ON S. AMABILIS THE PRESBYTER,
OF RIOM IN AUVERGNE.
V CENT.
PREVIOUS COMMENTARY.
On the double day of cult, and the Life and miracles written formerly and more recently.
Amabilis the Presbyter, Patron of Riom in Auvergne (S.)
BY THE AUTHOR D. P.
[1] Ricomagum to the ancients, Riom to the moderns, is described to us in the Blaviani Atlas, In a noble town, as the Capital of the Duchy of Auvergne, and the seat of the Presidial, where in the old palace of the Lords the judgments are celebrated: and the Author adds, that this city shines with other titles also, namely the Seneschalcy, the royal Treasury, the Mint, three Colleges of Canons. But by no thing does it shine more, than by the Patronage of S. Amabilis, formerly its Presbyter, or Curate (as we now speak), under whose name what is now held the chief of the Collegial churches, was formerly Abbatial. He is believed first to have built it, S. Amabilis himself, and to have taken care that it be dedicated in the name of S. Benignus, and soon after his death to have been buried in it. But since Amabilis lived in the V century, when under the Romans, Auvergne still was, and only by the Roman custom buried the bodies of the deceased, even of Saints, that is outside the cities; I would prefer to believe the author of translating him into the church was and the church formerly of S. Benignus, Archdeacon Gallus, before the year DCXL, around which he seems to have been made Bishop of Clermont. This one certainly built the apse of the church, under which in the place of the altar he composed a sacred coffer; after one or another translation called of S. Amabilis, and the same perhaps, with alms flowing in, ordained the Clergy there into the form of a College of Canons; to whom afterwards either a Congregation of Monks or of Regular Canons succeeded, finally converted into the order of secular Canons. As it is, long before Gallus was famous, whether within or outside the town, the tomb of S. Amabilis, as is mentioned in book 3 of S. Gregory of Tours On the Glory of the Confessors.
[2] his cult formerly on Oct. 19 The same church newly Stephen, Bishop of Clermont, sixth of that name, founded thereafter, on the occasion of the place saved through the Saint around the year MXX, which is thought to still survive. But in both, both the first and the second, the Saint was celebrated, as also today (which the Clermont Breviaries note) on the XIV Kalends of November. Which since it is not the day of death (for this is said to have fallen on the very Kalends of November) it must be the day of the first or second translation: to which was added around the year MCCCLXXV, another festivity on III Ides of June, and is now the principal. Wherefore on this also we have determined to treat of him; and we believe this also to have been of some Translation, and indeed most famous: now principally venerated on 11 June, for thus the last author of the French Life speaks of it, one of the Sacristans of that church, in these words: "The saint died on I November, although the feast is kept on XI June, from the year MCCCLXXV, according to the memory which we have sculpted on a small marble tablet, found in the chest of the Saint, the last time it was opened, in the present century, although the year is not expressed."
[3] a sermon on the Life written in the 15th cent., His Life, or rather an encomiastic Sermon about him (as copious in words, applicable to almost any holy Presbyter, so meager in things which merit certain credit) is extant in Surius, on the XIX day of October, who professes that he has somewhat contracted it in many places, and changed the style, without detriment of the history: which indeed we have detected to be none, when we have obtained the original, but without the Prologue; it is given from Mss. transcribed at Riom, where it is first distributed into nine, then into thrice three (i.e. five times three), and again into nine lections, for a continuous Office of seven days. This therefore we give, although not so worthy of credit, as Surius estimated; and first composed in the XV century, as indeed it seems to us, since the Acts from which n. 16 he refers a matter done under the aforesaid Bishop Stephen, in the XI century, he calls "most ancient Acts". This Life he sent to our Bolland, from an old Ms. Breviary, which is preserved at Riom, R. D. Francis Boulart, at Paris at S. Genoviève Canon Regular. The same then, from a more recent Breviary, sent a compendium of that Life, for three Lessons of the second Nocturn, formed according to the use of today's Roman: which perhaps still uses the Church, both of Riom and of Clermont. I say "perhaps"; because in these last years many Churches through France have ordained for themselves new Breviaries, by the example of the Parisians.
