ON SAINT FORTUNATUS,
BISHOP OF FANO IN ITALY.
ABOUT 620.
PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.
On his cult, and Life, written in the XII century.
Fortunatus, Bishop of Fano in Italy (S.)
AUTHOR G. H.
Fano, an ancient and Episcopal city of Senonian Umbria, on the shore of the Adriatic Sea, between Pesaro and Senigallia, is believed to have been so called from the ancients, because once it had been ennobled by a notable temple of Fortune, whence also it is still wont to be named Fanum Fortunae by learned men. Among the 4 Protectors of Fano is S. Fortunatus. Among the Bishops of this city are four, inscribed in the catalogue of Saints, whom it itself venerates as its Protectors and Patrons. We have celebrated the memory of two in the past recent months, namely S. Eusebius on April 18, and S. Ursus on May 15; we have the Acts of the other two, to be brought forth this and the following month, namely S. Paternianus, the first Bishop, on July 12, and S. Fortunatus, on this June 8.
[2] We were there, in the year 1660 when we were going to Rome, Acts written from the Legendary, most humanely received by the very Reverend Lord Matthew Galletto, Canon Penitentiary, who, the Acts of the said Saints Potentianus and Fortunatus having been assigned by us, copied them with his own hand, and took care to have them brought to us at Rome with this testimony: We the undersigned, John Baptist Marcolinus Provost of the Cathedral of Fano, Lucas Amianus Canon Theologian, and Canon Gallettus, attest by the means of an oath, with the Gospels touched &c., that the abovesaid tracts on the Life of Saints Fortunatus and Paternianus, Bishops and Protectors of the city of Fano, written in the Latin tongue, faithfully collected and extracted word for word from public tables, writings, and parchment membranes in a large manuscript codex, in two columns, with large red letters in every period at fol. 327, of Gothic and Lombard character mixed, covered with little wooden boards covered with black-colored leather; which is preserved in the archive of the Cathedral Church of Fano: where are described the Lives of Saints, under attestation of the Chapter. which anciently were read in place of Lessons in the choir; with some words omitted in that space corroded by antiquity: and we affirm, as above, that they agree with the original, that of S. Fortunatus at folio 271 on the back, until folio 277 throughout, and of S. Paternianus at folio 278 until folio 283; where follows the Life of S. Aegidius the Abbot. In faith of which.
I John Baptist Marcolinus, Provost of Fano, affirm, as above. I Lucas Amianus, Canon Theologian, affirm, as above. I Matthew Gallettus, Canon Penitentiary, affirm, as above.
John Baptist Alferius, by the grace of God and the Apostolic See Bishop of Fano. To all and singular we make known and attest, that the abovewritten Noble and very Reverend Lords, Provost John Baptist Marcolinus, and Canons Lucas Amianus Theologian, and Penitentiary Matthew Gallettus, of the Cathedral of Fano, were and are such, as they have respectively made themselves above, and that all the abovesaid contained in the present quinternion of paper 39, written and copied by the abovesaid Lord Gallettus, from the book, in the manners and forms described and designated above, preserved in the Archive of our abovesaid Cathedral Church under three keys, as is known to us. And therefore that to all the abovesaid signed with their own hands, full and undoubted faith is to be and ought to be applied; as in like cases I testify it has always been and is applied. In faith of which &c. Given from our Episcopal Palace of Fano on this first day 1661.
I John Francis Thomassinus, Chancellor. And the seal of the Bishop is affixed.
[3] Ferdinand Ughelli, in the first volume of Italia Sacra on the Bishops of Fano, establishes that the fifth S. Fortunatus succeeded Leo, about the year 590. They say of him, Captives freed, the sacred vessels having been sold. he says, that he so burned with charity toward the Christian captives, that the sacred vessels having been sold, he took them out of most hard servitude: which deed indeed nobly done (as is wont often to happen to pious minds) when it had come into suspicion with Fortunatus, he consulted Gregory the Great, whether he might lawfully dispose of sacred vessels for pious uses of this kind: and when he had brought back a response in favor of the deed, he proceeded to be pious, until he himself, in body as if released from a most hard prison, flew away to heaven on the 6th Ides of June: whose sacred body is preserved at the Cathedral temple in a marble ark: where as Tutelary of that city the feast day is yearly celebrated.
[4] We also noted there among other things, that in the said temple, also very lovely in its frontispiece, besides the choir and the cross, He constructs a marble altar in the year 1638. four intercolumniations are counted to the middle of the nave; and in the right chapel toward the choir behind the beautiful marble altar this inscription is read: This altar, under which is preserved the venerable body of S. Fortunatus, the Bishop of this city, most meritorious Patron, Hector Diotallevius of Rimini, Bishop of Fano, in his honor adorned everywhere with Parian marble and precious sculpted stones, in the year of the Lord 1638. In the left chapel toward the same choir under the altar, in a marble monument, are buried the bodies of SS. Ursus and Eusebius, Bishops of Fano: but above it are various Relics. We then visited the temple of S. Paternianus, in which his body rests, as may be indicated on his Birthday July 12.
[5] The above-praised Ughelli adds these things: On the life of B. Fortunatus the Bishop, John of Nonantola published a tract; which we here, copied from a most ancient parchment codex of the most august Abbey of Nonantola, give for the greater glory of the same Saint. But that compendium alone is of the Acts which we received from the MS. of Fano. Namely, omitted there are the long Preface and the comparisons taken from Sacred Scripture, and the exhortation toward the end about divine scourges to be tolerated. Moreover, because Nonantola was founded by S. Anselm (of whom we treated on 3 March) in the territory of Modena, distant some days' journey from the city of Fano, it seems the said John was a native of Nonantola, but lived at Fano: for he asserts at n. 13, that he was present at the spectacle of liquor flowing from the bones of S. Fortunatus: and at n. 16 he indicates, that he had personal acquaintance with a woman freed from contraction. The same in the title of this Life is called a most eloquent man.
