ON SAINT MAXIMIANUS,
BISHOP OF SYRACUSE IN SICILY.
YEAR DXCIV.
LITTLE PREFACE.
About his cult in S. Gregory's Epistles founded. Life recently written.
Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse in Sicily (S.)
G. H.
The tables of the Roman Martyrology celebrate,
on this day ninth of June,
the memory of S. Maximianus, Bishop
of Syracuse, Memorial in the Fasti of whom S. Gregory the Pope
often mentions. There went before Francis
Maurolycus, Abbot of Messina
in Sicily; Constantius Felicius, John Molanus,
& Peter Galesinius, & the most ancient of all Peter
of Naples: who book 5 Catalogue ch. 100, some
his elogium from S. Gregory related. Have followed very many,
& especially Martyrologists monastic, Arnoldus
Wion, also among the Benedictines, on this day & 15 March. Benedict Dorganius, Hugo Menardus, Gabriel
Bucelinus, & John Mabillon volume one of the Acts
of the Saints of the Order of S. Benedict; on this account that, with attesting
S. Gregory Homily 34 on the Gospels near the end, the man
venerable Maximianus, Father of monastery his &
Presbyter, then Bishop of Syracuse was; & so,
as S. Gregory, was a Monk; &, as they themselves contend,
of the Order of S. Benedict. About the Monachism of S. Gregory
some things we said §. 3 before his Life on day XII March:
the rest to the disputation of others we have left; & we wish
with another singing, the virtues of those rather to imitate, &
in eternal beatitude of their society to rejoice.
I say meanwhile that we have some Calendar Benedictine,
not very ancient, where the same is referred to XV
March, as among the Passed-Over then said. Ghinius in
the Natals of Holy Canonical Saints, as commonly other
Bishops, to them the same ascribed: Ferrarius some elogium
exhibits in the Catalogue of Saints of Italy. More prolix
also, & almost from the words of S. Gregory, Rochus Pirrus in
the Notice of the Syracusan Church, where also Albert Piccolus
of Messina refutes, who Maximianus feigns of Sicily
Metropolitan: which right to no Bishop in Sicily to belong
he contends, & badly inferred from the Holy See's Vicariate,
on Maximianus conferred. Life by Cajetanus of Syracuse collected. Octavius Cajetanus
of Syracuse, of the Society of Jesus, in the Idea of the work in year
MDCXVII printed, mentions the same; & also in
the Martyrology his Sicilian, & in the Index on all Lives
of the Saints of Sicily, where is noted the Life of S. Maximianus,
Bishop of Syracuse, from Monuments of Divine
Gregory the Great by Octavius Cajetanus collected, which
Life afterwards appeared in Volume one on the Lives of the Saints
Sicilian, in year MDCLVII printed, with long near the end
of the Volume Animadversions: with which omitted, we give
the Life by Cajetanus himself of Syracuse collected, with some
our Notes.
LIFE
By the Author Octavius Cajetanus of Syracuse of the Society of Jesus.
Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse in Sicily (S.)
A. OCT. CAIET.
[1] Maximianus, Bishop of Syracuse, is doubted,
whether at Syracuse he was born; By nation Sicilian, but Sicilian by family,
certainly was a. Unknown to me is, whether he put on
the monastic habit in Sicily, or at Rome, where for a long time
he lived. But hither I would incline, the foundations of more severe
life in his native soil to have laid, on account of distinguished indeed disposition,
& morals pious to Gregory the Great known
& beloved, when he monasteries six in Sicily from
patrimony built his; Rome having gone forth, then by the same's work
to Rome to greater things called. But of more holy life
institutes embracing, great in it progress
he made: for of his virtues by steps to
the Gregorian monastery's prefecture in the City second
he ascended; & of great Gregory educator, & in
divine philosophy master was b. He indeed is
Maximianus, presided over the monastery of S. Gregory, by whom after Valentio as instructor
S. Gregory, of the Church afterwards Pontiff Maximus,
of the monastery discipline learned; when the Prefecture's
City's trabea with great spirit cast off, Christ he put on.
