ON S. MAURINUS THE ABBOT,
MARTYR AT COLOGNE.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On the finding of the body and its history.
Maurinus Abbot, Martyr at Cologne (S.)
G. H.
Among the illustrious monuments of the Catholic faith, which illustrate Cologne, the city situated on the Rhine, At Cologne among various churches are the ancient and magnificent Churches: of which besides the Metropolitan basilica, eminent for the nobility of its Clergy, there are ten others adorned with Colleges of Canons, and different from these nineteen, with their Parishes for the instruction of the people; then very many monasteries of both sexes, and especially the Abbey, founded under the patronage of SS. Pantaleon, Cosmas, and Damian, of which the Tablets of the said cenobium speak thus: In the year of the Lord's Incarnation 964, is S. Pantaleon's: Bruno, the twelfth Archbishop of the Church of Cologne, and brother of the first Emperor Otto, founded the monastery of S. Pantaleon outside the walls of the city; and instituted the Brothers, ever-vigilant in divine praise, under the monastic Benedictine rule: over whom he set Abbot, by name Christianus, namely a phoronomus of his own profession; and in the law of the Lord, as befitted this order, particularly learned. These things and others Gelenius, in book 3 on the Magnitude of Cologne, chapter 12.
[2] Of these B. Bruno departed life in the year 965, on the day XI October. Christianus the Abbot is said to have ruled the monastery for thirty-six years, having died on the XXI March of the first year above the thousandth: and under him the cenobium was endowed with a double treasure, in this the body of S. Maurinus, namely the bodies of S. Albinus, and S. Maurinus Martyrs. The former was brought from Rome by the Empress Theophanu about the year 970, as will be more widely set forth on the day XXII of this month of June, and is preserved in the second hierotheca. But the third hierotheca, says the same Gelenius, is a precious sarcophagus made of silver, gold, and gems; which contains the bones of S. Maurinus Abbot and Martyr, whose body was found while Volkmar was Archbishop of Cologne, in the year 966, on XIII October, when the new basilica was being constructed. But the stone, enclosing the coffin of S. Maurinus, had these words engraved: Here rest the bones of good memory of Maurinus the Abbot, who bore martyrdom in the atrium of the church on the fourth day of the Ides of June. Would that the year had been added, which plainly lies hidden.
[3] The History of the Finding of S. Maurinus Abbot and Martyr, and of the miracles wrought on this occasion, Stephen Monk of S. Pantaleon inscribed to his Abbot Christianus; History of the finding. and at num. 6 You might see, he says, arms inscribed with marks of iron; you might see bones shattered by the hailstorm of passion, and in the whole body you might discern signs of a military spirit. Hence the pious curiosity of many could be moved to see it, just as in the same church the Body of S. Albinus is allowed to be seen, still covered with its own skin. Certainly from the showing of either body scarcely any labor to the church-keeper, no inconvenience to monastic quiet and discipline would arise further, than from the showing of one only. Why therefore they show one, and do not show the other, even to those asking and uniquely desiring to see, let them themselves render a more firm reason, than they ever rendered to us, the Possessors of the sacred treasure. I return to the History of the aforesaid finding, which we give from the Surian edition, collated in part with the Ms. of the Passional of the Major Church of the monastery of Eifelia, which we ourselves in the year 1668 there found.