[6] We have said from Ughelli that S. Fortunatus was created Bishop about the year 590: Time of his Life. but in what year he departed this life, is not certain: if however we rightly define that S. Ursus succeeded him in the year 625, it would seem consequent, that he lived beyond the year 620. Vincent Nolsi, (from whose family there stands an illustrious chapel in the Cathedral of Fano) published in the year 1641 in Italian phrase the Lives of four Saint Bishops of Fano, and prefaces the Life of S. Fortunatus, that the ancient memories had perished through the incursion of the Barbarians, Goths, and Lombards. Meanwhile he describes the education of Fortunatus under pious parents, and sets him forth as an example of the virtues described by him, Translation, but with many and excessive digressions. The same asserts him to have been created Bishop in the year 592; to have died on this 8 day of June, with no year added. He adds the sacred body was outside the city in a church dedicated to him, and from there translated to the Cathedral church, while Peter was Bishop of Fano, however not in the year 1113 as is read in Ughelli, but several centuries earlier: and perhaps this Peter is to be placed after Amatus, who is referred to the year 743; and before John, who is placed as flourishing in the year 853. For then it is said at n. 12, Finding of the Bones, that in the year 1113 the people of Fano with pious doubt inquired, where or how the bones of this gracious Pontiff rest: which is a sign, that the translation to the Cathedral Church was already long since made, in which under the pyramid they were found. Indeed at the same time several miracles are said to have been performed, which those who were still living in the time of the writer confirmed they had seen; & written Life. whence we gather, that some years having elapsed from that search the Acts were composed, before the middle of the 12th century. Lastly Philip Ferrarius mentions S. Fortunatus in his general Catalogue, and in the other of the Saints of Italy, and in the New Topography.
LIFE
By the Author John of Nonantola.
From a MS. of the Church of Fano.
Fortunatus, Bishop of Fano in Italy (S.)
BHL Number: 3084
BY AUTHOR JOHN FROM MS.
PROLOGUE.
[1] Most beloved Brothers, celebrating the venerable feast of the glorious Bishop Fortunatus, it behooves us to insist upon the praises of our Maker: to whose honor redounds whatever shall have been piously and religiously conferred on sanctity. For indeed with the Prophet testifying, we have learned that the Lord is wondrous in His Saints, because whatever they rightly know, Through Saints divinely instructed whatever they laudably perform, whatever they sweetly redolent in manners toward neighbors, they receive from that unfailing fountain of supernal piety, who abundantly bestows on all gifts of spiritual grace, and reproaches none. Ps. 67:36 For He Himself is the one who, according to the testimony of blessed Job, makes Arcturus, also makes Orion, and the Hyades, and the interiors of the South. Job 9:9 These celestial constellations, Brothers, are seen subject to human sight: but since the carnal, who do not rise to the cognition of spiritual things, are instructed from those very visible things which they know... For Arcturus is a certain celestial sign, shining among the shadows of the night; the adorned Church is compared to Arcturus; which contains seven stars indeed, and is always turning, but never feels its setting. What therefore by Arcturus is signified, except the holy Church, which indeed irradiates the shadows of the night, while by its brightness it dispels the darkness of this world, and far eliminates from the hearts of the faithful the blindness of ignorance: to which performing it is rendered bright by seven stars: because while it is instructed by the sevenfold gift of spiritual grace, it is made powerful to illuminate others. It both burns and shines, because it ardently glows with desire of its Maker, and pours forth on others the light of divine cognition; which is always turning, but is none the less submerged, because amid the storms and whirlwinds of this world the holy Church is struck, but is never thrown down from the solidity of its state. For because it stands solid upon a firm rock, although violent rivers come together, swelling storms rise up, the savage madness of the winds drive against it, yet that which leans upon a firm rock cannot be plucked away. He ought therefore to bear Arcturus, when through the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit He has corroborated the Church in charity, to whose ornament He becomingly added Orion and the Hyades.
[2] For Orion are stars, which appear in the winter season, Its Saints, to Orion and at their rising stir up strong tempests. What therefore by Orion is designated except the Saints, who appear in winter, and stir up the greatest tempests: because while they preached the grace of faith to still frozen Gentiles, whose hearts hardened by the cold of unbelief had been numbed, a strong tempest of the inflicted persecution wore them down: but with the harshness of winter yielding, when the serene face of heaven succeeds, the temperature of the air warmed by the ray of the sun ministers fomentations for fruits to be procreated; & to the Hyades. the shining Hyades appear, which pour forth abundant showers, and render the earth fertile for germinating: because indeed, after the cruelty of the Gentiles was calmed, after the world's pacified princes, with the yoke of the Christian faith placed upon them, received the ardor of divine charity; the holy Doctors soon shone forth: to whom it was the more lawful to pour out the showers of spiritual doctrine, the more freely it was granted to them to remain rightly in peace. These therefore are the sacred cultivators of the Lord's vineyard: these are they who water with heavenly waters the tender shrubs, planted in the Lord's field: these are they who, for the bringing forth of the germ of justice, render fruitful the earth of another's heart: these are they who protect the Lord's sheepfold from rising wolves: these are they who oppose the shield of Catholic defense to the poisoned darts of heretical depravity: these are they who, by a series of expositions, bring to the light of cognition the sacred mysteries of the Scriptures, covered by dense figures.
CHAPTER I.
The virtues of S. Fortunatus expounded by the words of Sacred Scripture.