When therefore the monastery, which to D. Andrew sacred
Gregory at Rome built at the Hill of Scaurus,
plainly before c the year of Christ DLXXX, to the top
was led; with Valentio's Abbot inhabited
first by auspices began. With Valentio extinct, Maximianus
in that office was substituted, which several
years with praise he exercised.
[2] That indeed prefecture before the year DLXXXIII
he had entered; in which year d Constantinople he sought, of Gregory
to be seen by desire, then Constantinople he approaches: who then of Pope Pelagius Legate
with the Emperor Tiberius was acting. In that
city while delays he draws, Pelagius Gregory through
letters warns, that Maximianus's return to the City he should hasten;
because of his ministry, & for the work to which he had set,
plainly altogether necessary he was. Unknown
to me what of work he undertook: but thence I understand, in what
place with the Pontiffs two, Pelagius & Gregory,
Maximianus was, of whose work & studies they used
to the Church to govern.
[3] To one returning from Constantinople Maximianus
by God was, that the angry seas to his sanctity
testimony might give. Indeed he with unusual miracle, returning, the sea, winds, & sky of sanctity testimonies say. in
himself & the rest who in the ship were carried, God's wrath &
benevolence equally experienced. With adverse indeed
Divinity, & on the passengers' crimes raging, at the same time into
their destruction the winds, the sea, all things yielded. By force
of whirlwinds is snatched from the ship the rudder; & with the mast
cut off, are thrown into the waves the sails: by the impulse of the waves
shaken the hull, almost was dissolved; with the gaping
indeed cracks bursting in waves, even to the upper
planks, the ship had filled; nor was the ship to be
in the sea, but the sea so within the ship seemed.
Now the sailors & passengers, with sight of death terrified,
with peace given, the most holy Body & Blood
of the Lord had taken; God praying, that merciful
their souls He would receive, whose bodies to so dreadful
death He had destined. But God, who minds of all
with wondrous terrified manners, life wondrously
preserved. Eight already days the ship of waters full, journey
yet had completed her own; on the ninth to the port f of Crotona
landed. After all, who with the venerable
man Maximianus had sailed, unharmed descended;
he himself of all last went out, & at the same time is submerged
in the port the ship: that hence might show God, that
the loaded ship by Maximianus's merits, as with hand
He had refused; which lifted of burden of men, above waves
to stand in no way could.
[4] Afterwards indeed when Gregory to Rome returned,
& with deceased by pestilence Pelagius g by the Clergy's suffrages,
& by the Roman people's vows, by S. Gregory among the first into the sacred Palace is chosen, Pontiff was elected;
from the monastery torn away, the monastery with himself into the palace
he transported. For, as he was of exceptional piety, &
of similar to him company used; with laic ministers
from chamber his removed, Clerics & Monks he chose
into the inner palace cohort, whom he had known
in prudence of things & in life's integrity to surpass;
that with their counsels & work helped, the rudder,
at which he sat, against the storms of times
straight he might hold. From the Clerics h Peter the Deacon, by the Gregorian
Dialogue noble; from the Monks, i Maximianus
as familiars he chose; who to Gregory several before
years familiarly known, & dear equally was:
since from his fountains already from beginning of his apprenticeship
an illustrious certain piety he had drawn, & well
he had known, in what virtue stood out Maximianus. Therefore into
the first orders Palatine chosen, from the beginnings of Gregorian
Pontificate to the time even in which at Syracuse
Bishop was given, by day & night in the sacred palace
he acted; at home indeed to Gregory, over the flock vigilant,
to serve by counsel; to adhere to one leaving the house, &
to adorn the Pontiff's company, not with secular pomp, but
with mind's modesty & chaste morals.