[4] Memory in the Martyrologies. The memory furthermore of S. Maurinus the Martyr at Cologne is inscribed in various Ms. Martyrologies under the name of Usuardus, but augmented for the use of the German and Belgic Churches. The Martyrology, printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year 1490, has these in the first place: At Cologne the passion of S. Maurinus the Abbot, who in the atrium of the church of S. Pantaleon bore martyrdom, and there his body is held decently and ornately preserved. There followed Grevenus, Maurolycus, Molanus, Galesinius, Canisius: likewise the monastics, Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus with today's Roman Martyrology. But what Baronius in his Notes judges, that this S. Maurinus is treated by Trithemius in book 3 on Illustrious Men of the Order of S. Benedict chapter 134, we do not at once prove. For that Maurinus or Marinus, or rather Amarinus, was an Abbot in the Auvergne, and there with S. Praeiectus Bishop of Clermont was killed, buried, and honored with a temple. He by Trithemius is said to have flourished in the year 670, to which year by Charles Stengelius in his Monasteriologia (as is alleged by Gelenius) S. Maurinus is established as having suffered at Cologne: perhaps that he might more safely be ascribed to the Benedictine Order. The more prudent Mabillon, not even among the Passed Over,
wished to make mention of him. For just as the time when he lived and suffered is unknown; so also of what Order Abbot he can be reckoned, is utterly unknown.
HISTORY OF THE FINDING.
By the Author Stephen, Monk of S. Pantaleon then living.
Maurinus Abbot, Martyr at Cologne (S.)
BHL Number: 5735
FROM MSS.
[1] Prologue. To Lord Christian, Stephen the slight. You impose, Father, upon me, what my shoulders cannot bear. You command me to praise Maurinus, and to give his deeds to my style: of which the one office is of Angels, the other of the wisest men. If the unconquered Martyr, written in the mouth and mind of all good men, desires letters; Cologne has, the second (if she deigns to be called) Rome, her Gregories, has her Jeromes, whom it befits to be Consuls writing for the supernal city. None the less, under your wings have been educated not a few, who have seen and drunk the unfailing Nile, and show themselves equal to this work. Why then to me to carry wood into the forest? Bruno, that noble son a of the Dove, sanctuary of wisdom, found you, in whom his soul was well pleased. It is known how much you have contributed to the world, dear and known to one another, and often admired in words of prudence. It is therefore of you and of the aforesaid office to treat the merits of the Heavenly ones, by which to earn envy is easy, unless perhaps by the admirable wisdom of your mind you have decreed to add this miracle to Maurinus, that Balaam's beast of burden should serve him as the organ of a man. I obey, on this condition interposed, that you put the supreme hand to the work, and dedicate the title to your name.
[2] The highest and only salvation for sick mortals is, that Christ has so divided his elect to the heavens and the earth, that the spirits, worthy of celestial habitation, he should admit to the upper ones; and earthly things to earth he should permit. For the spirits of the Blessed do not utterly desert the spoils of their man, Among the Saints, defenders of the Church, namely the arms of their warfare, in which they have triumphed over the ancient serpent. For these, these are your illustrious defenders, O Church redeemed by Christ's blood: these stand for your sons, lest the corrupters of spirits wandering through all the air should absorb them with the throat's gulf. For when could you resist by yourself adversaries armed with deceit and fire, you who scarcely exercise rule in your own flesh? But the worn-out witnesses of Christ, citizens of Angels, indeed Consuls created for their merits, even now by you defeat the satellites of iniquity, whom they had conquered by themselves. These reconcile the guilty to God, bear the world, despoil hell, that they may fill up the number of the Angels, and build the walls of Jerusalem. This indefatigably John at Ephesus; this Andrew b, this the Protomartyr Stephen at Byzantium; this Peter and Paul at Rome; and in nearly the whole orb of the lands, this the individual Saints make in their lot a sacrifice pleasing to God.
