ON SAINT LANDERICUS,
BISHOP OF PARIS IN FRANCE.
From Breviaries of three ages.
7TH CENTURY.
CommentaryLandericus, Bishop of Paris (S.)
BY THE AUTHORS G. H. & D. P.
[1] Of the Martyrology collected by Usuardus, at S. Germain-des-Prés at Paris, two exemplars are extant: one very ancient, which is said to have been written before the death of Charles the Bald, Cult. to whom it is also dedicated; the other more recent, written four hundred years ago or somewhat more. In this second, not at the end, but inserted in the text is the memory of S. Landericus, Bishop and Confessor at Paris. The same are read in the Ms. Centulen of S. Richarius, and in Usuardus printed at Paris in the year 1536: likewise in Galesinius, Canisius, Ferrarius, and others. Laudericus is written in Grevenus. In the Usuardus Ms. of the Queen of Sweden marked num. 428, Landis is named. Molanus in the Auctarium of Usuardus, has these: At Paris the deposition of S. Landericus, Bishop and Confessor; who Bishop of the same city, although he less fully shines on earth with signs of miracles, yet is believed to reign with the Lord in heaven.
[2] Andreas Saussajus the Parisian, in the Gallican Martyrology, which he edited as Royal Preacher, and also Pastor of the Church of SS. Lupus and Aegidius there, Elogium from Saussajus. adorns S. Landericus with this elogium, in the first place: At Lutetia of the Parisians of S. Landericus, Bishop and Confessor; who in the times of Clodovaeus the younger sitting in that Cathedra, Church erected to him: enriched the Church taken to be ruled with holy fecundity; and leaving to his flock immortal examples of piety, leaning also on miracles, to the assembly of celestial Senators, for the interest of merits, with Christ leading, whom he faithfully served, was carried up. This blessed Pontiff loved the poor with visceral love, whom even in public dearth of grain to feed, he did not hesitate, after household furniture, even sacred vessels and ecclesiastical ornaments to alienate. But that the pious Pastor might provide for the needy sick, a hospice near the episcopal palace he was the first to institute: whence in blessing remained his memory, but his justice will be praised together for ever and ever. But of so great a Bishop, as the city of Paris venerates the perpetual merits, so it experiences the aids of perennial patronage: to the commendation of which benefits a church was built, illustrious by his invocation: which by right obliged for aid, Relics at S. Germain celebrates today his natal day with solemn cult. But his most sacred spoils with worthy veneration preserves, in its own sacristy, the Clergy of the Royal and Collegiate Church of S. Germain, with the surname of Auxerre: whence the sudarium of the same blessed Bishop, brought thence long ago, by its opposition repressed the savagery of a raging fire. These things Saussajus.
[3] Lections of the Parisian Breviary. Thus far the twofold Breviaries of the Parisian Church: of these the older were printed by the authority of Petrus de Gondy the Bishop in the year 1584, others more recent published by the authority of Joannes Franciscus de Gondy the Archbishop in the year 1636: and in both is prescribed concerning S. Landericus the office of nine Lections; but in the later it is added, under double rite, and these Lections are had to be recited in the second Nocturn. Landericus, under Clodovaeus II the King performing his Prelacy most holily, with Apostolic virtues and merits adorned the Parisian Cathedra. For when from almost his very boyhood addicted to Regular disciplines, he had dedicated himself wholly to Christ, and on account of a soul breathing religion was enrolled in the Clergy, he easily preeminent over all in excellence of both morals and doctrine, and gradually from progress of virtues to the Priesthood had been carried; at length with Autbertus, of laudable memory Bishop of the Royal city, Election to Bishop: taken from the midst, in his place, as much resisting, as desired by the wishes of all, with God aspiring he was substituted. Augmented with which honor, he considered not so much the splendor of the conferred dignity, as the office of the burden taken on: and kindled with love of God and neighbor, so he bent over the ruling of his Church, that in no way his own conveniences, but the divine glory, and the salvation of the flock committed to him through all things he sought: reckoning nothing so much his by the owed duty, as to serve God and to profit the people: and so humbly thinking of himself, that, when justice eminent had advanced, he esteemed himself the greatest sinner: and therefore whatever good and illustrious he did from holy affection, he judged should be destined rather to wash away his sins than to augment merits. To such an extent was the pious Bishop burning with affection of mercy toward the poor, that with dire dearth of grain afflicting the people, all his private furniture first into the aids of the needy he alienated; then even the very sacred vessels he broke up, that the members of Christ, almost killed by hunger, virtues: he might revive. For the flocks of the needy at the same time the pious Father was feeding, with his own hand the nourishment of bread distributed to individuals, or other aid imparted. By the fervor of whose charity excited, that he might also aid the sick, a hospice for cherishing them next to the church of the holy Mother of God he built, and with such revenue as he could endowed. And at length the glorious Bishop, illustrious with every splendor of sanctity flew up to heaven: and buried at the basilica of S. Vincent (which is now called of S. Germanus of Auxerre), mercy toward the poor. shone with many insignia of divine glory. And (as is added in the earlier Breviary) among other benefits of healings, the city itself endangered by fire, by the opposition of the veil, with which his body was covered, he freed from the flames.