[4] Among these is found a chapel of this Saint in the church of S. Paul indeed similarly for some benefit obtained or hoped for against fires: Memory in Saussajus 18 November. for against these he is specially invoked. But that chapel I judge to be very old, since there a feast is still kept in the old manner in the month of October, as I gather from the Gallican Martyrology of Saussajus: who while still at Paris a Curate published it, and could know, and only mentions the Saint in the month of October, but one day earlier, namely XVIII, in these words: "At Riom the translation of S. Amabilis, Bishop and Confessor; when, from the basilica of S. Hilary of the Auvergne city, where he had first been buried, the Riomenses, of whom he had been Presbyter, claiming him as their own, in the church of S. Benignus at their place reposed him." not without errors. Wonderful sometimes was the negligence of Saussajus in the first beginnings of sacred studies, in revising his work; whence it happened to him more than once to anticipate or to follow common usage by one day, even in matters which he ought to have held most known, as is the Translation of the head of S. Louis at Paris, referred by him on VI May, which all the Parisians know is recalled on day VII. The same precipitancy of writing happened to him here, to call him Bishop, who was only Presbyter. But whence he took that he was first buried in the city of Auvergne, I cannot divine: since before him I find no author of that matter.
[5] Life twice published in French after the year 1650 After Saussajus wrote, and in the year 1652 at Le Puy published the Lives of the Saints of Auvergne and Velay, James Branche, Prior of the Convent of Our Lady of Pebrac; where he found the aforesaid Life of S. Amabilis, and from Latin made French, also alleging the Riomense Ms. Three years afterwards the same did in a peculiar booklet printed at Riom one of the Sacristans of the church itself of S. Amabilis, the receiver of certain more recent miracles, begun to be collected from the year MDCXXX, and witness: whence we here give a notable addition, of a number nearly infinite comprising only a few, on account of the substance of the miracle for the most part the same, about those bitten by serpents, or about fires extinguished. A fuller collection however if anyone should submit to those about to make a supplement of this month, we shall not be reluctant to commit to press it too. Now I represent the more important: and I add, that neither of those writers mentions the burial given to the deceased in the church of S. Hilary; but they say he died and was buried at Riom; even though they say also that at Clermont he discharged the office of Cantor and Abbot; miracles from the year 1630 begun to be collected. of which neither is probable to me: since such Offices require residence, and so could not consist with the Office of Curate, to which he is said to have been ordained Presbyter and in it died. Meanwhile Wion, Menardus, Dorganius, Bucelinus, all on XIX October, ascribe him to their Fasti as a Benedictine Abbot; nor are there lacking, by the testimony of Branche, who count him among the Regular Canons.
ACTS
Of Life and miracles.
From a Latin Ms. and printed French.
Amabilis the Presbyter, Patron of Riom in Auvergne (S.)
BHL Number: 0318
FROM MS.
PROLOGUE FROM SURIUS.
[1] The blessed opinion of the lives of the Saints is therefore not absurdly preached by Catholics, that, Those to be praised in the Church as the wise know, the wisdom of the eternal Father, teacher of the discipline of God, wishes this to be transmitted to the knowledge of posterity; that we may both be inflamed by their examples, and by Christ's kindness be associated with their joys. Hence the hope of the Patriarchs obtained an immortal name, Patriarchs, Prophets, and the chorus of Prophets has eternal memory, enjoying the reward of their faith in the heavenly court since they fixed the gaze of their soul on heaven, where they knew the holy Angels with God, with whom is unshaken life, to enjoy ineffable joy. Moreover the fame of the Apostolic apex remains illustrious, and the breadth of charity is declared to us: Apostles. whose wondrous life Christ willed to be an example to us, that by contemplation of the things done by them we may be incited to love himself. By their preaching the Church, knowing her Redeemer, has the holy Martyrs, who fought bravely for his honor, and in the confession of his name shed their blood. Martyrs, Confessors Then also the splendor of the holy Confessors is wondrous, who, full of the Holy Spirit, shone with many miracles; by whom the world was crucified, and they to the world; with equal glory of love following Christ, and bearing the cross after him. For as the Martyrs, so the Confessors wished to suffer for Christ: and these indeed are the lilies of the Church, those the roses. Of which Confessors holy Amabilis, and among these S. Amabilis. whom an innocent life and frequent miracles commend, we ought to follow with highest veneration, since we faithfully believe that he pleased the most sacred Trinity: whom as you do not doubt to live, who read these things: so to those things which through him our Redeemer has done, give faith. Otherwise it would be better not to wish to hear these, than not to believe what has been learned; and for the writer to be silent, than to narrate frivolous things.
SERMON ON THE LIFE.