[3] is Maurinus the Martyr. We also have before our eyes an apt witness of this matter, Maurinus, dear to God and the Angels, whose passion today adorns the heavens with glorious martyrdom, and grants pardon to the guilty. Who under the standards of faith devoted unto blood, on the day of his contest did nothing less than the great Martyrs, who broke down the head of the ancient dragon, and the satellites of his iniquity the Decii and Neros. For with excellent exchange, with the Lord having died for him, he offered the triumph of death; and clothed in the purple of his own blood, whitened his stole in the blood of the Lamb: in whose company now wherever He will go cleaving, secure of himself, he asks the outcome of salvation for his own. For us his free clemency of God stretches forth the shield of an advocate, with his most precious gems of members has enriched us. Unless we much abase ourselves, we ought always to hope him present to us; but especially on this day of his solemnity and joy. This day, I say, I would call the day of his joy, in which more familiarly to his King the magnanimous Leader began to serve as a soldier, with the military belt changed, not laid down. With worthy praise of my Lord let us hallow this day, and with prone obsequy of both the man honor it. Let it be excellent for us to participate in the office of the Angels. To them congratulating today on the glory of our Patron let us bring our joys, indeed let us aim to double their joys, and let us rise from the tombs of our sins: for in a way we rise from the sepulchers of vices, when we seek God with our hands, and we intend the soul to the praises of the Saints. Hence through David, the familiar organ to himself, the Holy Spirit; Praise, he says, the Lord in His Saints. Ps. 130 And in these worldly kingdoms also, whom Kings deign with their friendship, if anyone has fought any war in hope of the favor of his Princes, you know how great sweetness, how great delight is to Kings about him to hear, how great he rises in the shield, with what force he hurls the spear, and with what risk of his own life he exposes his head to the sword.
[4] In the glory therefore of Maurinus, most noble agonothete and most victorious, let us also resound something, sweet to God, grateful to heaven. But ashes and dust what worthy thing can it bring to the friend of the most high God, to whom hymn-singing choirs of the heavenly ones minister? an illustrious victor, It is little, if we say that he strongly waged the Lord's wars: for he stands out thrice and four times victor, who not only against purple tyrants broke out in strife; but loftier than the world, against the very prince of this world, against the very, so to say, giant, threatening wars to the heavens, with gigantic strength moved arms, possessed life by death, dying carried the palm and spoils from the enemy. It is little, if in him we recount the stem of patrician blood: greater nobility is to him, to be a brother-in-arms of the Martyrs, co-heir of the Apostles, and companion of the Angels. But if his life's merit be treated, lower will be whatever can be said; unless, what truly is proved, the glorious friend of God and most precious son. And because it is fitting for the son to be made similar to the Father, the most pious Lord adorned his Maurinus with the insignia of native piety: in whom whoever has placed his hope, knows more quickly c with what balsams of mercy he abounds; knows how present a hearer, how propitious an intervener: and by their attestation, how much he stands at the Most High's, is easily known. But let the tongue of flesh be silent meanwhile of the supercelestial glory of the Martyr, which neither eye has seen, nor ear has heard: and at least how his most sacred body was found, let us with the joy of the day recall to memory. Isa. 44. His blessed triumph of his contest having been completed, the excellent athlete of God Maurinus d, the place of his tomb known only to heaven, and venerated only with the reverence of Angelic obsequy, dwelt until the year of the Incarnate Word nine hundred and sixty-six, whose buried at Cologne, under whose scepters then was e the first Otto.
[5] There had departed from this point a year before from human offices of the same Prince his divine brother Bruno the Archbishop, and with life changed, before now was reaching for the rewards of the Anointed f of the Lord: who in body outside the walls g of the city, according to the desire of his heart, buried in the little oratory of holy Pantaleon, Cosmas and Damian, after S. Bruno's death. the Physicians of God, the place which he revered while living, he adorned dead. But the little oratory was, for the tender infancy of the new conversation, narrow and unequal to the great merits of the great Prelate. It fell therefore to the ground, by the most pious effect of divine power, without the loss of inhabitants, without damage to household property, and gave by its own ruin occasion for a loftier fabric. The heavens too gave unhoped-for resources, treasure inexhaustible for the work to come, the gem of the Lord's diadem, care for himself and the Angelic people. For because there could not lie hidden under a bushel a lamp burning before the Lord, while for laying the foundation the earth was dug, the coffin (Glory to you, Christ) of Maurinus the Martyr is found, who should put his hand to Bruno, and on the other side stand to Pantaleon. Folcmarus therefore, the coffin is found; worthy of God, worthy successor to Bruno in the Priesthood, called was present, arbiter of the heavenly gift, minister of the heavenly obsequies. And first the stone, closing the coffin, was perceived; inscribed with the Martyr's name, and office, and the day and place of his Martyrdom: Here rest the bones of good memory of Maurinus the Abbot, who in the atrium of the Church bore martyrdom, on the fourth day of the Ides of June.
