ON ST. FORTUNATUS, PRESBYTER, IN THE DIOCESE OF SPOLETO IN ITALY.
ABOUT THE YEAR 400.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY. On his cult, and the author of the Life, Audelaus the Presbyter.
Fortunatus, Presbyter, in the diocese of Spoleto in Italy (St.)
G. H.
The tables of the Roman Martyrology, on these Kalends of June, make mention of this Saint with these words: In Umbria, of St. Fortunatus the Presbyter, The sacred cult renowned for miracles and virtues. Where in the Notes Baronius adds these things: We have read his deeds received from the manuscripts of the Church of Spoleto: their opening is: There was a certain venerable man &c. We have those Acts, Manuscript Acts. taken from certain fragments, which are preserved in the church of the said St. Fortunatus: and they were distributed into six Lessons, accustomed to be recited at Matins. The same we have from the Manuscript codex of the Library of the Congregation of the Oratory at Rome marked with the letter K, from folio 226. Their opening is, There was a certain man, Fortunatus by name &c., the word "venerable" omitted. But in these there is lacking the Prologue of the Author, who calls himself Audelaus, and lived as a Presbyter about the year 700. The author being Audelaus the Presbyter. With it we give the very thing, transcribed from the Manuscript codex of the Bishop of Spoleto, under his public faith, noted before and after, as we received it with the Notarial and Episcopal seal, in this manner: In the name of God. Amen. In the year from the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ one thousand six hundred eighteen, in the first Indiction, on the eighth day of the month of June, in the fourteenth year of the Pontificate of the most holy Father in Christ and our Lord, the Lord Paul, by divine providence the fifth Pope; below is written a copy or transcript of the Life of Blessed Fortunatus the Presbyter, found in a certain manuscript book of a whole folio, on parchment paper, existing with the Most Reverend Lord Bishop of Spoleto, and faithfully extracted word for word by me the undersigned Notary and substitute Chancellor, of which the tenor is such.
[2] transcribed several times. That Life we have, taken from a tripartite parchment Lectionary, which was preserved in manuscript with Paolo Sanvitale Bishop of Spoleto, who presided over this Church from the year 1591 to the year 1600. The same finally was held in the Collection of Father Manni, in the aforesaid Library of the Roman Oratory; and there were subjoined various things about the cult of St. Spes Bishop of Spoleto, by whom the Church of Turrita, in honor of St. Fortunatus, is said below to have been consecrated. Lodovico Jacobilli, in the first Volume on the Saints of Umbria, The Church, the Saints, published in Italian the Life of St. Fortunatus the Presbyter, whom he calls one of the three Protectors of the town of Montefalco, to whose territory Turrita pertains, where the Saint acted as parish Presbyter: but that parish is distant 12 Roman miles from Spoleto, near to the aforesaid Mountain at one single mile, and therefore the aforesaid. Jacobilli, in the Corrections to the 3rd Volume, advises that Turrita is to be distinguished from Villa-turris, likewise a place of the Spoleto diocese; but that at Turrita St. Fortunatus lived and was buried, nearer to the said mountain by half a mile; where by St. Spes Bishop of Spoleto, a church was afterward dedicated under his name, the Patrons at Montefalco. which in the year 1446 was given to the Franciscan Friars of the Observance, now having a Convent built there, and an altar in honor of St. Fortunatus, to which they took care to bring his body, and they celebrate his feast with great solemnity on these Kalends of June. In the territory of Spello, not far from the Convent of St. Catharine of the same
Page 75 Minorites of the Observance, there is still seen, says Jacobilli, a certain most ancient Church, dedicated to the same St. Fortunatus, of whom there is there an old image, in Priestly dress, with a Chalice and Host in hand.
THE LIFE The Author being Audelaus the Presbyter. From four Manuscript codices.
BY AUDELAUS. MANUSCRIPT.
Gregory, Bishop of the City of Rome, with Peter his Archdeacon, described the miracles of many Fathers in the volumes of the Dialogues; [but] by I know not what occasion they omitted to write the Life of the most blessed Fortunatus the Presbyter. Prologue. I, however, the least of all men, Audelaus, neither endowed with wisdom nor imbued with intelligence, undertake to write the Life of so great and such a man, tongueless in speech. But we shall say nothing of ourselves but what we have heard from the Venerable Simon the Presbyter, we have studied to write for posterity. For which I beseech you, whoever you are who shall read this little work, that you give pardon if I have omitted what the eloquence of my mouth could by no means narrate.
[2] There was a certain venerable man, Fortunatus by name, Presbyter of the Church of Turrita, The Presbyter feeds the poor by his labor: which is placed more or less twelve miles from the city of Spoleto. In which, while he performed the office committed to him, yet daily he labored with his hands, whence he might obtain the necessities of life. Hence it comes about that whatever he obtained from his aforesaid labor, careful of his poverty, he imparted to the poor and to pilgrim brethren. With the poor he fed the hungry, to the naked he gave garments, and to orphans, and widows, and pilgrims he gave what was necessary.