[3] Among these therefore the glorious Fortunatus of the Lord shone as a bright star: whose life shone with laudable manners together with the form of saving doctrine: S. Fortunatus, eximious in every virtue, who had sobriety in thought, constancy in operation, solidity in faith, longanimity in hope, perfection in charity: in exhorting also he was alert, severe in reproving, kindly in counseling, easy in pardoning, hard in being angered, solicitous in working, assiduous in teaching. Constituted in body, as if without flesh he was ignorant of the corruption of the body: because the infirmities of the flesh he overcame by the vigor of the spirit: he lived in the flesh beyond the flesh: he so lived in the world, as if he were not of the world. Nay rather he was by no means of the world: for if he was a disciple of Christ, which indeed he was, living outside the world, certainly he was not of this world. Or do you perhaps contend that the disciples of Christ were of the world? Hear Christ Himself saying to His disciples; If you were, He says, of this world, certainly the world would love what was its own. John 15:19 Was Blessed Paul the Apostle of this world, who said: To me the world is crucified and I to the world? Gal. 6:14 By no means therefore, blessed Fortunatus, were you of this world: because, denying it with its pomps and concupiscences, mortifying also wholly your flesh, naked following the naked Lord, you carried your cross after the Lord. For he who is of this world by no means casts away the things that are of the world; nay rather he embraces and loves them too greedily: he increased the talents committed: and while he pursues transitory things with mocked mind, he is far excluded from goods that always remain. But to you by no means, most excellent Bishop, is the gate of the heavenly court closed: because piously dispensing the talents committed to you and faithfully increasing them, while you bring back doubled gains to your creditor, you happily enter into the unfading joy of your Lord.
[4] By no means, I say, sacred Fortunatus, are you removed from the entrance of the supernal fatherland, translated from the earthly tabernacle to the heavenly mountain, because while you faithfully serve in the earthly tabernacle, you happily and religiously rest on the heavenly mountain. But here perhaps someone presses, and asks what is the tabernacle, what is that holy mountain, decorated with eternal happiness. This tabernacle is Christian warfare: the holy mountain is the unfading glory of perennial life. But he who does not dwell in the tabernacle, does not ascend the mountain; because he who does not run the stadium, does not receive the prize: he who refuses the exercise of labor in warfare, will not have the gift of remuneration in the fatherland. But that happy Pontiff whom we venerate, because without stain he wrought justice: who entered without stain, and has wrought justice; he entered without stain, because he incurred no mark of criminal fault; he wrought justice, while he did not deny to another what he wished for himself, and what he wished for himself he devoutly bestowed on another: he entered without stain, who hurt neither himself nor another: he wrought justice, who devoutly fulfilled the command of the divine law: without stain, I say, he entered, who, at the Lord's bidding, girded his loins; he girded his loins and held lamps in his hands: he wrought justice, who held burning lamps in his hands. For he girded his loins, who restrained by continence the wantonness of his flesh; he carried burning lamps in his hands, who showed his neighbors the examples of light: he girded his loins, who extinguished his flesh wholly with vices and concupiscences: he had burning lamps in his hands, who vehemently kindled himself by the fervor of charity: he girded his loins, I say, who restrained his bodily senses from every defilement of uncleanness; he carried burning lamps in his hands, who showed his neighbors the light of spiritual doctrine: he girded his loins, who applied to himself the custody of assiduous correction; he held burning lamps in his hands, who by the examples of sacred conversation illuminated his neighbors.
[5] Whence deservedly, this most holy man is computed among the sixty most valiant, who (as is read in the Canticle of love) surround the bed of Solomon; who, most learned for wars, hold swords in their hands; and each one, on account of the fears of the night, among the 60 strong men at the bed of our Solomon, Christ, places a sword upon his thigh. Cant. 3:7 But who is Solomon, who is called peaceful, except the Lord Jesus Christ
is understood? who indeed is truly peaceful, since pouring out His own blood He reconciled the human race to God the Father; and joined either wall, coming from diverse sides, in Himself, who is the cornerstone, by the circle of faith and charity: of which peaceful one the bed becomes the holy Church or any faithful soul, when, empty of the noise of worldly solicitude, it pauses in the sole desire of its Maker; and that within the heavenly Spouse may rest, it cleanses its heart wholly from every cupidity of the world. But what by the sixty strong, who surround this little bed, is openly signified except the holy Preachers? who, while they vigilantly insist on the six works of mercy, while they spiritually fulfill the decalogue of the law, rise as it were to the number sixty. These indeed surround Solomon's bed: because they instruct by words and examples the holy mind, in which Christ rests and dwells: by which they cast off the enemies coming to the entrance of the mind, while they sustain the mind itself by examples and instruct it by doctrines. These hold swords, and stand most learned for wars; girded with a sword upon the thigh. because while they fulfill the word of the Lord, which they receive with the heart; ever more and more instructed for spiritual battle, they conquer their enemy the devil by wisdom together with fortitude. For by the sword, the word of the Lord is understood; but by the hand, good operation is figured: of which is well still subjoined; each one's sword upon his thigh, on account of the fears of the night. What by the sword, except the rigor of conversation; and what by the thigh, except the appetite of the flesh do we understand? All the elect therefore, who are now advanced to the perfection of life, always place the sword upon their thigh; who by the rigor of strict severity applied to themselves, assiduously crush the appetite of the flesh; lest the enemy, whom they fear in the night of this world, suddenly coming, find a soft entrance in them; and through the softness of pleasure the more easily, the more voluptuous he finds them, lead them to graver things. And such certainly are to be deputed to the regime of the Church, who while they discuss themselves by provident meditation, while they suppress their own manners by rigid severity, learn from themselves how to correct their subjects.
