ON SAINT AVITUS, PRESBYTER AND ABBOT OF MICY
NEAR ORLÉANS, AT PIÇAY IN LE PERCHE
ABOUT THE YEAR 527.
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
On his better Acts, & various but not very genuine Compendia of his life, his age, his cult.
Avitus, Presbyter & Abbot of Micy, at Orléans in Gaul (S.)
G. H.
Avitus flourished in Gaul in the fifth & sixth century of Christ, Sacred cult illustrious for the glory of holiness & miracles: whose memory on this 17th of June is added at the end in the ancient copies of the Hieronymian Martyrology in these words: At the city of Orléans, of Avitus the Presbyter. Bede in the genuine Martyrology: At the city of Orléans, the deposition of S. Avitus, Presbyter & Confessor. To which Florus adds; Whose description of life, among the other miracles of his virtues, attests that he raised a dead man. So there, which perhaps are all of Florus alone, as we note in that place. With a very long encomium, taken from the Life, Rabanus celebrates him. Of the same make mention Usuardus, Ado, Bellinus, Molanus, & others with the Roman Martyrology. The same on the said 17th of June the people of Orléans, Chartres, Le Mans, Beauvais, & other Churches, also monastic ones, venerate with a solemn Office; as is clear in Martinaeus on the old rites of the Monks, book 4, chapter 6, from the Corbie kalendar & the Customs of Saint-Denis, prescribing an office of three Lessons of S. Avitus the Presbyter & Confessor.
[2] The Life from a Ms. We have Acts which fully confirm his veneration, submitted by R. D. Joannes de S. Martino, a Feuillant Religious, who died at Paris in the year 1652; who had noted that the lessons of the manuscript Breviaries of S. Maximinus of Micy, & of the Nuns of S. Avitus near Châteaudun, agree even in the words with this Life. The Author in the Prologue testifies that S. Avitus lived in his own age, whom, he says, the favor of supernal piety gave to this world, attributed to our age. the author being almost contemporary. S. Siviardus, Abbot of Anisole, whose Life we gave on the Kalends of March, wrote the Acts of S. Carilephus, the first Abbot of Anisole, to be illustrated on the Kalends of July; & in it he described very many things in the very words of this Life, which below at the second chapter we note. Moreover in the Acts of S. Maximinus, Abbot of Micy, on the 5th of December, under whom both, namely S. Avitus & Carilephus, lived as monks, It agrees with the Acts of other Saints. & S. Avitus succeeded, the same things which are here reported are confirmed, which were written both by Bertoldus & by Letaldus, monks of Micy. Their reckoning too is brought here by the Authors of the Lives of S. Leobinus, Bishop of Chartres, & of S. Laetus, Monk of Micy, which will be illustrated on the 15th of September & the 6th of November. Likewise Vincent of Beauvais, & others to be cited below.
[3] But the things hitherto indicated are so plain, perspicuous, & clear, that nothing seems able to be set forth more clear & evident. Meanwhile certain Compendia of the Life have rendered the deeds done by the Saint so obscure & involved, that even John Mabillon, in the Appendix of the first Benedictine century, page 613, judged it more than probable Some Compendia not genuine enough. that two Avituses flourished in the monastery of Micy at the same time in Holiness. The first compendium we esteem to be that which was described, with the style almost changed, by Laurentius Surius; such as in its original style, from the Mss. of Trier of S. Maximinus, & of Utrecht of S. Salvator, we have; & moreover adorned with various sentences, we have described from the Ms. codex of Christina Queen of Sweden, marked no. 721. From these we subjoin various Annotations to the former Acts to the eyes & judgment of the readers, that thus the truth may more easily shine forth: for we do not believe it conducive to give both, which would induce certain confusion.
[4] Another compendium, more intricate than that one, Peter de Natalibus published in book 3, chapter 31, with this exordium: More corrupted in Peter de Natalibus. Adjutus the Abbot, first a Monk of Mende, afterward, God providing, became Abbot of the district of Chartres, which they call Portesum. But this is Avitus, first a monk of Mende, then of Micy, where he was also Abbot, & thence departed into the vast solitudes of the place of Le Perche, & then King Childebert built him a monastery near Châteaudun, namely in the farthest part of the diocese of Chartres. It is added then, from the indicated Compendium, the burial done at Orléans, & a cultivator of the vineyard punished with his neck twisted & afterward healed: which below at nos. 22 & 24 can be read. Finally it is said that the feast is held on the 6th of the Kalends of February. But on that day we do not find any mention of S. Avitus in the Breviaries of Orléans or Chartres. Meanwhile Peter de Natalibus is followed by Maurolicus, Felicius, Saussaius, & especially Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus in their Benedictine Fasti, & Jacobus Branche in his work on the Saints of Auvergne; but this one names S. Avitus, of whom we treat, & places him on the 26th of January; adding that on the 21st of January in the diocese of Clermont the same is held in veneration, namely on account of his birth & the beginning of his monastic life in the said diocese.
[5] Another day too is assigned to his veneration, the 19th of December, on which Ado preceded the rest, in these words: At Orléans, S. Avitus the Abbot, Cult also on the 19th of December. who was illustrious with the spirit of prophecy, & was honorably buried in that same city: where by Rosweide is noted Gregory of Tours, "On the Glory of the Confessors," chapter 99, who treats of S. Avitus whom we report; & adds the miracle of the vine-dresser punished & healed. Ado is described by the author of the Martyrology under the supposed name of Bede, but for "Avitus" "Vitus" is wrongly printed. Better "Avitus" is read in the Mss. of Liège of S. Lambert & of S. Laurence, of Brussels of S. Gudula, in the Florarium of the Saints, & others. Likewise in the Martyrology of Cologne & Lübeck printed about the year 1490. But Grevenus, when he had reported the same Avitus from Ado, added that he is held in Usuardus on the 15th of the Kalends of July, that is, this 17th of June: on which day both Grevenus & Canisius in the German Martyrology have several things about his friendship with S. Carilephus & his departure from the monastery, which are reported at length below in the second chapter. Meanwhile Maurolicus & Galesinius, the name changed, have this: At Orléans, S. Adjutus the Abbot, illustrious with the Spirit of prophecy, & Galesinius notes a written book, which we have often remarked that he had very imperfect. Finally, more recent & manuscript sources cited, Baronius inscribed S. Avitus in the Roman Martyrology on the said 19th of December in the same words: also under the name of Adjutus whom soon, with full sails, they followed in their monastic Fasti, Wion, Dorganius, Menardus, Bucelinus. And Wion indeed alleges Vincent of Beauvais, book 21, chapter 41, in which he writes the same things about SS. Avitus & Carilephus which are had below in chapter 2, & greatly confirm the Life we have set forth. Bucelinus alleges several things from the same Life, & cites Peter de Natalibus, whom we have already shown evidently to treat of S. Avitus (although he calls him Adjutus).
[6] That he lived according to the rule of SS. Antony & Paul is indicated below at no. 16; nor does his age permit him to be ascribed to the Benedictine Order; he lived before S. Benedict, as one born before S. Benedict, & having died before that one came to Monte Cassino, which we said was done in the year 529, at his Life on the 21st of March. S. Avitus shone even then after his death with several miracles, knowledge of which King Childebert having obtained, vowed to him the construction of a church, if from the Spanish expedition, which he undertook in the year 521, he returned safe & sound: so that it follows that he had then already migrated to eternal felicity some years before: wherefore we refer his death to about the year 527: he died about the year 527. & so it could be said in the year 524 to Chlodomer King of the Franks, by B. Avitus the Abbot, then a great Priest, that if he killed S. Sigismund, he too would perish, as from Gregory of Tours we said on the Kalends of May, at the Life of S. Sigismund the King, page 86.
THE LIFE
By an almost contemporary Author,
From Ms. codices.
Avitus, Presbyter & Abbot of Micy, at Orléans in Gaul (S.)
BHL Number: 0882
FROM THE MSS.
PROLOGUE.