[2] Saint Amabilis the Confessor of Christ, about to be great in the sight of almighty God, In thing and name Amabilis, by some presage of the sanctity begun or to be performed in himself, from the fountain of all goodness, is believed divinely to have been gifted with this name; that, drawing the first nobility of soul from the heavens, he might be illustrious in name, who shone with the lamp of innate nobility. For the Restorer of life, honored him with a twin gift; because he made him noble both by the birth of religious parents, and made him more noble by the disposition of a splendid life. from a boy he began to spurn the world, He was therefore born a native of the town of the Ricomagense village; and there in the house of the discipline of the Lord, he held himself and learned the discipline. For, lest by some venom of malice his holy manners be more quickly seized, if he were handed to secular military service, the orthodox parents handed him over to the studies of letters. Thereafter the love of God and grace began to grow in him; so much that, placed on earth, already in mind with the Apostle he dwelt in the heavens. He despised in his small age the wandering jokes of infants, and with the Psalmist cried to the Lord: "Give me understanding, and I will search your law, and keep it in my whole heart." Ps. 118:34
[3] and to glory only in the Lord: The strong soldier sought, with what arms he might resist the devil; lest by any darts of wickedness he might separate him from Christ, if perhaps his soul should not watch in the commands of the Lord day and night. For so he loved the Lord, that he was unwilling to be separated from him; knowing how to cry out to him with the holy virgin: "Draw me after you, we will run in the odor of your ointments." The Lord and King of the Saints was filling in his servant the signification of his name, that he who was called Amabilis, might be lovable to him, and worthy to be loved by him. The beginning of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord, he kept with stable step; that he might exercise worthy work, in no way looking back; but as a wise plowman in his field, so he directed a right way to eternal life. He gloried in the Lord the Confessor of Christ Amabilis, according to the voice of the excellent Preacher, on the title of his name: and in his prayers said to him, not with half, but with a fragrant heart: "Lord, who wished me to be called Amabilis, make me your most perfect lover; that the enemy of human kind may not deceive him, whom your Spirit has sanctified." With prudent sense indeed, reproving the broad and spacious way, when from the courses of childhood he entered with the years of youth into actions, he chastised the pride of the flesh with the bonds of sobriety.
[3] Such was his charity to God and neighbor, that he passed over nothing of the law of the Lord, strong in virtues, and therefore in Christ was holy. Who, in Catholic faith, strong in hope, diffuse in charity, would not believe him with true faith? especially when he saw him evangelizing Christ with nectared and true assertions, whole in chastity, lover of humility; and, lest he should sin against the Lord, hiding his words in his heart. He seemed to walk with God, as is read of Enoch, and his merits were multiplied; and with great desire of heart sighing for the heavens, was burning with love of eternal joys. Strong with beautiful works of this kind, he ascended the individual grades of the Canonical Order; until without detriment of virginity, he is ordained Cleric and Priest, by whose work of brightness he bore Christ the Lord in his breast, he might profit. He was made Priest, worthily serving the Lord, in the aforesaid town of Riom; day and night most intensely in prayers, spending very many sleepless nights, he was free. He showed himself abundantly liberal, refreshing the poor, and to all asking him piously succoring with what aid he could. He was eager by sweetest admonitions to draw all to Christ, persuading them that he was to be loved and sought. But he said, that the charity of the Saints, ought not to grow tepid, but to grow in Christ.
[4] At that time therefore, in which that Blessed Amabilis flourished with such virtues, frequent in the Riomense church he frequented the church, dedicated to the titles of the glorious Martyrs Gervasius and Protasius, with faithful service; which first as they report built in Auvergne, illustrated the aforesaid town of Riom. But he, given to the city of Clermont as honored Cantor, sought the same fittingly more often: to whom Lord Praejectus, the holy Prelate and witness of God's glory, who then ruled the Clermont Church, gave by his beneficence the Abbey of the aforesaid place. He acquires Relics of the Saints: Whence it was done, that Amabilis dear to God, kindled with the fire of divine love, applied himself to building churches anew; that in the place to which many flocked, the Relics of many Saints might be reverently preserved, and by their patronage that place with its proper cultivators might be held pure. So enjoying the great goodness of God, he built a basilica consecrated to the honor of S. John the Baptist with no mediocre work; another, in which he is now held buried, in memory of B. Martyr Benignus, he likewise exalted with grand fabric. he erects 2 churches: After these things with wise search, various parts being traversed, he brought there pledges of approved sanctity; and with worthy honor, that they might be placed there, defined. There was present to him in all that he wished, the divine compassion of almighty God, and gladdened him accustomed to such study of acts.