[6] Whence rejoice, Church of Fano, and burst forth in the praise of your Maker, because He has provided you with such a Bishop, who, as long as He clung to you corporally on earth, instructed you with sacred documents, decorated you with manners, adorned you with virtues; and at last the prison of the flesh being left behind, He delivers from unclean spirits: when crowned He entered into the joy of his Lord, he protects you from the assaults of malignant spirits by the powerful arm of holy prayers. With spiritual joys therefore, people of Fano, exult, fortified by so great a Patron: whose sacred Relics while you venerate with pious love on earth, you are cherished by his holy prayers in the heavens. He presents your prayers, which you commend to him, within the sanctuary of divine hearing: he implores for you saving showers, abundance of fruits, the serenity of heaven, and the soundness of bodies: & obtains every good with God. he opens for you the bosom of divine mercy, and the ears of divine piety, which by sinning you had closed, he unlocks here by interpellating with sacred prayers. Whence, if perhaps it delights to investigate, whether your Patron has loved you with pious love, look up at the miracles wrought in the past, and consider diligently, how many marks of egregious love he has conferred on you.
CHAPTER II.
The body of S. Fortunatus miraculously translated.
[7] From his Church outside the city, For as the reverend authority of the elders testifies, a church had once been dedicated outside the city not far from the walls, in which the venerable body of the most blessed Fortunatus had been placed with due honor. Now it happened that the devout people of the faithful built, not far from that one which we have aforementioned, a church to the honor of B. Paternianus. to another of S. Paternianus, Whence it came to pass, that the people, always rejoicing in novelty, neglecting the ancient church, more devoutly frequented the new basilica, and there paid the vows of their veneration. At length therefore Peter the Bishop, who presided over the Church of Fano, urged by the insistent supplication of the people, conceded that old church to the Abbot, ordained in the monastery of B. Paternianus, and somewhat improvidently committed it to his dominion. The Body could not be transferred by any force: So the Abbot, with the license usurped, thinking that lest that venerable old church should sometime bring impediment to him, desired to take away the most sacred body of B. Fortunatus, and to place it in the new basilica which he had constructed. This being known by the Bishop, he hastened to the aforesaid church with his Clerics; commanding the Abbot, not to touch the holy body with audacious temerity. But with the frequency of the people imminent, the audacity of the Abbot prevailed, and the sacred body placed on a wagon and oxen subjoined, they try to hasten to the new basilica. But behold a wind of whirlwind, bursting forth from the region, with the vigor of its assault hurled so great a cloud of dense dust in their faces, that one could not see the other; and the oxen themselves led into dizziness, could in no way advance further. But since the contumacious pride of fools, does not even acquiesce to scourges, with blows and goads applied they urge the oxen, help the wheels of the wagon with their hands, and as they tried this temerity for the third time the labor came to nothing.
[8] but with the oxen of the wagon left to themselves, At last the Bishop counseled, that with the office of men ceasing, this matter should be committed to divine choice. Therefore with the men withdrawing far off, the oxen subjoined to the wagon, by a straight track make for the city; nor turn aside from the journey on the right or on the left, until with the sacred body they enter the Episcopal church. A frequent assembly of peoples is present, voices of joy are raised to heaven, the divine wonders are praised: the citizens of Fano exult, it is carried to the Cathedral, who are not deprived of the venerable Relics of so great a Pontiff: the sacred body is set down from the wagon, honored with hymns and praises and frequent vigils: a stone pyramid is erected, in which the holy body, with the little casket in which it had been, is placed with due honor. But at the same time when that old basilica, of which we have spoken, of B. Fortunatus had been deserted on account of the carelessness of the people; the pestilence of savage mortality sent in was devastating the people of Fano: which soon, with the sacred Relics received into the city, & the pestilence is calmed. with the merits of this gracious Bishop obtaining it, calmed and quieted: which from the equity of the supernal judgment is not doubted to have happened: that those who by the requiring fault of negligence, had endured the scourges of severe correction; returning to the exercise of due religion, might feel the joys of kindly consolation glad. Thus the omnipotent Lord chastises our errors with a paternal scourge, and gladdens with the gift of eternal consolation those whom He has seen amended by scourges.
[9] But it pleases to consider more diligently this notable miracle, to which the deeds of the ancients seem to have offered a presage. For as is found in the history of Kings, the Ark of the Lord's covenant was captured by the Philistines, and translated into Azotus; where also, with the sins of the Israelite people requiring it, it remained for some time. 1 Kings 4, & seq. So the Ark of God captured by the Philistines, But since the plague of divine vengeance struck the Philistines, they did not prevail to retain the Ark of the Lord longer by violent dominion. So they make a new wagon, place the Ark of the covenant upon it, subjoin to it cows recently calved, enclose their calves at home, set no leader to rule them. But the cows subjoined to the wagon proceed by a straight track, in no way bend their steps from the journey, come into Bethshemesh with the Ark of the Lord. But what, Brothers, what is by the Ark of the covenant designated, except the holy Church? For it is sealed by the pledge of divine promise, that is the Church besieged by demons, to it the divine sacraments are entrusted, it is betrothed by the ring of the Lord's espousal, it is the one which received the Holy Spirit as pledge and earnest of the eternal inheritance, to which it is called. Once the Philistines led it captive, when through the offense of the first man, the malignant spirits had dominion over it, who are rightly signified by the Philistines: for Philistines are interpreted Drink falling: and the malignant spirits as if fell by an excessive drink, when, swelling with too much pride against the Lord, cast out from the brightness of the heavenly fatherland, they fell down to the gloom of this air: who try to take captive the Lord's Ark, when envying men the place of beatitude which they had lost; they dragged the human race, from which the Church was to be built, by their pestilent suggestion to the offense. But at last the only-begotten Son of God, not deserting His own, taking up ours; remaining in the bosom of the Father, going forth from the womb of the mother; struck the Philistines with an incurable plague, when by dying He crushed the malignant spirits, destroyed their kingdom, wholly abolished the dominion which they had had over the elect. Ps. 88:11 As is said to Him through the Prophet; Thou hast humbled the proud one, like a wounded one, and in the strength of Thy arm Thou hast scattered Thy enemies. Indeed Thou hast powerfully humbled the proud one, O good Jesus, when Thou hast subjected the apostate Angel, who on account of pride lost the angelic dignity, to Thy faithful: and through the Saints driven out; that they may overcome the enticements of his suggestion by the vigor of the spirit, and drive him out of besieged bodies, and utterly destroy the contrivances of his cunning. Thou also, strong and unconquered Jesus Christ, hast wounded the devil; when those things, which he had directed against Thee, Thou hast valiantly hurled back on him, and ordered him to fall by his own weapons: for he is overcome by his own weapons, who is destroyed by the death which he had given to man as a draught.