[1] The eternal Ruler of the world, & the most invincible defender of the holy Church, The Church founded by Christ, the Lord Jesus, after he had redeemed it by the shedding of his precious blood & the prince of death being conquered restored himself to the paternal glory; by no means left it widowed, or destitute of the regard of supernal governance. For he himself from the supernal seats of his glory did not cease to visit it, & by what helms of sound doctrine it might be freed from the shipwreck of the world, he provided by the majesty of his foreknowledge alone. Which although he founded in the Patriarchs & Prophets, strengthened by the Martyrs the heralds of his future sacrament; yet with the grace of an ampler privilege he cultivated it in the Apostles, strengthened it in the Martyrs; who, marked with the laurel of victorious patience, scorned things transitory, that they might be able to attain things abiding without end: nor could the terror of the raging world break the long-suffering of their virtue; since for them to live was Christ & to die gain. To whose glory the numerous choir of Confessors appeared not foreign: who, although they did not experience the beastlike rage of the persecutors' cruelty; nevertheless, fighting against the machinations of the hidden & invisible enemy & the allurements of their own body, left to the emulators of good works great documents of virtues. The confession of the Martyrs, moreover, is more glorious, in that they did not yield even to the most exquisite torments of bodily torment. Then at last the fortitude given by God, to be proclaimed, of the Confessors' virtue, & by the Confessors: in that, the pleasure of slippery life being trampled, they mortified in themselves for the name of Christ the noxious desires of carnal suggestion. For bearing the cross of Christ, amid adversity & prosperity, with the same purpose of mind, they constantly made themselves separate from all superfluous stain of vices. Of whom one, to be proclaimed for the glory of virtue, the favor of supernal piety gave to this world, attributed to our age, by name Avitus: Of these was S. Avitus, who, manfully holding the shield of faith, against the incitements of the sluggish serpent hurled the spiritual javelins of holy exercise. Concerning whose birth, life & death, the things we have ascertained, for the profit, as we think, of many, we desire to note with the truth of full faith; not relying on our own strength, or on the prerogative of higher faith of talent; but subject to the omnipotence of that most merciful Deity, who opens the mouth of the dumb, & who looses the rude tongue of the beast into articulate voice. To this is added also that, not by the presumption of an uncommanded or rash daring, but at the charitable sweetness of any reverend Fathers we undertake
it at their command, at the same time having gained the fruit of no mean increase, whose life is proposed for imitation. if the praiseworthy Life of so great a man be set in order for imitation. Because it is the devout custom for Catholics to observe diligently the birthday-feasts of the holy Fathers, & then especially to recite their virtues, set down in writing, in the Church to the praise of God, of whose gift they are; & for the instruction of the lesser ones; that both the zealous for equity may have what to follow, & the lukewarm may have whence by divine inspiration they may be incited to the fervor of good action. But we, because we are rendered weak, our slothfulnesses demanding it, to follow the footsteps of the Saints; let us at least commend to memory the wonderful things we have ascertained about them; that even for this we may be admitted to their fellowship, if of the works of which they, with God as author, were the doers, we be found even such-as-we-may-be narrators; & at the same time helped by their prayers, may merit to become eager imitators.
CHAPTER I.
Birth, education, monastic life in the monastery of Menat.
[3] Since therefore a we have undertaken, comprehending in a volume of brevity, to elucidate the illustrious deeds of the miracles of Christ's Confessor Avitus for the imitation of the hearers; it seems fitting first to intimate something of his family, & afterward that the honor of his birth ought to be treated: so that the wonderful mystery of the beginning may give credence to the exposition of the virtues that follow. For the parents of this memorable man were religious, in the parts of Aquitaine b living justly & religiously; With pious & just parents, & in the following time having obtained there a venerable wedlock: who, although they were less strong in titles of nobility, yet there was present to this lowliness a spirit most devoted to the Lord's clientage, which, their parents' poverty being overshadowed, endowed them with a more excellent brightness. For so the beauty of wisdom adorned them, that according to the Apostle, their speech was always seasoned with salt, & filled with the grace of good works. Col. 4:6 It was their study to be frequently at prayer, & always to insist on acts of piety, to relieve the necessities of the poor as far as they could, & nonetheless to love hospitality. They inclined their hearts to fulfill God's precepts, for the hope of recompense, that on the day of their departure they might merit to supplicate the Lord with the Prophet: Receive us according to your word, & let us live; & do not defraud us of our expectation. Psalm 118:116. Fulfilling the precept of the Apostle, they crucified their bodies with the vices & concupiscences: they labored assiduously working with their hands, that they might have what to give to those suffering need. While therefore they insisted on these & such acts of piety; not for the sake of exercising pleasure, but rather from desire of procreating offspring, they used the union granted to them. Gal. 5:24 And because the eyes of the Lord always regard the just, born on a luminous night, & his ears attend to their prayers, in the following time they merited to receive a servant of God, divinely granted to them. Who, how worthy he was by gift of heavenly grace in the rising of his nativity, the reason of the following truth approves. For at the hour of his nativity such a brightness of light shone forth there, that the midwives, struck with too great fear, fell to the ground; which had been in presage of such a birth. For he who was born in the obscurity of night by a present light, by God's foreknowledge was to be a splendor in the darkness of the world. c To him, reborn from the font of holy baptism by his spiritual Fathers, the name of Avitus is imposed.
[4] The aforesaid parents, then, receiving the venerable boy granted to them, & while he still tarried in tenderer years, most studiously nourished him. imbued with sacred letters, And when grown, divine grace providing, they most devoutly committed him to a certain Priest of worthy memory to be imbued with sacred letters; who from the very rudiments of infancy grew always with upright humility, so castigating the years of tender age with maturity of morals, that already the grace of holiness preceded the dignity of his future conversation. But after he came to puberty by bodily strength in the manner of adolescence, he so tamed the allurements of pleasure inciting the mind, that he won the palm of promised virginity for incorrupt integrity, & afterward triumphed without end in the heavenly kingdoms. Therefore from that very time of age, in which the understanding of rectitude penetrated his mind, & he was now bereft of both parents, he exercised himself with all his strength to the arms of the heavenly warfare; bereft of his parents, that in time & in the battle-line he might manfully stand, & might know how to fortify himself on all sides against the darts of those lying in wait, the Lord protecting. Finally, this was not absent from his memory, that he who passes the times of his apprenticeship in unaccustomed exercise easily succumbs to the enemy on the day of battle. But placed in the lay order, he so used temporal things, that yet that Apostolic saying never departed from his memory: For the figure of this world passes away: with prudent counsel he took care beforehand, the world spurned, lest with the perishing world he too should perish. 1 Cor. 7:31 As his bodily age increased, with the increase of flesh he merited more & more also the grace of the heavenly virtues: so that he not only pleased the examination of the internal Judge; but also burned with too great an affection of love toward the goodwill of all the religious. Nor had he so impressed on his mind the love of these alone, as to withdraw the affection of the same charity from enemies. d For he was endowed with such moderation of religion, that he was all things to all. And so when he came already to the beginnings of advanced age, he utterly despised the beauty of the flowering world, unwilling to be crowned with those who mutually exhort one another, saying: Let us crown ourselves with roses before they wither. Wisd. 2:3 For he preferred that of him that should not undeservedly be said: Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been proved, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. Jas. 1:12.
[5] Meanwhile there began to appear the grave burden of secular affairs, & vain felicity began to displease him; & little by little, praiseworthy wisdom succeeding, the love of the spiritual life began to arise, the desire of reading, & moreover the untiring zeal of prayer to grow. Accordingly, visiting more frequently the most sweet flocks of the monasteries, he learned the morals & purpose of the servants of God. At last bursting into these words he said: Why, I beseech, do we labor in the world without hope of future goods? What useful thing can the world confer on us? Our refuge is God. After this, the Holy Spirit revealing, he resolved in every way to renounce secular affairs, & to become an imitator of that life which he praised. he becomes a monk in the monastery of Menat, There is in the aforesaid region a monastery of a certain place, in the territory of Auvergne, which is called Menat: in which under the governance of a Spiritual Father a crowd of Monks devoutly serves Christ the Lord. Thither the servant of God Avitus, coming swiftly, asked the Abbot that his hair be cut after the manner of the Clerics. Which done he devoutly undertook the yoke of monastic profession, &, with God administering, most devoutly learned both the eloquence of letters & the rule of holy conversation. For you might see the devout servants of Christ of that place hastening to precede one another in love of him, & laboring, one to instruct him by word, another by example: but him, like good ground, insisting, the loan of the divine word received, to render it a hundredfold. Indeed, although the immaturity of time promised him youthful years, yet a more mature gravity had compressed wanton motions: & although he was strong in keenness of understanding & wisdom, as though incapable of all things, with humility as mistress he studied to seek counsels from the elders. where on account of his accurate observance But whatever he heard from the ear of [any] of them, as oracles divinely sent to him, he most especially decided must be kept. And that he might inwardly know the precepts of the divine law, he was both capable by natural acumen & learned in the studies of letters, so that he gathered food for the soul by assiduity of reading, & in the manner of bees drank the nectar of eternal sweetness with the avidity of spiritual thirst. And at that time, he so humbly & tirelessly obeyed the orders of his Abbot & the Provosts, that he contradicted no precepts enjoined on him; often revolving this: Christ became for us obedient unto death. Phil. 2:8
[6] And while the affection of true simplicity unceasingly served the studies of the other virtues, he began to be dishonored by the envy of certain adversaries, he incurs the envy of others, & to be reckoned as it were mad: for on account of the truth of his speech, he was called as it were a brute. But the man of the Lord Avitus, supported by the hope of a good conscience, was confirmed by the words of the Apostle, who says: This is our glory, the testimony of our conscience; for in sincerity of mind, & holiness of operation, & the grace of God we have conversed in the world. 2 Cor. 1:12 For he was not unmindful of that verse of the Psalmist, Because for your sake we are mortified all the day, we are reckoned as sheep for the slaughter. By the custom indeed of his action it came about, that, withdrawing part of his food from himself, he gave it to the refreshment of the poor; & despoiling himself of his garments, he clothed them. Which he could do not relying on any abundance of means, but by the gift of divine dispensation; revolving with himself this, Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Psalm 43:22 But the man of the Lord, the aforesaid Abbot, when he saw so great virtue prevail in him, began secretly to love him because of the detraction of the envious, so much that he built him a cell outside the monastery; lest what he expended on the divine service for the servants of God should be imputed by the rivals to favor: but where, by manifest signs of his works, so great goodness of God's servant began to shine forth; with a mind somewhat reluctant, but always obedient, they handed over to him the care of the storeroom. Matt. 5:7 Which office, the diligent administration undertaken, he showed himself so provident in all things, that he neither gave anything superfluous to one asking too much, yet he becomes storekeeper. nor withdrew fitting nourishment from the needy.
