ON SAINT POSSENNUS,
PRIEST, AT CHÂTILLON IN GAUL.
HISTORICAL COMMENTARY.
On the cult and miracles, common to him and to St. Benedict.
Possennus, Priest, at Châtillon in Gaul (S.)
G. H. & D. P.
At Rome, among the more distinguished libraries filled with manuscript codices, after the Vatican the Altempsiana might once be reckoned, where we found a certain Martyrology, written in England or Normandy; Memory in the Calendars: in which on this 17th of June these things are held: Of St. Possennus the priest, a man of wondrous simplicity. The same are read in the Martyrology of Bellinus according to the custom of the Roman curia, printed in an enlarged form at Paris around the year 1521, and from it in Molanus in the Additions to Usuard reprinted a third time; likewise in Canisius in the German Martyrology, and Ferrarius in the General Catalogue, in which last two it is read "Possemius," the double letter "nn" changed into the letters "m" and "i," which could very easily have happened.
[2] Cult at Châtillon. We judge that mention of this St. Possennus is made in book 5 of the Miracles of St. Benedict done in Gaul, by the author Rodulphus Tortarius, at the 21st of March, num. 35 and following; where he is said to rest at Châtillon on the river Loire, almost equally distant from Nevers and Orléans. Some things from there are to be repeated in these words. At Châtillon, no small possession of his Father (where the blessed Confessor Possennus rests, concerning whom also Andreas reported very many things in his accounts), the clemency of the Almighty, to the praise of His name, often shows great deeds through the merits of both Fathers: Miracles common to him and to St. Benedict. of which we too are about to say some things.
[3] A certain little man, Herbertus by name, fell into so grave a sickness that, with all his limbs slackened, he made use of the function of none of them except the tongue, which, though rather feeble, retained its sound. By his poverty he was sustained by the nourishment of God-fearing men, who had even built him a little hut in the portico of the basilica of that place: where also through numerous courses of years, coiled up like a ball, he lay; scarcely even able to lap up liquid little sips with his mouth; nor able in any way to move from place to place for the necessity of relieving his bowels. Therefore, the omnipotence of the merciful Savior taking pity, and the prayers of our Father and the Blessed Confessor of Christ Possennus availing, with his limbs gradually recovering the lost soundness, he was made whole; giving thanks to the Lord Jesus Christ, he is healed and ministers to the church: according to the measure of his knowledge, and to the faithful of both. He remained in the same place for many years, bound to the service of the church, supplying water, light, and whatever things were suitable for the ministry of the altar; whom we ourselves also saw performing this office dutifully for many years.
[4] In the territory of Nevers there is a certain castle, called Huben, on the summit of a certain steep hill. Its Lord was called Hugo, a man of advanced age. He had begotten a son, by name Gauterius: who, puffed up with the pride of youthful age, having little regard for the commandments of Almighty God, gaping after the goods of the churches and of the poor by rapine, burned to seize them and to spend them in his own needs; whence, judging that he could lead off rich plunder from the aforementioned possession, on account of the multitude of various animals which were in that place (for it is suited to the rearing of animals on account of the fertility of the pastures), having taken cohorts of horsemen and footmen, he came thither, fearing neither the offense against God nor the merit of our Father. desiring to plunder Châtillon But the inhabitants of that place and of the surrounding countryside, learning of his mad cupidity, and greatly fearing the copious number of robbers, called to their aid the Lord of the castle which is called St. Brice, by name Rotbertus, a man indeed energetic both in arms and in counsels: who, surrounded by a wedge of his men, hastened up with ready spirit, prepared with them, if any danger threatened, to undergo the loss, to merit the favor of the Father, and for the advantages of the neighbors who had sought him.
[5] Gauterius therefore, having attacked the people of Châtillon, was striving to accomplish in deed what he had conceived in mind; namely, to lead off with him the country folk and their cattle and spoils. But Rotbertus, advancing to meet him with his men, with the colonists of the neighboring places also joined to him, not able to engage with him, fearing his forces, turned his back. Gauterius therefore, having exhorted his men with many shouts, and spurring on the horse on which he sat, swiftly pursued him: he suddenly dies: whom Rotbertus, seeing him now and now approaching him, as is the manner of those fleeing, having thrown his spear back over his shoulder, opposed the iron of the spear to the pursuer. But he, in no way foreseeing this attempt of his enemy, while too incautiously he burns to reach him with his horse, rushes onto the iron: which, immersed in his throat, deprived him of life without delay. But his attendants, seeing their Lord lifeless, filling the air with howls and their cheeks with tears, placing the body on their shoulders, hasten to depart; with him whose iron he had perished taking pity, thanks are given to SS. Benedict and Possennus, those also whom he had come to plunder granting free opportunity of fleeing, and proclaiming praises to Almighty God, thanks to Father Benedict and the Holy Confessor Possennus, for so swift a punishment of their enemy. But the father and mother of the deceased, seeing their son extinguished, in whom all their hope hung, since they possessed him alone; it is not easy to say what groans they uttered, how many tears they shed, mourning with inconsolable grief him whom they embraced with singular love.
[6] The aforesaid Andreas, in writing the Miracles of St. Benedict, followed Aimoinus, who published his at the beginning of the 11th century; and he preceded Rodulphus, who was nearly a hundred years later than Aimoinus; who gave to the writings of Andreas, hitherto hidden, a new form, as we said where we treated of the Translation of St. Benedict into Gaul, num. 11. By how many ages Possennus preceded them, and whether he was not even prior to St. Benedict himself, we cannot define by divination: we choose here some middle ground, until light may shine from elsewhere.