[10] At length therefore a new wagon is erected; the cows, the wagon carried by Evangelical means, which were recently calved, are subjoined, the ark is placed upon it, and is led into Bethshemesh. What by the new wagon is signified, except the new doctrine of the new man? For the wagon is turned by four wheels, and the new doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ is contained in the four Gospels. For the four Gospels were prefigured by those wondrous wheels, of which the Prophet Ezekiel in his vision thus speaks; Wherever the spirit went, with the spirit going thither they went: for the spirit of life was in the wheels. Ezek. 1:20 You indeed, you four Evangelists, were those wheels, who following with whole heart the spirit of life, which Jesus from the citadel of the Father had infused into you, sent us to be believed only those things, which you had learned from his magisterium. But what by the cows, which lead the wagon, except the sacred preachers are congruously figured? For the ox is an animal apt for plows, with Preachers themselves drawing it like recently-calved cows, which produces horns, also cleaves the hoof, and ruminates. So indeed the holy doctors split the earth of another's heart by the plowshare of preaching; and while they uproot the thorns of vices, they make it apt for the germs of virtues to be procreated; they produce horns, while they fan heretical depravity with Catholic arguments, while they assume the solidity and strength of sanctity; with which fortified, they resist enemies meeting them, as if with brow armed with horns. They also cleave the hoof and ruminate, while they keep the measure of discretion in all things, and always assiduously turn over in the palate of the mind the sweetness of the divine law which they have tasted. Who are also well called recently calved, because indeed those who exist with so great perfection, in no way remain sterile in the Church; nay rather while they instruct others by doctrine and examples, by the word of preaching they generate many sons to the Lord.
But it is to be noted, that while the cows are subjoined to the wagon, their offspring are enclosed at home: because indeed while the perfect in knowledge preach, those who are still little ones in sense, who still need the nourishment of doctrine, are to be restrained under the magisterium of discipline; in Bethshemesh, that is, the eternal fatherland is meant. lest perhaps while they go forth still to be taught for the teaching of others, they lose themselves, and do not acquire others. But the ark is placed upon the wagon and is led back to Bethshemesh. Bethshemesh is interpreted House of the Sun, by which the eternal fatherland is figured; which the true sun of justice always illuminates, while He gladdens it by the present vision of His brightness. With the Philistines therefore struck, the ark placed upon the wagon, with the cows drawing, is led back to Bethshemesh: because indeed through Christ's victory the malignant spirits being overcome, the holy Church, instructed by Evangelical sacraments, through the office of the preachers is raised to obtain the glory of the heavenly fatherland, where she may behold the brightness of the eternal sun, and obtain the joy of perpetual happiness.
[11] But behold, while we are inquiring into the sacrament of the brought testimony, But the Ark is also called the Church of Fano, through S. Fortunatus, from you, Blessed Fortunatus, we have wandered far. But we pray, pardon; we have pursued these things for your honor: pardon, that we may be able to tell what remains of your wondrous deeds. For you, most blessed Bishop, bearing the sweet yoke of the Lord on your sacred neck, subjoined to the new wagon, led the Church of Fano, placed upon it as an Ark, into Bethshemesh; while instructing it with words, and forming it by examples, you raised it to contemplate the glory of the eternal sun. Truly, I say, blessed Fortunatus, you were subjoined to the new wagon; when, instructed by Evangelical sacraments, you put off the old man with his acts; and you put on the new, who is created according to God, with the works of sanctity. You are subjoined to the new wagon; when you wholly exclude from yourself the carnal sense of the old law, and assume the spiritual understanding by the grace of the new law. You are subjoined to the new wagon, when you do not refuse to suffer the pressures of this world for the sheep committed to you, as if subjoined to the new wagon of the Spirit, and devout you embrace, by imitating, the passions of your Lord. You are subjoined to the new wagon, who, humbled with Christ on earth, are exalted with Him in the heavens: and since living you chose voluntary humility, now released from the body you receive ineffable glory. So indeed, so good Jesus, he who follows Your footsteps, is instructed by Your doctrines, formed by Your examples, honored among the angelic citizens in the heavens, and celebrated with frequent devotion on earth by the children of the Church. For he who, O good Jesus, who are true life, and so received into heaven. living, has adhered to you, in dying does not at all die, nay rather is happily introduced to life, when he is left by the present life. For the life of the elect does not fail, but is increased; nor does it pass by setting, but from that very setting takes its beginning. For what then? Or is B. Fortunatus to be said to have incurred death, who is joined to eternal life? who, although he is corporally absent from us, through frequent miracles is always present to us?