[5] he is said to have put serpents to flight in his whole district, Among the rest which God worked through him, and does not cease to work, this is held memorable, that a serpent in that whole land is not permitted to dwell; nor if found, can live or harm. O admirable sanctity of God's Saint! at whose command the venomous serpents flee, and cannot stand any longer! Behold this faith merits: not such as the demons have, who when they believe, tremble; but which works through love, and this alone is of the faithful. Behold, these things are yours, O Christ; who through the second man overcome the serpent, conquering the first man; and subject him to your soldiers, who walk in newness of life, and not in the oldness of the letter. The Paraclete Holy Spirit, who in the appearance of a dove appeared over you in the Jordan, in this your servant deigned to work with manifest virtue; that your people may learn, that as the proud people in the desert perished by the bites of serpents; so by your blood, not only material, but also intellectual, the redeemed people, by your gift, avoids serpents.
[6] he is said to have hung his garment on a sun ray; At a certain time therefore for the cause of prayer he went to Rome, about to implore the help of the holy Apostles, and to see their burial. God, who glorifies those glorifying him, gave him a ray of the sun for service, which against its nature, as a faithful servant, sustained his cloak, or the coverings of the hands which we call chirotheca. By such, as we believe, signs the Sun of justice wished to show to others, with what flame of love his heart burned, who had devoutly seized the length of so great a way; and who to the invisible sun showed himself bright, was by the sun which knows no setting honored in unusual manner, through him who knows rising and setting. That no one may seem this incredible, this should be skillfully noted, that through the Psalmist the Holy Spirit says, that "Wondrous is God in his saints, and he himself shall give virtue"; and of Joshua we read, that when he was pursuing enemies, and already the day was at midpoint, he commanded the sun saying: "Sun, against Gibeon do not move, and moon against the valley of Ajalon, until the people avenge themselves of their enemies"; which was so done; and what is read of the Prophet Isaiah, who invoked the Lord, and brought back the shadow of the sun by the lines, by which already it had descended on the dial of Ahaz, backward ten degrees. Ps. 67, 36; Jos. 10:1 If therefore, God commanding, the sun obeyed man; what wonder if, he granting it, it served, as it pleased him, this his servant, our Patron? O! Alpha, eternal specimen and ornament of things, Word of the most high Father, twice born to our joy, Maker of flesh and flesh, who are ever present to your Saints, and through them who please you renew your wonders, that our faith may not fail, but rather in your fear by right working, when such things are recited, may magnify you. For we are much less than those whom you have made flash with miracles: however by you granting, by their examples to faith we are incited, and by their suffrages we are fortified, by prayers the stain of our sins is purged. For you, victor of bitter death, Christ, who are stirrer of minds, call us to life.
[7] Another also, while he was tarrying in the aforesaid city of Rome, he received Relics from an Angel, divine clemency offered him to see a great miracle. For the kind and merciful Lord, who deigns to console the labors of his with clement solace, sent also his Angel, with Relics placed in a pyx; and with joyful face, as if looking at one known, said: "Beloved Friend of God, receive the gift, which through me Christ, our King and Lord, sends you, who knows you to desire such things; and know, that you will be a partaker of the Angels and in heaven: for as the Angels praise God in the heavenly Jerusalem, with whose citizens you desire to be associated; and the announcement of his death. so you praise on earth with blessed voices." These said the Angel withdrew, and left the soldier of Christ greatly rejoicing. So admiring the love of almighty God, he embraces and venerates the gifts given to him with pious love. And since he was as secure of the heavenly rewards as much as he had learned this through the truthful messenger of the Deity, he gives thanks to God; rejoicing not otherwise than the old Symeon, when the Word made flesh he embraced with the arms of his shoulders, and with the jubilation of heart broke into a voice of exultation and confession, with prophetic voice crying to the Lord: "My soul exults in the Lord, and shall be delighted upon his salvation: all my bones will say, Lord, who is like to you?"
[8] Therefore the Confessor of Christ returning to Auvergne, brought with him the gifts; Those Relics avail against fire. and in the church of B. Martyr Benignus, which he himself founded, took care to repose them as was fitting: where to this day they are seen: for the commendation of whose veneration, divine virtue shows the greatest signs. For many times exhibited against the flames of fire, by the inhabitants of that place or those remaining nearby, all that fire of the houses, in which by chance the devouring flame was reigning, more swiftly fell, and left all the parts which it was burning. He himself devout in the Mass, We ought not to pass over this either, that the mysteries of the Body and Blood of the Redeeming Lord, watered by a stream of tears and so to speak made fiery, with great contrition of heart, very often in his own churches he celebrated. He was eager to tread down the root of all evils, cupidity; nor from the affluence of his wealth, of which many boast badly, and generous toward the poor, did he gather a sack of money; but all that he could have, into the uses of the sacred and of the poor he distributed, and daily expended.
