ON SAINT GODOALDUS,
HONORED AT SENS IN GAUL.
Notice of cult from the Breviary and Martyrologies.
Godoaldus, honored at Sens (S.)
G. H. & D. P.
[1] The memory of Saint Godoaldus is celebrated in the Breviary of the Metropolitan Church of Sens, which we have printed in 1625, and that memory is prescribed for the whole diocese: but nothing in particular is added to be recited. Similarly the name of Godoaldus the Confessor is inscribed in the Auctarium of Greven to Usuard, printed in 1515 and 1521. Canisius in the German Martyrology: "Of the Holy Confessor Godoaldus." In the Martyrology of Bellini, more amply printed at Paris in 1521 these things are held: "On the same day of S. Godoaldus Bishop and Confessor." Which thence Molanus copied in his Additions to Usuard. In the Ms. Florarium three Saints are thus joined: "Of the Holy Confessors Dietger the Abbot, and Godoaldus, and Colman the Bishop." Whether from a similar conjunction the name of Bishop was joined to Godoaldus, it can be asked, but not easily defined. The fatherland also seems added in Ferrarius, when these are reported: "In Ireland of S. Colman the Bishop. There of S. Godoaldus the Bishop": and for each is cited Molanus, who in the first edition at the end treats in another character of S. Colman, when before he had proposed Godoaldus Bishop and Confessor, without any notice of place: and in the later editions only proposes this one with no mention of Colman made. Saussay in the Gallican Martyrology writes these things: "At Sens of S. Godoaldus the Confessor, who intent on God with all his heart, attacked the world and flesh with most holy hatred, and victor coming out from the stadium, blessedly rejoicing proceeded to his fatherland." Thus there: which can be said commonly of all Holy Confessors. The rest lies hidden, unless some light be poured from the people of Sens.
[2] He honored, some years ago and with Henschenius long dead, our museum by his presence the learned man Claude Castellanus, Parisian Canon, and taught us about S. Godoaldus, that he is commonly named S. Goaud; and that his distinguished Relics are kept at Pithiviers, commonly Pluviers; and that his title is in a village which is called Yeire: which both places are in the Vastin pagus, subject to the Sens diocese. We received through the Rector of our College at Sens, in the year 1688 a verbal process, of the Bodies and Relics inspected in 1571 in the Metropolitan church, without any mention of S. Godoaldus, nor is he named in the Catalog brought by us thence, in which are explained the relics of Saints which are kept in the church and in the diocese: and the more earnestly we here implore the diligence of the people of Sens.