ON S. SATURNINA VIRGIN MARTYR
IN THE DIOCESE OF ARRAS IN BELGIUM.
Cult and title of Martyrdom.
Saturnina, Virgin Martyr, among the Atrebates in Belgium (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
Among the glorious women crowned by martyrdom, at the beginning of this month of June we have reported several, After several of this name, celebrated by the name of Saturnina. On the very Kalends two occurred, who suffered at Thessalonica in Macedonia; four are celebrated on the following day, who obtained the palm of martyrdom at Rome: and now on this 4th day of June, among the Martyrs ascribed to Noviodunum a city of Belgic Gaul, or rather of Pannonia, is also one: on whose occasion I judge it was done, that to another of the same name, Virgin and Martyr, in the same Belgic Gaul's field and Diocese of Arras (because the proper day was unknown) this day has been attributed. A Virgin and Martyr, with no day indicated, Baldericus praises in the Cambrai and Arras Chronicle, writing in the 12th century, in words soon to be reported, and proposing a synopsis of her life and Martyrdom in lib. 2 cap. 12. Baldericus Molanus contracted into fewer words, weaving the Index of Saints of Belgium; printed in the year 1583, and "I am ignorant of the natal day," he says: then he adds: "In the Breviary of the Arras Calendar is read, on the 4th of June, the memory of Saturnina Virgin, not Martyr, which I should think to be understood of this one, except that 'not Martyr' is added." But George Colvenerius, Doctor of Douai, she is venerated at Arras as a Virgin only: in his Notes on Baldericus printed in 1617, writes that this is wrongly added, from a response given to him by Mr. Gaugericus Boucquel Archdeacon of Arras, afterwards Dean. I judge that this opinion of his rests on no other foundation, than that no other Saturnina is known to the Arrasians, except the one Baldericus treats of, as beheaded by a lascivious suitor, and that such are wont to be venerated as Martyrs, as they truly are. Yet not opposing this reason, the Arrasians continued to venerate their Saturnina only as Virgin; even in proper Offices printed in 1632, prescribing on the 4th day of June "Office of S. Saturnina Virgin, simple, from the Common of one Virgin, with the Prayer Exaudi, and Lection III from the Sermon of S. Ambrose, 'Since today is the natal day of a Virgin.'"
[2] Hence it is quite surprising, that Baronius, having no other Author (so far as we can know) before his eyes than Molanus, Yet she is called Martyr in the Roman Martyrology, thus, as we have seen, hesitating, nor daring to define whether she, whom he found marked on the 4th of June as "not Martyr," was the Saturnina praised by Baldericus; surprising, I say, that Baronius permitted to be inscribed in today's Martyrology, so assertively on this day, "At Arras of S. Saturnina Virgin and Martyr": more surprising, that in the Notes he added that ancient Manuscripts treat of her, from which the more recent received it. All and everything which Baronius used for such Notes, and in still greater copia, are with us; yet nowhere except in the said Index and Baldericus is the Arrasian Saturnina found, nor in any other way; although Baronius had not read Baldericus, otherwise certainly not about to omit to name him. We retain however the title of Martyr, and can be said; if not as used by the ancients, yet as congruent to the death, in accordance with the custom of the Roman Church, inflicted on account of the constancy of preserving virginity: and in this we have as predecessor after Baronius Arnoldus Rayssius, who in the Belgian Hierogazophylacium page 467, says: "At Sains, in Artois, between Cambrai and Arras, are seen two arm-bones of S. Saturnina Virgin and Martyr." William Gazet, Canon of Aire and Pastor of S. Magdalene at Arras, in the Ecclesiastical History of Belgium page 170, weaving a Catalog of Saints of the Arras diocese, only asserts; as on account of the purpose of virginity "At Sains near Marquion, the tomb of S. Saturnina is seen in the church, and she is approached and visited with great devotion by the surrounding peoples, on account of the benefits which are there obtained by the merits of this Saint." But let us hear Baldericus himself, in the cited place thus describing the Acts of Martyrdom.