[6] The stone removed, is found a wooden chest bound with iron, by decay indicating the times of ancient passion. The whole city, through all gates, to that sight. Angelic, it cannot be said with what pious affection rushed: the Clergy and the choir of holy women gave themselves: but the Prelate of holy memory, whence a sweet odor is drawn forth; when he had presented the obsequies of reverence and the solemnities of prayers, full of hope and holy fear, the Relics, marked by virtues and healing, uncovered; and showing on earth the citizen of the Angels, satisfied the people of God with joy and with joy's tears. The ancient miracles are renewed, the odor is drawn, by which the Lord testifies of His elect: you would think the venerable bones flowed with balsams. Speech is overcome by the miracle: every thing I say is less: but because today you celebrate joys, may you forever be satisfied with the same fragrance. But now who, I do not say, will explain, but worthily wonder at the beautiful glory of the bones themselves? For by the beautiful covering of the body, how great the beauty and cleanness of the spirit is, there remain in the bones marks of wounds, is recognized. You might see arms, inscribed with marks of iron; you might see bones, shattered by the hailstorm of passion; and in the whole body you might discern marks of a military spirit. Let the corpses of Leaders or Kings be veiled by byssus, linen, or purple striving with violets, or weights of twisted h gold. But what are these compared with Maurinus's glory? Byssus and purple are food for worms: Maurinus's scars and wounds are signs of immortality.
[7] At his sight Here a certain woman, by name Reginildis, a holy nun, with Mary Magdalen first at the sepulchre i found, found living spirit in the dead bones and announced. She in the monastery of the handmaids k of Christ, situated outside the city walls, known by merit and office, long oppressed by inconvenience of the head, was bereft of the gift of hearing, and at the same time nearly deprived of the light of her eyes: about whom when all the aids of the physicians had failed, she, in despair of recovering, with her companions, in the habit of mourning poured herself out. she recovers hearing and sight: Almost two years grown strong by squalor the grief, and, as is said, just as the head's condition, was the condition of the whole body. Although however she was destitute of bodily strength, her weak limbs being sustained, she cast herself in the middle of the people, with the staff of holy desire going before, all the way to the tomb of the Saint to the ground; silent prayers she poured forth to heaven, and to the Martyr she made an offering l with the light of a candle. And when, whom she saw in mind, with the eyes of flesh, which she had nearly lost, she desired to look upon, and reclined her head on the Martyr's coffin; the passage of each ear flowed with blood, and at the price of faith redeemed the gifts of sight and hearing; and unharmed, at the Office which was being performed, she rejoiced; and as many as were present at that Angelic spectacle, in the faith she lifted up.
[8] But of holy memory m Gero, afterwards made Bishop worthy of God, because of a tooth taken away the hand burns, until it should be restored. in the second place acknowledged and proclaimed the merit of the blessed Martyr. For when, with Folcmarus the Prelate standing by, chosen persons of the second n order, were arranging the precious pearls of the holy body, baptized in wine from devotion, in a new repository; he admitted himself with officious diligence, and remarkably bold, mutilated the Martyr by one tooth. I am about to say wonderful things.
