Robert

ON SAINT ROBERT,

ABBOT OF THE CISTERCIAN ORDER IN ENGLAND.

YEAR 1139.

PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.

On the places of habitation and the written Life.

Robert, Abbot of the Cistercian Order, in England (S.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Among the illustrious Saints of the Cistercian Order, on this 7th of June, migrated to Christ in the year 1139 S. Robert, born in the Duchy of York, cultivated in studies, and made Pastor or Rector of a Church: Places of habitation, who then took the Benedictine habit at the Whitby monastery in the Northern part of the Duchy; thence crossing to the Cistercians, and first in the monastery of Fountains near Ripon at the boundary of the Western and Northern part of the said Duchy, and the river Ure. Hence in the year 1137 he migrated to the region of Northumbria, and built the New-monastery, made its first Abbot. The site of this place is unknown. It was certainly in the borders of the Diocese of Durham, or this itself perhaps is numbered to Northumbria, as it once was with the whole Duchy of York in the kingdom of the Northumbrians. In the said Diocese of Durham

lived S. Godric the Hermit, whom S. Robert, and the site of the New-monastery. as below in the Life is said no. 8, often was wont to visit and address, as the physician of his confession and conscience. He stayed below Durham in the place Finehale on the Wear river. But in no. 4 S. Robert through New-castle made transit. This commonly Newcastle in the borders of present Northumbria and the Durham territory is situated, above which Neushela on the Eastern Alne river is: but also very many places in each province have a denomination from "New" or "Neu."

[2] The Life of S. Robert we give, in primigenial phrase from John Capgrave's Legend of England, Written Life. inserted in the Edition at London in 1516. Laurence Surius asserts, that it was written in good faith, and often somewhat changed the style. But not without fault. For he asserts S. Godric was wont to receive the confessions of the man of God Robert, when he the Anchorite was not a Priest, and when (as we have already insinuated) Robert was the physician of the confession and conscience of S. Godric. Some things are conferred in the same words in this Life of S. Robert, and the Life of S. Godric reported on May 21, and each seems to have been written at the same time. The Author of the Life of S. Godric was Galfrid, who knew him, and had various things from German the Prior, and Reginald the Monk of the Durham cenobium; nor do I doubt but the same diligence was used in writing this Life of Robert. The Prologue would perhaps indicate the Author, if it were found elsewhere. From Laurence Surius's report, in general have contracted their own, Chrysostom Henriquez, in the Fasciculus of Saints of the Cistercian Order, distinction XI; Angelus Manrique, in the Cistercian Annals tome 1 and 2; and others.

[3] After the Life published in Capgrave, the sacred memory of Robert was inscribed in some more recent Martyrologies. First Richard Witford did this, Memorial in Calendars. in his which he published in English at London in 1526: followed by Molanus in the Auctarium of Usuard and Galesinius; also Wion, Menard, Bucelinus in monastic ones; and the cited Henriquez, Chalemot and others of the Cistercians;

LIFE

Published by John Capgrave.

Robert, Abbot of the Cistercian Order, in England (S.)

BHL Number: 7270

[1] The venerable Abbot Robert, born of the province of York, in his boyhood age avoiding levities and the games of infants, Rector of a Church, and proficient in literature, is made Rector of a certain church. With the care of the church and souls at length dismissed, in the monastery of Whitby he asked for and received the monastic habit. In those days however Richard, Prior of the Monastery of S. Mary of York, with twelve companions, received a certain place, named Fountains, from Thurstin the Archbishop; and elected as Abbot constructed a monastery, and taking the Cistercian habit, then a monk at Whitby zealously kept their life and manners. There was not one who would eat bread otiose, or indulge in rest, unless tired by labor. Hungry they would come to the table, tired to the bed: never satiated, without sadness and murmuring, with all alacrity they would bless the Lord. then a Cistercian in the cenobium of Fountains, To this holy congregation, the man of the Lord Robert, having obtained the license of his Abbot, joining himself, was strenuous in labor, assiduous in reading and meditation, devout in prayer, provident in counsel, eloquent in speech.

