ON SAINT HERACLIUS,
BISHOP OF SENS IN GAUL.
ABOUT 522.
PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.
On his cult and life.
Heraclius, Bishop of Sens, in Gaul (S.)
BY G. H. AND D. P.
[1] The memory of S. Heraclius Bishop of Sens is found in very many Martyrologies, on this 8th day of June, Cult on 8 June in MSS. as are the MSS. Roman, Vatican of S. Peter and Vallicellan of the Congregation of the Oratory; MS. Centulensian of S. Richarius; MSS. Liège, of S. Lambert and S. Laurence; MS. Utrecht of S. Mary, and another very ancient MS. written in England, with the MS. Florarium: but, what is of greater weight, the same is referred by Usuard in the double MS. Martyrology of Paris of the monastery of S. Germain, and in printed calendars: where he lived and wrote; The same has him, as published with additions by Bellinus, Greven and Molanus, and this followed Maurolycus, Felicius, Galesinius, Canisius, Ghinius, with the present Roman Martyrology, with these almost everywhere words: At Sens of S. Heraclius the Bishop.
[2] Andrew Saussay in his Gallican Martyrology adorns him with this eulogy. with eulogy in Saussay, On the same day at Sens the passing of S. Heraclius Bishop and Confessor, who succeeding Agritius, illustrious by the glory of most holy conversation and the splendor of prodigies, with outstanding solicitude of pastoral care and the urgency of pious works, bore the helm of this Church: and for his clear merits invited by S. Remigius, was present at the baptism of King Clovis, in which the marvels of divine power shone forth: and a lover of purity and excellent cultivator, by zeal of fostering virginal honor, built a monastery of S. John the Evangelist in the suburb of his city, where he placed Virgins consecrated to God. He persuaded Theodechildis daughter of Clovis, to vow to Christ the flower of integrity and perennial service, and to found a monastery in honor of S. Peter; where she persevering to the very end, rendered pure services to Christ. And at length the blessed Pontiff, full of so many merits, departed to the reward of good works; and shone no less after death by miracles, than in life by divine virtues; in the aforesaid basilica of S. John the Evangelist, to whom he was greatly devoted, just as dying he had desired, was buried. Thus there, the same, but contracted, and in the Sammarthani, is read in the Sammarthani in the Archbishops of Sens, in this to be corrected in both, that with no older author leading, they make the girls' monastery older than the men's; although however from this the former should have depended, and depended as long as it stood; nor is it anywhere separately named, if indeed it is named anywhere, besides in the Life, soon to be indicated. The aforementioned Agricius, his predecessor, is venerated on the 13th day of this month of June, as also on the 28th S. Theodechildis, founder of the monastery of S. Peter Vivus, in which the body
[3] Another day, attributed to the veneration of S. Heraclius, is on the Nones of July; which Saussay opens with these words: At Sens the festivity of S. Heraclius, Bishop of this Metropolis and Confessor: whose blessed passing is noted in the Ecclesiastical diptychs to be venerated on the eighth day of June. On the same ninth day of July his memory is celebrated in the MS. Florarium, also 9 July. and in the Martyrology of Cologne and Lübeck printed around the year 1490, and in Greven in the Additions to Usuard. Nay, what is most to be noted, in the Breviary of the Metropolitan Church of Sens, which
we have printed in the year 1625, no mention of S. Heraclius is made on this 8th of June, but the most solemn festivity is prescribed on the said ninth day of July; perhaps because of his body and that of his brother S. Paul, successor in the Episcopate, translated from the church of S. John the Evangelist, to the Cathedral Church sacred to S. Stephen. S. Paul is venerated there under double rite on the fifth day of July.
[4] We were in the city of Sens in the year 1662, and we found some Acts of S. Heraclius, Life from MS. which John Nicholas Domvalle Professor of Rhetoric of the Society of Jesus took care to have copied, and collated with the original. The same Acts, with words here and there superfluous omitted, are extant in the above-cited Breviary, divided through nine Lessons, accustomed to be recited at Matins. and the Sens Breviary, The author lived several centuries after the age of S. Heraclius, indeed after the incursion of the Pagans, perhaps Normans, when the body is indicated to have been brought into the Cathedral Church.