Soon in his very hand, with the witness of the snatcher, he paid the penalties, and not burning with invisible fire he burned. The learned mind recognized the heavenly chastisement, which he alone felt, but he himself could not see. What should he do? Willingly he would have retained the pledge; but enduring the pain, even in soul, by expectation of greater things, more strongly, unless he had returned it, was tortured. Meanwhile the pledges of the Saint are led down, the people accompanying the ark of the Lord, in voice of exultation and confession feasting. There was then over the monastery of holy Mary our Lady, which o is called New, the venerable Wolvereda, Mother and Abbess of the Virgins of God, who was present at this spectacle, and was reciting the songs of the Psalms in a codex. The deposition is made on October 13. Her Gero summoned, and with reverence in the book deposited the holy tooth, and rest in the censer of Davidic incense was pleasing to the Martyr: and it became one and the same moment, to have placed the tooth and the passion: and you showed, good Jesus, with what diligence you wish your Martyr to be treated, and the price of this matter to be freed from hell. But the bones of most blessed Maurinus were placed with due honor of the faithful in the oratory of S. Benedict, on the third p day of the Ides of October q.
[9] To great things greater, to glorious things more glorious succeed. Thiedo r, afterwards made Bishop, was then in the monastery s of S. Severinus administering the office of Custodian. He with no dissimilar affection of devotion, from another stolen tooth a flowing odor, secretly took what came to hand of the holy Martyr, to be profitable to himself and his at home. When it was already night, he placed it in a more familiar place. Behold at dawn, both the very place, and whatever was nearest were filled with such great sweetness of fragrance, that it was evident, that the heavens had distilled that glory. A new thing, an illustrious miracle. Those entering and exiting communicate with the heavenly benefit, but the cause lies hidden: what God works in Maurinus, is felt, yet none of it is known there. It pleases also here to linger a little, and in the miracle to wonder at another miracle. Here the odor lost both use and nature: for although it came forth suddenly, it persists for many days. after two or three hours it did not depart in the usual manner, nor did it equal the age with the entire day; but for nearly seven suns without example it aged. From the fields, from the streets they run; one rushes after another, each making by themselves the credit of the unaccustomed novelty. Both rumor and odor truly strive, the cause is not even surmised: at length glory is given to God, glory to the Martyr. For a nobler thing is rendered concerning the entrusted: Thiedo opened the word, sent to the Father of the monastery, in whose protection is the Martyr: one after another, each announces the known as if new. He (as he is excellently learned in the knowledge of divine fear and love) knowing that all things whatever the Lord willed He did; gave a mind of faith, and with the organs of all soul Alleluia sounded. indeed it also follows those receding: Yet it pleased him to send two Brothers of his congregation, that he might both incite them to the cult of the Saint, and by the sons' report sweeten his own and his own soul. Setting out therefore, not only did they find as told to them; but with them they brought back to the Brothers no slight relics of the odor. You would think them anointed t, and that they carried with them wherever they went aromatic spices. wherefore that tooth is placed on the altar; But the venerable Rector of the monastery, at length drawn by the magnitude of joy and sweetness of soul, descended, fed his soul with divine nectar, and with grateful exchange offered incense of praise to God. Folcmarus also the reverend Prelate, himself coming, increased the rumor, and amplified the honor: for the holy Relics with their odor he placed in the altar of B. Severinus; and those joined in heaven, he associated on earth.