NOTES BY G. H.
In the time of Chlothar & Childebert, S. Avitus & S. Carilephus, having gone out from Auvergne from the monastery of Menat, sought the monastery of Micy, with no mention made of the mother; which would have been made, if she had been sprung from his own Verdun.
CHAPTER II.
The friendship & life lived with S. Carilephus, both monastic & anchoritic. The priesthood & the Abbatial dignity in the monastery of Micy.
[7] Meanwhile, a while he long gave his labor to these exercises, as if exercised in a heavenly gymnasium, he desired at last to trust himself to the open field, He chooses the eremitical life with S. Carilephus: & to fight against the devil in single combat; namely seeking the eremitical life, in which alone with the Alone he might join his right hand, & with the Divinity as helper crush the insolent enemy with the arms of humility. While he long revolved these things within himself, & with due caution deliberated how he should act; on a certain day a man notable & in all things praiseworthy, a Monk of the same monastery, b by name Carilephus, came to him for the sake of conversation. For he was, of whom the discourse is, a man, although c illustrious by lineage according to the perishing dignity of the world, yet endowed with the prerogative of the highest merits. While therefore they sow fitting conversations among themselves, & taste with the palate of the mind the banquets of the divine word; they open a codex containing the text of the holy Gospel, & the line offered to their eyes, which perhaps first occurred, they recite with the tongue, & ponder with the mind. Matt. 10:37 For it was of this kind: He who loves father or mother, or sisters more than me, is not worthy of me. And so they began, like clean animals, to chew this food with the tooth of discretion, & because these words admonished them to follow a more arduous conversation, to comment on it: namely where, free from the solicitude of parents, alien from the acquaintance of kinsfolk, with the single arm of heavenly intention & holy desire they might freely crush the vices of the flesh.
[8] Desiring, then, to imitate the example of Blessed Peter the Apostle, who, the voice of the Lord heard, immediately, the nets & the boat left, followed the footsteps of the Lord. On the following night it happened that, when B. Avitus had placed the Abbot in bed, serving him singly according to custom; he secretly put under his hood the keys of the storeroom tied to his belt. d And so, the Lord Abbot, & the others now weighed down by the oppression of sleep, the little delays of deliberation most quickly broken, they brought their foot from the monastery; & with God assenting they began to take the journey conceived in their heart. But when the aforesaid Abbot rose according to custom to perform the celebration of the office; the belt being grasped, the keys joined together gave a tinkling sound. both seek the monastery of Micy of S. Maximinus, Astonished therefore by that chance, he had a sign that B. Avitus had fled. With solicitous intention of mind therefore seeking his presence, the inner part of the whole monastery being surveyed, he came to the cell in which he formerly dwelt, & did not find him there. And so, a long journey from the monastery being measured, the servants of Christ approached the strait of the Loire: which, a boat boarded, with Christ favorable they easily crossed, & after much labor came into the territory of Orléans. But when they stayed there for some time, the fame of the knowledge of the holy man Maximinus seized their ears, & kindled their minds with such fervor, that they desisted from the journey begun, until they might merit to enjoy the sight of the holy man: for that same man illustrious in merits, the man of the Lord Maximinus, had received from the liberality of King Clovis & the Queen an estate, by name Micy: in which he had built a monastery for himself & his, & in it then gave his labor to spiritual philosophy. And so the aforesaid servants of Christ hasten to visit him with most ardent course: whom the man of God, when he saw them, most officiously saluted, kindly received, & by the contemplation of himself & his address so allured them in spiritual affection, that, the former purpose set aside, they no longer desired the desert, if it were permitted them to cleave to the most holy man. But S. Maximinus, full of charity, who instructed rude & rustic minds in the service of God, satisfied their desire the more quickly, the less he doubted that they would be helpers in such a work. And so he both granted them the means of dwelling with him, & bound them to himself with most ardent love; as those whom the bond of one charity had associated to God, & whose minds the Holy Spirit had fused with his fire in Christ.
[9] But the aforesaid servants of God, by no means forgetful of the purpose of their intention, did not turn back the edge of their mind, nor give their hands to lukewarmness or sloth: & there living holily but as if putting their hand to the Evangelical plough, with the gaze of the mind they aimed at the prize of the supernal calling, & chastised the senses of the body from sinister affections, & strove to beautify them with the exhibitions of sacred acts, & their study was both to show themselves conspicuous in work & seasoned in speech. There was also in their works an admiration of those who saw, & in their words a delight of grace. For chastity rendered them flowering, faith invincible, purity of mind simple, splendor of life praiseworthy. The Lord was preferred by them to all things that can be loved in the love of God, & in no way was the neighbor subordinated to their own love. Their humility was not only of words or habit, but their whole act was seasoned with truth, so that whoever saw them, in their pursuits as in a spiritual picture thought the words of the Lord were painted: in which he says: If anyone wishes to come after me, let him deny himself, & take up his cross daily, & follow me. Luke 9:23 they are initiated into the priesthood Moreover, when the man of pious memory Maximinus saw him ascend by daily advance to the heights of the virtues, he strove to mark both with the priestly honor, & was led more & more by affection for them. He also enjoyed the almost constant conversation of S. Carilephus.
[10] But to S. Avitus he delegated the care of the fraternal substance, knowing that he would minister well according to the Apostle, S. Avitus made steward. & through this acquire for himself a good grade. But in the following time a dire famine began strongly to vex the inhabitants of the city of Orléans, together also with the rustic dwellers, & to urge them almost to death. But compelled by such great necessity, the poor approach the holy man Avitus, seek that nourishment be given them, laying their necessity before him with a querulous & importunate voice. And when, according to the precept of B. Maximinus, the holy man & faithful steward, the most blessed Avitus, strove to meet the want of those coming, the dispensing failing in the middle of the year, as he succored the needy, what should be given began to fail. And when the crowd pressed daily crying out that they be relieved, then the often-mentioned holy man, when the keys being loosed from his belt he had opened the doors of the storeroom; behold, there are seen the vessels prepared for the use of grain, filled with overflowing abundance. And the wine vessels not only full, but overflowing, moistening the pavements beneath. At which unexampled miracle seen, the holy man Avitus, he finds the storeroom divinely filled with grain & wine filled equally with fear & gladness, left the storeroom open & hastened to announce the work of the Lord to the Brothers. Who unanimously gave thanks to Christ the Lord; & praised him, for such an event & the consolation of his mercy, with the whole office of mind & voice. And so far did the bounty granted to the holy men flow, that the hard necessity of famine tore no citizen of that place from his body, except whom the lot of his condition separated from the body by the law of nature.
[11] Meanwhile the most beloved servants of Christ, Avitus & Carilephus, flaming with supernal love, & seeing not satisfaction made to their desire in these things; judged that a more remote dwelling must be sought out for themselves. To which thing not wave-tossed fickleness incited them, but the will of the Lord roused them, & an insatiable desire of pleasing Christ. with S. Carilephus he descends to the desert of Segalonia: For this was their study, that, because they had now passed much of their course in cenobitic conversation, they might reach the single anchoritic combat: lest there be lacking to them the perfection which the recited reading of the Fathers showed them. And so, departing from the dwelling of the monastery, they betook themselves to the most hidden places of Segalonia. But separated by ten, or more, miles from the monastery, they built there a little cell woven of cheap brushwood in the form of an arch. In the secret part of which refuge for a long course of days, present to the sight of God, they lay hidden from the knowledge of men. But after many days had rolled by, g B. Maximinus, the burden of the flesh put off, migrated to the kingdoms of heaven to be crowned. But after the assembly of Monks had handed over the body of the blessed man to burial, it is afflicted with grave grief for the death of so great a Shepherd. And lest the sheep should longer wander through byways without the vigilance of a Shepherd, in place of the dead S. Maximinus it seemed good by sagacious counsel to seek whom they might substitute in the place of the predecessor. Whence, recalling the memory of the absent servant of God Avitus, they hasten with swift step to seek him out. h Whom at last in the place which we have mentioned, found with his venerable comrade, they bring back to the cenobium of the monastery, asking that he, by presiding, might fulfill the office in the place of Father Maximinus: he is appointed Abbot of Micy, & the care of the governance being handed over to him, though vehemently resisting, by the Pontiff of the Church of Orléans; according to the space of time, in the manner of a kindly Father, he did not cease to furnish the consolation & care of a sagacious Shepherd. i
[12] But after some space of days had passed, he by no means longer allowed himself to preside over others. For it seemed to him that he was so oppressed by the name of Abbot, as if he were burdened by a mass of great weight. Wherefore at the time of a certain night, B. Carilephus accompanying, they sought the vast solitudes of the place of Le Perche, k that they might again hide themselves. Coming to the secret places of the desired place, they began diligently to inquire, whether perhaps they might merit, the Divinity favoring, to obtain a refuge fit for performing the offices. For there was in that which they had sought a ruin of old structure, which, very fertile & pleasant, then anciently called Piciacus, but now is recognized as marked with the name of the cell of S. Avitus: where once the labor of the inhabitants dwelling there had founded
roofs; but in the course of succeeding time, none of the former inhabitants remaining, the walls being thrown down, all had come to ruin. In which place, desiring with the whole longing of mind to stay, they built the enclosure of a modest hut, suited to their dwelling. For thus, utterly shut off from the boundary of the villages, they obtained the long-desired secret of exile, where, hidden by no small interval of space from the knowledge of men, l they lived, the trees providing their food. Truly, that the pleasant power of the Divinity might show in their hearts the most abundant stream of the holy Spirit to flow, it opened for them in the solitude a fountain of living water; lest those who were given to drink by the grace of the holy Spirit should be burdened by need outwardly. Which fountain the most blessed Carilephus, the venerable S. Avitus directing, with his own hand, that it might be a retainer of the water, surrounded with a round structure; & hitherto, for love of them, it is covered by a not ignoble lid by the devout. Which place they embraced as chosen for them by the Lord's providence, & in it now placed an improved station, & continued very many days in the devotion of the holy & undivided Trinity.