[9] He was strong in fasts, watchful in prayers; prudent as a serpent, and an excellent preacher of the divine word, simple according to the command of the Lord as a dove; mild as a lamb, humble as a little child; and therefore the praise of God always in his mouth. The people flocking to the churches of God, through the sweet words of preaching he called to the heavens; and according to Apostolic doctrine he argued, besought, and rebuked in all patience. He sowed in the hearts of those hearing the seeds of life; and all, as if a present Lord, willingly, on account of the grace which shone in him, with pious love venerated him; praying him to pour forth prayers for them to the Lord. O glorious Confessor, lovable to Christ the Lord! who by contempt of the body, and perpetual mortification, is compared to the Martyrs; leading in himself for Christ a long torture, not for one day, but for the space of many years; that nothing be wanting to him of the glory of those, whom Christ has honored with the crown of martyrdom.
[10] He had now grown old, and the time was at hand, in which the kingdom of heaven Christ would render to his servant, foretells his approaching death to disciples, for so great labors. He invites therefore the friend to his joy, indicating to him, that from the habitation of the flesh, without
[11] There came therefore the day, in which a fever seized him, and he began to be wearied with sharp pain. And as his body failed, he was singing to the Lord psalms and hymns. He felt the end now to be present, he piously dies: and took care to fortify himself with the meal of the Lord's Sacrament. Then in haircloth, the bed of the Saints, and in ashes prostrating his failing limbs, he beheld the citizens of the heavenly fatherland coming to him: by whose presence gladdened, the bitter things of death rejecting, his spirit went forth joyful, in the year of the Lord four hundred seventy-fifth, at which time the highest of the whole Kingdom was governing the King Childeric. There were with him holy Angels, soon coming to meet him, who as a fellow citizen had him into their fellowship. He was worthy to have these as companions, who going to the heavens, sang Alleluia joyful to the Lord, for the athlete associated to them, who, with our Lord Jesus Christ helping, had conquered the devil and entered the heavens. But the most blessed Amabilis passed from earth to heaven with holy merits, on the Kalends of November in the aforesaid year.
[12] he is buried in the church of S. Benignus, The Clergy and people gathered, also Monks and a multitude of mixed sex; who had known his sanctity, and with worthy honor celebrated his exequies; and they buried him, with apparatus of candles and lamps, in the basilica of S. Benignus, which he himself had built, namely in the middle of the church. At his tomb very many virtues divine piety deigns to show, by the prayers and merits of the holy Confessor, granting whatever those frequently coming there with faith ask: where he shines with miracles. for the sick from various infirmities, held by diseases, there have been healed. Some full of demoniac spirit and energumens, have been cured, confessing the virtue of S. Amabilis; others have been purged from the type of quartan fever, as is known to the faithful, to whom it has often happened to see these things and to experience them. Let all therefore celebrate his solemn feast (p Translation) with vigils, psalms and hymns, who, dwelling in the city of Riom, frequent his tomb, that to him by whose aids they are fortified, they may exhibit the reverence of due honor. For as the sun illumines the world, so the place in which he rests, he illustrates with glorious miracles; offering daily many benefits, to the sick our Lord Jesus Christ granting.
ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.
p A parenthesis of this kind occurs twice also in the Collect, which is such: "Almighty everlasting God, who grant us to celebrate the solemnity (or translation) of this day in veneration of your glorious Confessor Amabilis; be present to the prayers of your family, and grant that, whose festival today (or translation) we venerate, we may be helped by his merits and prayers." Thus, namely, it is provided, that on either day the same Office can serve.
q Here formerly the Office seems to have been wont to be ended, until it pleased to extend it through the whole week; so that on the seventh day are again held nine Lessons, of which the second receives its end here.
APPENDIX.
Of the Translation and miracles.
Amabilis the Presbyter, Patron of Riom in Auvergne (S.)
FROM MS.
[13] This of him we have no less known, that, He drives out serpents that have entered bodies. if a serpent has entered the mouth of a sleeping man, as has now been seen by many, and vexed has hastened to seek his suffrage; at his sepulcher faithfully praying, the savage serpent gives place, and tries to go out. But because the holy of God does not permit a pest of this kind, with such flux and vomit, to go out in his church or land; the person who labors with this disease is led to a territory which is not of his right, and the snake is poured out on a soil, which is not B. Amabilis's possession, by the man who is being cured standing in the opposite direction.