[10] In himself also the same Prelate experienced, of how much merit before God is Maurinus the worn-out soldier. For when the most sacred solemnity of Paschal joy came on, he began to be fatigued by vehement pain of the eyes. The venerable man, with even-tempered mind submitted his members to the scourge of divine admonition; but he failed more by sorrow, lest perhaps noble Cologne should celebrate the holy Pasch without the Episcopal office. But on the fifth feast day, The Archbishop afflicted with pain of the eyes, which they call Indulgence day, with hardly great conflict of weak man and devoted soul he administered the Pontifical things, and the languor grew strong even to bed. But while he leads Maurinus back in his mind, the Prelate found counsel. Finally the Father of the monastery, in which the martyrium of the Saint flourishes, he summoned in secret, to whom he opened in a few words the harshness of his languor: Always indeed, said he, the divine correction must be desired by the Christian's mind, which is always to sons for salvation: for the flesh worn out purges the conscience, cleanses the spirit. Behold devoted I bear the scourge, which the Lord has sent: but you see how great the concourse of the populous city in the church, you see how great a people the festivity inviting flowed together even from the most remote regions: all of whom I dismiss to their own in judgment of me without fruit of labor, without exhortation of sermon, without viaticum of blessing. having received another tooth he is healed, Yet a certain security is born in me, that if anything of the memory of S. Maurinus be brought to me; to me also, which He bestows on all, mercy He will not deny. Then they departed. But the day having come, which was celebrated illustrious by the Lord's passion, the aforesaid Abbot sent the tooth of the blessed Martyr to the bed of the sick Prelate. The holy pledge is accompanied by the gift of celestial healing. For with the Monks announcing, the Priest rises up to the Martyr coming in his pledge, as if hearing, Rise and walk. Matt. 9. With his eyes lowered with high reverence he applied the tooth; and what the Gospel woman by touch of the Lord's fringes received, he exulted that he had received. For suddenly all pain fled, before the Saint it could not stand. Thus, illustrious Martyr, you pardoned the Bishop of the Church, and honored your King's Pasch. But on the day of holy Pasch, when amid the solemnities of Mass, for the gladness of the feast, the Prelate was making a sermon; in the course of speech he passed to the foretoken of his salvation. With all astonished, but some rejoicing, Maurinus truly holy, dear to God, whatever he wills he can obtain from God u almighty, with free voice he proclaimed: the harshness of his disease, but at the Saint's coming the sudden flight, he taught: then by Pontifical edict he established, and he orders the feast of the Saint to be celebrated. that the day of his Passion be reckoned an honorable and celebrated one among the noble festivities of the year. But a certain resemblance of doubting mind to Thomas, in a certain most holy Meginherus, known by name and office, arose; namely that the Martyr was obscure both in name; and, except the word of the Epitaph, lacked the testimony of scripture. But the Pontiff, witness of himself, fixed the sentence; for x the holy tooth, his curator, while he lived he so cultivated, that in a small pledge he trusted himself to have the whole Martyr.
[11] Meanwhile the whole region was laboring under the scourge of drought. To noted holy aids therefore Cologne fled, and with prayers and sacrifices was insisting to redeem the malice of the iniquitous fair weather. Litanies were proceeding, the Clergy was going forth, In great drought, after various prayers: the choir of holy women was coming out, and long swarms of peoples were leading the banners of the holy Cross and the suffrages of the holy Martyrs. But the divine sentence, perhaps because it sought faith and patience in His people, for the space of nearly two months suspended the rain. But it was to be seen, the hope of the year going to death y: the fields squalid with dust, and the yellow furrows gaping for waters. But with the most sacred day of B. Maurinus's passion coming on, the church of blessed memory of the Mother of God and ever Virgin, and of the most holy Key-bearer z of the heavens, the Senatorial Clergy, and people of various conditions, led by Meginherus α (for the Bishop was absent) descended with Litanies to the memorial of the Saint. Finally, ready now to set aside the doubting mind, for the straits of the time, a procession finally being instituted on the Saint's feast. the same Meginherus to the martyrium for the people made the Masses. Coming to the order of his sermon: appropriate things for the tribulation were said. And when