[13] he receives a monastery founded by Childebert: But when both the times, devoted to divine studies, were prolonged for them in that same place, & the odor of their renown & works was divulged round about; the fame of the most blessed Avitus seized the ears of the eminent King Childebert, the truthful saying of the Savior being proved, who says: No one lights a lamp & puts it under a bushel but upon a candlestick, that those who enter may see the light. Luke 11:33 By the order therefore of that same renowned King, a basilica is built in that place, & enriched with royal wealth, & also a monastery is prepared, so that the lamp of the holy Church might by no means be hidden in dusky darkness, but might scatter the rays of its light to all the sons of the same.
[14] But blessed Carilephus, as is the custom of holy men, to avoid prosperity, S. Carilephus having then set out into the parts of Le Mans, to seek adversity for the keeping of himself; leaving S. Avitus most dear to him in those places, withdrew in flesh from his presence into the interior of the desert; though yet he was bound to him by the inextricable bonds of soul. And so he turned his feet into the parts of the city of Le Mans, into the place called Casa-gaiani, beside which flows the river Anisola. Where, while one day he was intent on work, compelled by sweat, he hung on an oak the garment which they call a cowl. Meanwhile, while he attended to his labor, a very small bird, which is called the vitriscus, hid itself in the garment, & there left a freshly laid egg. But Carilephus, the devout servant of Christ, the work finished, going to take back his garment approached the tree, found the bird's egg. Then having taken with him his brother Animerus, he came to the presence of the most blessed Avitus, & related to him about the suitability of the place found, & that which had happened concerning the egg. then on his return is consulted. But the man of the Lord, filled with the grace of the Holy Spirit, understanding that this had not happened in vain, congratulating him said: O my most beloved, & to be set behind no mortal, persist in your labor, because the brought-forth offspring of the bird portends that the produce of that place will be great: for know that the Lord's flock of that same place will one day be much greater than this which you see standing here with us. These things said, after the exhortations of spiritual discourses, B. Carilephus, bidding farewell to the holy venerable Avitus, returning whence he had come, betook himself to his beloved hut.
NOTES BY G. H.
In that place is added: For he was at that time set over the grain-supply & the monastic storerooms. Bertoldus in the Life of S. Maximinus: By a faithful theft Carilephus & Avitus withdrew themselves from the Abbot & their own monastery of Menat. Which in another Ms. of the Life of S. Maximinus are more fully explained.
* otherwise Daumerus
CHAPTER III.
To the mute speech, to the blind sight, to the dead life are restored.
[14] At that time, in which the servant of Christ Avitus had sought the hidden parts of the desert, the forest had brought forth a most abundant supply of acorns: whose abundance of produce had made herds of swine flow together to that place. And so, when by two swineherds, of whom one was mute, the herd of swine was being driven by night with torches kindled, their light was extinguished by a sudden downpour of rain. From which chance it came about that they could neither have care of the cattle committed to them, nor know whither to go. In that place, namely a desert, no hope remained of recovering fire: but when they were now long burdened by the trouble of such great grief, a little fire being seen at a distance, the mute one is directed to it. Who, when he had come to the dwelling of the servant of God, since they had seen the sign of a lamp in that part; standing on the threshold, because he could not by words, by nods asked that fire be given him. The sign of which uncertain petition the servant of God considering, terrified with fear, believed himself to be assailed by the portents of Demons. For the mute one was of such a form, that such a conjecture might be taken from him: for he was squalid with deformed hair, foul in dress, & disordered in his whole face. But by the custom of his action the servant of God, turned to the arms of prayer, leaning on the ground, by the sign of the Cross he restored speech: began for some time to ask God's mercy with the inmost prayer of mind, that whether it were a phantasm, or a sharer of human reason, being asked by him it might manifest the explanation of its own voice; the prayer finished, rising from the earth, he expressed the sign of the Cross against him about whom he was hesitating. And that he might be made certain, as it seemed to him, about the monster, in God's name he commanded immediately what it was to be indicated by the speech of its own voice. Soon at the command of the one commanding the mute one's tongue is loosed, & with ordered narration he set forth what he had asked. Therefore by his petition he merited a double gift, that he who had sought light without voice, might bring back voice with light. Then the servant of God, the miracle accomplished by the piety of the Creator of all, knowing that he had come to his presence not by chance, but by his will; gave thanks to the Lord, who had deigned to confer the power of his mercy on his servant. And so kissing the one whom he had restored to safety, he fortified him with the sign of the Cross, & thus commanded him to return with the gift doubled.
[15] By this time the wild herd of swine with the other keeper had plunged itself farther into the depth of the forest: in which therefore he had left it, not finding his brother in the place, with a great joyful voice he repeats his name. But when he heard his name so often repeated, astonished he began to think, whether someone had restored voice to the mute, or whether any third had come. And when now, the light revealing it, he had recognized his brother's face; embracing him for joy he began to weep, curiously inquiring who had conferred voice on him. Therefore the order & event of the whole matter being manifested, he came with swift step. And so, giving thanks for the bestowed gift of voice, they humbly offer a huge sow from the herd over which they presided, that he might accept it. But he, lest it should be rendered as it were a wage for the work, refused to accept it, rather beseeching, the sow therefore offered he declines to accept: that they should not divulge either the place or the miracle to the knowledge of men. Departing then from the presence of so great a man, they more swiftly go to the house of their father. Which when he who had formerly been mute entered, O father, he said, rejoice in your speaking son, for whose muteness you have grieved a long time: & no less rejoicing the mother ran & gave her son sweet kisses.
[16] By this kind of working of a miracle the fame of so great a man is divulged far & wide, & he who in the solitude of the desert by hiding had wished to be unknown, is frequented by a great concourse of peoples. For those held by various infirmities, coming to his presence, he heals various sick, are more quickly freed by the mercy of God. The power of the Divine majesty was glorified by all who had heard, which it exercised frequently in its servant, miracles. But when the multitude of those coming began to disturb his presence, unwilling to be frequented by the people, he thought to transfer himself to the hidden parts of a more remote place. But it seemed good to the counsel of divine providence, that such a will of the people should not be hidden from the knowledge of the Bishop of Chartres, Eutherius. By whose persistent demand, & in a way by the power of the Prefect, restrained, he was compelled to reside in that same place. There indeed, as the consideration of him who foreknows all things had provided, as we said before, he had the dwelling of the monastery, now built at royal expense, dedicated under the name of the ancient Fathers Paul & Antony. c
[17] In the course of that time too it seemed good to the servant of God to make a journey to Orléans for the sake of prayer: At Orléans he frees captives. And when he came to the parts adjoining that city, whoever were held in the prison-house of the jail, are loosed at his passage; who by the merit of the divine will's grace departed unharmed with joy. There was there in the company of the rest a certain man having a son blind from the very beginning of his nativity, whom he set before the knees of the holy man, humbly asking that he both cure the blindness of the son, & console the bereavement of the father. And to this most humble supplication of the Father the petition of those present had joined itself,
so that for the common wish he might more quickly impart the gift of the sought-for health. Moved therefore, the man of mercy, by the prayers of the supplicants, when he had impressed the sign of the Cross outwardly, by God's gift the light of the eyes was conferred inwardly. And when at last he was penetrating the place of the aforesaid city, by the presence of his arrival the obstinacy of the judges of those staying there was so overcome, that they permitted the guilty held in prison under their custody to depart free, more out of fear of him than for the sake of mercy. O praiseworthy man, through whom so great & so many marks of miracles glow red! O the Lord's Confessor to be proclaimed, by whose merits both the healths of bodies are recovered, the blind man by the sign of the Cross he illuminates: all the bonds of sins are loosed, & the salutary benefits of total health are obtained! O man of most lofty holiness, through whom the burdens of infirmities are powerfully thrust out, & the rights of soundness are bestowed! For by the bestowal of so great miracles the company of Clerics greatly exults, the assembly of peoples rejoices, & alike they render to almighty God the heralds of praise, who glorified Blessed Avitus with the triumphal solemnity of virtues. For elegantly & assertively it is said of him: The Lord loved him & adorned him, with a stole of glory he clothed him. He loved him indeed, when in the time of his early youth by the virtue of holy faith he gladly took him to himself: he adorned him, because in the hope of the glory of the sons of God he fitly made him firm. With a stole of glory he clothed him, because, rooted in charity, & firmly founded, he taught him to know the supereminent knowledge of the charity of Christ, that he might be filled unto all the fullness of God.