[5] To the Syracusan Church Pontiff is set: Scarcely a year in the palace Maximianus with Gregory
was: in the very among beginnings of the Pontificate, with Agatho
Bishop of Syracuse from life departed, when in his place
Gregory k Maximianus subrogated: nor indeed
for long to lie hidden the light could, which had kindled God, that
from a more lofty from place to more should shine. And so the man
most holy from the monastery to the palace was led out,
from the palace to the Episcopate; that who had been of the monastery
Father, Companion of the sacred palace, of the Church Master
should be. Great indeed was the necessity, which l Gregory
compelled, that of Maximianus he should deprive himself, a man
most joined, both by old usage, & by agreement
of morals, with his counsels to the Republic's
times most useful assessor: but because of great it concerned,
to a man whole & strenuous the Syracusan Church
to commit, the Shepherd best willingly to be deprived
of him himself & his palace allowed, that Syracuse
he might adorn, & the flourishing province of Sicily, which
with wondrous love he followed: its indeed administration
most to the republic's preservation
to look, he understood.
[6] But how greatly Gregory Maximianus would value,
how much to his integrity, vigilance, & industry
would trust, over all Sicily in place of the Roman Pontiff presides: with what soul's counsel to the illustrious
Syracuse See he raised, sufficiently he opened, when
into that Province going, of all of Sicily Churches
of his own accord he committed. But indeed m letters to him
Gregory gave, with of modesty his full, & with
faith in Legate his; in which he asserted, the entrusted
by God office more alertly to be executed, if into part
of cares capable he called, & worthy with whom
his labors he might communicate; accordingly of the Apostolic See
vices to him by his decree in Sicily to delegate, that
for causes, which by his judgment could be ended, to the provincials
seas to cross necessary it would not be: of which
indeed arbiter to be himself he would not, to the Pontiff to refer:
but that power by no means to be given by him to a place,
but to a person: by experience he had learned from his past
life, what to the consequent should be entrusted. From
which plainly is known, how much Gregory to Maximianus
deferred & honored, who the law every three years to come to Rome on account of distinguished his
virtues, through long life's use to him examined. When indeed
those letters were given in the month of December, Indict. X
at the end of the year DXCII, sufficiently they show, Maximianus
some months before consecrated was Bishop,
& to the Syracusan Church to be governed in
the Province sent; in the very beginning of the tenth Indiction,
or at the end of the ninth Indiction; for in the same year,
the one in the month of August had flowed away, the other indeed
in September had begun.
[7] to the fifth he transfers: To Maximianus therefore, a most grave & most excellent man,
into Sicily delegated; immediately Gregory
of the Bishops of that Province to the City convention,
which every three years to be made by custom was wont, into
the fifth year deferred, & by law sanctioned. What
Gregory then decreed, that the Bishops of Sicily by that
would be relieved of burden; for whose causes most was provided,
when to Maximianus vices in the Province his
he committed: but it was given most to Maximianus's industry,
& faith. Plainly in the extreme Indiction eleventh,
which on the year DXCV falls, to Rome to
Gregory to go forth he meditated. The cause not
easily I would assert, without the light of writings. Whether that Gregory
he might see, with most intimate to himself charity bound,
of whom so to see by zeal Constantinople he had betaken himself?
or that of the Province, which he sustained, of the most difficult
matters in person with the Pontiff he would treat? or that
the sacred thresholds by the custom of ancestors he might kiss, every three years
the law of three years, of sacred thresholds five years had sanctioned;
to have defined yet seems for the Bishops a time,
which to them to pass it would not be lawful, to perform at Rome
assemblies: but if to whom on this side it to approach pleased,
he did not prohibit. And so Maximianus, what by law
he did not owe, from his soul's pious sense to do could.
