but, what is more praiseworthy, lofty in virtue of mind, from the early flower of youth imbued with the arts of Philosophy, and shone with wonderful talent. But at last, prevented by divine grace, prudently attending, that, according to the saying of the Apostle, The wisdom of this world is folly with God; 1 Cor. 3 and, that knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies; he chose rather to be reckoned foolish by men, he follows humility; that he might deserve to be held wise with God; desiring to attain those secrets of divine wisdom, which the heavenly Father hid from the wise and prudent; but by wonderful condescension revealed to little ones, that is to the humble and simple. Nor was he defrauded of his desire; for the merciful and compassionate God, who inspired so wholesome a purpose into his heart, ministered the grace of carrying it out and the virtue of completing it.
[3] Blessed Caprasius therefore, a true disciple of Christ, leaving that worldly Philosophy, undertook the Evangelical discipline. First he disposed to despise possessions, and whatever he could have in this world, for the love of Christ, and to distribute them to the poor. Freed from those things, therefore, he undertakes Evangelical he distributes all his wealth to the poor: poverty; and lays down the burden of worldly anxiety, and, according to the Apostle's doctrine, forgetting the things that are behind, stretches himself to the things that are before. Phil. 3:13 He reckoned all the desirable things of this world as dung, that he might gain Christ: and that he might more freely give himself to God alone, not only in heart, he dwells in solitude but also in body he withdrew from the sight of men and the conversation of the world; and resolved to lead a monastic life in a certain narrow and dry solitude, and to undertake the solitary institute.
[4] In which solitude of the hermitage indeed he was advanced to so great a summit of virtues, that he profited not only himself, but also was made Father and leader of very many Monks warring for God: who, following his examples and likewise his doctrine, deserting the broad and spacious way which leads to death, strove to enter, Christ as author, the narrow which leads to eternal life. Meanwhile to his mastership submitted that Prelate of Christ, in virtue, priesthood, and name a Honoratus, Father of the Lérins monastery, with Sts. Honoratus and Venantius; who afterward presided as Bishop over the Church of Arles: to whom also clung that most precious gem, conspicuous with inner splendor, namely blessed Venantius, b brother of the same St. Honoratus, who both chose the aforesaid holy old man Caprasius, for the merit of his life and the prerogative of his exceptional sanctity, the Lord so ordaining, as Father and Orderer in the Lord, and guardian of their still tender age.
[5] having gone on pilgrimage with them, Who, seeing the aforesaid and distinguished two Youths, thirsting for Christ, namely Honoratus and Venantius, willing to leave country and parents for Christ, approving their purpose, accompanied them assiduously through lands and seas, although he was now worn out by the gravity of age. Having therefore crossed, from Nicomedia c, the immense spaces of land and sea, the man of the Lord Caprasius with the two royal gems, he withdraws to Lérins. namely Honoratus and Venantius, having entered the Cisalpine province, with such lamps, gleaming with the fire of faith, illustrated the holy island of Lérins d. At whose arrival that sacred island of Lérins was soon dedicated to divine worship, decorated with the privilege of the highest religion. O happy Master of virtues, who deserved to have such and so great disciples! O praiseworthy Pastor of souls, who glories in Christ in such an offspring of spiritual sons. Of how great merit do we think, of how great virtue this man was, who, so to speak, was able to be the Master of Masters? How happy and blessed the habitation of that holy island of Lérins, which is protected by such illustrious Patrons, by the providence of God brought from such distant and unknown regions for the utility of many!
[6] The man of the Lord Caprasius therefore was fervent in charity, cast down in humility, most gentle in piety, where he excels in every virtue, most firm in hope, modest in gait, prompt in obedience, singular in abstinence, serene in aspect, sublime in contemplation, strong in long-suffering, continuous in the instance of prayer, seeking nothing of consolation in this world, desiring nothing except Christ, whom alone by desiring he attained. By seeking the blessed life, he led a blessed one: he desired to be separated from sinners, and was now separated not only from sinners, but also from sins: he wished to have all his time in the praises of God, and gave all his time to God: he longed to rejoice together with the companies of the Saints, and even, still placed in the present life, likewise rejoiced: he desired to enjoy Christ in mind, and enjoyed him.
[7] This blessed man, for the greatness of his virtues, was of such repute and fame, as Hilary and the Life of St. Honoratus testify; that many of the holy Doctors of his time bore testimony to his worthy conduct, and made memory of him in their treatises. Whence that chief Bishop of the Church of Lyon, Eucherius e, at the end of the book which he wrote on the praise of the Hermitage, when he spoke about the holy inhabitants of the island of Lérins, named this man of God among the rest especially, saying thus: This holy island of Lérins, namely, now possesses Caprasius venerable for gravity, equal to the old Saints. This now has those holy old men, who in their diverse little cells brought the Egyptian Fathers into our Gauls. And Blessed Hilary, in the sermon f which he delivered as a funeral oration in praise of St. Honoratus, describes Blessed Caprasius to have been of perfect and consummate gravity, to have lived in the islands in an angelic conversation, and to be numbered among the friends of Christ.
[8] When therefore blessed Caprasius was very aged and far advanced in years and decrepit, and the time of his dissolution was at hand, as g it is read; there appeared to him St. Michael the Archangel, and he dies forewarned by St. Michael, and by divine nod revealed that his happy departure was imminent after two days. Nor incongruously indeed, that to an angelic man about to depart from this life, an angelic legation should occur; which both defended that holy soul from hostile wickedness, and exalted it with the glory of the heavenly citizens. At his last moments therefore there came together Priests of glorious and renowned memory, namely h Faustus, i Theodorus, k Maximus, and Hilary, of whom we have already made mention: who, conscious of the merits of the blessed man Caprasius, forgetful of his Pontifical dignity, sitting at his feet, commended himself to his prayers; and with great humility begged that he would be mindful of him; not reckoning it unworthy to render service to so great an inhabitant of the hermitage, and to lay the dignity of the Priesthood beneath his exceptional sanctity.
[9] What office therefore shall we sinners and unworthy be able to render to this blessed man, now reigning with Christ; when we hear that so great a Pontiff, while he was still placed on earth, begged his suffrages with such great humility? and he is invoked by the Author. Let us therefore ardently implore the aid of his intercession, ask the benefits of his help, imitate his life and character according to the measure of our virtue. The man of God Caprasius passed from this life to the longed-for joys of the Heavenly ones, on the day of the Kalends of June, in the holy island of Lérins, about the year of human redemption four hundred thirty, and was buried there; while our Lord Jesus Christ reigns, unto the ages of ages. Amen.