[18] Let us therefore insert into this page the prodigies of his other virtues, to the praise of the divine majesty, & the honor of S. Avitus the glorious Confessor. For it must be added among the workings of the divine mystery, A Monk of Micy he raises from death, that a certain one of the Monks, living in the cenobium of the aforesaid monastery of Micy, who was once loved by blessed Avitus with the privilege of affection, & who alone had followed him when he first sought the place of the desert, began to be burdened by the very grievous straits of infirmity. And when, now near the last span, he knew himself to be about to die shortly, he begged the Brothers assisting him, that they should by no means hand him over to be buried in the ground, until the servant of God Avitus should perform the office of prayer over his little body. At that time the same servant of the Lord, for the sake of visiting the animal-folds, had gone farther into the desert: that yet the aforesaid petition of the requesting Brother might be fulfilled, one of them went in haste to announce to B. Avitus that he whom he had much loved was withdrawn from the light of the present life. And so, the embassy of such great grief heard, confounded with vehement grief, he came to the place of the monastery, the middle of the night being now past. But when he had entered the oratory of that same Church, he saw all who were present at the obsequies dissolved in sleep; considering the event of which thing, & rejoicing in the silence, near the bier, soon he leaned to prayer prostrate on the ground. With the whole intention of mind therefore he supplicated the mercy of God, for the life of his beloved to be restored. The vow of his prayer at last fulfilled, he knew by God's gift that he had merited what he had asked. Trusting therefore in his mercy, he addresses the dead man in these words: In the grace of the paternal name, by the command of the Son's coeternal will, by the gift of the Holy Spirit, may you more quickly rise unharmed, & yet enjoy the air of our life. At the heard command of which voice, he rose whole, immediately relating in order to the servant of God Avitus, that he revived by the intercession of his prayers. By whose mutual conversation, those who had slept, awakened, recognizing so great an event were held struck; but, ignorant of the whole matter, from too great fear, they humbly submitted themselves to the knees of the Lord Avitus. But now, the miracle of so great a working being truly recognized, they render thanks to the goodness of almighty God, who deigns to perform such things through the merit of his servant. Wherefore the miracles of our venerable Father Avitus more & more, God cooperating, were augmented day by day.
[19] he admits S. Leobinus as a Monk. Then, the fame of his virtues heard, B. Leobinus a monk with two Brothers Euphronius & Rusticus, came to his presence, suppliantly asking that, for the sake of improvement, he would grant them the possibility of dwelling with him. d Whom he, receiving with fraternal charity, & disposing those two aforesaid through fitting offices, when he knew the mind of the blessed man to shine more abundantly with heavenly goodness, took him with the desire of inmost love. For he had seen his service so pleasing, that the body of his frailty, macerated by fasting & attenuated by age, he refreshed with no nourishment, except what B. Leobinus by ministering prepared.
NOTES BY G. H.
CHAPTER IV.
Death, burial, miracles, a Church built.
[20] But after the notable deeds of his miracles, Asked to be buried among the people of Dunois, which the Lord worked through the merits of his servant, had begun so to be divulged; a certain man of Dunois, moved by divine regard, came to the presence of the most blessed Avitus; performing a most humble supplication, that, his course of life ended, he would permit himself to be buried in those parts, not much removed from his dwelling: so that from his sacred body the inhabitants of that place might be saved as by a gift: To which to merit also he pledged with the whole affection of his mind, that if such a petition were fulfilled, a worthy dwelling of a church would be built in his name. But that the Father of mercy might render to the one humbly asking the counsel of a response, he began in this manner: Since under the law of the human condition I confess myself a sinner to live, he foretold he would be buried near the city of Orléans. I judge it unworthy that the fabric of a Church should be dedicated to the relics of my body. But that a good effect may be matched to your will, in God's name I judge it should be built. But the littleness of my body it is decreed by God's providence ought to be placed near the city of Orléans, if yet anything from the vileness of my already dissolved body shall be seen to be held in your parts, you will find it, by the divine will, to be of profit among the coming necessities of things at the very time of need. The presage of which promise afterward shone clear to be true.
[21] But no long space of time having passed, the servant of God Avitus, the course of his contest worthily fulfilled, merited to be rewarded with a heavenly palm. For the Lord loved him, He being called to eternal glory because in the years of boyhood & youth he mercifully filled him with the most clear recognition of his truth, & instructed him in all wisdom & spiritual understanding: whereby, pleasing in all things, he might worthily walk before him. He made him also fructify in every good work, & grow loftily in knowledge. He strengthened him in every virtue according to his power & long-suffering, with joy promising him the glorious reward of eternal life. He adorned him, namely, with the prerogatives of merits, & with the triumphal titles of great virtues: with a stole of glory he clothed him; because after the various contests of this life he obtained the stole of immortality & perennial glory, & was placed in the bright theater of starry pleasantness & perpetual delight. Endowed also with the glorifying palm of the doxal star, among the white choirs of the heavenly virtues he sits crowned with the fillet of eternity. After therefore the fame of the death of so great a man became known both to the ears of the people of Dunois & also of Orléans; for obtaining the venerable body on both sides the people gird themselves for war. For each party had its own such reasoning that it seemed it ought to be advanced. For the common folk of Dunois, there is contention about the body by the people of Dunois & Orléans, because they had had him near in the aforesaid desert, asserted that he should be claimed for their party by merit. To which reasoning the crowd of the people of Orléans resisted in these words; that he ought more rightly to be buried in their territory, whom they had had first as a Monk & then as Abbot in the cenobium of the place of Micy. But because the place of the monastery, which B. Avitus had built, where then also he lay deprived of the present light, was near to the inhabitants of Dunois, they quickly arrive there. The body of S. Avitus being taken up therefore, they desire to carry it by a straight route to the place of the basilica which they had built. The news of this matter heard therefore, that the multitude of the people of Orléans could not come in time to the aforesaid place, to which they know the people of Dunois will come, they arrange to surround the Church on all sides. And so standing before the doors with shields, they prepare to forbid the approach of entering to those coming. When at last the cohort of the people of Dunois began to come out securely from the hiding of the woods, they behold that the battle-line of the people of Orléans had occupied the thresholds of the place they sought.
[22] Disturbed therefore by this kind of chance, since they could not reach the dwelling of the desired basilica, a part of the Relics being left to the people of Dunois, they oppose camp to camp, & lay down the body of blessed Avitus in the middle. There arises then a contention, to which of the parties the heavenly will would furnish aid, lest on his account anything of condemnation be brought, who before had been & still is the cause of salvation. A certain man strong in nobility, & most powerful by the right of the greatest authority, Eleusius, who as we have already said, had been reverently admonished by the blessed man about the construction of the aforesaid church, dissipated the inexperience of the wranglers by the prudence of his command, & decreed that the saving body ought to be carried to Orléans. The submitted part of the people of Dunois immediately began to weep at the command of so great a man, gravely supplicating & asking that, since they could not obtain the integrity of the body, the body is carried to Orléans, they might at least merit the Relics. But lest the part of the benefit should be denied to those whom they saw afflicted with the grief of inmost sorrow for the whole, they confer the gift of the Relics on those asking. And so, the most sacred body received with rejoicing minds, they carry it to the place of burial destined by God's providence. Where therefore it had pleased the counsel of supernal piety, the venerable body is buried. Then the inhabitants of the whole kingdom began to venerate the memory of S. Avitus with the highest reverence, as is fitting.
[23] But it happened that, when the Lord, rewarding the labor of B. Avitus the solitary with a heavenly recompense, exempted from earthly impediments held him numbered in the College of his Saints; B. Eutherius, Prelate of the Church of Chartres, the course of his life completed, migrated as victor to the heavenly kingdom. And when there was a various election about his successor, the aforesaid Childebert Prince of the Franks commanding, & at the same time all the people acclaiming, B. Leobinus was elected to the summit of the Pontificate. To whom, in the time following, B. Avitus deigned to appear in such a manner. A certain monk, by name Tyrannus, cruel indeed in name, but illustrious in acts & virtue, while he was on a certain night solicitous & wakeful in prayer, a voice was directed to him, that the bell of the Church had now sounded. Admonished therefore by this voice, he rises immediately, & entered the temple of the Blessed Mother of God Mary, radiant with the splendor of light: he beholds two men of distinguished form, namely the holy
Leobinus, & the other unknown to him by name. From the sight of whom, terrified with fear he took to flight, & with rapid course hid himself in his cell. But when again at the touch of the bell he had brought himself into the aforesaid Church for the matin hymns; the customary observance of prayers finished, the aforesaid monk, cautious & devout, goes to the Lord Leobinus, beseeching that he indicate to him who was that person whom he had seen shining so brightly & also speaking together with him in the church. Recognizing therefore that he had been worthy to see the mystery of so great a secret, the blessed man said: Brother, when you had entered the house of prayer, & saw two men there present together, you recognized me, as I hear. But the other unknown to you, but white with flashing splendor, is my Lord Avitus, having deigned by visiting to correct & admonish me, how I ought to discipline a certain Brother for his excesses, & to free the people committed to me from the snares of the ancient enemy.