[5] The time at which he was assumed Bishop, and at which he ended life, is not prescribed in the Acts, nor in other ancient monuments. Baronius, in the Notes on this 8th of June, says, he migrated from this life in the year 507. Time of the See up to year 522. The same writes Charles le Cointe on the year 564 number 36, but neither produces any document of his assertion. Baronius did not see, perhaps neither Charles, the Testament of Theodechildis herself, written in favor of the Vivian monastery in the ninth year of the reign of Chlothar, full brother of this virgin, who immediately after the death of his father, in the year 509, or as later 511, reigned at Soissons, until with his brothers and nephews extinct he obtained the Monarchy, in the year 558, but only for three years; but that she had held it for nine years or more, the reckoning of them could not be had here, because Heraclius must have died long before, who had his brother S. Paul, of whom we shall treat on July 9, as successor in the See of Sens; and then S. Leo, in the year 531 present at the III Council of Orleans. His memory they recall on the 22nd of April; where I would wish to have corrected, what Henschen put about Heraclius, Leo and Theodosius, to whom S. Remigius wrote an Epistle reported by Sirmond Tom. 1. Conc. Galliae page 204; he himself understanding Heraclius of Paris, this Leo of Sens and Theodosius of Auxerre; and adding, that the Epistle was given around the year of Christ 510: For Sirmond places that Epistle as written under Pope John I, who sat from the year 522 to 26: nor is it contrary that Theodosius of Auxerre reached down to the Pontificate of this. What therefore without witness and argument Baronius defined, is denied without scruple; so that at least the subscriptions, attributed to Heraclius in the copies of Royal diplomas, although otherwise not most sincere, may be verified hitherto, of which we treat on the day of S. Theodechildis, Royal Virgin, daughter of Clovis I, namely the 28th of June.
LIFE
From a MS. and the Sens Breviary.
Heraclius, Bishop of Sens, in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 3820
FROM THE BREVIARY.
[1] It is worth the effort, dearest Brothers, and reasonable, that we praise together the one Omnipotent, God is to be praised in the Saints, who is the origin of all wisdom, in every place of his dominion, with the whole strength of mind and body, and in all the works of the same to confess and bless the Lord. Ps. 102, 22 And since, Scripture testifying, all the works of the Lord bless the Lord, especially it behooves the rational creature to bless the name of the Lord, which was made in his image, as the book of Genesis testifies at the beginning. But where and in what his magnificence is praised, the Prophet David indicates, saying: Praise the Lord in his Saints. Ps. 150 The patience of the Lord Jesus Christ is praised, when the works of the Saints reigning with him in the heavens are proclaimed by the faithful. Therefore it is fitting that in the Church their name be memorable, at least proper to each Church. who denying themselves, carried their cross in life for the name of Christ. But, when of all of the whole world, tongue or reason cannot tell, nor as they merited can any speech avail to express mention of them; we ought at least to recite the works and names of those, who toiling for us labored the whole day in the vineyard of the Lord.
[2] First indeed let us as best we can more worthily extol the Most Blessed Heraclius with our voices, S. Heraclius successor of S. Agricius: who shone as the fourteenth Pastor of the Church of Sens. For he succeeded in the Episcopate, blessed and of great merit Agricius: who illustrious by miracles, rests in body in the monastery of the Prince of the Apostles outside the city, in that suburb which is called Vivus; of whose life or virtues there is not now time to discourse, because we hasten to come to him whom our discourse desires. Of this most holy Bishop Heraclius then the glorious lineage, in the page of our books is not found, because as a writing seems to testify in the building of the principal church, whose Life perished in fire, three times the same was devoured in the whirlpool of flames. At the same time also the book of life or operation of this most holy man, as is handed down by the fathers, perished by the burning of the same fire; nor was there one who repaired, all being disturbed by the danger of so great calamity. We know however, nor is it unknown to the wise, that nothing harms the Saints of God for the heaping up of their praise, in whatever way they had in the world the beginning of their birth: which especially is declared by Scripture showing, because in the text of the holy Gospel it is found manifest; that the Son of God made man chose not ministers, whom royal blood might adorn; but from the populace fishermen, seeking sustenance by hand and nets. These therefore the grace of the Holy Spirit so confirmed, that unconquered they overcame the punishments of earthly dignity, nor feared to sustain tortures for the sake of heavenly glory.