CHAPTER III.
Finding of the body of S. Fortunatus. Liquor flowing from the bones.
[12] Rejoice therefore, Church of Fano; take spiritual joy: Before eyewitnesses, because your Pontiff has by no means deserted you: and he who once instructed you with spiritual nourishments, even now does not cease to illustrate you with illustrious signs. That, even if of the innumerable, we may narrate few, we have taken care to make known especially that, which a few years ago became known shown to the eyes of many; after the body was found in the year 1113, that it may appear most true to all, because several still living in the flesh exist, who confirm that they have seen this. So in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord one thousand one hundred thirteen, when the people of Fano with pious doubt inquired, where or how the bones of this gracious Pontiff rested; it pleased at last, that they should break apart that pyramid, in which they had learned by the report of the elders that the sacred body with its little casket was contained. Therefore the pyramid is overturned, the stone ark is uncovered, uncovered it is opened, that venerable treasure, which was sought, is beheld within; with the bodies of SS. Eusebius and Ursus, and since the charity of the elect always rejoices in holy society, because charity cannot be solitary; two others are found with him, whose sacred names, a writing placed under declares, while it announces one to be called Eusebius, another Ursus. And deservedly these three Pontiffs are enclosed in one mausoleum, who instructed in the same faith of the Trinity and Unity, sublime in the same Pontifical dignity, it breathes a sweet odor of itself, sacred Rectors of the same Church of Fano, came together to the same glory of perpetual happiness. But the venerable Relics being uncovered, then truly you might discern the whiteness of snow in the bones, that in them you might already prefigure the image of future glorification through the resurrection: for there flowed such a fragrance of odor, that it surpassed with incomparable sweetness the perfumes of myrrh and balsam and all unguents. & oil emanates, The stone ark also, sanctified by the Relics of B. Fortunatus, against the natural hardness of its solidity began to emanate a sacred liquor, so largely, that the whole of it became wet, and watered the pavement placed under it with sacred drops.
[13] But that sacred liquor received by several, worked diverse effects on diverse persons, while to some it brought salvation, to others detriment. For spiritual gifts, with Paul testifying, give the odor of life to some, to others exhibit the odor of death: diverse efficacies on diverse persons, and the Lord Jesus, according to the prophecy of Simeon, was set for some unto resurrection, for others unto ruin. And since good received badly is changed into evil, the morsel of the Lord Jesus, which sanctified the elect Apostles, made the impious Judas worse, while it did not expel the devil from him, but enclosed him. Cor. 2:16, Luke 2:34, John 13:30 For, as the Evangelist testifies, as soon as Judas received the morsel, the devil entered into him. Beware therefore also you, whose conscience the weight of iniquity burdens, lest you approach spiritual gifts unpurified: because while unclean you handle clean things, the blessing for you is changed into a curse; with the miracle yearly repeated, and he who would confer life on others, becomes a destruction for you. But this miracle is renewed with annual revolution: and while the festivity of B. Fortunatus is venerated, from the hardness of the stone that saving liquor goes forth: and, what may make you marvel more, in the month of June when the heat of the sun grows vehement, the stone naturally rigid receives softness; and lest you impute this to the nature of the stone, soon when the festivity passes, this miracle ceases. I remember also myself, though unworthy, to have been present at this spectacle; also seen by the Author, and hence moved to writing. to have seen the whole stone become wet; and, wondrous to say! the heavenly manna flowing from the rigid stone. Whence we, sacred Fortunatus, praise you with the whole heart, you who illustrate us with so great miracles: because while you exhibit signs to us outwardly, you flood us inwardly with the light of divine cognition. Confirmed indeed by this miracle, we venerate you, inscribed among the senators of the heavenly court. Hence what is piously said about you, we weigh to be true: hence, pressed by the prayers of the Brothers of Fano, we have come to write your praises. Nay rather we by no means compose these things, these things which we say are wholly yours. You are the writer, I am to you the pen; through me you sign these characters, through me you commit your miracles to be known to the faithful peoples. Would that, most excellent Bishop, you may make me a fit pen for your sacred hands! Would that the office of my service may please you! Would that your merits may protect me, and lead me to the society of the supernal fatherland, in which sublime you exult.
[14] The miracles narrated above are venerable, Brothers, and to be compared with the mysteries that have once passed. Does not that mark of divine virtue seem similar to this, This liquor is compared to the water from the rock, when to the thirsty people wearied by the labor of a long journey, with Moses entreating, the rock poured forth watering springs? But let us consider more diligently, Brothers, what that rock spiritually signified, who that thirsty people was, what waters it received for refreshment. Exod. 17:6 But what the rock signifies, blessed Paul the Doctor of the Gentiles suggests; The Rock, he says, was Christ. 1 Cor. 10:4 Namely from this rock the rivers flow, while spiritual sacraments proceed from Him, from which the faithful peoples receive the saving cup. This rock is reported to be struck twice with a wooden rod: that is, from Christ, because certainly there are two woods of the cross, on which the Lord Jesus the cornerstone hung, where pierced by the lance He sent forth water and blood together. For sacred water regenerates us, blood redeems, the immaculate flesh consolidates by feeding. For these three are the indivisible sacraments of salvation, in which the Christian faith corroborated consists, and breaks the contrivances of all heretical depravity and worldly wisdom; with the Apostle John testifying, who says; All that is born of God conquers the world; and this is the victory which conquers the world, our faith. 1 John 5:4 And as if you asked of him, whence our faith has testimony, soon following he added; For there are three that bear witness on earth, water, blood, and flesh; and there are three that bear witness in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Spirit. 1 John 5:7 These are Your testimonies, good Jesus, by which water S. Fortunatus refreshed the people of Fano. these are those rivers of salvation, which You pour forth from Your solidity; with these flowings You irrigate the holy Church, with these You extinguish the burning thirst in the hearts of Your faithful, with these waters You give perpetual satiety, with these You remove the sterility of vices, and provide the fruitfulness of justice. These waters, throng of faithful of Fano, your Bishop produced for you from the living rock; and what for your erudition he still visibly exhibits to you, formerly more copiously he spiritually ministered and ministers.