[24] Let there be inserted in the page a memorable deed of the same Father, that in this celebrated festivity to the praise of the Bishop it may be read with dancing exultation. For after the death of the most holy man, when the yearly day of his deposition was honored with the highest honor, others most devoutly showing veneration to so great a solemnity, one of the citizens went to cultivate his vineyard. Who, when he was most vehemently rebuked by several, about to labor on the feast of S. Avitus, for refusing to show religious observance to this feast, answered with a swollen voice, that even he whom they venerated had given labor to work. Not fearing therefore irreverently to undertake what he had arranged, when he first furrowed the earth with a stroke, his neck being twisted behind his back, he is punished with his neck twisted, he had proof that he had acted iniquitously: for it was clear by a certain sign, that for the merit of his rashness & irreverence, he was condemned by this kind of calamity. At last considering with himself what he had done, & revolving that it had justly happened; affected by such trouble, he hastened as quickly as possible to the basilica of the most blessed Avitus: he is healed repenting. where, devoutly persisting some time at prayer, by the wonted compassion of the Creator of all, & by the most holy intervention of that Patron, to the glory & praise of God he is renewed with the joyful gift of his former health. O how to be feared is the severity of almighty God: How powerfully he resists the obstinate & proud! O how to be praised is the virtue & mercy of God, by which he mercifully bestows on the humble the manifold grace of his abundant benignity & piety! From this deed at last it is weighed how greatly the loftiness of true humility ought to be sought by men, by which they may wisely understand to avoid the formidable discord of pride, lest perhaps through insolence they incur the misfortune of just condemnation. By this experiment indeed it is clearly shown with how great veneration the same Patron is held worthy. The omnipotence of the Divinity shows powerfully in its marvels, of what merit & of how great virtue he is. For the rest, let the sagacity of the prudent & strenuous reader experience, that in the ruin of the aforesaid man, which he merited through pride, every faithful hearer ought to dread the true judgment of God; but in the restoration, which he acquired through humility, to proclaim mercy; that, in both salutarily edified, he may pronounce by singing to the most high God, with David the truthful Prophet & magnificent King: Mercy & judgment I will sing to you, Lord. Psalm 100:1
[25] But we, rejoicing in heart in the glory of the aforesaid Patron, let us narrate other deeds, Roused by his miracles King Childebert because the tongue of flesh ought not to be silent from the praise of the Divine majesty. But it happened in the course of that same time that Childebert Prince of the Franks, already often named, an army gathered, hastened to obtain the kingdom of Spain. The fame therefore of the virtues of B. Avitus heard, with the whole intention of mind he promises that if from those parts by his intercession he should return prosperously, he would gladly enlarge & beautify the fabric of his Church. Whom, the desire of his petition accomplished, by the will of the Lord & the merit of the servant, not long after his kingdom received triumphant. Not unmindful indeed of his promise, what he had pledged he completed in work. And to the care of this building he set over as guardian a certain one of his Nobles, by name Wado, he causes a church to be built. whom for his labor we believe a partaker of the reward; in which place the deeds of many virtues shone: since to all according to the quality of their infirmities, the reward of health was conferred. For that place was ennobled by the splendid brightness of merits, g & magnified from day to day by the glorifying virtue of signs. With magnificent glorification let him be praised, with the highest veneration blessed, with eternal praise proclaimed, the marvelous God, who adorns B. Avitus with so many & so illustrious virtues; & let all in common glorify the great deeds of God, who exalted him with magnificent glory & made him wonderful with doxal power. From so great a working of the heavenly mystery the congregation of Orléans rejoices, because to the works of Anianus in the virtue of miracles it has gained B. Avitus as a companion. It rejoices therefore with the whole desire of mind to be protected by the doubled support of help, by whose patronage, & the merit of all the Saints together, may the Trinity in unity deign to preserve us through the ages of ages, Amen.
NOTES BY G. H.
ON S. AVITUS, HERMIT IN THE DIOCESE OF SARLAT AMONG THE PEOPLE OF PÉRIGUEUX.
ABOUT THE YEAR 570
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY.
On his life, age & cult in various churches of his name.
Avitus, Hermit of Périgueux in Gaul (S.)
P. D.
At almost the same time at which, having died, that holy Avitus began to make illustrious Lyonnese Gaul with many miracles, of whom we have already treated, the Abbot buried among the people of Orléans about the year 527; kindled with a similar love of the solitary life, another Saint of the same name sought & found for himself an eremitical retreat among the people of Périgueux, & inhabited it whole forty years, surviving to about the year 570; & having died on the same day, the 17th of June (as is reported) as the former, certainly obtained from posterity an ecclesiastical cult in no way inferior, on such a day. The Life, although it was not written immediately after his death, nor in the same century, as the Life of that one: yet it was written a few centuries after, from very distinct notices, as to the names of places & persons; at least before the new church was built on the ridge of the mountain under which he had dwelt; & the body was transferred into it from the lower one, where it had been buried: the Chronicle-monument of which Translation, there carved on stone, translated in 1118 in March. is read thus:
In the year a thousand, a hundred, & thrice six, To the mountain of holy Avitus the body is transferred.
That the anniversary of that Translation is celebrated on the 22nd day of the month of March, there wrote to us the same one who sent the Life, illustrated with certain Annotations of his own, from a Ms. Legendary & an ancient Sarlat Breviary, Armandus Girard, Canon of Sarlat: by whose kindness we also received the book of Joannes du Puy, on the state of the Church of Périgueux after the introduction of Christianity, Hence a new Office in the Proper of Sarlat. where the Life itself of this Saint is narrated in French.
[2] The same Armandus, about the year 1677, had printed at Paris by the order of his Bishop, what with special diligence he had collected over many years, a new Proper of the Church of Sarlat; where three Lessons conformable to the old Life are set forth, which it pleases here to set first, for the sake of greater clarity. Avitus of Périgueux, sprung from the village of Linocassium on the river Dordogne… served under Alaric King of the Visigoths, who formerly had his quarters at Poitiers. Him Clovis, to provoke to battle, He was in the year 507 a soldier under Alaric the Goth King, pitched camp at Poitiers, & Alaric thus provoked, goes out from Poitiers with his army, & at the tenth mile from the city, power of fighting being given… with great slaughter the Visigoths were routed & put to flight, Alaric slain by the hand of Clovis, very many made captive; among whom Avitus, who was led to Paris of the Parisii. These things were done in the year 507, so that if Avitus was then about twenty years old, & lived up to the year 570, he was more than eighty when he died; so that some suspect the surname of "the Elder" thence adhered to him: for the place is commonly called "saint Avit le Senieur": But such a suspicion easily collapses, from the fact that the word "Senieur," although derived from the Latin "Senior," is yet a title of honor, not of age. This suspicion therefore rejected, about to bring forward another more probable soon, I return to the Lessons of the new Office.
[3] Freed from captivity, while he seeks again his homeland; at Orléans he heals a certain citizen, Benedictus by name, sick, deaf & mute, & takes him as an inseparable companion. Both proceed to Poitiers: & when at the edge of the Province, weary, he rested, he is so overwhelmed by the frequent concourse of peoples, that hence he was compelled to flee into the monastery of Bonneval of the territory of Poitiers, then through Poitiers, where he had put on the Monk's habit, where he is clothed with the Monk's garment by the Abbot. From the same he obtains a place, in which he may lead a solitary life: he weaves an oratory from the branches of trees; commanded, he cultivates a vineyard: content with a single dish in the week, the remainder of the nourishment supplied to him from the monastery, he distributes to the poor.
Hence he was ill spoken of among the Brethren, who, having gravely complained of him to Abbot Lucinus, by stripping off his tunic, revealed his flesh half-eaten by worms, and turned it into a charge against him. For this reason he was unworthily expelled from the monastery.
[4] He set out for Périgord, unknown to his own people, and at Mauregius, Benedict, having returned to the Périgord region, his faithful companion, died; where afterwards a church was built in memory of him and of St. Avitus. After Benedict's death, the holy man, not abandoning the journey he had begun, found at the village of Bana one Secundinus, who joined himself to him as a companion. Both go on to the place of Ruffiacus, and in a dense grove St. Avitus builds himself an underground cell, in which for forty years he gives himself to fasting, vigils, and prayers. At last, full of merits and virtues, after three days of prayer, having received the sacred Viaticum, he dies full of years on the fifteenth of the Kalends of July. His body is buried in the church of Blessed Mary of the Valley: from where it was translated in the year 1118 into a church built to his name on the mount of Dauriacus, there he died and was buried, which had been consecrated by William, Bishop of Périgueux, in the preceding year.
This last point is gathered from the marble, on the right side of the high altar in the wall, inscribed thus: In the year 1117, William, Bishop of Périgueux, of Alba-rupes, in honor of Blessed John the Baptist and Evangelist, on the sixth of the Kalends of January, consecrated this altar.
[5] Whether in that place, where, when the Life was being written, more were found gathered together, were Regular or Secular Clergy, Clergy gathered at his body are thought to have been seculars, before the aforesaid change of the church, I understand to be disputed with ambiguous opinions. The seculars, as they now are, claim that they were so from the beginning; under cover of a sentence passed in the year 1292, by which it was decreed that it should be held a secular church, under seventeen Canons, among whom are a Prior, Cantor, Sacristan, and Overseer of Works. Since to the temporal and supreme dominion of these belong the whole mount and the surrounding fields, as well as many other places bearing the name of St. Avitus, Armandus thinks in his observations that this is rather the reason why that principal church was commonly called Saint-Avit le Senieur; perhaps it should be written in full les Senieurs; now they are Canons, and it seems to be called from them St. Avit le senieur, so that it is "St. Avitus of the Lords," that is, of the Canons, just as in the diocese of Tours they are called Fontaines les Blanches, that is, "Fountains of the Whites," namely of the Cistercians; and everywhere the names of dioceses are added to the names of monasteries by the article les, e.g. Beaulieu les Mans, S. Lucian les Beauvais, etc., as may be seen in Pierre du Val in his Alphabet of the Abbeys of France.
