ON SAINT MERIADOCUS,
BISHOP OF VANNES IN ARMORICAN BRITAIN.
From various more recent writers, using an older Life.
VII CENT.
CommentaryMeriadocus, Bishop of Vannes in Armorican Britain (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR G. H.
Among the Gallic cities of Armorican Brittany is the Episcopal city of Vannes, called Venetum and Venetia also, commonly Vannes, formerly the Seat of Dukes; which on this day June 7 with sacred cult venerates S. Meriadocus, commonly S. Meriadec, its Bishop. Some Life of him in French published Albert le Grand, Memorial of him as a Saint in various: among the Lives of Saints of Armorican Brittany, already reprinted a second time in 1659: and among the Authors whom he professes to have used are Augustine du Pas, John Chenu, and Claude Robert in the Catalog of Bishops of Vannes. But these express only the bare name, only with the title of Saint prefixed, and establish him as the 12th or 13th Bishop of this See. The Sammarthani as the 15th: about whom, they say, "consult the Proper of Saints of the diocese of Vannes, where it is reported he fell asleep in the Lord on the 7th Ides of June." The same Proper Albert le Grand cites also, cult in the Vannes Proper, which we have printed at Venice in 1630; and thence we subjoin some Compendium of his Life, divided into three small Lections, to be recited at the second Nocturn in Matins: to which elsewhere is added this Prayer: "God, who from the famine of this world, through the middle of poverty, drew Blessed Meriadocus, your Confessor and Pontiff, to the country of brightness, grant us, we ask: that, with himself for us interceding, you may break asunder the chains of our depravity."
[2] Legend from a Ms. Life in French, Besides the same Albert cites an old manuscript Legendary kept in the church of S.
John Traoume Meriadec, called Poigt, in the parish of Plougasnou of the diocese of Tréguier: which Life would that he had published at the end: then more certain credit could be given to what he reports, and what is not in the Lections. Such are, that S. Meriadocus was born in the year 758: but with the figures transposed we think it should be read in the year 578 or 587; for then he would have been very old around the year 659, when in the Lections he is said to have been consecrated Priest. Then, says the same Albert, that Meriadocus, after acquired sciences amid studies, was sent away by his parents to the royal court, and in it lived for five years immaculate of vices, devoted to every exercise of piety and sanctity. Afterwards he refused the marriage offered by the same and preferred sacred Orders; and with the Priesthood received withdrew to a solitary place in the Viscounty of Rohan, not far from the town of Pontivy, where at this time exists a chapel dedicated to his name. containing many particulars: Meanwhile when robbers were devastating the neighboring places, he insisted with the Viscount of Rohan, that he should drive away the said robbers: and to him responding that he could in no way effect this, he promised, that he would accomplish it if he would grant three celebrated markets in the parish of Noyal, namely on the 6th day of July, the 8th of September, and the 1st of October. With which condition accepted by the Viscount, the said robbers by the prayers alone of S. Meriadocus before God were put to flight. Finally, after the Episcopate administered in all sanctity, he died and was buried in the Cathedral church, and in both that and in the place of his solitude shone with miracles: many churches also dedicated to S. Meriadocus in this Britain, among them the chapel of the castle of Pontivy, and another in the parish of Plou-gaznou, indicated above. These among others Albert le Grand.
[3] Andrew Saussay, in the Gallican Martyrology, adorns him with this eulogy: "At Vannes in Armorica, of S. Meriadocus Bishop and Confessor, who from the royal stock of Conan, Prince of this province, sprung, the eulogy from Saussay is exhibited having trampled on the make-up of temporal glory, an imitator of the humility of the Son of God, himself, lest the splendor of his birth render him spectable to the world, covering himself with vile clothing, into a deserted place, that he might serve God alone, withdrew: where for a long time in all sanctity, leading an eremitic life, he lay hidden. But then a clear lamp of virtues, lest it should be under a bushel longer, by divine indication made public, was raised upon a candlestick. For the servant of Christ made known by heavenly nod, with Hinguthanus Bishop of Vannes taken from the living, by the great conspiracy of the Clergy and people, from his most beloved solitude drawn out, was elected Pontiff, and ordained Bishop:
7I "Meriadocus, sprung from the illustrious stock of Conan King of lesser Britain, where his Presbyteral ordination is narrated, solitary life, from his tender years prepared himself for the zeal of all virtues: but humility especially he had in delight, following the footsteps of Christ the Lord. Having attained the lawful age, he is ordained in sacred Orders; and despising the vain names of the world, which men admire, and which inspire courage in the young, he yielded all goods and honors, and withdrew to a certain place, not far from the Pontivian castle, in which he dwelt alone, free from perturbations, possessed of a most secure life.
II "Many sick there, who flocked to him for the sake of recovering health, he restored to safety. miracles, election to the Episcopate, And when the fame of this distinguished virtue and sanctity had spread; the citizens of Vannes call together a council, and most earnestly beseech the Chapter and the entire Clergy, to substitute Meriadocus in place of the Bishop recently deceased. With them agreeing on this, the task was given to certain Canons, to announce to Meriadocus, himself co-opted by the prayers of the people and the concordant minds of the Clergy as Bishop.
III "And although he prayed against the burden offered to him; thus however he is urged by the redoubled prayers of all, and the virtues in him. that he at last yielded to them. A few days after in the Cathedral Church, with a celebrated convention of Bishops, and a great concourse of people, with fortunate acclamation and applause he was consecrated about the year 659. He exercised especially charity and mercy toward the poor and sick, by relieving their hunger and consulting for their health. But when he had completed his life piously and holily, celebrated in the glory of miracles, on the 7th Ides of June he fell asleep in the Lord."