[2] After five years had elapsed, namely in the year of the Lord 1137, with a great possession conferred by a certain noble, in the region of Northumbria, afterwards Abbot of the New-monastery: the venerable Robert elected as Abbot, with eleven Brothers taken with him, constructed the New-monastery. He never rose satisfied from the table, and in Lent was wont to eat bread and water. At a certain Easter time, with the appetite of taste mortified, when he could not take what was set before him, does not touch the food asked for, brought to him. the Brother who served said to him: "Why do you not eat, Father?" To whom he: "If I had oatmeal bread smeared with butter, I think I could eat from it." With which brought, considering himself a little to have yielded to concupiscence, he greatly feared: and a severe judge and avenger of himself, refused to taste, and remained without food. And when he was sending that food to the poor at the gate; a certain youth, having a splendid face, took the whole with the dish, and at once vanished. And when discourse was being made about the vessel taken away, daily chants the whole Psalter: the dish fell upon the table before the Abbot. For it was an Angel of the Lord, who from heaven sent came to receive the alms of the man of God. Besides the usual quota of service and prayer, 150 Psalms daily he chanted to the Lord.

[3] It happened, that at a certain time praying more attentively than usual, understands the names of his own written in the book of life and with tears abundantly bedewing his face, he poured out his soul before God, asking that He would have his service and that of his Brothers accepted, and write their names in the book of life. And a voice came to him from heaven, saying: "Be comforted, son, since your prayer has been heard: and the names of your sons, for whom you asked, are written in heaven. For only two of the number are written on earth, because their heart never receded from love of earthly things." excepting 2. Not much after two Conversi, with the Order left, miserably ended their life in the world.

[4] When through New-castle he made transit, among a crowd of youths he saw a man with wondrous curiosity running about here and there, Forces a Demon to follow, with insolent face flattering, and as if to suggest some arduous business. And the man of God considering that this was not the function of a man, but the mockery of an enemy; with potent virtue of words commands, that he should leave that company as quickly as possible. "Hey you," he says, "curly-head, you are not necessary to those men: recede quickly, and follow me." Who at once with face cast down through the mud of the streets followed the steps of the Abbot, as if bound to the tails of horses, with all struck with wondrous astonishment. At the parting of paths outside the city the man of God said to him: "Who are you, and what were you treating with those men?" And he: "Who I am," he said, "you well know, and my works do not lie hidden from you. Nuptials with great pomp prepared by the rich are being celebrated in that village. I had prepared also, how the bridegroom at the feast by his rivals killed should fall, and the indignant guests in vengeance of the bridegroom would hasten, and blinded by wrath and drunkenness, and to confess his evils by mutual slaughter many would perish; it would also happen, that the city turned to sedition, would kindle intestine war; through which the souls of many with bodies killed would come to our lot. I thought I would announce great joy of the victory gained to my master: now with my counsel dissipated through you, I return empty, and depart inane." But the man of the Lord, and orders him to go to the desert: execrating his malice, commanded in the name of the Lord, that seeking deserted places, he should not further presume to mock men. At this voice the enemy melted and vanished, and left so much horror after himself, that horses, with neighing, snorting, otherwise sees the demon to explore the acts and digging of hooves savaging, could scarcely be coerced by their riders.

[5] But on a certain night he saw the devil standing near the entrance of the choir, wishing, but not able to enter. He was as a rustic, girded with naked and long shins, carrying on his back a little basket, with a stick before his chest bound with cords: of the monks in the choir, and with neck extended, with rolling of eyes, he began to circle the choir, and with sharp gaze to consider all, if anything pleasing to himself he could find. With the man of God praying more insistently, and rousing the Brothers from torpor, while the wicked explorer long awaiting in vain accomplished nothing, withdrawing with indignation, and thence to draw out a novice he diligently considers the choir of the Converts: if he sees one drowsy, with cackling he despises; if some occupied with harmful thoughts, with all his effort dancing he applauds. At length among the novices he finds a young man, with heart wandering to illicit things, only in body present; who how he could secretly go out, soon to die miserably: now was meditating flight. Him the enemy, perceiving him to be his own, with a three-pronged fork seized, threw into his basket, and with swift course bore outside. Then the holy Man, solicitous for that Brother, the next morning had him diligently sought. But before dawn vagrant and fugitive, with the sweet yoke of Christ left, had followed the enemy; and joined with the sons of iniquity, given to robberies, with the cutting off of his head ended his life in a short time. In a vision knowing of a shipwreck,