[3] But great is this Saint, whose solemnities we today celebrate, although he did not feel martyrdom, it is certain nevertheless that he pleased God: nor kinds of torments; nor is it incredible, nor is it doubted by anyone, that his acts and life pleased the Most High. We ought also without doubt to think, that, if it were necessary, the tortures of the body would not
[4] But lest to anyone this seem incredible, although above it has been said, he is present at the baptism of King Clovis. that his Life was destroyed by the whirlpool of flames: for this is found written in a certain book of ancient time. In one Hymn indeed, which to his praise is still recited in the church, in which (as in the following will be said) the body of the deceased rested, there also concerning him that writing shows, which everyone who shall be able to read or hear ought to believe. For at the time when B. Remigius bathed Clovis, King of the Franks, with the vital washing; the same our Pastor, present and cooperator, with him completed the divine work; when by the merits of both an Angelic vision brought the holy Chrism, as is declared to those reading his Life in the Church of Reims.
[5] With these and other virtues our Bishop adorned, well ruled the Church of Sens, builds a church of S. John the Evangelist. intent on Pastoral cares: who (as has flowed down through the series of succession even to us) always loved in life true chastity of soul and body; and that the pious Lord might preserve it for him at all times, he built a certain church outside the walls, in honor of S. John the Apostle and Evangelist: who, as the history of the books testifies, remained immaculate and a virgin even to the last of life. Which is well demonstrated to all in the Lord's love, because he, honoring him, loved him more than the other Apostles, for the Nuns and commended his Virgin Mother to the Virgin placed on the cross. The aforesaid church indeed this same Pontiff of ours from his own resources beautifully enriched, and gathered Virgins who might worthily serve God in it: very often also in it he celebrated the solemnities of Masses, believing and confident in the Lord, that the prayers and merits of the blessed Apostle would be of profit to him. And since the same place was placed in a more secret part of the suburb; often fleeing the company of men, there he served God with vigils and prayers.
[6] After he knew by the Holy Spirit revealing to him, that the body being laid down, he would receive from God the reward of labor, whom he had devotedly served; touched by the discomfort of fever, in the same in death is buried, he placed the blessed members lying on a bed. At length with many here and there weeping, several indeed crying out for the anguish of pain, lying as it behooves a Christian in ashes and a hair-shirt, the sign of the holy Cross raised over himself, the burden of flesh laid down, he gave up his soul to the Lord. With all therefore agreeing with one voice, to the aforesaid church, which he himself had built, honorably carried, in the best place, as he had ordered in life, he was buried. Many miracles were done there, to the praise of God, which the multitude of the sick experienced in many ways; while each returned safe from the tomb, who had come weak, as also S. Paul the successor: struck with some discomfort of the members. In the Episcopate too succeeded him the most blessed Paul, his brother according to the flesh, an excellent Confessor: who loved the same church, for the love of the Apostle and brother, exceedingly; and being buried in it in body next to his brother, rested in peace.
[7] At length with the course of many times passing, and with the number of those persecuting the Christian name growing; both afterwards translated to S. Stephen's. all the inhabitants of this city fearing, that the Pagans coming would treat the bodies of the Saints most badly, because at the same time they were laying waste the whole kingdom; by common consent, taking the Relics of both, with Clergy chanting, with the greatest honor, brought them into the principal church of D. Stephen the Protomartyr. There also, as can still be seen, placed in one and the same place, they rest in the peace of the Lord, surrounded by gold and silver. We believe however, nor ought to anyone to be a doubt, that whoever with these as patrons asks for divine help, if he shall have lived well, through their merits will obtain pardon from the Lord Jesus Christ; who with the Father and Holy Spirit lives and reigns, through all ages of ages. Amen.