[8] in writing the Dialogues helps through letters: Furthermore this journey to the City either to have prepared
Maximianus, or in mind to have destined Gregory
teaches; who when the Dialogues he meditated, about
of holy men's matters in Italy distinguishedly performed,
to Maximianus he wrote, that what once about Nonnosus
he had related, or if anything other worth writing he knew, unless
to come to him he hastened, into memory through a letter
he should call back. To have executed this Maximianus seems,
with letters to Gregory rendered. He indeed what about
Nonnosus mentions in the Dialogues, from Maximianus
the Bishop & Laurio the Monk to have received he professes. Book 1 ch. 7
Which is for an argument, that prohibited was
Maximianus from the journey, which to Gregory
he was preparing: & perhaps the Province committed to himself,
& of Sicily all the administration, on account of the difficulties
of things to desert it was not allowed, or departure into the following
year he deferred.
[9] But otherwise it seemed to God. For nor to Maximianus
to the City, but the journey to heaven was. Who, who him in turn mourns from life departed. when
with burden of business, & with grievous & severe
life's reason weakened & broken, with greatest of public
matter detriment, with good however called of his, to
the Blessed's seats happily flew off, to Gregory the alumnus
once his mourning, to Syracuse & even more to all Sicily
great desire of him leaving. Now indeed
of Maximianus's death, & of the man's loss of the Church
most necessary, the most holy Pontiff how vehemently
groaned & deplored. Hence Cyprian the Deacon's
letters, by which the news about Maximianus's death
to him was brought, most bitter he calls, on account of the highest
soul's grief which when read he received. What
indeed more bitter to happen to Gregory could, than a man,
with old to himself familiarity bound, with integrity
of life & with morals' sanctity most dear, in administering
public matter industrious & strenuous
helper, from him taken away, & with so great Church's detriment
in most difficult times extinguished? Book 5 ep. 19 Which
two matters to move men are wont, of public, of private
good reason, those both the best Pontiff
vehemently increased. Therefore with Maximianus's known
death, Gregory to Cyprian, of the Patrimony in
Sicily Rector, letters gave, indices of bitterness
his:
& of solicitude, on account of bereft of Syracusans
Church; at the same time the man warned, that
him a successor to be chosen he should take care, who Maximianus's
place & rule would deserve.
[10] Is praised that one by the Syracusans: But recreated the Pontiff of the Nobles Syracusan
letters, which to Gregory they wrote,
of Maximianus's praises full, the new Pastor's election
to his most weighty arbitration referring. L. 4 ep. 47 Each
to Gregory was grateful, both of the Nobles Syracusan
pious toward defunct Father office,
& full of benevolence recollection, which loving
sons befitted; & that singular for new Pastor
to be chosen modesty. For which cause Gregory
that letter, testimony of praise of Syracusan
Nobility calls. But indeed he wrote back to the Nobles
Syracusan, praising, that they that burden of choosing
n, a Bishop demanding who Maximianus
would reflect, with honorable testification of virtues
his, which, with detracting others after the death of the parent,
with so much greater of them praise good sons would not be silent.
But, he says, Great virtues never
outside envy have been, nor ever sanctity, that
it might be confirmed & shine more, of a detractor
his who would exercise was free. What however in Maximianus
were criminated detractors of virtue, I do not find;
to have had what they could criminate, not
I believe. He was indeed of every of praise kind most excellent;
& among those, who in his age stood out, in all
the West conspicuous: when sole virtue first to
the Gregorian monastery's top, soon to the Syracusan See
mitre raised: to us indeed sufficiently & beyond
are for Maximianus's sanctity, illustrious indeed testimonies
of the most holy Pontiff Gregory the Great.
[11] At the beginning how much is that, that Gregory vices
his in all Sicily to Maximianus delegated, still living with wondrous Gregory with elogia adorns: with distinguished
his of integrity & constant virtue elogium:
Which vices not to place, but to person we give:
because from past in you so, he says, we have learned, what
even about your subsequent conduct we presume.
Maximianus's indeed sanctity so eminent was,
that of Gregory by judgment, most grave & most upright, equal
to him was not, who to the Syracusan Church would be set over.