[14] Commemorating the virtues and miracles of the most glorious Confessor Amabilis, we omit many things, lest we seem more prolix; and we refer a few, which with our eyes in our times we have seen, and which are found in holy authors worthy of faith. Among others we read, that S. Gallus, Archdeacon of the city of Auvergne, Archdeacon Gallus transfers the body to the altar. who afterwards obtained the Bishopric, when he saw the tomb of B. Amabilis frequented with many miracles and virtues, and all rejoicing at the benefits of the magnificent Confessor; rendered praises to Christ the Lord, who deigned to fortify the citizens of Auvergne with so great a Patron: and full of the Holy Spirit, as we read of S. Stephen, decreed it most worthy, that the holy body, from the place where it had first been placed, should be taken, and in the first part of the church more honorably entombed. The vow is accelerated: the cause is manifested to the religious and friends: all rejoice; and, that it should be so done, they exhort. under a new apse. He built therefore in the first front of the basilica a hall, which we call an apse, with honorific work, where under such kind of coffer the title of the altar should be dedicated: and translated there solemnly the holy clod of the servant of God, with choirs of Clerks, joyfully psalming; with the assembly of peoples, bearing candles and lamps in service; that fabric with special devotion to his name dedicating. For on account of the amplitude of the denarii which were offered to the holy Confessor, in vineyards and fields and territories, from which those who canonically should serve in this place might receive the nourishment of food; or on account of the magnitude of the miracles; the church of S. Benignus also customarily they call the church of S. Amabilis.
[15] The same venerable Gallus made also a most beautiful pavement of various stones, whose pavement he covers with marble. before the mausoleum of S. Amabilis; whose multiform color represented now the candor of gold, now of silver, as long as that structure remained, in which, for his memory to be handed to posterity, with the ordered series of pebbles, such a monument of himself he left written: "Archdeacon Gallus commanded this to be done." Whence that it might be open to all, that to the servant of God it had not displeased, that, for the cause of his honor and ampler veneration, it had been done; frequent miracles bear witness, which from that time even to the present time with evident showing more widely and frequently he works. The injustice of a steward repressed: The citizens had proved, that no one in that town acting could suffer fraud or anything most evil, which the presence of the Confessor would not condemn. Hence a steward of a certain Potentate, who had stolen wine, hidden under the protection of S. Amabilis near his church, we read, by many strokes and wounds was scourged and tortured by the holy Confessor, represented under the venerable form of a hoary old man; but penance done, and the help of the Confessor implored, he was healed.
[16] We read further in the most ancient Acts. That a certain Soldier, the insolence of a soldier. raging with indecent words and gesture in the same church, and in contempt of S. Amabilis; his intestines consumed by slow fire, most miserably died. And in the time of Bishop Stephen, the Castle of Riom, besieged by a great army of soldiers, was divinely freed, the help of B. Amabilis being implored; the soldiers confessing themselves to be held bound, by the virtue of the same S. Amabilis, of whose
dwelling they too audaciously desired to lay waste. But with many other miracles omitted, this one we judge worthy of relating, which B. Gregory of Tours committed to most faithful writings. "There was in Auvergne," says D. Gregory, "Amabilis, a man of admirable sanctity, Presbyter of Riom, The pride of a Duke. who excelling in great virtues, is said often to have commanded serpents. For at his tomb when Duke Victorius scorned to pray, with his horse fixed in the opposite direction he could in no way move it: which when he urged with whips and goads, and it stood immovable as if of bronze; the impiety of a perjurer, at length sometime the Duke, admonished by his own, who (so to speak) had been made similar to a beast, descended to prayer: and when he had faithfully prayed, the importunity of a demon, where he wished, he went." "At his sepulcher," says the same Gregory, "you see an energumen cleansed; a perjurer struck rigid as iron; the crime confessed, immediately absolved."
[17] Behold how much the friends of God are honored, and how great and honorable is the name of the Lord in his Saints: for which the Saint should be venerated by all. who, for the confirmation of faith, the utility and consolation of the faithful, such and greater things has done, and daily works miracles in his holy Confessor Amabilis: whom justly today, as a beloved servant and friend of God, we solemnly honor and praise with divine cult; praying him, that by his prayers he render us dear and lovable to the Lord our God; whose praise, honor and glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.
ANNOTATIONS OF D. P.
MORE RECENT MIRACLES.
From the Life printed in French in the year 1655.
Amabilis the Presbyter, Patron of Riom in Auvergne (S.)
FROM FRENCH.