[3] "Not far thence (namely Barala, of which he had treated in the preceding Chapter), at Sains, the name of the place, a basilica of maidens, where S. Saturnina rests, is held to have existed. Furthermore this Virgin sprung from Germany from distinguished lineage, from childhood vowed her virginity to the Lord: which when her parents according to
the secular rite were arranging to be married off; preferring to preserve the integrity of her chastity for her heavenly Spouse, she fled far from manly bridal chambers. But seeing that she could neither resist her parents' will, beheaded by her suitor. nor escape the appetite of her insolent suitor; secretly going out from her paternal house, she took flight: and coming to this neighborhood, near the aforesaid village by martyrdom she consummated the course of her life. For that man, to whom by her parents she had been pledged, pursued her wandering even to that very place. Whom when the venerable Virgin saw at a distance behind her, she trembled all over, and knew not how to extricate herself from the bites of the menacing beast. What was she to do? Soon, as she was a simple animal, she inserted herself among the shepherds who there were grazing their flock, that she might be hidden, and thus thought to lie concealed from the seeker. Which however the young man having spied out, like a hungry wolf rushed upon the innocent little sheep, and with sword drawn beheaded her. Who soon, as the antiquity of the reporters dares to assert, At her body once a monastery was erected. took her own head in her hands, and with the people looking on carried it into the church, which was in that very village in honor of S. Remigius. For her veneration therefore, with a monastery made by the Christian faithful, a maidenly congregation is delegated: but with the aforesaid causes intervening, it is reduced to the service of one Presbyter. There is also an ancient relation, that long after, Saxons, uncertain for what cause, came to this neighborhood; and passing through that village, having heard the sacred opinion, carried off a part of the body of the sacred Virgin."
[4] These things Baldericus, and from him Aubertus Miraeus in the Belgic and Burgundic Calendars on this 4th of June: but what Baldericus rather fearfully and doubtfully, on account of the antiquity of the reporters, adds, that she lifted her own head with her hands, both Miraeus and Colvenerius in their Notes attempt by several examples to confirm: That she is said to have lifted her head with her hands, is uncertain: but most of these, as we have often indicated, are suspect to us, lest into that opinion about such things have come overly simple men, because Martyrs diminished by head, often by painters, more often by sculptors (especially in Gaul, where examples abound) used to be wont to be represented, holding before the breast the severed head, as S. Agatha is wont to be painted with her breasts, S. Apollonia with her teeth. We do not however deny that it could happen, and it did happen, that some took up their heads and carried them off. The same Colvenerius says: "Barala and Sainct or Sains are two villages of the territory of Oisiacum, neighboring each other near Marquion, about midway between Cambrai and Arras. The parish church of the former is dedicated to S. George the Martyr, under the patronage of the Abbot of Anchin. But that of this one to S. Saturnina Virgin and Martyr, under the patronage of the Metropolitan Chapter of B. Mary of Cambrai. But in neither village does any vestige of a monastery survive today, or only the slightest."
[5] As to the Saxons, or the Westphalians people of Lower Saxony, they venerate S. Saturnina, more even, whether so is the one venerated in Saxony May 20. on the 20th of May (as they believe) as having suffered: whom we have said was brought there not from Artois but from Rome: but they seem persuaded only by the identity of the name, both they and the Arrasians, to have believed both bones to belong to the same Saint. By this sole reason induced also Anthony Paul Masini, in his "Bologna surveyed" on this day, mentions another Saturnina, as Virgin and Martyr, some of whose bones are with the Bolognese, in the basilica of S. Stephen, and in the church of all Saints: but not indicating how notable they are, makes us believe, by similar examples noted elsewhere, that they are of very small moment, nor obtain a special cult. The time of martyrdom Baldricus expresses none: but she who came from Germany, can be believed not much earlier in age than S. Boniface, Bishop of Mainz, of whom, having suffered martyrdom around the year 755, we shall treat on the following day.