[15] And you indeed with the ancient people of the fathers were in Egypt, you groaned under the dominion of Pharaoh, you received Moses as leader, you crossed the Red Sea: but because you still go through the desert, because you fail from thirst, you waste from labor, for you Moses prays, produces water for you from the rock, and bestows the fomentations of refreshment. To be compared to the sons of Israel migrating from Egypt. Or were you not in Egypt, when fettered by original sins, you remained in darknesses, and lacked the light of divine cognition? Where also under the dominion of Pharaoh too much oppressed you wept, while captive under the yoke of the devil, you lamented the hardships of imposed corruption. But Moses is at hand for you, who frees you; by divine grace B. Fortunatus is provided to you as Bishop, who through the doctrine of truth releases you from the errors of ignorance; and while he leads you to the knowledge of your Maker, he snatches you from the dominion of the iniquitous enemy. With him also leading, you cross the Red Sea, when through his doctrine and ministry, you receive the bath of baptism; which indeed then becomes red, when it is dipped with the rosy blood of the Lord's Passion. But see, that you do not yet presume on security. For through...
the desert you go, your journey is through ambushes, through many labors you must return to the fatherland: but would that on this journey you may thirst, that you may find the satiety of the blessed refection, that satiety, I say, which the good Jesus promises to the thirsty: If anyone thirsts, He says, let him come and drink, and from his belly shall flow living waters: and elsewhere, Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice, whom the author exhorts to be eager to drink thence, for they shall be satisfied. John 7:30 This blessedness, people of Fano, embrace with all vows; vehemently assume the thirst for justice, that you may attain to its satiety: waste away in yourself, and drying up the humors of the flesh, fail wholly from yourself. To this your desire, in the place of Moses, the venerable Pontiff Fortunatus will come; with gracious prayers he will extinguish the ardor of your thirst; he will strike by praying the Lord Jesus the living rock, that He may bestow on you the streams of spiritual grace, with which satisfied you may grow fat, and may attain to the joy of eternal refection. For as often as you receive the gifts of supernal grace, as often as you are illustrated by miracles, as often as you are infused with sacred doctrine, so often the rock produces clear waters for you, that in these you may find the bath of cleanness and the cup of salvation. whence the energumens, sick, lame bring back health, Did not the clearest stream of divine grace irrigate you, when with the merits of Blessed Fortunatus obtaining it, you saw demons put to flight, the sick cured, the lame raised up? Whence if a notable thirst burns you for knowing the divine virtue, hear, what notable miracle we propose to you, in whose fountain you will be able to extinguish the burning fire of desire.
CHAPTER IV.
A contracted and twisted woman healed.
[16] A poor little woman known to the author, A certain poor little woman, whom almost all of us know, whom I also have known by face, was wont to narrate to several, what she had known in a vision of the night: whose words indeed I have not received from her mouth, but faithful witnesses and the subsequent miracles declared around her vouch for the preceding faith. Who, born in the territory of Urbino of mediocre stock, miserably contracted, was on one part of her body invalid, so that the fingers of her bent hand, tenaciously adhering to her arm, still show the vestiges of the unwelcome complexion; and her contracted leg suspended her foot from the ground and applied it to her private parts. So she was tortured by pressing want, and she was also tormented by the disease imposed. With devout prayers therefore she was entreating the Lord, to permit her to die, rather than not let her wholly live. Night is at hand which will impose an end on cares. This feeble one is relaxed in sleep, divinely a counsel of recovering health is given to her. in dreams she seemed gravely imperiled, So she was looking in the nocturnal vision: it seemed to her that while sustained by a staff she was advancing along the bank of a deep river, she at last found a narrow and difficult path, the perils of which even the unimpeded would dread; when on the right the obstructing rocks left no byways open, on the left the river hastened precipitously, before her eyes a vehement precipice loomed. Everything threatened her on every side death: and that the terror of greater misfortune might be added, the staff by which she was sustained, slipped down and the channel of the torrent received it. she is admonished to approach S. Fortunatus: But looking about how she might relieve the harsh circumstances; behold she sees two old men standing not far off; one of whom she knew to be her father, whom she remembered to be already deceased; but the other, who had a very reverend face, she could in no way recognize. With paternal solicitude the father addresses her, exhorts her not to fear, gives her confidence of recovering health, if she hastens to come to B. Fortunatus, Bishop of the Church of Fano.