[18] The virtue of S. Amabilis, in curing the bites of serpents, persevering in his Relics after his death, shone with such frequent signs, Miracles begun to be written about the year 1630. that our elders thought it superfluous to note them minutely: but not many years ago, when the sacristans considered, the memory of such things, drawn down by tradition through the mouths of parents into sons, to be less efficacious, for erecting the faith and confidence of those hearing such things only confusedly; they thought what would thereafter happen should be noted in writing; and that the people should be admonished by the sound of the bell, that running together they might become witnesses of recent miracles. Which has been done from then, with such great inflow of citizens, that sometimes for avoiding confusion it is necessary to abstain from giving such a sign; but the multitude of miracles has so grown, that it wearies both writers and readers: but verbal processes are preserved of individual ones, with the rest of the documents duly signed, from which it has pleased to excerpt the following few; whence judgment can be made of others, similar in substance, but so copious in number, that they could fill entire Annals.
[19] In the year MDCL, on the last of April, a certain surgeon of Beauvais by name John Ferron held a viper closed in a pyx. This when he wished to take out for the cause of making theriac, A surgeon bitten by a viper is healed, enraged it bit the second finger of his right hand. Hence soon the venom rising up through the arm and right shoulder, swelled the whole, with the greatest torture. Nor did remedies either taken by mouth or applied to the injured part profit; but the malicious serpent reached the viscera, and took away every hope of preserving life. Then about to consult for the soul, when he could not for the body, he asked that a Presbyter be called, to confer on him the last Sacraments. Meanwhile he is admonished to invoke S. Amabilis, through whom infinite others in such a discrimination were said to have been saved. He vowed therefore to come to his church, and at that very moment felt himself to be better. Then led to Riom, and placed before the reliquary chest, in which one tooth of the Saint is preserved; when he had asked and obtained that it be applied to him; after the usual prayers, he saw the venom flow down drop by drop through the bitten finger; and he knew himself perfectly healed: which happened before much people, gathered at the sign of the bell, in which several Canons and civil and military Officials, whose names are read subscribed to the Act, which we preserve in our archive.
[20] Likewise a Recollect Brother Minor, In the same year, but in the following month, Amabilis of Lyon of the Order of Recollect Fathers, incurred a similar discrimination, and was similarly preserved. This good Religious was going from Montferrand to his convent of S. Amantis, four leagues distant from Riom; and as he was passing through the crops a serpent bit the great toe of his left foot. Sudden pain at once drew his eyes to the place of the wound, from which he saw three drops of blood proceed, and felt his foot and shin swelling; the author of the wound slipping away among the herbs, and the pain taking increase with each moment: but there was no other counsel than that, with his foot strongly bound under the ankle, he himself be lifted on a horse, and carried to his convent. There admonished to invoke the Saint, whose name he bore; he could not but leaning on under-armpit crutches be led to the church: but as soon as he reached its door, he cast off the crutches; and using that very foot, passed even to the apse, where is preserved that precious pledge: which duly applied to the affected part by one of the Canons; he felt himself so perfectly cured, that at that very hour he celebrated Mass in thanksgiving, and returned, leaving in the church his crutches, and a written attestation of his own hand, by which he testified the miracle done in himself, with very many other Religious and Seculars.
[21] also another washed in wine in which the Saint's tooth had been dipped, Antonius Bonnicu, from the village of Bord, twenty-five years old, a month before had borne a bite from a viper on his left foot, so venomous, that his whole body appeared livid and swollen in a horrible way. He in the year MDCXXXI, sent one of his to S. Amabilis for the cause of fulfilling a vow, which by himself on account of the pain he could not perform; and asked him to bring back some wine, in which a Relic of the Saint had been dipped. This done he applied the salutiferous liquor to the wound and to the whole body; and not a little solace experienced from there, with the lividness and swelling ceasing, he believed himself fit, who could walk to the church without support: as also he did, and recovered full health, as soon as the Relic was brought to him; as he declared before many qualified persons, Advocates, Quaestors, royal Lieutenants, at Clermont and the neighboring places.
[22] When I was transcribing this miracle, we were called to testify another, as also a girl of eighteen. which we ourselves saw with our own eyes. Anna du Gour, eighteen years old, dwelling at Cusset of the Auvergnese town, was guarding her flock in the fields; where on the left foot a viper stung her, as the experienced pharmacist who inspected the wound at Riom indicated. Her shin was swelling enormously, and such anguish was being caused to her heart, that her uncle of the girl believed himself obliged to lead her as quickly as possible to S. Amabilis, no longer able to sustain herself, as he did in the year MDCLV, XIII June. We saw therefore the holy tooth applied, recently brought out of the chest, to the bitten part; and we noted that immediately around the wound were raised two white blisters, but the foot manifestly went down. Three hours thereafter the sick girl said she was greatly relieved, and the next day could take some steps: and when it was said to her, that she should return after some time to give thanks to the Saint, she came; and showed us her shin, bearing no indication of the past evil: she asserted moreover, that on the third day after the wound received perfectly well, she had resumed her usual labor; using no other remedy, than wine in which the Relic had been dipped;
of which thing witnesses were six or seven Presbyters of the Riomense Oratory, with an infinite multitude of those present of every age and condition, of whom very many subscribed to the verbal process formed thereon.