[6] The churches and places, however, which depend on the jurisdiction of the Canons of St. Avitus and also bear his name, under the same name of St. Avitus, four other churches, and at the same time prove a cult widely spread through Périgord, are indicated thus by Armandus. I. St. Avitus de Riperia, commonly de Riviere, distant only one league from the principal place; which is seven leagues from Sarlat, nine from Périgueux, between the towns of Bellomontium and Molariae, commonly Beaumont and Molieres. II. St. Avitus de Grave meyrous at the borders of the diocese of Sarlat, near St. Foy and the bank of the Dordogne. III. St. Avitus de Villariis, near Bugum in the diocese of Périgueux, four leagues from Sarlat to the West. IV. St. Avitus de Solegia, of the diocese of Agen, near the river Dordogne and St. Foy. In all these places, therefore, St. Avitus called of Périgueux is venerated as Patron, and is prescribed to be celebrated with a double Office throughout the whole diocese of Sarlat (and perhaps also of Périgueux), with this proper collect: Grant, O Lord, that we may be cherished by the supplications of thy holy Confessor Avitus, The body is now sought in vain, that we, who celebrate his death with an annual office, may be relieved by his intercessions and merits.
[7] The body, which we said was translated in the year 1118, is now unknown as to where it is: and although in the year 1644 the Lord de Lingendes, then Bishop of Sarlat, afterwards of Mâcon, ordered the earth to be deeply explored under the aforesaid monument of the translation once made, where by tradition it was thought those sacred Relics had been buried, nevertheless nothing was found. The aforesaid Canons too, in the year 1663, when Armandus wrote these things to us, having diligently searched the foundation of the old church at the foot of the mount, and the very crypt which the Saint inhabited, found nothing more: for it had been hidden more carefully during the previous wars, nor is there anyone who can divine in what place. But neither does there survive any part kept outside the chest at the time of the earlier Translation, as is commonly done in similar acts, for the greater convenience of the people and as an incitement to devotion.
VITA.
From two manuscripts of Sarlat.
Avitus the Hermit of Périgueux in Gaul (St.)
BHL Number: 0884
FROM THE MANUSCRIPTS.
Blessed Avitus, springing from a noble stock, by sprouting up to lofty things, at the appropriate time produced ripe fruits with a sweetness fragrant far and wide. Nobly born and well educated, He flourished, according to the manner of a courtly lineage, sprung from the seed of high birth, and of the princes of the place; and in a certain village named Linocasium of the province of Périgord he took the beginning of his happy birth. Scarcely had the time of weaning passed, when, at the urging care of his parents, he was handed over to be imbued with the studies of letters. Having therefore passed the prize of the goal of boyhood, now growing with the youthful flower of puberty, he reached the fork of the Pythagorean letter: in which crossroads of the twofold life, he chose beforehand the right branch by wise counsel; preferring to be constrained in the exile of this life, rather than, by living ambitiously or following the breadth of pleasures, to be condemned in the final judgment.
[2] At that time Alaric, public enemy of the Christian name, held the kingdom of the Goths: under Alaric king of the Goths, who, by the tyrannical fury of a cruel mind and by the savagery of beastly ferocity, puffed up into pride by the power of the kingdom he had acquired, and because by the arm of his strength he was wont to conquer his neighbors on every side; animated by the confidence of a greater hope, namely for the sake of attacking the kingdom of France, disposed to march against it; and that this vow of his obstinacy might appear more firmly strengthened by the assent of his men of the whole kingdom, a heavy mass of silver was melted into one body by the tax-collectors: and everyone of the military Order powerful in strength, willing or unwilling about to receive the King's donative, was invited by heralds with an urgent decree.
[3] Blessed Avitus, therefore, the most strenuous athlete of God, having now nobly obtained the triumph of the philosophical wrestling-ground, with a greater rank of property, enrolled in the army, of the equestrian degree of birth, although unwilling, was assigned to secular warfare, like another Martin about to receive the military donative, marked down among the rest, that he should fight against the hostile battle-line of the Franks. He, not a deaf hearer of that Gospel where it is commanded, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's," girded outwardly with a sword-belt and overshadowed with secular arms, but inwardly bearing the hidden warfare of Christ, approached the earthly King to fight, but in the time of war to follow the heavenly one under the banner of faith. Luke 20:25 As the swift report of the coming of that Alaric came flying to the ears of the nobles of France, a battle being joined with the Franks, they, together with their King Clovis, a hand of very great multitude having been gathered, with hasty assault run to meet the Goths. There is on both sides very great slaughter: at last the Franks obtain a noble victory.
[4] By this outcome of the war, at the judgment of supernal disposition, He defends His recruit Avitus, fortified with the banner of faith, he is captured, providing for the salvation of many, from the javelins of the enemy: but that he might understand this, that "through many tribulations it behooves us to enter into the Kingdom of God," for a time he is deprived of liberty, and as a captive is confined with chains, and is destined for servitude to a foreign master; and treated generously by his master, but his master, when he recognized in him the constancy of character, and that he was strong in divine and human wisdom, with a wondrous affection of love and with every office of humanity, did not treat him as a person of servile condition, but placed him more honorably than the rest in his house in the position of a son. Now by the example of the Patriarch Joseph, the slave is preferred to the free, becomes greater than all the free.
[5] After some time the Lord consoled [him] thus through an angelic vision: My good and faithful servant Avitus, an angel appearing to him, who up to here have fought the good fight; it behooves you to become a preacher of my word far and wide; and you, my faithful witness, will labor much for my name. Having steadfast confidence in me, visit the province of Périgueux, he is commanded to preach to the people of Périgord, there is reserved a crown for your contest: there many will believe in my name through you. In the place which is called Ruffiacus, you will utterly destroy the sacred rites which you will find; and you will drive away the most wicked art of diabolical fraud, by which there it lies in wait for the human race; and in my name, having made the sign of the cross, you will utterly exterminate all the contagions of idols. Living there until the end of your life, you will complete the course of the good fight.
[6] Blessed Avitus, not a little strengthened by this vision, obeying that command and giving faith to so manifest a revelation, soon set out on the journey, and, the Lord leading, came as far as Orléans. Stopping at Orléans, In which city, resting a little while, by no means could so clear a lamp be hidden under a bushel: for in that same city a certain man deaf and dumb and burdened with infirmity, after a prayer was made for the sick man, soon obtained full restoration of health, he cures a dumb and deaf man, entirely. In which matter all the inhabitants of the city, astonished, extolled to heaven the wondrous clemency of divine goodness, and, eagerly desiring to offer the comfort of all humanity, with one accord wished to retain the man of God.
[7] But Blessed Avitus, the man of God, neither turning aside to the left nor to the right from the undertaking of his purpose, accompanied by that one companion of the journey, known also at Poitiers through miracles, who had obtained the grace of healing, at last halted within the borders of the province of Poitou: where, while he tarried for some little time, on account of his continence of character and the grace of the Holy Spirit, and the wisdom which shone in him, he was held known to all; and by the untimely rushing of peoples, he was frequented day and night. By his intervention, all who were beset by the trouble of infirmity returned to their own homes restored to perfect health: and not only did his prayer profit the weak or sick for obtaining health, but very many subject to the grievous burden of poverty were sustained by the comfort of his protective charity.
[8] Out of a zeal for concealment he withdraws into the Province, But while for so many benefits he was held famous with illustrious renown through all the borders of the province of Poitou, day by day from everywhere among the neighboring peoples, wishing to avoid the favor of popular clamor and the loss of secular intercourse, accompanied by the said companion, he went to a place of the same province, which is commonly called Bonevallis; where at that time a monastery, built according to rule and fitted for divine service, was held by the inhabitants in reverence of the greatest honor. When, by the Lord's disposing, he had come there, he is honorably received by the Brethren of the place.
[9] St. Avitus, by no means forgetful of his purpose, humbly set forth before all the cause of his coming; and being received into the monastery, with the greatest devotion entreating them how they might receive him
into the fellowship of the monastic flock, and that they would not deny him the habit of holy intercourse. The Brethren, assenting to his petition, obeying with equal consent, received him as a Brother. And it came to pass that, while he became a perfect imitator of all, he obtained from all the testimony of perfection. He obtains a solitary cell, He humbly asked the Father of the Monastery to provide for him, not far from the cells of the Brethren, a place suited to the solitude he desired. The Abbot, gladly receiving this petition, entrusted to him, for cultivation as an obedience, a vineyard near the monastery: in which the man of God soon built a little oratory woven of twigs, as best he could: where even today, in memory of his manner of life, a church afterwards erected by the inhabitants shines with stones.