[6] When once he was celebrating Mass, he saw the sea, with multiplied volumes of waves raised on high; and because the ship with its rudder broken, and with ropes ruptured, was carried with uncertain wandering, until dashed against rocks, was utterly dissolved from its joining; and with the waves yawning, the men absorbed, to receive rewards according to their merits, gave up their souls. After Mass he sent Brothers, who on the fourth day on the shore and in the place designated by the man of God, finding the bodies of the drowned, handed them to ecclesiastical burial. takes care to have the drowned buried:

[8] Sometimes also S. Godric, as the physician of his confession and conscience, often was wont to visit and address. About the diseases of vices and the remedies of virtues, His soul in a fiery globe is borne by Angels to heaven: about heavenly secrets and angelic visitations, about the patronages of Saints discussing among themselves, they continued day with nights. And when Godric at length was staying in his cell, he saw two white walls, raised even to heaven; on one of which three angelic Spirits appeared, who were bearing the spirit of the aforesaid Abbot in a fiery globe to the heights. One on the right, the other on the left proceeded; the third above the heads of all with great exultation went before. "For not," says Godric, "with the Lord disposing, could he alone migrate from the body, because with him a certain woman of good life from Haslinges departed, named Editha. And although they were separated by a long space of lands; yet in the same hour they were joined in the same lot of beatitude." Evil spirits rushed in to meet the same Abbot; but with Angels fighting for him, the devil is confounded in his presumption, and into the bosom of Abraham Robert the servant of Christ is received. He died in the year of the Lord 1159, on the seventh Ides of June.

[9] A certain one from his mother's womb made mute, with great mourning and lamentation, with him invoked is healed a mute, sought long persevering the help of S. Thomas the Martyr. To whom S. Thomas appearing in a vision said: "Rise quickly, and hastening proceed to the New-monastery, and from S. Robert Abbot of that place not hesitating you will obtain speech and perfect health." But he murmuring in his heart, and many others. said: "Who will provide a guide? Who will exhibit viaticum?" The Saint responded: "He will be your leader, who by a word created all

things." He therefore believed, and rejoicing came to the place: and obtaining the desired health, glorified God. Besides he restored speech to another mute, cured a contracted one, gave sense and use of reason to a phrenetic, directed a contracted boy to walking, illumined a blind man, and conferred the benefits of health to many others devoutly asking by his merits.

ANNOTATIONS BY G. H.

ON BLESSED PAX,

OF THE ORDER OF MINORS, OF CASCIA IN UMBRIA.

From his image, from Iacobillus, and from others.

ABOUT 1270.

Pax, of the Order of Minors, of Cascia in Umbria (B.)

BY THE AUTHOR G. H.

Cascia, a town of Umbria, is in the diocese of Spoleto, as is said at the Life of B. Rita of Cascia, Nun of the Order of Hermits of S. Augustine, on the 22nd of May. In this town besides the monastery of the said Hermits, is also a Convent of the Friars Minor of S. Francis, erected about the year 1247, and its church renewed again in 1324. Fatherland, In this Convent flourished Blessed Pax, sprung from the city of Theate, or (as others prefer) of Reate, and unclothed of this mortal life about the year 1270 on the 7th day of June. His sacred body then with due veneration was buried in the subterranean chapel of the major altar: which afterwards being destroyed, Burial. (the rest is missing — site navigation follows.)