[4] Exemption of the monastery of S. Denis, But that also was prefixed in the same older Breviary: The same blessed Pontiff, with zeal of monastic religion, that he might consult the quiet of those serving God, the exemption of the monastery of S. Denis in France, with Clodovaeus the second, son of Dagobert the founder, asking, with also the authority of the supreme Pontiff acceding, he signed. Philippus Labbe, when in the sixth Volume of his Councils he had edited this Privilege; at column 489 noted; That Privilege was opposed and defended by very learned men, nor was it his to compose so great strifes between them, that being only confirmed by the suffrages of the wisest writers; Let novelty cease to assail antiquity, and other things which can be read there. That privilege was made in the 15th year, with Clodovaeus reigning, therefore in the year of Christ 651. But in the following year the same Landericus subscribed to the Precept of the same Clodovaeus, on the same liberty of the monastery of S. Denis, granted in the Convention of Clichy. in the year 651, But how long he sat, or in what year he undertook the Bishopric or departed life, is not exactly clear. The above-mentioned predecessor was Autbertus, or rather Audobertus: in whose place as Bishop the same Landericus also subscribed to the Council of Chalon, held under Clodovaeus II; but in what year of his is not known. But Clodovaeus died in the year 656.
[5] Thus far Henschenius, in the year 1680 seized by paralysis, by which after one year he died, nor could he see the new Breviary published at Paris in that very year, In the new Breviary of the year 1680 by the authority of Francisco de Harlay the Archbishop; sent to us by the most learned Canon of the Metropolitan Claudius Castellanus, having a great part in its composition; where then many other Offices of Saints were reduced to the rite of Semidouble of three Lections; then also this concerning S. Landericus, under proper prayer of this kind; Proper prayer, God who filled B. Landericus, your Confessor and Bishop, with the bowels of mercy; we beseech, that whom you have made the father of the poor by your grace, you may bestow as our benign intercessor continually. The first Lection is prescribed from the beginning of the Epistle of B. Jude. The second and third, because they contain the history of the Saint more studiously enucleated, are worthy to be read here, exhibited as a specimen of the supreme accuracy applied in composing that Breviary.
[6] Synopsis of the Life, Landericus was given as successor in the Bishopric of Paris to Audobertus, with Clodovaeus the second as King. Among the other gifts of a good Pastor by which he stood out, he was commendable for special affection of mercy toward the poor. With dearth of grain afflicting the people, all his private furniture, even the sacred vessels themselves into their aid he alienated, with nourishment distributed to individuals, and other things necessary for life. It is handed down that also next to the Cathedral church of S. Mary he was the first to build a hospital, which is called the House of God: and to have endowed it with such revenue as he could. By his command Marculfus, a Monk in the Parisian diocese, the old Formulas, that is, Instruments, conceived in fixed and solemn words, and anciently in both jurisdictions, namely ecclesiastical and civil, customarily used, the formulas of Marculfus dedicated to him. collected; new ones he composed; and them all comprised in two books, he dedicated to him. With Clodovaeus asking, to the monastery of S. Denis he granted a privilege of liberty, from all debt and rendering of circada and synods. At length consummated he passed to heaven, and was buried in the basilica of S. Vincent, now called of S. Germanus of Auxerre, formerly of S. Germanus Teretis.
[7] Body translated in the year 1408 He was succeeded by Chrodobertus, to whom S. Audoenus the books on the life of S. Eligius, which he had written, transmitted to be corrected. After many years, Mauritius called de Solliaco, placed Landericus's body in a wooden chest: which consumed by age Petrus de Ordeimonte, Bishop of Paris, unsealed in the year 1408, on XVI Kalends of October; and found in it, with the bones and dust of the body, the garments and linens, a writing inscribed with these words: These are the bones of most blessed Landericus, Bishop of Paris, thus placed back by the venerable Mauritius Bishop of Paris, and Remigius Dean of this church, in the year from the Incarnation of the Lord 1171; with Louis reigning, who led the army into Jerusalem, with Alexander the supreme Pontiff. from an old chest of the year 1171. But also two other writings, of which the older and almost corroded, contained these words: Of S. Landericus the Bishop. Hence Petrus two bones drawn out, donated to the Parochial church of S. Landericus: but the rest in a silver chest, the rite of blessing premised, he placed back: with present Ludovicus Duke of Bourbon, and a great multitude of Prelates, Soldiers, and people, and himself enclosed it behind the high altar, with solemn procession held, placed it. Also in the new Rupellense Breviary I find a simple feast prescribed for this Saint.