[10] In which little oratory he meditated praises to the Lord day and night: but the expenses of the common allowance, where, living most abstemiously, which he had received daily from the Brethren, he distributed with a generous hand to the poor: while he himself, by mortifying his body, was refreshed only once a week. But the enemy of the human race, grieving over the man of God's abstinence, craftily distilling the poison of his envy through the hearts of the Brethren: for the Brethren, envying his solitary manner of life, observed with too great diligence what his abstinence might be: and when they frequented his cell more often for this cause, on one Sabbath day, coming upon him again, they found him with a cheerful countenance giving to the poor the provisions which he had received from the monastery for the use of the whole week. This sort of thing seen by chance, being intoxicated by the poison of envy, they reported to the Abbot in order as it had been done. "Abbot, unless your divine mind takes heed, has not this stranger become a ruin and a scandal to all? It is not enough for Avitus to be refreshed by the regular institution, or to fast; but with presumptuous rashness, contrary to the custom of the Brethren, accused of being indiscreet, he is refreshed only once a week, in order to propagate the name of his novel manner of life: and under the appearance of vain religion he gathers vagrant men and uselessly distributes the substance of the monastery: but also from his body flows a horrid rot; which disturbs us all: in the hut of his cell, moreover, he rejoices more to be associated by habitation with worms, than to be visited by the consolation of the Brethren."
[11] These and such things being heard, Abbot Lucinus straightway summoned the man of God: and in the presence of the Brethren addresses him with such a saying: and vainly dissembling what he suffered, "Is it so, Brother, that these things are held against you in this matter, which these men testify against you?" But the man of the Lord, conscious of his own simplicity, answered him not a word at all: for what the Brethren, enviously accusing him and secretly convicting him, imputed as a fault; he truly esteemed as a great triumph of glory: and in the likeness of the patient Job, "In all these things he sinned not with his lips." Job 1:22 But at length, as they asked him many times, he gave only this answer with a placid countenance: "Let it suffice you sometimes to seek me, he is found wholly eaten by lice, and not at all to find me." But the Brethren, seizing him as if a madman, took off all his garments entirely; and so, as they had before reported to the Abbot, they found his whole body full of worms, and with wounds eaten away to the bones, furrowed with rot. At last, the Abbot's command compelling, by the medicinal care of the Brethren, in thirty days his wounds were entirely restored to health: after which the Brethren, calling him together, said to him with one accord, and being cured he is dismissed, "Depart from us: for we do not wish so indiscreet an example of your manner of life." Avitus, beloved of God, not unmindful of his purpose, seeing that he could not agree with their ways, admonished by the consolation of an angelic visitation, bidding farewell to all the brethren, returned to his own home.
[12] Therefore Blessed Avitus returned to the province of Périgord: and lest he be drawn away from his purpose by the care of his noble parents, returned to his homeland, altogether fleeing the acquaintance of his own, he avoided the place of his own birth: and here and there he ran through the deserts and byways of the region. At last he came to a certain place which is called Mauregius, and there, worn out with weariness, he disposed to remain a few days. And while he gave himself to hymns and praises of God, he buries his companion who died there, it happened, by God's disposing, that his disciple worthy of God, named Benedict, departed from this world to the Lord: whose obsequies the holy man having celebrated as is fitting, he handed him over to be buried in a tomb: over whose mausoleum he built a Church, which up to the present day shines, by the merits of the same blessed man Avitus and of his venerable disciple Benedict, famous for the virtues which Christ works.
[13] After whose death the holy man, not abandoning the journey he had begun, sets out to a certain church, which was held in a place named Banavicus, and, having taken on another, wanders through the deserts, in honor of Pantaleon the Martyr; where he is soon honorably and with spiritual joy received by the natives. And when he tarried for some days there, a certain man of laudable life, named Secundinus, is joined to the man of God for the grace of greater intimacy. And when both, by completely avoiding the dwelling-places of men, passed with difficulty through the thickets, and explored the hollows of the mountains and the recesses of remote valleys; at last, as it pleased the supernal provision, they came to where now his most holy Body rests; where on every side the sight of a vast solitude presented itself, where the place was more fit for the habitation of wild beasts and serpents than of men. and at last he comes to a horrifying place, But the man of God Avitus approached the place undaunted: and, the prayer finished, the whole multitude of huge beasts and serpents suddenly vanished. In the same place there was a neighboring grove of the Pagans, near which there was wondrously built a temple of idols, in which were worshiped by the pagans (as the report of antiquity notes) three thousand statues of idols. St. Avitus, together with his aforesaid companion, with knees bent in inner humility, pours forth prayers to the Lord; and, the prayer completed, there was a great earthquake in that same place, so that it could be known by a manifest sign that that place was fit for the service of God: in which the prayer of the faithful servant of God Avitus was heard.
[14] Therefore the man of God Avitus, wishing to be removed from all, where, a little cell having been built, built himself a cell of stones of modest quantity; near which he constructed a Church in honor of the holy Mother of God Mary, called Our Lady of the Valleys: in which until the end of his life for forty years he gave himself to fasting, vigils, prayers, and almsgiving; and he often enjoyed for his comfort the conversations of Angels, and by humbling himself he was day by day exalted by God.
[15] At a certain time a certain most mighty robber, stealing a beehive from his little garden, and most renowned in fame through all that province, secretly approached the cell of the man of God, and through the secret of night did not fear to break stealthily into the garden which was adjoining the cell: and when he had entered in, he ran about feeling for the swarms of bees. At last he found one vessel heavier than the rest, which he did not delay to lift: and having placed it well and aptly for carrying, he disposed to go away with hasty rush: but, having striven here and there long and much in vain, the immobile body almost denied the function of motion: which, that the miracle of divine power might be confirmed by the testimony of many, and being punished with immobility, for three days and as many nights, like an immobile statue, remained inflexible in all his limbs. Seeing this, very many who came up glorified God, who does not let those who offend against His servants go away unpunished. But on the fourth day the robber, seeing that he could not move himself at all, begged the servant of God, saying: "Servant of God, have mercy on me: absolve those who offend against you, and do not punish so grievously one who sins: let so long a vengeance suffice, he induces him to confess his sins, provided that the offenses be corrected for the better: this so strong binding of my limbs will, for certain, become a correction of my morals: I know that my time presses, and for my innumerable evils I am afraid." To whom the man of God Avitus said: "That fear profits little, which is not followed by the love of correction: if you wish to go away loosed, with a compunct heart confess whatever sins you have done. For there is by no means there a true remission, where true confession does not go before."
[16] At another time also, while the man of the Lord Avitus, He drives away a demon seen in the appearance of a woman, was persevering in prayer in the church which he had built for himself, the perfidious tempter, clothed in the appearance of a woman, knocked at the door, saying: "I beg you, servant of God, bring me into the shelter of your lodging, and do not let me be condemned to death by the wild beasts of this vast solitude." To whom soon the man of God, weighing the fraud, breathed into her face: and at once that cunning enemy, melted into thin air, vanished.
[17] A certain man, Liberius by name, of the province of Bordeaux, of the villa which is called Prisciagus, he saves one who had been given poison to drink, in drink, through the maleficence of a deceitful man, had unwarily drunk the poison of death: he came to the holy man of God Avitus, and, fallen at his feet, begged that he would have mercy on him; whom, when he had fortified on every side with the sign of the Cross, he suddenly vomited up the deadly poison. But on a certain day, while Avitus, the man of all Mercy, was in his cell, certain hunters, fiercely pursuing a certain hind, brought her, worn out with weariness, and frees a hind from the hunters, and wounded by the point of their sword, to the door of the cell of the man of God. To whom the man of God opened the door of his cell: and, moved with compassion, snatched her from the pressing hunters, and, unharmed and sound, the terror of all the hunters being driven far off, sent her back to the byway places of the desert.
[18] When for these and other powers of miracles he was held famous far and wide, and beloved both by God and by the people; now an old man and full of days, entering into that aforesaid little oratory, built in honor of Holy Mary, and there for three days and as many nights persevering in prayer, celebrating the solemnities of masses, taking the most holy Viaticum of the Lord's body, he rendered his spirit to the Lord in that same place: at the obsequies of whose little body, and of his memory commended, in the same place where he rests, several were gathered together, by the favor of God, to whom is honor and glory unto the ages of ages.
ANNOTATIONS OF F. B.
p What if this Benedict was afterwards translated thence to his homeland, and is he of whom Saussay speaks on 24 October: "On the same day in the district of Poitou, the gracious privileges of St. Benedict Confessor are celebrated"? About him certainly we have so far found nothing elsewhere, and we desire to learn.
q It seems to be Banes on the Consa, between the town of the same name and Bellomontium, a place one league distant from St. Avitus of the Lords.
r St. Pantaleon M. is venerated on 27 July, known everywhere with celebrated cult.
s So it was probably believed by tradition: but that the ancient Gauls truly worshiped idols in one temple, contrary to the custom of the Romans, into whose power and likewise religion they had passed, you would hardly prove.
t That church still survives at the foot of the mount, next to the crypt of the Saint: and the Chapter of St. Avitus itself, to whom it once served as parish, goes there in procession on certain days of the year, to sing Mass there.
u Perhaps today Priezac in Limousin, according to the Alphabet of P. de Val. I have not yet read it on the maps; the Limousin, moreover, can be referred in some measure to the Province of Bordeaux: but this is a conjecture.
x The Ms. has "of Masses" throughout: it does not seem, however, that he himself was a Presbyter, so as to be able to celebrate Mass by himself; but he could have it cared for by another, and under it have received the Viaticum.
y That is, the college of Canons not yet being constituted, when these things were written; but they were simple Clerics, if not Monks.
z The Life was divided into 17 Chapters, whence I made as many Paragraphs.