[3] But it happened that on a certain day, when he was working in the field which is called b Agellus, holding the oxen with his hands he was plowing. An Angel under the appearance of a pilgrim But when he had plowed, he found two denarii; which at once gathering, he tied in his neckcloth, and again did the work he had begun. But soon, looking opposite, he saw a certain pilgrim asking alms of him. To whom the man of God said: O whoever you are, go to the Cell, and I will come after you, and will give you what you ask. But he cried out more and more, saying, Help me, O man of God. And immediately the most blessed Fortunatus remembered that he had found two denarii; gives away the gold coins he found: and called to him the Angel, whom he supposed to be a poor man, saying; Take these denarii, Brother: what is necessary for you, buy. While he handed over those very denarii, they were found in his hand to be gold coins, shining like the sun. He, however, would by no means retain them with himself, but with willing mind handed them to the petitioner; then he departed, and Blessed Fortunatus finished the work he had begun.
[4] a dove seen over his head, Not after a long interval, suddenly there came a dove whiter than snow, and ascended over his head, where residing for a longer time it went on to the heavens. But this dove we believe that our Lord Jesus Christ had sent to him for a crown. Which is so: for the very place in which this happened, to this day is called Meritanus. After these things the man of God returned to his cell, he dies: and not after many days passed to the Lord, and was buried in the field which is called Agellus, where to this day, laid in peace, he rests c.
[5] But the miracles which he worked in his life, on account of the multitude of past intervals we were by no means able to find, and on account of the forgetfulness of men: yet after his death daily the Lord deigns to show wonders and virtues at his body. Because sometimes the souls of Saints, he becomes renowned by miracles: neither in their life, nor in the very departure of the body, show any miracles. But after they have departed from the body, they shine forth with the greatest and more powerful signs. There, however, the Christian people at all times feel his benefits; whence of many it delights me to narrate one miracle, which happened of old d.
[6] A certain man e Severus by name, a citizen of Marta, holding the office of military service, while he was working in his field, St. Severus, which was near the Salarian way next to Marta, the omnipotent Lord made plain to him a hidden treasure. He at once, a sword seized, cutting into pieces the ox with which he was plowing, filled its cleaned stomach with gold; and that which was over, he carried to Rome, and gave to his f Emperor. Then those ministers of Augustus who were present said: What worthy thing is to be recompensed for this matter? Master of soldiers And counsel being taken, the Emperor made him Master of soldiers. Then he, having received power, began, of this for which he had been honored by the Emperor, to construct a basilica to the praise of our Lord Jesus Christ. And when he was completing the work, his fame grew through all Italy. A certain Patrician g was residing at Ravenna; and having heard fame of this kind, he was inflamed in spirit against him. He sent therefore soldiers of his office, that wherever they should find him, they should present him without honor to his sight. But they going out did as had been commanded them.
[7] Who, seizing him, led him bound along the Salarian way: seized, by the order of the Patrician of Ravenna, [but] coming to Pontefratto they left the public way, and wandering took a path, which led them as far as the place where St. Fortunatus lay buried; and they saw there a multitude of Christians proceeding to prayer. understanding the miracles of St. Fortunatus, But Severus inquired of one of the inhabitants of that place, saying: Whose merits of the Saints do you venerate here? To whom answering they said: There was here a certain Presbyter of holy conduct; Fortunatus by name, he here showed many wonders; two blind illumined, three lepers cleansed, one little boy freed from demons; and therefore we adore him here. Then Severus, hearing this, vows a basilica to him, lifting his eyes to heaven, with hands outstretched said; Holy Fortunatus, if I be freed from these bonds, and return in peace; I will not enter my house first, unless here in your name I have built a basilica.
[8] The soldiers thus proceeding with that man, took the right way, and came h to Luceoli, and there they rested. But on the same night, and of him appearing when Severus had vowed that vow, St. Fortunatus came in a vision to that Patrician, who had ordered him to be bound, saying: Unless you order Severus the Master of soldiers to be released, I will not suffer you to live. Which heard, at once he directed other soldiers, that wherever they should meet him, they should at once release him. released by order, Who going out found him at Luceoli, and said to him: The Patrician has sent us, that, released, you may return in peace to your house. He, however, after he was released, voluntarily went on to Ravenna. But when the Patrician saw him, he fell prone to the earth, saying, Forgive me, Father, and do not remember the iniquities which I exercised against you, because you are just; and therefore I ask that you pardon me: he fulfills the vow. and he dismissed him with great honor. Who when he had begun to take his journey, came to the place where he had vowed the vow: and there he stayed, until from the foundations he built there the basilica of St. Fortunatus, which to this day stands placed with all veneration. But Spes i, Bishop of the city of Spoleto, went with his Priests and Clergy, and laid that holy body with all diligence, and consecrated that Basilica k in the name of the Blessed Confessor; where his benefits abound to the present day. Whose Birthday is celebrated on the Kalends of June l.
[9] Whose staff also, with which he was accustomed to scourge the oxen while laboring, His staff grows into a tree, salutary against witchcrafts. while he lived (as all the inhabitants of that place round about affirm) was planted by him; which, suddenly rooted, grew up to such great size, that for the love of the same most holy Father its greatness of beauty is most devoutly venerated by all. Wherefore to this day that place is called by the inhabitants "at the Holy Tree": of which tree also particles, produced for the protection and defense against demonic art, the Christian people, vying with one another, do not neglect most devoutly to keep in their houses; to the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be honor, virtue, and power, through the infinite ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS BY D. P.
* otherwise Ferminus