[17] She sets out for Fano, At length waking from sleep, often turning this vision over with herself, as solicitous about recovering health, the woman took up the labor of the journey; and propped up with a staff sustaining her, at last wearied she scarcely entered the city of Fano. How great glory your Bishop bestows upon you, behold, people of Fano! From remote borders he calls the languid; and although he could heal them in their own region, yet he decides to illustrate you alone with his miracles: that, as living on earth he expended on you the foods of sacred preaching; so now standing in the heavens, he may honor you with the praises of illustrious virtue. Whose deeds while I consider with diligent meditation, I weigh that he is another Elisha, whom dwelling in Samaria that Syrian Naaman struck with leprosy went to; and bathed seven times in the river Jordan at Elisha's admonition, like Naaman the Syrian going to Elisha, received the cleanness of pristine health. 4 Kings 5 What, I ask, Brothers, what does that leper signify, except the human race? Which at that time contracted the deformed variety of skin, when it lost the beauty of innocence and sanctity depraved through disobedience, and assumed the filth of manifold pollution through sin. But at Elisha's command he enters Jordan, is washed seven times, and at length is cleansed. For Jordan is called Descent; but Syrian, and to be washed in Jordan as commanded: is interpreted Sublime. Elisha therefore admonishes, that the Syrian, who is a leper, enter the Jordan; because the holy preachers command, that he who is sordid with the leprosy of sin, cast off the sublimity of worldly dignity, suppress the stiff-neckedness of pride, descend wholly from the haughtiness of swollen elation, enter the bath of humility; where, with the sevenfold grace of the Holy Spirit cooperating, he will assume the whitening of all sanctity.
[18] by which the people of Fano are admonished, And you therefore, people of Fano, run together to your Elisha, embrace his admonitions with the highest devotion of mind, that you may be able to obtain saving cleanness. And you too, as I think, perhaps stand in Syria, sometimes perhaps are touched by sordid leprosy; and therefore hasten to Elisha, enter the Jordan, wash seven times, and receive cleansed skin. For you are in Syria, while you swell with elated mind against your Author, while you glory in your own knowledge, while you in no way acquiesce to divine wisdom. You are in Syria, that they themselves also be cleansed from spiritual leprosy, as often as you contemn the precepts of your Maker, as often as you delight in the honors of the world; and because you desire to grow rich with the world, you do not seek to imitate the poverty of Christ. Hence base leprosy invades you; because as soon as you withdraw from Christ, who sanctifies those clinging to Him, the malign plunderer attacks you, who pollutes his imitators with the contagion of all iniquity. But lest you perish, lest involved in filth you putrefy, depart from Syria; lay aside all pride, cast away the dignities of the world, leave riches, put behind honors, run to Elisha, approach your Pontiff Fortunatus with the affection of a pious heart; acquiesce to his admonitions, humbled enter wholly the Jordan; let them come to their Patron, with the bath of compunction and penance sprinkle yourself wholly, if you desire to be healed: and when you shall have been washed seven times, certainly you shall be cleansed: because believing in the Holy Spirit, whose grace is sevenfold; you will cast away the sevenfold filth of vices, and will perceive the inestimable whiteness of justice. As therefore that Syrian Naaman approached Elisha to be healed; so also you, as that woman did, as often as you are pressed down by the disease of sin, seek the aid of this gracious Priest: to ask whose benefits even the weak and contracted woman taught by a nocturnal vision came.
[19] Therefore having entered the city, she frequented the oratory of B. Fortunatus, with diligent prayer implored his aid, that she might obtain the consolation of the promised health. who praying at the tomb of the Saint, But that the future miracle around her might become more celebrated, she became known to almost all the people of Fano by seeking food door to door before she received the fruit of the desired liberation. But at length sometime, when prostrate near the tomb of B. Fortunatus she was praying, a great stupor suddenly invaded her, so that she lay deprived of sense, and with open eyes saw nothing at all. Meanwhile her twisted bones emit a certain crack, received the use of her members her dried-up nerves grow green; and what the disease had badly contracted, divine virtue reforms to their proper uses. At length returned to herself the woman trembling rose, and propped upon both feet, not yet understanding herself to be healed, sought on the pavement the staff with which she was wont to be sustained. Which as the bystanders see, they marvel that she walks against her wonted custom; with solicitous intention they inquire what has happened to her. She confesses what divinely had been done around her: soon all break forth into joy, praise divine omnipotence, venerate the merits of B. Fortunatus. Nevertheless the aforesaid woman indeed walks without a staff; but she still limps: which I judge has happened from divine dispensation, that in the one she may understand the gifts of divine piety, in the other may attend to the severity of the correction applied. For the omnipotent Lord scourges His poor with pious severity, that He may render them so much the more glittering, the more vehemently He examines them in the furnace of worldly tribulation.
[20] We must embrace divine scourges of this kind, and tolerate them with equanimity: Exhortation that scourges of God be patiently borne. because anyone unworthily is excluded from his paternal inheritance who admonished by paternal chastisement is in no way amended. Lest therefore us, most beloved, the heavenly Father exclude from His inheritance; let us wish, that He make us amended through the scourges of His piety, suppress the hardness of our mind, slaughter the wantonness of our flesh by the sword of His severity, and, what you may marvel more, render us thereby brighter through the exercises of labors. Are we, most beloved, then better than Paul the Apostle? are we more holy than David the most mild King? are we more just than Job the most proved? and whence is to Paul the Apostle the Angel of Satan, the sting of the flesh, set to buffet him; for whom that it might be cast out, three times he asks the Lord, and is not heard? nay rather with a similar cause being added it is shown, when by a divine oracle it is said to him that virtue is perfected in infirmity. 2 Cor. 12:7, Ps. 25:2 The Prophet David also prayed that he might be corrected by scourges: Prove me, he says, Lord, and try me: burn my reins and my heart. Ps. 117:18 And as if from him you sought what temptations profit him; in another Psalm he evidently suggests; Chastising, he says, the Lord has chastised me, and has not delivered me to death. Blessed Job is praised by the divine voice, and that none similar to him is on earth is proved by supernal assertion: and yet he is bereaved of his sons, despoiled of his possessions, cast down from his dignities, struck moreover by the worst disease, and from the sole of the foot even to the crown the wound opens; that the faithful certainly may understand, that one must always weep in this world: because, those who here sow in tears, there shall reap in joy; and those who going here weep, in the future with exultation shall collect the sheaves of their labors. Job 1:18