by the virtue of the sermon he was raising up the heart of the people, he subjoined these things thus: Behold, said he, the Lord has sent his word into the land, which our fathers have not seen. For behold the populous city, again and again, to entreat the face of the Lord, sends old men and young, sends boys and virgins, and shining bands of infants and sucklings, all the Clergy and the universal people, and there is no one who is heard. And what city is there under our sun, richer in Saints than this our city? Where are the patronages of the Apostles so present? Where are so many thousands of Martyrs in single chambers, and so many golden bands of Virgins? Where are so present Confessors and Bishops, who begot this people of the Lord? Among whom demons roared, whose presence they could not bear, but us supplicating for soul and country they pretend not to hear. The hard earth thirsts, every region languishes, and according to Jeremiah the Lord does not remember the stool of His feet, in the wrath of His fury. Lam. 2. O illustrious camps of the Lord, arm your minds with perseverance, and experience to do violence to the closed heaven. Raise yourself up in faith, soldier of God; and the cloud, lest prayer pass it opposite, cut with the Patron Maurinus. If the Lord has revealed this help for failing to the world, let Him today give this mercy to us indeed, a great rain is obtained, and that yearly: but glory to His Martyr; that as today this Martyr poured out his blood for Him, so for him let the Lord pour out the blessing of rain on the lands. He spoke, and the saving Host immolated he ascended. And behold, in most serene air our Elias drew clouds together, with thunder the whole heaven roared; and so gave the most abundant rain, that for the space of some hours, those who had gathered, could not go out of the place: and thus the doubt β of one was made the salvation of the country. I am about to say wondrous things. Many years later the heavens were ordered to suffer the law, and to observe the annual course of this day, that with annual rain they might recall the benefit of so great a sign to memory: whence the common people call the Martyr Saint Pluvial; we, however, by eternal mercy say Liberal.
[12] Because I have begun, I shall speak the works of the Lord. To a certain boy a disease, which they call varix, with dense darkness clouded his sight, and extinguished the gift of his eyes. The orbit of ten years had passed, when on a certain day with the hand given of a girl, who was to him guide and eye, he came to the memorial of S. Maurinus. the blind receives light, For some time prayer was made. Then the girl, who governed the steps of the bereft one, as said, touched him lying on the ground; commanded that he rise and depart. You, said he, depart; choose the way that you wish: to me, by the help of this most pious Father, eyes, most familiar guides of the way, have been conferred. But rising, from the cutting of the darkness, his cheeks appeared bloodied with a drop of blood; seeing sees, and no longer requiring a guide of the way: born and educated at Cologne, by face and stock known, he filled relatives and connections with joy, and the whole city with the miracle, and with the Martyr's praise.
[13] γ Theusburg is the name of the village. Here some years before the inguinary plague, by God's permission, raged, and by unforeseen death put to sleep not a few. Among others the Presbyter, provost of the church, the inguinary plague is cured, the disease invades: who by this counsel
delayed death. He asked those who treated him more familiarly, that he might come to Cologne by the conveyance of friends and parents, To the memorial, said he, of the Martyr, who there recently revealed, sparkles by the virtue of signs. These words seemed of one delirious and raving, because they observed him almost dead in the whole man. And while they placed before their eyes both his strength, and the customary examples of those withdrawn from this light, they saw him as if in the sepulchre. But he, strengthened by faith, gave himself from the bed onto a staff; and with all astonished, tried to draw foot after foot. Evidently here it shone forth, that just as the Lamb is everywhere, so also those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes; everywhere, faithfully invoked, are present with their help. For he who came down from his bed nearly dead, soon felt the Martyr to whom he was tending to be present to him: and as he advanced further, by so much the more he was strong in strength: and as fire grows hot more in fervor, which comes near; so as he approached the city, more mildly he was sick. But when to the memorial of the Saint there was a coming and praying; both for himself and for all, in the aforesaid village laboring with the same disease, he obtained complete health by the gold of faith.