[23] There would be no end, if I had to recite minutely all and each thing of this kind that has happened, The rest of this kind, very many, are omitted, and from twenty years ago are held consigned in public instruments, as they are written even to the present day: I will only say, that there are those who assert, the virtue of that sacred Relic to be diffused through all surrounding places, so that no serpent is found there; or if any is found, it lives harmless and without venom. However this is neither altogether certain, nor constant. One thing beyond controversy and indubitable is, that when the sacred tooth was by chance lost, all its virtue remained in the Reliquary, by whose contact the same effect was obtained which it itself had. Not however was this enough for the Riomenses' piety, but it was acted by most pressing prayers with the most illustrious Bishop of Clermont, the reliquary preserves the force of the lost sacred tooth, that by his permission it might be permitted to open the chest guardian of the sacred body, whose bones all still remain whole: which was also done with prefaced prayers and public fasts, and another tooth was extracted from the sacred head, which was enclosed in the aforesaid reliquary, equally as the prior miraculous. Finally we learn by experience, S. Amabilis not only heals the bites of serpents, but also various other infirmities, especially those which have origin from venom or internal corruption of humors.
[24] Frequent succor against fires at Riom, But these I let pass, that I may go to others, no less making attested the virtue of the Saint, in checking the flames of fires, as often as they suddenly seize some house; and animated here by frequent winds, sometimes threaten universal extermination to all Riom: it is however so frequent, that it almost ceases to be held a miracle. And when the chest is borne toward some house, although it is done with great piety, the certitude of the desired success however almost takes away the merit of confidence placed in its presence: for the matter is acted with such alacrity, as if those bearing the sacred body carried the key of heaven, to elicit from there a deluge of rains, and immediately to put the fire to sleep. So it would be superfluous to prove this matter by alleging examples, of which are held so many witnesses at Riom as there are inhabitants, and almost so many arguments as houses. It will suffice to have produced one most recent case, which happened in the year MDCLIII in the month of November, in one of the most ample cities of all France — I mean Lyon.
[25] There, in the way which is called Poultry Way of S. Nicetius, in the shop of Claudius Isaac the merchant, which the Lyonese also experienced in the year 1653 a fire arose, in the middle of the night with all sleeping. There was there a great supply of bacon and fat, and various material apt for feeding flames, as is customary among poulterers: which when they had caught fire, quickly lifted the flame to the floors of the house, so that its two parts, anterior and posterior, were burning before, with a great wind blowing, the shop was known to be in danger. Then indeed the flame and smoke gave to all the vicinity the indication of evil, and with the sign given from the bell-tower, all began to resound with the voices of those crying together to the fire. People run together from everywhere: the shop, with doors broken in, is leveled to the ground; with ladders moved up the windows of the whole house are opened, with such crashing, that, awakened, the master who was sleeping further away and held by deeper sleep, had enough with his family to escape through the roof in their nightshirt, all their merchandise abandoned. Those who had run to help, advised, that from the anterior part of the lower story water should be ministered; but no one dared ascend there, where he saw, so great a flame growing; much less was it thought to preserve the back part of the house, where the flame raged still more atrociously. The evil therefore was without remedy, unless it should be given by miracle. In this discrimination it came into the mind of some, that of that very city a certain honored citizen had with himself a part of the sudarium, within which the head and bones of the Saint were found, when some years before the chest was opened; and which he said he had received from a certain Counsellor of the Presidial See of Riom. They run therefore to his house, situated on the merchants' way, [a particle of the veil, in which the head of the Saint had been wrapped, was cast into the flames.] and he is asked to succor his country, by the exhibition of so precious a pledge. He obeyed those asking; and bearing it with such circumspection, as if he carried in his hands the salvation of the whole city, he came to the place of the fire; where cutting off a particle and wrapping it in paper, he handed it to a certain bold youth, to be cast into it there where the flame raged more fiercely. When he did this, having mounted the first floor, although now burning; the flames immediately withdrew, so manifestly, that in place of the miserable cries of those previously bewailing, throughout the whole city now nothing was heard but "Miracle, Miracle." Of that matter there is extant a most ample testimony of the city of Lyons sent here, subsigned by the Lieutenant General and Officials and Primates of the citizens. Thanks were publicly given to the Saint; several Masses were caused in his name: and on each subsequent year were sent to Riom those who would testify gratitude.