And so in the letter to the Nobles Syracusan;
This, he says, let know greatness yours, that to this city
, whom to give we can, to Maximianus most reverend
similar we have not. And in the same letter,
Maximianus's successor, of his virtues imitator
he hopes for: Of our desire is, saying, such there
with Christ's grace to be ordained Pontiff, who of the goods
of the above-said Bishop, of whom you by actions testimony
bear, in all things should, with God as helper,
imitator exist. L. 4 ep. 47. Nor ever in praising
Maximianus Gregory to himself to satisfy seemed
; with so much him, as often as discourse fell, with honor
he names, whether living whether from life departed. He calls
of venerable memory Bishop,
of holy memory, of God servant most holy, worthy
& solicitous of his Church Father. Which praises
since with praised man Gregory, & with that most upright
& Roman Pontiff most holy, proceed,
how much those are to be esteemed?
[12] Moreover in the solicitude, which Paul the Apostle
from of the Churches Presiding & of souls Pastors
demands, Maximianus exceptional was, & faith
to his office of Great Gregory by brilliant testimony
preserved. The same in clergy & people, rightly to be informed
& to be purged, in to be searched out & insectated
crimes ardor of soul, in pastoral care vigilance
& solicitude, Gregory often praises. In
that this so great wickedness under that vivacity, which you in
causes pious to have most certainly we know, you require. as one who rightly the Pastor's office performed. A letter
to Cyprian the Deacon; A man, he says, most holy
Maximianus our Bishop, the church
of God of depraved men to purge desiring, laudably
toward of Ecclesiastics' life, as you know, solicitous
was: who while of their acts vigilantly with care
pastoral he intended &c. Finally on account of our sins
from us taken away he testifies. That with few many I may embrace, Among heavenly is ascribed.
living Maximianus Gregory loved as a friend,
as father he venerated, venerated as a man
holy: dead in number of blessed he ascribed
by his letter, in which about Maximianus, he wrote; He
indeed to the desired rewards has arrived. Died the man
most holy on V Ides of June, in year of Christ DXCIV,
when almost three years the Syracusan Church he had ruled,
on which day him mentions the Roman Martyrology.
NOTES G. H.
in the Apologetic under the name of Antonius Gallonius, says, that Syracusan to have been
to be conjectured can from the pastoral office, which there he exercised: to be wont indeed by
the Clergy & people to be elected from their citizens the Bishop. But could, at Rome
existing, many to have provided benefits to the Syracusans; that therefore, when at least
c Is established
from the Dialogues of S. Gregory, written in year 593, Peter to have been over the said
monastery, when he himself to the Pontificate was assumed; & the said Peter
to have dug again the sepulture of S. Merculus the Monk of the said monastery, & great
thence fragrance of sweetness to have emanated after years 14, as to 17 January from
book 4 Dialog. ch. 47 we have related. Therefore S. Merulus had been buried in year
579: but how long before a Monk he was, is not established. Why not about year
570, or a little later, the monastery was built?
by command of my Pontiff in the Constantinopolitan city's palace to responses
Ecclesiastical I served; thither to me venerable Maximianus, (now
Syracusan Bishop) with charity demanding with Brethren came.
k About
year, not 590 (as writes Pirrus in the Syracusan Notice) but 591, when
with one at least year he had been with S. Gregory, then Pope created.
l Book
3 of the Life no. 7 are referred ten, then with S. Maximianus ordained
Bishops, avoiding simoniacal & unlawful ordinations.
The mandates heavenly more efficaciously we perform, if our with Brethren burdens
we share: accordingly over all Churches the most reverend you the man
Maximianus, & Co-Bishop our, vices of the Apostolic See
to administer we have decreed: & near the end: Which namely vices,
not to place, but to person we give: because from past in you life
we have learned, what even about your subsequent conduct we presume.