[14] It is long to go through individual things, in what way the just one flourishes like a palm in virtues. But behold, while those who are near and those who are far, various miracles are wrought: among us draw the fountain of salvation; let us fear lest it be for our judgment, if having a physician we are sick. In place of father and physician the Lord has granted us his Maurinus a son, whom the Bride begot for him, his beautiful one, his Dove, whom he redeemed for himself at the price of life, and washed in his own blood. If the soul itches with the leprosy of conscience, if the eye does not look upon heaven with free gaze, if in the path of justice a stupefied nerve hinders the course, if avarice contracts the threads of veins in the hands, from the father physician you will deserve the medicine of the son for a small thing: indeed then you will be a son, if you have sought to be healed. He never used a hard cautery: with command he drives out diseases, with prayer he washes wounds, with merits he heals fate: with Elias he loosed the closed heaven into rains, with Elisha he does not send fire from heaven, but sent he extinguishes more mildly. As the very Lord of the Prophets with fringes, so this man dispels diseases with Relics. Peter in the streets with his shadow raises up the cast-out; Maurinus, by the slight breeze of fame, raises the one set afar, despaired of in bed, into the path of salvation. a dying man is healed, With Paul he gives sight to the blind by his garment, with Stephen at the tomb he opens the ears of the deaf. It is not long, what I say. A certain Gero, illustrious by Priesthood and office, the most grievous languor so struck, that life palpitated on the border of death. Already his thumbs, already his tongue was bound; when he sends a boy with silver to our physician, and that for him quickly and faithfully he should act, with dying limbs he begs. He went, returned; and the master, a little before contending with death, sitting on the bed he found and eating.
[15] aid of the Saint is implored. He and likewise others like him as physicians know how to lay charms upon souls, that they may not according to John, the drinker from the divine breast, drink the cup of God's wrath, that they may be tortured with fire and brimstone in the sight of the holy Angels, and in the sight of the Lamb, and the smoke of torments ascend δ for ever and ever. These things today Maurinus securely escaped, and entered laureated into the supernal city: but in the city of the Father the rights of inheritance are owed to the sons. Come now therefore, illustrious Father, pious Father, plead our causes with the judges of the world; that both on earth we may worthily venerate you, and there sometime may contemplate your desired face, where you feast and with the Angels delight in the glory and aspect of the Lamb, who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS BY D. P.
Ms. Eifel, with the light of faith: but "Libam" for "libamen," from the Greek λοιβὴ John Scotus used under Charles the Fat in the 9th century, in this half-Greek verse in the Areopagitica: "This offering, stuffed with the sacred nectar of the Greeks, / Stranger John I spend (offer) to my Charles."
p This is the day October 13, when in the first place this Finding is celebrated in the Martyrology printed at Cologne and Lübeck in the year 1490, as said above.
q Here ends the Ms. of Eifel, with the common formula added, to the praise and glory of the Lord, to whom is honor and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
r Thiedo afterwards made Bishop, as before of Gero, not however of holy memory, but who, when the author was writing, seems to have been Bishop: of Cologne? You would say it is hinted: meanwhile it is lacking in the Catalogues. B. Gero was succeeded by Varinus: but he is said to have died in the year 985 on the day September 21. What if Thiedo be substituted for him, and said to have sat until about the year 993; then first Evergerus succeeded? to learned men at Cologne we propose this to be examined.
s Wigfridus, the predecessor of B. Bruno, in the year 948 assigns the endowment to the monastery of S. Severinus in Gelenius book 3 Syntagma 3, where he treats of the collegiate Church of S. Severinus: but it is not new for a college of Canons commonly living together to be called a monastery.
t So sense persuades it to be read: Surius has, affectus, and doubts whether one should rather read, affectos.
u With similar license and necessity I correct, what is in Surius, compotem.
x Likewise for "quique," I write "quippe."
y And here I change the ablative case to the accusative, that sense may be had.
z The Metropolitan of Cologne sacred to S. Mary and S. Peter, now has the name from the three Kings, at least among the common people.
α Hence understand the office, which above as known is passed over in silence, to have been of the Provost, whose first dignity after the Bishop is.
β Surius "dubitatione."
γ Theusburg or Duisburg, a town of Cleves on the Ruhr river, not far from the Rhine.
δ The judges of the world, he seems to understand the holy Apostles.